EDISON, NJ (July 20, 2022) – Iona University’s duo of Sophie Murphy and Ehab El-Sandali have been announced as the 2021-22 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Student-Athletes of the Year, announced today by the league office.
Iona earned its conference-leading 16th and 17th MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year awards. Murphy became the fourth Gael to claim Female Student-Athletes of the Year, the first since 2015-16, and El-Sandali, became the Gael’s 13th Male Student-Athletes of the Year, the most honorees among all current and former MAAC members.
Additionally, Murphy and El-Sandali are the third pair from the same institution to sweep both awards, joining Rider’s Stella Johnson and Justin Casey in 2019-20 and Iona’s Tara Jameson and Chartt Miller in 2015-16.
“Congratulations to Sophie and Ehab for being named the MAAC Student-Athletes of the Year,” said MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor. “These two student-athletes exemplify the MAAC principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics. The MAAC wishes them the best in their future endeavors and congratulates their coaches and the Iona University athletic department for their efforts to produce such exemplary student-athletes.”
Murphy exemplified the MAAC mantra of excellence in academics, posting a 3.9 GPA while pursuing a master’s of science public accounting. El-Sandali is also a graduate student, pursuing an MBA while holding a 3.2 GPA.
“We are so incredibly proud of both Ehab and Sophie earning the MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year honor,” noted Matt Glovaski, Iona Director of Athletics. “They have both had remarkable careers with the Maroon & Gold and we are grateful to have been a part of the historic paths they have blazed individually. Our cross country and track programs under the guidance of Director Joe Pienta continuously churn out winners both athletically and academically. Ehab and Sophie are just another example of the excellence that makes all of us in Gael Nation so proud.”
A native of Dublin, Ireland, Murphy guided the Gaels to their sixth straight MAAC Women’s Cross Country crown in 2021 after finishing as the meet’s Most Outstanding Performer and MAAC Individual Champion. She earned All-Northeast Region honors, finishing eighth at the NCAA Northeast Region Cross Country Championships and she capped off the fall season by competing in the NCAA Cross Country Championship in Tallahassee, FL. During the indoor track campaign, Murphy earned gold in the 5K at MAAC Indoor Championships. She was named the 2022 Joseph E. O’Connell Award Winner (Awarded to Iona’s Most Outstanding Male and Female Athletes) following the academic year. Over the course of Murphy’s career, she is a five-time MAAC Cross Country Team Champion (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020-21, 2021), a four-time MAAC Cross Country All-MAAC Team selection, a gold medalist in the 10k at the MAAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships and a USTFCCCA Cross Country All-Region honoree. Academically, she has been named to 11 MAAC All-Academic teams (four cross country, three indoor track, and four outdoor track) and is a USTFCCCA Cross Country All-Academic honoree.
“Sophie Murphy came to Iona as one of our most decorated recruits and had one of the finest freshman years in Iona and MAAC history,” said Joe Pienta, Director of Cross Country and Track & Field at Iona. “After struggling through injuries, and finally a surgery, her comeback in 2021-22 transcended her accomplishments of winning two MAAC titles and qualifying for NCAAs. I look forward to dealing with her for another year.”
El-Sandali, a native of Toronto, Ontario earned All-American status twice during the 2021-22 academic year, clinching AA honors in cross country and indoor track while becoming a three-time All-American for his career. Following a third-place finish at the 2021 MAAC Cross Country Championships in which he helped lead Iona men’s cross country to an unprecedented 31st-straight MAAC Men’s Cross Country Championship, he earned a first-place finish at the 2021 NCAA Cross Country Northeast Regional, garnering NCAA Northeast Regional Athlete of the Year, and then he placed a career-best 25th at the 2021 NCAA Cross Country Championship, becoming the sixth Gael to earn multiple cross country All-American accolades after also achieving AA honors in cross country in March 2021 after a 29th place finish. At the 2022 MAAC Indoor Track & Field Championships, El-Sandali was named as the MAAC Track Most Outstanding Performer after winning gold in both the mile and DMR, before he went on to place 13th in the 5k at the NCAA Indoor Track Championship, securing his third All-American honor. He closed out his stellar season with a gold medal in the 1500-meters at the 2022 MAAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the spring. Overall, El-Sandali is a five-time MAAC Cross Country Team Champion (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020-21, 2021), an eight-time MAAC gold medalists and 13-time total medalists, a two-time USTFCCCA Cross Country All-American (2019, 2021), the 2019 MAAC Cross Country Individual Champion, the 2021 MAAC Most Outstanding Performer Indoor Track, the 2017 MAAC Rookie of the Meet Indoor Track, and a USTFCCCA All-Academic honoree. He was also the recipient of the 2021 Joseph E. O’Connell Award at Iona.
“Ehab has been one of the best athletes in Iona history,” said Pienta. “He leaves the University as the only student-athlete to have competed and improved in five NCAA Cross Country Championships. It goes without saying we'll miss his talent, work-ethic and sense of humor greatly now that he's finally entering the real world. Ehab has qualified for Team Canada a second time this year, and we look forward to watching him compete at the NACAC Championships this Summer.”
To be eligible for the MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year award, student-athletes must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at a full-time MAAC member institution, compete in a sport sponsored by the MAAC and completed one full academic year at the institution. The student-athlete must also have a grade point average of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale and be a significant starter or reserve for his/her team(s).
Honorable Mention recognition was awarded to the following nominees:
Canisius College: Erin Hofford (Softball) & Max Grant (Baseball)
Fairfield University: Lou Lopez-Senechal (Women’s Basketball) & Kaya Gore (Men’s Tennis)
Manhattan College: Courtney Warley (Women’s Basketball) & David Bermudez (Baseball)
Marist College: Caroline Baratta (Softball) Hunter Embury (Men’s Lacrosse)
Monmouth University: Sammi Ragenklint (Cross Country/Track) & Trey Dombroski (Baseball)
Niagara University: Michelle Messenger (Women’s Lacrosse) & Marcus Hammond (Men’s Basketball)
Quinnipiac University: Markela Bejleri (Women’s Soccer) & Danny Melnick (Baseball)
Rider University: Teagan Schein-Becker (Cross Country/Track) & Austin Devereux (Men’s Golf)
Saint Peter’s University: Kendrea Williams (Women’s Basketball) & Jamie Davis (Men’s Soccer)
Siena College: Nicole McNeely (Women’s Lacrosse) & Christopher Yanchoris (Men’s Lacrosse)
| 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 University (MD)* |
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 |
| 2017-18 |
Chartt Miller |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2018-19 |
Johannes Motschmann |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2019-20 |
Justin Carey |
Rider University |
Swimming & Diving |
| 2020-21 |
Jack O’Leary |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2021-22 |
Ehab El-Sandali |
Iona University |
Cross Country/Track |
| *Former MAAC Member |
| Female Student-Athletes of the Year |
| Year |
Student-Athlete |
School |
Sport |
| 2001-02 |
Melissa Santos |
Fairfield University |
Softball |
| Valentina Zaharieva |
Saint Peter’s University |
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 University (MD)* |
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 |
| 2017-18 |
Megan Theiller |
Fairfield University |
Volleyball |
| 2018-19 |
Hailey Wagner |
Marist College |
Lacrosse |
| 2019-20 |
Stella Johnson |
Rider University |
Basketball |
| 2020-21 |
Nicole Ceraso |
Monmouth University |
Lacrosse |
| Willow Duffell |
Marist College |
Basketball |
| 2021-22 |
Sophie Murphy |
Iona University |
Cross Country/Track |
| *Former MAAC Member |
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 42nd year of competition during the 2022-23 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
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