Coach of the Year: Frank Tavani
Coach Frank Tavani racked up championship number four as a head coach and number seven while he has been on staff. Joining the staff since 1987, Tavani brought Lafayette to their first NCAA playoff appearance in 2004 and followed that up with one this season. This success was a result of a gutsy move to change his starting quarterback to freshman Drew Reed right before Patriot League play. After this decision, the team went 4-1, and finished the season of playing #15 New Hampshire in the NCAA tournament.
Team of the Year: Football
After a 1-4 start to the season, quarterback changes were made, pulling the experienced junior Zach Zweizig for the newcomer Drew Reed. Reed, along with the second ranked defense in the Patriot League, led Lafayette to a 4-1 finish, defeating Lehigh 50-28 in the Patriot League Championship. The victory was Lafayette’s first outright football championship since 1994.
Female Athlete of the Year: Ana White ‘14
A four-year starter on the lacrosse team, White, was a force on both sides of the field leading the Patriot League in caused turnovers per game with 41, as well as ranking in the top ten for goals and assists. Her assists’ tally of 15 led Lafayette for the season.
Male Athlete of the Year: Drew Reed ‘17
After taking over the reigns in the second half of the Oct. 29 game against Harvard, Reed turned the football team around going 4-1 in Patriot League play. Reed was named CFPA FCS National Freshman Performer of the Year after breaking the single season school record for completion percentage at 73 percent. Reed was also the first Lafayette freshman since 1984 to win the Patriot League championship MVP, and one of three since the award was established in 1960. Reed finished the season with 17 touchdowns, and 1887 yards in 8 games.
Game of the Year: November 23: Lafayette beats Lehigh 50-28 to clinch PL Championship
In the 149th game of the Lafayette-Lehigh rivalry, not only did the victory put Lafayette at the top of the Patriot League for the first time since 2006; it allowed three players to make the history books. Junior Ross Scheuerman and senior Mark Ross both eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark on the season; Scheuerman on the ground, and Ross in the air. Ross is the first player in Lafayette history to have two 1,000-yard seasons in a career. The third was freshman Drew Reed who was the third freshman in Lafayette history to win Patriot League Championship MVP.
Paul • May 11, 2014 at 1:19 pm
One slight correction on Team of the Year: Coach Tavani didn’t pull Zach Zweizig when Drew Reed took over at QB. Zweizig was already out with a concussion. The QB who was pulled at Harvard was Andrew Dzurik, who has since left Lafayette. Congrats to the football team, Coach T and Drew Reed for the honors.