University of New Hampshire Athletics
Senior Showcase Award Winners Announced
5/13/2021 2:30:00 PM | Field Hockey, Football, General, Men's Basketball, Men's Soccer, Men's Track & Field, Women's Cross Country, Women's Ice Hockey, Women's Skiing, Women's Swimming and Diving, Women's Track & Field, Men's Cross Country
DURHAM, N.H. – Senior Meg Champagne (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) of the women's cross country and track & field teams and senior James Wilkes (Concord, N.H.) of the men's cross country and track & field teams were named recipients of the 2021 Jim Urquhart Student-Athlete of the Year Award at the University of New Hampshire athletic department's third annual Senior Showcase that premiered Thursday night on YouTube.
The broadcast, hosted by Associate Athletic Director for Marketing & Communications Mike Murphy, celebrated the outstanding achievements of the 2020-21 season and honored the senior class.
Along with the announcement of nine awards, the show included messages from Director of Athletics Marty Scarano, Josh Bauer (Class of '20), Nelson Thomas (Class of '20), Ava Boutilier (Class of '22), and Troy LaPolice.
WATCH THE 2021 SENIOR SHOWCASE
2021 UNH Senior Showcase award recipients
Jim Urquhart Student-Athlete of the Year: Meg Champagne, James Wilkes
Cathy Coakley Student-Athlete Community Involvement Award: Ellie Sasaki
Tina True Award: Alyssa Colbert, Brian Carter
Athletic Director's Award for Academic Excellence: Conner Allen, Chris Lester
Coaches Award: Grace Middleton
Performer of the Year: Anna Metzler, Jayden Martinez
Rookie of the Year: Jasmine Lyons, Nick Johnson
Highlight of the Year: Men's basketball, Qon Murphy slam dunk
Game of the Year: Men's soccer, 2-0 win in America East title game
CLICK HERE to view list of past recipients
The broadcast, hosted by Associate Athletic Director for Marketing & Communications Mike Murphy, celebrated the outstanding achievements of the 2020-21 season and honored the senior class.
Along with the announcement of nine awards, the show included messages from Director of Athletics Marty Scarano, Josh Bauer (Class of '20), Nelson Thomas (Class of '20), Ava Boutilier (Class of '22), and Troy LaPolice.
WATCH THE 2021 SENIOR SHOWCASE
2021 UNH Senior Showcase award recipients
Jim Urquhart Student-Athlete of the Year: Meg Champagne, James Wilkes
Cathy Coakley Student-Athlete Community Involvement Award: Ellie Sasaki
Tina True Award: Alyssa Colbert, Brian Carter
Athletic Director's Award for Academic Excellence: Conner Allen, Chris Lester
Coaches Award: Grace Middleton
Performer of the Year: Anna Metzler, Jayden Martinez
Rookie of the Year: Jasmine Lyons, Nick Johnson
Highlight of the Year: Men's basketball, Qon Murphy slam dunk
Game of the Year: Men's soccer, 2-0 win in America East title game
CLICK HERE to view list of past recipients
JIM URQUHART STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
This award, which has been the most prestigious student-athlete award at UNH since its inception in 1999, is given to both the most outstanding female and male senior student-athlete based on athletic success, community involvement and academic achievement through their Wildcat careers.
It is named in memory of longtime UNH coach Jim Urquhart, who coached the New Hampshire men's lacrosse team for 17 years and wrestling team for 11 seasons before taking the position of Associate Director of Event Management in 1997.
In five years at New Hampshire, Meg Champagne epitomized what it means to be a high-level student-athlete by excelling both in the classroom and in competition. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in English, Text, Business Writing and Digital Studies in May 2020 as a Dean's List student with a 3.68 GPA. In 2020-21, she has pursued a master's in business administration with a 3.70 GPA. She made the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll every semester of competition and is a two-time member of the National College Athlete Honor Society, Chi Alpha Sigma..
Champagne was equally hardworking, committed and successful competing for the cross country and both indoor and outdoor track teams. She not only followed in the tradition of championship distance runners at UNH, she achieved her own championship legacy. As a three-season athlete, Champagne is one of the few runners who thrived in all three disciplines, and she scored points every America East meet at which she competed.
In cross country, Champagne was a four-time America East All-Conference Team performer with a top finish of fifth place in 2019. She led the Wildcats to three conference championships and three New England titles – all in 2016, 2017 and 2019. She finished in the Top 10, highlighted by third place in '19, at all four New England races.
Champagne was a 3,000-meter America East champion in the indoor 2020 season and went on to win the 5,000m at the ECAC indoor championship. She also holds a New England title: the 5,000m at the 2017 outdoor championship.
As one of the team captains in this year of COVID-19, Champagne was instrumental in team communications and motivation.
Champagne is also an individual who cares about the world around her. In summer 2020, she participated in fund raising for the Black Lives Matter movement by setting up her own go fund me page.
James Wilkes exemplified the student-athlete that Jim Urquhart embraced. He earned six America East All-Conference Team accolades in his four years as a UNH Wildcat, and was named to both the America East Commissioners Honor Roll and Academic Honor Roll multiple times while compiling a 3.44 GPA in pursuit of a chemistry degree.
At the 2021 America East Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Wilkes ran the fastest time in the 1,500m preliminaries to advance to the finals, where he placed third with a personal best time of 3 minutes, 50.63 seconds. He also ran a leg in UNH's second-place 4x800m relay team.
Wilkes went unbeaten in the 800m during the 2021 outdoor season; he competed in that event at all three home invitationals and won all three races with a personal-best 1:50.19 in his last home meet at Reggie Atkins Track & Field Facility.
At the 2021 America East Cross Country Championships this past March, Wilkes was the top Wildcat with his all-conference effort of 13th place.
This award, which has been the most prestigious student-athlete award at UNH since its inception in 1999, is given to both the most outstanding female and male senior student-athlete based on athletic success, community involvement and academic achievement through their Wildcat careers.
It is named in memory of longtime UNH coach Jim Urquhart, who coached the New Hampshire men's lacrosse team for 17 years and wrestling team for 11 seasons before taking the position of Associate Director of Event Management in 1997.
In five years at New Hampshire, Meg Champagne epitomized what it means to be a high-level student-athlete by excelling both in the classroom and in competition. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in English, Text, Business Writing and Digital Studies in May 2020 as a Dean's List student with a 3.68 GPA. In 2020-21, she has pursued a master's in business administration with a 3.70 GPA. She made the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll every semester of competition and is a two-time member of the National College Athlete Honor Society, Chi Alpha Sigma..
Champagne was equally hardworking, committed and successful competing for the cross country and both indoor and outdoor track teams. She not only followed in the tradition of championship distance runners at UNH, she achieved her own championship legacy. As a three-season athlete, Champagne is one of the few runners who thrived in all three disciplines, and she scored points every America East meet at which she competed.
In cross country, Champagne was a four-time America East All-Conference Team performer with a top finish of fifth place in 2019. She led the Wildcats to three conference championships and three New England titles – all in 2016, 2017 and 2019. She finished in the Top 10, highlighted by third place in '19, at all four New England races.
Champagne was a 3,000-meter America East champion in the indoor 2020 season and went on to win the 5,000m at the ECAC indoor championship. She also holds a New England title: the 5,000m at the 2017 outdoor championship.
As one of the team captains in this year of COVID-19, Champagne was instrumental in team communications and motivation.
Champagne is also an individual who cares about the world around her. In summer 2020, she participated in fund raising for the Black Lives Matter movement by setting up her own go fund me page.
James Wilkes exemplified the student-athlete that Jim Urquhart embraced. He earned six America East All-Conference Team accolades in his four years as a UNH Wildcat, and was named to both the America East Commissioners Honor Roll and Academic Honor Roll multiple times while compiling a 3.44 GPA in pursuit of a chemistry degree.
At the 2021 America East Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Wilkes ran the fastest time in the 1,500m preliminaries to advance to the finals, where he placed third with a personal best time of 3 minutes, 50.63 seconds. He also ran a leg in UNH's second-place 4x800m relay team.
Wilkes went unbeaten in the 800m during the 2021 outdoor season; he competed in that event at all three home invitationals and won all three races with a personal-best 1:50.19 in his last home meet at Reggie Atkins Track & Field Facility.
At the 2021 America East Cross Country Championships this past March, Wilkes was the top Wildcat with his all-conference effort of 13th place.
CATHY COAKLEY STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AWARD
This award recognizes senior student-athletes who have demonstrated a commitment to serving the University, UNH athletic department and the larger community with involvement in campus organizations, volunteer work, University or other athletic department committees, and other service-oriented activities.
It is named in memory of Cathy Coakley, a former student-athlete (Class of '72) and coach at UNH who served as coordinator of student-athlete development. She was a lifelong battler for and supporter of Wildcat student-athletes.
The 2021 recipient is Ellie Sasaki (Markham, Ontario) of the women's ice hockey team. Sasaki was a team representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and also served as a member of the newly formed Committee on Mutual Respect (COMR).
Sasaki was active in community service through volunteerism with the Portsmouth Breast Cancer 5K, Rochester's Try Hockey for Free Day and UNH's Skate with the 'Cats.
Sasaki was also instrumental to the team's connection to Connor's Climb Foundation, an organization focused on providing suicide prevention education to New Hampshire youth and the community. This stemmed from the women's ice hockey team initiative as part of the Stick it to Stigma Mental Health Awareness game to raise awareness of and promote good mental health.
Also of note, Sasaki has been named to the Hockey East All-Academic Team every year and was named to the National College Athlete Honor Society, Chi Alpha Sigma, twice. She played in 115 career games with totals of four goals and six assists for 10 points.
This award recognizes senior student-athletes who have demonstrated a commitment to serving the University, UNH athletic department and the larger community with involvement in campus organizations, volunteer work, University or other athletic department committees, and other service-oriented activities.
It is named in memory of Cathy Coakley, a former student-athlete (Class of '72) and coach at UNH who served as coordinator of student-athlete development. She was a lifelong battler for and supporter of Wildcat student-athletes.
The 2021 recipient is Ellie Sasaki (Markham, Ontario) of the women's ice hockey team. Sasaki was a team representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and also served as a member of the newly formed Committee on Mutual Respect (COMR).
Sasaki was active in community service through volunteerism with the Portsmouth Breast Cancer 5K, Rochester's Try Hockey for Free Day and UNH's Skate with the 'Cats.
Sasaki was also instrumental to the team's connection to Connor's Climb Foundation, an organization focused on providing suicide prevention education to New Hampshire youth and the community. This stemmed from the women's ice hockey team initiative as part of the Stick it to Stigma Mental Health Awareness game to raise awareness of and promote good mental health.
Also of note, Sasaki has been named to the Hockey East All-Academic Team every year and was named to the National College Athlete Honor Society, Chi Alpha Sigma, twice. She played in 115 career games with totals of four goals and six assists for 10 points.
TINA TRUE AWARD
The Tina True Award started in 2007 and is presented to a pair of Wildcat seniors for commitment to strength and conditioning. The award is named in memory of Tina True, who was a co-captain and coxswain of the women's crew team from 2000-02; her commitment to training and her passion for her sport greatly contributed to the success of the team; in January 2002 (her junior year), Tina's life was tragically cut short in a car accident.
The 2021 recipients are Alyssa Colbert (Smithfield, R.I.) of the women's track & field team and Brian Carter (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) of the football team.
Colbert's excellence in strength and conditioning led to record-setting performances in the 2021 outdoor track & field season. Thus far, the team captain has broken her own school record in the discus three times and that includes a first-place mark of 169 feet, 2 inches to win the America East title. Colbert entered the season with a best effort of 148-4.
Colbert also placed second in the hammer at the conference championship meet.
Carter utilized his strength and conditioning prowess to become a disruptive force as a defensive end on the UNH football team. As a sophomore, he ranked second on the team in sacks. In the Spring 2021 season, Carter led active Wildcats in both career sacks and tackles for loss, and the senior captain ranked fourth in total tackles.
The Tina True Award started in 2007 and is presented to a pair of Wildcat seniors for commitment to strength and conditioning. The award is named in memory of Tina True, who was a co-captain and coxswain of the women's crew team from 2000-02; her commitment to training and her passion for her sport greatly contributed to the success of the team; in January 2002 (her junior year), Tina's life was tragically cut short in a car accident.
The 2021 recipients are Alyssa Colbert (Smithfield, R.I.) of the women's track & field team and Brian Carter (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) of the football team.
Colbert's excellence in strength and conditioning led to record-setting performances in the 2021 outdoor track & field season. Thus far, the team captain has broken her own school record in the discus three times and that includes a first-place mark of 169 feet, 2 inches to win the America East title. Colbert entered the season with a best effort of 148-4.
Colbert also placed second in the hammer at the conference championship meet.
Carter utilized his strength and conditioning prowess to become a disruptive force as a defensive end on the UNH football team. As a sophomore, he ranked second on the team in sacks. In the Spring 2021 season, Carter led active Wildcats in both career sacks and tackles for loss, and the senior captain ranked fourth in total tackles.
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR'S AWARD FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
The Athletic Director's Award for Academic Excellence was first presented in 2010 and is given to the female and male senior student-athlete with the highest cumulate grade point average.
The 2021 recipients are Conner Allen (Centreville, Md.) of field hockey and Chris Lester (Barrington, Ill.) of men's basketball. Both Allen and Lester are two-time members of the National College Athlete Honor Society, Chi Alpha Sigma, for maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher and having at least a junior standing academically.
Allen has maintained a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA as an English major. She has been named a National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I Scholar of Distinction all four years and to the NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad every year. Allen was voted to the America East All-Academic Field Hockey Team this past season for excellence in the classroom and on the field.
Allen is the only Wildcat who started all 12 games this season, and she played 710 of a possible 724 minutes (98.1%); Allen played 60 minutes 10 times. The midfielder was a strong defender and an integral part of the Wildcats' defensive penalty corner unit.
Lester graduated with a Business Administration: Finance degree in just three years with a 3.79 GPA, and now he has a 3.90 GPA while pursuing a business administration: finance degree as a grad student. He's been named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court three times, to the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll four times, and has been voted to the conference's All-Academic Team twice for excellence in the classroom and on the court.
On the court, the forward had seven starts in 19 games played in the 2020-21 season with averages of 3.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in 14.4 minutes per game.
The Athletic Director's Award for Academic Excellence was first presented in 2010 and is given to the female and male senior student-athlete with the highest cumulate grade point average.
The 2021 recipients are Conner Allen (Centreville, Md.) of field hockey and Chris Lester (Barrington, Ill.) of men's basketball. Both Allen and Lester are two-time members of the National College Athlete Honor Society, Chi Alpha Sigma, for maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher and having at least a junior standing academically.
Allen has maintained a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA as an English major. She has been named a National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I Scholar of Distinction all four years and to the NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad every year. Allen was voted to the America East All-Academic Field Hockey Team this past season for excellence in the classroom and on the field.
Allen is the only Wildcat who started all 12 games this season, and she played 710 of a possible 724 minutes (98.1%); Allen played 60 minutes 10 times. The midfielder was a strong defender and an integral part of the Wildcats' defensive penalty corner unit.
Lester graduated with a Business Administration: Finance degree in just three years with a 3.79 GPA, and now he has a 3.90 GPA while pursuing a business administration: finance degree as a grad student. He's been named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court three times, to the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll four times, and has been voted to the conference's All-Academic Team twice for excellence in the classroom and on the court.
On the court, the forward had seven starts in 19 games played in the 2020-21 season with averages of 3.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in 14.4 minutes per game.
COACHES AWARD
The Coaches Award, which started in 2019, is presented to a senior student-athlete who has either overcome adversity, or is an unsung hero, or is a team leader, or has gone above and beyond.
This year's recipient is Grace Middleton (Midland, Mich.) of the women's ice hockey team. Middleton was born with bilateral congenital hearing loss and started using hearing aids at age four. That did not deter her from becoming a Division I student-athlete and succeeding as a UNH Wildcat on the ice and in the classroom.
COVID-19 has been challenging and frustrating for many of us. For Middleton, who is adept at reading lips, wearing masks presented a different challenge. And UNH was one of the few teams that wore masks every game. Middleton worked hard. She adapted. And she played in all 22 games this past season and 127 of 131 games the past four years – more than any other Wildcat.
Middleton is a two-time member of the National College Athlete Honor Society, Chi Alpha Sigma. She has also been named both an AHCA All-America Scholar and to the Hockey East All-Academic Team every year.
This year's candidates were Middleton, Victor Menudier (men's soccer), Francesca Picicci (women's soccer) and Amanda Torres (women's basketball).
The Coaches Award, which started in 2019, is presented to a senior student-athlete who has either overcome adversity, or is an unsung hero, or is a team leader, or has gone above and beyond.
This year's recipient is Grace Middleton (Midland, Mich.) of the women's ice hockey team. Middleton was born with bilateral congenital hearing loss and started using hearing aids at age four. That did not deter her from becoming a Division I student-athlete and succeeding as a UNH Wildcat on the ice and in the classroom.
COVID-19 has been challenging and frustrating for many of us. For Middleton, who is adept at reading lips, wearing masks presented a different challenge. And UNH was one of the few teams that wore masks every game. Middleton worked hard. She adapted. And she played in all 22 games this past season and 127 of 131 games the past four years – more than any other Wildcat.
Middleton is a two-time member of the National College Athlete Honor Society, Chi Alpha Sigma. She has also been named both an AHCA All-America Scholar and to the Hockey East All-Academic Team every year.
This year's candidates were Middleton, Victor Menudier (men's soccer), Francesca Picicci (women's soccer) and Amanda Torres (women's basketball).
PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
The Performer of the Year, first presented in 2020, is given to both the most outstanding female and male student-athlete – regardless of class standing – for athletic achievement.
The 2021 recipients are Anna Metzler (Regensburg, Germany) of the swimming & diving team and Jayden Martinez (Cibolo, Texas) of the men's basketball team.
Metzler qualified for the NCAA Championships in both the 200 individual medley and 400 IM. At the America East conference championship meet, the junior was part of UNH's four winning relay teams and won two individual events – the 200 backstroke and 200 freestyle. Metzler also placed second in the 100 back as she competed in events not considered her specialty to help the 'Cats earn points and win a second consecutive America East team title.
Metzler opened the 2021 season by breaking Swasey Pool records in both the 200 and 400 individual medley with times of 1 minute, 59.23 seconds and 4:10.57, respectively, on Feb. 20. After competing at the NCAAs on March 18-19, Metzler returned to dual-meet action April 2 and won all three individual events she swam.
Martinez finished atop New Hampshire's leaderboard in 12 stats, including points (259), field goal percentage (.477), 3-point field goal percentage (.422), 3-pointers made (38), rebounding (8.5 rpg), blocks (18) and minutes (33.5 per game). The junior forward also led all Wildcats with five double-doubles.
On the America East leaderboards, Martinez was: No. 1 in 3-point field goal percentage and offensive rebounding; No. 3 in rebounding and defensive rebounding; No. 6 in field goal percentage, 3-pointers per game (2.0), blocks (1.0 per game) and minutes; and No. 9 in scoring.
The Performer of the Year, first presented in 2020, is given to both the most outstanding female and male student-athlete – regardless of class standing – for athletic achievement.
The 2021 recipients are Anna Metzler (Regensburg, Germany) of the swimming & diving team and Jayden Martinez (Cibolo, Texas) of the men's basketball team.
Metzler qualified for the NCAA Championships in both the 200 individual medley and 400 IM. At the America East conference championship meet, the junior was part of UNH's four winning relay teams and won two individual events – the 200 backstroke and 200 freestyle. Metzler also placed second in the 100 back as she competed in events not considered her specialty to help the 'Cats earn points and win a second consecutive America East team title.
Metzler opened the 2021 season by breaking Swasey Pool records in both the 200 and 400 individual medley with times of 1 minute, 59.23 seconds and 4:10.57, respectively, on Feb. 20. After competing at the NCAAs on March 18-19, Metzler returned to dual-meet action April 2 and won all three individual events she swam.
Martinez finished atop New Hampshire's leaderboard in 12 stats, including points (259), field goal percentage (.477), 3-point field goal percentage (.422), 3-pointers made (38), rebounding (8.5 rpg), blocks (18) and minutes (33.5 per game). The junior forward also led all Wildcats with five double-doubles.
On the America East leaderboards, Martinez was: No. 1 in 3-point field goal percentage and offensive rebounding; No. 3 in rebounding and defensive rebounding; No. 6 in field goal percentage, 3-pointers per game (2.0), blocks (1.0 per game) and minutes; and No. 9 in scoring.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
The Rookie of the Year, first presented in 2019, is given to both the most outstanding female and male rookie for athletic achievement.
The 2021 recipients are Jasmine Lyons (Ottawa, Ontario) of women's skiing and Nick Johnson (Bronx, N.Y.) of men's basketball.
Lyons was named the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association Rookie of the Year as the No. 1 overall women's Nordic skier in the East as the EISA points bib leader and was the top freestyle skier. She qualified for the NCAA championships, where she placed 21st in the 15K free and 26th in the 5K classic. Lyons was also named to the National Collegiate All-Academic Ski Team.
In her collegiate debut, Lyons won the 7K freestyle at UNH's Jackson XC course on Jan. 28; one day later, she placed third in the 10K free. Lyons returned to the top of the podium one week later by winning the 15K free and the 5K classic races. She went on to record a pair of second-place finishes during the carnival season.
Johnson, who redshirted the 2019-20 season after incurring a preseason knee injury, was named the 2021 America East Rookie of the Year and was also named to the conference's All-Rookie Team.
Johnson, a four-time America East Rookie of the Week honoree in 2020-21, averaged 7.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.9 steals in 24.7 minutes per game. He played all 19 games with 11 starts, including the last 10 of the season. Johnson ranked second on the team with a .452 field goal percentage and was the top rebounding guard (third overall).
The Rookie of the Year, first presented in 2019, is given to both the most outstanding female and male rookie for athletic achievement.
The 2021 recipients are Jasmine Lyons (Ottawa, Ontario) of women's skiing and Nick Johnson (Bronx, N.Y.) of men's basketball.
Lyons was named the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association Rookie of the Year as the No. 1 overall women's Nordic skier in the East as the EISA points bib leader and was the top freestyle skier. She qualified for the NCAA championships, where she placed 21st in the 15K free and 26th in the 5K classic. Lyons was also named to the National Collegiate All-Academic Ski Team.
In her collegiate debut, Lyons won the 7K freestyle at UNH's Jackson XC course on Jan. 28; one day later, she placed third in the 10K free. Lyons returned to the top of the podium one week later by winning the 15K free and the 5K classic races. She went on to record a pair of second-place finishes during the carnival season.
Johnson, who redshirted the 2019-20 season after incurring a preseason knee injury, was named the 2021 America East Rookie of the Year and was also named to the conference's All-Rookie Team.
Johnson, a four-time America East Rookie of the Week honoree in 2020-21, averaged 7.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.9 steals in 24.7 minutes per game. He played all 19 games with 11 starts, including the last 10 of the season. Johnson ranked second on the team with a .452 field goal percentage and was the top rebounding guard (third overall).
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR presented by Three Chimneys Inn
The Highlight of the Year, which started in 2020, is determined by online fan voting. This year's winner is the dunk by junior Qon Murphy (Charlotte, N.C.) in the men's basketball team's 71-65 overtime win at Binghamton University on Jan. 31.
With UNH leading 66-60 with 1:20 left in the extra session, Murphy lost his defender on a cut from the left wing down the lane. He caught the Jayden Martinez pass from the corner, elevated and dunked over a defender to give the Wildcats an emphatic 68-60 lead.
CLICK HERE to watch
The Highlight of the Year, which started in 2020, is determined by online fan voting. This year's winner is the dunk by junior Qon Murphy (Charlotte, N.C.) in the men's basketball team's 71-65 overtime win at Binghamton University on Jan. 31.
With UNH leading 66-60 with 1:20 left in the extra session, Murphy lost his defender on a cut from the left wing down the lane. He caught the Jayden Martinez pass from the corner, elevated and dunked over a defender to give the Wildcats an emphatic 68-60 lead.
CLICK HERE to watch
GAME OF THE YEAR presented by Dunkin'
This year is the debut for the Game of the Year, which is also determined by online fan voting. The inaugural winner is the men's soccer 2-0 victory in the America East championship game against Vermont on April 17 that gave New Hampshire its third consecutive conference tournament title.
The 10th-ranked Wildcats scored goals in the 42nd minute by Chris Pinkham (Concord, N.H.) and in the 76th minute by Victor Menudier (Limoges, France), and Alejandro Robles (Monterrey, Mexico) made a season-high six saves to record his fourth shutout of the season.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS | PHOTOS | RECAP
This year is the debut for the Game of the Year, which is also determined by online fan voting. The inaugural winner is the men's soccer 2-0 victory in the America East championship game against Vermont on April 17 that gave New Hampshire its third consecutive conference tournament title.
The 10th-ranked Wildcats scored goals in the 42nd minute by Chris Pinkham (Concord, N.H.) and in the 76th minute by Victor Menudier (Limoges, France), and Alejandro Robles (Monterrey, Mexico) made a season-high six saves to record his fourth shutout of the season.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS | PHOTOS | RECAP
Players Mentioned
M
/ Field Hockey
G
/ Women's Ice Hockey
DE
/ Football
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
Nordic
/ Women's Skiing
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Soccer
IM/Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
F
/ Women's Ice Hockey
G
/ Men's Basketball
F/M
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Women's Ice Hockey
Distance
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