2010 Athletic Banquet
On May 3rd, the Lasell College Athletic Department celebrated the culmination of the 2009-2010 school year with the annual Athletic Awards Banquet. The Lasell College Athletic Center played host to over 400 student-athletes, parents, faculty, staff, and distinguished guests.
Each of Lasell’s 15 NCAA varsity sports were recognized for an outstanding year as were the Lasell senior athletes who finished their careers in the Blue & White during the 2009-2010 season. In addition, Lasell handed out their annual “Student Athlete of the Year” award and “Scholar Athlete of the Year” awards.
The criteria for the Scholar Athlete of the Year award are as follows; the student athlete whom has completed their last season of eligibility, has been a four year member of a varsity team, has played in at least 50% of eligible games, and has the highest overall cumulative GPA of all senior athletes.
This year’s recipient of the male “Scholar Athlete of the Year” award goes to senior men’s cross country runner David Walsh, of Springfield, Massachusetts.
David has been on the men’s cross country team all four years and served as team captain this year. In the 2009 season, he completed the President’s Cup Dual Meet with an 8th place overall finish. He had his personal season best of 30:47 at the Saints Invitational this year and he helped Lasell to a fifth place overall finish in the GNAC Championships, finishing 30th overall. In 2008, David was the first Lasell athlete to complete the GNAC championship course running a time of 30:21 and finishing in the 18th place. David is also a member of the inaugural men’s track and field team at Lasell competing in multiple events.
Daivd is majoring in Finance with math minor and has made the Dean’s List several times in his tenure at Lasell.
This year’s recipient of the female “Scholar Athlete of the Year” award goes to senior women’s cross country runner Ariella Harrington, from Woburn, Massachusetts.
Ariella has been a member of the women’s cross country team all four years and, this year, serves as team captain. In 2009, she finished the President’s Dual Cup meet ending 4th place overall and second for the Lasers. She put in a top-ten performance at the Raiders Invitational and at the Pop Crowell Invitational and ran her personal season best in the latter race. Ariella came in first for Lasell, and 12th place overall, in the 2009 GNAC Championships, helping the Lasers to a 5th place conference finish. Last year, Ariella was the second Lasell athlete to finish at the NCAA Regional meet and in 2006 she had her personal best at the 5K New England College Course.
Ariella is in the Honors Program, has been on the Dean’s List every semester since her freshman year, and is a candidate for Latin Honors. She will graduate with a degree in Sports Science in May, 2010.
The Student Athlete of the Year award is given out to the two Lasell senior athletes whom have completed their last season of eligibility, have been a member of a varsity team for at least two years, have been a starter or first reserve playing in at least 75% of eligible contests, and have made a significant impact on the team. The selected athlete must have also earned off-campus recognition for athletic achievements.
This year’s female student athlete of the year award went to senior women’s volleyball player, Amanda Major, of Southbury Connecticut.
Amanda has been a four year starter on the women’s volleyball team, playing in over 400 sets and in 122 matches. As a freshman, Amanda set the women’s volleyball record for digs in a season, with 656. She was ranked 26th nationally amongst all NCAA Division III women’s volleyball participants in digs per set, averaging 6.56 per game. As a sophomore, Amanda accumulated 595 more digs, and then, as a junior, she became the all-time leader in digs, finishing the season with 503 total pickups to boost her career total to 1,754. This year, after five 30-plus dig performances, Amanda broke the 2,000 dig mark, adding 635 additional marks to her career record and finishing her career with a total of 2,389 digs.
Amanda was awarded the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Women’s Volleyball Defensive Player of the Year award for the 2009 season, as well as GNAC Second Team All-Conference honors. She also finished the year ranked 30th nationally in digs per set, averaging 5.73 digs per game.
Amanda also chipped in with 91 career service aces, 44 assists, and 45 kills in four years. Amanda currently holds every single record in Lasell in regards to digs, seven records in total.
This year’s male athlete of the year is being awarded to senior men’s soccer player, Paul Meucci, of Vernon, Connecticut.
Paul is a two year member of the men’s soccer team, having transferred to Lasell in his junior year. Paul immediately made in impact on the team, proving himself to be a versatile all-around player, and in particular, a great defender. Paul played in the center back position for Lasell, while also making himself a threat on offense when he pushed forward. He excels at challenging the opposition, winning in the majority of 50/50 balls. The senior played in all nineteen games in the 2009 season, scoring four goals, for total eight points, along the way. Meucci played in a total of 39 games with the Lasers during his two season stint.
This season, Paul was a Great Northeast Athletic Conference First Team All-Conference defender as well as a GNAC All-Tournament team selection. He was also chosen as a 2008 All-Tournament team Honoree. Paul was also recently selected as one of the top 26 senior men’s soccer players in New England when he was chosen to participate in the New England Intercollegiate Soccer League All-Star Game, which took place on Saturday, May 1st.
The following is a complete list of student athlete awards for the 2009-2010 season for each athletic program:
BASEBALL
GNAC Second Team All-Conference: Josh Sullivan
GNAC Third Team All-Conference: Conor Cavanagh
Pitcher of the Week: Josh Sullivan
Team Awards:
Most Valuable Player: Joshua Sullivan
Rookie of the Year: Bobby Stachura
Most Improved Player: Matt Pitts
Unsung Hero: Matt Mahoney
MEN'S LACROSSE
Pilgrim League First Team All-Conference: Chris Bulkley
Pilgrim League Second Team All-Conference: Brian Yepez, Matthew Keiler, Rob Suh, Anthony Erz
Pilgrim Player of the Week: Sam Wilcox, Brian Yepez
Team Awards:
Most Improved: Anthony Erz
Rookie of the Year: Andy Puopolo
Most Valuable Player: Matt Keiler
Coaches Award: Eric Walsh
WOMEN'S LACROSSE
GNAC Rookie of the Year: Ashley Slattery
GNAC Second Team All-Conference: Ashley Slattery
Womenslacrosse.com Division III Women’s Lacrosse Weekly Honor Roll: Ashley Slattery
GNAC Goalkeeper of the Week: Lindsey Cahoon
GNAC Rookie of the Week: Ashley Slattery (2)
Team Awards:
Rookie of the Year: Ashley Slattery
Most Valuable Player: Andrea Ward
Most Improved Player: Karynne Cabral
Unsung Hero: Riley Fickett
FIELD HOCKEY
NAC First Team All-Conference: Tia Pratt
NAC Second Team All-Conference: Sara Jannuzzi
NAC Player of the Week: Tia Pratt (3)
NAC Rookie of the Week: Concetta Nicoloro
Team Awards:
Unsung Hero: Tricia Hannon
Most Improved Player: Concetta Nicoloro
Most Valuable Player: Tia Pratt
Rookie of the Year: Katelyn Fabri
WOMEN'S SOCCER
GNAC Third Team All-Conference: Meredith Hessler, Elizabeth Stickley
GNAC Goalkeeper of the Week: Elizabeth Stickley (2)
Team Awards:
Coaches Award: Alyssa Ferreri, Alaina Mitrano
Unsung Hero: Meredith Hessler
Most Valuable Player: Elizabeth Stickley
Rookie of the Year: Emily Machado
MEN'S SOCCER
GNAC First Team All-Conference: Dan Hatch, Paul Meucci
GNAC Second Team All-Conference: Kyle Cronin, Shane Vinnicombe, Mike Skelton, Brandon Hanss, Sean Fisher, Julian Dutton
GNAC Third Team All-Conference: Steve Petrin
GNAC Player of the Week: Shane Vinnicombe, Dan Hatch
GNAC Goalkeeper of the Week: Julian Dutton
GNAC Rookie of the Week: Mike Skelton
D3Futbol.com Team of the Week: Jonathan Klippert
New England Intercollegiate Soccer League All-Star: Paul Meucci
Team Awards:
Top Offensive Player: Kyle Cronin
Top Defensive Player: Paul Meucci
Most Improved: Dylan Janosik
Rookie of the Year: Mike Skelton
Most Dedicated to Lasell Soccer: Robby Gonzalez
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
GNAC Defensive Player of the Year: Amanda Major
GNAC Second Team All-Conference: Amanda Major
GNAC Player of the Week: Meghan Crozier
Springfield Invitational All-Tournament: Danielle Drapeau
Union Invitational All-Tournament: Meghan Crozier
Team Awards:
Most Valuable Player: Meghan Crozier
Most Improved: Danielle Drapeau
Most Inspirational: Eileen Barrett
Unsung Hero: Melanie Costa
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
GNAC Rookie of the Week: Christina Annicelli (2)
Team Awards:
Rookie of the Year: Christina Annicelli
Most Improved Runner: Ariella Harrington
Unsung Hero Award: Stephanie Hauck
Most Valuable Runner: Meghan Missett
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
GNAC Runner of the Week: Zachary Lambert
GNAC Rookie of the Week: Matthew Scully (4)
Team Awards:
Rookie of the Year: Matthew Scully
Most Improved Runner: Patrick Slight
Most Valuable Player: Zachary Lambert
MEN'S TRACK & FIELD
TBA
WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD
TBA
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
GNAC Rookie of the Week: Kim Archibald
Team Awards:
Most Valuable Player: Tricia Culver
Rookie of the Year: Kim Archibald
Most Improved Player: Brittany Jefferies
Unsung Hero: Victoria Elms
MEN'S BASKETBALL
ECAC Division III New England All-Star: Javon Williams
GNAC First Team All-Conference: Javon Williams
GNAC Player of the Week: Javon Williams
GNAC Rookie of the Week: Justin Harris (2), Brett Heimann
Team Awards:
Most Improved: Dominik Orlow
Most Valuable Player: Javon Williams
Coaches Award: Sean Joynes
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
GNAC First Team All-Conference: Brendan McGourn, Spencer Parker
GNAC Second Team All-Conference: Micah Aiu
GNAC Third Team All-Conference: Dan Rogers
Player of the Week: Mike Harrington
Rookie of the Week: Spencer Parker (3), Max Vaughan
MIT Invitational All-Tournament Team: Spencer Parker
Team Awards:
Unsung Hero: Micah Aiu
Most Improved Player: Mike Harrington
Rookie of the Year: Spencer Parker
Most Valuable Player: Brendan McGourn
SOFTBALL
GNAC Second Team All-Conference: Ashley Laramie
GNAC Third Team All-Conference: Kelly Barden, Rachelle Haas
GNAC Player of the Week: Tricia Culver
Team Awards:
Rookie of the Year: Rachelle Haas
Coaches Awards: Talia DeChiara, Tricia Culver, Kelly Barden
