At the conclusion of each academic year, during the Awards Night, the Department of Athletics brings together members of the university’s athletic community to celebrate the many academic, athletic, and humanitarian accomplishments of our staff members and student-athletes. The evening concludes each year with a moving tribute to the senior student-athletes.

Please click here for a description of the major awards.
Please click here to view the photo gallery of the evening's festivities.

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DaLuze, Moragne Receive Lester H. Cushing Awards
for UML Athletes of the Year

Joanna DaLuze, a senior from Harwich, MA, and Stacey Moragne, a senior from Evanston, IL, were named the female and male recipients of the Lester H. Cushing Award Tuesday night at the UMass Lowell Excellence Banquet at the Campus Recreation Center.

The honors are the latest of many for DaLuze and Moragne, who each guided their teams to magnificent seasons in the 2005-06 academic year. DaLuze led the UML field hockey team to the NCAA Division II Championship when she scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 overtime win against 11-time champion Bloomsburg.

Moragne guided the men’s basketball team to the NCAA Tournament Northeast Regional Championship game (round of 16) this season.

The Lester H. Cushing Award is presented to the outstanding UML student-athletes. Former winners include basketball standout Elad Inbar (2003-04) and former hockey standout and current Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ron Hainsey (2000-01); as well as former track and field standout Jill Croft, a three-time winner from 1999-2002.

DaLuze is the third field hockey player in as many years to win the Cushing Award and follows former midfielder Jackie Driscoll (2004-05) and goalkeeper Patrice Mendoza (2003-04).

Moragne is the second men’s basketball player over the last three years to earn the award along with Inbar in 2004.

Joanna DaLuze, Field Hockey

Since DaLuze’s arrival in 2003 – she transferred to UML after her freshman season at the University of Albany – the field hockey team has posted a three-year record of 54-14 (.794) which includes three appearances in the NCAA Tournament and the 2005 national championship.

Additionally, the River Hawks captured the Northeast-10 Tournament title in 2003 and 2004 and shared the title in 2005 after winning the regular season.

Last fall, DaLuze was named the NE-10 Co-Player of the Year and earned All-American honors for the second straight year. She also earned Division II player of the year honors from the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and women’sfieldhockey.com.

“To have one of the most decorated field hockey players in UMass Lowell history receive this honor is truly amazing,” said UML’s head coach Shannon Hlebichuk. “Joanna has not only been amazing over this past year, but the past three years. She has been instrumental, along with her entire senior class, in putting the UMass Lowell Field Hockey program in the national spotlight.”

Additionally, DaLuze has been a model student with a 3.3 grade point average in exercise physiology and was one of 29 Division I, II and III student-athletes to receive the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. DaLuze will graduate in December of 2006 and will pursue her master’s degree in exercise physiology.

DaLuze was also a four-year member of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II National Academic Squad.

“What sets Joanna apart is her humbleness,” Hlebichuk added. “She would have much rather been up on the stage presenting this award to her teammates than to receive it herself.”

A graduate of Harwich H.S., DaLuze is the daughter of Clifford and Mary DaLuze of Harwich, MA.

Stacey Moragne, Basketball

Moragne has also been an impact player since coming to UML in 2002 and has helped the men’s basketball program to a four-year clip of 95-31 (.754), including a 21-10 record this season.

Additionally, the River Hawks have advanced to the NCAA Tournament in three of the last four years, winning the NCAA Tournament Northeast Regional in 2003 and 2004 and advancing to the regional final in 2006.

The Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Year in 2005 and Co-Player of the Year in 2006, Moragne helped lead the River Hawks to NE-10 tournament and regular season crowns in 2003 and 2004.

Moragne was also named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II All-America team each of the last two years and was selected to play in the inaugural NABC Division II Senior All-Star Game at the Elite Eight in March.

“Over the course of a coaching career, it would be considered lucky to have the opportunity to coach a truly special player,” said UML head coach Ken Barer. “Stacey is one of those players. He has always seemed to exceed expectations and, like a true champion, plays his best when it counts the most. This is a great honor for a young man who has worked extremely hard over the course of his career.”

Along with his many awards, Moragne was named to the NABC Northeast Region All-Star Team, the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division II Team as well as the Daktronics and Basketball Times All-America teams.

Moragne leaves the program having etched his name in many places in the record books. He ranks third in scoring (2,041 points) and rebounding (839) and second in field goals made (773) and field goal percentage (.558) among many other areas.

In the NE-10, Moragne ranked among top 10 leaders in six categories, including scoring (first, 21.0), 3-point field goal accuracy (second, .458) and rebounding (fifth, 7.6).

“When you consider the caliber of athletes here at UMass Lowell, it makes tonight's honor even more special,” Barer added. “It has been an honor to coach Stacey not only because of his talents on the court, but because of his high quality of character.  Great things lie ahead for this young man.”

Moragne is a graduate of Evanston Township H.S. He is the son of Stacey Moragne, Sr., of Evanston, IL, and Marilyn Eason of Chicago, IL.

Handy Named Recipient of Laurie Mann Award;
Robins Receives Boutin Award for UML Student-Athletes of the Year
UML Duo Cited for Athletic and Academic Excellence, Service to UML and City of Lowell Communities

Julie Handy, a senior from Yorba Linda, CA, and Bobby Robins, a senior from Peshtigo, WI, received the Laurie Mann and David Boutin Awards for the female and male student-athletes of the year Tuesday night at the UMass Lowell Excellence Banquet at the Campus Recreation Center.

The Laurie Mann and David Boutin Awards are presented to the outstanding female and male student-athletes who most effectively balance the rigors of athletics, academics, leadership and service to the community.

A four-year member of both the track and field and volleyball teams, Handy graduates as the first volleyball player in UML history to go to the NCAA Tournament all four years. Robins, who served as captain of the hockey team, was recently signed by the Binghamton Senators of the AHL for the final 14 games of their season.

Both Handy and Robins were among three female and male finalists for the honors. On the women’s side, junior distance runner Nicole Plante (North Adams, MA) and junior softball standout Vikki Guido (Winchester, MA) were the runners-up while senior distance runner Patrick Morasse (Lowell, MA) and sophomore centerfielder Tim Manton (Swansea, MA) were finalists on the men’s side.

Former recipients of the Laurie Mann Award include standout multi-athlete Shannon Seidel (2004-05), All-American field hockey players Martha Marsden (2003-04) and Nicole LeBlanc (2001-02), and former volleyball standout Erin Miller (2002-03).

Former winners of the David Boutin Award include baseball standouts Nate Liebenow (2004-05) and Adam McCusker (2002-03), current Olympic marathon hopeful Nate Jenkins (2003-04), and former football player Bobby Montgomery (2001-02).

The Laurie Mann Award is named after the former UML women’s basketball player who passed a way in 1998 after battling cancer. The David Boutin Award is named after the former catcher who also lost his life after a lengthy bout with cancer in 1991.

Julie Handy (Volleyball/Track & Field)

More impressive than being a rare two-sport athlete, Handy has excelled at a high level at both volleyball and track and field while maintaining a 3.159 grade point average and volunteering for numerous projects to benefit the UML and City of Lowell communities.

She capped her volleyball career last fall having earned American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Northeast Region and Northeast-10 Conference First Team honors for the third straight year.

Over her four seasons, Handy led the volleyball team to a combined record of 79-42 (.653), including a 19-10 clip as a senior which saw UML advance to the NCAA Tournament before falling, 3-1, to Bentley in the first round. With her inclusion on the AVCA All-New England Team, Handy was also named to the AVCA Honorable Mention All-America Team.

“Julie was a young woman who was close to her family and came across the country to play volleyball,” said head volleyball coach Karen McNulty. “It was a big risk for her and she excelled. Without question it is a credit to her and her upbringing. Athletically, she is made up of something a little different than most athletes. That is evident with all that she has accomplished.”

In the winter and spring, Handy is a standout sprinter/hurdler on the indoor and outdoor track and field teams. She highlighted the indoor season by placing 10^th at the NCAA Championship in the 4X400 meter relay and 16^th in the 60 meter hurdles.

Last spring, she captured the 100 and 400 meter hurdles at the New England Championships, which includes schools and athletes from all three NCAA Divisions. During the 2005-06 indoor season, she earned All-New England honors in both the 55 meter hurdles and the 4X400. She also won the NE-10 Championship in the 55 meter hurdles.

In the midst of the spring season, Handy has provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championship in three events: the 100 and 400 meter hurdles and the 4X400 meter relay.

A health education major, Handy will be presented the Chancellor’s Medal at the 2006 Commencement for her accomplishments in athletics, academics and community service. She is a two-time recipient of UML’s National Student-Athlete Day award, presented to the those who achieve the highest fall semester grade point averages on each team.

Handy has also been an active volunteer with the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) Girls Sports Clinics, Habitat for Humanity, and fundraising for the UML Catholic Center. She is also a three-year member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and served as the chair for the 2005-06 academic year.

“On top of everything, Julie is truly a great person,” McNulty added. “I am thrilled she represents our program and our athletic department. She is a great representative for us, and needless to say she will be missed.”

Handy is the daughter of Bruce and Debbie Handy of Yorba Linda, CA.

Bobby Robins (Ice Hockey)

A finalist a year ago, Robins is the first hockey player since the 1999-2000 academic year to win the David Boutin Award (Craig Brown was the 1999-00 recipient).

Robins compiled team-highs of 13 goals and 18 assists (31 points) this season, along with a team-high six power play goals as the River Hawks skated to a 14-20-2 record (11-14-2 in Hockey East).

For his career, Robins played in 127 games with 32 goals, 37 assists (69 points). He was the recipient of several honors this year, including the team’s most valuable player and the G. Harvey Chandler Award for leading scorer.

Additionally, Robins received the University of Maine’s Toughest Opponent Award and was also named to the Hockey East Weekly Honor Roll four times during the season.

“Bobby deserves all the credit for being able to be passionate in a lot of areas and manage his time effectively,” said UML head coach Blaise MacDonald. “He was able to have his senior year be his best year because of his discipline.”

Shortly after the season, Robins joined the Binghamton Senators of the AHL and compiled three goals and three assists in 14 games while he completed his coursework online.

An English major with an emphasis on writing, Robins has maintained a 3.427 cumulative average and has achieved Dean’s List honors all seven semesters.

Robins has earned the Hockey East All-Academic Award three straight years, and is expected to receive it a fourth time when it is announced in June.

Along with his coursework and the rigors of Division I athletics, Robins has been an active leader and volunteer on the UML campus and in the City of Lowell. During his time at UML, Robins has solicited food from door-to-door to benefit the Merrimack Valley Food Bank. He has also been a volunteer at the Lowell Folk Festival and the Merrimack Valley Special Olympics.

Additionally, Robins has been a three-year member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and has worked on endeavors such as the Holiday Adopt-A-Family project. With the ice hockey team, he has taken part in the Learn-to-Skate Program and served as a clinician in the Junior River Hawk Hockey Clinics.

Robins is the son of Rod and Adelina Robins of Peshtigo, WI.

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2006 Student-Athlete Award Recipients

The Student-Athlete Award is presented each year to the student-athlete on each team who best demonstrates the proper balance of academics and athletics. The recipients must present a previous semester or overall GPA of 2.5 or higher, and be a varsity letter winner. 

	BASEBALL: A native of Swansea, MA, this sophomore captured Northeast-10 All-Conference honors as a freshman. Representing the baseball team with a 3.5 grade point average in business administration is Tim Manton.
	MEN'S BASKETBALL: A native of Lake Park, FL, this senior was a Northeast-10 Conference all-star, scored 1,000 points and helped lead his team to a four-year record of 95-31. Representing the men’s basketball team with a 2.5 grade point average in business management is Brandon Arnette.
	WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: A senior from Audubon, PA , she became the 12th player in school history to score more than 1,000 points for her career. Representing the women’s basketball team with a 3.4 grade point average in the community social psychology graduate program is Mariette Guillaume.
	MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK & FIELD: A native of Lowell, MA, this senior holds five school records and has been crowned an All-American three times entering his final season. Representing both the men’s cross country and track & field teams with a 2.6 grade point average in mechanical engineering is Patrick Morasse.
	WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK & FIELD: A native of North Adams, MA, this junior is an All-American in both cross country and outdoor track and field. She holds every distance running record and has qualified for the NCAA Championship in a staggering four distance events this season. A member of the women’s cross country and track & field teams with a 3.37 grade point average in nursing is Nicole Plante.
	FIELD HOCKEY: This sophomore from Harwich, MA, was a starting defender who helped backstop her team to the national championship and has twice been named to the Division II National Academic Squad. Representing the field hockey team with a 3.46 grade point average in business administration is Jayne Vagenas.
	GOLF: A native of Edgartown, MA, this junior is a Northeast-10 Conference all-star and became the first player since 1997 to qualify and play in the NCAA championship. Representing the golf team with a 3.25 grade point average in history is Chris Menne.
	ICE HOCKEY: A native of Peshtigo, Wisc., this senior led his team in scoring and recently signed a professional contract with the Binghamton Senators of the AHL. He has earned Dean’s List honors seven times and an overall grade point average with a 3.42 in English, the hockey recipient is Bobby Robins.
	MEN'S SOCCER:  A resident of North Andover, MA, this senior graduates as the best goalkeeper to wear a River Hawk uniform. He has shattered every individual goalkeeping record while leading his team to a four-year record of 53-18-10. Representing the men’s soccer team with a 3.06 grade point average in accounting is Bobby Ritter.
	WOMEN'S SOCCER:  A native of Wakefield, MA, this sophomore was instrumental in leading her team to its best season in school history as well as its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. She has also been a near-flawless student, earning such honors as ESPN The Magazine Northeast Region Academic All-America. A member of the women’s soccer team, with a 3.95 average in accounting---Celia Merullo.
	SOFTBALL: This junior from Winchester, MA, recently set the single season record for saves while batting .303 this season and has guided her team to a two-year record of 56-29. Representing the softball team with a 3.23 grade point average in exercise physiology is Vikki Guido.
	VOLLEYBALL: This resident of Yorba Linda, CA, is a three-time Northeast-10 Conference and Northeast Region all-star and has led her team to four straight NCAA Tournaments. She is also a standout hurdler on the track and field team.  Representing the volleyball team with a 3.16 grade point average in health education is Julie Handy.

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Other major award winners

BOB GRIFFIN ACADEMIC CUP - presented to the men's and women's teams that have achieved the highest overall team grade point average.

• Men - Ice Hockey: overall GPA 3.06
• Women - Volleyball: overall GPA 3.3

ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS

• Field Hockey: Joanna DaLuze, Michelle Harrington, Sasha Lovejoy, Missy Seeley, Jayne Vagenas
• Women's Soccer: Celia Merullo
• Women's Track & Field (2005): Danielle Joyce, Shannon Seidel

ALL-AMERICANS

• ‘05 Outdoor Track & Field: Nicole Plante, Esia Johnson, Tristin Johnson, Toni-Marie Henry
• Men’s Basketball: Stacey Moragne
• Women's Cross Country: Nicole Plante
• Field Hockey:  Joanna DaLuze, Courtney Hill, Sara Hohenberger, Josselyn Mroz, Kim Villare
• Men's Indoor Track & Field: Clint Cooper, Joey DeWitt, John Drinkwater, Andrew Grange, Patrick Molloy, Patrick Morasse, Diego Pinheiro
• Women's Indoor Track & Field: Esia Johnson
• Volleyball:  Julie Handy

COACHES’ AWARDS

• Gary Gardner: (W) Cross Country - Northeast-10 Coach of the Year; NCAA Division II Northeast Region Women’s Coach of the Year; (W) Indoor Track & Field - Northeast-10 Coach of the Year; (M&W) Indoor Track & Field - NCAA Northeast Region Coach of the Year; (M&W) Outdoor Track & Field - 2005 NCAA Northeast Region Coach of the Year
• Shannon Hlebichuk: Field Hockey - Northeast-10 Coach of the Year; NFHCA Division II North Coach of the Year; NFHCA Division II Coach of the Year
• Elie Monteiro: (W) Soccer - Northeast-10 Coach of the Year
• Harry Sauter: Softball - 2005 Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year

TEAM AWARDS

• Baseball: 2005 NCAA Tournament
• Men’s Basketball: NCAA Tournament - advanced to the Northeast Regional finalist (round of 16
• Men’s Cross Country: NCAA Championship (17th)
• Women’s Cross Country: NCAA Northeast Region Champion; Northeast-10 Conference Champion; NCAA Championship (17th)
• Field Hockey: NCAA Division II Champions; Northeast 10 Conference Regular Season Champion; Northeast-10 Conference Tournament Co-Champion
• Golf: One student-athlete qualified for the NCAA Championship
• Women’s Soccer: NCAA Tournament
• Men’s Indoor Track & Field: Seven student-athletes qualified for NCAA Championships (seven All-Americans)
• Women’s Indoor Track & Field: Six student-athletes qualified for NCAA Championships (one All-American); Northeast-10 Champion
• Men’s Outdoor Track & Field (2005): Six student-athletes qualified for NCAA Championships
• Women’s Outdoor Track & Field (2005): Four student-athletes qualified for NCAA Championships (one All-American)
• Volleyball: NCAA Tournament

THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED POST SEASON ALL-STAR RECOGNITION

Bob Theriault-05 Baseball Miles Page-05 Baseball Nate Liebenow-05 Baseball Patrick Wilson-05 Baseball Peter Nickerson-05 Baseball Ronnie Nelson-05 Baseball Tim Manton-05 Baseball Kristen Mahoney-05 Softball Laurie Tanguay-05 Softball Sara Farias-05 Softball Tabitha Hebert-05 Softball Ashley Moulton-05 Track & Field Chris Kapfer-05 Track & Field Clint Cooper-05 Track & Field Cyrus Newbegin-05 Track & Field Danielle Joyce-05 Track & Field Diego Pinheiro-05 Track & Field Enjoli Edwards-05 Track & Field Erik Hamilton-05 Track & Field Erin Doherty-05 Track & Field Esia Johnson-05 Track & Field Gillian Mundry-05 Track & Field Jahmone Duhaney-05 Track & Field Jared Hoffman-05 Track & Field Jason Beausoleil-05 Track & Field Jason Paige-05 Track & Field Jeff Meehan-05 Track & Field Jenn Clark-05 Track & Field Jill Thibodeau-05 Track & Field Josette Pierre-Louis-05 Track & Field Julie Handy-05 Track & Field Matt Pagos-05 Track & Field

Melanie Borodawka-05 Track & Field Mike Shaw-05 Track & Field Nate Potter-05 Track & Field Nicole Plante-05 Track & Field Patrick Morasse-05 Track & Field Rocky LeFort-05 Track & Field Ryan Leger-05 Track & Field Shanna Kornachuk-05 Track & Field Shannon Seidel-05 Track & Field Terry Young-05 Track & Field Toni-Marie Henry-05 Track & Field Wally Sacco-05 Track & Field Brandon Arnette-Basketball Stacey Moragne-Basketball Brandon McKinnon-Cross Country Emily Thomas-Cross Country Jason Beausoleil-Cross Country Robin Osbourne-Cross Country Ruben Sanca-Cross Country Amanda Sousa-Cross Country, T&F Christina DaLomba-Cross Country, T&F Joey DeWitt-Cross Country, T&F Nicole Plante-Cross Country, T&F Patrick Morasse-Cross Country, T&F Rex Radloff-Cross Country, T&F Sarah Merullo-Cross Country, T&F Steve Plouffe-Cross Country, T&F Courtney Hill-Field Hockey Joanna DaLuze-Field Hockey Josselyn Mroz-Field Hockey Kim Villare-Field Hockey Nicole Staiti-Field Hockey Sara Hohenberger-Field Hockey

Chris Menne-Golf Andrew Doherty-Soccer Caitlin Leary-Soccer Christian Figueroa-Soccer Kristin Mahoney-Soccer Matias Pietropinto-Soccer Mike Cafeteiro-Soccer Andrew Grange-Track & Field Ashley Moulton-Track & Field Brittani Goldsby-Track & Field Clint Cooper-Track & Field Coreen Edward-Track & Field Corilynn Smith-Track & Field Diana Singleton-Track & Field Diego Pinheiro-Track & Field Enjoli Edwards-Track & Field Esia Johnson-Track & Field Gillian Mundry-Track & Field Jeff Destino-Track & Field Jill Thibodeau-Track & Field John Drinkwater-Track & Field Lawrence Aidoo-Track & Field Melanie Borodawka-Track & Field Patrick Molloy-Track & Field Ruben Sanca-Track & Field Sarah Brassard-Track & Field Terry Young-Track & Field Toni-Marie Henry-Track & Field Tristin Johnson-Track & Field Julie Handy-T&F, Volleyball Caitlin Harte-Volleyball Katie Harrington-Volleyball

Congratulations to the Class of 2006!