University of North Carolina Athletics
Crawford, Greene Win Prestigious Patterson Medals
September 10, 2003 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 10, 2003
University of North Carolina men's soccer midfielder Matt Crawford and volleyball outside hitter Laura Greene have been selected recipients of the Patterson Medals for 2002-03. The awards are presented to UNC's most outstanding senior male and female student-athletes.
The Patterson Medal is based primarily on athletic accomplishment, although sportsmanship and leadership are also considered. The selection is made by a committee of athletics, faculty and student representatives. The award was first given in 1924 by Dr. Joseph Patterson in memory of his brother, John Durand Patterson. The Patterson family of Chapel Hill continues to present the award.
Crawford, a native of Durham, is the second consecutive men's soccer player to win the award. Danny Jackson was the men's winner in 2001-02. Greene is the first volleyball player to ever win the award. Crawford earned first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in 2002 after setting a school-record with 16 assists, a mark that led the ACC. He played in 85 career contests and had 35 assists, second-most in UNC history.
Crawford was instrumental in Carolina's 2001 NCAA men's soccer championship. He had an assist on the game-winning goal in the national championship game win over Indiana and scored the game-tying goal in the quadruple overtime win over Stanford in the semifinals. He continued his stellar postseason play in 2002 when he tied an NCAA record with three assists in an NCAA Tournament game against Winthrop.
A co-captain last fall, Crawford excelled academically, as well. He earned first-team Verizon Academic All-America honors, was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, was named to the Dean's List in each of his eight semesters and the ACC Honor Roll in each of his four years. Crawford represented UNC at the 2002 NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference and was a member of Carolina's Student-Athlete Leadership Committee.
Currently a member of the MLS Colorado Rapids, Crawford received an ACC Scholar Award, which is given to graduating seniors who plan to pursue careers in professional athletics before continuing their education. He was graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and a minor in German. "Matt Crawford has excelled in all aspects of life and is a deserving recipient of this award," says men's soccer head coach Elmar Bolowich. "He helped us win a national championship and graduated in four years with a double major."
Greene also was an academic and athletic standout. The Yadkinville, N.C., native was the 2002 ACC Volleyball Player of the Year. She led the Tar Heels to the best three-year period in school history. Carolina won three straight ACC championships and played in three NCAA Tournaments.
She earned third-team All-America honors last year, the highest national award a UNC volleyball player has ever received.
A co-captain, she led the Tar Heels to a 115-22 overall record and 54-10 ACC record. Greene was a two-time first-team All-ACC and All-East Region selection. As a senior the Tar Heels went 32-4. She set UNC records for single-game, season and career digs.
A psychology major with a minor in chemistry, Greene was 2003 recipient of a prestigious Weaver-James-Corrigan ACC scholarship and was named to the Verizon Academic All-District III Volleyball Team.
Greene was a Carolina ACT (Athletes Coming Together) mentor for two years and a member of the Outreach group which helped in the "Share your Christmas" and provided Thanksgiving baskets for needy people in Chapel Hill and Orange County.
"Laura was the driving force behind our team's success and was the best outside hitter in the ACC," says volleyball head coach Joe Sagula. "Her play was the difference for our team's success in ACC and NCAA play over the past three years.
"This award recognizes the success of not only Laura's career, but the 2003 volleyball class, as well. It recognizes academic and athletic success, so knowing she is a native of North Carolina, it sends a great message to future student-athletes throughout the state. I'm sure her family and hometown are as proud of Laura as we are."
Greene has postponed her graduate studies at the UNC School of Pharmacy for a year. Currently she is playing for the Villebon Racing Club in Paris, France.
