SOMERSET, NJ – St. Francis College Brooklyn women's swimming student-athletes
Ana Paula Montes de Oca and
Mariajose Lopez earned Northeast Conference (NEC) weekly awards as announced by the league on Tuesday. Montes de Oca was tabbed the NEC Co-Swimmer of the Week, while Lopez was named the Rookie of the Week.
The Terriers began the 2019-20 campaign with two big wins over NEC foes, LIU and Merrimack. The win over LIU was the first in program history for the Terriers who outscored the Sharks, 173-149, in head-to-head action. St. Francis knocked off NEC newcomer Merrimack, 256-65, to secure a perfect opening weekend.
Both Montes de Oca and Lopez guided the Terriers to victory as each student-athlete had several standout performances in the pool. Montes de Oca earned four first-place finishes and one second-place finish in five events to open the season.
She came in first in the 200 free (1:55.77), 200 fly (2:11.35), 500 free (5:08.56), and 100 free (54.82). Montes de Oca earned a second-place finish as part of the Terriers' 400 free relay team that combined to tally a time of 3:40.99.
Lopez had a strong showing for the Terriers during her first collegiate meet as she recorded three second-place finishes. She came in second in the 400 IM (4:48.49), 500 free (5:08.90), and 100 free (55.75). Lopez was also a part of the Terriers' 400 free relay team that came in third with a time of 3:49.51.
Additionally,
Kayla McKenzie was tabbed an NEC Prime Performer. The sophomore won both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events for the Terriers at the Brooklyn Invite. She totaled a score of 206.75 in the 1-meter dive and then had a score of 191.35 on the 3-meter boards.
