Endicott To Induct Four Student-Athletes Into Athletics Hall Of Fame

BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott College Department of Athletics and Recreation is proud to announce that during September's Homecoming and Family Weekend, former student-athletes Kevin Eagan '12 (West Hartford, Conn.), Valerie Feldman '10 (Albany, N.Y.), Patrick Gaffney '07 (Worcester, Mass.), and Paula McGinn '08 (Lynn, Mass.) will all be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame, Class of 2018, on Saturday, September 22.

The aforementioned group of student-athletes will be the 21st class inducted into the Endicott Athletics Hall of Fame since its inaugural membership began in 1994. All four student-athletes will formally be inducted on Saturday, September 22 during the President's Welcome, Athletics Tribute and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony inside MacDonald Gymnasium at 9 AM.

ENDICOTT ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME, CLASS OF 2018

KEVIN EAGAN '12, FOOTBALL

From 2008-11, Kevin Eagan wreaked havoc on the gridiron for the Gulls as a defensive end and compiled jaw-dropping numbers that may forever remain untouched. Eagan's impressive stats include program bests for tackles (371), unassisted tackles (186), assisted tackles (185), tackles for loss (70.0), yards from tackles for loss (246), quarterback sacks (23.5), yards from sacks (156), fumbles forced (7), and fumbles recovered (7).

Eagan also compiled numerous postseason honors throughout his career including 2011 BSN All-America Second Team accolades, two ECAC Northeast Defensive Player of the Year honors, seven all-region selections, two NEFC Boyd Defensive Player of the Year awards, one NEFC Boyd Defensive Rookie of the Year selection, and four NEFC Boyd First Team laurels.

With Eagan as the driving force on defense, Endicott won its first-ever conference championship, while also making its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2010. In addition to their record-breaking year in 2010, Eagan and the Gulls captured their first-ever ECAC North Bowl title in 2011.

"Kevin might be the most physically gifted student-athlete that has ever put on the Endicott Blue and Green. Opposing teams did everything they possibly could to strategize and neutralize Kevin's gift of totally dismantling a team's offensive plan, but with very little success," said Endicott College Assistant Vice President, Director of Athletics Brian Wylie, Ph.D. "His style of play coupled with his pure passion of winning for Endicott, created a contagious culture throughout the football program that yielded some unprecedented accomplishments, and that ultimately led to him signing a rookie contract with the Indianapolis Colts. Aside from his ability to single-handedly change the complexion of a game, his leadership and quiet nature outside of football made him a prominent fixture throughout the Endicott Community."

"I am very grateful to have spent four great years at Endicott College both on and off the field. I am honored to have been selected into the 2018 Hall of Fame class," said Eagan. "This would not have been possible without Coach Wells & the rest of his coaching staff, all the great players I battled with every Saturday and of course my parents, brother & sister who supported me throughout my entire career."

VALERIE FELDMAN '10, WOMEN'S LACROSSE

It doesn't take long to notice Valerie Feldman's impact on the Endicott women's lacrosse program when looking at the team's record book. Along with leading the Gulls to four straight CCC titles from 2007-10, Feldman ranks first all-time in points (345), points per game (4.26), goals (225), goals per game (2.78), assists (120), assists per game (1.48), and games played (81) in program history.

Feldman also hauled in several other individual accolades over her four-year career including four all-region honors, the 2008 CCC Offensive Player of the Year award, and three CCC All-Conference First Team selections. With Feldman leading the attack, Endicott posted a 59-21 (.736) overall record and a 36-2 (.947) mark in conference play, which included three straight undefeated seasons against league foes to end her career.

"It would be difficult to find a more dominant, athletically gifted and determined student-athlete in all of Division III women's lacrosse than Val. Her competitive drive, unique style of play, and natural gift for scoring gave defensive opponents nightmares," said Wylie. "Meanwhile, her knack for timely goals, buoyed by her grit and toughness, helped the women's lacrosse program begin a string of championship success that continues to this day. Lastly, Val's leadership both on and off the field was one of the best we've seen within the Endicott women's lacrosse program."

"What a sincere honor and privilege it is to represent Endicott women's lacrosse. I am so grateful for my time spent at Endicott and also for everything that came with it including the coaching I received, my teammates, the countless memories made, and to the sanctuary of our oceanside campus that provided me motivation and balance," said Feldman. "I trust that future Endicott student-athletes will be able to find something that they excel in and that makes them happy. Special thanks to Coach Kate (Jarvis) Mullen who from my freshman year and beyond was able to coach and motivate me in just the right ways and to my mother, Wendy, who has and will always remain my biggest fan. I am grateful to be able to take these team building skills and apply them outside into the real world. Every time I hear the call of gulls by the beach I am reminded of all these things."

PATRICK GAFFNEY '07, MEN'S LACROSSE

From 2004-07, Patrick Gaffney anchored an Endicott defense that aided the Gulls to a 56-19 overall record (.747), four CCC Championships, and four NCAA Tournament appearances, which included Endicott's first-ever win on the national stage.

Individually, Gaffney will forever hold claim to being the first student-athlete in men's lacrosse program history to be drafted by a Major League Lacrosse (MLL) franchise (Boston Cannons '09). Gaffney also collected several accolades during his time at Endicott including 2007 USILA All-America honors, the 2007 CCC Defensive Player of the Year award, four all-region selections, and three CCC All-Conference citations.

Gaffney, who played in 69 career games for the Gulls and amassed 14 points (five goals, nine assists), still ranks first all-time in ground balls per game (3.29) among all defensemen in program history and second all-time among all defensemen in most ground balls (227).

"Patrick was arguably one of the best student-athletes to play his position in all of Division III lacrosse. His play impacted the Gulls' lacrosse program immediately as a freshman, and concluded with an unprecedented four straight CCC Championships," said Wylie. "But, perhaps his best quality was his ability to make his teammates around him better each and every year. Additionally, his ability to cover the nation's top attackmen while leading the entire defense was a reflection of his hard work and always wanting to be the very best. Patrick was a true difference maker." 

"I am honored to be inducted into the Endicott Athletics Hall of Fame. I was fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to attend Endicott College as a student-athlete and I am thankful to have been surrounded by supportive friends and family during those years," said Gaffney. "The coaches, faculty, and staff at Endicott enabled me to grow both on and off the field far beyond my expectations. I am grateful to have played with so many great teammates who pushed me to be a better player. GO GULLS!"

PAULA MCGINN '08, WOMEN'S SOCCER & SOFTBALL

As an eight-time CCC Champion, Paula McGinn's name is synonymous with success at Endicott; especially when considering that she is the only student-athlete in Endicott Athletics history, male or female, to win eight conference championships throughout her four-year career. McGinn accomplished the historic feat as a member of the women's soccer (2004-07) and softball (2005-08) programs claiming five all-region honors, two CCC Player of the Year accolades (both in soccer), and seven all-conference awards (three in soccer, four in softball) along the way during her illustrious career.

McGinn was a major force in the success of both teams as the women's soccer program went 67-19-2 during her four-year career, highlighted by an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance in 2006, while the softball program boasted a 135-37-1 record and advanced to the NCAA Regionals in 2008. Overall, McGinn's career record as a student-athlete at Endicott sits at 202-56-3 (.780). Individually, McGinn played in 240 out of 261 games on the schedule (161 softball, 79 soccer, .920) for both programs. McGinn also ranks first all-time for most triples (9) and most stolen bases (71) in the softball record books and third all-time in points (139) and most goals scored (64) in the women's soccer record books.

"Paula proved to be such a dangerous player in both sports due to her speed and athleticism, but more than that, her tenacity and determination in how she approached competition was one of her greatest strengths. Her unrelenting will and grit aided her in her return to play after succumbing to a devastating knee injury late in the 2007 soccer season, but was ready to dominate in softball a short six months later. Paula was truly a gifted student-athlete."

"I am extremely overjoyed and honored to be inducted into Endicott Athletics Hall of Fame. My experiences as a student-athlete at Endicott were some of the best years of my life and I truly owe it to my teammates, coaches, friends, and family," said McGinn. "In addition to a great education, one of the most impactful things Endicott gave me was my confidence in setting goals and understanding my own abilities on and off the field. We are only as good as the people we surround ourselves with and I wouldn't be receiving this prestigious award if it wasn't for the incredible teammates that walked out on to the field with me every day."

ABOUT THE ENDICOTT ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME

The purpose of the Endicott Athletic Hall of Fame is to give lasting recognition to those individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the achievements and prestige of Endicott in the field of athletics, and who have continued to demonstrate in their lives the values imparted by intercollegiate athletics. Plaques of these chosen few are enshrined on the walls of the Post Center.

Each class is chosen by a committee of seven members consisting of the Director of Athletics, an Assistant Athletic Director, an alumni relations representative, the Faculty Athletics Representative, a sports information representative, and two current head coaches. Candidates are submitted electronically and each individual is evaluated according to the criteria for nomination.

Since 1994, 47 former student-athletes, coaches, faculty members, and administrators have been inducted into the Endicott Athletics Hall of Fame.