Stewart Reich and Alexandra Smith Earn GBC Athletes of the Month
PIKE CREEK, Del. - Sophomore Stewart Reich of the men's cross country team and Alexandra Smith of the women's soccer team have been named the male and female Athletes of the Month for the month of September, 2011.
Reich was the top Lightning finisher in all four cross country meets that GBC participated in this month. He was the individual champion at the Dukes Invitational on Sept. 17 with a time of 17:21, and he was fourth overall at the Baruch College Invitational on Sept. 11 with a time of 29:33.
The Frederick, Md. native out of Gov. Thomas Johnson High School was also the 16th overall finisher at the Philly Metro Meet with a time of 30:3, and he was 43rd overall at the Don Cathcart Invitational with a time of 27:06. His time of 27:06 in the 8K, was the second-fastest time he had ever run in his career in that event.
Reich earned honorable mention from the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference on Mon., Sept. 19 for his performance in the Dukes Invitational.
Smith, as of Oct. 2, is leading the nation in points (3.29) and goals (1.571) per-game. The freshman sensation scored 10 goals and added one assist in six games during the month of September as she led the Lightning on a three-game winning streak and an even 3-3 record in the first month of the season. She most recently also tallied a goal in the Lightning's 2-1 victory over Dominican on Sat., Oct. 1 to help GBC improve to 4-3 overall this year and 3-2 in the conference.
A highly-touted recruit out of Pennsville, N.J., Smith came onto the scene in a big way when she erupted for three consecutive goals and later added an assist in the Lighting's 6-2 win over Bloomfield on Sept. 10. She followed that up with a four-goal performance in the Lightning's 6-1 lopsided victory over Concordia on Sept. 17. She also struck twice on Sept. 20 in a 4-1 non-conference win over Washington Adventist, and recorded GBC's only goal in a 4-1 loss at Chestnut Hill on Sept. 27. Currently, she has scored in five consecutive games after scoring the game's opening goal on Sat. in another Lightning win.
Smith earned honorable mention from the CACC on Sept. 12 and Rookie of the Week on Sept.19. This marks the second consecutive week she is atop the national list in points and goals per-game. Her 11 goals thus far this season already ranks tied for third with junior Kelly Williams' single-season mark set last season.
