EDISON, NJ (July 15, 2026) – Fairfield University’s Matthew Bucciero and Marist University’s Peyton Pusey have been named as the 2025-26 (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) Student-Athletes of the Year, announced today by the conference office.
Bucciero becomes the second Fairfield student-athlete to earn the Male Student-Athlete of the Year award and the second member of the baseball program to receive the honor, joining Charlie Pagliarini, who was recognized during the 2022-23 academic year. Bucciero joins Pagliarini as part of a distinguished group of Fairfield student-athletes who have demonstrated excellence both athletically and academically.
Pusey, a member of the Marist softball program, becomes the eighth Female Student-Athlete of the Year recipient in Marist history, the most among all conference institutions. Her selection continues a strong tradition of excellence among Marist student-athletes, while also marking back-to-back Female Student-Athlete of the Year honors for the Red Foxes. Pusey follows former Marist softball standout Kiley Myers, who earned the award during the 2024-25 academic year.
“I want to congratulate this year’s Student-Athletes of the Year, Matt and Peyton,” said Commissioner Travis Tellitocci. “Throughout their collegiate careers, they have exemplified excellence both academically and athletically while representing their institutions with distinction. We’re proud to recognize their outstanding achievements and wish them continued success in the next chapter of their journeys.”
A native of Ridgefield, CT, Bucciero embodied excellence both in the classroom and on the field throughout his distinguished collegiate career at Fairfield. A four-year starter for the Stags, Bucciero appeared in and started all 53 games during the 2026 season, helping guide Fairfield to a 31-23 overall record, a 20-10 mark in conference play, and the program’s fourth consecutive appearance in the conference championship finals. One of the most accomplished players in conference history, Bucciero capped off his senior campaign by earning 2026 Player of the Year honors after leading the conference in home runs (20), RBI (57), slugging percentage (.688), and total bases (143). Bucciero was a three-time First Team All-Conference selection from 2024-26, a two-time ABCA/Rawlings All-Region First Team honoree in 2025 and 2026, and was named the 2025 Conference Championship Most Valuable Player after leading Fairfield to the tournament title game. By the conclusion of his career, Bucciero had firmly cemented his place among the conference's all-time greats. He finished as the conference's career leader in RBI with 225 and ranked second all-time with 55 home runs. At Fairfield, he leaves as the program's all-time leader in home runs, RBI, total bases, runs scored, walks, and triples, while tying the school record with 271 career hits. Bucciero's accomplishments extended far beyond the baseball diamond. Graduating with a 3.83 GPA and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Analytics, he established himself as one of the premier scholar-athletes in the conference. He earned CSC Academic All-America First Team honors in 2026 and was named Fairfield's Men's Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year. A three-time CSC Academic All-District selection, Bucciero was also recognized on the Fairfield University Dean's List and earned conference All-Academic honors during every eligible semester of his collegiate career.
“Matthew has been emblematic of our Stags Athletics core values and cultural commitments throughout his exceptional career. He is one of the most decorated athletes in the storied history of our baseball program, not only garnering a host of individual accolades but also serving as a driving force to continued team success, including a conference tournament championship and two regular season titles. His determination and his accomplishments on the baseball field are matched only by his commitment to success in the classroom culminating this past May as a magna cum laude graduate of the Dolan School of Business. Matthew has been and will continue to be an incredible ambassador of Fairfield University and we look forward to following his journey as member of the Chicago White Sox organization.” Fairfield's Vice President of Athletics, Paul Schlickmann said.
A native of Bear, DE, Pusey exemplified excellence both on the field and in the classroom throughout her outstanding career at Marist. A four-year starter for the Red Foxes, Pusey appeared in and started all 58 games during the 2026 season, helping lead Marist to a 37-21 overall record, a 24-3 conference mark, the regular-season championship, and the program’s third conference championship title during her career. Pusey capped off her historic career by earning 2026 Player of the Year honors after leading the conference in batting average (.400), runs scored (51), hits (78), and triples (six). She also earned Championship Most Outstanding Player honors after helping guide Marist to another title. One of the most decorated players in Marist softball history, Pusey leaves the program as the conference’s all-time leader in runs scored (243) and the program’s all-time leader in games played (228). She ranks among the top five in program history in batting average (.393), hits (296), stolen bases (67), doubles (45), and triples (10). During the 2025 season, Pusey led the NCAA in runs scored (82) and runs per game (1.44), while leading the conference in runs scored in each of her four seasons. Throughout her career, Pusey earned All-Conference honors in all four seasons, including First Team recognition from 2024-26, and became the first player in program history to earn First Team All-Region honors three times. She was also a three-time All-ECAC selection and earned multiple conference weekly honors during her career. Beyond her individual success, Pusey helped lead Marist to three conference championships (2023, 2025, 2026), three regular-season championships (2024, 2025, 2026), a program-record win total, and the first NCAA Regional victory in program history. A Media Studies & Production major with a 3.86 GPA, Pusey was named a 2026 College Sports Communicators Second Team Academic All-American and a three-time CSC Academic All-District selection. She earned a spot on the Marist Dean’s List in all eight semesters and was recognized on the conference All-Academic Team and Academic Honor Roll in every eligible season.
“Congratulations to Peyton for this recognition,” Marist Director of Athletics Tim Murray said. “She enjoyed an outstanding year and an incredible career at Marist University. At Marist, we embrace the power of ‘and’, not ‘or’, and Peyton truly made the most of her collegiate experience academically and athletically. Peyton joins a long list of Marist athletes who have been recognized as the best in the conference!”
Each institution nominates one student-athlete per gender for consideration, with conference coaches voting to select the recipients. To be eligible for the Student-Athlete of the Year award, student-athletes must have achieved sophomore academic and athletic standing and completed at least one full academic year at their institution. Nominees must also maintain a minimum 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale and serve as a significant contributor, either as a starter or key reserve, for their respective team(s).
Honorable Mention recognition was awarded to the following nominees:
Canisius University: Lizzy Harkness (Women’s Soccer) and Felix Morin (Baseball)
Fairfield University: Kaety L'Amoreaux (Women’s Basketball)
Iona University: Tayla Gunton (Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field) and Connor Henderson (Men’s Golf)
Manhattan University: Audrey Ziff (Women’s Lacrosse) and Colin Basehore (Baseball)
Marist University: Michael Cassano (Men’s Lacrosse)
Merrimack College: Lydia Melaschenko (Women’s Basketball) and Christian Scanlon (Baseball)
Mount St. Mary’s University: Hailey Chester (Women’s Lacrosse) and Brandon Falconer (Track & Field)
Niagara University: Sydney Huhtala (Women’s Lacrosse) and Rees Kozar (Baseball)
Quinnipiac University: Willow Renton (Women’s Tennis) and William Holum (Men’s Soccer)
Rider University: Kiannisha Santiago (Women’s Volleyball) and Cole Thurgur (Men’s Tennis)
Sacred Heart University: Morgan Bovardi (Women’s Soccer) and John Murray (Men’s Lacrosse)
Saint Peter’s University: De'Naya Rippey (Women’s Basketball) and Tim Strele (Men’s Soccer)
Siena University: Gracie Goewey (Softball) and Logan Banek (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 University |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2005-06 |
Richard Kiplagat |
Iona University |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2006-07 |
Timothy Bayley |
Iona University |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2007-08 |
Michael Mulieri |
Loyola University (MD)* |
Golf |
| 2008-09 |
Andrew Ledwith |
Iona University |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2009-10 |
Ryan Sheridan |
Iona University |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2010-11 |
Sean Jamieson |
Canisius College |
Baseball |
| 2011-12 |
Mitch Goose |
Iona University |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2012-13 |
Mitch Goose |
Iona University |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2013-14 |
Connor Panas |
Canisius College |
Baseball |
| 2014-15 |
Connor Panas |
Canisius College |
Baseball |
| 2015-16 |
Chartt Miller |
Iona University |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2016-17 |
Chartt Miller |
Iona University |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2017-18 |
Chartt Miller |
Iona University |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2018-19 |
Johannes Motschmann |
Iona University |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2019-20 |
Justin Carey |
Rider University |
Swimming & Diving |
| 2020-21 |
Jack O’Leary |
Iona University |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2021-22 |
Ehab El-Sandali |
Iona University |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2022-23 |
Charlie Pagliarini |
Fairfield University |
Baseball |
| 2023-24 |
Michael Faughnan |
Iona University |
Swimming & Diving |
| 2024-25 |
Michael Faughnan |
Iona University |
Swimming & Diving |
| 2025-26 |
Matthew Bucciero |
Fairfield University |
Baseball |
| *Former conference 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 University |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2014-15 |
Kate Avery |
Iona University |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2015-16 |
Tara Jameson |
Iona University |
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 |
| 2022-23 |
Olivia Lomascolo |
Siena College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2023-24 |
Teagan Schein-Becker |
Rider University |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2024-25 |
Kiley Myers |
Marist University |
Softball |
| 2026-26 |
Peyton Pusey |
Marist University |
Softball |
| *Former conference Member |