Manhattanville Sees 12 Student-Athletes Selected to Winter Academic All-MAC Squads
ANVILLE, PA. – Following a successful winter season, in which three teams qualified for their respective conference tournaments – with one, capturing a conference title and advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals – 12 student-athletes from the Manhattanville College men’s and women’s hockey teams and men’s basketball squad were recognized by the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) with spots on the 2019 Winter Academic All-MAC teams, the conference announced Tuesday, June 11.
Six Manhattanville men’s hockey players earned the honor – the most of any school in any sport – out of a possible 11 spots this year. All six selections for the Valiants were seniors: Oscar Arfelt(Stockholm, Sweden/Connecticut Oilers (EHL)), Eric Berglund(Sollentuna, Sweden/Islanders Hockey Club (USPHL)), Casper Dyrssen (Stockholm, Sweden/Northern Cyclones (EHL)), Marco Ferraro (Toronto, Ont./St. Michael’s Buzzers (OJHL)), Matt Lippa(Richmond Hill, Ont./Oakville Blades (OJHL)) and Bryan Platt(Trumbull, Conn./Springfield Pics (USPHL)). Arfelt and Lippa earned the honor for the second time, while the other four were first-time honorees.
Out of a possible 10 spots for women’s hockey, the Valiants earned a total of five, which tied for the second-most selections in a single sport among all MAC schools, tied with Lycoming College wrestling. Senior Rose Pijaca (Worcester, Mass./Worcester Academy) led the way and was joined by juniors Ali Howard (Rye, N.Y./Rye), Zoey Pellowitz (Arlington, Va./Washington Pride (JWHL))and Janet Xu (Edmonton, Alta./Ontario Hockey Academy). Sophomore Tianna Lopes (West Vancouver, British Columbia/Pacific Steelers (JWHL)) was also honored. Pellowitz is a two-time honoree, while the rest earned the accolade for the first time.
Sophomore Mike Granda (Monroe Township, N.J./St. Joseph)represented Manhattanville men’s basketball as one of the 10 possible Academic All-MAC honorees.
Overall, Manhattanville had 12 winter sport Academic All-MAC honorees, second among all MAC schools behind only Messiah College’s 15. The Valiants had the most selections among all MAC Freedom institutions, with King’s College behind them as the only other double-digit school at 10. Additionally, Manhattanville accomplished this while only sponsoring six of the nine winter MAC sports (no men’s and women’s swimming or wrestling).
This is the sixth year that the MAC has chosen All-Academic teams, as the conference strives to honor its top student-athletes both on the playing surface and in the classroom. The nomination and voting process is conducted by the Athletic Communications/Sports Information Directors of all 17 MAC member schools in a way that mirrors the CoSIDA Academic All-America program, with voting based on both athletic and academic success.
Eligible Academic All-MAC nominees must maintain at least a 3.20 semester GPA (on a 4.0 scale) during their athletic season, while also competing for their team as a starter or key reserve.
