BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- Moravian College is continuing its look back at its 2017-18 athletic campaign. The next story in the second list of the summer as part of the Top 10 Stories from the past year selected by the athletic administration is our No. 9 story – 10 Greyhounds earning top honors in their sports from the Landmark Conference as either Players of the Year, Specialists of the Year or Rookies of the Year.
Senior defender Lauren Bertucci was selected as the 2017 Landmark Conference Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Year. She earned a spot on the Landmark All-Conference Team for the fourth straight season and her second consecutive spot on the First Team after being on the Second Team as a freshman and sophomore. Bertucci had one goal in 2017, which was a game-winner, and she finished her career with three goals and an assist for seven points in 63 career matches including a pair of game-winning goals.
Freshman defender Sara Cassel was honored as the 2017 Landmark Conference Women's Soccer Co-Rookie of the Year. She played in 16 contests and made 13 starts in her debut season. Cassel had one assist on the year, and was a key part of Moravian's back line with Bertucci that posted 10 shutouts. Cassel also took 32 corner kicks for the Greyhounds.
Senior libero Jean Markovic was named as the 2017 Landmark Conference Women's Volleyball Specialist of the Year. Markovic, who was selected to the Landmark All-Conference First Team, led Moravian with a career-high 627 digs this fall, the fourth best season in school history, as she finished her career second in the Moravian record books with 2,239 digs. Markovic also had 62 assists, 34 service aces and six kills.
Junior hurdler/sprinter John Spirk was selected as the 2018 Landmark Conference Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year. Spirk earned three First Team All-Conference honors in the meet. He won the 60-meter hurdles for the third straight year with a meet-record, and Spirk also captured the 400-meter dash title. He ran the leadoff leg of Moravian's winning 4x200-meter relay squad.
Freshman sprinter Zion Howard was honored as both the 2018 Landmark Conference Men's Track & Field Indoor Rookie of the Year and Outdoor Rookie of the Year. At the indoor championships this past February, Howard earned two First Team All-Conference honors and a Second Team at the meet. Howard won the 200-meter dash, and he ran the anchor leg of the winning 4x200-meter relay team. Howard was the runner-up in the 60-meter dash. At the outdoor championships in May, Howard won both the 100 and 200-meter dashes for All-Conference First Team accolades and earned All-Conference Second Team honors in the 4x100 and 4x400-meter relays for runner-up finishes.
Senior thrower Trista Cunningham was named the 2018 Landmark Conference Women's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year. Cunningham captured the discus for the third straight year, and she also won the shot put to earn All-Conference First Team honors in both events. She was the runner-up in the hammer throw for All-Conference Second Team accolades.
Junior sprinter/hurdler Anna Osman was selected as the 2018 Landmark Conference Women's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year. Osman won the 400-meter dash and the 400-meter hurdles for the third straight year for Landmark All-Conference First Team honors to go with runner-up finishes in the 100-meter hurdles and the 4x400-meter relay.
Junior pitcher Rhett Jacoby was honored as the 2018 Landmark Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Year. He was named to the Landmark All-Conference team for the third straight spring, making the First Team in 2018 and 2016 and the Second Team in 2017. Jacoby posted a 5-3 record and two saves this spring on the mound to go with a 2.48 ERA, two complete games, one shutout and 57 strikeouts in 72.2 innings of work, the second most in a single season in program history.
Senior pitcher Josie Novak was named the 2018 Landmark Conference Softball Pitcher of the Year. Novak, who was the 2016 and 2017 Landmark Conference Pitcher of the Year and the 2015 Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year, earned a spot on the All-Conference First Team for a fourth consecutive season. This spring, Novak was 20-4 in the circle, and she had a 1.21 ERA, eight shutouts, 33 walks and 177 strikeouts in 162 innings in the circle. Novak, who was an NFCA All-Atlantic Region selection for four season and was an NFCA Second Team All-American in 2018, finished with a career total of 651 strikeouts, the second player in school history to reach 600 career strikeouts, and her 76 career victories are second in the Moravian record books.
Junior centerfielder Kat Spilman was selected as the 2018 Landmark Conference Softball Co-Player of the Year. Spilman, who was the 2016 Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year and a member of the All-Conference Second Team the last two seasons before making the First Team in 2018, had a .439 batting average to lead the squad. Spilman added 58 hits, 39 runs, 10 doubles, four triples, eight homers, 37 RBIs, 21 walks, a .516 on-base percentage and a .758 slugging percentage this season.
The number eight highlight in the Top 10 Stories of 2017-18 will be released on Wednesday, July 11.
