Early November Athletics Update

Genesis Castrellon Named HVIAC Women’s Soccer Player of the Year

Last year as a freshman Genesis Castrellon entered the world of college soccer with a splash as she put up 29 goals and 14 assists for 72 points to lead both the United States Athletic Association (USCAA) and the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) in goals, assists, points, shots, and shots on goal. It was quite a season for any player let alone a freshman! She knew coming into this season it would not come as easily as opponents would know who they were dealing with and would pay extra attention to her. Despite often being double and triple teamed the sophomore captain topped her output from last year by recording 33 goals, 12 assists and 78 points in only 14 games. She had a goal and/or an assist in 13 out of 14 games and had 4 goals in a game on three different occasions as well as a 5 goal outburst against conference foe Berkeley. Genesis said, “I feel honored to know that other coaches, besides my own coach, think that I am a good player.” The native of Encinitas, CA averaged an astonishing 5.58 points per game. Castrellon was recognized as Player of the Week or Player of the Week Honorable Mention by the USCAA and/or the HVIAC seven times this season. Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach Julia Caseres said, “Gen is the type of player to be the first one on the field and the last one to leave. She’s always looking to better herself as a player. I am very proud to see that all her hard work that she has put in throughout this whole season wasn’t only seen by me but by the other coaches in the conference as well.”

Aleena Cruz Named HVIAC Women’s Soccer Rookie of the Year

TKC freshman Aleena Cruz (Chula Vista, CA) has been named the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year. This award was voted on by the head coaches in the conference and featured a talented field of freshman including Cansu Usta from St. Joseph’s Brooklyn and Katie Parsels of Albany Pharmacy. Cruz opened up her collegiate career with 2 goals and 2 assists for 6 points in the season opening conference win against conference rival Yeshiva. She never looked back as she registered 15 goals, 15 assists and 45 points in 14 games as she helped lead the Lady Lions on a return trip to the HVIAC Championship game. She put up three assists in three different games this season, all wins against Briarcliffe, Sarah Lawrence and Valley Forge Christian. She also scored a 3-goal hat trick against Sarah Lawrence to give her 9 points that day. Her 15 assists lead both the United State Athletic Association (USCAA) and the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC). Cruz was the HVIAC Rookie of the Week or Player of the Week Honorable Mention five times this season. Aleena said, “This award is a direct reflection of all the hard work and dedication that we as a team have put in together. I am thankful for receiving this award and share it with all of you teammates and coach, I wouldn’t be receiving it today if you didn’t make me look good. Thank you for helping me achieve Rookie of the Year!” Women’s Soccer Assistant Coach Jim Kennedy added, “I am very happy for Aleena, her award for Rookie of the Year is very well deserved. Coach Finley and I knew during preseason that she was going to have a huge impact on the team and the league, due to her deft touch and ability to hold onto the ball in tight situations. Aleena’s ability to read the field and attack from the center midfield position provided the team with numerous valuable goals and assists, and she continued to improve throughout the season.”

Women’s Cross Country Concludes Season at USCAA Nationals

The Lady Lions traveled to Syracuse on Thursday in preparation for the USCAA National Championships at SUNY-ESF. The team arrived in Syracuse on Thursday evening to attend the end of year awards dinner hosted by the USCAA. On Friday the team woke to chilly, rain conditions as the temperature hovered at 39 degrees in upstate NY. The team had been running 5K races all season in nice fall weather conditions and would now have to run this championship race at the 6K difference in cold, wet, sloppy conditions. As she has all season, sophomore captain Keyah Harvey led for the TKC team with a 29:49 finish. Sophomore Hannah Lezak, who has improved with each race, came in next at 31:20 and senior Madeline Cobb was right behind her at 31:36 while freshman Rachel Moreno finished with a 37:32. Despite the longer distance and the chilly, wet conditions, the team all performed extremely well. To compare their times from previous 5K races, it is evident that all of the Lady Lions met or exceeded expectations when their mile pace was calculated. Harvey and Cobb were right on their mile pace while Lezak took 13 seconds off her previous mile pace and Moreno sliced 23 seconds off of her’s. This concludes a very successful season for the TKC Women’s Cross Country Team and sets the stage for more success to come.

Men’s Basketball Picks Up First Victory

After a tough weekend in Tennessee to open the season the Lions returned home to NYC for a Wednesday night contest with Webb Institute. The team was led by the scorching shooting of freshman Eli Davis who had 29 points behind 8 for 15 from the three point line, he also grabbed 6 rebounds. Another freshman added a double double as Jordan McGinnis added 16 points and 10 rebounds while senior captain Jeremi Gill had 11 points and 8 rebounds. Gill said, “While we played sloppy, the team needs a win to get some momentum rolling for the season. It was a good time to bond as a team and try out our offense.” The team’s record improves to 1-2 as they get set to face Landmark College on Saturday home in NYC.

Jacob Wright Claims HVIAC Men’s Soccer Rookie of the Year Award

Freshman goalkeeper Jacob Wright (Philadelphia, PA) has been named the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year. Coach Ilyas Tasci said, “Jake is an intimidating force in goal, his ability to stop shots and start our counterattack with his distribution was a great asset to the team.” Jake led the HVIAC conference in saves (112) among an impressive group of 16 goalkeepers. He was also fourth in the conference in save percentage (.732). His punt grew stronger as the season progressed and his extensive experience in baseball was an asset with his long throws which would often come to midfield. Jake received HVIAC Player of the Week Honorable Mention back in October. Jake added, “I feel extremely honored to be presented with this award. I would like to give a special thanks to my coaches (Ily, Damien, Gabe, Tom and Bryan) for helping me progress so much throughout the season. I would also like to give a special thanks to my teammates for all the support given and never giving up on me no matter what the score was. It was truly a great season.”

Men’s Basketball Drops Two in Tennessee to Open Season

The TKC Lions Men’s Basketball team went south this past weekend to open their season in Tennessee. They dropped their season opener on Friday 31-96 to Milligan. Michael Sheetz led the way for TKC with 12 points and Jordan McGinnis chipped in 4. They headed over to Montreat College on Saturday and lost 44-97. (Stats were not available at time of this posting). The team comes back to NYC to get back to practice, and they play Landmark College on Saturday in non-conference action.

Women’s Soccer Falls in HVIAC Conference Championship

The TKC Lady Lions made a return trip to the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) Championship game on Sunday. After going 9-4 overall and 3-1 in the conference, the team was seeded #2 behind regular season champion Albany Pharmacy who was 4-0 in conference play and 10-5 overall. This was a repeat of 2013 as both teams met in the Finals with King’s at #2 and Albany Pharmacy at #1. Unfortunately the result would also be the same as last year as Albany Pharmacy prevailed 5-2 on a memorable day for their forward Sarah Cope who finished with 3 goals and an assist. Cope opened the scoring just 5 minutes in for a 1-0 Panther lead. At the 19-minute mark TKC freshman and HVIAC Rookie of the Year, Aleena Cruz, would even it up with an 18 yard shot that snuck in just under the crossbar, but Cope would strike again only two minutes later as TKC would trail 2-1 at halftime. With a stiff wind at their backs in the second half the Lady Lions were hoping to mount a comeback, but it would not be as Albany Pharmacy raced to a 5-1 lead behind another goal and assist from Cope. TKC junior captain Caitlin Essex added to the drama with 22 minutes to go as she buried a fine left-footed shot inside the post to cut the deficit to 5-2. Despite getting two late corner kicks, TKC could not do enough to penetrate the Albany defense for more dangerous scoring chances. With the loss the Lady Lions capped off a fine season. Despite losing four starters to injury in the first week of the season, the team finished 9-5 overall and second in the HVIAC Conference. Although the women’s soccer program is only three years old, the team has now posted an overall record in those three years of 24-15-1. After only two years in the HVIAC conference, the team is 8-2 in conference games with two second place finishes in the regular season and two appearances in the conference championship game.

Seven Fall Sports Athletes Named to HVIAC All-Conference Teams

As the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) Fall Sports season draws to a close, seven TKC athletes have been chosen to their respective HVIAC All-Conference Teams.

Men’s Soccer: Seth Parks

The senior captain and defender, of Macungie, PA was a solid presence on the back line all season long for King’s and even registered a goal in the exciting conference win against St. Joseph’s of Brooklyn. Seth has been with the team since it inception as a varsity sport during his sophomore year. His calming presence on defense has been an asset to the young King’s roster this year as he helped the team to a 4-9 record overall and a 2-4 record in the HVIAC conference an improvement over the team’s 2013 record. Coach Ilyas Tasci said, “Seth is our only senior on the team and was the leader and anchor of the back line, solidifying the defense which kept us in every game.”

Women’s Cross Country: Keyah Harvey 

The sophomore captain from Maple Heights, OH came into the season enthusiastic and committed to improving upon her freshman year performance. She has seen her 5K PR drop as she has been the team’s top finisher in every race this season. Just as importantly she has led the team to an overall improvement as last year they finished 6th in the HVIAC Championships and this year moved up with a 5th place finish with Keyah taking a medal for 17th place. She received HVIAC Player of the Week Honorable Mention three times this season. Keyah and the team are looking for one more good race at the USCAA National Championships coming up in Syracuse this week. Coach Jeremy Hardy said, “Kéyah is one of the most hard working athletes I have had thr chance to coach, and she shows outstanding commitment for our program on and off the course. Kéyah making HVIAC All-Conference is not only big for her but also for our growing XC Team, which is in its first season as an actual college varsity program. We are very excited and look forward to see how she finishes the season at USCAA Nationals.”

Women’s Volleyball: Kelli O’Donnell

The senior captain from Braidwood, IL earns her first All-HVIAC award. Kelli was second in the conference in digs per set (4.91), she was also seventh in the conference in both kills per set (2.14) and points per set (2.7). A member of the team for four years, the outside hitter has seen the squad transform from a club team during her freshman year to a varsity team in her sophomore season and into the HVIAC Conference Championships in 2014, their second year in the HVIAC conference. Kelli was HVIAC Player of the Week Honorable Mention three times this season. Coach Tiffany Firebaugh commented, “Kelli O’Donnell, our invaluable Senior captain, earned a spot on the 2014 HVIAC All-Conference Team. Not only has she led our team in digs per set, she finished second in digs per set in the entire conference. Stats can only tell part of the story though. She played a vital role in the faster offense we ran this year, bringing both poise and grit under pressure. By doing so, she opened up opportunities for us to run plays that we have not been able to run in the past. Off the court, Kelli was the person her teammates could rely on. Her humble work behind the scenes became the glue in our team chemistry–the very team chemistry that led us to the playoffs for the first time in TKC Volleyball’s history. Kelli O’Donnell has definitely earned her spot on the 2014 HVIAC All-Conference Team. I feel privileged to have gotten the opportunity to work with Kelli, and I wish her all the best in her endeavors after volleyball.”

Women’s Volleyball: Alexandra Rollis

The junior captain from Clifton Park, NY makes the All-HVIAC team for the second time. Alex was third in the conference in kills per set (3.05) and points per set (3.5) and sixth in digs per set (3.37). She helped the team to a 6-9 overall record but more importantly a 3-2 ledger in the HVIAC which earned them the #3 seed in the HVIAC Conference Championships in 2014 after fall one win short of the playoffs a year ago. The outside hitter was HVIAC Player of the Week Honorable Mention three times this season and was also a USCAA Player of the Week. Coach Tiffany Firebaugh added, “Alex Rollis, our bold Junior captain, has also earned her spot on the 2014 HVIAC All-Conference Team. Alex is a solid, all-around player who has a deep internal drive to win. That competitive spirit led her to be statistically ranked near the top of our conference in hitting, passing, and overall scoring. Alex ranked third in the conference for kills per set, sixth in digs per set, and third in points per set. Once again, stats can only show part of the picture. Not only did she spearhead our faster offense, Alex also grew the team’s mental aspect of the game, leading by example with her unstoppable grit, focus, and drive–all while maintaining a positive attitude. By being an all-around player and leader, Alex Rollis earned her spot on the 2014 HVIAC All-Conference Team. It is such a joy to coach her and I look forward to seeing what she accomplishes next year.”

Women’s Soccer: Caitlin Essex

The captain from Argyle, TX had successful and effective seasons in both her freshman and sophomore seasons posting 9 and 10 goals respectively to go along with 8 assists in each season. The 2013 All-HVIAC selection was determined to improve her performance this season as she did just that. With 22 goals, 11 assists and  55 points she smashed her personal records in those categories as one third of her 65 shots found the back of the net. Caitlin registered a goal and/or an assist in 13 of 14 games this season and had four 3-goal hat tricks as she helped the team to a return trip in the HVIAC Conference Championship game. The junior was named HVIAC Player of the Week back in October. Coach Bryan Finley said, “I had a chat with Caitlin back in May, and we talked about how she sometimes missed the goal on what would otherwise seem to be some easier chances during her freshman and sophomore year. She was getting plenty of scoring chances but just was not putting them on goal.  I told her that if she would just concentrate a little more on putting the ball on target, she’d probably see some increased goal scoring. Well, I think the results speak for themselves, she more than doubled her usual goal total and I think her shooting percentage was second in the conference among the top scorers. She deserves all the credit in making some simple adjustments in the final phases of her finishing technique.”

Women’s Soccer: Genesis Castrellon

The captain and forward from Encinitas, CA earns her second HVIAC All-Conference selection with an outstanding sophomore season of 33 goals, 12 assists and 78 points. These statistics surpass last year’s outburst of 29 goals, 14 assists and 72 points despite the fact that this season she was often double and triple teamed defensively. Genesis was recognized as Player of the Week or Player of the Week Honorable Mention by the HVIAC six times this season as she led the team to a 9-5 finish and a second straight trip to the HVIAC Conference Championship game. She is also the HVIAC Player of the Year. Coach Bryan Finley added, “Genesis had such an amazing freshman year, I knew it would be tough for her to beat statistically since teams would be focusing their defenses in on her in every game. But she knew she could do it, and so did I. Gen works very hard on improving her skills and is usually one of the first ones at practice working on her shooting power and accuracy. This year she added a much more powerful left foot and finished a few crosses and corner kicks with her head. Gen is one of those rare forwards that can basically beat you in every possible way even when she is being double and triple teamed.”

Women’s Soccer: Aleena Cruz

The freshman from Chula Vista, CA earns her first  HVIAC All-Conference selection. The talented center midfielder posted 15 goals and 15 assists for 45 points. She led the conference in assists and was 6th in both goals and points, the five players ahead of her in these two categories were all forwards including her teammates Essex and Castrellon. Her 3 game winning goals were tied for second in the conference and she was named HVIAC Rookie of the Week or Player of the Week Honorable Mention five times this season. She registered a goal and/or an assist in 10 of 14 games this season and was vital to the team’s success as she helped power them back to the HVIAC Conference Championship game. “Aleena has been such a huge addition to the team this year. She is probably one of the most all-around talented players I have ever coached. Her ball control is second to none, the ball just seems to stick to her feet sometimes. I think the 15 goals and 15 assists show just how balanced of a player she is. Aleena has an excellent shot with both her right and left foot and can score from distance, but she is so unselfish and is always looking to set up her teammates for a goal scoring opportunity. She has a great attitude and is always looking to improve her game. It’s amazing that she has had such a great year and is only a freshman,” added Coach Bryan Finley.

Firebaugh Named HVIAC Women’s Volleyball Coach of the Year

TKC Women’s Volleyball Coach Tiffany Firebaugh has been named the HVIAC (Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) Women’s Volleyball Coach of the Year. The second-year head coach was selected by fellow HVIAC volleyball coaches after guiding the Lady Lions to their first HVIAC Tournament berth and a third place finish in the conference! After dropping the first four matches of the season, the team put together a fine stretch, winning 5 of their next 6 matches. They finished the season at 6-9 but more importantly, they qualified for the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships for the first time since being accepted into the conference in 2013. Last year they came just one win shy of qualifying for the tourney, but they would not fall short in 2014 as they posted a 3-2 HVIAC conference record falling only to #1 seed College of New Rochelle and #2 seed Pratt. Behind the stellar play of HVIAC Player of the Year, Alice Vicente, Pratt would end TKC’s run in the semi-finals of the championship playoffs. “I won Coach of the Year, and I feel deeply honored by that, but I know I did not do it alone; I won Coach of the Year because I had the opportunity to coach a great group of girls who made the choice to invest in each other and become a team,” said Firebaugh. “Myself and the whole King’s College Athletics community could not be more proud of Coach Tiffany’s recent accomplishment. To achieve this award in only her second year as a head coach is a tremendous feat. She has an extremely bright future ahead of her. I am excited for what is to come,” said The King’s College Athletic Director, Sean Horan.