Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/350567
YEAR IN REVIEW foreshadowed the punishment three other Notre Dame athletes would re‑ ceive during the 2013‑14 school year. On Dec. 22, one day after an emo‑ tional loss to No. 3 Ohio State, a game in which the Irish led by eight points in the final minute, the men's bas‑ ketball program announced it would play out the remainder of the regular season without leading scorer Jerian Grant. In a letter to the Notre Dame community, Grant expressed regret for "an academic matter that I did not handle properly." A little more than two weeks later, news broke of wide receiver DaVaris Daniels' academic suspension from the university, which he later explained to Top Five Male Rookies 1. Jaylon Smith, Football — The Freshman All-American linebacker started all 13 games for the Irish and is the team's top returning tackler this fall after making 67 stops in his rookie season. 2. Sergio Perkovic, Lacrosse — The athletic midfielder with a rocket of a shot grew more confident throughout the season. He scored 28 goals, with a game- high five in the 11-9 national championship loss. 3. Vince Hinostroza, Hockey — Hinostroza, a 2012 Chicago Blackhawks draft pick, won National Rookie of the Month honors to start the season before a knee injury slowed him during the winter. He finished second on the team with 24 assists. 4. Cavan Biggio, Baseball — The son of future Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, Cavan fought through a mid- season slump to lead the team in runs scored and was in the top five on the Irish roster in every major offensive category. 5. Steve Vasturia, Basketball — Vasturia started 12 games for an Irish team in need of hope for the future this season. He averaged 5.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per contest. — Dan Murphy Top Five Female Rookies 1. Cortney Fortunato, Lacrosse — The WomensLax.com National Rookie of the Year scored 46 goals and added 17 assists for the second highest total points for a freshman in program history. 2. Karley Wester, Softball — One of three finalists for the National Freshman of the Year award, Wester had the best batting average in the ACC (.455) and was a second-team All-America pick. 3. Morgan Andrews, Soccer — Andrews started all 22 games and led the Irish with 19 points last fall. She won the ACC Freshman of the Year award and a spot on the U-20 U.S. National Team. 4. Lindsay Allen, Basketball — She started all 38 games at point guard and calmly helped the Irish to a 37-1 mark while leading the ACC in assist/turnover ratio (2.24 per game). 5. Alex Dalton, Lacrosse — The New Englander helped hold together a young Irish defense this season with 38 groundballs to her credit. She made the Inside Lacrosse All-Rookie team. — Dan Murphy SMITH