Karly Martin, Western Connecticut State University soccer
The Colonials couldn’t have asked for more from this former Bristol Eastern standout in her first two games as a college goalie.
Martin started two games last week for WCSU, and she ended both with shutouts. For her efforts, Martin was chosen as the Little East Conference Goalkeeper of the Week AND the Rookie of the Week.
She faced seven shots in an Oct. 1 road game against Western New England University, and she turned all seven away in a 1-0 victory. The biggest save came in the game’s final minute off of a WNEU corner kick. The Golden Bears got a shot off against Martin, but she made the save and preserved the win.
On Oct. 6, Martin started against Rhode Island College in Providence and turned in another shutout. It helped that her WCSU teammates got her three goals to work with. Martin made four saves for her second straight clean sheet.
Jonathan Maldonado, Central Connecticut State University soccer
This former Wolcott standout was tough to stop in his time with the Eagles, and he hopes to continue that success with the Blue Devils.
Maldonado, a freshman, notched the first goal of his CCSU career in a 2-1 home loss to Fairleigh Dickinson this past Sunday. The goal came off of a free kick from John Wilkins in the final 10 minutes of regulation. Wilkins got the opportunity in the 82nd minute and sent a ball into the box. It somehow made its way through traffic to the foot of Maldonado, who blasted it into the bottom left corner of the goal to get the Blue Devils to within 2-1. CCSU got another chance in the final seconds but couldn’t get the equalizer.
Maldonado has appeared in seven of the 10 Blue Devil games so far this season.
Cole Phelps, Central Connecticut State University football
Another former Eagle, the 6-foot-1, 275-pound junior was a big part of Blue Devil history in a 56-35 road win over Robert Morris on Oct. 6 in Moon Township, Pa.
Phelps started at right guard and helped pave the way for a school record 699 yards of total offense, including 358 yards on the ground. CCSU shattered its old record of 622 from 1972, and it gained the top spot in the NEC record book as well. The former NEC high was 628 yards by St. Francis University in 2015.
The blocking of Phelps and company up front allowed quarterback Jacob Dolegala to torch the Robert Morris defense for 341 yards on 19-of-22 passing and two touchdowns. CCSU wound up with six rushing touchdowns and two running backs with over 100 yards on the ground.
The Blue Devils improved to 3-3 and claimed a victory in their NEC season opener. CCSU grabbed that win in historic fashion, and Phelps was right in the middle of it.
Jude Sampson, Anna Maria College football
The AMCATS picked up their first win in six tries so far this season on Oct. 6, and this sophomore from Kennedy High School was a key cog on defense in the 31-24 comeback victory at Castleton University.
Sampson made eight total tackles, including a half-sack, from his defensive line position. The 6-foot-4, 265-pound sophomore started at defensive end for Anna Maria. Sampson combined with K. Nero-Clark with a sack in the second quarter that forced Castleton into a third-and-long and an eventual punt.
In the fourth quarter, Sampson combined with Nero-Clark for another tackle, then had a quarterback hurry on the next play. Castleton drove the ball to the Anna Maria one-yard line, but Sampson combined with Tyshaw Anderson on a key tackle on third and goal from the two-yard line to keep the Spartans out of the end zone. On fourth and goal from the one-yard line, Castleton fumbled and Anna Maria recovered it in the end zone for a touchback.
Sampson is majoring in Health and Community Services.
Pat Hall, Connecticut Blue Jays baseball director
After spending much of his life in Fairfield County, Hall moved to Bristol and became very involved in local baseball.
Hall managed the Bristol Collegiate Baseball Club of the New England Collegiate Baseball League in 2010 before they moved to Mystic in 2011 and were renamed the Schooners. Hall is the director of the Connecticut Blue Jays AAU baseball program, and he serves under CCSU baseball coach Charlie Hickey as an assistant.
Hall recently shared his family’s story about dealing with Alzheimer’s , a terrible disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions. Hall and the Blue Devils have been active in the fight against Alzheimer’s, and they have participated in the annual Greater Hartford Area Walk to End Alzheimer’s for the past five years, according to a story on the CCSU website. You can see a video where Hall shares his family’s story on the baseball team’s website. This year’s walk is Sunday, Oct. 14, at Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.
Statistics and information compiled from the team website of each athlete/coach.
