Molinari, Cortez named Student-Athletes of the Month

NASHUA, N.H. – The Rivier University Athletic Department is pleased to announce that junior Samantha Molinari of the Women’s Cross Country team has been selected as the Rivier Female Student-Athlete of the Month and freshman Kelvin Cortez of the Men’s Soccer team has been named the Rivier Male Student-Athlete of the Month for September 2019.

Molinari was awarded after having a stellar start to her career in Raider Blue and White. The native of Litchfield, N.H. became the first Raider to win the illustrious Pop Crowell Invitational on September 21st and she followed that with another first place finish in the 15th annual Travis J. Fuller Invitational (hosted by Massachusetts Maritime Academy) on September 27th. In the Pop Crowell 6k event, Molinari finished with a time of 24:27, which was just two seconds ahead of the second place finisher. At the 5k Fuller Invitational, she finished 20 seconds ahead of the second place finisher with a time of 19:31.

Molinari becomes the first member of the Women’s Cross Country team to be recognized as the Female Student-Athlete of the Month since Anna Pearsons was selected for her month in September 2017.

Cortez has been a sparkplug for the Men’s Soccer team since his debut on September 8th. In the team’s 4-0 win over Northern Vermont University-Lyndon, Cortez drove home two of his first three collegiate goals and followed that performance with single tallies in the next three contests. Cortez scored a goal in five consecutive games from September 8th to September 21st. For the month, the first-year native of Meriden, Connecticut has totaled six goals on 24 shots and converted on 2 of 3 penalty kicks.

Cortez becomes the latest member of the Men’s Soccer team to garner SAOTM honors following current senior Collin Deyarmin (Raymond, N.H.) who was named SAOTM for his efforts in September 2018.