MANCHESTER, N.H. – Matt Ward '21, a recent graduate of Saint Anselm College and a member of its nationally-ranked men's lacrosse team, was awarded the institution's Hawks Soar Higher Male Student-Athlete of the Year on Thursday.

Ward, a Finance and Business major at Saint Anselm, finished a historical season for the Hawks men's lacrosse team with 43 goals and eight assists for 51 points, leading the Hawks to their first appearance at the NCAA Division II Tournament in program history. Recently, he was announced as the College's nominee for the Northeast-10 Conference Man of the Year award in late May.

Ward's 43 goals on the season is tied for the third-most by a Hawks student-athlete in team annals. He is just the fifth student-athlete in team history to have scored 40 or more goals in a season. He is the first member of the Hawks men's lacrosse team to win Student-Athlete of the Year recognition at Saint Anselm.

"Matt was an amazing leader for the men's lacrosse team over the past few seasons," said Head Coach Michael Sciamanna. "A two-time team captain, he was a major reason for our success on the field because of his skills and his leadership. He, along with the other seniors, did a great job of navigating all of the challenges that we faced over the last year and a half."

For his on-field efforts, he was rewarded with Honorable Mention All-America honors from the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) and First Team All-New England recognition from the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA). Additionally, Ward was selected to the First Team All-Conference roster for the NE10 as one of the team's co-captains.

For a strong performance in the NE10 postseason, he earned All-Tournament Team distinction after tallying nine goals and four assists for 13 points (9-4=13) across the five-game league postseason. Prior to the 2021 season, he was named United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Pre-Season All-American Honorable Mention.

"Matt is a phenomenal young man who has helped to take our program to the next level in his four years on the Hilltop," concluded Sciamanna.

Off the field, Ward was honored as one of two recipients of the College's prestigious Thomas A. Melucci Jr. Memorial Scholarship, an award that annually provides full tuition to two seniors who have demonstrated significant spiritual and personal growth throughout their time on the Hilltop.

Ward served as the President of the Red Key Society, works as an Orientation Leader, and is a member of the College's and the NE10's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Most recently, Ward was feted with NEILA All-Academic Team honors, one of just four student-athletes on the Hawks men's lacrosse team to be so recognized.

In his four-year career on the Hilltop, Ward scored 111 goals with 36 assists for 147 points (111-36=147) and ranks eighth all-time in point production. His 111 goals rank sixth all-time in Saint Anselm history.

Ward was joined on the ballot by sophomore Drew Semons (Danvers, Mass.) of the Hawks men's golf program.