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Messina, Nylen Named Athletes
of the Year
Manchester, N.H. (April 30, 2003)- The Saint Anselm
College 40th annual Athletic Committee's Athletics Awards Night
was held last night in Stoutenburgh Gym on the campus of Saint Anselm
College. Among the many awards, the coveted Male and Female
Athletes of the Year were presented, along with the Senior Student
Athlete Awards. The Athletes of the Year were persented by Ernie
Yerrington '83, Vice President of the Anselmian Athletic Club. The
Senior Student-Athlete Awards were presented by Fr. Augustine G.
Kelly, OSB, Dean of the College.
Nylen proved himself to be the next in a long line of great soccer players to come through the College. After earning all-conference accolades as a junior, the Ipswich, Massachusetts native earned recognition as one of the best players in the country in this his senior season. Nylen was named the NE-10's Defensive Player of the Year. He also led the Hawks in scoring with seven goals and 17 points.
He was the backbone of a Saint Anselm defense that recorded seven
shutouts and did not allow more than two goals in a single game
this season. He led the team with four game-winning goals. He went
on to earn honors as a NSCAA first team All-New England, and All-American
defenseman, becoming the school's fifth All-American in the last
three seasons. Kevin has also recently signed a contract with the
Wilmington, N.C. Hammer Heads of the USL Pro Select League and will
join them on May 20.
Messina has been a staple of the Hawks' pitching rotation
for years. Three years ago, the Woburn, Massachusetts native was
the Northeast-10 Freshman of the Year. She has been a first team
All-Conference member in each of the last two years. This season,
the hard-throwing lefty has posted a 10-7 record with a miniscule
0.92 ERA. With several games till remaining this year, Messina has
struck out 151 batters and only allowed 11 walks. She has registered
double figures in strikeouts on five separate occasions this year
including April 25th against Saint Michael's when she notched 13
Ks to break the school record of strikeouts in a career. To date,
Messina has sent 646 batters back to the bench. Besserer saved his best season on the hard courts
for last. At number two singles, Mike posted a 10-4 overall record
which included an 8-3 mark in conference play. Mike ended the regular
season on a six-match winning streak in singles play and on Monday,
was named to the Northeast-10 Conference third team. He is a member
of the Collegiate All-American Scholar Program, the Omicron Delta
Epsilon and International Economics Honor Societies, and a member
of Pi Gamma Mu, the Social Sciences Honor Society. His overall GPA
of 3.5 also places him in Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College
Student-Athlete Honor Society.
Ruggiero has been at the center of a strong Saint
Anselm defensive unit in each of her four seasons. This year was
no difference as she started all 17 games. The Hawks recorded seven
shutouts, three of them lasting into over time. She is a member
of both the Saint Elizabeth and Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor
Societies. Her overall GPA of 3.6 also places her in Chi Alpha Sigma,
the National College Student-Athlete Honor Society. |
