University of New Hampshire Athletics
UNH Announces Hall of Fame Class of 2018
2/28/2018 9:56:00 AM | Field Hockey, Football, General, Men's Ice Hockey, Men's Skiing, Women's Ice Hockey, Women's Skiing, Women's Swimming and Diving, Athletics Development
Craigue, Daly, Evans, Huggon, Saviano, Treadwell, Smith (Leitzel Award) to be inducted
DURHAM, N.H. – The University of New Hampshire Department of Athletics announced the UNH Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2018. The inductees are Rebekah "Becky" Craigue '99, Shannon Daly '06, Matt Evans '12, Jennifer Huggon '03, Steve Saviano '04, Bob Treadwell '79, and the recipient of the Joan Leitzel Award, John H. "Jack" Smith '50.
Becky Craigue, who competed for the Wildcats' field hockey team from 1995-98, is one of the top playmakers and point producers in UNH field hockey history and holds the program record for career assists with 35. The native of Concord, N.H., is No. 12 in career points (81), which was ranked fifth when she graduated. She was named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-America Second Team as a senior captain in 1998, when she led the 'Cats in goals (12), assists (15) and points (39). That point total was No. 3 on the school's all-time list at the time of her graduation. Craigue also led the team in both assists (16) and points (30) as a junior. With those numbers, she ranks No. 2 and No. 3 on UNH's single-season assist leaderboard. She was named to the NFHCA Northeast Region First Team as a junior and a senior. Craigue, who graduated cum laude with a degree in Kinesiology: Sport Studies, was a three-time Academic All-American who served as a student representative for the NCAA Academic Integrity Committee in '98 and '99. She was a regional finalist for a post-graduate scholarship for her athletic and academic achievements. In her career, the Wildcats reached the North Atlantic Conference semifinals ('95), earned runner-up in the ECAC Tournament ('97) and then won the America East Championship '98 to reach the NCAA Tournament.
Shannon Daly, a student-athlete for the Wildcat swimming team from 2002-06, made an immediate impact when she set an America East record in the 500 freestyle and won three individual events (200 free, 500 free, 200 breaststroke) at the America East Championship her freshman year. As a sophomore in 2003, Daly was selected as the America East Swimmer of the Year. The following year Daly led the Wildcats to an ECAC Championship title and won ECAC Swimmer of the Year accolades. The Brightwaters, N.Y., native then led the Wildcats to back-to-back America East titles (2005-06). During her senior year, Daly was undefeated in her signature event, the 200 breast. As a senior, she set six conference records –three individual and three relays-- at the America East Championship. She also set six school records. Daly achieved NCAA qualifying times in four individual events, the 200 free, 200 IM, and the 100 and 200 breast. She was one of two UNH swimmers to be invited to compete at the NCAA Swimming Championships and placed 23rd nationally. Daly, a 2006 Academic All-American, earned eight individual America East championships and seven ECAC championships.
Matt Evans, one of the most decorated defensive players in UNH football history, rewrote the tackle record book from 2009-12. In his junior campaign (2011), the Hanover, Mass., native received the Buck Buchanan Award Winner as the NCAA Division I FCS national defensive player of the year. Evans led the nation with 7.67 solo tackles/game and registered 165 total tackles, the second-most in the country and the second-highest, single-season total in school history. As a senior, Evans became the University's all-time tackle leader Nov. 3, 2012, in a home win against William & Mary. He led the CAA that season with 126 total tackles, paced the nation with 87 solo stops and was subsequently tabbed All-America First Team by four different publications. In addition, he earned CAA Defensive Player of the Year honors from College Sports Madness and became just the fourth player –and third from UNH (Ricky Santos, David Ball)- to garner Walter Camp Football Foundation All-America three times in a career. Evans, a two-time All-CAA First Team and two-time All-New England team member owns the school record with 460 career tackles. In 2013, he became the fifth player in Wildcat football history to have his uniform number (52) retired.
Jennifer Huggon is one of the most accomplished goaltenders in the storied history of UNH women's ice hockey. The native of Plymouth, Mass., received a total of 18 awards in her senior season (2002-03), highlighted by American Hockey Coaches Association All-America First Team and Hockey East Player of the Year. At the time of her graduation, Huggon held 11 UNH goaltending records. She is still the record holder for career saves (2,851) and minutes (7396:05); in other career stats, she is currently second in shutouts (26) and third in both wins (74) and save percentage (.924). At the time of her graduation, Huggon held New Hampshire's top three single-season save totals with 841 in '01, 809 in '02 and 705 in '03. Those marks were 1-3 in program history until Feb. 23, 2018, and now stand as the program's No. 2-4 single-season benchmarks. She is the single-season record holder in both shutouts (14 in 2003) and minutes (2085:40 in 2003). Pemberton also boasts the fourth-highest, single-season win total with 26 in '03. She has the fourth and fifth best single-season save percentages – .931 in '02 and .930 in '03 – and is No. 5 on the list of single-season goals against average (GAA) with a mark of 1.52 in 2003. In the Hockey East record book, Huggon's .953 save percentage in league games of the 2003 season stood as the standard until the 2012 season. Huggon's league 0.89 GAA that season remained the record for five years.
Steve Saviano, who played in 139 games for the men's hockey team from 2000-04, recorded 117 career points on 50 goals and 67 assists. As a senior in 2004, he was a Hobey Baker Award Finalist, AHCA/CCM All-American, Hockey East Player of the Year, Hockey East First Team All-Star and earned the Walter Brown Award, which goes to the best American-born college hockey player in New England. Saviano also won the Len Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award, which goes to the Hockey East player who most exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship on the ice as voted by the head coaches of each Hockey East team. The native of Reading, Mass., was a two-time member (2002, 2003) of the Hockey East Tournament Championship teams and helped guide the Wildcats to the Frozen Four in 2002 and 2003. Also in 2003, he helped the Wildcats earn a berth in the national championship game. As a senior co-captain in '04, Saviano posted an outstanding year with 27 goals and 22 assists for 49 points.
Robert Treadwell, a member of the United States Ski National Team from 1975-80, was one of the top skiers in UNH history who went on to become an elite international racer. Treadwell was part of the 3x10K winning relay team, took first in the 30K and second in the 50K at the 1978 U.S. Nationals in Anchorage, Alaska. In 1975, he placed fourth in the 15K at the NCAA Championships in Durango, Colo. Treadwell was the top American finisher in the 1979 American Birkebeiner cross-country race in Cable-Haward, Wis.
The 2018 recipient of the Joan Leitzel Award for contribution to the lives of UNH student-athletes is John H. "Jack" Smith. An avid fan of UNH Athletics, Smith established two endowed scholarship funds supporting student-athletes: The John H. Smith '50 Endowed Fund (for men's hockey) and the Barbara Bridle Peyser '50 Athletic Scholarship Fund (for field hockey). In 2015, Smith was awarded the Hubbard Family Award for Service to Philanthropy from the UNH Foundation. He also is a past recipient of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences Alumni Society Distinguished Alumni Award and the university's prestigious Alumni Meritorious Service Award. Smith began his academic career at Dartmouth College, where he played football and lacrosse before serving in the U.S. Navy. After serving his country, Jack returned to New Hampshire to pursue a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering at UNH. The Joan Leitzel Award is named for the former UNH president who was a strong advocate of athletics during her term from 1996-2002.
The 2018 UNH Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held June 9. For more information, visit www.unhwildcats.com.
Becky Craigue, who competed for the Wildcats' field hockey team from 1995-98, is one of the top playmakers and point producers in UNH field hockey history and holds the program record for career assists with 35. The native of Concord, N.H., is No. 12 in career points (81), which was ranked fifth when she graduated. She was named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-America Second Team as a senior captain in 1998, when she led the 'Cats in goals (12), assists (15) and points (39). That point total was No. 3 on the school's all-time list at the time of her graduation. Craigue also led the team in both assists (16) and points (30) as a junior. With those numbers, she ranks No. 2 and No. 3 on UNH's single-season assist leaderboard. She was named to the NFHCA Northeast Region First Team as a junior and a senior. Craigue, who graduated cum laude with a degree in Kinesiology: Sport Studies, was a three-time Academic All-American who served as a student representative for the NCAA Academic Integrity Committee in '98 and '99. She was a regional finalist for a post-graduate scholarship for her athletic and academic achievements. In her career, the Wildcats reached the North Atlantic Conference semifinals ('95), earned runner-up in the ECAC Tournament ('97) and then won the America East Championship '98 to reach the NCAA Tournament.
Shannon Daly, a student-athlete for the Wildcat swimming team from 2002-06, made an immediate impact when she set an America East record in the 500 freestyle and won three individual events (200 free, 500 free, 200 breaststroke) at the America East Championship her freshman year. As a sophomore in 2003, Daly was selected as the America East Swimmer of the Year. The following year Daly led the Wildcats to an ECAC Championship title and won ECAC Swimmer of the Year accolades. The Brightwaters, N.Y., native then led the Wildcats to back-to-back America East titles (2005-06). During her senior year, Daly was undefeated in her signature event, the 200 breast. As a senior, she set six conference records –three individual and three relays-- at the America East Championship. She also set six school records. Daly achieved NCAA qualifying times in four individual events, the 200 free, 200 IM, and the 100 and 200 breast. She was one of two UNH swimmers to be invited to compete at the NCAA Swimming Championships and placed 23rd nationally. Daly, a 2006 Academic All-American, earned eight individual America East championships and seven ECAC championships.
Matt Evans, one of the most decorated defensive players in UNH football history, rewrote the tackle record book from 2009-12. In his junior campaign (2011), the Hanover, Mass., native received the Buck Buchanan Award Winner as the NCAA Division I FCS national defensive player of the year. Evans led the nation with 7.67 solo tackles/game and registered 165 total tackles, the second-most in the country and the second-highest, single-season total in school history. As a senior, Evans became the University's all-time tackle leader Nov. 3, 2012, in a home win against William & Mary. He led the CAA that season with 126 total tackles, paced the nation with 87 solo stops and was subsequently tabbed All-America First Team by four different publications. In addition, he earned CAA Defensive Player of the Year honors from College Sports Madness and became just the fourth player –and third from UNH (Ricky Santos, David Ball)- to garner Walter Camp Football Foundation All-America three times in a career. Evans, a two-time All-CAA First Team and two-time All-New England team member owns the school record with 460 career tackles. In 2013, he became the fifth player in Wildcat football history to have his uniform number (52) retired.
Jennifer Huggon is one of the most accomplished goaltenders in the storied history of UNH women's ice hockey. The native of Plymouth, Mass., received a total of 18 awards in her senior season (2002-03), highlighted by American Hockey Coaches Association All-America First Team and Hockey East Player of the Year. At the time of her graduation, Huggon held 11 UNH goaltending records. She is still the record holder for career saves (2,851) and minutes (7396:05); in other career stats, she is currently second in shutouts (26) and third in both wins (74) and save percentage (.924). At the time of her graduation, Huggon held New Hampshire's top three single-season save totals with 841 in '01, 809 in '02 and 705 in '03. Those marks were 1-3 in program history until Feb. 23, 2018, and now stand as the program's No. 2-4 single-season benchmarks. She is the single-season record holder in both shutouts (14 in 2003) and minutes (2085:40 in 2003). Pemberton also boasts the fourth-highest, single-season win total with 26 in '03. She has the fourth and fifth best single-season save percentages – .931 in '02 and .930 in '03 – and is No. 5 on the list of single-season goals against average (GAA) with a mark of 1.52 in 2003. In the Hockey East record book, Huggon's .953 save percentage in league games of the 2003 season stood as the standard until the 2012 season. Huggon's league 0.89 GAA that season remained the record for five years.
Steve Saviano, who played in 139 games for the men's hockey team from 2000-04, recorded 117 career points on 50 goals and 67 assists. As a senior in 2004, he was a Hobey Baker Award Finalist, AHCA/CCM All-American, Hockey East Player of the Year, Hockey East First Team All-Star and earned the Walter Brown Award, which goes to the best American-born college hockey player in New England. Saviano also won the Len Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award, which goes to the Hockey East player who most exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship on the ice as voted by the head coaches of each Hockey East team. The native of Reading, Mass., was a two-time member (2002, 2003) of the Hockey East Tournament Championship teams and helped guide the Wildcats to the Frozen Four in 2002 and 2003. Also in 2003, he helped the Wildcats earn a berth in the national championship game. As a senior co-captain in '04, Saviano posted an outstanding year with 27 goals and 22 assists for 49 points.
Robert Treadwell, a member of the United States Ski National Team from 1975-80, was one of the top skiers in UNH history who went on to become an elite international racer. Treadwell was part of the 3x10K winning relay team, took first in the 30K and second in the 50K at the 1978 U.S. Nationals in Anchorage, Alaska. In 1975, he placed fourth in the 15K at the NCAA Championships in Durango, Colo. Treadwell was the top American finisher in the 1979 American Birkebeiner cross-country race in Cable-Haward, Wis.
The 2018 recipient of the Joan Leitzel Award for contribution to the lives of UNH student-athletes is John H. "Jack" Smith. An avid fan of UNH Athletics, Smith established two endowed scholarship funds supporting student-athletes: The John H. Smith '50 Endowed Fund (for men's hockey) and the Barbara Bridle Peyser '50 Athletic Scholarship Fund (for field hockey). In 2015, Smith was awarded the Hubbard Family Award for Service to Philanthropy from the UNH Foundation. He also is a past recipient of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences Alumni Society Distinguished Alumni Award and the university's prestigious Alumni Meritorious Service Award. Smith began his academic career at Dartmouth College, where he played football and lacrosse before serving in the U.S. Navy. After serving his country, Jack returned to New Hampshire to pursue a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering at UNH. The Joan Leitzel Award is named for the former UNH president who was a strong advocate of athletics during her term from 1996-2002.
The 2018 UNH Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held June 9. For more information, visit www.unhwildcats.com.
UNH Volleyball vs Merrimack Highlights 9-16-25
Wednesday, September 17
UNH Men's Soccer vs UMASS Highlights 9-13-2025
Sunday, September 14
UNH Football vs Holy Cross Highlights 9-6-25
Sunday, September 07
UNH Women's Soccer vs Merrimack 9-3-25 Highlights
Thursday, September 04