JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Saint Peter's University Athletics Department will celebrate its incredibly successful 2019-20 academic year next Monday with a virtual rendition of The SP's, the annual awards banquet that recognizes teams and individuals for athletic, academic and community achievement.
The 2020 SP's will be held next Monday, May 4, beginning at 12 p.m. on the department's Twitter (
@SPUAthletics). All award winners will be announced over the course of the afternoon with special appearances by administrators, coaches and staff to help celebrate one of the most memorable years in recent Saint Peter's Athletics history, as well as graduating seniors from the Saint Peter's University Athletics Class of 2020.
Below, find the full program for the 2020 SP's in addition to nominee announcements for all awards that will be unveiled next Monday.
Team Performance of the Year
Honoring the team that recorded the most incredible performance on its respective playing surface in 2019-20 considering the following criteria: record-setting performances (either by a team or individual), opposing team(s), overcoming adversity (i.e., dramatic comeback victory), results of contest impacting the remainder of a team's season and type of contest (regular season/postseason).
- Baseball: Stunning upset road win against in-state rival Rutgers, storming back from an early 3-0 deficit with six unanswered runs for the program's first win over a Power Five conference program (March 4, 2020).
- Men's Basketball: Come-from-behind win after a last-second buzzer-beater on the road to stun the four-time conference champions and start its MAAC season off on a high note (Jan. 3, 2020).
- Men's Basketball: In what was ultimately the final game of the season, the Peacocks oust the four-time champions from the league tournament and complete a three-game, two-month sweep of Iona after a late basket with just over a second left sends the Peacocks to the semifinal round of the MAAC Basketball Championship (March 11, 2020).
- Women's Basketball: Hot-shooting Peacocks break the MAAC's 3-pointers made in a single game record in an eventual win over Canisius on the road (Jan. 25, 2020).
- Women's Basketball: A dominant showing against a Rider team that was riding a 14-game winning streak and was unbeaten in MAAC play, as the Peacocks stun the top team in the league with a double-digit upset (Feb. 6, 2020).
- Women's Basketball: The program sends its seniors off in thrilling fashion with a furious comeback in the regular season finale; after combining for 24 points in the first three quarters, the Peacocks erupt for 31 points and erase a 15-point deficit to stun Iona (March 7, 2020).
- Men's Soccer: Incredible comeback victory against Canisius at home, rallying from down two goals with seven minutes to play with three goals in less than four minutes (Oct. 12, 2019).
- Men's Soccer: Another late rally on an even bigger stage, as the Peacocks erase a one-goal deficit with two tallies in the final 10 minutes to shock the Red Foxes and advance to the league championship (Nov. 14, 2019).
- Women's Volleyball: Five-set thriller in an eventual 3-2, comeback win against Delaware State in home opener (Sept. 11, 2019).
Winner announced Monday!
Individual Performance of the Year
Presented to the individual(s) considered to have had the best or most significant performance in a contest in his or her sport in 2019-20 considering the following criteria: record-setting performances, opposing team(s), individual efforts directly impacting outcome of a contest/impacting remainder of a team's season and type of contest (regular season/postseason).
- Daryl Banks III (Freshman, MBB): One of many first-year Peacocks to shine in 2019-20, Banks III stuns Iona and after a coast-to-coast, game-winning buzzer-beater to propel Saint Peter's to a 75-74 road win in its MAAC opener (Jan. 3, 2020).
- Luke Cillie (Freshman, MSWIM): Enjoyed an incredible four days in the water at the 2020 MAAC Championships, setting a new team record in the 200 yard IM (1:47.51 seconds) and the 100 freestyle (44.81) while earning two silver medals and a bronze medal over the course of the week.
- Ian Concevitch (Senior, BASE): Threw 7.0 shutout innings in relief while striking out five batters in a 6-3 win over Rutgers, earning the program's first win over a Power Five conference team (March 4, 2020).
- Dominic Laws (Junior, MSOC): The junior and eventual MAAC Offensive Player of the Year nets two goals, including the game-winner, in an overtime road win at Marist (Oct. 23, 2019).
- Vernetta Gosier (Freshman, WT&F): Put together one of the best performances by a freshman in recent memory, earning Track Rookie of the Meet honors at the 2020 MAAC Indoor Championships after winning the 60-meter dash in 7.79 seconds and placed in the top-three in the 200-meter finals in 25.28 seconds (Feb. 23, 2020).
- Samantha Miller (Freshman, SB): Enjoyed a tremendous performance at the plate to help the Peacocks post a doubleheader sweep at Coppin State, batting a combined .750 with three RBIs on the afternoon (March 11, 2020).
- Zoe Pero (Senior, WBB): With her team trailing by 15 points entering the fourth quarter, played an instrumental part – appropriately enough on Senior Day – in helping the Peacocks storm all the way back in an eventual five-point victory after posting a double-double (17 points, 10 rebounds) to spark the comeback (March 7, 2020).
- David Powers (Senior, MGOLF): Senior captain David Powers shoots a 6-under-64 in the final round of the season-opening Doc Grimmler Invitational, representing the lowest single-round score by any Peacock in the fall season (Sept. 15, 2019).
- Quinn Taylor (Senior, MBB): Represented the team's leading scorer (13 points) and rebounder (11) in the Peacocks' eventual 56-54 victory against Iona in the quarterfinal round of the MAAC Basketball Championship, earning MAAC Player of the Game honors for his performance (March 11, 2020).
Winner announced Monday!
Scholar Athletes of the Year
Awarded to the male and female student-athletes that have recorded the highest cumulative grade point average over their four-year careers.
Female
- Alyssa Conanan (Women's Soccer): A biology major, Conanan earned three selections to the MAAC Women's Soccer All-Academic team and three selections to the MAAC Academic Honor Roll during her career. On the field, she played in 64 matches while making 52 total starts as a defender.
- Sammy Lochner (Women's Basketball): Lochner appeared in over 100 games for the women's basketball squad scoring 375 points and passing out just under 200 assists during her four-year career. She was a three-time choice to both the MAAC Women's Basketball All-Academic team and MAAC Academic Honor Roll, while studying biology.
- Georgia Verrastro (Softball): In four seasons while playing on the softball team, Verrastro led the team in stolen-base percentage each season and she claimed two spots on the MAAC Softball All-Academic team. Majoring in biology, she made three appearances on the MAAC Academic Honor Roll additionally.
Male
- Hunter Mason (Baseball): The baseball team's most productive batter during his time in Jersey City, Mason accounted for 86 of Saint Peter's runs scored to lead the team offensively over the past two seasons. In the classroom, he is a cyber security major who has been named to a trio of MAAC Academic Honor Rolls and a pair of MAAC Baseball All-Academic teams.
- Quinn Taylor (Men's Basketball): Taylor checked into all 130 games for the men's basketball team over his four-year career, giving him the distinct "Iron Man" honor, having never missed a single contest. Academically, he studied criminal justice and was voted to three MAAC Men's Basketball All-Academic teams and three MAAC Academic Honor Rolls.
- Abdoulaye Sarr (Men's Soccer): A sports management major, Sarr was chosen to the MAAC Men's Soccer All-Academic team twice and earned a pair of MAAC Academic Honor Roll accolades.
Winners announced Monday!
Academic Team of Champions
Awarded to the program with the highest team-wide GPA through fall semester.
- Women's Basketball: The women's basketball team posted its most successful season in nearly a decade this winter, continuing to build on a rock-solid foundation that has already shown the capability of playing with anyone and everyone in the MAAC. The program pulled off some remarkable upsets over the course of its conference slate highlighted by victories over previously unbeaten Rider and another top conference foe in Fairfield en route to finishing in ninth place in the league standings after nine overall wins and six in MAAC play.
- Men's Golf: The men's golf program, a three-time conference champion, was looking to get back to the top of the MAAC ledger this year before its spring season was ultimately cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There was plenty of promise shown in the fall after the team played in five challenging tournaments against some of the top programs in the region. The Peacocks placed in the top-five of those events on three occasions and won the Deal Invitational hosted by Monmouth in September.
- Softball: Another team whose season was abbreviated by COVID-19, the softball program was beginning to make incredible strides when its final games were being played. After traveling to California and Virginia for a pair of tournaments against a number of talented schools, the Peacocks had begun to build some momentum in early March, stringing together three straight wins -- including a doubleheader sweep at Coppin State -- at one point to finish with four overall wins through 14 games. But based on the team's noteworthy improvements with not even a third of the season complete, the program certainly appeared to be in line for its highest win total in recent memory.
Winner announced Monday!
Iron Peacock Awards
Presented to a male and female student-athlete for their tireless efforts in the weight room.
Winners announced Monday!
Comeback Players of the Year
Presented by the Sports Medicine Department to one male and one female student-athlete for working their way back from injuries and back onto the field.
Winners announced Monday!
Pride Cup
The Pride Cup is a year-long competition between all athletic teams that incorporates academic achievement, team performance, community service, attendance at mandatory programming, and support of fellow athletic teams.
Winner announced Monday!
Community Service Award
The Community Service Award is given to one team that demonstrated the core ideals of the Jesuit tradition in their endeavors beyond the playing field over the past year.
Winner announced Monday!
Bill Stein Peacock Pride Award
The Bill Stein Peacock Pride Award goes to the individual or group that demonstrates excellence in leadership and has made significant contributions to the university and community.
Winner announced Monday!
