UNC Men's Lacrosse Program Honors 2017 Team

2017 ACC Champions Feted At Annual Team Banquet

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of North Carolina men's lacrosse program honored its 2017 Atlantic Coast Conference championship team at the team's annual banquet held Friday, September 29 at the Loudermilk Center for Excellence on the UNC campus.

Before a crowd of approximately 200 players, alumni, parents and supporters of the program, Coach Joe Breschi served as the master of ceremonies for the event.

The first half of the banquet program included introductions of staff and freshman players and their parents. Breschi also presented photos and jerseys to the 2017 senior class which was a key part of a program which won the NCAA title in 2016 and the ACC crown in 2017. Senior Chris Cloutier also received his framed jersey which he wore in the 2016 NCAA championship game. The jersey had been hanging at the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame since the Tar Heels defeated Maryland 14-13 in overtime on Memorial Day 2016.

Breschi also presented various trophies and certificates for all players who won athletic and academic awards from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association during the course of the 2016-17 school year. Please check the historical news archive on GoHeels.com to read about these awards announced over the past year.

Carolina also honored its 2016-17 team award winners which are summarized below. 2017 team quad captain Austin Pifani was the recipient of three of the team awards.

Turnbull Trophy (Overall Most Valuable Player) – Austin Pifani, senior defenseman

Most Valuable Offensive Players (co-recipients) – Luke Goldstock, senior attackman; Chris Cloutier, junior attackman

Graham Harden Most Valuable Defensive Player – Austin Pifani, senior defenseman
(This award has been renamed for Graham Harden, Class of 1991, and winner of Schmeisser Cup as nation's outstanding defenseman in 1991)

Needham Unsung Heroes (co-recipients) – Ryan Macri, redshirt junior defenseman; William McBride, junior midfielder

Jay Gallagher Memorial Award for Outstanding Freshman Player – William Perry, freshman midfielder
(This award honors the late Jay Gallagher, a former assistant coach at North Carolina)

The Holmes Harden, Sr. Memorial Award (Most Ground Balls in a Season) – Stephen Kelly, senior midfielder (fourth season in a row Kelly won this award)
(This award honors Holmes Harden, Sr., who passed away on June 16, 1991, less than a month after the Tar Heels won the 1991 NCAA Championship. His sons Boyd, '88; Graham, '91; and Holmes, '93, played at Carolina)

Danny Fox Memorial Award (Service to Carolina Lacrosse) – Mike Greene, team academic advisor
(This award is named in honor of program benefactor and supporter Danny Fox who passed away on February 17, 2002)

Class of 1986 Dan Andrews Award for Sportsmanship & Community Service (co-recipients) - Mark Rizzo, redshirt senior defenseman; Luke Walsh, senior midfielder
(This award honors Dan Andrews, Class of 1986, who was paralyzed following his freshman season in 1983 in a car-bike accident in his hometown of Annapolis and was established by his fellow UNC Class of 1986 members)

Kevin Reichardt Memorial Award for Most Improved Player – Andy Matthews, sophomore attackman
(This award honors Kevin Reichardt, Class of 1997, who was murdered while riding his bike to practice on January 26, 1995 during his sophomore year by a gunman who killed two people in downtown Chapel Hill)

Ralph T. "Rip" Davy, III Memorial Award (Senior Leadership) – Austin Pifani, senior defenseman
(This award honors Rip Davy, UNC Class of 1979, and a first-team All-America as a senior that season. His wife Margot maintains the award along with her sons. Rip passed away at age 51 on January 16, 2008).

Dick Baddour Academic Success Award (Team High Grade Point Average) – Matt Cunningham, junior attackman
(This award is named in honor of Dick Baddour, UNC athletic director from 1997-2011)

The evening was capped in a most festive style by the presentation of the 2017 ACC championship rings to team members and staff (see photo accompanying this article).

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University of North Carolina Athletics

Players Mentioned

Chris Cloutier

Matt Cunningham

Luke Goldstock

Stephen Kelly

Ryan Macri

Andy Matthews

William McBride

William Perry

Austin Pifani

Mark Rizzo

Luke Walsh

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