Seniors Bid Adieu To UConn Athletics

By: Kevin Vellturo

Posted: 5/11/08

Football

Tyvon Branch, CB - Branch made a large impact his junior and senior years, starting at both cornerback and safety. During the 2007 season he was a standout on special teams, leading the Big East in kick return average (28.9 yards) and becoming the first player in UConn history to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same season. Branch was drafted in the fourth round by the Oakland Raiders in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Donald Thomas, OG - Thomas was the only other player on the football team to get drafted, going in the sixth round to the Miami Dolphins. Thomas, who walked on to the team in 2005, started 13 games in 2007 and did not allow a single sack.

Dan Davis, DE/DT - Davis started every game of his final two seasons, recording 116 tackles and 7.5 sacks by the end of his UConn career. Davis was not drafted, but signed with the Indianapolis Colts after the draft.

Danny Lansanah, MLB - Lansanah finished his career at UConn as the ninth-leading tackler in school history, with 323. He finished with 10 career interceptions, returning two of them for touchdowns, making him one of only four Huskies ever to do that. A first-team All Big East selection in 2007, Lansanah signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent.

Larry Taylor, WR/RS - Taylor spent his career at UConn primarily as a kick-returner, returning two punts for touchdowns as well as one kickoff. He is one of four players in school history to return both a punt and a kick for touchdown. Taylor also spent time as wide receiver.
Also graduating: Lou Allen, RB; Donnell Ford, SS; Ryan Henegan, LB; Zak Penwell, DT; Gary Mack, DE.

Men's Soccer

Julius James, D - The native of Trinidad became only the second three-time All-American in school history and recently won his third consecutive Big East Defensive Player of the Year award in his senior season. James played every game of the 2007 season for a defense that posted 15 shutouts. Along with stellar defense, James scored the game-winning goal against Syracuse (Sept. 30) and also added a goal and an assist in the Big East semifinal against Louisville. James was drafted by Toronto FC in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft.

Ryan Cordeiro, M - Cordeiro joined James in this years MLS SuperDraft, going to DC United with the 33rd overall pick. In 2007, Cordeiro tallied 10 assists and four game-winning goals. He was the leading scorer in 2007 behind M.A.C. Hermann trophy O'Brian White. Cordeiro was named second Team All-Big East.

Also graduating: Dori Arad, M; Chukwudi Chijindu, F; Louis Jones, D; and Karl Schilling, D.

Women's Soccer

Meghan Schnur, M/F - Schnur was the Huskies leading scorer during the 2007 season with five goals and nine assists. Along with that distinction, Schnur was named a first team All-American as well as Big East Midfielder of the Year. Schnur led a team that advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals before being defeated 3-2 in double overtime to Florida State.

Also graduating: Maryann Hoke, M; Sarah MacIsaac, D; Karyn Riviere, M; Alexandra Zedros, F.

Field Hockey

Lizzy Peijs - Peijs was the leading scorer on a team that advanced to the national semi-Finals and won both the Big East regular season and tournament championships. The native of the Netherlands was also named to her second consecutive All-American team and was also named the Big East Offensive Player of the Year.

Also graduating: Kristin Galuski, F; Nikki Harmony, F/M; and Brianna Koza, G.

Volleyball

Sadé Chambers, OH - In her last collegiate match, Chambers surpassed the 1,000-kill mark, leading the Huskies with 368 on the season. Chambers also finished her final season as a First Team All-Big East performer.

Also graduating: Gina Heiderman, MB and Julie Pickard, DS/L.

Men's Hockey

Charles Solberg, F - Solberg served as the lone senior on a team primarily full of freshmen. In Solberg's last home game, a 4-2 win against AIC, he scored what would become the game winning goal, putting a cap on a career that boasts 13 goals and 28 assists.

Women's Hockey

Jaclyn Hawkins, F - In her four years at UConn, Hawkins brought the women's hockey team from relative obscurity to national prominence. In her senior season, her second as captain, she led the team in assists and was second in total points. The Huskies also saw their highest national ranking ever, No. 8, and highest number of wins with 22. She leaves UConn as the career leader in points, goals and assists.

Also graduating: Bridget King, D; Britney Chandler, F; and Liz Gallinaro, D.

Women's Basketball

Ketia Swanier, G - Perhaps one of the most improved players on this year's roster, Swanier stepped in for an injured Mel Thomas and helped propel the Huskies to their first Final Four in four years and was named the Big East Sixth Man of the Year. After the season, Swanier was drafted by the Connecticut Sun with the 12th overall pick in the WNBA draft.

Charde Houston, F - During her senior year, Houston became a member of the 1,000-point club, finishing with 1,365 points in her career ranking her 22nd in UConn history. Houston joined Swanier when she was selected by the Minnesota Lynx with the 30th overall pick.

Mel Thomas, G - Despite a shortened senior year because of a torn ACL, Thomas was still able to become the 29th player in school history to score 1,000 points when she reached the mark early in the season. She ends her career fourth on UConn's all-time 3-pointers list.

Brittany Hunter, C/F - Hunter played in 30 games during her final season, starting 24 of them. Hunter averaged 5.5 points and 3.1 rebounds a game to provide depth for the Big East champions.

Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving

Courtney Haney - Haney wrapped up her senior season as the lone representative from the Huskies at the NCAA Championships in Columbus, Ohio. Haney qualified for both the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke.

Allison Coleman - Coleman finished second in the Big East Championships in both the one and three-meter dive. Coleman was also named Big East Female Diver of the Year for the second time in her career.

Also graduating: Michael Brocki, Michael Clifford, Chris Ferreira, Sean Hannan, Todd Pessess, Ryan Thompson, Colleen Cavanaugh, Emily Karel, Sarah Kearns, Laura Kunces, Kelly Recupero, Lindsay Rogers, Andrea Ryan, Rachel Silverstein and Jordan Zarin.

Men's Track & Cross Country

Basil Campbell, sprints/high hurdles - Campbell was the Big East champion in the 200-meter dash during the Big East Indoor Track Championship, which the Huskies would go on to win as a team.

Daniel Hutcherson, high jump/long jump - Hutcherson finished his indoor track career with a Big East championship in the triple jump, helping the Huskies to the overall championship.

Also graduating: Steven Iannaccone, Verrol Jackson, David McKay, Will Melofchik, Colin Meyers, David Roy and Brian Watrous.

Women's Track & Cross Country

Tamara Highsmith, sprinter/jumper - The lone senior on a young team, Highsmith finished her stellar UConn career with a 1st place finish in the Big East Championship in the triple jump. Her performance in the event not only led the team to an overall championship, but also established a new school record.

Baseball

Pat Mahoney, 3B/C - Mahoney served as team captain during his senior season, and as of May 3 was batting .303 with three home runs and 27 RBIs out of the third spot in the lineup. Mahoney also sits at second on the team in runs scored, with 39.

Also graduating: Gordon Stevens, OF; Matt Karl, LHP/DH; Brad Olt, UT.

Softball

Allie Gendron, C - Gendron has been named Second Team All-Big East for two seasons and continued her solid play this season. As of May 3, Gendron has started all 47 games she's played in and is batting .287.

Also graduating: Kristina Tolles, P.

Women's Lacrosse

Robyn Pastuch, A - Pastuch finished the season fourth on the team in scoring, with 18 goals and 13 assists.

Leah Giffin, D; Emily Van Buitenen, D; and Meghan Nanfeldt, M.

Men's & Women's Tennis

Christian Malerba - Malerba finished his senior season with a record of 11-6, splitting time between the teams No. 4 and No. 5 singles positions. His 11 wins were the more than any other singles player on the Huskies' roster.

Jessica Porter - The only departing senior, Porter finished the year with a record of 10-4 in the No. 3 and No. 4 singles spots.

Also graduating: Aaron Ribchinsky and Ben Schueler

Men's Golf

Brian Travalja - Travalja has been one of the most solid performers for the Huskies during his senior season. During the fall season, he finished second overall in the New England Championships.

A.J. Siekierski - Siekierski was the highest finisher on the team in the Big East Championships in the spring, finishing in 18th place overall.

Contact Kevin Vellturo at
Kevin.Vellturo@UConn.edu.