ORONO, Maine - The America East Conference announced on Monday afternoon that Connor Goodman of the Maine baseball program and Anne Simon of the Maine women's basketball program have been named nominees for the annual America East Man and Woman of the Year awards.

The finalists for the America East Man and Woman of the Year awards will be announced on May 29 with winners announced at the America East awards dinner on June 5.

Simon, a two-time America East Player and Defensive Player of the Year, guided the Black Bears to the 2024 America East Championship and a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Simon left her mark on the Maine record books as she concluded her illustrious career ranked fifth on Maine's all-time scoring list (1,982), 10th in all-time rebounding (721), and fifth on the all-time steals list (280). Simon is a three-time America East All-Conference First Team selection, earned two selections to the league's All-Conference Second Team, and is a two-time America East All-Defensive Team honoree. A 12-time America East Player of the Week award recipient, Simon was named the 2024 Most Outstanding Player in the America East Tournament and finished her career with 15 double-doubles and 103 double-digit scoring performances.

Simon graduated in May of 2023 with a bachelor of science degree in psychology with a minor in child development & family relations and is completing a graduate certificate in interdisciplinary studies. An eight-time Dean's List honoree, Simon was selected to the 2022 and 2023 America East All-Academic team and is a three-time member of the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll. Simon, who is a UMaine scholar-athlete platinum medalist for achieving a 3.0+ grade point average five times, earned the prestigious M Club Dean Smith Award which is presented annually to Maine's top male and female student-athletes.

Simon has dedicated her spare time to giving back to the Orono community in numerous ways over her years with the Black Bears. The senior guard offered her time to meet with members of the Dirigo Pines assisted living community along with volunteering at the Pass it Forward Women's Basketball Coaches Clinic and many youth clinics offered by the Black Bears. A member of Athletics for Sexual Responsibility, Simon has spent time away from school and the court giving back at the Old Town/Orono YMCA, Orono's 'Trunk or Treat' initiative, the Black Bear Food Exchange, and offering her spare time to visit local schools. She was an active member of UMaine's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee where she managed the group's social media channels

Goodman, a graduate student and native of Miami Beach, Fla., had one of the most standout years in the community in the history of the baseball program. In the fall, Goodman began a baseball glove drive named, 'Goody's Gloves' that brought in donations of new baseball gloves or financial commitments to help purchase gloves. A total of 84 gloves were collected and donated to the Orono and Old Town Little League organizations. In the spring, Goodman was acknowledged for his off the field achievements by the Lou Gehrig Community Impact Association as he was named an honorable mention for his impact in the community. Goodman, who earned his degree in management with a leadership minor, was one of 15 baseball players in the country to be named either a semifinalist or honorable mention for the inaugural award at the college level.

Two days after receiving his national recognition for his community based achievements, Goodman earned the highest honor any male athlete can earn at the University of Maine, the prestigious 'M' Club Dean Smith Award. Goodman is a seven-time Dean's List recipient and three time America East Commissioner's Honor Roll selection. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in management and a leadership minor and was named the 2023 America East Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year as well as earning the league's Elite-18 honor for having the highest GPA of any championship game participant. A 2023 America East Presidential Scholar Athlete, Goodman is a three-time America East All-Academic Team honoree and two-time TEAM MAINE recipient for achieving the highest GPA on the baseball team.

Goodman's impact to the University of Maine baseball program is just as impressive on the field as it was off the field. He was a 2023 America East All-Conference First Team Member, helping lead the program to an America East Championship Title in 2023, its first since the 2011 season. He hit .285 with 181 career hits in his five years with the Black Bears, collecting 101 RBI's and having 29 extra base hits in his 177 games played.

-UMaine-