Fitchburg State Pair Earn Player of the Week Honors

Van Ahnen collects third consecutive LEC Goalie of the Week honor; Carey earns first MASCAC Player of the Week accolade

TAYLOR VAN AHNEN

FITCHBURG, Mass. (October 13, 2009) - Junior Taylor Van Ahnen (Seekonk, Mass./Seekonk) and senior Matt Carey (Stratford, Conn./Bunnell) earned Player of the Week honors in their respective conferences as selected by league officials Monday afternoon.

Van Ahnen earns her third consecutive Little East Conference (LEC) Goalie of the Week honor after leading the Fitchburg State field hockey team to a pair of impressive victories this week. Van Ahnen kept Fitchburg State atop the LEC after allowing just one goal for a 0.43 goals against average (GAA), while stopping 19 of the 20 shot attempts she faced for a .950 save percentage. The product of Seekonk, Mass. made nine saves to hand Nichols College its first loss of the season, while reaching double digits saves for the third time this season in a 1-0 penalty stroke victory over Plymouth State University.

This season, Van Ahnen has established herself as one of the elite LEC goaltenders, ranking among the top three in save percentage (1st), saves per game (2nd), goals against average (2nd), and shutouts (3rd). In addition to her conference achievements, Van Ahnen has also etched her name in the program records books, matching the Falcons single game saves record with a 19 save performance against Bridgewater State.

MATT CAREY

On the men's side, senior Matt Carey collects his first MASCAC and ECAC Player of the Week honor after posting two consecutive shutouts, including a pair of 2-0 victories of NEWMAC powerhouse WPI and conference foe Mass-Maritime Academy. The senior captain totaled 17 saves in a career-week, while boasting a perfect 1.000 save percentage and 0.00 goals against average.

This season, Carey has been the backbone of the Falcons defense, totaling a career-high 110 saves and a minimal 1.65 GAA in 1200 minutes played. He currently ranks among MASCAC leaders in save percentage (2nd), saves (2nd), shutouts (3rd), and goals against average (4th). The veteran net-minder has also made his mark within the Falcon record books, ranking second all-time in career saves (318) and games played (53).

The Fitchburg State field hockey team (10-3, 7-1 LEC) will be back in action on Wednesday as it host Westfield State at 7 p.m. The Fitchburg State men's soccer team (4-7-2, 1-3-1 MASCAC) will also be in action on Wednesday as it hosts Becker College at 4 p.m.