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Two student-athletes apiece from Central Connecticut State and Saint Francis (PA), along with one each from Mount St. Mary’s, Robert Morris and Lock Haven comprise the 2006 Fall Scholar-Athlete award winners for the Northeast Conference. In addition to the scholar-athletes, the NEC also announced its fall Academic Honor Roll, consisting of 399 student-athletes. All scholar-athlete award winners must have earned a minimum of 60 semester hours, maintained a minimum cumulative grade-point-average of 3.20 and participated with distinction as a member of a varsity team.
Mount St. Mary’s sophomore Matthew Logie (Germantown, MD/Northwest) is this year’s winner of the NEC Scholar-Athlete award for men’s cross country. In October, Logie finished fourth at the NEC Cross Country Championships held at Van Cortlandt Park, crossing the tape in 26:08.8 to earn all-conference honors for the second year in a row. He was was the top finisher for the Mount, which finished third in the meet. The 2005 NEC Freshman of the Year went on to compete at NCAA regionals two weeks later where he finished 71st. A native of Germantown, MD, Logie carries a 3.56 grade point average majoring in History.
Saint Francis (PA) senior Erika Jacobs (Toronto, Ontario/West Hill Collegiate) claims the third NEC Scholar-Athlete award of her career and first in women’s cross country. Jacobs raced to a second place finish at the 2006 NEC Cross Country Championships with a time of 18:24.2. In leading the Red Flash to runner-up honors at the event, she earned a spot on the all-conference team for the fourth time in her career. The NEC Freshman of the Year award winner in 2003 when she placed second at the league meet, Jacobs also finished 11th at the league championship meet in 2004 and sixth in 2005. A native of Toronto, Ontario, she also took home NEC Scholar-Athlete accolades in indoor and outdoor track and field during the 2004-05 season. Jacobs is a member of the Red Flash Leadership Program and maintains a near-perfect 3.99 grade point average with a double major of Psychology and Pre-Law.
Lock Haven senior defender Jill Wessner (Kutztown, PA/Kutztown) is the NEC Scholar-Athlete recipient in field hockey. A four-year starter and team captain this past season, she sparked the Lady Eagles to their third straight NEC regular season championship and first conference crown with a 7-1 win over Sacred Heart in the title match. Wessner was voted the NEC Tournament Most Valuable Player as well as a first team all-NEC defender. An ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District second team at-large honoree last season, Wessner is a member of Lock Haven’s Honors Program and compiled the highest grade point average of any female student-athlete in her school’s junior class a year ago. The Kutztown, PA product has also been named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad in each of the last three years. Wessner has compiled a 3.90 grade point average majoring in Biochemistry.
Robert Morris senior defensive lineman Ray Gensler (Pittsburgh, PA/Keystone Oaks) is this year’s NEC Scholar-Athlete award winner in football. The honors have rolled in for the Pittsburgh, PA native following a season that saw the Colonials improve five games in the win column and finish tied for second in the NEC with a 5-2 record. Gensler was recently tabbed a first team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America. Shortly thereafter he became the first player in Robert Morris history to garner Sports Network I-AA/FCS All-America honors when he was named to the third team defensive unit. He also earned recognition as a member of the Sports Network Mid-Major All-America team and was a first team all-NEC lineman. In 2006, Gensler led the NEC with 11 sacks, which matched the Robert Morris single-season record. He also established a new school mark with 19 career sacks. Gensler’s 17.5 tackles for loss also ranked first in the conference. A Manufacturing Engineering major, Gensler is currently one of eight finalists for an FCS Athletic Directors Association postgraduate scholarship. He maintains a 3.91 grade point average.
Central Connecticut State senior forward Alex Harrison (Eastbourne, England/Willingdon) collects NEC Scholar-Athlete honors in men’s soccer for the second straight year. One of the most decorated players in league history, Harrison was a two-time NEC Player of the Year, the 2003 NEC Rookie of the Year and earned his fourth consecutive first team all-conference award this past season when he ranked second in the NEC in goals (nine), goals per game (0.56) and points per game (1.31). He concluded his star-studded career - which included a sophomore campaign that saw him lead the nation in goals per game and finish second in points per game - with 49 goals and 110 points. Last month, the Eastbourne, England product claimed ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors with his selection to the third team. Harrison can also boast of four NSCAA/adidas all-region awards, three All-New England plaudits and three ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District honors. Harrison is a Physical Education major who sports a 3.72 grade point average.
Central Connecticut State senior forward Jessica McCavanagh (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) follows in the footsteps of former teammates Ashley Ferra (2005 winner) and Sabrina Mariani (2003 and 2004 winner) as NEC Scholar-Athlete winners in women’s soccer. A member of three NEC Championship teams, McCavanagh was voted to the all-NEC first team for the third year in a row after claiming NEC Rookie of the Year honors as a freshman in 2003. She was recently tabbed to the NSCAA/adidas All-Northeast region team and selected to play in the New England Women’s Intercollegiate Soccer Association Senior Bowl. This past season, the Massapequa, NY native tied for second in the NEC with 20 points, and also finished third in points per game (1.11) and assists (six), as well as fourth in goals (seven), goals per game (0.39) and assists per game (0.33). She ended her career as the second leading goal scorer in CCSU history with 40 markers, and ranks third with 99 points. A 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District first team honoree, McCavanagh majors and Psychology and carries a 3.60 grade point average.
Saint Francis (PA) senior outside hitter Anne Roosevelt (Plymouth, MI/Mercy) earns NEC Scholar-Athlete accolades in women’s volleyball. Roosevelt served as team captain in 2006 when her exceptional play helped the Red Flash establish a new school record with 19 wins and finish second in the NEC with a 7-1 league mark. A two-time NEC Player of the Week, she was named to the all-NEC first team at year’s end after being selected to the second team in 2004 and 2005. Roosevelt ranked second in the conference this past fall in kills (4.06 per game), service aces (0.53 per game) and points (4.74 per game), and also finished fourth in digs (3.83 per game). In the process, she set single-season school marks with 486 kills, 1,294 total attacks and 459 digs. Roosevelt, who hails from Plymouth, MI, wrapped her career as the Red Flash’s all-time leader with 1,395 kills, 3,815 total attacks, 217 service aces and 1,470 digs. Off the court, she is a member of the Saint Francis Student-Athlete Mentor Program. Roosevelt majors in Psychology and possesses a 3.58 grade point average.
2006 Northeast Conference Fall Scholar-Athletes
Sport Name School Cl GPA Major
Men’s Cross Country Matthew Logie Mount St. Mary’s So 3.56 History
Women’s Cross Country Erika Jacobs Saint Francis (PA) Sr 3.99 Psychology/Pre-Law
Field Hockey Jill Wessner Lock Haven Sr 3.90 Biochemistry
Football Ray Gensler Robert Morris Sr 3.91 Manufacturing Engineering
Men’s Soccer Alex Harrison CCSU Sr 3.72 Physical Education
Women’s Soccer Jessica McCavanagh CCSU Sr 3.60 Psychology
Women’s Volleyball Anne Roosevelt Saint Francis (PA) Sr 3.58 Psychology