ITHACA, N.Y. — Cornell's Carson Ciaio has been named the Collegiate Sprint Football League Defensive Player of the Week after recording two interceptions and five tackles in the Big Red's 28-24 victory over St. Thomas Aquinas College on Saturday in Hillburn, N.Y.

Ciaio accounted for two of Cornell's four interceptions and finished with four solo tackles. His fourth-quarter interception set up the winning touchdown as the Big Red improved to 2-2 overall and 2-1 in league play.

With Cornell trailing 24-21, Ciaio intercepted a pass from Demani Jones Allen at the St. Thomas Aquinas 45-yard line with 8:08 remaining. The Big Red converted the turnover into a seven-play, 45-yard scoring drive, capped by Andrew Lay's 3-yard touchdown run with 4:40 left. Miles Mariani's extra point gave Cornell a four-point lead.

Ciaio's first interception came with 10:08 remaining in the second quarter, when he picked off Jake Kear at Cornell's 41-yard line to halt a Spartans possession. He also contributed 17 rushing yards on three carries.

Cornell's defense intercepted passes on consecutive St. Thomas Aquinas possessions in the fourth quarter, with Dan O'Malley adding a pick with two minutes remaining. The Big Red then stopped the Spartans on fourth down with 21 seconds left to preserve the victory.

Ciaio attended Northport Senior High School, where he earned all-state, all-region and first-team all-division football honors as a senior. He is enrolled in Cornell's School of Industrial and Labor Relations.