The Golden 'Gate Awards!
What would a year be without some post season awards? And who better to decide who gets these awards than the fans? This page will serve to present all the nominees and give you information on them. The voting itself will take place on our fanpoll quizlet on the message board page. Since nominations are subjective you are allowed to write in candidates by posting a message on the message boad. If the candidate recieves enough write in's to constitute 10% of the vote they will be made an official nominee on this page. You have a week on each catergory and in the event of a close race or if we feel that something suspicious is happening (multiple votes by one person) me and Mike reserve the right to select the winner based on our opinions and the opinions we see on the message board, so don't just vote, speak up for your candidate as well!
Goalie of the year
What would a team be without a good solid netminder? Colgate has had thier share of players who have excelled at this position this year. Here are your nominees.
Jen Burtraw
Colgate womens hockey doesn't get much attention, but Jen Burtraw was a freshman standout on the team. She won 14 out of 15 league games while boasting a 1.3 GAA and a .941 save percentage. Perhaps even more impressive than that was her 6 league shutouts, 3 non league shutouts, and shutouts in the first two rounds of the ECAC playoffs, bringing the team to the finals for the first time.
Kelly Tyrell
Kelly has had a great career with Colgate and will be sorely missed when she graduates this year. Her impact on the womens soccer team was enormous. She was voted defensive player of the year by the Patriot League. In the league she allowed less than 1 goal per game. On the season she had 5 shutouts including 2 league shutouts and a .912 save percentage. The numbers don't tell you how incredible some of her saves were and how hard it would have been for Colgate to win the Patriot league tournament every year she started in net.
Shep Harder
Shep went 20-5-2. His Save percentage was .915 and he allowed about 2.5 goals per game. Shep was also an amazing pressure goalie. 9 of his wins came in 1 goal games. He was there when the team needed him. He also set a school record by earning 4 shutouts! Shep gave the team confidence. He could keep the team in any game. Without straying from his crease, he was one of the most intimidating players on the ice. Either by blocking shot after shot, or by his overall toughness. He finished his first shutout over Colorado College, just minutes after vommiting in the net after taking several shots from CC players. He was one of the most important players on the team.
Offensive player of the year
Colgate has done a good job putting numbers on the board this year. Sometimes we just uterly dominated out opponents, here are the players most responsible for all that offense.
Ryan Vena
Three time Patriot League player of the year, Ryan's skills as a quarterback, propelled the team to three Patriot League titles. He was the sort of player who could just will the ball downfield. Even as a quarterback he was the teams second leading rusher, averaging 50 yards per game. Vena also threw for 175 yards per game and amassed nearly 2000 passing yards on the season. Vena's toughness and ability led the team to a nearly undefeated regular season.
Randel Joseph
Of course, when Vena decided to hand the ball off the most likely recipient would be this man right here. Joseph broke a Colgate record by scoring 4 touchdowns in one game, even more impressive than that is the fact that he didn't even enter the game until halftime! Despite missing two and a half games, he was first in the league in total yardage, yards per carry and yards per game. Randel's ability came from his quick legs and ability to shake off tackles. I remember several occasions seeing him dissapear in a crowd of defensemen, lose him for a second, and then see him still on his feet several yards down field. He's an amazing player to watch.
Andy McDonald
He's Andy McDonald... He was second in the league in goals, first in assists, first in power play goals, you get the idea. He was named ECAC player of the year and was selected as an All American. His ability was just overflowing. He had the scoring touch, he could make great passes as well. He could get the puck up ice through expert skating and stickhandling, he was just an all around great playmaker. He will go down as one of the greatest to ever lace the skates for Colgate.
Heather Murphy
It seemed like Heather Murphy was always one step ahead of her competitors on the ice. Only a sophomore, she led the division in points and assists and game winning goals. On the team she was far and away the teams top scorer and also led in assists. Not only was Heather faster than any player on the ice, she was also and excellent stickhandler and team player. She had a deadly slapshot that most oposing teams goals were not used to which led to some nice goals and rebounds. Heather was the only Colgate player to be named to the ECAC division 3 womens hockey first line.
Angela Puliafico
The Colgate womens soccer team went with a 2 foward formation this year. Coach Brawn was counting on the defense and the two lone fowards to put the numbers on the board. In a close race, I choose Angela for the nomination. Overall, she was 4th in the team in goals, and led the team in assists. The reason I picked her though, is because she was the teams playmaker, plain and simple. Angela often took the ball upfield all by herself before making a great shot or pass. Her speed and ball handleing skills were unsurpassed by anyone on the field. She was the sort of player opposing coaches feared and they had to change their stradegies to deal with her. Whenever she was on the field, you could never count her out.
Pat Campolieta
At the end of the mens basketball season, sophomore Pat Campolieta was the one who provided the most offense to the team. He led the team in shooting percentage from the floor with just above .500. He led the team in league offenseive rebounds and most importantly, scored a consistant 15 points every game. He proved to be a vital part of the teams success all season.
Biggest win
Which win was the most exciting? The most important to the team? The biggest upset? Colgate's had some great wins this year, which was your favorite?
Football- Lehigh- Nov 6 th
This was the game that would decide the Patriot League championship, Colgate had one loss and Lehigh was undefeated. Lehigh dominated the first quarter and got out to a big 17 point lead. Colgate closed in during the second quarter but Lehigh was still up by 11 at the start of the 4th. The Colgate crowd became electric as Colgate drove the ball downfield. 15 points later, Colgate emerged victorious and would go on to win the Patriot league by virtue of this win.
Womens Soccer- Navy- Nov 7th
The Patriot League championship was hosted at Colgate this year. Navy came out and showed they were ready to get down and dirty. Colgate then proved that they were the best team in the league. Navy was unable to crack the Colgate defense and Colgate put everything together to score twice. Navy had some good shots but Colgate had a better goalie. A decisive victory, Colgate wins the league.
Womens Basketball- Bucknell- Jan 26th
Bucknell was the higher ranked team and have been looking good all season. Colgate has been growing together as a team and has been playing very solidly. Colgate played well all game and made a great game out of this. This was the best home basketball game all season. Colgate won it at the very end 59-57.
Men's Hockey- Cornell- Jan 29th
Cornell is one of the hardest teams to beat on the road. The atmosphere at Lynah is amazing and sometimes distracting. Cornell also knows its rink very well, the boards can take a lot of getting used to, which has always beena huge advantage for them. Colgate had the lead early, then the game was tied. Late in the 3rd, Colgate scored, then again a little later to seal the game. Colgate got a 4 point weekend in the series with Cornell and it helped us to eventually take second in the ECAC. It was also the first sweep of Cornell since 94-95. The win was both useful and against our arch rivals.
Mens Lacrosse- Army - March 28th
Colgate has never beaten Army in Lacrosse, not 1 win in 19 games spanning back to 1923! That is, until this year. In an otherwise somewhat inconsistant season, the entire team put forth a great effort to win this game. Colgate pushed the Cadets all game, and scored the go ahead goal with about 2 minutes left. Army gained control of the ball after that, and was just looking for thier opening to tie the game again. We didn't let them have it, Colgate wins 11-10!
Mens Hockey- Yale - March 10th
This was the first game of the playoffs after a great regular season run. What made this game so great, was how hard both teams were fighting to advance to Lake Placid. Many Colgate fans opted not to head out early for spring break to catch this game, and the crowd was incredible! Yale scored the first 3 goals of the game, making some people start to worry about Colgate's post season aspirations. Two mistakes by Yale led to two powerplays, both of which Colgate happily capitalized on, we were back in the game! Both teams traded goals heading into the final period. Great offensive chances and even better saves made this game great to watch. Down by 2, Sean Nolan decided he would be the one to step up into the spotlight. He took a great pass in for a goal, then tipped one of Murphys shots into the back of the net. This game was going to overtime. 53 seconds in, Murphy made another nice pass to, you guessed it, Sean Nolan, who, by sheer will and great skill, got the puck up ice and ended the game!
Rookie of the Year
A star has to start somewhere. These atheletes have begun to prove themselves allready in their first year of play for the Red Raiders. These are the people to watch in the years to come.
Jen Burtraw
For a goalie to come in and instantly take the starting position you know she has to be good. From her first game she seemed perfectly comfortable and ready to handle all the responsibilities she would have. 4 times she was the ECAC goalie of the week and her ability in net kept Colgate at the top of the division all year.
PJ Yedon
PJ led the freshman class in mens hockey. Overall he tallied 5 goals and 6 assists. Within the league he had 3 of each and was named ECAC rookie of the week once. He poved he could skate with this Colgate squad and should see a lot more playing time next year.
Alison Hanson- winner
Ali played a key role in the womens basketball teams success this year. As a point guard, she was intense and skilled. She was also 5th on the team in scoring. She averaged 8 points a game and led the team in shooting percentage.
Colleen McCaffery
Colleen steped right into the spotlight at Cotterel court. She averaged nearly 10 points a game. She led the team in free throw shooting percentage and led the team in rebounds in league games and overall rebounds per game. She is a very skilled player who has mastered all aspects of the game. She seldom lost the ball or commited a foul. As a freshman, she was a team player who fit right in and is only going to get better.
Coach of the year
Great coaching has become a hallmark of Colgate recently. When you are coaching a team that does not offer scholarships your not going to get the msot sought after players. A good coach can pick out the raw, undeveloped players and turn them into a star player. Here are some of the best.
Dick Biddle
Coach Biddle is known as a master motivator. Loved, and respected by his team and fans, he knows how to get the most out of his players. If its true that football is the toughest sport to coach, then he deserves tons of credit for leading the team to a nearly undefeated season. When Colgate was behind in a game he would not allow his players to get down or even think that they were going to lose. You could not ask for a coach who knows his sport more than coach Biddle does.
Don Vaughan
Coach Vaughan is regarded as one of Colgates best hockey coaches ever. His record in his first 7 years is better than any of his predecessors marks in the same time frame. Coach Vaughan gives his players opportunities, and helps then take advantage of them. He has built a top notch coaching staff that helps the team remain competive in a league where other schools can offer scholarships or an ivy league diploma. In the national rankings, no team is ranked higher than the mens ice hockey team. He has been turning heads all around the league and is one of the most respected coaches. Just before this years playoffs, coach Vaughan was recognized as the ECAC coach of the year.
Ted Wisner
Just 5 years ago this guy was getting his college diploma. He stepped in as a coach who would focus on the womens ice hockey team and lead them to new heights. He took over just as the team was going varsity. Last year, the team just failed to make the playoffs, this year, not only did they make the playoffs, but they finished second! Recruiting has also been one of his major strongpoints. Every year the team has just gotten better and better. The team did not take home a championship this year, but he was awarded the ECAC's coach of the year honors.
Ron Rohn
Colgates 5th, and most successful womens basketball coach. Coach Rohn has taken the team from the bottom of the Patriot league right to the top, and the team is on the verge of winning a Patriot League championship someday. He specializes in resonding and relating to his players. Oe of the things he is proudest of is making sure that every one of his seniors for all the teams that he coached, recieved thier diploma. Coach has built a small, but very tight knit group of atheletes. 7 starters, thats 7 players that get over 95% of the playing time. This small group works incredibly well together and Colgate has one of the most balanced teams in the league. This year, Colgate was just hairs away from advancing to the Patriot League championships.
Kathy Brawn
8 years of coaching womens soccer has led to 8 Patriot League post season championships. Of the current womens soccer coaches, she is the top female coach in the winning percentage catergory. This year, she did not hesitate to drastically change the teams attack stradegy and it paid off with another Patriot league title and a trip to the NCAA's. Under her command, Colgate womens soccer records have fallen. Her atheletes also do incredibly well in the classroom. In her first 7 seasons 65 of her players made the Patriot League honor roll with a GPA of 3.2 or higher. She has also been given Colgates coach of the year award in the past.
Best Venue
Whats the best place to watch a game? Colgate has some great fields and arenas. This catergory should be judged on the actual playing surface, atmosphere in the stands, just overall experience.
Starr Rink
It's small, people say it looks like a high school rink. Your often packed onto benches, but its home. Soundproofing materials added during the rinks remodeling has hurt the atmosphere a little bit, but there is still nothing like a hockey game at Starr.
Andy Kerr Stadium
Home of the Colgate football team. On a nice fall day, when the weather is right, a football game can be a great experience. Football at Andy Kerr is just and event. Starting with a nice tailgate in the parking lot and lasting all day long. Football draws the most fans too.
Van Doren Field
Right behind Andy Kerr, this is the home of Colgates soccer teams. Sometimes its a nice afternoon game, other times they play at night for a different atmosphere. When the students turn out, the atmosphere can be great. The location is one of the best for college soccer, the field looks great and the Field house makes a great backdrop for it.
Cotterrel Court
It's no arena, but the atmosphere can be good when the band and Dog Pound are there in full force. Your sitting on bleachers, but have a nice view of the game.
Tyler Field
Colgates newest field, its only three years old. The bleachers are at a nice location to give you a good view of the lacrosse and field hockey games. Or, you can just go sit on the other side, where there is a nice little hill or you can sit on the astroturf itself.
Defensive player of the year
It's easy to overlook the defense, but they are the guys who often are providing the opportinities for our offense to score. If the offense takes a paly off, we don't score, if the defense fails, then the other team does score. These are the guys who have done the best job at rattling the oppositions offense and making sure Colgate comes out on top!
Mike Marostega
Quick, skilled, and able to throw a good hit. When Colgate's top defensive pair was on the ice, it was very unlikely that the other team was going to score. Considering he never missed a game, he had one of the lowest penalty minute totals with just 14! All the other players on the team with less than him, also played in at least 9 fewer games.
Cory Murphy
The other half of Colgates amazing defensive duo. He was named ECAC first team by demonstrating his amazing defensive skills. He also ahd a very low penalty minute count. He was the sort of player who was a threat anytime he was on the ice. He could catch almost anybody, take the puck away from them, or give him a good, hard, clean hit.
Kelly Roos
The womens ice hockey team was known for their defense this year. Getting off a good shot on goal was nearly impossible. The opposition only averaged about one and a quarter goals per game, and stoped 56 of 59 power plays. The team themselves selected Kelly Roos as their defensive player of the year, and thats good enough for me!
Tom McCarroll
This strong safety did more than his fair share of stopping Colgate's opponents in football this year. On a team that was praised for it's ability to shut other team down, McCarroll led the team in unassisted tackles by a large margin, he was tied for second in assisted tackles. He made it very clear that running or passing in his direction was a very bad idea. His hard work paid off with his selection as a second team all American.
Laura Rohrbacher
This award is for her efforts for our volleyball team. She led the league in blocks by a fairly large margin. 3 time Patriot Leauge defensive player of the week. All league first team. You could always count on her to show up and make her presence known.
Award winners
Rookie of the year- Ali Hanson Runner up- Jen Burtraw
Coach of the year- Don Vaughan Runner up- Kathy Brawn
Goalie of the year- Shep Harder Runner up- Kelly Tyrrell
Best Venue- Starr rink Runner up- Van Doren field
Offensive player of the year- Andy McDonald Runner up- Angela Puliofico
Biggest win- Vs Lehigh (football) Runner up- vs Bucknell(womens basketball)
Defensive player of the year- Cory Murphy Runner up- Laura Rohrbacher
Welcome back award-
Womens- Heather Murphy Runners up- Sarah Parks, Angela Puliofico
Mens- Cory Murphy Runner up- Randell Joseph
Most valuble senior-
Womens- Judy Culhane Runner up- Kate Manzella
Mens- Ryan Vena Runner up- Andy McDonald
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