EDISON, New Jersey – Marist graduates Joseph Radin, Chris Tracz, Lindsey Diener and Melissa Giordano have been named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference's 35th anniversary team for spring sports, it was announced June 22.
The conference honored 47 male and female individuals on its first and second teams. Radin and Tracz were First Team selections while Diener and Giordano each earned spots on the Second Team.
Here is a closer look at each Marist honoree:
Men's First Team
Joseph Radin, Men's Lacrosse
Arguably the finest men's lacrosse student-athlete to ever play at Marist, Joseph Radin became the first Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft choice in program history when he was selected in the sixth round, 45th overall, by the Charlotte Hounds prior to his senior season in 2016. He helped lead the Red Foxes to three straight appearances in the MAAC Championship game. In the Red Foxes' record setting 2015 campaign, the left handed attackman broke the MAAC single-season scoring record with his 53rd goal and ended the year with 55. The Red Foxes won their first MAAC title in a decade in 2015 and took down Bryant in a preliminary round contest in Tenney Stadium for their first NCAA tournament victory. Radin was named to the All-MAAC First Team three times and earned back to back Offensive Player of the Year nods and MAAC All-Tournament Team selections in 2015 and 2016. He was also named the 2013 MAAC Rookie of the Year and Marist's 2015-16 Sportsman of the Year. At the end of his four-year career, Radin was Marist's all-time goals leader with 166 and was third in points (213). Those numbers were second and fifth among NCAA active players at the end of the 2016 season. He scored a goal in his final 32 games in a Marist uniform, which was the longest streak in the country after the 2016 NCAA Division I men's lacrosse season had ended. Radin was also up for many national awards during his senior season. A member of the initial Tewaaraton Award Watch List in 2016, he was one of 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award before earning First Team All-American and finishing third in fan voting for the honor. Radin wore no. 34 for the 2016 season in honor of former Marist men's lacrosse player Edward Coombs, who passed away in a car accident in 2011.
Chris Tracz, Baseball
Chris Tracz is arguably the greatest pitcher in the 25-year history of the Marist baseball program. A 2005 Marist graduate, Tracz still holds the program records for wins (38), strikeouts (298), innings pitched (379.1) and starts (56). He is also tied for first in complete games (14) and second in ERA (3.13). Tracz was a two-time MAAC Pitcher of the Year (2002, 2005), and the conference's Rookie of the Year (2001). During his career, Tracz's teams made three NCAA Regional appearances (2001, 2002, 2005), and won a game in both 2001 and 2002, with the 2002 victory coming in a game when he started and allowed one run over seven innings. In 2001, Tracz was also a Freshman All-American selection by Louisville Slugger and Baseball America. He was named First Team All-Region in both 2002 and 2005. In 2004, Tracz missed the entire season due to Tommy John Surgery, but he returned in 2005 and earned MAAC Pitcher of the Year and First Team All-Region honors as Marist won the MAAC for the third time in his career. Following his graduation, Tracz became Marist's pitching coach, a role he served in from the 2006-08 seasons. He returned the Red Foxes as the team's head coach for the 2010 season. In his seven seasons at the helm, he has compiled a record of 180-174-2 while seven players have been selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Women's Second Team
Lindsey Diener, Women's Lacrosse
Lindsey Diener was one of the top midfielders to play in the Marist women's lacrosse program. Her 54 goals as a freshman in 2005 are currently the third most ever by a Red Fox while her 75 points and 33 assists as a senior in 2008 put her in second place all time. In her last season she led Marist to its first ever MAAC title when the Red Foxes defeated top seeded Fairfield, 10-9. As a junior in 2007 she contributed to what was Marist's winningest season at the time, as the Red Foxes had an overall mark of 10-6. She was named to the All-MAAC First Team every year of her career and selected to the MAAC All-Tournament Team in 2005 and 2008. At the end of her senior season, Diener was named the conference's Co-Offensive Player of the Year ranking third in the league in points (4.06), fifth in goals (2.31) and third in assists (1.75) per game. Diener is currently fifth all time in program history with 112 draw controls and fourth in ground balls with 124. She ended her career as Marist's all-time leader in goals (162), assists (82) and points (244) as well as goals (2.49) and points (3.75) per game. Diener is still the program's all-time leader in goals today. She was named Marist's Female Sportsperson of the Year in 2008.
Melissa Giordano, Softball
Melissa Giordano's name is all over the program's record books for her outstanding all-around play. Giordano's career .371 batting average and 50 doubles both remain first in program history, and her 236 career hits are now tied for first all time. She also holds the program's single-season records for batting average (.429, 2009) and doubles (19, 2009), and held the single-season record for hits (70, 2008) at the time of her graduation. Giordano was named All-MAAC all four seasons of her career, with three First Team honors. She was an integral part of the program's first NCAA Regional appearance in 2006 and was named to the MAAC All-Tournament Team in 2008. A standout in the classroom, Giordano was named Third Team Academic All-American as a senior. She was also named First Team All-Region and MAAC Player of the Year in 2009, as she hit .429 with 66 hits, 19 doubles, 42 runs scored, and eight homers in perhaps the greatest offensive season in Marist's 25 years as a program. Following graduation, Giordano played a professional season in Italy. Giordano returned to her alma mater as an assistant coach for the 2013-14 season and helped the Red Foxes reach NCAA Regionals in 2013. She is the only person in Marist softball history to win a MAAC championship as a player and coach.
Here is the complete list of MAAC honorees:
Men's First Team
Connor Panas, Canisius, Baseball
Kevin Ross, Canisius, Men's Lacrosse
Joe Michalsin, Fairfield, Men's Tennis
Tim Bayley, Iona, Track and Field
Leonard Korir, Iona, Track and Field
Chris Cody, Manhattan, Baseball
Joseph Radin, Marist, Men's Lacrosse
Chris Tracz, Marist, Baseball
Dylan Capwell, Monmouth, Track and Field
Mike Thomas, Rider, Baseball
Bryan Neufeld, Siena, Men's Lacrosse
Dan Paolini, Siena, Baseball
Women's First Team
Maria Kotas, Canisius, Women's Lacrosse
Jody Tassone, Canisius, Softball
Kristen Coleman, Fairfield, Women's Lacrosse
Melissa Santos, Fairfield, Softball
Sarah Jackson, Iona, Softball
Salome Kosgei, Iona, Track and Field
Aliann Pompey, Manhattan, Track and Field
Teresa Healy, Niagara, Softball
Milena Matijevic, Niagara, Women's Tennis
Deanna Dovak, Rider, Softball & Women's Tennis
Jazmine Fenlator, Rider, Outdoor Track and Field
Katelynn Mannix, Siena, Women's Golf
Jess Lundgren, Wagner, Water Polo
Men's Second Team
Matt Callaghan, Fairfield, Men's Lacrosse
Jay Mulieri, Loyola, Golf
Michael Mulieri, Loyola, Golf
Eugene Tanner, Manhattan, Men's Lacrosse
Victor Pugliese, Monmouth, Men's Tennis
Walter Garcia, Niagara, Men's Tennis
Jordan Schwartz, Niagara, Baseball
Kei Ezaka, Quinnipiac, Men's Tennis
Thomas Jankins, Quinnipiac, Baseball
Scott Rich, Rider, Baseball
Connor Mullee, Saint Peter's, Baseball
Isaiah Harris, Saint Peter's, Track and Field
Women's Second Team
Nancy Turnblacer, Loyola, Women's Tennis
Michelle “Mia” Vendlinski, Loyola, Women's Tennis
Jennifer Drum, Manhattan, Softball
Lindsey Diener, Marist, Women's Lacrosse
Melissa Giordano, Marist, Softball
Tionna Garner, Monmouth, Track and Field
Sophia Dzulynsky, Quinnipiac, Women's Tennis
Shameal Samuels, Quinnipiac, Outdoor Track and Field
Ronnah Parham, Saint Peter's, Track and Field
Jessika-Jo Sandrini, Siena, Softball
