WORCESTER, Mass. – Holy Cross student-athletes and teams were honored for their outstanding achievements on Monday night, during the annual Crusader Awards which took place at the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex.
The awards ceremony brought together all Holy Cross student-athletes, coaches and staff for one night, to recognize everything which has been accomplished on top of Mount St. James this school year.
The 2024 Crusader Award winners follow.
MEN'S BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Jack Stockfish, Men's Ice Hockey
Playing in 32 games this season, Jack Stockfish's 25 points were the seventh-most by a freshman in the program's Division I era, while his 16 assists, five power play goals, and 250 faceoff wins were the fifth most. Stockfish was named Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Month in his first month of play for the Crusaders, and earned a spot on the All-Rookie team following the season.
WOMEN'S BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Julia Walsh, Women's Soccer
A junior transfer who joined the Crusaders this fall, Julia Walsh quickly established herself as a defensive powerhouse in goal for the women's soccer team. The two-time Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week made a total of 41 saves with five consecutive shutouts for a 1.23 goals-against average and .774 save percentage. She helped lead Holy Cross to its best finish since 2019.
JIM KAVANAGH COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR
Women's Basketball
The Crusaders brought home their 13th Patriot League Tournament and Regular Season championship in 2023-24. They earned only the second NCAA Tournament victory ever by a Patriot League program with a 72-45 victory over UT Martin, earned the most home wins ever during a single season and won 20+ games for the third consecutive season.
BEST INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
Cara McCormack, Women's Basketball vs. UT Martin
Cara McCormack led the Crusaders to a 72-45 victory in the NCAA First Four over UT Martin. She scored a career-high 23 points and knocked down a First Four-record seven three-pointers – the second-most during a game in program history. The win was the second ever by a Patriot League team.
CRUSADER IN THE COMMUNITY
Molly O'Connor, Women's Track & Field
Molly O'Connor is a leader on and off the track, working as a representative of SAAC, a Holy Cross ambassador for The Hidden Opponent and is the SGA co-director of athletics and recreation. She helped organize mental health awareness events at numerous Holy Cross athletic games throughout the year. She is involved in community service projects on and off campus, volunteering for the Harvest 5K, Girls on the Run Worcester and physical health initiatives.
MOMENT OF THE YEAR
Women's Lacrosse vs. Lafayette
The women's lacrosse team trailed Lafayette 11-9 with less than two minutes to play, before the Crusaders scored three goals in the span of one minute and six seconds to rally for the win. Ella Kittredge and Sally Zinsner scored to tie up the game, then Riley Peters netted the game-winning goal with just 31 seconds on the clock to give Holy Cross the win.
GAME OF THE YEAR
Women's Basketball vs. Boston University
Women's basketball captured its 13th overall Patriot League Championship, defeating Patriot League rival Boston University for the second straight year, 61-55 in a rowdy Hart Center Arena. The Crusaders won back-to-back Patriot League Championships, becoming the first team to do so since Navy's three-peat (2011, 2012, 2013) and for the first time at home since 2007.
BEST DRESSED AWARD
Women's Track & Field
As selected in a live vote on Twitter during the Crusader Awards ceremony.
LARRY DOYLE 90 WIDE MENTOR OF THE YEAR
Ron Perry '80, P17, 14, 10
Ron Perry has served as the leader of the mentorship program for the men's basketball team. He has been an outstanding resource and mentor for the student-athletes, while assisting several Crusaders in their efforts to secure employment and internships.
NORTON PRIZE
Brooke Ross, Field Hockey
Brooke Ross suited up for 49 games as a Crusader, making 44 starts, and held a career 2.04 goals against average and 76.3% save percentage. In her senior season, Ross posted the nation's fourth-highest save percentage and finished second in the nation in saves per game. She led the Patriot League in saves, saves per game, and save percentage, earning a spot on the All-Patriot League First Team, and became just the third Crusader in program history to be named Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year.
LAWLOR MEDAL
Allie Raynor, Women's Soccer
Allie Raynor is a biology major on a pre-dental track sporting a 3.98 GPA. She is the definition of a student-athlete who has excelled both in the classroom and on the field. The senior captain is the co-chairman of the Pre-Dental Society and volunteers her time with Big Brothers Big Sisters, the G.R.A.C.E. Center, the Office of Accessibility and Girls Inc. Raynor will continue her studies next year at UConn in the dental program.
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
Sarah Petty, Faculty Athletics Representative
Sarah Petty serves as the Faculty Athletics Representative for the Crusaders. A bridge between the athletics department and academic departments, she serves as a resource for coaches and administrators, in addition to educating professors about the athletic commitments of student-athletes. She also spends time with recruits and potential transfers, providing them details about the Holy Cross experience.
FEMALE CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Bronagh Power-Cassidy, Women's Basketball
Bronagh Power-Cassidy finished her Crusader career with a pair of Patriot League Championships and two Tournament MVP titles. A two-time All-Conference selection and 2020-21 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, Power-Cassidy ranks fourth all-time on the program's career three-pointer list, sixth in three-point percentage, sixth in three-point attempts, and 15th in scoring.
MALE CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Jacob Dobbs, Football
Jacob Dobbs set the Patriot League record for career tackles and the Holy Cross record for career tackles for loss. Dobbs earned All-America and Academic All-America honors throughout his career, and was a two-time finalist for the national defensive player of the year award. A four-time captain for the Crusaders, he was a two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and a four-time All-Patriot League honoree.
ALLEN SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Lilly Feeney, Women's Ice Hockey
Lilly Feeney is a two-time captain who has been a crucial leader of the Holy Cross women's hockey program both on and off the ice. The senior has played in 122 games, while leading the Crusaders to their first Hockey East postseason win. She is a three-time Hockey East All-Academic Team selection and a two-time All-American Scholar. Off the ice she has accumulated 110 hours of community service working with organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Hospice Compassionate Care, SAAC and she is a student wellness peer educator.
COONEY AWARD
William Kelleher, Men's Tennis
William Kelleher was a four-year starter on the men's tennis team. He spent two seasons as the Crusaders' No. 1 singles player, and finished his career ranked second all-time at Holy Cross in doubles victories. A two-time team captain and three-year member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, he was also selected to represent the Patriot League at the 2024 NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum.
MEEGAN AWARD (MEN'S)
Liam McLinskey, Men's Ice Hockey
This season, Liam McLinskey became the first Crusader since 2006 to be named Atlantic Hockey Player of the Year, and won the Atlantic Hockey Scoring Championship after registering 31 points in league play. He earned a spot on the Atlantic Hockey First Team, is a Second Team East All-American, New England Hockey Writers All-Star, won the Paul Hines Most Improved Player Award, and became the program's first Hobey Baker Award Top 10 Finalist.
MEEGAN AWARD (WOMEN'S)
Lauren Drillock, Women's Lacrosse
Lauren Drillock served as one of the captains of the women's lacrosse team this year, leading the Crusaders to the Patriot League semifinals, while tying the school single-season record for conference victories. She totaled 43 goals and 35 assists as a senior, and earned first team All-Patriot League honors. She finished her career ranked in the top 10 all-time at Holy Cross in both points and assists, and was just the 12th player in program history to score over 100 career goals.
CRUSADER OF THE YEAR
Bronagh Power-Cassidy, Women's Basketball
Bronagh Power-Cassidy becomes the sixth student-athlete in program history to win the Crusader of the Year award. A two-time conference champion, Power-Cassidy is the only the second player in program history to be named Patriot League Championship MVP twice. In the classroom, she was the 2024 Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a two-time member of the Academic All-Patriot League team. Off campus, she is involved with TEAM Impact, Working for Worcester, Abby's House, Big Brother Big Sister and the CBL Soup Kitchen.
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Women's Basketball
Women's basketball won its second consecutive Patriot League Tournament title and its second Regular Season championship in the last three years during 2023-24. They earned an NCAA Tournament Win over UT Martin which was only the second NCAA Tournament Win by a Patriot League program, set the program record for home wins during a single season and won 20+ games for the third consecutive campaign.
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