Tilki earns Defensive Player of the Week

It has been a breakout year for Colby's sophomore standout Aaron Stepka. Stepka's incredible performance this past Saturday against Bates earned him the offensive NESCAC football player of the week honors for the second time this year. The half back amassed over 230 yards rushing on a burdensome 43 carries, and scampered into the end zone on touchdown runs of two and 13 yards. Stepka may be on his way to All NESCAC season, as he now has eight touchdowns in as many games this year.

Junior Mark Tilki of Tufts had a fine performance as well, as he single-handedly forced three Amherst turnovers including two fumbles, one of which he ran back for a score and an interception. Tilki's efforts were not enough to overcome a fourth quarter collapse, however, as the Jumbos fell to 27-24 in overtime. To the surprise of few, the perennial powerhouse Williams College is well on its way to a perfect season, going 6-0 thus far. Three teams, however, are knocking on the Purple Cows door. Amherst, Trinity and Wesleyan are all even with 5-1 records and are tied for second place in the NESCAC. Hamilton's hopes for a successful season are long gone, as the Continentals have fallen to 0-6.

In men's soccer action, one of the most difficult maneuvers to execute in soccer was done to perfection by Morgan Sandell of Trinity. Sandell scored the game-winning overtime goal against Salve Regina on a bicycle kick with only 36 seconds left in the second overtime period. Sandell also had a goal and an assist in Trinity's 3-1 victory at Wesleyan. Bowdoin continued its stellar play this season, earning seven victories and suffering only one defeat. Williams is not far behind _ the Ephs are one game out of first at 6-2. Colby can pretty much hang it up as its season has spiralled out of control with only one victory in eight games.

Connecticut College has Christa Thoeresz to thank for its captivating 3-2 double-overtime women's soccer victory over Bates last Saturday. Thoeresz had a "foot" in all three goals as she assisted on the first two and scored the game's third and final goal, ending the game in its second overtime period. The Camels rode Thoeresz to their fifth victory this season and their eighth in ten tries dating back to the 2001 season. The NESCAC is currently topped by five teams with five winds: Amherst, Bowdoin, Tufts, Williams and the aforementioned Connecticut College. Wesleyan is floundering, still unable to put one in the win column this season while amounting seven losses.

Wesleyan's Eliza Allen had a volleyball tournament to remember this past weekend. At the Coast Guard Classic, Allen had 90 kills and 14 aces in 17 total games. Allen's fine play helped Wesleyan to a 4-0 week overall. Williams is leading the conference with a 9-1 record this season, putting it slightly ahead of Amherst and Colby, who each have 8-2 records. The conference, however, does have three teams who all are struggling with 1-9 records: Bowdoin, Connecticut College, and Hamilton.

The past week's field hockey performance must have made the transition from life in Missouri to Western Massachusetts a little easier for Anne McMullin. McMullin, who hails from St. Louis, had a fine week leading her team by stopping all nine shots she faced in consecutive victories over Connecticut College and 19th ranked Williams. Still Amherst is only 3-5, tied for seventh place in the conference. The Lord Jeffs are looking up at Bowdoin, Middlebury and Williams who are in a three-way tie for first with matching 6-2 records.