Four More Crusaders Earn Landmark Conference Performer of the Week Awards

MADISON, N.J. -- The Landmark Conference honored four Susquehanna University student-athletes with its Performer of the Week awards on Nov. 2.

Senior Paul Thistle (Blue Bell, Pa./Wissahickon) and sophomore Casey Hess (Bloomsburg, Pa./Bloomsburg Area) were the men's and women's cross country winners, while sophomore goalkeeper Erin Ferguson (Mount Laurel, N.J./Seneca) and junior swimmer Christie Savard (Berwyn, Pa./Conestoga) took the field hockey Defensive Player and women's swimming & diving Athlete of the Week honors, respectively.

Thistle won his third straight Landmark individual championship on Oct. 31 while leading Susquehanna to its third straight team title. He posted a time of 26 minutes, 39 seconds on the 8,000-meter course to best 87 other runners and help SU become the first school in Landmark history to win three championships in the same sport. This is his third conference Performer of the Week honor this season.

Hess won the Landmark individual women's championship on Oct. 31 while leading Susquehanna to a runner-up finish as a team. She bested 78 other runners with a time of 23:35 on the 6,000-meter course, nearly a minute better than the runner-up. She has earned an impressive five conference Performer of the Week awards this year.

Ferguson allowed just one goal in 140 minutes to help SU to a 2-0 week. Susquehanna topped Neumann College, 3-1, on Oct. 27 before blanking Landmark opponent Drew University, 4-0, on Oct. 31. She made 15 saves over the two games, including a game-high nine in the shutout against Drew. She has two shutouts this season.

Savard was or all or part of the fastest times in four events, including a school-record-breaking 200-yard individual-medley performance, to help Susquehanna beat McDaniel College, 75-46, and Juniata College, 90-21, in a tri-meet on Oct. 31. She broke her own Susquehanna record in the 200 IM with a time of 2:17.62 and also won the 100 and 200 backstrokes in 1:01.64 and 2:11.38, respectively. She teamed with three other swimmers to record the fastest 200 freestyle relay as well (1:48.24).