Three times is a charm when it comes to player awards for the soccer programs here. Two freshman and a seasoned senior all won Little East Conference Player of the Week awards for the last week of Septmeber.
Paul Maniscalco has been here before. One week into the 2007 season, Maniscalco won Defensive Player of the Week when he achieved back-to-back shutouts against Fitchburg State and Newbury College. He has now won his second Defensive Player of the Week award this season after he posted wins against Salem State College (a 2-1 victory) and conference foe UMass Dartmouth (a 1-0 shutout).
“It’s happened before for him,” Head coach Myles Berry said, “and he appreciates it, but he’s about the team more than he is about individual awards.”
Berry was excited for first-time award winner Ludji Chipps, who, as a freshman forward won LEC Rookie of the Week honors by scoring the game-winning goal in both victories for the Beacons. “He’s getting better every game,” Berry said glowingly. “He’s working real hard and making things happen up front for us and that’s what we need.”
Chipps, who came to UMass Boston after finishing his highschool career at Florida Air Academy in Melbourne, Florida, is finally getting up to the speed of the college game. Berry indicated that his work this season is playing off and that he is finally starting to feel comfortable with the pace of the college game.
Not to be outdone, the Women’s soccer team achieved a milestone of their own and their goalie received Rookie of the Week honors in the process. Ashley McRoberts, the lady Beacons goalie made history against UMass Dartmouth as she led her team to a 0-0 draw against the Corsairs, the Beacons first non-loss in conference history. “It’s definitely a morale boost for her and the team,” Head Coach Amy Zombeck said. “It was nice we didn’t lose, but wins are what we strive for at this point.”
Zombeck’s second season as the women’s head coach has been a struggle at times, but she has her team headed in the right direction. Through 11 games, she has already tied last season’s win total of three with eight games remaining. Zombeck was certain that the draw would help the girls. “[That game] was a real confidence booster in trying to get that first conference win.”
Beacons defender Paul Maniscalco
