Four York University Lions student-athletes have been nominated for York's Charles Saundercook Memorial Trophy. The winner will be announced at the annual varsity banquet on Thursday, March 30.
 
This award will be given to a student-athlete within the varsity sport program who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, enthusiasm for life and the consideration of others. Both male and female student-athletes are eligible for the award.
 
This year's nominees for the Charles Saundercook Memorial Trophy are men's soccer player Matt Arnone (Woodbridge, Ont.), women's basketball player Shauney Fischer (Wallaceburg, Ont.), women's soccer player Nour Ghoneim (Aurora, Ont.) and football player Emerson Morassutti (Aurora, Ont.).
 
Matthew Arnone – Men's Soccer

• OUA West second-team all-star in final season
• Came to York as a forward with little playing time and then made a position change to defence and became a regular starter
• Scored game-winning goal in overtime in national quarter-finals as part of 2014 title run
• Named team captain in 2015
• During career, won three OUA championships and two national titles
• Growing up, struggled with challenging family circumstances that resulted in parents getting divorced
• Outlet was always to play soccer, signed youth contract with Toronto FC Academy
• Very close with older brother, who passed away in a car accident in 2010
• Shortly after, was released from the Academy and quit soccer for six months until coming to York
• Started Jason's Wish, a charity event that honours his older brother with proceeds going to Sunnybrook Hospital

 
Shauney Fischer – Women's Basketball

• Team captain
• Student recruitment ambassador for York, working in the recruitment office and giving tours to all potential students, not just athletes
• Earned prestigious entrance scholarship and received returning AFA award four times
• Overcame concussion in offseason before fourth year and started all regular season games
• Overcame hand injury in offseason before final year and set new career highs in scoring and rebounding – 1^st on the team in scoring and 2^nd in rebounding
• Led a young team through a coaching change in her fourth year and helped the team return to the playoffs for the first time in three seasons in her final year

 
Nour Ghoneim – Women's Soccer

• U SPORTS player of the year and 2-time OUA West most valuable player
• 3-time U SPORTS first-team all-Canadian and 4-time OUA West first-team all-star
• U SPORTS and OUA rookie of the year
• Came to York to stay close to home after sister was hospitalized – Gave up scholarship to play in NCAA
• Growing up, struggled with challenging family circumstances that resulted in parents getting divorced
• Selected for the national program as a teenager thanks to her immense talent
• Diagnosed with a learning disability while in university but is on track to graduate with degree in psychology
• Despite battling multiple mental health problems, is known as one of the most positive Lions in our community

 
Emerson Morassutti – Football

• Started 21 games over first three seasons at linebacker
• Season-ending knee injury in fourth year which caused him to miss all of fifth season
• Came back in sixth year to play final season
• Began training camp low on the depth chart after the recruitment of some talented linebackers, but worked his way up during training camp and started all eight games
• Had a career year in tackles, leading the Lions and ranking 10^th in the OUA – Number of total tackles was double his previous career high
• Recipient of the Tom Arnott Yeoman of the Year Award for Hard Work and Character in 2012 and a Warrior Award in 2016

 
Stay tuned to yorkulions.ca over the coming days as more of the major award nominees are announced ahead of the banquet. On Wednesday morning the male athlete of the year nominees will be revealed.