Football

Fall Athletics Banquet Honors Student-Athletes

UNION, N.J. (12/11/06) - The Kean University Department of Athletics presented its varsity athletics letters and Most Valuable player awards of the eight fall sports at its annual Fall Athletics Awards Banquet on December 11. The fall 2006 campaign saw the Cougars win nearly 55 percent of all their fall contests, with four teams advancing to the playoffs and 32 student-athletes earning postseason honors at season's end.

Vice President for University Relations Robert Cole also presented a pair of coaches with special awards. Head men's soccer coach Tony Ochrimenko was honored for winning his 400th career match in the Cougars' 2-1 victory over Western Connecticut State University, a win that allowed Kean to clinch the championship of the Cougar Invitational. In 31 seasons on the sidelines, Ochrimenko has accumulated 407 career victories and ranks 17th among the all-time winningest men's soccer coaches in all divisions of the NCAA, and seventh among Division III coaches.

First-year head football coach Dan Garrett was honored for being named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Football Coach of the Year. Picked to finish in eighth and last place in the NJAC preseason poll, the Cougars finished 7-4 overall, 4-3 in conference play, to place fourth.

In cross country, senior Brian Sims and sophomore Stephanie Sinclair were each awarded Most Valuable Runner awards following successful seasons. Sims captured the Drew Invitational, despite losing a shoe early in the race, to lead the Cougars to the team title. Sinclair paced the women's team to its first individual and team meet title in program history, as she won the Stevens Institute of Technology Invitational 4,000-meter race.

The field hockey team recorded its seventh straight winning season, finishing up at 9-7 with a young squad that featured a combined 22 freshmen and sophomores. With 71 career victories, head coach Dipi Bhaya has became the program's all-time winningest coach. The team's lone senior, Vicki Egerer, earned Most Valuable Player honors and closed out her illustrious career as the program's all-time points and goals leader, finishing with 96 and 40, respectively. The forward was second on the team in scoring this year, netting nine goals and adding nine assists for 27 points.

The football team captured the program's first winning record in over a decade and won just the second Eastern College Athletic Conference football championship in school history. Making just the third appearance in postseason play in the 37-year history of the program, the Cougars cruised past King's College, 37-0, in the ECAC Southeast Bowl Championship game. Sophomore wide receiver Durell Dukes earned the team's Offensive Most Valuable Player award, as he set the single-season record with 49 receptions. His 846 receiving yards and nine touchdown catches also rank third all-time on Kean's single-season charts. Senior Jairus Kendle was the team's Most Valuable Player on defense, as he finished second on the team in tackles for a loss (10), sacks (7) and pass break-ups (8), while also forcing a team-high two fumbles.

The men's soccer team continued to be one of the top programs in the region, with the Cougars advancing to the Eastern College Athletic Conference Tournament for the second straight season. With an overall record of 10-8-5, including a 4-3-2 mark in conference play, the Cougars once again played a nationally ranked schedule, with six 2006 opponents competing in postseason competition, including 2006 NCAA Division III National Champion Messiah College. In his first season in a Cougar uniform, junior forward Anthony Tuesta garnered Most Valuable Player honors and NJAC Offensive Player of the Year honors after leading the team with 13 goals and 28 points.

After a decade-long hiatus, the women's soccer earned a bid the NCAA Division III Tournament following one of the program's most successful campaigns. The Cougars finished 12-5-2 overall and also advanced to the New Jersey Athletic Conference tournament for the fourth-consecutive season. Four-year starter Heather Anzivino was named the team Most Valuable Player, as she capped a brilliant career, becoming just the second player in program history to be named NJAC Offensive Player of the Year. The four-year All-NJAC star finished second in program history with 130 career points, third with 54 career goals and fifth with 22 career assists.

The future looks bright for the tennis team, as an experienced core of returnees are expected for next season. This season's team continued to build on a strong foundation and made improvements to advance even further in the future. Junior Danielle Fardin anchored the first singles and first doubles slots, as she was named the team's Most Valuable Player.

The volleyball team finished the season with a 15-17 overall mark, including a 3-5 record in conference play, as the concluded the team's first full season in Harwood Arena and advanced to the NJAC tournament for the 14th time in 15 years. The team's lone senior, Elizabeth Bauer was named Most Valuable Player as she led the Cougars in kills (322), and was second in digs with 338. A two-time all-conference selection, Bauer earned first-team All-NJAC honors after finishing in the top ten of several conference categories. Over her Cougar career, Bauer recorded 236 service aces, second all-time in Kean history, and ranks fourth in both kills (1,143) and digs (933).


Following is a complete list of the Kean University team MVP award winners:

MEN"S CROSS COUNTRY - Brian Sims (Matawan, N.J.)
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY - Stephanie Sinclair (Ridgefield, N.J.)
FIELD HOCKEY - Vicki Egerer (Washington, N.J.)
FOOTBALL (Offensive) - Durell Dukes (Elizabeth, N.J.)
FOOTBALL (Defensive) - Jairus Kendle (Asbury Park, N.J.)
MEN'S SOCCER - Anthony Tuesta (Clifton, N.J.)
WOMEN'S SOCCER - Heather Anzivino (Belford, N.J.)
TENNIS - Danielle Fardin (Edison, N.J.)
VOLLEYBALL - Elizabeth Bauer (Rahway, N.J.)