Kingston, Massachusetts, sophomore among 36 small college placekickers cited
2017 Fred Mitchell Award Preseason Watch List Announcement
EASTON, Mass. (August 16, 2017) – Stonehill College sophomore placekicker Matt Haite (Kingston, Massachusetts/Silver Lake Regional) has been named to The Fred Mitchell Award's Season Opening "Watch List" for his excellence on the football field during the 2016 season and for his continued community service efforts.
Haite, named to the Northeast-10 Conference All-Rookie Team last fall, is the second Stonehill placekicker named to the Fred Mitchell Award preseason "watch list" after Steve Grzywacz '16 was named prior to the 2014 season. Haite, who was also named to the Mitchell Award September "Watch List" as a freshman, is one of 36 placekickers from NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA and NJCAA named to the preseason list. He is one of 12 from NCAA Division II, including two from the NE10 and three from Super Region 1, named to the "Watch List." The Fred Mitchell Award is presented annually in December to a College Division kicker for excellence on the football field and in the community.
Haite made an immediate impact for Stonehill as a freshman when he led the team in scoring with 54 points as he converted 10-of-14 field goal attempts (71-percent), including 6-of-7 from 30-39 yards and delivering a season-long 47-yard field goal in a 45-34 win at Saint Anselm College on September 24, 2017 – the program's longest since 2003. Haite converted 24-of-25 extra point attempts (96%), finishing the season making his last four field goal attempts, including three from 35-plus yards. He made a huge impact on kickoffs, averaging 60.2 yards on 49 kickoffs, with eight touchbacks, for a net of 38 yards per kick and an average opponent starting position of the 27 yard line.
Haite, who ranked third among NE10 leaders for field goals made and PAT percentage and fourth in field goal percentage last fall, already ranks sixth on Stonehill's career list for field goals made and attempted, and eighth for PATs. His totals as a freshman rank second on the program's single-season list for PAT%, field goals made and field goal attempts, third for field goal percentage and eighth for PATs.
Haite has an impressive list of community service under his belt, including volunteering at Boston Higahsi School for Autism in Randolph, Massachusetts, and Kingston Intermediate School's "National Night Out" in his hometown. He also coaches youth basketball with Silver Lake High School's 7-on-7 summer league and youth basketball.
Stonehill, picked sixth in the NE10 preseason coaches' poll released last week, opens its 30th varsity season on Saturday, September 2, when it visits perennial Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and Super Region 1 power Bloomsburg (Pa.) University for its lone non-conference game of the year at noon. The Skyhawks open their home schedule the following Saturday, September 9, when they host Southern Connecticut State for their Purple & White Game at W.B. Mason Stadium at 6 p.m.
Stonehill will celebrate its 30 seasons of varsity football on Saturday, September 23, when it hosts Saint Anselm College for the "Battle for the Ol' Bronze Hawk" at 6 p.m. The College invites all of its varsity football alumni back that night for its alumni game. Stonehill's first varsity season was in 1988 and the program has won 125 games all-time heading into the 2017 season.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
