Hilton, NY — Russell Sage College women's soccer team swept the weekly awards from the Empire 8 as junior forward Natalie Ricci (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes) and rookie defender Delaney Burton (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) were recognized for their efforts in helping the Gators to a 1-0 week. Sage beat Alfred University on April 2, 3-0 and now stand at 4-1 overall and in the league.

Below are the Empire 8 Players of the Week, released on April 6, 2021 for games played from March 29-April 4. It is the ninth Empire 8 weekly honors release of the 2020-21 season.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Natalie Ricci, Russell Sage, Jr., F, Cohoes, NY/Cohoes

Ricci scored two goals including the game-winner to lift Sage past Alfred, 3-0 on Friday. Ricci is the team's co-scoring leader with six points on three goals and now has 13 career goals, five assists and 31 career points with three career game-winning goals.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Delaney Burton, Russell Sage, Fr., D, Averill Park, NY/Averill Park

Burton scored her first collegiate goal and made several strong plays on the defensive end in Russell Sage's 3-0 win over Alfred Friday. Burton's goal came in the 68th minute of play.

Ricci is the team's co-scoring leader with six points on three goals and now has 13 career goals, five assists and 31 career points with three career game-winning goals. Burton is part of a defense for the Gators that has allowed only five goals in five games and also earned the shutout win over Alfred.

The Gators are back in action at Houghton College on April 10 at 1 p.m. in an Empire 8 contest.