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(04/29/14 6:34pm)
The women’s softball team closed up their season this past week with two wins and two losses, capping a hard-fought and determined 2014 run. After learning a lot during the year and garnering speed in the last few weeks of the season, the Lions had an impressive comeback and can finish knowing they gave it all they had.
This week, the Lions first took on Rutgers-Newark, where they were able to sweep the double-header. The first game ended in a 6-0 shutout as the Lions’ bats were hot and their defense even hotter.
Senior pitcher Alex Carisone was on the mound for the College and pitched a complete game shutout. With only a total of six hits, their opponents were silenced. Meanwhile, the Lions were able to come alive behind this stellar pitching.
In the fifth inning, freshman second baseman Colleen Phelan hit a double scoring two runs while sophomore catcher Jamie Purcell scored another run on a bunt.
Sophomore first baseman Deanna Utter then contributed with her second home run of the season which scored senior shortstop Kristen Lake and sophomore right fielder Kristen Fitzsimmons. Utter had a dominating game, going 3-for-3.
In the second game of the double-header, the Lions again dominated with a score of 7-2. The Lions began scoring again in the third inning when Phelan had a base hit and freshman third baseman Jessica Kennick followed with a double. Senior center fielder Lindsey Williams then homered to left field, scoring three runs.
Kennick soon had her fourth homerun of the season in the fifth inning, making the score 7-2.
Sophomore pitcher Ashtin Helmer was on the mound for the Lions and earned her fifth win of the season. Pitching a complete game, she had an impressive eight strikeouts.
In the final double-header of the season, the Lions fell to William Paterson University with two close losses. Although the College scored first in the first game, the Pioneers came back quickly.
Phelan got the Lions on the board early when she hit a double and then scored when Purcell singled. Purcell had a strong game with two hits. The Lions came close in a 2-1 defeat.
In the second game, the Lions came very close again but could not get that extra run in a 3-2 loss.
Williams got the game going with a solo homerun in the third inning, but it turned into a pitchers duel as both offenses were silenced for some time.
Sophomore left fielder Christine Desiderio was responsible for getting the tying run to second base in the seventh inning when she singled and advanced to second on an error.
All in all, the Lions showed they would not let a tough season get them down, as they emphasized there were more important aspects to work on than just getting wins. Forging stronger team bonds and developing strategies for future play were surely some of the many beneficial things to come out of this hard-fought season.
(04/22/14 4:00pm)
The softball team staged an impressive turnaround mid-week as they rallied for a pair of victories over New Jersey City University, their first wins in the NJAC.
The week began for the Lions (8-18, 2-12) with a doubleheader against Rowan University, in which the Lions came up just short both times.
Rowan took the first game 3-1, scoring first with two runs in the first inning and one more in the fourth, establishing a 3-0 lead.
The Lions refused to be shut out, though. In the seventh inning, freshman infielder Jessica Kennick hit her third homerun of the season to narrow the gap.
Senior pitcher Alex Carisone was on the mound for the Lions with another impressive outing and was able to quickly recover from the first inning.
In the next game, the Lions came even closer but still fell 2-1 in nine innings.
Sophomore pitcher Ashton Helmer took the mound for the College and pitched a stellar game, with a no-hitter through full six innings. With 11 strikeouts, Helmer had had one of the best games of her career.
The game was held at 0-0 through nine innings until sophomore outfielder Christine Desiderio scored for the Lions on a single from sophomore catcher Jamie Purcell. Rowan scored in the bottom of the inning on a two-run single, clinching the win.
When the Lions faced NJCU later in the week, though, it was a different story, as they came out stronger than ever before.
“Our coach Sally Miller said to us, ‘Adversity shows true colors,’ and this is something that sticks with me every day,” Desiderio said. “We’ve learned the importance of picking yourself up when you’re down to never give up.”
They easily took the first game in a season-high victory of 13-1, exhibiting some of the best play seen all season.
The Lions started out well with two runs in the first inning, beginning with an RBI single from Purcell, and more came in the next few innings thanks to a sacrifice fly from sophomore utility player Deanna Utter, an RBI double from senior infielder Lindsay Williams and two more hits from Purcell.
In the next game against New Jersey City University, the Lions dominated again for a 6-4 victory to give coach Sally Miller her 500th career win with the program.
The Lions put some runs on the board early again when Utter sent home the first runner and Williams added another RBI.
Desiderio then sent home another run with a base hit, while freshman infielder Colleen Phelan was also hot at the plate.
“This season has taught us that sometimes there are more important things to focus on than just the ‘W column,’” Desiderio said.
This week, the Lions will take on Rutgers-Newark on Tuesday, April 22, and William Paterson University on Saturday, April 26.
(04/15/14 4:00pm)
The softball team’s struggle for wins this season continued, as they played Rutgers-Camden on Tuesday, April 8, and lost both games in a doubleheader.
The Lions (6-20, 0-10) are keeping a positive mindset on the matter and keeping it all in perspective, though. When a team has a multitude of freshmen and sophomores, it is critical to build the team up and get the technique perfected before games will be won.
The Lions are in the process of building up their team, and it looks promising for the end of the season and next year. As they play more games, it will become easier to tack on those wins, and the Lions are confident they will get there soon.
In the first game of the doubleheader against Rutgers-Camden, the Scarlet Raptors scored early and often in a 6-2 victory.
Scoring three runs in the first inning, Rutgers took the early lead, and the Lions fought hard to catch up. Despite good pitching and defense, the Scarlet Raptors scored two more runs in the fourth, but the Lions refused to be shut out.
In the fifth inning, the Lions rallied and scored a run when freshman right fielder Olivia Fahr singled and was sent home by sophomore left fielder Christine Desiderio’s single to left field. The Lions scored once more in the seventh when Fahr doubled and was again sent home by Desiderio with another base hit.
In the next game of the doubleheader, the Scarlet Knights took the second victory with a score of 9-4. The Lions took the early lead when freshman second baseman Colleen Phelan had a two-run single, which scored senior center fielder Lindsey Williams and senior shortstop Kristen Lake.
However, their opponents came back strong in the bottom of the inning and scored three runs of their own. With the score tied at 3-3, the Lions tacked on one more run in the sixth when Williams singled, allowing freshman pinch runner Rachel Cipolla to score.
The Lions offense was then silenced as the Scarlet Knights scored six more runs, defeating the Lions 9-4.
On Saturday, April 12, the Lions took on Montclair State University in a hard-fought battle. Despite their opponents taking both games, the Lions looked improved and hopeful.
In the first game, the Lions fell in a 2-0 Montclair victory. Stellar defense began the game as the Lions held off a bases-loaded first inning. Senior pitcher Alex Carisone was on the mound for the Lions and pitched a strong couple of innings to start off the game.
Sophomore catcher Jamie Purcell aided the Lions’ strong offense, going two-for-three on the day. However, in the eigth inning, the Lions let up the only run of the game, ending the hard-fought battle.
The next game again resulted in a defeat for the Lions, as they fell 0-5. The scoring began in the fifth inning when the Red Hawks put three on the board and were then able to shut out the Lions for the remainder of the game.
The Lions, though, are learning from each game and are confident they are where they need to be, continuing to improve one game at a time.
“This season hasn’t gone exactly how we envisioned,” sophomore pitcher Ashtin Helmer said. “But we are focusing by remaining positive and by improving each game. We are taking each game as an experience to learn and improve. We are going to continue to battle until the season is over.”
This week, the Lions will take on Rowan University on Tuesday, April 15, and New Jersey City University on Friday, April 18.
(04/08/14 5:00am)
Though they fought to the very end, the women’s softball team could not grab a win this past week, as they took on some of the best teams in the league. There was some key pitching and clutch hits in risky situations, but the Lions are looking forward to this week as they continue to improve their position in the standings.
In the first double-header of the week, the Lions faced Richard Stockton College in what would be a hard-fought attempt. The Ospreys took both games over the Lions, the first by a score of 5-3. The first inning was explosive, as both teams scored immediately. Sophomore designated hitter Deanna Utter was able to score the Lions’ first run as the Ospreys walked her in.
The Lions began a comeback in the third inning when senior first baseman Nicole Brodbeck and sophomore outfielder Kristen Fitzsimmons each doubled, Brodbeck got a run and the score became 5-2. Senior shortstop Kristen Lake then scored on a sacrifice fly from freshman first baseman Jessica Kennick, closing the gap in runs.
However, there was not enough time for the College to catch up completely, and the game finished in a 5-3 defeat.
In the next game against the Ospreys, the Lions fell behind early and were again out of time to begin to catch up. The final score would be 9-3.
The Lions’ first run came in the third inning when Kennick singled, making it 4-1. But the fifth inning was what hurt the Lions the most, as the Ospreys scored a total of five runs. The Lions were able to score two more runs, but it was not enough to counter the Ospreys’ nine runs.
Kennick had a great day for the Lions, going three-for-four with two RBI.
The Lions knew they had some work to do in their next double-header against Ramapo College, but again fell as Ramapo took both games in dominating fashion.
In the first game, the Lions lost to the Roadrunners, 6-2. The first inning began with one run for the Roadrunners, which quickly escalated to five runs in the second. Kennick then came up big in the fourth, as she hit a solo home run and then added another run with a single in the sixth inning.
Lake and sophomore outfielder Christine Desiderio each had two hits in the game, but the Lions’ offense could not match that of the Roadrunners.
This was especially true in the second game of the double-header, as the Roadrunners piled on the runs in a 14-1 victory that only lasted five innings. The first Roadrunner runs came in the first inning, as they began with a two-run first inning.
The score was 8-0 by the third inning, as the Lions’ bats were silenced by stellar Ramapo pitching. However, the Lions refused to allow it to be a complete shutout, scoring a run in the bottom of the fourth. Kennick had singled and was soon sent home on a sacrifice fly from Utter. But it was not enough to start an effective comeback.
The last double-header of the week came against Kean University and ended in two more losses for the Lions — but these were closer games.
In the first game, the Lions came just short of a victory, falling 5-2 to the Cougars. As the Cougars put one run on the board in the first inning, the Lions caught right up in the next few innings. Lake had a solo home run to tie things up, but Kean came back in the next inning.
Desiderio then singled in the seventh and another run scored, but the Cougars got the win.
It was the same situation all over again in the next game, as the Lions fell 5-1 in the last game of the week. In the first inning, the Cougars scored three times, putting the Lions in 9-hole immediately. The only run from the Lions came in the seventh when Utter came home on a wild pitch.
The College is now 0-6 in the NJAC and 6-16 on the season.
This week, the Lions take on Rutgers-Camden University on Tuesday, April 8, and Montclair State University on Saturday, April 12.
(03/25/14 5:00am)
This past week, the women’s softball team played hard consistently but ended up splitting the week with three wins and three losses. They remain motivated, though, and have a long season with many opportunities to take the lead.
On Monday, March 17, the Lions took on Moravian College in a two-game split, with each team walking away with a victory. In the first game, the College came out on top in a 2-1 win, beginning the season off with a strong performance.
Sophomore pitcher Ashtin Helmer took the mound for the Lions in the season opener and displayed the same dominance she had last year as a freshman. Back and ready to get the season started, Helmer was clutch and her pitching was strong.
Her teammates helped her out by scoring two runs in the second inning. Sophomore right-fielder Kristen Fitzsimmons was able to score on a double by sophomore second baseman Jackie Oram, tying the game at 1-1 after an early-game run from the Greyhounds.
Oram was then able to score on a single by sophomore left-fielder Christine Desiderio. Helmer held off their opponents as she struck out six players total and ended the game with a 2-1 score.
In the second game against Moravian that day, the Greyhounds came back with a vengeance and outscored the Lions 7-4. After taking an early lead in the first inning, thanks to a single by senior center-fielder Lindsey Williams, the Greyhounds then scored seven consecutive runs.
The Lions then came back in the fifth inning, scoring three runs, but it wasn’t enough to overtake their opponents in the end. Sophomore first baseman Deanna Utter contributed with single to left field and freshman third baseman Jessica Kennick with a double to right.
Sophomore Katie Hourihan and senior Alex Carisone were on the mound for the Lions and pitched a strong game even through all the runs.
On Wednesday, March 19, the Lions took on Muhlenberg College in their third and fourth games of the week, splitting those two as well. In the first game, the Lions fell to the Mules in a 6-0 shutout. Helmer was on the mound again for the Lions, but the Mules’ defense at the plate was just too strong.
The Lions came close to getting some runs on the board in the third inning when Kristen Lake tripled, but with two outs already in the book, there wasn’t enough time to get her home.
After a two-run homerun and multiple hits, the Mules took over the game and never let the Lions catch back up.
However, in the second game against Muhlenberg that day, the Lions were determined to change things around. With the help of a fantastic pitching performance from Carisone, the Lions turned the tables and shut out the Mules 6-0.
Carisone pitched a complete game shutout, and with the help of an active offense, the Lions dominated. In the fifth inning, the game came alive as the College scored six runs. Senior outfielder Corinne Minicozzi, freshman second baseman Olivia Fahr and multiple other players contributed to the score, giving the Lions the boost they had been searching for the past two games.
In the last two games of the week, the Lions took on SUNY Cortland, in which another split was the result. In the first game, the Lions came out on top in a 3-1 win. Helmer was unscathed from the tough loss earlier in the week and came out and pitched another gem.
All runs for the Lions were scored in the sixth inning when senior first baseman Nicole Brodbeck began the scoring with a homerun to center field. Kennick then singled and scored freshman outfielder Nery Cerda and Lake.
In the second game, the Lions fought hard all the way through but fell in an 8-6 loss. With their opponents knocking off three homeruns in the third inning, it was a tough feat trying to come back from that. However, Kennick brought the Lions within striking distance with her own three-run homerun, the first of her career.
In the end, though, Cortland was able to score two runs more than the Lions and the Lions had to settle for another split double-header.
“This year’s team is pretty young,” Helmer said.“We have a lot of freshmen and sophomores starting. There is a lot of talent on the field, and we just need to work together and settle in.”
This week, the Lions will take on DeSales University on Tuesday, March 25, and Ramapo College on Saturday, March 29, at the Softball field.
(02/18/14 6:00am)
This past weekend, the College’s swim teams competed in the Metropolitan Championships and showcased the best of this year’s Lions’ squads. Both the men’s and women’s teams had strong races and took home countless victories, as the men’s team won its eighth consecutive MET title and the women finished third.
The competition began on Friday, Feb. 14, as the Lions struck fiercely. The men’s team opened it up with great races by seniors William Kasper, Stephen Gibson and Philip Hawley and junior Brett Pedersen in the 200-freestyle event, racking up a total of 56 points between them. The College started out strong and was to remain so throughout the rest of the weekend’s competition.
Next, the freshmen showed what they were made of in the 500-free event as freshmen Scott Vitabile, Ryan Gajdzisz and Jason Ivins swam spectacularly and earned the College 103 more points. Senior Stephen Tarnowski also contributed significantly to this points boost.
In the 50-free event, the Lions really came alive. Six out of the top 10 times were posted by the College. Sophomore Joseph Dunn led the Lions with their fastest time, followed by Gibson, Pedersen, Kasper and junior Brian Perez.
Dunn, Pederson, junior Aleksander Burzynski and sophomore James Shangle participated in the 400-medley relay and obtained their best time of the 2014 season.
On the men’s second day of competition, they continued their dominance. In the 200-freestyle, the Lions took the top six spots with Tarnowski placing first with a time of 1:38.16. Other Lions placing in this event were Perez, Pedersen, Vitabile, Gajdzisz and freshman Andrew Nesbitt.
In the 100-butterfly, Dunn finished third and Gibson finished sixth, giving the Lions even more points.
Another strong outing came from Shangle, as he registered a time of 56 seconds in the 100-breastroke event. In the 800-free relay, Tarnowski, Perez, Vitabile and Gajdzisz grabbed the runner-up spot.
The women’s team also showed some strong performances during their two days at the competition.
The weekend started off with a stout finish in the 200-freestyle relay, as senior Nina Sabatini, freshman Brenna Strollo and junior Brennah Ross garnered 54 points for the Lions.
In the 500-free event, junior Summer Thomas swam her way to a fifth-place finish. Sabatini and sophomore Erin Perna also posted great times in this event. Sixth and seventh place were then snatched by Ross and Strollo in the 200-medley event.
The 400-medley relay was another strong event for the Lions. Senior Hailey Growney, senior Kelsey Sumple, junior Summer Thomas and Ross combined their efforts to reach a time of 4:04.85.
In the second day of competition, the Lions came out strong yet again. Starting out with the 800-freestyle relay, Sabatini, Perna, Strollo and Thomas combined for a time placing them in the event’s runner-up spot.
Next, senior Amy Schurer, Strollo, Sabatini and sophomore Lauren Rothstein posted a time of 1:52.69 in the 200-medley relay. Schurer then earned the team 25 points in the 400-individual event, placing sixth.
In the 100-butterfly, Ross swam her way to the sixth position, while Schurer and sophomore Sarah Richards placed 18th and 21st, adding more and more points to the Lions’ score.
(01/28/14 8:00pm)
It was a strong week for the swimming and diving teams, as they both conquered NJAC opponent Rowan University on Saturday, Jan. 25.
One of the College’s biggest sports rivals, Rowan always puts up a fight and makes the Lions put forth their best effort no matter what sport they are competing in.
But this weekend, it was the College who dominated, as both the men’s and women’s teams clinched conference titles with large margins of victory.
In a controlling day, the men’s team won 171-121 while winning all 14 events to show its superiority.
Many Lions stood out from the day, but sophomore James Shangle took the lead by winning the 200-yard medley relay, the 100-yard backstroke, the 200-yard breaststroke as well as the 200-yard IM.
The 200-medley relay also consisted of junior Aleksander Burzynski, sophomore Joseph Dunn and senior Phillip Hawley putting forth their best effort to garner a time of 1:34.55. The men’s relay teams have been unstoppable all season long.
In the 100-yard butterfly, Dunn touched the wall first in a time of 51.88.
In senior William Kasper’s last meet at the College, he came in first in the 50-free with a time of 21.27.
Senior Stephen Tarnowski and freshman Andrew Nesbitt came in first and second in the 200-freestyle.
The women’s swimming and diving team also had a fantastic day, overcoming Rowan with a score of 184-115.
Junior Summer Thomas, sophomore Lauren Rothstein and senior Nina Sabatini dominated the 200-freestyle event, while Thomas then went on to win the 500-freestyle.
Junior Brennah Ross had a great day as well, placing first in the 50- and 100-free events. In the 100-freestyle, Ross, Rothstein and sophomore Erin Perna finished in the top three positions.
In her final race at the College’s Aquatic Center, senior Amy Schurer finished first in the 200-butterfly event.
Senior Hailey Growney then followed up by taking both the 100- and 200-backstroke events, racking up the total score to one of the highest the College has had all season.
Growney, Rothstein, Perna and Sabatini led the team to a first-place finish in the 200-medley while Rothstein, Perna, Thomas and Ross brought home the blue ribbon in the 400-free relay.
Senior Sabrina Lucchesi, also in her final home meet, conquered both the 1- and 3-meter dives.
The team seems to be clicking perfectly this season, as it winds down to some of the final meets.
“We’ve had a lot of people out during parts of the season, due to illness or injury,” Ross said. “It’s been a somewhat challenging year trying to have everyone ready and healthy for our meets … But we just got back from a training trip to Arizona, which was new and exciting.”
Despite the setbacks of injuries, the team has made a strong comeback and is on the path again, ready to take on its next opponent.
The College will next compete in the Metropolitan Conference Championships at Rutgers University from Friday, Feb. 14, to Sunday, Feb. 16.
(01/22/14 8:36pm)
Over the course of winter break, the College’s swimming and diving teams were not able to relax quite like the rest of the students. It was back to work as usual, and the Lions were ready to go.
Before the holidays, the College participated in the TCNJ Invitational, an event that showcases the best swimmers from multiple teams. The Lions came roaring in, defeating the four opponents they faced.
Some spectacular events were held, with many highlights for the Lions in each. Brett Pedersen set a new record in the 100-yard freestyle race, posting a new time of 45.18.
In the A-final event, sophomore Joseph Dunn, senior Philip Hawley and junior Brian Perez placed fourth, sixth and seventh, respectively, accumulating a total of 56 points.
In the backstroke events, four Lions qualified for the A-final, including junior Aleksander Burzynski, senior Stephen Tarnowski, junior Matthew Vanbiervliet and junior Dennis Hall-App. The College also dominated in the butterfly and breaststroke events, receiving top honors for the day.
In the next day of the invitational, the Lions maintained their dominance, as Burzynski, Tarnowski and multiple other Lions led the way and captured the top spots in each race.
The women’s TCNJ Invitational was just as exciting and hard-fought. Senior Nina Sabatini, sophomore Lauren Rothstein, senior Michelle Sanders and junior Brennah Ross made up the 200-freestyle relay team and placed fourth in the event.
In the 400-medley relay, senior Hailey Growney, freshman Brenna Strollo, Rothstein and Ross finished fifth with a time of 4:07.44.
The second day of the Lions’ invitational was even stronger. Ross finished third in the 100-butterfly, while senior Amy Schurer and junior Summer Thomas placed fifth and seventh in the 400-individual medley event.
In the 800-freestyle relay, freshman Colleen Magley, Sabatini, Strollo and Thomas swam their way to a fourth place finish, racking up 30 points.
After this event, the Lions got to enjoy the holidays for a brief break but went right back to work as soon as they were over.
Back and ready to go, the men’s team fell short of a victory in a 102-160 loss against Johns Hopkins University on Wednesday, Jan 6. However, the day was highlighted by sophomore James Shangle’s performance, winning three events, including the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke and the 400-individual medley.
Burzynski also had a very strong day, winning the 100-yard backstroke and placing second in the 200-backstroke. Andrew Nesbitt placed second in the 200-freestyle while freshman Ryan Gajdzisz placed second in the 500-freestyle event.
The College’s men’s team then took on William Paterson University the following week and was back on top in a 180-109 victory.
Tarnowski had a dominant day, as he conquered the 100-yard freestyle and 200-butterfly. In the 200-medley relay, Tarnowski, Nesbitt and freshman Scott Vitabile took top honors.
Senior James Milone was victorious in the 500-freestyle event while sophomore Daniel Tsinis dominated the diving board, placing first in the 1- and 3-meter events.
Also going up against William Paterson, the women’s swim team was superior as well, earning a 170-109 victory.
Sabatini was strong all day, helping out in two winning relays and coming out on top in the 100-yard freestyle. In the 200-free relay, Strollo, Thomas and Rothstein teamed up to gain another victory for the Lions.
On the diving board, senior Sabrina Lucchesi took the 1 and 3-meter events in a strong outing.
This week, both teams take on Rowan University in a crucial meet on Saturday, Jan. 25, at 2 p.m.
(12/02/13 8:00pm)
It was a hard-fought effort by the men’s and women’s swimming teams on Saturday, Nov. 23 as the Lions took on Stevens Institute of Technology. Both teams were defeated, but after the most exciting competitions of the season, the Lions were able to walk away knowing they had given it their all.
The men’s team narrowly lost 133-129 and came close to overtaking its opponents. This was the first loss of the season for the 4-1 men’s team, while the women fell to 3-2 with a 147-109 loss.
The day started off well as the Lions took the 200-medley relay with a time of 1:35.87. The team consisted of junior Aleksander Burzynski, sophomore James Shangle, sophomore Joseph Dunn and junior Brett Pedersen.
The Lions took the 1,000-yard event as freshman Ryan Gajdzisz came in victorious with a time of 9:52.06.
Other victories came from Shangle in the 100 and 200-breaststrokes, while Pedersen was first in the 100-freestyle. Freshman Scott Vitabile outswam his opponents in the 200-butterfly, posting a winning time of 158.04.
The final competition was the deciding one. In the 400-yard freestyle, the College was led by Dunn, Pederson, freshman Andrew Nesbitt and senior Philip Hawley. In what would be one of the closest races of the year, the Lions finished just under a 10th of a second of their opponents to lose the race. They posted a time of 3:08.75 while their opponents posted a time of 4:08.64.
For the women’s team, a similar fate would befall them.
Also taking on Stevens Institute of Technology, the Lions fell 147-109. However, there were some impressive races won by the Lions. Seniors Amy Schurer and Hailey Growney placed first and second in the 200-individual medley, posting times of 2:20.77 and 2:21.97.
Freshman Brenna Strollo outswam the competition as she won three events: the 200-individual medley, the 100-backstroke and the 200-backstroke.
The Lions took the victory in the 100-butterfly as junior Brennah Ross swam for the lead, getting a time of 1:00.86. Junior Summer Thomas added to the Lions’ point total with a third-place finish in this event, coming in at a time of 1:03.48.
The final event of the day was taken by the Lions, as senior Michelle Sanders, sophomore Lauren Rothstein and Ross took the ribbon with a time of 3:44.49.
This week, the College competes in the TCNJ Invitational, a weekend tournament starting Friday, Dec. 6 and wrapping up on Sunday, Dec. 8.
(11/19/13 6:00am)
It was a scene of pure jubilation and triumph that took place on the Lions’ home field on Sunday, Nov. 17. After defeating Rochester Institute of Technology, the Lions knew they would be advancing to the third round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championships.
The team climbed to this moment of triumph by going 2-0 in NCAA play with wins against Penn State Berks and Rochester Institute of Technology. The team seemed more than ready to face the challenge at hand.
“This game is crucial for us,” senior midfield Sloan DePiero said before the Lions played Penn State. “With it being the first game of the tournament, it is key that we come out as we have been playing all season. The intensity at practice this last week was great and we are confident coming into the tournament.”
All of the hard work paid off big time on Saturday, Nov. 16, as the Lions topped Penn State Berks 2-0.
The first half of the game was primarily defensive, as both teams traveled up and down the field but were unable to break through.
The best chance came 15 minutes into the first half, when junior defender Lori Genovesi sent a shot down the field but missed the net by mere inches. Neither team was willing to give up that elusive first goal.
By the time the second half came around, the Lions’ offense came out with more spark and began getting the results they were used to. Just 2:21 into the second half, junior forward Korrie Harkins stepped up and assisted freshman midfielder Sarah Marion in the first goal of the game.
But the Lions wanted more. The Lions closed out the game mercilessly, keeping possession in the opposing half and adding an insurance goal in the 88th minute.
Freshman forward Christine Levering scored her 11th goal of the year with 2:35 left, with the assist going to senior forward Katie Lindacher.
Senior Kendra Griffith was a sturdy presence in goal for the College and claimed her 50th win in net for the Lions.
The next challenge for the College came the next day, as Rochester Institute of Technology challenged the Lions. The College, though, shut out its opponents a second straight time for a 1-0 win.
The first half of the game was similar to the previous, in which both teams were slowly gaining momentum, figuring out their plan of attack. The closest someone came to scoring was at the end of the first half when Levering laced a shot down the field, which was spectacularly saved by the Tigers’ goalkeeper.
In the second half, it was sophomore midfield Taylor Lusardi who stepped up and scored the only goal for the Lions in the 75th minute.
Lusardi converted a corner kick from junior defender Jordan Downs, getting on the end of the ball at the far post and hitting a hard header that bounced from the ground to the roof of the net.
The Lions’ defense was able to hold off their opponents in order to give the Lions another victory in NCAA play.
The Lions knew they left nothing on the table at the end of this weekend, having played some of the most nail-biting games this season.
“Being a senior, every game could literally be the last, so we have to play that way,” Lindacher said.
The team will get to compete together again this week in another NCAA game against William Smith College.
(11/19/13 6:00am)
After a short break without any meets for the swimming and diving teams, this past week was crucial as both the men’s and women’s teams got back into the swing of things in competitions against New York University.
The men’s team came out with a 168-128 victory to stay unbeaten through four games, while the women’s team suffered its first loss of the season by a score of 195-84.
Both colleges were ranked equally going into the meets, but the women’s team fell behind and are working hard to come back.
Sophomore James Shangle led the way for the men’s team, grabbing victories in the 200-yard individual medley, 100-breaststroke and 200-backstroke. Shangle was also part of the 200-medley relay team, which would take home the victory.
Junior Aleksander Burzynski also had a strong day, finishing first in the individual backstroke competitions and helped the 200-medley relay team, along with sophomore Joseph Dunn and freshman Andrew Nesbitt.
Meanhile, freshman Ryan Gadjzisz took on and conquered the 100-yard freestyle and the 500-yard freestyle.
The 400-yard relay was taken by the College as well, as senior Philip Hawley, Dunn and Nesbitt posted a time of 3:10.72.
The women’s team put forth a solid day’s work as well, but fell just short to NYU.
The day started well for the Lions. As the women’s team took the 200-yard medley, led by junior Brennah Ross, senior Amy Schurer and junior Carlyn Hubert.
The College placed first and second in the 100-yard butterfly, as senior Nina Sabatini and sophomore Sarah Richards both had a strong day.
Sophomore Lauren Rothstein, senior Hailey Growney, junior Summer Thomas and senior Michelle Sanders led the College to victory in the 400-freestyle relay, posting a time of 3:49.72.
“The team is the smallest it’s been since I joined my freshman year,” junior Katie Reilly explained. “That has both positives and negatives. Basically every point counts at meets, which can be a bit stressful. But it really makes our team rally and swim every race knowing that we need to get those first, second or third place spots.”
The Lions have the opportunity to rebound this week on Saturday, Nov. 23, when they take on Stevens Institute of Technology on the road.
(11/12/13 6:00am)
Throughout the entire season, the women’s soccer team has played each and every game with full heart and pure force. All of this paid off this past week as the Lions won the New Jersey Athletic Conference title for the seventh time in nine years, defeating Rowan University in the semifinals and Montclair State University in the championship game.
The Lions had to first overcome Rowan on Wednesday, Nov. 6, which proved no easy feat, seeing as the College had just been defeated by them the previous week. However, it was clear the Lions came out for revenge and snatched back bragging rights with a 1-0 victory.
While there was remarkable defense played by both teams, the Profs fell victim to the only goal of the game. With 8:57 left in the second half of the game, freshman forward Christine Levering fired a shot into the goal and gave the Lions the eventual winning score line, 1-0. Levering has been a vital member of the team this year, as she has scored a total of five game-winning goals. As a freshman, Levering has a promising future on the team.
The College’s defense, which has been one of the most dynamic assets of the team this year, was definitely on par for the game. The unit allowed only six shots on goal. Working with the offense, the defense allowed the team to inch up higher in the ranks and score goals.
Senior goalkeeper Kendra Griffith gained her sixth shutout of the season.
The next game the Lions played was crucial. Taking on Montclair State University in the final would be difficult, as the Lions did not have the best record against them — Montclair gave them one of their only losses earlier this season. However, the Lions were determined to hold them off this time, and did so valiantly.
The game ended in a 0-0 tie that was ultimately overcome by the College on penalty kicks. With both teams playing their best defense this season has seen, it was crucial when it came to the penalty kicks to come out ahead.
The Red Hawks missed their first shot, but junior defender Jordan Downs converted hers. After their opponents did get their second shot, the Lions took the lead back when sophomore midfield Shannon White put the Lions ahead 2-1 in the penalty kicks.
Senior defender Lauren Giles and sophomore midfield Taylor Lusardi also netted their kicks, putting the College up 4-2. Griffith made some incredible saves for the Lions, finishing overtime play with seven saves.
During the course of postseason play, many players stood out on the Lions, stepping up to the task before them. However, two were recognized by the New Jersey Athletic Conference in its postseason honors.
Defensive player of the year went to Downs and Rookie of the Year was awarded to Levering. All year long, these teammates have led the Lions on the field, constantly stepping up in every game. They will continue to propel the team into the next tournament, which looks to be an exciting game this week.
The Lions next host Penn State — Berks in the Soccer Complex in the NCAA championships on Saturday, Nov. 16.
(11/06/13 10:10pm)
In the past two weeks, the women’s soccer team has shown why it deserves a spot in the NJAC playoffs. Finishing up the regular season with a 15-2-1 record and defeating Ramapo College 4-0 in its playoff opener, these players have all proved their worth on the field, no matter what kind of situation the Lions find themselves in.
On Wednesday, Oct. 23, the Lions took on Stevens Institute of Technology with full force and came out victorious, winning 3-0. The Lions attacked first and netted the first goal of the game with only 2:37 elapsed as freshman midfielder Sarah Marion assisted junior forward Leigh Applestein for the goal.
The second goal came about 14 minutes later as senior forward Katie Lindacher rushed down the field, bumping the score to 2-0.
In the second half, the Lions earned their final goal, rounding out the scoring as sophomore midfielder Taylor Lusardi sent one flying into the net.
The Lions defense played another game of impeccable defense, limiting their opponents’ chances and picking up its 10th shutout of the year. Senior Kendra Griffith was in goal for the Lions, notching her fifth solo shutout of the season.
The team made this win seem effortless, but the Lions knew not to relax in the last two games of the season. In their second to last game against New Jersey City University, the Lions propelled themselves to a 7-0 victory.
Scoring five times in the first half, the Lions knew what was at stake in this game and the game to come. With 6:48 into the first half, Marion assisted sophomore midfielder Shannon White with the first goal of the game. From that point on, the ball seemed to find their opponents’ net on its own.
Freshman midfielder Lauren Malajian, freshman forward Christine Levering, sophomore defense Christina Roach and freshman forward Chalen Noble all scored the remaining goals of the first half, giving the Lions a comfortable 5-0 lead going into the second half.
In true Lion fashion, the final 45 minutes were also dominated by the College, with Levering and Roach each scoring once more.
The Lions’ defense put on another remarkable display for the win, as junior Christina Gacos and sophomore Jessica Weeder shared the shutout.
Prior to this game, the team’s seniors were honored in a small ceremony in which they were thanked for their dedication to the team. Among these players were Griffith, Lindacher, midfield Sloan DePiero and defense Lauren Giles.
In their last regular season game, though, the Lions fought with all of their might but could not defeat Rowan University. It was the hardest fought game of the season and every player left everything they had on the field, but their opponents held them off remarkably. The Lions fell 3-2 after two overtimes.
The Lions opened the game with the first goal, coming from junior forward Korrie Harkins, assisted by freshman defender Brianna Petro. But their opponents quickly netted their own goal, and the score was tied.
In the second half, the Lions again scored first, but this was quickly followed by a goal from Rowan.
As the two teams entered their first overtime, the ball went back and forth from both sides of the field, as both teams exhibited some of the finest play seen all season.
It was not until the second half that someone was able to get all the way down the field for that elusive winning goal, but unfortunately, it was Rowan who was able to capitalize on that.
The Lions still entered postseason play in the third seed, though, a great spot within the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Lions played their first game of the postseason this past Saturday against Ramapo College and came back with a strong 4-0 victory.
Marion assisted Harkins with the first goal of the game, with 8:15 elapsed into the first half.
For the rest of that half, both teams’ defenses held off the offense until the Lions struck again in the second half. Lusardi and Applestein scored the rest of the Lions’ goals of the game, bringing the Lions to a 4-0 victory.
This week, the Lions advance in the Conference to take on Rowan University again this Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. to keep their season alive.
(11/06/13 10:03pm)
By Chrissy Onorato and Ryan Molicki
Staff Writers
Both the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams have begun their seasons as strong as ever. With three meets completed so far for each team, they have emerged victorious in all.
The first meet of the season came against Montclair State University on Friday, Oct. 25. The men’s team came out with a 129-94 win, showing how ready it is for this season to get underway.
Early in the meet, the Lions came up with first- and second-place finishes in the 200-medley relay as junior Aleksander Burzynski, sophomore James Shangle, sophomore Joseph Dunn and senior Philip Hawley grabbed the victory.
Freshman Scott Vitabile then came in first in the 1,000-freestyle, while freshman Jason Ivins placed third.
Dunn had a remarkable first meet of the season, as he placed first in the 50-free, 100-butterfly and 400-medley relay. In the 50-free, his teammates junior Brett Pedersen and senior Michael Oliva placed second and third, sweeping the podium.
In the 100-free, Pedersen came in first with a time of 48.13 while Hawley and freshman Andrew Nesbitt came in second and third.
Burzynski placed first in the 100-backstroke with a time of 56.43, while junior Matthew VanBiervliet finished second.
In the diving event, sophomore Daniel Tsinis came in first in the 1-meter and 3-meter competitions.
The women’s team was just as successful in its first opener of the season as well, claiming a narrow 119-111 victory over Montclair.
The College won the 400-freestyle relay as freshman Colleen Magley, freshman Brenna Strollo, sophomore Lauren Rothstein and junior Summer Thomas worked well together and finished with a time of 3:47.05. Thomas also took the 100- and 200-free events while Strollo took the 100-backstroke and finished second in the 1,000-free.
“The team is great,” freshman Strollo, who was named the NJAC rookie of the week, said. “Being able to compete at our own pool with our friends and family around was fantastic. I had a blast at the season opener.”
Senior Amy Schurer came in second in the 200-individual medley and in the 100-butterfly, while junior Brennah Ross came in first in the 50-free and senior Nina Sabatini finished third.
In the diving events, sophomore Edith Duggan came in first in the 1-meter and 3-meter events.
The College then took on Ramapo College a few days later when both teams came out with the wins again. The men defeated their opponents 156-95 while the women defeated theirs 164.5-92.5.
On the men’s side, the College took all 12 individual competitions and both relays. Vitabile came in first in the 200-butterfly and the 100-free. Freshman Ryan Gadjzisz claimed the 1000-free, 500-free and 200 individual medley.
The 400-medley relay team was made up of Burzynski, Shangle, Dunn and Nesbitt and came out victorious with a time of 2:09.31.
Burzynski claimed the top spot in the 200-backstroke, Nesbitt in the 50-free and Dunn in the 200-free. Freshman Vince Masciandaro placed first in the 100-breast.
The women’s day was equally dominant as the men’s.
The 400-medley team consisted of senior Ashley Conroy, senior Kelsey Sumple, Schurer and Ross. They took the first spot with a time of 4:15.96.
Schurer came in first place in the 200-butterfly and 200-backstroke as well, and Ross claimed the 100-free.
The final event of the week came against Southern Connecticut State University where the men took the win 169.5-116.5 and the women took their win 157-131.
In the 200-medley, the men took the win with a time of 1:36.08. Gadjzisz had another impressive day as he came in first in the 200-individual medley and the 500-free. He also placed second in the 1,000-free.
Burzynski claimed the 100-backstroke while Dunn captured the 100-butterfly. Nesbitt then won the 200-free.
On the women’s team, Schurer and Thomas placed first and second in the 200-IM, and the 400-free relay was conquered by Rothstein, Ross, Conroy and senior Michelle Sanders.
Sophomore Eilish Devine captured the 1,000-yard in the distance free events.
The Lions are off this coming week before they head to New York University on Saturday, Nov. 16.
(10/22/13 5:00am)
With three games left in regular season play, the Lions continued to close in on a top seed in the NJAC playoffs with an 8-1 win at William Paterson University and a 1-1 tie with Kean University.
Relentless in every game they play, the Lions (12-1-1, 5-1-1) have proven to the conference why they deserve a spot in the post-season and ended this week at the top of the standings.
They were still coming off of a high after beating then-No. 2 Johns Hopkins University in double overtime last week, which provided some motivation before traveling to WPU.
“I’m so proud of the team because of how we came back from a 1-0 deficit at halftime to win the game 2-1 in double overtime,” junior defender Jordan Downs said. “That was a huge win for us and a big confidence boost after losing to Montclair.”
On Wednesday, Oct. 16, the Lions scored a season-high number of goals in an 8-1 victory at WPU. The Lions’ offense shined like never before, with junior forward Korrie Harkins opening the scoring just 36 seconds in.
Just a few minutes later, freshman midfielder Sarah Marion doubled the College’s advantage by tapping in a shot from senior forward Katie Lindacher.
The Pioneers fought their way back into the game with a goal in the 24th minute, but junior forward Leigh Applestein made sure there was not more damage done by scoring her fifth goal of the year in the 27th minute off a feed from freshman forward Christine Levering.
In the second half, the goals came fast and furious as Harkins scored again and Marion added another two — both of which were assisted by Harkins — from the 53rd to 55th minute.
The final goal of the game came from freshman midfielder Lauren Malajian, assisted by junior forward Gina Caprara, with 20 minutes left in the game.
It was a dominant offensive display on the stat sheet as well as the scoreboard, as the Lions had a total of 19 shots on goal to WPU’s four.
Goalkeepers senior Kendra Griffith, junior Cristina Gacos and sophomore Jessica Weedler all contributed with a save to limit the Pioneers to one goal.
Next, on Saturday, Oct. 19, the Lions used a late goal to earn a 1-1 tie against Kean. The Cougars scored first, but the Lions’ offense quickly stepped up and began barreling down the field. The Lions outshot their opponents 33-6 but could not find the back of the net heading into the game’s final stages.
With 7:56 remaining in the game, though, Lindacher scored and evened out the score on an assist from Downs. Griffith finished the game with two saves.
Levering describes the way the players are able to communicate on the field, due to “great chemistry.”
“This has a lot to do with our success,” Levering said. “But we still have a long way to go.”
This week, the Lions take on Stevens Institute of Technology on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. and New Jersey City University on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 1 p.m.
(10/15/13 5:00am)
Another week gone by, another top-notch win for the women’s soccer team. The Lions only had one game this week, but they made it count by putting down previously undefeated Johns Hopkins University in an overtime match of epic proportions, resulting in a 2-1 victory.
This dropped the Blue Jays to 10-1 on the season, while the Lions upped their record to 11-1.
The first half of the game was pretty quiet for the most part. Both teams’ defenses provided stellar defense and kept the ball back and forth down the field for quite some time. Senior defender Lauren Giles had a fantastic diversion shot, taking away a possible goal for the Blue Jays and keeping the score tied at zero.
Unfortunately for the Lions, the Blue Jays capitalized on their perfect defense first and scored the first goal of the game with 1:08 left in the first half.
However, once the Lions came back out in the second half, they knew what they had to do. Great defense can only get you so far when you are not scoring goals. The Lions got the ball down the field in a hurry and tied the score 1-1. Junior forward Leigh Applestein made the initial attempt at the goal, but it was saved. Junior forward Korrie Harkins was there for the rebound, though, and netted her first goal of the season.
The score stayed consistent at 1-1 throughout the remainder of the second half as both defenses were once again on a roll.
In the first overtime, senior forward Katie Lindacher came extremely close to ending the game with a great shot that ultimately hit the bar of the net and was deflected. The Lions were not dismayed, though. They played hard throughout the rest of the first overtime and pushed the game to its limits with a second overtime.
They did not need that second overtime for long, though, as the Lions scored the winning goal only 13 seconds in. Freshman forward Christine Levering scored the goal with ease, netting the most important goal of her freshman year thus far. There are huge things in store for this young player, as she has already exhibited why she belongs on this team on multiple occasions.
Out of the eight goals Levering has had this season, four of them have been the game-winning goals, something that is basically unheard of as a freshman.
When asked what keeps these players so motivated to come out every single week and dominate the way they do, the answer has overwhelmingly been their sense of family and teamwork. These players say they are a genuine family and they know that every second during a game is crucial.
“We practice very hard as a team,” junior forward Gina Caprara said. “And we are all very friendly and cooperative with each other and I believe that is what is making us win so many games.”
Freshman defense Aubrey Andrews has also expressed this same cooperation.
“Each and every game we play, from the girl next to us, or on the bench or field, starter or someone who plays two minutes, we want to leave each game knowing we haven’t left anything but our best out there, for each other and for all the Lions who played before us.”
With determination like that, it is not hard to see why these Lions have been dominating all season and will continue to do so.
This week, the Lions take on William Paterson University on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
(10/08/13 5:00am)
It didn’t take long for the women’s soccer team to bounce back from its first loss last week. After brutally pounding both teams they played this week, the Lions are back in the zone and ready to fearlessly take on the rest of the season.
After losing to Montclair State University by one goal last week, the Lions looked to make up the deficit by scoring an incredible 11 times this week. Their opponents never stood a chance after the Lions took the field roaring.
The Lions took on Rutgers University-Camden on Wednesday, Oct. 2, on the road. From the start, it was evident the Lions would dominate their opponents, and the Scarlet Raptors were crushed, 5-0.
The first goal came in the first half from freshman forward Christine Levering, who scored with 4:04 left in the half. The Lions’ defense was working hard, keeping the ball down toward the Raptors’ goal. Though this was the only goal scored in the first half, things heated up quickly in the second.
With 13:08 elapsed, sophomore midfield Shannon White bumped the score to 2-0 with an unassisted shot from down the field. Within the next three minutes, Levering scored again.
With 10 minutes left in the game, three goals didn’t seem enough for the Lions. They wanted more. Freshman forward Chalen Noble soon scored with junior forward Gina Caprara following soon after.
The Lions had a total of 19 shots on goal in this game, with senior forward Katie Lindacher and Levering leading the team with three a piece.
Senior Kendra Griffith and junior Cristina Gacos shared the save with excellent goalkeeping.
The Lions would dominate the Scarlet Raptors 5-0 in this New Jersey Athletic Conference game. The Lions pushed their record within the Conference to 3-1.
After boosting their confidence from this mighty win, the Lions looked ready to take on their next opponent this week, Rutgers University-Newark. The Lions would come to dominate them as well, boosting their score even higher than the last to a 7-0 victory.
On Saturday, Oct. 5, the Lions came out even stronger than before. With 17:18 left in the first half, Levering began the scoring again with an assist from freshman midfield Lauren Malajian. Levering then assisted sophomore forward Justine Larocca with the second goal of the game.
Levering then went on to score once more in the first half, ending it with a score of 3-0. And it all began again in the second half. Freshman midfield Sarah Marion netted her first collegiate goal 17 minutes into this half. Sophomore midfield Emma Culleton then got her first goal of the season, boosting them further to a 5-0 lead.
Caprara finished the game off with two more goals, giving the team an incredible 7-0 victory in a game for the record books. The Lions had a total of 35 shots while their opponents had only four.
The Lions boosted their Conference record to 4-1.
This week, the College will take on Johns Hopkins University Wednesday, Oct. 9 on home turf.
(09/24/13 5:00am)
It would seem as though the women’s soccer team could not possibly get any better. Yet, they are relentless and improve on their remarkable season in ways you could not imagine. How can you perfect perfection? These Lions seem to know how.
The team plays with a kind of confidence that was not there last year — a new kind of spark that propels them each week to better themelves and bring home victories for the College.
This past week, the Lions triumphed in both of their games, scoring the most goals they have had thus far in the season.
The Lions took on FDU-Florham earlier in the week and outscored the Devils 4-1. The game began with both teams exhibiting great defense, holding off any goals until junior forward Leigh Applestein scored late in the first half, giving the Lions their first goal.
The Lions scored again in the second half when junior defense Jordan Downs scored on a penalty kick, boosting the Lions’ lead to 2-0. Only seven minutes later, senior midfield Sloan DePiero contributed a goal, assisted by freshman defense Brianna Petro, and upped the score to 3-0. The Lions’ defense was putting up a fantastic fight, holding off the Devils’ offense perfectly.
With 9:58 left in the game, the Lions scored once more. This time, it was freshman forward Chalen Noble, assisted by freshman midfield Lauren Malajian. This was Noble’s first collegiate goal for the team.
It was not until the last few minutes of the game when the Devils scored and took the shutout away from the Lions, but there was not enough time on the clock for any more damage to be done. The Lions pulled out the 4-1 victory easily.
It is not hard to see the motivation these players have on and off of the field.
“This season is going really well so far,” junior forward Korrie Harkins said. “The team has become very close over the past month together, and we are all extremely focused on succeeding during the season.”
This team is continually positive and continues to be a force to be reckoned with in the New Jersey Athletic Conference.
On Saturday, Sept. 21, the Lions took on Ramapo College and completely ousted the Roadrunners 5-0. Downs led the team with incredible offense. Five different players scored the five goals — a season high.
The first came from Applestein, her fourth goal of the season. Soon after, DePiero, senior forward Katie Lindacher, freshman forward Christine Levering and junior forward Gina Caprara all scored as well, giving the Lions their highest win of the season.
Their defense was truly the best it has been all season. The shutout was the combined effort of goalkeepers Kendra Griffith, Cristina Gacos and Jessica Weeder.
However, the team knows there is still a lot more work to come in their hunt for the NJAC title.
“We cannot get comfortable,” Lindacher said. “Especially with the NJAC games coming up. We just have to keep working and keep fighting for a win every game.”
This week, the Lions take on Stockton College at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
(09/17/13 5:00am)
One more game into the season and the women’s soccer team remains undefeated. This season is starting off very similar to the way it did last year, but there is more of a desire to get to the very end of the New Jersey Athletic Conference playoffs.
The Lions (5-0) stayed perfect against Farmingdale State College on Saturday, Sept. 14, while showing why they are ranked 23rd in Division III with a 1-0 victory over the Rams (3-3).
Junior forward Leigh Applestein scored the game-winner, her second goal of the season, on a pass from junior defender Jordan Downs in the 39th minute.
The College’s defense was able to hold off any serious threats on goal from their opponents, while the offense was busy trying to turn the heat up a bit. But just the one goal from Applestein was enough to secure the victory.
Senior forward Katie Lindacher, senior midfielder Sloan DePiero and freshman midfielder Sarah Marion all had shots on goal and exhibited top-notch offense. The Rams were held to three shots on goal in the entire 90 minutes.
On defense, a back line of Downs, freshman Brianna Petro, senior Lauren Giles and sophomore Brianna Cummings helped senior goalkeeper Kendra Griffith notch her fourth win and third shutout of the season.
With everything going so smoothly, the players have high expectations for the remainder of the season, and the team seems to be bonding extremely well as a single cohesive unit on the field.
“I feel our team’s chemistry this year on and off the field is a huge part of this season’s awesome start,” sophomore midfielder Carly Setaro said. “I feel that we can only improve as this season goes on.”
Last year, the team went seven games before they had to record a loss in their playbooks, but perhaps this season they can improve beyond that already impressive number and keep working hard to get to those championships.
This coming week, the Lions take on FDU-Florham University (3-3) on Thursday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m., and Ramapo College (1-5) at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, in their first home game of the season.
(09/10/13 5:00am)
The women’s soccer team remains undefeated as their season really gets underway this week. The Lions have been exhibiting their top-notch play in every game so far. With the competition really heating up, this week and those coming should be no different.
This past week, the Lions played in the Stevenson Tournament and came out with two wins over their competitors. Stevenson University was their first victim on Saturday. They put up a good fight in a low scoring game but ultimately fell to the Lions.
Sophomore midfielder Taylor Lusardi scored the game-winner only nine minutes into the game, finalizing the score at 1-0 in a Lions victory.
Defense then came in handy for the Lions as they were able to hold off any further attacks from the Mustangs, which they seemed to be able to do with ease.
The offensive side also seemed to be ready for action, with senior forward Katie Lindacher leading the team with five shots on goal. There were a total of 11 shots on goal throughout the game.
The team plays with a cohesiveness that must be hard to come by. The players mesh extremely well together and seem to be playing each game to the best of their abilities.
Senior goalkeeper Kendra Griffith completed her third save of the season.
The next day, the Lions overtook St. Mary’s College of Maryland easily. As soon as they took the field, the Lions got right to the point. Lindacher scored 26 seconds into the first half. St. Mary’s soon scored as well and tied the score, but this was not to last long.
With 14 seconds left in the first half, freshman midfield Lauren Malajian netted her first goal of her collegiate career. Senior midfielder Sloan DePiero then boosted the score to 3-1 on a free kick from junior defender Jordan Downs, as Griffith collected her fourth win of the young season with the victory.
Downs has been playing at the top level this season and she’s been noticed — the New Jersey Athletic Conference named her Defensive Player of the Week after the first week of games — and Downs continues to impress all who come to watch the games. Her defense is some of the best on the team and has been integral in the Lions’ victories for years.
“We ended the season last year on a bad note,” Downs said. “We wanted to get right back at it again. The new players have been great coming in and our team has clicked together very well. They are also very capable of helping our team out on the field when they are really needed.”
All of the upperclassmen seem to be saying the same thing about this year’s freshmen teammates: They’re here to really be a part of the Lions family and make an impact in all of the games, and this season looks to be one for the record books.
This week, the Lions play Farmingdale State College on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 2 p.m.