Alanna Fragapane (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) and Nathan Hernandez (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) have been named the Pioneer Athletes of the Week for the week of September 29th, 2025. This is each athletes first Pioneer honor of the year.

Alanna Fragapane (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) was at the forefront of a powerful Pioneer offense that put up nine goals in just two games this past week. The senior captain was involved in over half of those goals, racking up three goals and two assists, including a two-goal, two-assist performance on Tuesday. Utica's SAAC President managed to record nine shots (seven on goal) during her eight-point week, also helping guide the team to an impressive win on Tuesday and a competitive effort on Saturday. Her versatility was on full display, finding gaps in the opposing circle off of penalty corners, while also proving to be a major threat in transition. 

Fragapane and the field hockey team will return to Empire 8 play on Saturday as they travel to Keuka to face the Wolves at 12:00.

Nathan Hernandez (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) led the Pioneers' premier punt block unit in a big homecoming win this past Saturday. The sophomore broke through the line on multiple occasions during the contest, blocking two punts and helping set the Pioneers up with prime field position two separate times. Hernandez was the main contributor to a special teams unit that ranks towards the top of Division III in kick blocks, and immediately jumped onto the Pioneer record books for his performance, becoming the fifth player in program history to notch multiple blocked kicks in a single season.

Hernandez and the football team next travel to Cortland to continue Empire 8 play against the Red Dragons on Saturday at 1:00.