FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, October 8, 2004

CONTACT: Ted Breidenthal 816/474-7264 tbreidenthal@d3independents.org www.d3independents.org

Association of Division III Independents
Names September Student-Athlete of the Month Award Winners

KANSAS CITY, MO.--- Lizzelle Cintron, a freshman middle blocker on the New Jersey City University volleyball team, and Patrick McGinnis, a senior forward on the Colorado College soccer team, were named today as the recipients of the September 2004 Association of Division III Independents Student-Athlete of the Month awards.

In a month in which the Gothic Knights went 8-4, Cintron earned numerous honors, including AVCA/Sports Imports Division III National Player of the Week September 7, ECAC Division III Player of the Week (September 22), Association of Division III Independents Player of the Week (September 13), Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week (September 13) and WIAC Rookie of the Week (September 27). She also was the first NJCU player, male or female, named National Player of the Week in school history.

Cintron, the NCAA Division III leader in kills per game, has led the nation in offense by a staggering amount since the season began. For the month, in 40 games over 12 matches, she has 248 kills, a .400 hitting percentage, 214 digs, 38 blocks (31 solo), 19 aces, and has accounted for 301.5 points. Her averages over this span include 6.20 kills, 7.54 points, 5.35 digs, 0.95 blocks and 0.47 aces per game.

Cintron became the first player in school history to notch a 30-30 match (30+ kills, 30+ digs), and achieved it twice. In only the second match of her career September 4, she crushed 32 kills (32-6-54) for a .481 percentage with 30 digs and five blocks in a 3-1 win over St. Joseph's College-Patchogue, and followed that up by tying the school record for kills in a three-game match with 25. She achieved the feat in consecutive matches, pounding 25 (25-8-43) against Centenary College September 4, before registering 25 more (25-4-39) in hitting .538, with 21 digs and five blocks in a rematch with SJCP September 11.

Her second 30-30 performance came on September 30, when she hammered what was at the time a career and national-season high 34 kills, with 30 digs in a 3-1 loss at William Paterson. The total was then the third-highest single-match total in school history.

McGinnis, a Colorado Springs senior and a two-time recipient of the Association of Division III Independents player-of-the-week award, leads all of Division III with 20 goals and 45 points. He has scored three or more goals four times already this year, including last week when he scored a career-high five goals against Concordia College.

McGinnis scored three game-winners and assisted on two others while leading Colorado College to an 8-1-1 record in September. With eight regular-season games to play this season, McGinnis already is tied for eighth in single-season goals and is 11th in single-season points. His career totals of 44 goals and 106 points rank in a tie for eighth and ninth, respectively. Because he transferred to CC after his freshman year, McGinnis's career numbers have been accumulated in less than three full seasons.

"Patrick McGinnis is a dynamic player whose uncanny ability to dribble at the heart of the opponent's defense causes consternation and confusion in their ranks,” said Colorado College head soccer coach Horst Richardson. “This season he has been on a torrid scoring pace, placing the ball into the opposition's net 20 times. When he is in possession of the ball, chances are exceedingly good that an explosive attack may be underway. He is an entertaining player to watch, a supportive teammate to his squad, calm and collected under pressure, and an excellent student to boot."

The Association of Division III Independents consists of 17 Division III independent institutions that have joined together to recognize student-athletes at independent institutions, and to provide exempted postseason championship competition in seven sports in 2004-05. The Association recognizes outstanding athletic achievements of its student-athletes on a weekly, monthly and annual basis. For the first time, the Association provides statistical services for its members in seven sports. In addition, it also will announce all-Independent teams at the conclusion of 11 sports this year.

All student-athletes from the Association’s 17 members were eligible for the award. Each school was allowed to nominate its top performing male and female student-athletes from September. The award recipients were selected after a vote of the Association’s Student-Athlete Recognition Committee.

More information about the Association of Division III Independents is available at http://www.d3independents.org.