Kielbasa Named NE-10 Specials Teams Player of the Week

Ludlow, Mass., native recognized after strong kicking day in win over Assumption

EASTON, Mass. (November 9, 2010) – Stonehill College freshman placekicker Michael Kielbasa (Ludlow, Mass./Loomis Chaffee School) has been named the Northeast-10 Conference's Special Teams Player of the Week by the league office today. It marks the third-straight week a Stonehill player has earned the award after junior Stephan Neville (Foxborough, Mass./Foxborough) was selected the two previous weeks.

Kielbasa helped Stonehill post an 18-0 victory over Assumption College on Saturday when he converted the first field goal of his career with a 27-yard attempt with 3:20 to play to put the Skyhawks up 18-0 and seal their second-straight win. He also converted 1-of-2 extra point attempts on the afternoon, with the lone miss a block. Kielbasa averaged 56.2 yards on four kickoffs for the day, giving the Greyhounds an average starting field position of their own 24 yard line on his four kicks.

Kielbasa, who took over Stonehill's kicking duties due to injury at Saint Anselm College two weeks ago, has converted 4-of-6 extra points in his two games after walking on to the team following the close of preseason training camp. Both of his misses have been blocked and he converted his lone field goal attempt this season with Saturday's 27-yard boot. Kielbasa is averaging an impressive 55.8 yards per kickoff on the first 11 kicks of his collegiate career, giving opponents an average starting field position of the 31.5 yard line.

Stonehill (5-4, 3-4 NE-10) closes out its regular season on Saturday when it visits rival Bentley University for a noon kickoff. The Skyhawks will be seeking their first winning season since posting an 8-2 clip in 1996.