BALNIS & FITZSIMMONS COLLECT NJAC WEEKLY AWARDS

Jessica Balnis

Brennen Fitzsimmons

Richard Stockton players collected two NJAC weekly awards as Jessica Balnis (Dorothy/Buena) was named NJAC Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week and Brennen Fitzsimmons (Neptune/Neptune) was named NJAC Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week.

Balnis and Fitzsimmons each helped their teams post 2-0-1 records in three games last week.

Balnis scored three goals, including two game-winners, for six points in three games. The sophomore forward netted the game-winning goal with less than five minutes remaining against Rutgers-Newark on October 26 to give Stockton a 1-0 victory.

Balnis then booted two markers six minutes apart to lead the Ospreys to a 5-2 triumph over New Jersey City in the first round of the NJAC tournament yesterday.

Balnis leads the team in scoring with nine goals and three assists for 21 points. She also stands tied for seventh in the NJAC in goals and tied for ninth in points. Balnis has at least one point in three of Stockton’s last four games.

The Ospreys are 12-5-4 overall and unbeaten in their last eight games (6-0-2). Stockton will travel to Rowan for an NJAC tournament semifinal match tomorrow at 7 pm.

Fitzsimmons chipped in at both ends of the field for Stockton last week. Defensively, the senior helped the Ospreys post two shutouts and a 0.31 goals against average in three games.

Fitzsimmons also scored the game-winning goal that snapped a 1-1 tie and lifted Stockton to a 2-1 win over Rutgers-Newark on October 26. He converted his penalty kick during the shootout that followed yesterday’s 0-0 tie with Rowan in the NJAC tournament as well.

Fitzsimmons’ play has contributed to Stockton’s current six-game unbeaten streak (3-0-3) as he has scored his only two goals of the season and helped produce three shutouts during the run. Fitzsimmons has been named to the NJAC All-Conference Team twice (2008-09), with this year’s selections still pending.

Although Stockton (11-6-4) was knocked out of the NJAC tournament by Rowan 4-3 on penalty kicks last night, the season should continue with an invitation to the ECAC Metro tournament next week.