In its annual Athletics Awards Ceremony last Sunday (May 1), the University of New England gathered to recognize the department's major award recipients for the 2010-2011 academic year, in addition to each team's Coach's Award honorees and several academic distinctions.

Women's basketball player Kelley Paradis was named Female Athlete of the Year. Paradis paced the TCCC's top offense with an average of 16.6 points per contest to garner first team all-conference accolades for the second straight season. She led the league in steals (3.8/game) and was sixth in blocks (1.5/game), on her way to being chosen as TCCC Defensive Player of the Year. During the year, Paradis, a junior, also became the 19th player in program history to eclipse the 1,000-point mark for her career. She was named Most Outstanding Player of the ECAC New England Championship as UNE captured its first-ever title in the event, and finished off the season with a first team all-state nod.

Ice hockey player Mike Roper was named Male Athlete of the Year. Roper, the only player to have competed in all four seasons of the program's existence, logged nearly two-thirds of the team's minutes between the pipes this season. His averaged over 30 saves per contest, and ranked 24th in Division III with 579 total saves. The senior backstopped UNE in one of its biggest triumphs ever, turning away 37 shots in a 5-2 victory over NESCAC-power Amherst College.

Field hockey and women's lacrosse player Hannah Tavella was named Female Rookie of the Year. In the fall, Tavella earned the distinction of TCCC Rookie of the Year, after finishing ranked in a tie for 1st in assists/game during league play. Her 10 helpers on the year were more than any other first-year player in program history. As part of the midfield unit, Tavella and Nor'easters captured the program's first-ever TCCC crown, and a berth into the NCAA Championship. With the lacrosse squad, she led the team in scoring with 41 goals and 10 assists, and received a TCCC honorable mention nod. On 10 different occasions, she scored at least three times, and reached UNE's single-game high for points (8) with a four-goal, four-assist effort against Regis. Among the TCCC ranks, Tavella ended up second in rookie scoring (39 points).

Golfer Tyler Moody was named Male Rookie of the Year. Moody recorded a team-low scoring average of 78.87 over six matches (eight rounds) this past fall. He finished in the top 10 of every tournament, including a season-best 3rd-place showing at the John Queenan Memorial hosted by Saint Joseph's. At the State Championship, Moody led UNE on both days of the competition, helping the Nor'easters end the six-year reign of Husson University -- and pick up the program's first-ever win in the event.

Women's basketball player Carrie Bunnell was named Female Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year. Bunnell was a Dean's List student in every semester during her four years, and recently graduated with a degree in applied exercise science. A three-time member of the TCCC academic all-conference team, she has also been inducted into the Alpha Chi and Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Societies. On the hardwood, Bunnell was selected to her second consecutive all-TCCC second team, and was named second team all-state. She averaged 13.6 points/game and drained a team-best 59 three-pointers this season, and became the 18th player in program history to score 1,000 career points in a late-season victory.

Men's lacrosse player Michael Woods was named Male Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year. Woods finished the spring season with 13 goals and 13 assists to rank fourth on the team in scoring, and garner yet another all-TCCC nod. He notched at least one point in 16 of 18 contests during the year, and closed the TCCC regular-season slate with 13 points in the final four outings. The two-year captain is a three-time member of the academic all-conference team, and holds Alpha Chi and Chi Alpha Sigma memberships as well. With a degree in applied exercise science, Woods will be moving on the University of Vermont next year as part of the Doctorate of Physical Therapy program.

Volleyball player Angie Gust was presented with the Female Senior Leadership Award. Gust served as tri-captain in the fall, and helped coordinate the volleyball team's strength and conditioning program for the past two seasons. Off the court, she has spent three years as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and represented UNE at the conference SAAC meeting. Gust also co-piloted a Pink-Out fundraiser for a volleyball tournament this year that raised $1,200 for breast cancer awareness.

Men's cross country runner Dan Kelleher was presented with the Male Senior Leadership Award. Kelleher completed his second season as co-captain in the fall. A resident advisor, orientation leader, and peer tutor on campus, he has attended and participated in several leadership conferences and seminars during his four years.

Tyler Kimbar was honored as the Athletic Training Student of the Year.

To view photos from the event, click HERE.

Below are the recipients of the Coach's Award for each team:

Griffin Andrews (Golf)
Carrie Bunnell (Women's Basketball)
Meghan Flynn (Volleyball)
Franco Foti (Men's Basketball)
Angie Gust (Volleyball)
Kiel Hiller (Men's Soccer)
Angel Jarmusz (Women's Lacrosse)
Sarah King (Women's Swimming)
Hayley LaPointe (Field Hockey)
Kristin Meza (Women's Soccer)
Jess Partlow (Women's Cross Country)
Kate Pemberton (Women's Soccer)
Zack Pinkham (Men's Cross Country)
Mike Roper (Men's Hockey)
Michael Woods (Men's Lacrosse)
Amber Zablowsky (Softball)
Cassie Zdrojeski (Women's Soccer)