MAAC Student-Athletes of the Week (5.13.13)
MAAC Sports
Matt Sharp – Siena College
Men’s Lacrosse, Sr., GK, 5-11, 170, Winchester, Mass./Winchester
Sharp made the most of his first and only season as Siena's goalie, leading the Saints to a berth in the program's fifth straight MAAC Championship Game. A two-time MAAC Defensive Player of the Week, Sharp posted a stellar 8.66 goals against average and 58.6% save percentage in conference play. He made a career-high 20 saves in his first collegiate start at fourth ranked Johns Hopkins and currently ranks 11th nationally averaging 12.69 saves per game. Sharp boasts a 3.14 cumulative GPA and will graduate later this month with a degree in Management.
Kate Bowen – Manhattan College
Softball, Jr., P/INF, 5-6, Newtown, Conn./Newtown
Bowen was named Manhattan’s 2012-13 Female Student-Athlete of the Year. A First Team All-MAAC honoree, she earned a place on the MAAC All-Academic Team for the second straight year and was selected to the Capital One Academic All-District I squad. Bowen was also a Second Team All-MAAC and First Team All-Northeast Region choice in 2012. She started every game this season at either second base or pitcher and finished second in the MAAC with 61 hits. Bowen also tied for second in the conference with 12 doubles. In addition, she paced the Jaspers in batting average (.367) and runs scored (34), and she ranked second on the squad with six home runs and 33 RBIs. Bowen was also the ace of the pitching staff, making 19 starts in the circle and tossing 10 complete games while leading the Jaspers with nine wins and a 3.81 ERA. A native of Newtown, Conn., Bowen organized a Sandy Hook Dedication Game on April 6, which raised money for survivors of the tragedy in her hometown. The Jaspers wore special jerseys honoring the victims and survivors, and sold t-shirts to benefit the 26 Angels Foundation. Sandy Hook students ran out onto the field with Manhattan during pregame introductions, and there was a 26-second moment of silence in memory of the victims.