Editor's Note: From May 18-22, the Marist Athletics Department will announce the winners of this year's Senior Awards. For more information about Marist's Senior Awards, please click here.
 
Schedule: Athletic Director's Award (May 18) | President's Academic Achievement Award (May 18) | Team Strength & Conditioning Award (May 19) | Individual Strength & Conditioning Award (May 19) | Pizzani Award (May 20) | Female Sportsperson of the Year (May 21) | Male Sportsperson of the Year (May 22)

POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Ellie Petraccione (women's lacrosse) and Joe Tierney (men's lacrosse) are this year's winners of the Pizzani Award.
 
James Pizzani was a 1964 graduate of Marist who exemplified the college's core ideals of excellence in education, pursuit of higher human values and dedication to the principle of service. James lost his battle with cancer in 1988. Because of his love for Marist and its students, this award was established in 1990 and is presented to those whom embody the qualities of James Pizzani.
 
Recipients of the Pizzani Award are individuals who have dedicated their time and talents to the Athletics Department, the Marist community, and the surrounding communities in the Hudson Valley.
 
Here are some facts on our winners:
 

ELLIE PETRACCIONE - WOMEN'S LACROSSE

 

• Was featured on Marist.edu for her senior research thesis on why non-scientists should care about protecting the environment (The Causes and Impacts of Harmful Algal Blooms in Our Local Waters). Project focused on the Hudson River.
• Member of the Honors program.
• Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) member & organization's Co-Director of Community Service.
• Ladies Empowering Athletic Program (LEAP) Council member.
• Peer mentor.
• Multi-year MAAC All-Academic Team Selection, named to ECAC President's Honor Roll.
• Community service includes: Friends of Jaclyn Walk, school & children's home visits, Girl Scouts Sports Sampler, Freshman Move-In, Special Olympics, Clothing Drive.
• Post-graduate plans: acquire more field experience, completing a doctorate, possibly becoming a professor.

Another ?? for Ellie's trophy case. Congrats again Ellie! #GoRedFoxes pic.twitter.com/LC1CvsXd0c

— Marist College WLax (@MaristWomensLax) May 20, 2020

 

JOE TIERNEY - MEN'S LACROSSE

 

• Earned prestigious #34 for men's lacrosse this season.
• Member of SAAC Executive Board, serves as organization's Co-Director of Community Service.
• Represented Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference SAAC at conference in Orlando.
• Team captain.
• Multi-year MAAC All-Academic Team selection.
• Community service activities include: children's home visits, ETC clinics, Friends of Jaclyn Walk, Special Olympics, Grace Smith House Pumpkin Parade, Freshman Move-In, Tunnels to Towers Run.

Congratulations to Senior Joe Tierney, this year's Male recipient of the @MaristAthletics Pizzani Award! The Pizzani Award is dedicated to athletes who put their time and talents to the @Marist community and beyond! #MARIST #LACROSSE #FAM #EC34 pic.twitter.com/dO921Dyzz3

— Marist Lacrosse (@Marist_MensLax) May 20, 2020

 

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

 

• This award has now been captured by a women's lacrosse student-athlete seven times, the most of any program on campus. Six of these awards have occurred in the last seven years.
• Petraccione also won the President's Academic Achievement Award on Monday, marking the second straight year a women's lacrosse student-athlete has won two major awards. Current women's lacrosse assistant coach Hailey Wagner won the President's Academic Achievement Award and Sportsperson of the Year in 2019.
• Petraccione is the first female student athlete to win both the President's Academic Achievement Award and Pizzani Award since basketball's Sabrina Vallery in 2001.
• Tierney is the fifth men's lacrosse student-athlete to win the award, and the first since current assistant coach Dave Scarcello in 2015.
• With five total Pizzani winners, lacrosse is now tied with swimming & diving and football for the most of any male sport.

 

UP NEXT

 
Female Sportsperson of the Year will be announced at 1 p.m. Thursday.