Pictured from top to bottom: Kirsten Bombardier (on left), Sandy Turnbull, Bobby Stutz (on right)

Student-Athletes Honored With Year-End Awards and Recognition

The Liberty League has announced its year-end women’s soccer awards and two Rensselaer student-athletes have been were recognized. Freshman Kirsten Bombardier was named to the Second Team, while classmate Nikki Goodsell garnered Honorable Mention.

Bombardier, a defender from Colchester, Vt., started all 18 games in her rookie season, anchoring an Engineer’s defense that surrendered 1.83 goals and 10.9 shots per game. Offensively, she recorded 11 shots, including six on goal. Goodsell, a midfielder from Danbury, Conn., was second on the team in scoring, with two goals and four assists for eight points. She was also second in shots (30) and shots on goal (22). She played in all 18 matches this season, including 17 as a starter.

Rensselaer’s women’s soccer team, which is led by second-year head coach Cord Farmer, finished with a 6-11-1 record, and went 1-6-0 in Liberty League play.

The Liberty League also announced its year-end field hockey awards and three Rensselaer student-athletes have been selected. Sandy Turnbull was chosen to the All-League Second Team, while Joanna Aliprando and Megan McNamara earned Honorable Mention recognition.

A junior midfielder from Upperville, Va., Turnbull led the Engineers in a number of offensive categories, including goals (12), points (26), shots (52), shots on goal (35), and game-winning goals (1). She started all 17 games this season, helping Rensselaer to a 4-13-0 record, including a 1-6-0 mark in league play. Aliprando, a senior captain and defender who hails from Basking Ridge, N.J., started all 17 games for Rensselaer. She led the club and was fourth in the Liberty League with three team saves and contributed offensively with four goals and two assists for 10 points. McNamara, a Johnstown, N.Y., native, was eighth on the team in points (five) with a goal and three assists and was fifth in shots (19). She had a game-winning tally and was one of only four Engineers to start all 17 games.

The 2009 CoSIDA ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District football teams have been announced and Rensselaer student athletes Tim Acker and Bobby Stutz have been named to the First Team. Both are now eligible for Academic All-America consideration.

Acker, who hails from Arlington, Wash., carries a 3.73 grade point average in management. A team captain, he has started all seven games for the Engineers, and ranks second on the team with 60 tackles (39 solo). Acker is a multiple Dean’s List and Liberty League All-Academic honoree. He was a Lindy’s Pre-Season All-American First Team selection as well as an AFCA National All-American at defensive back.

Stutz, a senior from Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., has a 3.72 cumulative grade point average as a mechanical engineering major. Starting in all eight games at defensive back, he leads the team with three interceptions — returned for 10 yards. He has recorded 19 tackles (12 solo), including one for a loss of two yards. He is third on the team with three pass break-ups and has also recovered a fumble. Stutz has been named to the first team for the second straight year. He has made the Dean’s List every semester and is also a multiple Liberty League All-Academic selection.