WNE Football Announces 2017 Team Award Winners
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 15, 2018) – The Western New England University football program announced its 2017 Team Award winners during the annual postseason banquet on Sunday at Rivers Memorial Hall.
Senior safety Sam Olsson (Milford, Conn.) was recognized as Team MVP, senior quarterback Anthony Service (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) earned Offensive Player of the Year honors, senior defensive lineman Sam Edouard (Roosevelt, N.Y.) received the Jimmy Geyer Award, and senior offensive lineman Spencer Goodman (Haddon Heights, N.J.) was named the Axe Award winner.
Olsson garners Team MVP accolades after being named a New England Football Writers Division II/Division III All-Star and All-Commonwealth Coast Football (CCC Football) first team selection.
The Milford, Conn. native appeared in nine games for the Golden Bears last fall, recording 73 tackles, seven pass breakups, three interceptions and a forced fumble.
Service, Western New England's Offensive Player of the Year, capped his record-breaking career with an impressive senior campaign. The CCC Football Co-Offensive Player of the Year completed 150-of-268 (56%) pass attempts for 2,132 yards and 19 touchdowns with just four interceptions. Service also gained 488 yards on the ground with five scores.
The Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y. native etched his name into the football program's record book on October 21, when he threw for two scores at Becker College to become Western New England's all-time passing touchdown leader with 45.
Edouard, Western New England's lone team captain in 2017, was the recipient of the Jimmy Geyer Award. The award, which is presented to a player that displays courage and leadership, is named in honor of former Golden Bears' wide receiver James G. Geyer '82, who was killed in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
Edouard also earned a spot on the D3football.com All-East Region Third Team, after being named the CCC Football Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Rounding out Western New England's award winners is Goodman, who was presented with the Axe Award for doing the best job of preparing himself for competition on a daily basis. An All-CCC Football first team selection, Goodman appeared in ten games at offensive tackle for the Golden Bears in 2017.
Western New England went 8-3 (5-0 CCC Football) last fall and made its third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament after capturing the inaugural CCC Football title.
