Canisius’ Erica Evans & Iona’s Chartt Miller Named 2016-17 MAAC Student-Athletes of the Year
EDISON, NJ – Iona College’s Chartt Miller and Canisius College’s Erica Evans are the 2016-17 MAAC Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year, respectively. Both Evans and Miller excelled both academically and athletically this past year.
“Chartt and Erica are two terrific student-athletes that typify the commitment the MAAC and its member schools have made to recruit athletes that excel in academics and athletics,” notes MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor.
Miller repeats as Male Student-Athlete of the Year and is the fourth student-athlete in conference history to take home this award in back-to-back seasons. Miller joins two former Gaels, Mitch Goose (11-12, 12-13), Richard Kiplagat (04-05, 05-06) and Connor Panas (13-14, 14-15) of Canisius. This is the ninth time in the 16-year history of the award that Iona has claimed MAAC Male Student-Athlete of the Year honors.
“On behalf of the entire Iona community, we want to congratulate Chartt on his second straight MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year award,” notes Iona Vice President for Athletic Administration Rick Cole. “He joins an outstanding list of Gaels to win back-to-back honors; demonstrating his determination and success in both competition and academics.”
Miller finished his senior season with a 3.66 GPA. He was awarded the Joseph E. O’Connell Award, which is awarded to the senior student-athlete at Iona who had a fantastic athletic career while leaving a profound impact on their program and institution.
The Perth, Australia native earned NCAA All-American accolades when he placed sixth overall at the NCAA Outdoor Championship 5,000M. He was the MAAC Outdoor 1,500M Champion, the silver medalist in the outdoor 5,000M, part of the MAAC Indoor Distance Medley Relay (DMR) Champion and made the All-Northeast Region Team in Cross Country.
Evans becomes the first women’s lacrosse student-athlete to take home MAAC Female Student-Athlete of the Year. She is the third female from Canisius to win this award in conference history and the first since Katie Miranto (07-08). Recent MAAC Basketball Hall of Fame Honor Roll inductee, Jenel Stevens, was the Co-MAAC Female-Student Athlete of the Year in 2003-04. Evans posted a 3.56 GPA in 16-17.
“Erica Evans is a terrific example of what it means to be a student-athlete at Canisius College,” notes Canisius Director of Athletics Bill Maher. “She is one of the premier women’s lacrosse players in the NCAA and as a member of Team Canada, one of the top players in the world. Erica is a great student in the classroom and a quality representative for our campus community, and an outstanding leader for our program - all of the qualifications we look for in our student-athletes.
“We are thrilled that Erica has earned this honor and follows in the footsteps of the four other Golden Griffin student-athletes who have earned this prestigious award. On behalf of our athletic department and the entire campus community, we congratulate her on this tremendous honor.”
In her junior campaign, Evans claimed her third-straight MAAC Midfielder of the Year award, was selected to the All-MAAC First Team, IWLCA All-West/Midwest First Team, and the Inside Lacrosse Media All-American Third Team. For the second consecutive season, Evans was named the MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship MVP.
The midfielder set MAAC single-season records for goals scored (76) and total points (108). She is the first MAAC student-athlete (male or female) to record 100 or more points in a single season. She led the league in goals, goals per game (3.80), points, points per game (5.40), game-winning goals (five), ground balls (69), and ground balls per game (3.45).
Evans took home MAAC Offensive Player of the Week honors four times this season (March 13, April 3, April 10, and May 1) and was named a Tewaaraton Award semifinalist on April 28
Honorable mention recognition was awarded to the following nominees:
Canisius: Jeff Edwards (Men’s Lacrosse); Fairfield: Anne Burgoyne (Field Hockey), Kyle Dube (Baseball); Iona: Kristen Turner (Softball); Manhattan: Jenny Bitzer (Women’s Soccer), Dennis Eriksson (Track & Field); Marist: Javier Restrepo (Men’s Tennis), Gabrielle Kelliher (Softball); Monmouth: Nick Hreshko (Men’s Lacrosse), Julie Spracklin (Women’s Soccer); Niagara: Cody Eckerson (Baseball), Rachel MacCheyne (Women’s Lacrosse); Quinnipiac: Niamh Ashe (Cross Country/Track & Field); Rider: Christian Flath (Men’s Soccer), Bethany-May Howard (Women’s Soccer); Saint Peter’s: Nicholas Riepe (Swimming), Meredith Przybocki (Volleyball, Track & Field); Siena: Scott Kim (Men’s Golf), Ali Garrity (Women’s Tennis)
Male Student-Athletes of the Year:
| Year |
Student-Athlete |
School |
Sport |
| 2001-02 |
Matthew Spring |
Manhattan College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2002-03 |
David Bennett |
Marist College |
Basketball |
| 2003-04 |
Magnus Ahlen |
Manhattan College |
Track & Field |
| 2004-05 |
Richard Kiplagat |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2005-06 |
Richard Kiplagat |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2006-07 |
Timothy Bayley |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2007-08 |
Michael Mulieri |
Loyola College |
Golf |
| 2008-09 |
Andrew Ledwith |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2009-10 |
Ryan Sheridan |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2010-11 |
Sean Jamieson |
Canisius College |
Baseball |
| 2011-12 |
Mitch Goose |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2012-13 |
Mitch Goose |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2013-14 |
Connor Panas |
Canisius College |
Baseball |
| 2014-15 |
Connor Panas |
Canisius College |
Baseball |
| 2015-16 |
Chartt Miller |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2016-17 |
Chartt Miller |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
Female Student-Athletes of the Year:
| Year |
Student-Athlete |
School |
Sport |
| 2001-02 |
Melissa Santos |
Fairfield University |
Softball |
| Valentina Zaharieva |
Saint Peter’s College |
Volleyball |
| 2002-03 |
Milena Matijevic |
Niagara University |
Tennis |
| 2003-04 |
Jenel Stevens |
Canisius College |
Basketball |
| Milena Matijevic |
Niagara University |
Tennis |
| 2004-05 |
Miriam Al-Shikarchy |
Niagara University |
Tennis |
| 2005-06 |
Ali Andrzejewski |
Loyola College |
Soccer |
| Liz Hubbard |
Siena College |
Volleyball |
| 2006-07 |
Alisa Kresge |
Marist College |
Basketball |
| 2007-08 |
Katie Miranto |
Canisius College |
Softball |
| 2008-09 |
Ahna Johnson |
Fairfield University |
Soccer |
| 2009-10 |
Rachele Fitz |
Marist College |
Basketball |
| 2010-11 |
Teresa Healey |
Niagara University |
Softball |
| 2011-12 |
Corielle Yarde |
Marist College |
Basketball |
| 2012-13 |
Katie Conard |
Marist College |
Swimming |
| 2013-14 |
Kate Avery |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2014-15 |
Kate Avery |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2015-16 |
Tara Jameson |
Iona College |
Cross/Country/Track |
| 2016-17 |
Erica Evans |
Canisius College |
Lacrosse |