HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- Five Houghton University student-athletes have been honored by the Empire 8 Conference for their performances during the week ending September 25.

Caleb Kasper was named Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week, Amanda Burrichter was named Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week, Megan Merrifield was named Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week, Sam Carpenter was named Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week, and Bekah Davie was named Field Hockey Co-Offensive Player of the Week.

Kasper posted the top Empire 8 of time of the season at 8,000-meters on Saturday, crossing the finish line in 26:30.50 at Lock Haven University. Kasper placed 73rd out of 434 runners, which consisted of student-athletes from NCAA Division I, II, and III.

Burrichter posted a time of 23:04.90 for 6,000-meters at Lock Haven University on Saturday, which is the top time in the Empire 8 so far this season. She placed 60th out of 403 runners, which consisted of student-athletes from NCAA Division I, II, and III. It is Burrichter's second E8 weekly honor of 2022.

Merrifield posted two more shutouts last week while turning away four shots versus Cazenovia and another seven at Elmira on Saturday. Houghton's keeper now has now blanked four of her eight opponents on the year. It is her second weekly accolade of the 2022 season.

Carpenter shutout defending E8 champion Nazareth on Saturday, preserving a tie for the Highlanders in their lone contest. Houghton's keeper faced six shots in goal against the Golden Flyers and saved them all.

Davie continued her hot start to the season last week by posting three more goals to help the Highlanders earn a pair of conference wins at Elmira and Keuka. She tallied twice in Houghton's 3-2 overtime win over Keuka on Saturday. Davie has now scored in five straight contests and has tallied seven goals plus an assist in that span. Meanwhile, her squad has won four games in a row and started E8 competition 3-0.