SJC Freshman Featured in Sports Illustrated and Newsweek

November 03, 2014 BK

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – November 3, 2014 – St. Joseph’s College (SJC) is proud to announce that Brooklyn Campus freshman Cansu Usta is currently featured in both Sports Illustrated and Newsweek for her athletic accomplishments in women’s soccer. Recognizing her outstanding rookie campaign that currently sees her sitting atop the NCAA leaderboard in goal scoring and points, Usta is showcased in the November 3 issue of Sports Illustrated's “Faces in the Crowd” section and in a Newsweek feature published online on Thursday, October 30.

"On behalf of the entire College community, I commend Cansu on her extraordinary accomplishments on the soccer field," said Jack P. Calareso, Ph.D., president of SJC. "Her dedication, ability and excellence—both in the classroom and as part of our soccer program—bring great credit to St. Joseph's, and we are fortunate to have her talents and abilities among our community of scholars and learners."

This marks the first time an SJC Brooklyn student-athlete has been featured in either national publication. In games played through October 26, Usta lead the NCAA in all divisions, both men and women, with 36 goals and 79 points. The freshman forward tallied a goal in 11 of 14 games and recorded hat tricks in six games, leading the women's soccer team to a program-best 11-4 mark.

The Fort Hamilton High School graduate scored six goals in a game twice this season, most recently against Medgar Evers College two weeks ago. Her six tallies are the most in any NCAA single game this season, sharing the mark with five others, including teammate Shannon Fahy of Breezy Point, New York. Usta's 2.25 goals per game would also set a new NCAA single-season record that has stood since 1989 when Collette Cunningham of Marymount University in Virginia scored 39 goals in 18 games for a 2.17 goals per game average.

For more information about SJC, please contact Michael Banach at 718.940.5584.

ABOUT ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE
St. Joseph’s College has been dedicated to providing a diverse population of students in the New York metropolitan area with an affordable education rooted in the liberal arts tradition since 1916. Independent and coeducational, the College provides a strong academic and value-oriented education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, aiming to prepare each student for a life characterized by integrity, intellectual and spiritual values, social responsibility, and service. With campuses located in the Clinton Hill area of Brooklyn and in Patchogue, Long Island, the College offers degrees in more than 29 majors, special course offerings and certificates, affiliated and pre-professional programs.