@CanesFutbol Holds Annual Banquet
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami soccer team hosted its yearly banquet Saturday evening at the Hurricane 100 Room.
The team’s five outgoing seniors were recognized and gave speeches to the players, staff and family in attendance. Ava Ambrose, Jasmine Paterson and Erin McGovern all spoke in-person, while Natalie Moik and Amy Schmidt, who have already graduated and could not attend, delivered theirs by video.
Head coach Mary-Frances Monroe also addressed the crowd and a season highlight video was shown, celebrating the Hurricanes’ 2015 season.
In addition, four players were honored with awards as voted on by their teammates. McGovern, a midfielder and a co-captain, was named the team’s Unsung Hero for the second-straight year. The redshirt senior from Oradell, N.J., was one of four Hurricanes to start all 17 matches in 2015 and she ranked third on the team in both minutes played and goals.
Freshman midfielder/defender Niccola Venezia won Rookie of the Year. A native of Wantagh, N.Y., Venezia earned starts in 11 matches, including each of the final eight. She tied for eighth in the ACC in assists in conference play and was one of just 13 players in the league to record multiple assists in a match.
Another co-captain, Gianna Dal Pozzo, was tabbed as Miami’s Defensive MVP. The midfielder/defender from Naperville, Ill., started all 17 matches and led the Hurricanes with 1,603 minutes played. Dal Pozzo left the field for just three minutes all season and helped anchor the team’s backline in 2015.
Second Team All-ACC selection Gracie Lachowecki was voted the team’s Offensive MVP after leading the Hurricanes in goals, points, shots, shots on goal and match-winning goals. A junior forward from Evansville, Ind., Lachowecki was twice the ACC Offensive Player of the Week and finished second in the conference, as well tied for No. 13 nationally, in goals per match.
The Hurricanes have 17 players returning for the 2016 season and are currently in the midst of spring practice.
For more information on University of Miami soccer, follow @CanesFutbol.
