Leonard, Cerasi and Mitchell Named UMass Student-Athletes of the Week

AMHERST, Mass. – After leading their teams to big victories last weekend, hockey's John Leonard, women's lacrosse's Kaitlyn Cerasi and men's basketball's Tre Mitchell have been named the UMass Student-Athletes of the Week, announced Monday night and presented by UMassFive College Credit Union. The trio will be recognized on Wed., Feb. 12 at the UMass Sports Luncheon in Berkshire Dining Commons.

Leonard finished the two-game set against the Friars with three goals and two assists and was +5 for the weekend. The Amherst native had a hand in four of five goals in Saturday's 5-1 road win, notching his first career hat trick and an assist on the power play for a career-high four point effort. In Friday's 3-1 win, he registered an assist on an insurance goal for the Minutemen.

Leonard's three goals on Saturday brought his season total to 20, making him UMass' first 20-goal scorer since Casey Wellman potted 23 in 36 games in 2009-10. He also broke the program single-season record for goals scored by a junior, surpassing UMass Hall of Famer Thomas Poeck's 17 in 2002-03. To date, Leonard ranks second in the nation in goals and currently has 27 points though 28 games.

Cerasi had four goals and two assists in the victory over the Eagles, which marked the Minutewomen's first-ever win over a top-five opponent as well as the first win against Boston College since 2008.

Cerasi scored twice in the first half and added another two in the final 30 minutes, including her fourth of the afternoon with 6:42 to play to give Massachusetts a four-goal cushion. UMass, after going down 10-9 with 13 minutes left, rattled off six of the game's final seven goals to knock off the Eagles.

The Pittsburgh, Pa. native averaged 23.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and shot 66% last week. On Tuesday at Rhode Island, Mitchell had a career-high 30 points on 13-of-20 shooting, along with five rebounds and three assists, the most points for a UMass freshman since Rashaun Freeman on Feb. 28, 2004.

Mitchell followed it up with 16 points on 7-of-10 from the floor with five rebounds, three assists and two steals in a 69-67 win against George Mason.

Mitchell is 16.2 points per game this season, which is good for fifth in the Atlantic 10 and tops among rookies, along with 6.1 rebounds per game. He's also 90th in the NCAA with 146 made field goals this season.

Free parking for the luncheon is available in Lot 33 on University Drive (click here for voucher). In addition, metered parking in the Southwest Horseshoe and along Fearing Street is available. Including tax, lunch costs $12.31 and $10.70 for UMass alumni.

University of Massachusets Athletics

Leonard, Cerasi and Mitchell Named UMass Student-Athletes of the Week

Players Mentioned

Kaitlyn Cerasi

John Leonard

Tre Mitchell

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