Eight Seniors Honored at Student-Athlete Awards Reception

Field hockey and ice hockey players win “athlete of the year” awards

Athletic Director Mike Lynch (center) helped recognize eight outstanding competitors.

Eight seniors were honored at Boston University’s annual student-athlete awards reception, held in April at the Metcalf Trustee Center. Field hockey All-American Pam Spuehler received the Mildred Barnes Award, given to the female athlete of the year, while men’s ice hockey All-American Pete MacArthur was named the winner of the Mickey Cochrane Award, signifying the top male athlete.


Spuehler became the first BU athlete to be a finalist for the Honda Award, given annually to the top female in each NCAA sport, after helping the Terriers reach the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time since 1991. A three-time National Field Hockey Coaches’ All-American, Spuehler capped her brilliant career with first-team honors after earning second- and third-team accolades in 2006 and 2005, respectively.


The leading scorer for the Terriers in each of the last three seasons, MacArthur wrapped up his stellar career by earning a spot on the RBK East All-America Second Team earlier this month. One of the hardest working players to ever put on a BU jersey, MacArthur ranks 18th in program history in career points with 147 and his 64 career goals are good for 25th.


Other awards: The E. Ray Speare and Gretchen Schuyler Awards, given annually to the top male and female scholar-athletes, were awarded to Derek Puerta of the men’s soccer team and Marisa Ryan of the track and field and cross country teams.


A 2007 co-captain and the team’s Most Valuable Player, Puerta anchored the BU defense and helped the Terriers earn two NCAA tournament berths, including one this past fall. He graduated in January from the College of Communication and was a three-time member of the Student-Athlete Honor Roll.


Ryan helped BU to its third straight America East Championship in indoor track & field, earning Track Performer of the Meet honors. She earned All-America status at the NCAA Championship with a 9:12.83 time in the 3000m, good for a fifth-place finish and a new personal and school mark. The first-ever student-athlete to be accepted into BU’s seven-year liberal arts/medical education program, Ryan finished the undergraduate portion of her program last year with a GPA of 3.78.


To read about BU’s other award-winning student athletes, click here.