Three Golden Rams Earn ECAC Athlete of the Month

DANBURY, Conn. – The East Coast Athletic Conference (ECAC) announced its athletes of the month for the first month of the season and West Chester University was well represented on the list of honorees.
 
R-Jr. QB A.J. Long (Bethlehem, Pa./Friendship Christian [Tenn.]) was named the Offensive Player of the Month among the Division II playing institutions while So., LB Nate Barnes (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle) was named Defensive Player of the Month and Sr., P Brendan Paulison (Milford, Pa./Delaware Valley) was named the Special Teams player of the Month.
 
Long has West Chester University at 6-0 on the year and ranked 13th in the national coaches' poll. He ranks in the Top 25 in all of Division II in eight different offensive categories. Long leads the PSAC in six of those categories as well, including pass efficiency (185.8), passing TDs (15) and points responsible for (120).

Barnes is leading West Chester in tackles and is second on the team in sacks. He was named PSAC East defensive player of the week the first week of the season when West Chester beat Bentley on the road. Barnes posted seven tackles in that game, including 3.5 for a loss, and also recovered a fumble that led to a touchdown. He ranks 22nd in the country in tackles and 29th in Division II in sacks.
 
Paulison was a preseason All-America selection as a punter. He currently leads the PSAC in punting and ranks sixth in all of Division II with his 45.1 yards per punt. He hit a career-long 67-yarder against Gannon earlier this year.
 
West Chester is off this week with a bye. The Golden Rams return to action next Saturday, Oct. 20 when they travel to East Stroudsburg for a 4 p.m. kickoff.