Sports

Sports Briefs: Maysonet named to All-America team

ROBERT O’ROURK FILE PHOTO | Miguel Maysonet can add All-American now to his impressive resume.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Maysonet named all-American Having recorded one of the greatest seasons by a rusher in FCS history, Stony Brook senior running back Miguel Maysonet of Riverhead was named to the AFCA FCS All-America Team on Tuesday.

Maysonet, a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given to the outstanding player in FCS, rushed for 1,964 yards, the 11th most yards in a season in FCS history, and scored 23 total touchdowns.

The 5-foot-10, 210-pound back accounted for more than 100 rushing yards in a game six times and had three games with 200 or more yards in 2012.  During a four-game span, he rushed for a career-high three times, capped by a 233-yard, two-touchdown performance at Coastal Carolina.

In Stony Brook’s two FBS games this season, Maysonet totaled 158 yards and a touchdown against Syracuse and 220 yards and two scores in a 23-3 win over Army.

Maysonet increased his rushing totals in each of three seasons as a Seawolf, rushing for 1,128 yards as a sophomore to 1,633 as a junior to 1,964 as a senior.

When factoring in his freshman season at Hofstra, he finished his career with 5,110 yards, good for 17th all-time in FCS history, and 51 touchdowns, despite averaging only 16 carries per game.

The 2011 and 2012 Big South Offensive Player of the Year recorded 21 games with 100 or more yards, had six games with three touchdowns and is the only player in school and conference history with two games of four scores.

Maysonet also owns school and conference records for career rushing yards (4,725), yards per game (127.7), touchdowns (53) and rushing attempts (695).

COLLEGE MEN’S SOCCER: Academic honor for Parma Kevin Parma, a junior defender from Peconic who played for Southold High School and is currently a member of the Western New England University team, has been named to the Academic All-America NCAA Division III First Team, it was announced last week. He became the first CoSIDA Academic All-American in the 47-year history of the Golden Bears program and the first Western New England student/athlete to receive the honor since football’s Mike Valentine (first team) in 2011. Parma is the only conference soccer player, male or female, to be placed on the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team.

“Kevin is the consummate scholar/athlete in every sense of the word,” Western New England coach Erin Sullivan said. “He holds himself to an exceptionally high standard, both on the field and in the classroom and this is truly a well-deserved accolade. Our coaching staff is excited that he has been recognized by CoSIDA and thrilled that our program and players will continue to benefit from his leadership and exemplary role modeling in 2013.”

The only junior selected on the all-star first team’s backline, Parma helped captain the Golden Bears to a 9-9-3 record and an Eastern College Athletic Conference New England tournament berth. This fall he earned All-Commonwealth Coast Conference accolades for a second time when he was placed on the first team as a defender. With three goals and three assists for nine points, which ranked him tied for second for the Golden Bears, Parma became known as one of the most dangerous offensive-minded backs in the CCC this season. A workhorse with a team-leading 1,493 minutes played, he has performed in the clutch as most of his points have helped either tie the score or put Western new England ahead.

Parma excels equally well off the field as he does on it. Carrying a 3.93 grade-point average as a double major in accounting and finance, he is in the Western New England honors program, has earned a Provost’s Scholarship Award, received a grant for leadership and been inducted into the Alpha Lambda Delta Freshman Honor Society.

“Kevin is one of those rare people that elevates every environment he performs in,” Sullivan said. “His competitive passion, humility, and insatiable desire for excellence are hallmarks of his career as a Golden Bear, and he is one of the finest young men I have had the privilege of coaching.”

Sullivan added, “Kevin’s achievement will now be the gold standard for individual academic excellence in our program and it is a fitting tribute to his exceptional intelligence, personal sacrifice, and tireless work ethic.”

In addition, Parma has served on a plethora of community service projects and worked clinics for local youth soccer teams.

A three-year starter, Parma has served an internship for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and earned the WNE Coaches’ Award for character, integrity and professionalism as a freshman.

COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Zilnicki co-player of week Western Connecticut senior guard Jackie Zilnicki of Riverhead was selected the Little East Conference co-player of the week for the week ending Nov. 25. Zilnicki scored a season-best 20 points and pulled in 8 rebounds to lead Western Connecticut to a road victory at Mount St. Mary’s (N.Y.). Zilnicki shot 63.6 percent (7 for 11) from the floor, including 75 percent (3 for 4) from beyond the 3-point arc. She poured in 11 of her 20 points in the second half.

BASEBALL: January tryouts All League Baseball is looking for players ages 8 and under, 9 and under, 10 and under, 12 and under and 14 and under for the 2013 season. Tryouts will start in January. For more information, contact coach Brian Hansen at (631) 553-3940.