Oct. 15, 2003

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland men's lacrosse team and head coach Dave Cottle welcomed back the 2003 seniors that led the Terps to the national semifinals last year, Sunday for the annual awards banquet in Heritage Hall at the Comcast Center.

Former Coach Dick Edell was on hand to help present the honors, most notably the second annual "Big Man" award that was created to honor the player that best exemplified the selfless and positive qualities of the retired coach. The 2003 award was given to all-American goalie Danny McCormick.

Edell identified McCormick as one of the most persistent and hard-working members of the team.

The Daniel Slafkosky Coach's Award was also given out, in memory of the assistant coach Dave Slafkosky's son who passed away prior to the 2001 season. The coaches chose this year's recipient, defenseman Brett Harper, as the player who best illustrated Dan's positive attitude on and off the field.

Other awards given out in honor of individual accomplishments throughout the 2003 season were:

Van Trump Award for best overall attackman: Mike Mollot
Deckman-Silber Award for best overall defenseman: Michael Howley
William Cole Award for best overall midfielder: Ryan Moran
Dan Snyder Award for Most Improved Player: Jim Sbarra
Peter Worstell Award for greatest comeback: Matt Urlock
Man Down Steak Point Award: Frank Luciano
Levitt Memorial Award for the best freshman: Joe Walters
Faber Heagy Award for the team's Unsung Hero: Matt Brock, Jamie Daue, Sean Leary, Willy Passavia (The Entire Second Midfield)
Edwin Powell, Team MVP for 2002: Michael Howley and Mike Mollot

Strength and Conditioning Awards
Be the Best Award: Willy Passavia
Iron Terps for highest strength index: Michael Howley
Hammer Award for the best hits: Lee Zink

In addition to those accolades, awards were given to the seniors by Dave Diehl, the Director of the M Club and to athletes receiving academic honors during the 2002-2003 school year, by Don Pearman in Academic Support. The 2003 scholar-athlete award was given to Sean Leary, in honor of his continued academic accomplishments