PITMAN, N.J. - An conference-leading eight student-athletes received weekly NJAC honors, as announced by the organization this afternoon.
 
Codie Sciacca, Avery Gower and Nika Eschmann swept field hockey's awards, Matt Maceri was named men's soccer's Defensive Player of the Week, football's Sam Dech earned his second Offensive Rookie of the Week nod and Phil Pace (Runner of the Week), Teagan Walker (Runner of the Week) and Alexis Smith (Rookie of the Week) continued to pile up the honors for men's and women's cross country.
 
Sciacca enjoyed the best week of her career, racking up six goals - twice her career total entering the week - as TCNJ posted a pair of 8-0 routs over Marywood and William Paterson. The senior scored a career-high four goals in the first half alone against Marywood on Wednesday, then followed up with two more in Saturday's NJAC opener with the Pioneers. With that two-game performance, Sciacca now ranks second on the team in both goals (6) and points (13). 

Gower turned in a terrific two-way performance in the Lions' pair of 8-0 wins last week, helping to limit Marywood and William Paterson to a combined two shots while scoring her first collegiate goal and adding an assist in each game.

Eschmann completed the sweep by claiming Rookie of the Week honors after scoring in both TCNJ victories last week. The junior netted one in Wednesday's 8-0 rout of Marywood before producing career highs in goals and points (5) with a two-goal, one-assist effort in Saturday's 8-0 shutout of William Paterson. In her first season of NCAA field hockey, Eschmann ranks third on the team in both goals (4) and points (10).

Maceri garnered his first NJAC weekly honor of the season by tallying a goal and an assist from the center back spot in a 1-0-1 week for TCNJ. The sophomore played the full 90 minutes in the Lions' 1-1 tie against third-ranked Rowan before scoring and assisting on goals in their 4-1 win over Kean. Maceri, who leads TCNJ in minutes played, now ranks second in both goals (4) and points (10).  

Dech rushed 13 times for 51 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's game against No. 13 Salisbury, opening the scoring with a 12-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Dech, who added one reception for four yards, has scored in all four games to open his career and ranks second in the NJAC in both rushing yards (343) and rushing touchdowns (5).
 
Pace led the Lions once again this past weekend en route to his first-ever conference Runner of the Week selection, finishing as the top collegiate runner at the Don Cathcart Invitational. Pace finished third overall in 24:51.9 over the 8K course.
 
Walker – also making her Runner of the Week debut – put in a team-leading performance to help her side finish third overall at the Don Cathcart Invitational, placing fifth in 21:41.6.
 
Smith rounds out TCNJ's honorees after picking up her second Rookie of the Week distinction thanks to her 19th-place showing at the Don Cathcart Invitational (22:49.4).