Division III Athletes Inducted Into Hall of Fame

Seven outstanding individual athletes, a coach and the 2014 field hockey team were inducted into the Division III Hall of Fame in ceremonies held on September 20 at the Florham Campus.

Kristin Giotta, director of athletics and head women’s soccer coach (Flor), delivered the introductory and welcome remarks. “Today we celebrate the legacy of athletics at Fairleigh Dickinson University and those individuals that have made a mark on the history of our university,” she said. “Every year we honor those that have achieved great success both in and out of the classroom and who, most importantly, are incredible men and women in everything they do.”

The athlete-honorees each received glass trophies and were introduced either by their coaches, brother or teammates. Adrienne Carr, who was head coach of the women’s lacrosse team from 2004 to 2019, was introduced by Allison Bradley Capra, BA/MA’08 (Flor), who played under Carr and was a Hall of Fame inductee in 2015.

This year’s honorees, all from the Florham Campus, were:

From left are inductees Adrienne Carr, Ryan Flannery, Rachel Groom, Steven McCann, Molly Miller, Megan Nemeth, Kevin Shadiack and Maggie Sohns. (Photo credit: Sherry Saccoliti)

• Adrienne Carr, head women’s lacrosse coach (2004–2019)
  Winningest coach in program history with 185 victories and 216 career coaching wins overall.

• Ryan Flannery, BS’19, baseball
  One of the greatest pitchers in Florham baseball history and the Devils all-time career strikeouts leader.

• Rachel Groom, BA’16, MS’19, women’s basketball
  One of the best two-way players in Florham women’s basketball history, she ranked eighth in career points with 1318 and fifth all-time in blocks with 81.

• Steven McCann, BS’85, men’s soccer
  A force to be reckoned with during his time as a Devil, he scored 1o goals and 15 assists for 35 career points and earned Team MVP honors in 1980, 1981 and 1983.

• Molly Miller, BS’20, women’s swimming
  One of the most prolific swimmers (male or female) in Florham swimming history who became the first FDU swimmer to be a MAC champion when she set the program record in the 1650.

• Megan Nemeth, BS’19, MS’20, women’s lacrosse
  Produced one of the most decorated careers as a goalkeeper for the Devils women’s lacrosse program and helped lead her team to four straight MAC Freedom titles along with four consecutive berths to the NCAA Tournament.

• Kevin Shadiack, BS’10, men’s lacrosse
  One of the most talented men’s lacrosse players, he was named First Team All-MAC in three consecutive seasons (2008–2010) and was team MVP in both 2008 and 2010.

• Maggie Sohns, BA’20, field hockey
  One of the top playmakers in Florham field hockey history, she posted 69 career points with 19 goals and the all-time program record for assists with 31. Her 17 assists in 2019 remain the all-time single season record.

• 2014 Field Hockey Team (Gabby Allen, Lauren Brannan, Lindsay Brown, Jodie Crutchley, Gabriella D’Amico, Kim Davis, Amy Defnet, Cassidy Egan, Elizabeth Farnan, Megan Geiger, Stephanie Geskes, Alicia Grotyohann, Nicole Hall, Niki Ikeda, Samantha Klimaszewski, Marissa Kowalskie, Katelyn Leibner, Kelsey Leibner, Erin O’Connell, Alexa Paparo, Noelle Shirey, Alicia Theoret, Emily Town, Paige Zawislak and Head Coach Jenn Noon)
  The team won its first MAC Freedom title and NCAA appearance since 1986. The Devils then upset No. 17 Utica College to advance to the NCAA Second Round for the first time in program history.

Some members of the 2014 Field Hockey Team at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. They are, front row from left, Marissa Kowalskie, Gabby Allen, Lauren Brannan, Gabby D’Amico-Capozzoli, Niki Ikeda, Alicia Grotyohann, Elizabeth Farnan, Alicia Theoret, Katelin Leibner Leonte, Kelsey Leibner; Assistant Coach Ellyn Griggs and Assistant Coach Lauren Griggs; and back row, from left, Noelle Shirey Loneker, Emily Town, Cassidy Egan, Kim Davis, Erin O’Connell, Head Coach Jenn Noon, Stephanie Geskes, Amy Defnet and Nicole Hall. (Photo credit: Sherry Saccoliti)

For more information about the honorees go to “FDU Athletics Announces Devils Hall of Fame Class of 2026.”