North Coast Athletic Conference Athletes of the Week | October 28, 2025
Field Hockey – Zoë Smith, Ohio Wesleyan
Ohio Wesleyan first-year defender Zoë Smith (Spotsylvania, VA/Courtland) netted the game-winner in the Battling Bishops’ 1-0 overtime victory at Wittenberg on Saturday. The rookie converted a 66th-minute penalty stroke to lift OWU to its seventh conference win of the season and keep the Bishops in the chase for the top spot in the NCAC standings.
Football (Offense) – Robby Ballentine, DePauw
DePauw senior wide receiver Robby Ballentine (Crown Point, IN/Andrean) tied a 1978 school record with 16 receptions and broke his own single-game mark with 246 receiving yards in a 35-28 win at Denison on Saturday. The senior scored on receptions of six, 11, and 25 yards, with his longest catch of the day covering 29 yards.
Football (Defense) – Jake Smothers, Ohio Wesleyan
Ohio Wesleyan senior cornerback Jake Smothers (Radnor, OH/Buckeye Valley) recorded an 84-yard punt return touchdown to cap the Battling Bishops’ 55-13 victory over Kenyon, tying the third-longest return in program history. The senior also registered two solo tackles and a pass breakup in the win.
Men’s Golf – Austin Malley, John Carroll
John Carroll junior Austin Malley (Venetia, PA/Peters Township) captured medalist honors at the Jeff Roope Invitational hosted by Wittenberg. Playing the par-72, 6,684-yard Springfield Country Club course, Malley fired rounds of 71 (-1) and 67 (-5) for a six-under total of 138. His second-round 67 came within two strokes of the John Carroll program record. The Blue Streaks earned a share of the team title in the nine-team field.
Women’s Golf – Natalia Fanucchi, Denison
Denison junior Natalia Fanucchi (Carlsbad, CA/Sage Creek) tied for 16th in a 79-player field at the Historic Triangle Invitational, which helped the then No. 19 Big Red finish fourth out of 14 teams. Competing on the par-72, 6,005-yard River Course at Kingsmill Resort, the junior posted rounds of 75 (+3) and 77 (+5) to record a 152 in a nationally ranked field. Fanucchi tied for seventh in both birdies (six) and par-four scoring (4.15), helping Denison finish ahead of No. 3 WashU, No. 11 Washington and Lee, and No. 13 Carleton.
Men’s Soccer – Andrew Massucci, John Carroll
John Carroll senior forward Andrew Massucci (Pittsburgh, PA/Peters Township) recorded one goal and two assists as the Blue Streaks went 2-0 in NCAC play last week. In a 3-1 home win over Ohio Wesleyan, the senior assisted on the eventual game-winning goal late in the first half. Massucci followed with another strong performance in a 3-1 victory at Wabash, assisting on the opening goal less than a minute into the match before scoring in the 85th minute to seal the win.
Women’s Soccer – Josie Bencic, Wooster
Wooster sophomore forward Josie Bencic (West Chester, OH/Lakota East) totaled three goals and an assist as the Fighting Scots went 2-0 in NCAC play last week. In a 2-0 win over Wittenberg, the sophomore provided an insurance goal in the 49th minute, less than three minutes after Wooster took a 1-0 lead to open the second half and secure the victory. Bencic then turned in a standout performance at DePauw, scoring the game’s first and final goals in a 3-1 win while also assisting on the go-ahead goal that broke a 1-1 tie in the second half.
Men’s Swimming & Diving – Ryan West, Wabash
Wabash sophomore Ryan West (Apex, NC/Middle Creek) earned two individual wins and contributed to two relay victories as the Little Giants opened the dual season with a 174-124 win over Rose-Hulman. The sophomore captured the 100 backstroke in 53.29 and the 200 individual medley in a season-best 1:59.64. West also helped the 200-medley (1:37.14) and 400-freestyle (3:18.41) relays to first-place finishes.
Women’s Swimming & Diving – MacKenzie Carter, Ohio Wesleyan
Ohio Wesleyan junior MacKenzie Carter (Delaware, OH/Hayes) led the way for the Battling Bishops on Saturday, collecting four first-place finishes in their matchup with Case Western Reserve. The junior won the 50 backstroke (27.37), 50 freestyle (25.19), and the 50 butterfly (27.10), and also helped OWU’s 200 medley relay to a winning time of 1:53.87.
Volleyball – Kait Colahan, Wittenberg
Wittenberg junior right-side hitter Kait Colahan (Vermilion, OH/Vermilion) totaled 26 kills with a .434 hitting percentage as the Tigers posted straight-set wins over John Carroll and Ohio Wesleyan to remain unbeaten in NCAC play. Against the Blue Streaks, the junior recorded 13 kills with a .429 hitting percentage, including five in both the first and second sets. Colahan followed with another 13 kills in the victory at OWU, hitting .440 while adding three digs and three blocks. Four of her kills came in the opening set, while seven in the second helped the Tigers rally from a 14-21 deficit. Colahan also added two key blocks late in the second set and another in the third to help seal the sweep.
Milestones & Records (Oct. 20-26)
Denison, Football – Sophomore quarterback Tyler Green (Concord, NC/Cannon) set two program records in Saturday’s matchup against DePauw, throwing for 519 yards to establish a new single-game passing record and connecting on a 99-yard touchdown pass, the longest play in Denison history. Facing the nation’s top-ranked defense, Green completed 38 of 58 passes for 519 yards and four touchdowns in the tough 35-28 loss.
Denison, Volleyball – Junior right-side hitter Maeve Perry (Indianapolis, IN/Brebeuf Jesuit) recorded a career-high 15 kills in the Big Red’s four-set victory over DePauw on Tuesday … Senior setter Alice Kempf (New York, NY/Saint Ann’s) surpassed 1,000 career digs during the week, recording 11 in a 3-1 win over DePauw, 13 in a 3-2 loss to Heidelberg, and 12 in a 3-0 victory over Wooster.
DePauw, Field Hockey – Senior forward Hailey Nowak (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park & River Forest) recorded hat tricks in both wins over Transylvania and Kenyon, totaling six goals and one assist on the week. With the performances, Nowak moved into a tie for eighth in DePauw program history with 51 career goals, tenth in career assists with 22, and eighth in career points with 124.
DePauw, Volleyball – Senior defensive specialist Grace Myers (New Palestine, IN/New Palestine) recorded 14 digs in a 3-1 loss to Denison and 15 digs in a 3-0 win over Kenyon this week, increasing her career total to 1,804. Myers now ranks fourth in DePauw program history for career digs.
Kenyon, Women’s Soccer – The Owls recorded shutout victories over John Carroll (1-0) and Oberlin (2-0) last week, bringing their season total to 11 and setting a new single-season program record.
Kenyon, Volleyball – Junior setter Hannah Schwemm (Pleasant Hill, IA/Southeast Polk) reached a career milestone on Saturday, recording her 1,000th career assist in the Owls’ tough 3-0 loss to DePauw.
Oberlin, Football – Senior linebacker Hunter Green (Odenton, MD/Arundel) recorded 14 tackles, including 11 solo stops, 1.5 tackles for loss, and one sack in the Yeomen’s game against Wittenberg. With the performance, Green moved into second all-time in career tackles at Oberlin with 334 and seventh all-time in career sacks with 12.5.
Ohio Wesleyan, Football – Senior running back Devon Haley (Granville, OH/Granville) led the Battling Bishops’ offense in a 55-13 win over Kenyon on Saturday, rushing for a career-high 135 yards on 22 carries with two touchdowns.
Wooster, Men’s Golf – The Fighting Scots won the Cleveland Cup by 12 strokes last Monday, marking the program’s fourth consecutive season with multiple tournament victories.
Wooster, Women’s Soccer – Head coach Geordie Brown earned his 375th career victory with the Fighting Scots’ 3-1 win over DePauw on Saturday, becoming the 22nd NCAA Division III women’s soccer head coach to reach the milestone.