DePaul University Athletics
Athletics Banquet Celebrates Best of the Blue Demons
6/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S TENNIS
Photo Gallery CHICAGO -- The absolute best of DePaul Athletics gathered together Saturday night at the Rosemont Convention Center to celebrate and reflect back on all the accomplishments of the 2014-15 season.
The Blue Demons once again made quite an impact on the BIG EAST Conference. For the first time in program history, women's soccer swept the league's regular-season and tournament titles. Women's tennis swept both titles for the second year in a row.
Women's basketball tied for the regular-season title and won a repeat BIG EAST tournament title while earning an NCAA tournament berth for the 13th-consecutive year and advancing to the second round.
Women's tennis won its first NCAA match in program history and advanced to the second round. Women's soccer made its first back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in program history. Coach Betty Kaufmann's golf team had a program-best runner-up finish at the BIG EAST Championship.
"I'm very proud of our student-athletes and coaches," said DePaul Athletics Director Jean Lenti Ponsetto. "For the second year in a row, they have really distinguished themselves by improving in BIG EAST Conference competition.
"Women's soccer did better than last year after winning the BIG EAST regular-season and tournament titles. Our golf team improved from 2014 by finishing second at the BIG EAST Championship and men's basketball moved up three places in the conference standings.
"Women's basketball and women's tennis each advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. It was the first NCAA tournament win for women's tennis, and it came against a highly ranked Kentucky team.
"Women's basketball made its 13th consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament and defeated a very good Big Ten team in Minnesota in the first round. We had some outstanding results from the men's and women's track teams led by Matt Babicz's quest for another title at this week's NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Matt (NCAA Indoor Track All-American) along with Blake Thompson, MaShayla Kirksy, Jackie Kasal and Bailey Dell represented us at the preliminary rounds of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships."
Women's soccer went 16-1-4 for the best record in school history and had an unprecedented 20-game undefeated streak. These Blue Demons earned the highest national ranking in program history at No. 7 in the Soccer America Top 25. Alexa Ben's 11 assists last season set a school record and Abby Reed's 12 goals tied a school record.
Babicz was an All-American last March in the shot put and is vying to become an All-American in the same event at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships that begin Wednesday in Eugene, Ore.
Women's basketball point guard Brittany Hrynko was a WBCA and Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American. Women's soccer standouts Rachel Pitman and Elise Wyatt were Academic All-Americans along with softball ace Mary Connolly. Women's basketball standout Megan Rogowski was named a Senior CLASS All-American. The Blue Demon golf team had the No. 1 team GPA in the country.
The BIG EAST major award winners featured Hrynko and women's tennis' Yuliya Shupenia as Player of the Year in their sports. Hrynko became the first DePaul basketball player to win that award. Alexa Ben was the women's soccer Rookie of the Year while tennis players Alex Galoustian and Patricia Lancranjan were both Freshman of the Year.
"We've made quite an impact on the BIG EAST," Ponsetto said. "Villanova won six titles in the 21 BIG EAST sports the Wildcats competed in. We won three conference titles in 15 sports. St. John's won three titles in 18 sports."
Five Blue Demons were honored with most outstanding performance recognition during their BIG EAST postseason tournaments. Amber Paul was the offensive most valuable player and Sarah Gorden the defensive MVP in women's soccer. Megan Podkowa was the MVP of the conference women's basketball tournament. Rebeca Mitrea was the Most Outstanding Performer in tennis and Ivy Dobson won the track award at the BIG EAST Outdoor Championships.
"I am also proud of the outstanding work our student-athletes have done in the class room," Ponsetto said. "They are able to compete at a very high level with an incredible group of students at DePaul.
"For us to see such exceptional team grade-point averages is a real testament to their intellect and work ethic and reinforces the marketability of our student-athletes. It's impressive to see day-in and day-out their ability to prepare at a high level in the class room and on the athletic field.
"The unsung heroes of their success are the support staff of Athletics Academic Advising, Sports Performance, Sports Medicine, Athletics Communications, Facilities, Business and Financial Affairs, Ticket Office, External Affairs, Development and Marketing. They do yeoman's work behind the scenes in support of our student-athletes."
Women's tennis coach Mark Ardizzone repeated as BIG EAST Coach of the Year while Erin Chastain, Michele O'Brien and Sarah Stanczyk were honored as the BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year in women's soccer. Chastain was selected as NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year for the second time in a row.
"The Athletics Banquet is a wonderful opportunity to say thank you and to celebrate all of our achievements and accomplishments," Ponsetto said. "At the same time, we say goodbye to the seniors and reflect back on their experience at DePaul."
Here is a rundown of the 2014-15 athletics banquet award winners.
Rev. John R. Cortelyou, C.M. Award
Jarret Fisher -- Women's Tennis
Curtis Weir -- Men's Soccer
Rev. Edward F. Riley, C.M. Memorial Award
Adrian Halimi - Golf
Jan Juelicher - Golf
Koray Yesilli - Men's Soccer
Jean Nordberg Memorial Award
Jackie Kasal - Women's Track and Field
Rebeca Mitrea - Women's Tennis
Patricia Fargas- Women's Tennis
Ali Lenti - Softball
Sports Performance Award
Anthony Babicz -- Men's Track and Field
Brooke Schulte -- Women's Basketball
Team Spirit Award
Softball
Most Outstanding Performer
Men's Soccer -- Simon Megally
Golf -- Freddy Thomas
Women's Soccer -- Rachel Pitman
Volleyball - Colleen Smith
Women's Basketball -- Brittany Hrynko
Men's Basketball -- Billy Garrett Jr.
Men's Cross Country -- Eddie McDaniel
Women's Cross Country -- Paige Skorseth
Men's Indoor Track -- Matt Babicz
Men's Outdoor Track - Matt Babicz
Women's Indoor Track -- Jazmyne Durrah
Women's Outdoor Track -- MaShayla Kirksy
Women's Tennis -- Rebeca Mitrea
Men's Tennis -- Alex Galoustian
Softball -- Mary Connolly
Players Mentioned
