Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Led by women's soccer graduate student Jaime Espinola, a rare four-time honoree, and seven three-time selections 39 WPI student-athletes were named NEWMAC Academic All-Conference for the fall season. The men's and women's soccer teams each delivered a WPI-best eight nods.

WPI shares the regular season title with MIT and, thanks to the Engineers 2-1 double OT win on September 17, the Crimson and Gray will be the top seed in next week's NEWMAC Women's Soccer Championship. WPI will face the winner of Tuesday's 4/5 game at noon on Saturday.

Jasmine Higuera Castillo from the cross country team has been named as the WPI Female Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending Sunday, October 30th. Higuera Castillo paced the Engineers with an All-Conference effort as the team was fifth at the NEWMAC Cross Country Championships Saturday afternoon at Smith. Her time of 19:12 was eighth out of 134 entries. As a freshman, Higuera Castillo was 58th in a time of 20:55 at the same course two years ago.

Austin Scott of the Cross Country team has been tabbed as the WPI Male Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending Sunday, October 30th. Scott earned his third consecutive All-Conference nod as he crossed the finish line fifth (25:56) at the NEWMAC Cross Country Championships Saturday at Smith. He shaved off five seconds and improved three spots since the last time the conference meet was held in Northampton (2014).

Boston, MA --- Junior Randy Melanson and sophomore Jack Bauer pocketed NEWMAC Swimming & Diving Weekly accolades for their performances at Saturday's Worcester City Championships.

Kristen Bender and the women's swimming & diving 200-yard medley relay team earned NEWMAC weekly honors for their performances at the Worcester City Championships this past Saturday. Bender was named the Co-Diver of the Week along and the 200 MR secured the Relay Team of the Week nod.

Senior Austin Scott, sophomore Michael Brady and junior Tristam Winship earned All-Conference accolades as WPI finished second at the NEWMAC Cross Country Championships Saturday at Smith.

Junior Jasmine Higuera Castillo paced the WPI women's cross country team with an All-Conference effort as the team was fifth at the NEWMAC Championships Saturday afternoon at Smith.

WPI men's basketball alumni Sam Longwell and Clyde Niba have signed professional contracts with the New England Anchors of the American Basketball Association (ABA).

WPI junior Pav Christidis has been named to the Academic All-District I Men's Soccer Team, as selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) from Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. He is now eligible for Academic All-America consideration.

WPI junior Dereck Pacheco has been tabbed as a member of the D3football.com Team of the Week for the week ending October 23. He named the WPI Men's Student-Athlete of the Week and a Liberty League Honor Roll selection yesterday (Oct. 24).

Field amassed 114 all-purpose yards and added a touchdown as the Crimson and Gray defeated RPI 19-7 Saturday to reclaim the Transit Trophy. The freshman tailback sealed the victory with a 11-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. Field also hauled in a team-best three receptions for 41 yards and returned a pair of kickoffs 47 yards.

Pacheco logged 10 tackles, including 2.5 for-loss, a sack and a key safety in the fourth quarter, as WPI reclaimed the Transit Trophy with a 19-7 victory over host RPI Saturday.

Hoops accumulated six saves, including the lone OT stop in a scoreless draw with Springfield, to finish off a 1-0-1 week for the Engineers. She also helped the Crimson and Gray set the program record for single-season victories Tuesday with a triumph over offensive juggernaut Smith. The NEWMAC leader in goals against (5), goals against average (0.32) and save percentage (.906) has yet to allow a goal in the month of October (523:32).

Sarah Wutka, Jennifer Golden, Marlies de Jong, Kinsey McNamara, Christine Hovermale, Liz Graveline, Gina Gonzalez-Roundy, Abigail Sawyer and coxswain Larissa Naidoo won a very tight dual with Colby, edging the Mules by less than a second (14:43.606 to 14:44.575).

The Novice Eight from the rowing team has been named as the WPI Male Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending Sunday, October 16th. Mark Borghesani, Andrew Johnston, Marc Reardon, Ben Thornton, Brandon Fox, Tucker Grim, Tim Winters, Gavin Sabol and coxswain Andrew Morrison won their race with a time of 14:00.421, nearly 50 seconds ahead of second place Wentworth.

Four members of the WPI softball team repeated as National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Scholar Athletes and the program was lauded as an NFCA All-Academic Team for the second consecutive season, as recently announced by the organization.

Hoops stopped all 10 shots she faced in a pair of 2-0 clean sheets this past week. She began by halting six against Coast Guard Tuesday and followed up with four on a rainy Sunday at Roger Williams. The backstop is nationally-ranked in GAA (23rd, .392), save percentage (44th, .875) and minutes played (45th, 1147:41).

Eckler earned the Robert Pritchard Award winner for most outstanding offensive player on Homecoming. He completed 17 of 25 passes for 378 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for an additional 51 yards on eight carries. Historically, Eckler racked up 429 yards of total offense to become the all-time leader at WPI with 5,748. He also moved into second place in the record book for career passing yards (5,037) and third in career attempts (637).

Lamb racked up career-highs of 17 tackles with 13 solo to go with one for-loss, an interception and a pass breakup en route to being named the Robert Pritchard Award winner for most outstanding defensive player on Homecoming. For the season, Lamb paces the Engineers with three picks and seven pass breakups, as well as ranking second with 29 solo tackles, third with 45 total stops and 7.5 for-loss.

Lamb racked up career-highs of 17 tackles with 13 solo to go with one for-loss, an interception and a pass breakup en route to being named the Robert Pritchard Award winner for most outstanding defensive player on Homecoming.

Mazzucco tied up Saturday's game with her fifth goal of the year 1:27 into the second half versus No. 20 Wellesley.

Senior Brandon Eccher has been tabbed as the Liberty League Football Special Teams Performer of the Week while classmate Brian Murtagh earned a spot on this week's honor roll.

McCrea had a foot in both goals Saturday at Emerson. She helped setup the game-winner and added a goal of her own to key a 1-1 week for the Crimson and Gray.

Murtagh tied his season-high of 15 tackles (14 solo), including a season-best four for-loss to help the Engineers mount a successful 21-14 comeback Saturday versus Union.

For the second consecutive season WPI senior Blaine Bursey has been recognized by the Fred Mitchell Award committee for his achievements on the football field and in the community during the month of September.

Nemes had a foot in both goals as the Engineers earned their first-ever road win over Wheaton Saturday. He assisted on the game-winner and scored his team-best fifth goal of the year later in the match. Nemes also leads the Boynton Hillers with 11 points.

Gray scored the late game-winner Saturday to defeat Wheaton, who is receiving votes in the NSCAA national coaches poll and No. 4 in the regional poll. She leads the Engineers, who entered last week slotted 10th in the same regional poll, with five goals, nine points and two game-winners.

Hunt handed in three double-doubles in four matches last week. Her season-highs of 19 kills and 18 digs helped key the Engineers 3-2 road victory at Coast Guard. The triumph was also the second in program history over the Bears. Earlier in the week, Hunt totaled 18 digs and 11 kills against Emerson and added 10 kills and 12 digs versus Wellesley.

Nemes had a foot in both goals as the Engineers earned their first-ever road win over Wheaton Saturday. He assisted on the game-winner and scored his team-best fifth goal of the year later in the match. Nemes also leads the Boynton Hillers with 11 points.