WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- The Monmouth University Sports Hall of Fame (HOF) announced the inductees chosen for the class of 2013. The distinguished class of 2013 includes: Jim Adams '92, soccer; Corey Albano '97, basketball; Heather Bryan Capuzzi '01 lacrosse; Jason Law '02, baseball; Kimberly Lyall Flynn '02 & '04, softball; and Dan Sabella '98, football.
For the first time ever The Monmouth University HOF will also recognize a team of distinction, the 1982-83 Monmouth women's basketball team.
The Monmouth University Sports Hall of Fame 2013 Induction Dinner will be held Friday, November 22, at 6:30 p.m. in historic Wilson Hall. Dinner tickets are $95 per person. Call the Office of Alumni Affairs at 732-571-3489 to make reservations.
In addition, inductees will be honored in a halftime ceremony during the Hawks' football game on November 23 when Monmouth hosts Duquesne University. Kickoff is at 12 p.m.
Jim Adams, a goalkeeper, led the Hawks to their first Northeast Conference regular season and tournament titles. Adams set the Monmouth records for saves in a game (17 vs Richmond) and saves in a season with 172 in 1991, then tied for 20th all-time in the NCAA. Adams set the NEC Tournament records for goals against average and saves in a tournament game. He enjoyed an 11-year professional career, winning three championships and was named the USL Goalkeeper of the Year in 1995.
Corey Albano was a two-time First Team All-Northeast Conference selection, scoring 1,599 points in his time at Monmouth. Albano, who is the all-time leading rebounder at MU with 779 rebounds, finished his career as the fourth all-time leading scorer. The Toms River, N.J. native helped lead the Hawks to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1996, where he was named the Chevrolet Player of the Game against Marquette. Albano was the 1996-97 Monmouth Male Athlete of the Year after scoring 559 points, the fourth highest single season total in MU DI History.
Heather Bryan Capuzzi is the most decorated player in MU Lacrosse history. Bryan was a two-time All-America selection and a four-time All-Region selection for the Hawks, who captained the Hawks to their first NCAA Tournament appearance after winning the NEC regular season and tournament title in 2001. A four-time First Team All-Northeast Conference selection, Bryan was also the conference player of the year in 2000 and 2001. Bryan is Monmouth's all-time leader in goals (186) and points (251) and holds numerous single-season and single game scoring records. She was named the Monmouth University Female Athlete of the Year in 2000 and 2001.
Jason Law enjoyed an impressive career for the Hawks, being named a consensus All-American in 2001. That same season Law recorded the seventh highest batting average in the country (.436) while setting the Monmouth single season home run (16) and hits (89) records and career home run (34) mark. During his career he was NEC Rookie and Player of the Year, a First Team All-Region selection and garnered First Team All-NEC honors twice. Law helped lead the Hawks to the NEC South Division regular season and tournament titles in 1999, and an NCAA Regional appearance at Texas A&M, as well as regular season championships in 2001 and 2002. Law also played four seasons of professional baseball.
Kimberly Lyall Flynn led the Hawks to their first ever NEC Regular Season Championship in 1999 while earning NEC Rookie of the Year and First Team All-NEC honors. The Three-time all-league honoree also set the school and conference record for lowest earned run average with a .078 ERA, which still stands today. She left West Long Branch first all-time in strikeouts (497), second in career earned run average (2.10) and third all-time in wins.
Dan Sabella led the Hawks to their first ever NEC Championship in 1996. The three-time First Team All-NEC quarterback was also named as the league's Offensive Player of the Year as a senior in 1997. Incredibly, he finished his career with a 22-6 record and owned the Monmouth records in every passing category and total offense for almost a decade. Sabella still ranks first all-time in 200+ yard passing games (with 19) and his single season and career passing efficiency marks are still the best in MU history. His 52 career touchdown passes still ranks second all-time. The quarterback signed a free agent contract with the XFL in 2000.
The 1982-83 Women's Basketball Team is the first to earn the prestigious Team of Distinction Award. That squad became the first Monmouth University team to play in an NCAA Division I Tournament. The Hawks avenged their only regular season conference loss by winning the Cosmopolitan Conference Tournament with a 77-65 win over Montclair State, then won an NCAA preliminary round game against Dartmouth 77-58. The '82-83 team, led by Coach Milton Parker, continued to make Monmouth history when it faced Cheney State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The team consisted of Dottie Alexander Mahoney, Sandy Clayton Fox, Pia Frazier, Bettina Garguilo Ketz, Cindy Hook Chandler, Maggie Mathias, Jackie Messina Kripaitis, Sharon Mitchell and tri-captains Bonita Spence, Rosemary Strutz Paitakis and Tami Strutz Sasala. Barbara Withers assisted Parker on the bench.
The Monmouth University Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1981 to recognize, honor and perpetuate the achievements of members of the Monmouth University family who have made outstanding contributions to Monmouth University athletics. These individuals have helped to bring recognition, honor, distinction and excellence to Monmouth University and its athletic programs.
The Hall of Fame Selection Committee solicited alumni and the general public for the names of eligible nominees.
For more information about the event, contact Eddy Occhipinti at eocchipi@monmouth.edu or 732-263-5750.
