Nov. 12, 2003
The Siena athletic department released its fall recipients of the Leo Dufort Student-Athlete of the Month award today, distinguishing six standout athletes. Joe Piascik, Kelsey Hanno, C.J. Melilli, Lauren Weber, Pat Gaffney and Erin Dematteo were all honored.
"Each student-athlete has done an exceptional job representing Siena in the classroom and on the playing fields," Athletic Director John D'Argenio, noted. "The recognition is well deserved as each has demonstrated the unique ability to excel under a stressful schedule."
September's Student-Athletes were senior football player Joe Piacsik (Salisbury Mills, N.Y./Cornwall) and junior cross country runner Kelsey Hanno (Candor, N.Y./Candor).
Piascik carries a 3.6 grade point average as a chemistry major at Siena. Piascik enters the final week of the football season ranked second on the team in both rushing and receiving. He is also led the team with two touchdown receptions. Hanno had a spectacular fall for the women's cross country team, finishing as the top Siena runner in two meets. Hanno, who carries a 3.4 GPA in psychology was selected to the MAAC All-Academic Team after helping the Siena women claim third at the recently contested MAAC Championships.
Volleyball senior Lauren Weber (Sayville, N.Y./Connetquot) and men's soccer forward C.J. Melilli (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Our Lady of Lordes) received the honors for October.
Weber finished her career as one of the most productive volleyball players in school history ranking as the only player to finish in the top-three in both kills and digs-the two major statistics. After earning a 3.2 GPA in the spring semester, raising her cumulative average as an English major to 2.9. Melilli finished fourth in scoring with six points for a Siena men's soccer team that finished fourth in the MAAC after leading the conference going into the final weekend of play. Melilli holds a 3.2 GPA in sociology.
The recipients of the November student-athlete award are junior men's cross country runner Pat Gaffney (Syracuse, N.Y./West Gennesee) and women's soccer junior Erin DeMatteo (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga High School).
Gaffney was the top male runner in each of the Saints first five meets this fall, placing as high as high as second in the Fairfield Invitational. He carries a 3.1 grade point average in finance after boasting a 3.4 in the spring semester. DeMatteo was named Second Team All-MAAC and Conference Player of the Week (11/2) after guiding the Saints to a 9-7-1 overall record.
The Leo Dufort student-athlete of the month award is presented nine times annually to Siena athletes who excel on the playing fields and in the classroom.
