RM
Ryan McDonough
  • General Education
  • Class of 2022
  • Elmira, NY

Strawinski, McDonough Garner EC Athlete of the Week Recognition

2018 May 23

Shannon Strawinski '19 of the women's ice hockey team and Ryan McDonough '19 of the men's volleyball team were crowned the Elmira College Athletes of the Week, for the week ending March 18. It marks the second time this year that both junior student-athletes were recognized for their efforts by the EC Department of Athletics.

Strawinski almost single-handedly brought the No. 3/3 nationally-ranked Soaring Eagles back from a two-goal deficit to beat archnemesis Plattsburgh State by a 3-2 score in double-overtime on Friday night. The junior from Toms River, New Jersey, scored all three Elmira goals for her first-ever hat trick and just the third multi-goal game of her career in what will go down as one of the best individual performances in one of the greatest NCAA Tournament games ever played.

The Soaring Eagles entered the third period with their backs against the wall, down 2-0 to a No. 2/1-ranked Plattsburgh team that entered the weekend with a 24-0-1 record when scoring the first goal and a 20-0-1 record when leading after two periods. Strawinski sparked the come-from-behind victory by tallying her first goal at the 3:06 mark of the third period. Then with 4:07 remaining in regulation, she re-directed a Rachel Grampp '18 slap shot into the back of the net to level the score at 2-all, breathing new life into the Purple and Gold. Both the Soaring Eagles and Cardinals had numerous chances to win the national semifinal in overtime, but it took 35:10 before Strawinski beat Plattsburgh goalie Brooke Wolejko to the near post with a wrister from the right-wing side.

The natural hat trick earned Strawinski a spot on the 2018 NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team. She finished her junior campaign third on the team in points with a career-high 34 (13g-21a), more than her freshman and sophomore seasons combined.

McDonough continued his stellar season for the EC men's volleyball team at the St. John Fisher College Invite. The third-year outside hitter paced the Soaring Eagles with 28 kills, 12 digs, and seven aces in addition to seven total blocks in a pair of wins over Hiram College (3-0) and Baruch College (3-1).

The Lindenhurst, New York, native opened play on Saturday with a match-high 10 kills in a straight-set sweep of the Terriers. He also tossed three aces and posted four blocks to help the Soaring Eagles roll to the win after securing a tight 28-26 opening set. Against the Bearcats of Baruch, McDonough floored 18 kills, one shy of his season high, to go along with 10 digs for his third double-double of 2018. Six of his kills came in the decisive fourth set, as did one of his match-high four service aces.

McDonough was a crucial component in EC's turnaround season, as the Soaring Eagles boast a 17-7 overall record after winning just 11 times in 2017. He lead the squad with 247 kills and a 2.68 kills-per-set average, 40 aces and 15 digs.