LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Athletics announced the final recipient of the Leo Dufort Student Athlete of the Month Award for the 2022-23 school year on Wednesday afternoon. Softball senior Nicole Patille was honored following a successful four-year career in Green and Gold.     

A four-year member of the team and a member of the team's Leadership Council this past season, Patille recorded a 16-16 record in the circle during 72 appearances, including 33 starts. A product of Ocean View, Delaware, she held a 3.52 ERA with 142 strikeouts and five saves over 216.2 innings pitched. Patille was named the MAAC Pitcher of the Week back on February 14 of this year for her first MAAC weekly honor.
She recently graduated from Siena with a degree in biology while holding a 3.51 cumulative GPA and a member of the Dean's List. A MAAC All-Academic Team and MAAC Academic Honor Roll member, Patille was an NFCA Scholar All-America selection last season.

The Leo Dufort Student Athlete of the Month Award is presented nine times annually (September-May) throughout the academic year. The award recognizes exemplary achievements in both academics and athletics. The late Leo Dufort received a B.S. in marketing and management from Siena in August of 1977. His entire academic career was completed on a part-time basis beginning in the spring of 1961, as a married adult while at the same time raising five children. He passed away suddenly of a heart attack while cross country skiing in February of 1993. His wife Jeanine wanted to do something to immortalize his memory. The original plaque was donated to athletics and the department began the Leo Dufort Student Athlete of the Month Award to help carry out his legacy. Dufort graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1954 and was a Navy Veteran (USS Bennington) who worked for JL Hammett Co. at the time of his death.