University of Massachusets Athletics
DeRosa & Simmons Named UMass Fall Scholar-Athletes
December 06, 2006 | Women's Cross Country
Dec. 6, 2006
AMHERST, Mass. - Junior cross country runner Christina Derosa (Sound Beach, N.Y.) and redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Zack Simmons (Durham, N.H.) were honored on Wednesday with the 2006 Fall Scholar-Athlete Awards at the UMass Sports Luncheon. The award is presented to the male and female student-athletes who excel both athletically and academically. DeRosa was accompanied by head coach Julie LaFreniere and Professor Frank Rife of the Exercise Science Department. Simmons was accompanied by head coach Sam Koch and Professor Burce laurie of the History Department.
DeRosa currently maintains a 3.5 grade point average in exercise science and is one of the top distance runners on the cross country team, the indoor track team and the outdoor track team. She has led the Minutewomen in all 20 races during her career and earned her first Academic All-Conference honor this past season. She earned her second All-Conference honor at the A-10 Championship Meet this year when she crossed the finish line 10th overall (18:29.65). She also took 32nd this season at the New England Championship meet (18:30.00) and is a two-time A-10 Performer of the Week (10/8, 9/25).
Simmons holds a 3.9 grade point average in history and was earlier named this semester to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team. Simmons was also named to the Atlantic 10's Academic All-Conference Team following the past season. He had a breakout year in net for UMass where he set the single-season school record for shutouts (10) and with 14 for his career is just three shy of setting the career mark. During the opening stretch of the season, Simmons was a major factor in the Minutemen earning a No. 22 national ranking as he helped UMass to its best start at 6-0-1. For the season, he posted a 0.96 goals against average, had a .826 save percentage making 90 saves, and led the team in minutes played at 1,772:24. He led the A-10 in shutouts and saves, was tied for first in goals against average and ranked second in save percentage. Nationally he ranked 16th in save percentage and 26th in saves while the team ranked 11th in shutout percentage and 14th in save percentage. UMass also led the A-10 in every defensive category. Simmons, a former walk-on, was a two-time A-10 Performer of the Week - one of just four Minutemen to earn the honor multiple times in one season. He was also named the ECAC Keeper of the Week, the Navy Classic MVP, and to the SoccerTimes.com Team of the Week.
The UMass Sports Luncheon Committee presents the award three times during the year honoring student-athletes who excel during the fall, winter, and spring seasons. The Committee also honors student-athletes on a weekly basis by presenting the UMass/Dinn. Brothers Athlete of the Week award.