Three Golden Bears Tabbed with CCC Weekly Awards
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (May 2, 2022) – The Commonwealth Coast Conference announced their usual Monday weekly awards today, noting three Golden Bears to the list. Softball's Kailey Carrano, men's lacrosse's Kevin Faustich, and baseball's CJ Willis all collected accolades on the week for their performance on the field.
Carrano picks up her first Player of the Week award after leading the Golden Bears to a 5-1 marking on the week, including 4-0 in CCC play. Carrano went 9/21 at the dish, collecting three home runs and adding ten RBIs. The junior has slashed .381 this season, coming away with six home runs and 34 RBIs during the regular season. Carrano's home run and RBI totals rank first on the team, while her batting average sits second. Western New England softball will host a section of the CCC Tournament bracket beginning on Wednesday, May 4 beginning at 10:00 AM. WNE will be the #2 seed, with #3 seeded University of New England, #4 seeded Salve Regina, and #7 seeded Nichols College also traveling to Springfield in the double elimination tournament.
Graduate student Kevin Faustich claimed his second Defensive Player of the Week honor after picking up a win over Roger Williams University earlier in the week. Faustich collected a goal and a point in the win while scooping a team high nine ground balls and causing two turnovers. Faustich scored three goals and added two assists on the season, collecting five points. He is just two ground balls away from scooping 200 in his career and is second on the team with 47 ground balls this season. WNE men's lacrosse begins their playoff run on Wednesday, May 4 at 4:00 pm when they host #6 seeded Nichols College from Golden Bear Stadium. Western New England won the CCC outright with their win over Roger Williams, securing the #1 overall seed in the tournament, earning a first-round bye last weekend.
Auburn, Massachusetts native CJ Willis picks up his seventh CCC Rookie of the Week honor this week, and fifth straight after having another successful week at the plate. The first year is currently riding a 12-game hitting streak and went 10/25 at the plate this week in WNE's five games. Willis helped WNE to two wins this week, including a conference victory over Wentworth, going 5/11 in the two wins, collecting six RBIs. On the season, the first year has a batting average of now .407, while hitting ten home runs and picking up 40 RBIs. Western New England wraps up the 2022 regular season this week by welcoming both Framingham State University and No. 2 Eastern Connecticut State University to Trelease Park on Tuesday and Wednesday before hitting the road to Curry College for CCC play on the final weekend of the campaign.
