Eli Parks, Southern Connecticut State University football
Former St. Paul Catholic standout Eli Parks has had some big games in his career for the Southern Connecticut State University football program.
One of those big games came in a 48-21 victory over American International College on Oct. 20, which was Homecoming for the Owls. Late in the first quarter, Parks erupted through a hole created by his offensive line, then blew past the AIC defenders as if they were standing still. Fifty-eight yards later, Parks scored a touchdown. The senior running back carried 17 times for a season-high 161 yards and tied his season-high of four touchdowns.
For his efforts, Parks was named the Northeast-10 Conference Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season. He also earned the honor after rushing 17 times for 127 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-32 win over Gannon University on Aug. 30. Parks leads the NE-10 in total rushing yards (867), rushing yards per game (123.9) and rushing touchdowns (10).
Besides the 58-yard touchdown, Parks also scored on runs of 3, 30 and 7 yards. The 58-yard scoring run and Jose Conde extra point put SCSU ahead 14-7 with 58 seconds left in the first quarter.
Parks finished off SCSU’s first touchdown drive of the game with a three-yard run with 10:30 left in the first quarter. After a Matt Sanzaro touchdown pass to Earl Myers, Parks went for a 30-yard touchdown, his third of the game. The Parks touchdown run and Conde extra point gave the Owls a 28-7 lead with 4:06 to go in the first half.
SCSU led 34-14 early in the third quarter when Parks got loose for his fourth and final touchdown, a seven-yard run. Conde made the extra point for a 41-14 lead with 8:37 to play in the third quarter.
Brianna Root, Post University volleyball
The former Bristol Eastern standout has been a mainstay for the Eagles since she arrived in the program.
Root, a senior, was named Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Volleyball Setter of the Week, according to a report posted on the league website on Monday. Root tallied 91 assists and 25 digs over two matches and averaged 13 assists per set. She tallied 43 assists and 12 digs in a 3-0 win over Felician University on Oct. 17 in Rutherford, N.J. In her second match of the week, Root recorded 48 assists and 13 digs in a 3-1 victory over the University of the Sciences on Oct. 20 in Philadelphia.
Root is third in the CACC in assists with 830 and third in assists per set at 9.33. She ranks in the CACC’s Top 10 in both service aces (35, tied for 8th) and digs (287, tied for 10th).
Adam Razza, Western New England University football
Razza was a big-play threat every time he touched the ball at Holy Cross High School, and not much has changed at the collegiate level.
Razza is first on the team in receiving yards with 312 and second in receptions with 16. He may be averaging just 2.3 catches per game, but he gains nearly 20 yards (19.5) on each one of them. Razza has the longest reception of the season for WNEU, a 64-yard touchdown against Curry College on Oct. 13.
The Curry game was a big one for the sophomore wide receiver. Razza caught three passes for 134 yards, including the 64-yard scoring play. He has at least one reception in each game for the Golden Bears, who are 6-1 on the season.
Luca DiCarlo, Western Connecticut State University soccer
Another former Holy Cross High School standout, DiCarlo is having a good senior season for the Colonials.
DiCarlo is one of three keepers to step in front of the WCSU goal. He has played in 15 games for the 13-3-3 Colonials and started all 15 of those games. DiCarlo has played over 744 minutes in goal and allowed 17 goals. He has 31 saves on the season and has posted a personal record of 6-2-1.
DiCarlo was one of seven WCSU seniors honored before Monday’s game against Elm’s College. He started in goal for the Colonials and played the first 52 minutes. DiCarlo didn’t have to face a shot before giving way to Daniel Szabo (27 minutes), who was later replaced by Matt D’Onofrio (11 minutes). The three keepers combined on a 4-0 WCSU shutout victory.
WCSU faces Plymouth State Univesity on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. in New Hampshire. A Colonial win gives them a home quarterfinal game in the Little East Conference Tournament, which starts next Monday, Oct. 30.
Lexi Kochin, Central Connecticut State University soccer
This former Bristol Central standout also played her final regular season home game.
Playing in her 15th game this season, Kochin started for the first time on Senior Night against Mount St. Mary’s. CCSU won 4-0 and clinched its ninth Northeast Conference regular championship, and the eighth outright title. It’s the first NEC regular season crown for the Blue Devils since 2009.
For the season, Kochin has tallied one goal on five shots, with two of those shots on goal. CCSU is 13-1-2 with one regular season game left. The Blue Devils will be the hosts for the NEC Tournament, which will be played on Nov. 2 and Nov 4.
Statistics and information compiled from the team website of each athlete/coach.
