The annual Hofstra Pride Student-Athlete Awards Banquet, presented by the Hofstra Pride Club, was held this evening at the Hofstra University Arena. The banquet honors the many student-athletes, athletic trainers and spirit support personnel for their hard work during the year. Among the numerous awards given out were the following major awards:
Sylvia Giallombardo Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award
Chrissy Arnone, Soccer
Senior midfielder Chrissy Arnone is a co-recipient of the Sylvia Giallombardo Award given to Hofstra's female scholar-athlete of the year. A physical education major, Chrissy has a 3.74 GPA and posted a 3.70 GPA during the fall 2005 semester and was named a second team Academic All-American. She was a second team Academic All-District pick as a junior.
Chrissy excelled on the field as well as the classroom, leading Hofstra with 10 goals in 2005 - the first 10-goal scorer in five seasons for the Pride. Chrissy helped the Pride to their first Colonial Athletic Association Championship and first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. Chrissy scored the game-winning goal in the CAA semifinals and her six game-winning goals led the CAA. As a junior she led the team with eight goals and 20 points and in her career tallied 19 goals and eight assists for 46 points. Chrissy finishes her Hofstra career ranked sixth in career goals and seventh in career points.
Tessa Sphar, Volleyball
Senior outside hitter Tessa Sphar is a co-recipient of the Sylvia Giallombardo Award given to Hofstra's female scholar-athlete of the year. A public relations major with a 3.67 GPA, Tessa was named the 2005 Colonial Athletic Association Scholar-Athlete of the Year in volleyball and was an Academic All-District selection in 2004 and 2005.
On the court, Sphar earned first team All-CAA honors for the third year in a row after leading the Pride to the 2005 CAA regular season championship, Hofstra's first since joining the conference. Tessa was second on the team in kills with 325. She was also first on the team in service aces (24) and third in digs (333). Sphar ranks among Hofstra's top 10 in career kills (fifth) and digs (ninth), and is only the fifth player in school history to record more than 1,000 kills (1,362) and 1,000 digs (1,109).
Dr. Giallombardo, who retired from Hofstra University three years ago after 46 years of service, was Chairperson of the Physical Education Department, Director of Women's Athletics and most recently, Associate Provost.
James M. Shuart Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award
Nikola Djordjevic, Tennis
Senior tennis player Nikola Djordjevic earns his third consecutive Dr. James M. Shuart Award as the male scholar-athlete of the year. Djordjevic, a finance major with a 3.94 GPA, also excelled on the court as he posted a 24-5 singles record in 2005-06 and was a second team All-Colonial Athletic Association selection in singles. Nikola also teamed with his brother, Luka, to earn third team All-CAA doubles honors.
In his career, Nikola posted a 95-23 singles record and a 44-27 mark in doubles play. He was the 2002-03 CAA Rookie of the Year, a second team all-conference selection in 2003-04 and a first team selection in 2004-05. A second team Academic All-American as a junior and a second team Academic All-District pick as a sophomore, Nikola was also the 2004-05 CAA Men's Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a three-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Scholar-Athlete.
Dr. Shuart was the President of Hofstra University from 1976-2001. In addition, he was a two-sport student-athlete at Hofstra, playing both football and lacrosse.
Nathalie J. Smith Female Athlete of the Year Award
Ashley Lane, Softball
Ashley Lane, a junior outfielder on the softball team, is a co-recipient of the Nathalie J. Smith Award given to Hofstra's female athlete of the year. This season Ashley has led Hofstra to a 33-17 record and leads the team with a .370 average, 57 hits, 12 home runs and 50 RBIs. She ranks second on the squad with 10 doubles and 41 runs scored.
Ashley has already become the Pride's career home run leader with 30 so far and is the first player in school history to post two 10-home run seasons, and is just the second player with two 40-RBI campaigns. She has been a first team All-Colonial Athletic Association in each of her three seasons and was named the 2006 CAA Player of the Year. Ashley has also been a first team all-region selection in each of her first two seasons and is a strong candidate to make the team for a third time this year.
Ashley helped the Pride to a school record 43 wins last season and has been part of two CAA Championship teams that have posted six NCAA Tournament victories in the last two years.
Sue Weber, Soccer
Sue Weber, a sophomore defender on the soccer team is a co-recipient of the Nathalie J. Smith Award given to Hofstra's female athlete of the year. In her first season in a Hofstra uniform, Weber led the Pride to its first CAA title and the first NCAA Tournament berth in school history, anchoring a defense that allowed just three goals in 11 conference games and 0.69 goals per game overall.
For her efforts, Sue was a third team All-America selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and was also named the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Defensive Player of the Year. Sue also earned first team NSCAA All-Region and first team All-CAA accolades, and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the CAA Tournament.
Dr. Smith began the volleyball and women's lacrosse programs at Hofstra and was a member of the United States Women's Lacrosse National team.
Howard "Howdy" Myers Male Student-Athlete of the Year Award
Chris Unterstein, Lacrosse
Senior attackman Chris Unterstein is the recipient of the Howdy Myers Award, which is given to Hofstra's top male student-athlete. The 2006 Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, a member of the 2006 Tewaaraton Trophy Watch List and an All-America candidate, Chris leads the second-ranked Pride in points with 72 and assists with 34, to go along with his 38 goals. Chris has helped Hofstra to a 16-1 record in 2006 and a school record 16-game winning streak.
Chris currently has a 26-game point-scoring streak and ranks first in points per game (4.40), seventh in assists per game (2.07) and 10th in goals per game (2.33) in Division I. He has also tallied 15 multi-point games in 17 contests this season, including a career-high nine points at Robert Morris.
An All-CAA first team selection in 2006, Chris was a second team All-CAA pick last season and a first team selection as a sophomore. He currently has scored 80 goals and recorded 77 assists for 157 points in his career.
"Howdy" Myers served as Hofstra University's Director of Athletics, Head Men's Lacrosse Coach and Head Football Coach for a quarter century.
2006 OUTSTANDING SENIOR ATHLETE AWARD RECIPIENTS
Sport, Outstanding Senior Athlete
Baseball, Ricky Caputo
Men's Basketball, Aurimas Kieza
Women's Basketball, Amaka Agugua
Men's Cross Country, Adam Morrison
Women's Cross Country, Maggie DeVito
Field Hockey, Sekayi Liburd
Football, Devale Ellis
Men's Golf, Jason Paul
Women's Golf, Meg Cullinane
Men's Lacrosse, John Orsen
Women's Lacrosse, Jaime Irving
Men's Soccer, Matthew Telling
Women's Soccer, Becky Wachsberger
Softball, Kristin Galeone
Men's Tennis, Nikola Djordjevic
Women's Tennis, Erika Reggiani
Volleyball, Tessa Sphar
Wrestling, Jon Masa
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