Athletics
Keith Williams II Soccer Staff A 2012 graduate of University of Maine at Fort Kent, Keith Williams II brings his
passion for the sport and the skills he learned during his distinguished career as a soccer player. He was a striker who received many
awards including being named NAIA All-American in 2011. He hails from Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.
Penny Graves Head Coach of Women's Volleyball and Softball With 16 years of head coaching experience
garnered at Claremont-Scripps College (CA), Adams State College (CO), and Oberlin College (OH), Penny Graves brings Division II and
Division III in-depth coaching experience to her positions at MMA. She was the 1999 National Fast Pitch Coaches Association Region VI
Coach of the Year.
Four Mariners Tapped for Mottola Hall Induction
By Stephen Peed, Assistant Athletic Director/SID
Three alumnae of Maine Maritime Academy's women's basketball program, and one alumni of the Mariners' football program were
selected to the William J. Mottola Athletics Hall of Fame. Alyssa Burns '07, Michelle "Shelley" Gott '07, Julia Knights '07 and
Steve Tardiff '00 each became members of the Hall during Homecoming 2012.
The three members of the women's basketball class of 2012 were all 1,000-point scorers, led Maine
Maritime to the first-ever NCAA postseason berth in the institution's history, and were members of
the team that knocked off then #1-ranked Bowdoin College, ending the Polar Bears' home winning
streak of 76 games. The trio also combined for 38-program records, made three NCAA appearances
and ranked as high as #15 in the D3Hoops.com national poll.
Burns, a three-time North Atlantic Conference
Player of the Year selection, scored 1,487 points in her career,
ranking third in Mariners' history. She owns a dozen program
records, including 246-career steals, and ranks fourth all-
time in rebounds with 701. She earned three all-region
honors in her career, was named a Women's Basketball
Coaches Association All-America Honorable Mention in
2007, and was the Mariners' Female Athlete of the Year in
2005, 2006 and 2007.
AT 1,600, Gott has posted more points than any
other woman in the history of Maine Maritime women's
basketball. She drained 202 treys in the course of her
career, another school record, and ranks third in career
rebounds (823) and steals (222). Like Burns, Gott owns
12 Maine Maritime records including 33-points in a game
and seven three-pointers in a game. Gott was named the NAC Championship Tournament MVP
and All-Maine during her outstanding career.
Knights is the only member of the 1,000-1,000 club. She is second all-time with
1,570 career points, and her 1,003 collected caroms counts as the school's record. She holds 14
program records, including blocked shots (168) and games played (121). She was a three-time
All-NAC selection and earned the Conference's Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors.
She was a two-time NAC All-Academic performer as well. Knights was twice named All-Maine by
the MWBCA.
Tardiff is the all-time leading rusher at an institution that has produced a
disproportionate share of distinguished running backs in NCAA history. Tardiff piled up 6,093
career yards, which still ranks fifth in NCAA Division III history. The NCAA's record book is
heavily peppered with Tardiff's name. He is one of only seven players in the Division's history to
rush for 1,000 yards in each of his four years. No one in NCAA DIII history was asked to carry the
ball more than Tardiff, whose number was called in the huddle an amazing 1,190 times. Factor in
his 58 receptions, 55 kickoff returns, 10 punt returns and an interception, and no one in NCAA
DIII history has ever touched the football more plays than his 1,313. The 352 yard he ran for
against Westfield State ranked seventh in DIII history at the time of his achievement, and still
ranks 20th today. Tardiff was a two-time Hewlett-Packard Division III First Team All-American,
a two-time Football Gazette All-East selection, a New England Football Writers All-Star choice
and was the New England Football Conference's Rookie of the Year as a freshman.
45 MARINER / FALL 2012

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