Tanguay, Pietropinto Named 2007-08 Lester H. Cushing Award Recipients
Duo Honored Among UML’s Top Athletes of the Year at 2008 Athletic Awards Night

LOWELL, MA (May 13, 2008) – Laurie Tanguay, a senior from Lowell, MA, and Matias Pietropinto, a junior from Leominster, MA, were named the recipients of the Lester H. Cushing Award for the Female and Male Athletes of the Year Tuesday night at UMass Lowell’s 2008 Athletic Awards Night.

The honors are the latest for Tanguay and Pietropinto in the 2007-08 academic year, who have both enjoyed not only spectacular seasons but careers as well.

An outfielder, Tanguay led the softball team to a 24-25 record this season, including a 17-11 clip in the Northeast-10 Conference (tied for third place). The River Hawks recently capped the season, falling to Pace University, 2-1 (eight innings) in the NE-10 Tournament.

Pietropinto helped lead the men’s soccer team to one of its best seasons in program history as it posted a 12-4-4 record (10-2-1 in the NE-10, second) and earned its third NCAA Tournament bid in five years. The River Hawks were ranked No. 9 in the final National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division II poll.

Laurie Tanguay, Softball

A rare four-time NE-10 All-Conference player, Laurie Tanguay’s career will be well documented in UML’s softball record books. She capped her career as UML’s all-time leader in both home runs (18) and RBI (127) and tied the single season RBI record with 42.

Additionally, Tanguay ranks among career leaders in nearly every offensive category, including doubles (third, 39), batting average (third, .345), slugging (third, .538), runs (fourth, 110) and hits (fifth, 189), among others.

In the 2007 season alone, Tanguay was among Northeast-10 Conference leaders in a staggering eight categories, including RBI (third, 42), doubles (third, 14) and slugging (sixth, .581), as well as runs (tied for seventh, 35) and hits (tied for seventh, 58) to name a few.

“We are certainly very proud of Tanguay. She has come a long way from the young, wide-eyed player who showed up here four years ago,” said UML Head Coach Harry Sauter, who recently completed his 14th year. “She improved every year, and overcame some incredible injuries over the past two years to become one of the leading offensive weapons in the NE-10 Conference.”

In 2007, Tanguay was among UML’s driving forces behind a spectacular, late-season run by the River Hawks, in which it captured the NE-10 Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Northeast Region semifinal round.

“This is the first major award winner from the softball team, although we had some excellent candidates over the years,” Sauter added. “Laurie was at the right place at the right time, as she has been almost all year with her bat. She was a major contributor to conference tournament championship last year, and to our two NCAA tournament appearances in ‘06 and ‘07.  She will be sorely missed by our very young team next year.”

A psychology major, Tanguay is the daughter of Louis and Karen Tanguay of Lowell, MA.

Matias Pietropinto, Men’s Soccer

Short of earning NCAA Division II Player of the Year honors, Matias Pietropinto earned seemingly every conceivable honor at the conclusion of the 2007 men’s soccer season.

The Northeast-10 assist leader with 13, Pietropinto ranked third nationally and eclipsed the UML single season record. He also added four goals on the year, and regularly peaked in big matches.

In UML’s first game, a 3-2 triumph over defending national champion and No. 1-ranked Dowling, Pietropinto scored one goal and set up the two others as the River Hawks catapulted as high as No. 3 in the national poll.

Pietropinto also set up the lone goal in UML’s 1-0 victory at Southern Connecticut during the regular season; and the one in UML’s 3-1 setback at national champion Franklin Pierce in the NCAA Tournament second round.

Near the end of the year, the honors tumbled in for Pietropinto, as he was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America First Team. He also earned NSCAA All-New England Region and NE-10 First Team plaudits, as well as Daktronics All-New England Region First Team billing, voted on by the region’s sports information directors.

“Matias is a fantastic soccer player who is not successful simply because he is better technically or physically; rather he is so because he is willing to embrace the intangibles that turn good into great: work ethic, teamwork, passion, pride, and sacrifice,” said UML Head Coach Ted Priestly. 

“Matias’ willingness to give everything for our team shines through every time he plays and trains, and his willingness and ability to lead sets a positive example for others to follow.”

A business administration major, Pietropinto is the son of Mary Albino of Leominster, MA.