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KINGSTON, Ont. (March 29, 2011) – Jonathon Lawrance (Hockey) of Steinbach, Man., and Katie Matthews (Volleyball) of Aurora, Ont., were named the top student-athletes for the 2010-11 season at the 75th annual Colour Awards Varsity Team athletic banquet Tuesday night at the Ambassador Hotel.

Lawrance was awarded the Jenkins Trophy as the top male senior student-athlete. The fourth year physical and health education major has been the on- and off-ice leader of the men's hockey team since his first season at Queen's when he was named the Carr-Harris Cup MVP.

After being named the team captain in his second season, Lawrance has been consistently one of the Gaels top offensive and defensive players, playing in all situations for the Gaels, and finishing his career with 81 points in 104 regular season games.

A two-time Academic All-Canadian, Lawrance culminated his career as the OUA East representative for the Randy Gregg Award this year. The award recognizes the player who best exhibits outstanding achievement in hockey, academics and community involvement.

Matthews, this year's PHE '55 Alumnae Award winner, has exemplified what it means to be a student-athlete since making the women's volleyball team as a walk-on in her rookie season. The fourth year life sciences major was named Team Captain in just her second year and was subsequently named an OUA East Second Team All-Star and an Academic All-Canadian.

In her third season, she repeated those accolades while helping to lead Queen's to their first OUA Final Four appearance in six years. Katie capped off her career with a remarkable performance in her final season, earning OUA First Team All-Star status after leading the country in solo blocks.

Her play at the university level has also garnered her attention with Volleyball Canada. For the last two seasons, Katie has been invited to train with the FISU women's volleyball team during the summer, recognition of her success with the Gaels.

After a number of standout performances by individual athletes in 2010-11, the Outstanding Performance of the Year (OPY) honour was shared by two female athletes, Jacqueline Tessier (Soccer) of Winnipeg, Man., and Mel Dodd-Moher (Hockey) of Stittsville, Ont.

Tessier made a name for herself with the women's soccer team across the country this season as she put on a goal scoring clinic throughout the regular season and the playoffs. In her second game of the year, Tessier scored a remarkable five goals against the Trent Excalibur and would go on to finish the season with 18 goals, the most in the CIS.

During the Gaels run to the CIS championship, Tessier would score four more times, including the overtime game-winner against Nipissing in the OUA Quarter-final as well as the game winner against Cape Breton in the CIS Quarter-final. Overall, she finished the year with 22 of the team's 59 goals; accounting for a 40% of the team's scoring.

Her outstanding player throughout the course of the year earned her numerous honours, including OUA Athlete of the Week, OUA First Team All-Star, OUA East Player of the Year and CIS All-Canadian.

After an impressive debut in her rookie season, Dodd-Moher took her game to a new level in her second season with the women's hockey team. She finished in the top five in three key statistical categories during the regular season, including shutouts, goals against average and save percentage.

However, it was during her team's playoff run where Dodd-Moher made a name for herself across the country. She won six consecutive playoff games in overtime, including stopping an incredible 66 shots in nine periods against Guelph in Game 1 of the OUA Championship. The game made hockey history as it is officially the longest collegiate game, male or female, ever played.

When all was said and done, Dodd-Moher backstopped her team to seven playoff wins to help them capture the OUA Championship, the women's hockey team's first in 32 seasons, and the CIS Bronze Medal. She finished the playoffs with an astounding 1.09 goals against average and a 0.961 save percentage to earn CIS Championship All-Star status.

The Alfie Pierce Trophy recipients for top male and female rookie of the year were Liz Boag (Basketball) of Kingston, Ont., and Sam Sabourin (Football) of Stittsville, Ont. Boag averaged over 30 minutes a game at point guard for the Gaels this season, leading all OUA rookies in scoring, averaging 9.1 points per game, while recording 64 assists. Sabourin, one of the top line-backing recruits in the country, set a team record for solo tackles in his first game with Queen's and went on to be named the OUA Rookie of the Year.

The Jim Tait Trophy, which had previously been awarded to the outstanding male athlete in a team sport, is now being presented annually to the top performing Varsity Team. The award was presented Tuesday night to the CIS Champion women's soccer team.

The 2010 season for the women's soccer team was, to put it simply, dominant. The team cruised through the regular season, posting a 14-2-0 record while outscoring their opposition 50-10. The 14 wins and 50 goals were the most ever in the 27 year history of the team. In the playoffs, the Gaels captured the OUA Silver Medal before shutting out the best that the CIS had to offer in three straight games at the national championship to win their first national title since 1988.

Women's soccer's national championship victory was also unveiled as the top moment of the 2010-11 season as voted on by the fans, beating out over 40 other moments from the year.

Krisha Quinn was honoured with the Hal Dunlop Shield which is given annually to a student trainer who has made significant contribution to Athletic Therapy at Queen's.

Also honoured Tuesday night were Queen's Athletics & Recreation employees Bill Sparrow and Dave Ross. Both Sparrow and Ross were given Special Recognition Awards for their long-term service to the department.

On Monday, Queen's Athletics and Recreation honoured its top athletes in the Varsity Club stream. Lisa McLaughlin (Lacrosse) of Whitby, Ont., Liam Twomey and Pat Twomey (Cycling) of Chelmsford, Mass., claimed the top senior student-athlete awards while Men's Fencing earned Varsity Club of the Year. Renne Tse (Figure Skating) of Markham, Ont., and Etienne Moreau (Cycling) of Collingwood, Ont., claimed rookie of the year award.

QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS & RECREATION VARSITY TEAM AWARD RECIPIENTS FOR 2010-11

Jenkins Trophy: Jonathon Lawrance (Hockey)
PHE '55 Alumnae Award: Katie Matthews (Volleyball)
Outstanding Performance of the Year (OPY): Jacqueline Tessier (Soccer) & Mel Dodd-Moher (Hockey)
Jim Tait Trophy: Women's Soccer
Alfie Pierce Trophy (Male): Sam Sabourin (Football)
Alfie Pierce Trophy (Female): Liz Boag (Basketball)
Hal Dunlop Shield: Krisha Quinn
Special Recognition Awards: Bill Sparrow & Dave Ross

QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS & RECREATION VARSITY CLUB AWARD RECIPIENTS FOR 2010-11

Marion Ross Trophy: Lisa McLaughlin (Lacrosse)
Jack Jarvis Trophy: Liam & Pat Twomey (Cycling)
Award of Merit Trophy: Men's Fencing
Alfie Pierce Trophy (Female): Renee Tse (Figure Skating)
Alfie Pierce Trophy (Male): Etienne Moreau (Cycling)