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(09/03/08 12:00pm)
In the age of social networking, young Americans are spending less time developing interpersonal communication skills and instead are burying themselves in technology. In spite of living in a time period where it is easier than ever to communicate, it seems as if today's youth is depending too much on the technology that is supposed to unite them.
According to a study conducted by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, 63 percent of today's college graduates "lack the essential skills to succeed in today's global economy."
The advent of Facebook has helped keep college students in contact with each other, despite being spread across the nation and the world. Each Facebook account provides the user with updated information about recent information, pictures and even the current moods of one's friends. Facebook inundates users with opportunities to message distant friends and stay in touch, but eliminates the necessity for face-to-face interaction. For example, instead of meeting friends to talk about what is new in their lives, one can simply examine the Facebook "walls" of these people to get an up-to-date synopsis of their lives. Many young college students spend hours each day combing the site instead of actually socializing.
Cell phones have also become commonplace - even necessary - in today's society. They allow us to contact anyone at anytime and have certainly improved communications within our society. However, the recent emergence of text-messaging has replaced the need to actually talk to people and has reduced many cell phone users to firing short, encoded lines of text to each other. In place of intonation, there is poorly used punctuation. In place of emotion, there are cute facial icons to symbolize the sender's intended mood.
A study by the Mobile Marketing Association reported that more than 80 percent of Americans between the ages of 13 and 24 frequently use text-messaging. This is yet another example of how too much technology has provided convenient barriers to actual conversation.
Text-messaging's older cousin, instant messaging, has been occupying the lives of teenagers for the past 10 years. Much like "texting," instant messaging allows Internet surfers to send real-time messages to one another. The same type of emotional icons and shorthand is used to simulate unseen human responses, such as laughing out loud ("lol") or indicating amazement ("wtf"). Again, these modes of communication leave out the human element of speaking directly.
Since elementary school, we have been taught that 95 percent of information we receive from people is nonverbal. This is perhaps the main reason why substituting the aforementioned modes of communication has turned the current generation of undergraduates into socially awkward individuals. When did we become too busy to stop and talk? When did having a real conversation with somebody become a quaint idea? Communication technology will keep advancing, but it is our responsibility to reconnect with each other.
(02/20/08 5:00pm)
The men's basketball team's playoff chances took a big hit this week as he team dropped two New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) games to Kean University (9-14) and Richard Stockton College (16-6).
Currently owning fourth place in the NJAC South Division, the College will need to catch Kean, which is two games ahead in the loss column, to earn a playoff berth.
"We still have hope that we can make the playoffs," head coach Matt Hunter said. "We need to win out in order to have a shot, but we are going to throw all we have into these next two games."
The Lions' overall record now stands at 6-17 while they sport a 2-9 conference mark.
Wednesday's 66-60 home loss to the Cougars greatly affected the Lions' playoff chances. Trailing the Cougars in the standings, the Lions would have tied Kean for third in the division if the outcome had gone their way. Instead, the Lions now trail Kean by two games with just two remaining on the schedule.
Midway through the second half, the score was locked at 37. The Cougars would not relinquish the lead after a three-point play by freshman forward Akinwande Oshodi, a jumper by junior forward Sean Carter and a layup by freshman guard Keith Williams, giving them the 44-37 lead.
"We didn't convert when we needed to," sophomore guard Jay Frank said. "The loss was on us all the way."
With one minute left, the Lions rallied to within four points and began to foul. The Cougars hit 10-of-14 free throws in the last minute to seal the game.
Despite out-rebounding the Cougars 41-28, the Lions were hurt by their turnovers and their poor shooting from the field. The Cougars held the edge in turnovers, 19-11, while outshooting the Lions 44.2 percent to 35.7 percent throughout the game.
The first half of the game resulted in a 26-26 stalemate going into halftime. Both teams held each other to less than 38 percent shooting in the half and neither led by more than four points.
The Lions' balanced scoring attack had four players score in double digits. Senior guard Jeff Warner and junior guard Jeff Molinelli led their team with 12 points each. Co-captain seniors forward Mark Aziz and guard Corey Gilmore tallied 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Williams paced the Cougars with a game-high 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while Oshodi contributed 18 points, six rebounds and two blocks in the winning effort.
Visiting Richard Stockton College on Saturday, the Lions were dealt their second loss of the week, 83-72, by the first-place Ospreys.
Six minutes into the game, with the score 12-11 in favor of the Lions, the home team mounted a game-defining 14-point run from which the Lions never recovered. During that span the Lions committed seven turnovers while the Ospreys capitalized on their opportunities, taking a 47-37 lead into halftime.
Defense was key for the Ospreys as they grabbed 14 steals, blocked eight shots and forced the Lions to commit 26 turnovers.
A jumper by Gilmore five minutes into the second half brought the Lions to within six points. That was the closest they would get to the Ospreys, who extended their lead to as much as 17 with two minutes remaining.
Once again, the Lions distributed the scoring load with five players tallying double digits. They were led by sophomore guard Aaron Syvertsen's career-high 13-point performance. Aziz netted 12 points and grabbed six rebounds while Warner and Molinelli each scored 11 points. Frank contributed 10 points in the contest.
Junior forward Jerome Hubbard was the high scorer for the Ospreys, converting 6-of-11 shots en route to a 20-point performance.
The Lions' last regular-season home game of the year is tonight against Rowan University at 8 p.m. in Packer Hall. Senior players Aziz, Gilmore and Warner will be honored before tip-off.
(02/13/08 5:00pm)
With just one New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game this week, the men's basketball team suffered losses to conference rival Ramapo College and to Stevens Institute of Technology.
The Lions' overall record now stands at 6-15 with the loss to Ramapo dropping their conference record to 2-7, fourth place in the NJAC south division.
"It is going to be tough to get in (to the playoffs)," junior guard Jeff Molinelli said. "We need to pull out a few more to make it and hopefully we can make some noise towards the end here. We have nothing to lose and if we get into the playoffs anything can happen."
In their NJAC game on Saturday, the Lions fell 74-60 as they visited Ramapo College (12-9).
Shooting was again an issue for the Lions, as they connected on only 36 percent of their shots from the floor while shooting just 21 percent (5-24) from behind the three-point line. Ramapo was able to convert 51 percent of its shots for the game.
"We were getting good shots," sophomore guard Steve Feinberg said. "Sometimes, though, it is just how the ball bounces. What we do need to do though is recognize that we are not shooting well from the outside and get ourselves higher-percentage shots."
Jumping out to a nine-point lead, the Roadrunners took control of the game early. It was not until three and a half minutes into the game that senior guard Corey Gilmore put the Lions on the board with a three-point shot.
A jumper from sophomore guard Jay Frank at the 14:12 mark brought the Lions to within seven points. That would be the last time the Lions would trail by single digits. Ramapo went on an 11-0 run that was stopped by Feinberg with nine minutes remaining in the half.
Trailing 30-9, the Lions mounted their own 11-0 run behind the play of senior forward Mark Aziz, who contributed eight points during the stretch. Aziz would finish the game with a team-high 16 points and eight rebounds in 29 minutes of action.
Coming out of halftime with the score 36-22, the Roadrunners capitalized off a quick Lions turnover to increase the lead to 16. The Lions trailed by as many as 18 points in the second half. The closest the Lions would draw was 12 after a three-point play by junior guard Jeff Molinelli with 4:30 remaining.
Molinelli and Frank were the other two Lions players to score in double figures with 12 points each.
Despite a career night by Molinelli, Wednesday's contest against Stevens Institute of Technology (18-3) resulted in a 63-52 home loss for the Lions.
Stevens entered the game ranked No. 22 in Division III men's basketball.
"Our confidence was good going into the game," Molinelli said. "I think they had a preseason All-American on their team, but they were a really balanced team. Everyone was solid in their lineup."
Six players for the Ducks scored between eight and 12 points in the game. Senior forward Tim Williams led the way with 12 points and 10 rebounds in 22 minutes for the Ducks.
Molinelli racked up a career-high 24 points on 10-16 shooting in the losing effort. He also added three rebounds and two blocks in 33 minutes.
"I was just feeling it that night," Molinelli said. "I was knocking down my open shots and I also made an effort to get to the basket. Once I began shooting well, I began to look for my shot more often."
This time both teams struggled to find their shooting touches in the first half. The Lions were held to 30 percent shooting while the Ducks shot 28 percent in the half. However, it was the visiting Ducks who took a 25-20 lead into halftime.
Leading 38-33 early in the second half, the Ducks went on an 11-2 point run to give them their largest lead of the game, 49-35 with 7:09 left on the clock. The Lions were not able to overcome the deficit before time ran out.
The Lions are scheduled to play a conference game at home tonight against Kean University at 8 p.m. in Packer Hall.
(02/06/08 5:00pm)
The men's basketball team split a pair of New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) games this week, pulling out a win at New Jersey City University and falling to Rutgers University-Camden.
The .500 week places the Lions third in the NJAC South Division with a conference record of 2-6 and an overall record of 6-13.
"Right now we are right in it," head coach Matt Hunter said. "The top three get into the playoffs. That is our focus, that is our goal and we are going to do our best to get in."
Saturday's 52-47 road victory against New Jersey City University (13-7) lifted the Lions into the third spot in the NJAC South and into the playoff picture.
Digging in defensively with the score tied at 44, the Lions went on an 8-3 run to close out the game.
"Down the stretch we kept our poise and hit our free throws," senior guard Jeff Molinelli said. "We tried to deny their key guy (junior guard Dana John) the ball and limit his touches."
During the run the Lions sank seven of their last eight free-throw attempts while keeping the Gothic Knights scoreless on five consecutive possessions.
Senior guard Corey Gilmore and senior guard Jeff Warner each hit shots with less than two minutes left to help propel the Lions to victory. Gilmore paced the Lions with 14 points. Warner also contributed seven points and six rebounds. Sophomore guard Jay Frank added 11 points and eight rebounds to the winning effort for the Lions.
Solid defense was the key Saturday night as the Lions held the Gothic Knights to 25.9 percent shooting from the floor.
"Everyone was working so hard on defense," Molinelli said. "We knew a lot of the plays they were going to run against us due to the great scouting report (Hunter) gave us. We just did a good job of staying with our men, keeping a hand in their face and working together to get the job done."
Wednesday's 58-53 loss at home to Rutgers University-Camden (4-15) snapped a 10-game win streak the Lions held over the Scarlet Raptors that dated back to 2002.
With 1:15 remaining in the game Molinelli got a put-back basket for the Lions that brought them to within one point (51-50). Frank then exchanged a three-point shot with Rutgers-Camden freshman guard Brandon Canty to keep the deficit at one with 24.5 seconds left to play.
The Lions then put the Scarlet Raptors on the free-throw line, pushing the lead back up to three points. After a missed shot by the Lions, the Scarlet Raptors iced the game with another pair of free throws, putting the game out of reach for the Lions.
In the first half, neither team could find the shooting touch, with the Scarlet Raptors shooting 36 percent from the field and the Lions making just 27 percent of their shots. The difference in shooting led to a slight 25-22 lead for the visiting team at halftime.
"We got a lot of good shots off in the first half, shots that we wanted to get," Hunter said. "They just did not fall."
The Lions were also hurt by their performance at the free-throw line, shooting just 46.7 percent (7-of-15) for the game compared to the Scarlet Raptors, who shot a perfect 100 percent (11-of-11).
Frank paced the Lions in scoring with 15 points and eight rebounds.
For the Scarlet Raptors, junior guard Bill Banks led the way, scoring 21 points on 6-of-14 shooting.
Nine of the Lions' 13 losses have been by seven points or less while two of those losses came in overtime.
"I attribute the fact that our games tend to be tight down the stretch to the fact that our guys really play hard every night," Hunter said. "The hard defense we play keeps the games close. It is just comes down some games to the last few shots."
The Lions' next home game will be against Stevens Institute of Technology on Feb. 6 at Packer Hall. Tip-off will be at 7 p.m.
(01/30/08 5:00pm)
It was a tough week for the men's basketball team as they dropped two New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) games to Rowan University and William Paterson University and lost to Brooklyn College at home.
With an overall record of 5-12 and an NJAC record of 1-5, the Lions are in the midst of a four-game losing streak.
"Every game is a battle, but we are still alive," junior guard Jeff Molinelli said. "Our goal to begin the season was to make the NJAC playoffs and that has not changed. We have a lot of conference games left and we believe that we can still accomplish our goal."
Despite a career-high 24 points by sophomore guard Jay Frank on Wednesday, the Lions surrendered a 20-point second-half lead to fall 68-62 at Rowan (12-4).
The Lions were able to take a 36-21 lead into halftime by playing smothering defense, holding Rowan to less than 24 percent shooting from the field in the first half.
Early in the second half, the Lions were able to extend their lead to 20 points with the help of a three-point play by senior forward Mark Aziz. But at the 11-minute mark the Profs mounted a 16-4 run that gave them a lead (62-56) with 2:21 remaining.
"They changed from a two-three zone in the first half to a one-three-one zone and they were extremely long, so it was difficult to get open shots," Frank said. "And it didn't hurt that they shot about 65 percent from the field in the second half."
Working their way back into the game, the Profs managed to take 18 more free throw attempts during the game (29-11) while improving their shooting to 63 percent in the second half. The Lions also committed 10 more fouls during the game (25-15).
"(The fouls) did hurt us because it slowed the game down and enabled Rowan to get back in the game while the clock was stopped," Frank said.
At the 1:13 mark, senior guard Jeff Warner pulled the Lions to within two points with his second three-point shot of the game. He would finish with eight points on 3-for-9 shooting.
While the Lions were unable to score the rest of the game, the Profs sealed the win with four made free throws to end the game.
Co-captains seniors Aziz and guard Corey Gilmore each finished with nine points.
On Saturday, the Lions came up short, 74-60, against a William Paterson team that is now undefeated in conference play (6-0).
"They came out and had a big run to start the game off with," Molinelli said. "And then it was tough because we had to play from behind for most of the game."
The Pioneers jumped out to an early 6-0 lead behind senior guard Joey Spiegel, who was the high scorer for the game with 24 points. For the first half, the Pioneers shot 50 percent from the field en route to a 37-21 halftime lead.
In the second half, the Pioneers' shooting tapered off to less than 40 percent, allowing the Lions to get back into the game. A three-point shot by Aziz with 1:18 left brought the Lions back to within eight, but the Lions ran out of time and were not able to draw the lead any closer.
Frank led the Lions in scoring with 16 points on 5-for-7 shooting from the field, while Aziz added 15 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Last Monday, the Lions were defeated, 76-60, as they hosted Brooklyn (13-4) in a non-conference matchup.
After a close 37-35 first half in favor of the Lions, Brooklyn ran away with the game during the second, outscoring the Lions 41-23.
Three-point shooting hurt the Lions in this game, as Brooklyn shot 50 percent (8-for-16) while the Lions only managed to net 28 percent of their long-range shots (7-for-25).
Four out of five Lions starters scored in double-figures, led by Gilmore and Warner who had 15 points each. Molinelli added 13 points on 5-for-10 shooting while Aziz finished with 10 points.
Sophomore forward Richard Jean-Baptiste led the Bridges with a 26-point, 12-rebound performance.
The Lions' next game is scheduled to be played tonight at 8 p.m. when they play host to Rutgers University-Camden.
(01/23/08 5:00pm)
Before dropping a non-conference game to Brooklyn College 76-60 on Monday, the men's basketball team played a trio of New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) games. The Lions sport an overall record of 5-9 and are 1-3 in conference play.
"As of right now, we have underachieved," sophomore guard Jay Frank said. "But we are able to start fresh because we have (most) of our conference games left, which are the most significant games of the year, so we'll see how the rest of the year goes."
Since nine of the remaining 10 games are conference games, the Lions' NJAC fate remains undecided.
Although four out of five of the College's starters netted double digits in Monday's game, Brooklyn's sophomore forward Richard Jean-Baptiste led Brooklyn to victory with 26 total points.
Wednesday's 65-63 win at Kean University was the Lions' first NJAC victory of the season and the first conference win for first-year head coach Matt Hunter.
"Coach Hunter really does a great job of preparing us in practice," sophomore guard Steve Feinberg said. "We know exactly what we are up against and what to expect."
In a game that saw 10 lead changes and four ties, the Lions found themselves down by as many as nine in the first half. Junior guard Jeff Molinelli led the charge late in the first half with back-to-back three pointers, sending the Lions into halftime down 31-29.
"We did not play as well as we should have in the first half," Feinberg said. "There were a lot of turnovers and the game just was not flowing for us."
A 15-2 run in the second half put the Lions in control of the game. The Cougars were able to work their way back into the game, trailing by only four points with 39 seconds remaining, but key free throws by senior forward Mark Aziz secured the Lions' victory.
Aziz finished the game with 21 points and seven rebounds, going 5-of-8 shooting from the floor.
On Saturday, the Lions were dealt their third conference loss of the season, falling to Richard Stockton College 75-55.
"We have done a good job all year of taking care of the ball and playing smart," Hunter said. "This game we just did a poor job with defensive rebounding and taking care of the basketball. Some of the rebounds they earned were due to their athleticism."
Using a 1-2-2 full court press after made baskets the Ospreys gained the edge in turnovers, 24-11. Capitalizing off of the turnovers, the Ospreys were able to fire 12 more shots during the game than the Lions.
Starting the game with a 10-0 run, the Ospreys held the Lions scoreless until 14:38 left in the first half. The Lions pulled within five, but a 53 percent first-half shooting performance by the Ospreys carried them to a 38-21 lead at halftime.
The Lions could not mount a comeback during the second half, with the Ospreys' lead never falling below double digits.
Frank and senior guard Jeff Warner led the Lions in scoring with 12 points each. Senior guard Mario Lancioni paced the Ospreys with 22 points.
"It was one off game where nothing seemed to go right," Hunter said. "Now we will start getting prepared for our next game and hopefully we can correct the things we did wrong today."
On Jan. 12, the Lions were edged 70-63 in another NJAC contest by visiting Montclair State University.
Molinelli's nine first-half points, including another pair of three-point shots, brought the Lions to within two points at halftime. Midway through the second half, the Lions were able to tie the game at 40, but the Red Hawks used a 10-0 run to jump out in front 50-40.
Grinding it out down the stretch, the Lions pulled to within five points with 1:44 remaining. The teams went back and forth with free throws until the Lions failed to score with 37 seconds remaining.
During Winter break the Lions played a host of non-conference games. They defeated Cabrini College, 83-62, St. Mary's College, 79-63, and Buffalo State College, 80-68. The College dropped five other tightly contested games in that span, including a 71-67 overtime loss to Albright College and an 84-77 double-overtime loss to Buena Vista University.
The Lions play another NJAC game tonight at Rowan University at 8 p.m.
(11/28/07 5:00pm)
The women's soccer team's perfect season came to an end this weekend as it fell 2-0 to the Falcons of Messiah College 23-0 in the NCAA Division III Semifinal game.
Finishing the season with an overall record of 21-1-1, the Lions failed to reach the NCAA Championship for the first time in three years.
Saturday was the fourth time in as many years that the Lions and the Falcons have met in the NCAA Tournament.
The Falcons have held a 3-1 advantage over that span with the Lions' only win coming in the semifinal of last season's tournament.
Despite getting outshot by their opponent for the first time all year, the Lions were able to produce some scoring opportunities in the first half of the game.
Junior forward Jamie Kunkel found an open shot in the first few minutes, but her attempt sailed over the crossbar. Senior forward Dana DiBruno also missed a long-range shot just over the crossbar.
Freshman forward Joanna Haqq scored the winning goal for Messiah in the 19th minute. After working her way down the right side of the field, she put away her own rebound to put the Lions down 1-0.
Sophomore forward Briann McDonough created a pair of opportunities to tie the game early in the second half. McDonough's first attempt was stopped by Messiah's junior goalkeeper Brindley Beckwith as she dove toward the top corner. Her second chance at an equalizer just missed high of the goal.
The Falcons extended their lead to 2-0 when freshman forward Erin Hench intercepted a pass in the Lions' penalty box in the 64th minute. Much of the rest of the game was played on the Lions' defensive half.
Sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Clarke made a season-high six saves throughout the game.
In order to advance to the semifinal, the Lions pulled out a pair of 1-0 sectional wins against Lynchburg College and Washington University in Lynchburg, Va.
On Sunday, Nov. 18, senior midfielder Kristen Cubicciotti sent the Lions into the semifinals with a second-half goal against Lynchburg. It was Cubicciotti's sixth goal of the season and her fourth game-winner.
Lynchburg came into the game ranked second in goals against average, allowing just .20 goals per game. However, an overwhelming 24-6 shot advantage for the Lions was enough to pull out the win.
On Saturday, Nov. 17, the Lions played their first NCAA Tournament match away from home as they defeated Washington 1-0.
This time it was DiBruno who saved the Lions from going into overtime. Her game-winning goal came with just nine minutes left in regulation. Set up off a Cubicciotti corner kick, DiBruno was able to settle the ball and net her 14th goal of the season.
The Lions will be losing seven seniors to graduation next year. Among those key players leaving are senior defender Courtney Krol and DiBruno. Both have received All-America honors during their careers. DiBruno also holds the school's all-time points record with 137 total.
(11/14/07 5:00pm)
The women's soccer team had a great weekend as it became one of 16 teams left in the NCAA Division III Tournament and saw senior forward Dana DiBruno become the program's all-time points leader.
"It is a little bit different this year because for the first weekend we had to play two games and usually we have a bye," sophomore forward Briann McDonough said. "Last year we were hosting so now we have to go away next weekend. Right now, everything is up in the air."
The third-ranked Lions boast an overall record of 19-0-1.
Participating in their 17th consecutive NCAA tournament, the Lions have reached the finals each of the last two years, finishing second on each occasion.
"I hope this is the year we win it all because it is my last chance," DiBruno said. "We have a great team and we always have a good chance to win with this program, but I think this is it. The third time will be the charm for us."
Scoring a goal and earning three assists this weekend, DiBruno set a new school record for total points with 54 goals and 27 assists for a total of 135 points.
"The record means a lot because this program is so great," DiBruno said. "So many great players have come through here, and it is nice to share this with my teammates because I would never have gotten (the record) without any of them."
DiBruno was also named the New Jersey Athletic Conference's (NJAC) Midfielder of the Year.
The hosting Lions put forth a 2-0 effort in Sunday's second round game against the Eagles of Eastern University.
"I think it is hard to play games back-to-back like we did this weekend, but I thought our girls played well," head coach Joe Russo said.
Dominating possession, the Lions outshot Eastern 25-4 and earned a total of 13 corner kicks while allowing just one.
Senior forward Kristen Cubicciotti helped the Lions get an early lead by burying a shot 5:26 into the game. The opportunity was set up off a Lions corner kick. Senior defender Courtney Krol and junior defender Laura Delaney were both credited with the assist.
McDonough provided the Lions with an insurance goal in the 32nd minute of the first half. She settled a 25-yard pass from DiBruno and quickly shot with two defenders around her. The ball sailed into the left side of the net for McDonough's 10th goal of the season.
The Lions kept up the pressure during the second half, forcing Eastern's junior goalkeeper Amanda Daveler to make seven saves. However, Cubicciotti's goal would prove to be the game winner as neither team found the back of the net in the second half.
Sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Clarke earned her 10th solo shutout of the season, recording four saves.
Allowing only four goals this season, the Lions defense was recognized for its stellar play. Clarke was named the 2007 NJAC Goalkeeper of the Year while Krol was awarded her third straight NJAC Defensive Player of the Year award.
"(Krol and Delaney) are great leaders at the back line," Russo said. "We have been very stingy in the back and have not given up many goals."
The Lions dominated in Saturday's 7-0 first round game against Farmingdale State University. Maintaining an shot advantage of 33-3, the Lions were relentless the entire game.
"The whole team has a killer instinct," McDonough said. "We always want to get ahead and we know that we cannot get complacent. You have to just keep going after them and going after them because if they sneak one goal in that will change the momentum of the game."
Junior midfielder Coleen Weber scored the game winner in the 10th minute. It was her sixth goal and her fourth game winner this year.
Krol and DiBruno put away penalty kicks for the Lions, and junior forward Jamie Kunkel contributed a pair of goals to give her a team-leading 17 goals on the season.
McDonough and Cubicciotti rounded out the Lions' scoring effort, scoring a first-half goal each.
The Lions will need two more wins in order to advance to the National Championship Finals. With seven seniors on the team, this year's squad could be best suited to win the championship.
"Our seniors, when they came into the program, changed the way we play," McDonough said. "They have done so much for this program that we want to end it right for them and win a National Championship."
(11/07/07 5:00pm)
Earning its third consecutive New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship with a 3-1 win over Richard Stockton University, the women's soccer team heads into the NCAA Division III Tournament ranked third.
"It always means more every time we win the NJAC," junior forward Jamie Kunkel said. "Each year after it is over, you look back on the season and sometimes you take winning for granted. You never know when the next one might be your last, so this one means the most so far."
With a record of 17-0-1, the Lions remain undefeated so far this season. Each of the two previous years the Lions have advanced to the NCAA Division III championship game, taking second place on both occasions.
"We plan on preparing the way we always prepare," head coach Joe Russo said. "Now it becomes a five-game season. We are going to have to take one game at a time."
On Oct. 18, the Lions and the Ospreys met during the regular season and played to a 0-0 double-overtime draw. The Lions held a 29-7 shooting edge in the game.
Friday's home contest to clinch the NJAC title featured a similar shot advantage for the Lions, 27-4. Much of the game was controlled by the Lions and was played on the Ospreys' defensive half.
"It is always nice to have days where we can finish our scoring chances," junior forward Laura Delaney said. "It takes so much pressure off of everybody, not just the offense but the defense as well."
Kunkel broke through in the 10th minute when she hit a pass from sophomore forward Briann McDonough into the back of the net.
Late in the first half, the Lions had another great opportunity to score when freshman forward Julianne Delorenzo was taken down inside the penalty box. The ensuing penalty kick was slammed off the top right crossbar by senior defender Courtney Krol.
After numerous second-half opportunities Kunkel was able to sail a chip shot over Osprey junior goalkeeper Alex Roger's head with 10 minutes left to give the Lions a 2-0 lead. The shot came after junior forward Allie Schilling's shot deflected off the crossbar. McDonough collected the loose ball and slid the pass to Kunkel, picking up her 11th assist of the season.
Kunkel also set up senior forward Dana DiBruno's goal just three minutes later. DiBruno settled the chip cross from Kunkel around the 12-yard line and slipped a shot past the goalkeeper.
"We always seem to know where each other is on the field," Kunkel said, referring to DiBruno. "She and I seem to know exactly what kind of run each other is making. I don't know, we just have this connection."
It was the ninth time that Kunkel and DiBruno have teamed up to score for the Lions this season.
Stockton pushed many of its players forward with a few minutes left in the game in an attempt to score. The all-out attack resulted in a goal for freshman forward Amanda Altman, her 13th of the season.
Lions' sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Clarke made two saves in the net.
The Lions advanced to the NJAC Finals by edging out Montclair State University 1-0 on Tuesday.
Once again the shot attempts were in favor of the Lions, 26-4.
"We were working the ball well in the beginning of the first half," Delaney said. "But we got complacent and let them hang in there because we did not finish our opportunities."
Junior midfielder Coleen Weber scored the lone goal in the 50th minute. She put away a loose ball in the Red Hawks' penalty box to record her fifth goal of the year.
Clarke finished the game with three saves for her ninth shutout of the year.
With many of the seven seniors playing key roles, this may be the year the Lions achieve their goal of winning a national championship.
"I do not think there is any rhyme or reason to our winning," Russo said. "We have consistently won with younger girls and older girls. This is a very good group, a very together group. They have great chemistry and we are all excited to see how we will do."
(10/31/07 4:00pm)
Closing out an undefeated season, the women's soccer team earned the No. 1 seed in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament with wins over Rowan University, New Jersey City University (NJCU) and William Paterson University.
The Lions look to take their third consecutive NJAC Championship, ending the regular season with a 15-0-1 overall record and an 8-0-1 mark in the conference.
The winner of the NJAC tournament automatically receives a bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. In each of the last two years, the third-ranked Lions have advanced to the National Championship finals and finished second.
"This postseason is similar to past postseasons in that the team is taking it one game at a time to ultimately reach our goal of returning to the final four," senior defender Courtney Krol said. "In order to extend our postseason to the National Championship game, our team needs to continue to work hard, possess the ball and finish the opportunities we are given."
Wednesday's 2-0 shutout over Rowan secured an undefeated season for the Lions and sent them into the NJAC tournament with the No. 1 seed. At 14-3 overall, Rowan was awarded the No. 2 seed and received a first round bid along with the Lions.
Senior midfielder Dana DiBruno scored the eventual game-winning goal for the Lions with a shot into the lower left corner of the net. Her goal in the 35th minute was set up by a cross from senior midfielder Kristen Cubicciotti.
Freshman midfielder Gina Colati added a goal in the 82nd minute. Colati blasted a shot from 40 yards out that flew under the crossbar and into the net. It was her second goal of the season.
Sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Clarke made two saves to secure the shutout. Clarke ended her regular season allowing two goals and recording eight shutouts in 1,279:21 minutes of action.
"Overall I credit the defense for all the shutouts this year and the hard work they put forward to shut down the opposing teams," Clarke said. "Going into the playoffs the coaching staff helps keep me and the other goalkeepers prepared by keeping us focused and giving us shooting drills."
This year the Lions' defense allowed a total of 50 shots from their opponents compared to taking 463. They also scored a combined 63 goals while giving up just three.
The Lions routed NJCU 10-0 in their final regular-season home game, outshooting them 44-2.
Of the 13 meetings between the schools, the Lions have never lost to the Gothic Knights.
Before the contest, the Lions honored the seven seniors for their hard work and commitment throughout their careers.
"I cannot really picture playing without those girls," junior midfielder Coleen Weber said. "Right now everyone is playing like it is their last game. Every tackle must get made, every shot must get finished and nothing is half hearted."
It was the seniors who fueled the scoring barrage, combining for seven goals and two assists in the game. Cubicciotti got the game's first goal in the fourth minute. Just two minutes later junior forward Jamie Kunkel scored her 13th of the season off an assist from DiBruno.
Switching roles, Kunkel set up DiBruno five minutes later for her 10th goal of the season.
Two more seniors placed their names on the score sheet as forward Beth Pagano and defender Toni-Anne Cavallo each tallied their third goals of the season.
Krol then assisted sophomore midfielder Melissa Martin's second goal of the season, giving the Lions a 6-0 lead heading into halftime.
In the 50th minute, senior defender Lori Adriance put away her first goal of the season off a pass from freshman midfielder Casey Caruso.
Junior midfielder Erin Cunliffe added the eighth goal for the Lions while a pair of seniors rounded out the Lions' scoring spree. Krol and Cavallo each netted a goal late in the game to give the Lions the 10-0 win.
Clarke made the lone save for the Lions. Junior goalkeepers Amy Hashem and Kristina Kuda also saw time in the net.
(10/17/07 4:00pm)
The women's soccer team (12-0-1) remained undefeated this weekend, taking down Kean University 2-1.
Ranked third in the Division III national standings, the Lions are dominant within the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). With a conference mark of 5-0-1, they are the only team to remain undefeated in the NJAC.
"Being undefeated is definitely one of our team goals, but it is not something we really talk about," junior midfielder Coleen Weber said. "I am just happy we are playing well and winning. Winning a national championship is our ultimate goal."
The Lions were able to pick up the win away from home with help from their potent offense. Out-shooting the Cougars 32-2 and earning six more corner kicks than their opponent gave the Lions enough opportunities to score.
Despite a shooting advantage, the Lions headed into halftime scoreless.
"In the first half, we had some great opportunities to score, and unfortunately we were unlucky and hit the post a few times," senior forward Dana DiBruno said. "The teams we play in NJAC present us with some problems because they play very defensively and have pretty thorough game plans from their scouting reports."
DiBruno was able to break the stalemate less than three minutes into the second half by shooting a pass from senior midfielder Kristen Cubicciotti past Kean's sophomore goalkeeper Nicole Groszew. The goal was DiBruno's eighth of the season.
The Cougars tied the game just five minutes later with a goal from senior forward Michelle Fischer. Kean sophomore forward Kristin Cizek picked up the assist.
Junior forward Jamie Kunkel netted the game-winning goal for the Lions in the 69th minute. It was the third time Kunkel has scored the winning goal this year. She leads the team in scoring with 12 goals on the season.
"I made a run on the left side, and (DiBruno) sent me a through-ball behind the defender," Kunkel said. "I cut it back and hit it over the goalie's head about 20 yards out."
Sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Clarke earned the win in net for the Lions. Until the goal she allowed in the second half, Clarke had gone over 1,012 consecutive minutes without being scored on.
The Lions have out-shot their opponents 388-44 so far this season. Despite less in-game pressure, the Lions are confident in their defensive abilities.
"A lot of people might think that because we outshoot other teams by so much our defense falls off," Weber said. "In practice we really take it to one another, and that really helps our defense stay in good shape."
"These games are only leading up to the ones that really matter: The NJAC tournament and eventually the NCAA," Kunkel added. "We are taking the last four games one at a time."
The team's next game is tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. at William Paterson University.
(10/10/07 4:00pm)
The women's soccer team continued its undefeated season on Saturday, blanking the University of Redlands 4-0.
The No. 3 Lions boast an 11-0-1 overall record and are 4-0-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).
The team's leading scorer, junior forward Jamie Kunkel, netted the first Lions' goal just seven minutes into the game. Redlands' sophomore goalkeeper Tenley Rawlings was able to get a piece of the ball, but the shot had too much velocity and rolled over the goal line.
The goal is Kunkel's 11th this season. Senior forward Dana DiBruno was credited with the assist.
"(DiBruno) fed me the ball with a pass just over the defender's head," Kunkel said. "I settled it down and took a shot about five yards out. It had enough power that, even though the keeper got a hand on it, I saw it roll over the line."
Three minutes later, sophomore forward Briann McDonough cashed in on a cross from sophomore midfielder Kristina Shemming, giving the Lions a 2-0 lead.
In the 20th minute, sophomore forward Casey Riley added a third goal off of an assist from junior midfielder Coleen Weber. The Lions would take the 3-0 lead into halftime.
Connecting again in the second half, Kunkel and DiBruno both contributed to the Lions' fourth and final goal. It was DiBruno scoring this time from Kunkel's pass 11 minutes into the half.
DiBruno now has seven goals on the season while Kunkel recorded her fourth assist.
"We seem to know where each other is on the field," Kunkel said, referring to DiBruno. "Playing so much together, we can see the through-ball passes and can anticipate where (the other) is going."
The Lions were relentless as usual throughout the game, outshooting the Bulldogs 31-7.
Sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Clarke earned her sixth complete game shutout, making three saves. With the clean sheet, Clarke extends her scoreless streak to 960 minutes.
Rawlings made 10 saves in her effort in goal for Redlands.
"We have a long stretch of away games coming up so we have to make sure we come prepared to play every game," Kunkel said.
Of the Lions' final five games, four of them will be played on the road.
Today the team will visit NJAC opponent William Paterson University for a 3:30 p.m. start.
The team's next home game is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 20, when the College will host New Jersey City University at 11 a.m. at Lions' Stadium.
(10/03/07 4:00pm)
The No. 3 ranked women's soccer team remained undefeated this week after beating Rutgers University-Camden, Rutgers University-Newark and Johns Hopkins University.
The Lions' overall record now stands at 10-0-1 and 4-0-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).
"We are very content to be undefeated right now," junior midfielder Nicole Papola said. "So far this year we have not faced too much competition, but we do have some tough games coming up. It is good to see us well-prepared for every game, regardless of the team we are playing."
On Wednesday, the Lions picked up a 2-0 NJAC win against the Scarlet Raptors of Rutgers-Camden.
During the first 45 minutes, neither team could break through and score, sending the game into halftime scoreless.
"We just had trouble connecting offensively in the first half," junior midfielder Coleen Weber said. "We dominated offensively but just could not finish inside of their defensive."
Weber was the one to break the deadlock seven minutes into the second half. She finished a loose ball after a corner kick for her fourth goal of the year.
Nine minutes later, junior forward Jamie Kunkel added on to the lead with a goal assisted by sophomore forward Briann McDonough. The feed gave McDonough seven assists on the year.
Sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Clarke recorded one save in her fourth shutout of the year.
The Lions dominated Rutgers-Newark 8-0 at home on Saturday.
Outshooting the Scarlet Raiders 31-3, the Lions provided a good example of how they have been finding the open player and controlling the pace of play this season.
"We're just trying to facilitate the offense," Weber said. "Some teams try to go straight from the backfield to the forwards, skipping over the midfield. We focus on controlling the ball coming out of the back and using the midfield to create more options. It just opens up the game for both the forwards and the fullbacks."
"I think it makes us a very dangerous team," she added.
Kunkel kicked off the Lions' scoring by collecting a rebound shot from senior forward Dana DiBruno and redirecting it into the net. It was the fourth straight game that Kunkel had tallied at least one goal.
Kunkel then turned around eight minutes later and set up McDonough for her sixth goal of the season.
Two minutes later, senior midfielder Kristen Cubicciotti was next to find the back of the net for the Lions. Her first goal of the season was helped by a lead pass from Weber.
Freshman midfielder Casey Caruso tallied her second goal of the year in the 32nd minute, giving the Lions a 4-0 lead going into halftime.
In the second half, the Lions experienced a little d?j? vu when Kunkel and McDonough duplicated the first half by scoring another goal each. For Kunkel, it was her team-leading 10th goal of the season.
Sophomore midfielder Momoko Aoe helped cap the game by assisting a pair of goals. The first was to DiBruno in the 63rd minute for her sixth goal of the season. Then, Aoe found senior defender Toni-Anne Cavallo to give the Lions the 8-0 win.
Clarke played the first half in net for the Lions, adding to her continuing streak of 770 minutes of scoreless soccer. Juniors Kristina Kuda and Amy Hashem each saw time in goal for the Lions in the second half.
The Lions defeated the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays 1-0 in overtime on Monday night.
With 29 seconds left, senior defender Courtney Krol set up Cubicciotti for the winning goal.
Clarke picked up her fifth shoutout of the season.
The Lions will play a non-conference match against the Bulldogs of the University of Redlands at home on Saturday. The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.
(09/26/07 4:00pm)
Still undefeated, the women's soccer team dealt losses to Montclair State University and Gwynedd-Mercy College this week, while tying Richard Stockton College.
The No. 2 ranked Lions now stand at 7-0-1 on the season and 2-0-1 in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play.
Senior forward Dana DiBruno led the College's 6-0 assault against Gwynedd-Mercy on Monday, scoring the first two goals and finishing with a hat trick.
Just 2:19 into the game, DiBruno redirected a cross from sophomore midfielder Kristen Cubicciotti to give the Lions the lead. In the 17th minute, she put away her second goal, assisted by junior forward Jamie Kunkel.
Kunkel followed her assist with a goal of her own to push the lead to three. She now leads the team in goals scored with seven.
DiBruno completed her hat trick in the 25th minute and moved to No. 3 on the school's all-time scoring list with 46 goals and 20 assists.
Senior defender Toni-Anne Cavallo and sophomore forward Casey Riley each contributed a goal to the Lions' cause.
Three of the Lions' goalkeepers, junior Amy Hashem, junior Kristina Kuda and sophomore Jessica Clarke, saw time in the net in the Lions' sixth shutout of the year.
Held scoreless for the first time this season, the Lions battled Richard Stockton to a 0-0 draw at home on Wednesday. It was the second time in as many seasons that the Lions and the Ospreys have played even.
Despite out-shooting the Ospreys 29-4 and earning seven corner kicks compared to the Ospreys' one, the Lions could not capitalize with a goal.
"We had many dangerous opportunities to score, and unfortunately we just couldn't find the back of the net," DiBruno said. "Stockton played with a deep sweeper and marked person to person, so it changed the dynamic of the game for us."
Senior forward Beth Pagano had the best opportunity to give the Lions the lead six minutes into the second half. Her shot made it past junior goalkeeper Alex Rogers but slammed off of the far post.
Clarke needed two saves to record her third shutout of the season.
For the Ospreys, Rogers made seven saves and earned her second consecutive shutout.
"We are never satisfied with anything less then a commanding victory, and we work hard every day to continuously improve as a team," DiBruno said. "We will look forward to a rematch with Stockton in the NJAC tournament."
The Lions went back to their winning ways on Saturday with a 5-1 victory over the Montclair Red Hawks.
As a result of the Lions evenly distributing the ball, five different players tallied a goal in the contest.
In the 30th minute, freshman defender Brittany McGinley got the Lions on the board with her first goal of her collegiate career.
DiBruno extended the lead in the 51st minute with a goal and Kunkel followed up just minutes later by finishing a pass from Cubicciotti.
Sophomore midfielder Melissa Martin and junior midfielder Nicole Papola rounded out the Lions scoring with their first goals of the season.
Montclair's sophomore forward Natalia Sisti found the back of the net with just seven minutes left, ending what would have been six consecutive Lions shutouts.
It was the first goal allowed by the Lions since their season opener.
Though the team is using its new 4-3-3 formation, which takes away a defensive player and adds an attacker, the Lions' defense has not seemed to be affected by the loss.
"Our defense has been solid with our core players returning," head coach Joe Russo said. "Although there is another player up front, our new formation is possession-oriented."
"I think this style of play benefits the entire team because of our good technical ability," he continued. "We look to our midfielders to dictate the flow of the game and to distribute the ball to the entire team."
The Lions' next game will be today at Rutgers University-Camden at 7 p.m. Then, the Lions will take on Rutgers University-Newark at home on Saturday at noon.
(09/19/07 4:00pm)
Kicking off New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play at home, the women's soccer team came away with a 5-0 win this weekend over the Ramapo College Roadrunners.
The No. 2 ranked Lions are now 5-0 on the season and 1-0 in the NJAC.
"The team has done well," head coach Joe Russo said. "Our kids seem to be settling in nicely. Our expectations are to try and get better each and every day, and if we focus on that, everything else will take care of itself."
In Saturday's victory over the Roadrunners, freshman midfielder Casey Caruso put the Lions on the board in the 10th minute with a low shot that slipped past the keeper.
The goal was Caruso's first of the season and of her career at the College. She was assisted by sophomore forward and last week's NJAC Offensive Player of the Week Briann McDonough.
Backing up her Player of the Week honors, McDonough followed up in the 19th minute by scoring a goal of her own. It was the third straight game she has scored at least one goal.
McDonough has five goals and four assists this season.
Junior midfielder Coleen Weber put the Lions up 3-0 shortly after halftime, netting her third goal of the season.
With 10 minutes remaining, senior defender Courtney Krol slammed in a direct kick from the top of the penalty box. Krol was named the NJAC Defensive Player of the Week.
Freshman midfielder Gina Colati capped the game by tallying her first collegiate goal and giving the Lions the 5-0 decision.
Sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Clarke had three saves and picked up her second shutout of the season.
The Lions have tweaked their strategy this season by going to a 4-3-3 formation and adding an extra attacker.
"The different look this year is . to score more goals," Russo said. According to him, the Lions are "trying to get more numbers into the attack."
Five games into the season, the adjustment seems to be working. The Lions have scored 22 goals while allowing one. This means the added attacker has not translated into more goals allowed.
Clarke is pleased with the way the new formation is working out.
"It took some time for us to get used to the new formation, but I think we are getting the hang of it," Clarke said. "It helps create offense by giving our backs a chance to push up and make some runs. On defense, we have different players who have different abilities. As a whole, we have the same idea of what we should be doing."
The Lions will host Richard Stockton College tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Roadrunners: 0 / Lions: 5
(09/12/07 4:00pm)
Cruising through a pair of weekend games, the women's soccer team defeated Amherst College and Washington and Jefferson College as it hosted the adidas Classic.
The No. 2 ranked Lions are now 4-0 on the young season.
On Sunday, the College took a 5-0 victory over No. 7 ranked Amherst in a rematch of the 2006 NCAA Division III quarterfinal.
"It felt amazing beating them," junior forward Jamie Kunkel said. "Last year we did not score a goal against them. It just goes to show how much our new formation gives us better goal-scoring opportunities, and we are really putting our shots away around the goal."
The new formation calls for four defenders, three midfielders and three attackers.
Junior midfielder Coleen Weber scored first for the Lions two minutes into the game with an assist from senior forward Dana DiBruno. Kunkel was then awarded her first goal of the game as her shot edged over the goal line, putting the Lions up 2-0.
Sophomore forward Briann McDonough capped the first half by heading a free kick by senior defender Courtney Krol into the back of the net. The goal was McDonough's fourth of the season.
"The coaches do not want us to get into the mindset of thinking that the game is over," Kunkel said. "We know we have to play hard the whole game and not hold back."
Taking the coaches' advice, Kunkel put away two more goals in the second half. Her second goal was a shot from 18 yards away that flew over the goalkeeper's head. Later in the game, Kunkel placed a high shot into the goal.
Sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Clarke made two saves in 77 minutes for the shutout.
Saturday's contest against Washington and Jefferson resulted in a 7-0 trashing by the Lions.
McDonough was the catalyst early for the Lions with two goals and an assist in the first 20 minutes.
In the 13th minute, she finished a pass from Krol for her first goal of the season. Two minutes later, she scored another unassisted goal before setting up Kunkel to give the Lions a 3-0 lead.
Junior Allie Schilling netted two goals of her own before halftime. The second resulted from a pass by junior defender Laura Delaney.
McDonough completed her hat trick 58 seconds into the second half when she finished a corner kick from Krol.
Senior forward Beth Pagano capped the onslaught with her second goal of the season, ending the game at 7-0.
With four dominating performances to start their season, the Lions will continue to look for ways to refine their game and to improve upon their new offensive-minded formation.
"We still have a few kinks to work out, but it's getting better," Delaney said. "After scrimmaging against NCAA Division I teams in preseason and playing the first few games, we are moving the ball around and finding the midfield a lot better."
The Lions' next matchup will be a New Jersey Athletic Conference home contest on Saturday against the Ramapo College Roadrunners at 1 p.m.
(09/05/07 4:00pm)
The women's soccer team started its 2007 season on the right foot, winning both of its games this weekend against Frostburg State University and Roger Williams University in the Jako Blue Jay Classic hosted by Elizabethtown College.
This year the Lions have adopted a new formation which calls for four defenders, three midfielders and three attackers. An offensive-minded formation, the change is intended to create more scoring opportunities.
"This was our first game in our new 4-3-3 formation," junior forward Jamie Kunkel said. "It is something new we have to get used to, but I think adding the extra forward helps."
The coaching adjustment seems to be working as the Lions offense has outshot its opponents 70-3 in just two games.
Ranked second in the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America NCAA Division III preseason poll, the Lions are 2-0 on the young season.
In Saturday's season opener against Frostburg, the College kept its composure after letting in the first goal, eventually taking the game 3-1.
Nearly five minutes into the game, sophomore midfielder Lauren Lentine put the Bobcats up 1-0 by putting in a rebound shot around the Lions' goal.
The Lions were quick to answer as junior midfielder Coleen Weber scored just three minutes later to tie the game. Junior defender Laura Delaney followed up in the 22nd minute with a long 30-yard goal of her own. A third goal was added in the second half by a header from Kunkel.
Sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Clarke needed only one save to record her first win of the season.
On Sunday, the Lions connected for two of their 44 shots on goal as they defeated Roger Williams 2-0. Senior forward Dana DiBruno netted her first goal of the season in the 10th minute off of a pass from Kunkel. In the second half, senior forward Beth Pagano added another goal with a well-struck shot from the top of the box.
Clarke needed to make no saves in order to record her first shutout of the season. She finished last season with an impressive 12 shutouts.
"Almost our entire team is back from last year, so we are very experienced," Kunkel said. "We also have some good freshmen to support the juniors and seniors. Hopefully we can do the same thing we did last year and get back to the (NCAA) finals."
The Lions will host the College's adidas Classic this weekend. On Saturday, Sept. 8 the Lions will square off against Washington and Jefferson University at 11 a.m. Then, they will face Amherst College on Sunday, Sept. 9 at 11 a.m.
(05/02/07 4:00pm)
The College's baseball team will take an 11-game win streak into the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) playoffs after handing losses to William Paterson University, Rutgers University-Newark and Widener University.
"The beginning of the year we started off 6-0 and then we got our first loss. That kind of brought us back to reality," senior first baseman Blake Bullis said. "Ending the season with an 11-game win streak is a huge thing. Hopefully we carry that on through the playoffs."
In a week that saw head coach Rick Dell earn his 700th career win, the Lions outscored their opponents by a combined 35-7. The No. 9-ranked Lions finished the regular season with an overall record of 28-8 and 14-4 in the NJAC.
Dell earned his milestone victory in a 9-1 home win over William Paterson on Thursday.
"The milestone was important in that it represents the College and the players and people that you surround yourself with," Dell said. "I have been smart enough to have good people around me for a while now and that number is a reflection of their hard work."
Dell is in his 26th season as head coach and boasts a career record of 702-328-10. He is now one of just 10 active Division III coaches to have reached such a mark. The Lions have had 23 seasons of 20-plus wins under Dell, including the last 10 seasons.
The Lions had control of this game throughout, getting 16 hits while only allowing four. Bullis and senior left fielder Jeff Botti led the way offensively. Bullis went 3-for-5 at the plate with three runs scored and an RBI while Botti drove in three runs and went 2-for-4.
In his fifth win of the season, senior pitcher Blake Ortiz allowed no hits until the sixth inning and only one earned run for the game. He also struck out eight of the 28 batters he faced in 7-1/3 innings of work.
Saturday's doubleheader against Rutgers-Newark resulted in a sweep for the Lions. In the first game, senior pitcher Bob Buskett led the Lions to a 4-1 victory by throwing a complete game. Buskett improved to 5-1 on the season after allowing only one run and striking out seven.
"I like the way we are playing right now and the fact that we have been doing the little things right," Dell said. "We had that one inning where the starter had about 40 pitches, so his pitch count went from 65 to 105. Now they have to bring in another starter in the fifth inning, which makes it easier on ourselves going into the next game."
The Lions took full advantage in the second game, exploding for 11 runs in the 11-5 victory. Trailing 3-0 going into the fourth inning, the Lions rallied for three solo home runs to tie the game. Senior catcher Gerard Haran, senior second baseman Andrew Cosgrove and junior outfielder Dave Mebs were the three Lions to score in the inning.
Taking the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Lions added four more runs to put the game out of reach. Haran hit another home run in the eighth inning, extending his all-time Lions career record to 47. Junior pitcher Mike Oliver was awarded the win in relief. He allowed one run off seven hits and four strikeouts.
"Baseball is a game where the harder you try, the worse you do. I think everyone was just trying to force it earlier in the season," Haran said. "After that, we started to let the game come to us. Our pitchers have been throwing better pitches and our hitters started hitting the ball better, started fielding better. We are a pretty dangerous team right now. There is not many teams that want to play us right now."
The Lions beat Widener in an 11-0 winning effort on Wednesday.
Using a total of nine pitchers, the Prides could not find an answer for the Lions' bats. Junior shortstop Jeff Toth led the 12-hit Lions performance, going 4-for-5 at the plate with three RBIs and hit his fifth home run of the season.
Freshman pitcher Sean Stewart picked up his first career win on the mound in six innings of work. Stewart struck out the first six batters he faced, ending the day with nine strikeouts.
"Right now, we are only focused on playing well in the NJAC playoffs," Haran said. "Getting three NJAC Championships in a row would be a nice accomplishment. Every team in the playoffs has a chance to win, but I think we will be there in the end."
The Lions await their first-round NJAC playoff opponent in a game scheduled for Thursday at 3 p.m.
(04/18/07 4:00pm)
The College's baseball team went 2-1 on the road this week, defeating Rowan University and splitting a Saturday doubleheader against Montclair State University.
With a record of 17-7 overall and 5-3 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), the Lions are ranked 11th in NCAA Division III.
Remembering the 10-inning loss the Profs handed them a week before, the Lions got revenge with the 4-3 win in 10 innings on Friday.
"We were really going after them since they had recently beaten us at our place in extra innings," senior third baseman Matt Zonies said. "All the NJAC games are pretty important for us, so we tried to get out there and take from them at their field."
The Lions had a 2-0 lead in the first inning when sophomore shortstop Jeff Toth and senior first baseman Blake Bullis scored off a Profs error. An RBI by junior center fielder Dave Mebs tacked on another run for the Lions in the fifth inning.
The game was sent into extra innings when the Profs tied the game at three with three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Toth scored the game-winning run on an error in the top of the 10th inning. After getting on base with a single, Toth stole second and continued to third on an error. He went on to score after another error. Toth led the Lions at the plate after a 2-for-4 performance with two runs scored.
Senior pitcher Dave Waseleski earned his fourth win of the season, pitching 2-1/3 innings and allowing one run in relief.
"It was a close game just like we thought it would be going into their place," Zonies said. "The win was also good for us because we picked up some momentum going into the doubleheader on Saturday."
Stifled by Montclair's junior pitcher Jario Mendez, the Lions were only able to produce one run in the opening game, falling by a score of 3-1.
Junior pitcher Bob Buskett suffered the first loss of his career on the mound for the Lions. After 7-2/3 innings of work and only one earned run, Buskett now has a career record of 12-1.
Mendez threw 125 pitches in his complete-game effort. He allowed only six hits and struck out five Lions, earning his first win of the season.
An error-filled second inning by the Lions allowed the Red Hawks to pick up two runs. Two fielding errors and a hit batter loaded the bases when freshman infielder Andrew Himmelfarb capitalized for Montclair with a two-run single down the middle.
Toth put the Lions on the board in the fourth inning, scoring off a groundout, but Mendez did not allow another run.
The second game saw the Lions' bats heat up as they drove in six runs in the first three innings en route to a 6-1 victory.
Bullis drove in two runs in the first inning with a single up the middle. Junior catcher Bill Kropp and Toth each contributed their own RBI singles in the second inning to give the Lions a 4-0 lead. Kropp and Toth each finished with three hits.
In the third inning, senior second baseman Andrew Cosgrove drove in senior catcher Gerard Haran from second base, while senior right fielder Tyler Hall helped the final Lions run score with a sacrifice fly ball.
"In the first game we were having a little trouble with their pitcher," Zonies said. "The second game we pumped ourselves up and ended up scoring early. We jumped right out at them with a few early runs and they got a little bit down on themselves. After that we just held on to the lead."
Junior pitcher Mike Oliver picked up the win on the mound for the Lions and is 3-0 on the season. He struck out seven Red Hawks and walked two in the nightcap.
Monday's match against Rutgers University-Camden was canceled due to inclement weather.
The Lions continue on the road against Richard Stockton College tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. and Rutgers University-Camden on Friday at 3:30 p.m. in conference play.
(04/11/07 4:00pm)
Winning four of five games this week, the Lions improved their record to 16-7 on the season and 4-3 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).
After beginning the season ranked No. 4 in the American Baseball Coaches Association national poll, the Lions have fallen to No. 13, suffering a few more defeats than anticipated.
"It seems like the last two years we got all the breaks," senior catcher Gerard Haran said. "This year, we have not gotten some of those games that could have gone either way. It seems like our luck has not been as good."
For at least one game, that luck may have changed as Haran drove in the game-winning run over Arcadia University, 4-3, after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Senior infielder Matt Zonies began the bottom of the ninth with a single to left field. A bunt by junior center fielder Dave Mebs and an intentional walk loaded the bases for the Lions. With one out, Haran worked the count to 3-2 before getting hit by a pitch and allowing Mebs to score the game-ending run.
"They had a lot of guts there; with the count 3-2 and the bases loaded he threw a curveball," Haran said. "Sometimes when you gamble and roll the dice like that it does not work out for you. The truth is if he does not hit me, he has me locked up so I guess I got a little lucky."
The Lions relinquished a 3-1 lead in the top of the ninth inning. The Knights rallied with back-to-back RBIs, tying the game at three and sending the game to the bottom of the ninth inning.
Senior outfielder Jeff Botti went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. He also stole five bases for the Lions in the winning effort.
Junior pitcher Brad Kittle threw seven innings in the Lions' win, allowing only five hits and one run.
The Lions took both games in Saturday's NJAC doubleheader against New Jersey City University.
Junior pitcher Mike Oliver led the Lions to a 7-0 win over the Gothic Knights in the second game. Oliver improved to 2-0 after pitching a complete game shutout, allowing two hits and striking out 10. Gothic Knights runners could not reach past second base throughout the game.
The bats cooled off during the second game as the Lions earned seven hits. It took until the fourth inning for the Lions to get on the board with the help of two fielding errors.
Sophomore shortstop Jeff Toth paced the team by going 2-for-4 with one run and an RBI. Junior cather Bill Kropp went 1-for-3 and added two RBIs.
Taking game one by a score of 12-1, the Lions dominated offensively. With a total of 13 hits, eight Lions batters were able to earn at least one hit. The Lions also scored at least one run in all but two innings.
Bullis went 3-for-6 with three RBIs and one run while Toth added three hits and two runs of his own.
Junior pitcher Bob Buskett improved to 3-0 on the season. In eight innings of work he allowed one earned run and six hits, turning away seven without walking any batters.
On Friday, the College fell 6-4 to Rowan University in an extra-inning NJAC contest.
The Lions tied the game at four in the eighth inning after trailing by two. Zonies got the rally going again, reaching base on a single.
"I knew that I did not need anything more than a single," Zonies said. "He threw me a fastball inside. I just tried to put the bat on it and it squirted through there."
Mebs doubled, pushing both runners into scoring position. Zonies scored off an error and Mebs crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly.
The game continued into the 10th inning when the Profs scored two runs off three hits to pull ahead for good.
"I thought both teams played well. They got a little blooper that went over the second baseman's head," Zonies said. "The same thing could have happened either way, but they just happened to come out on top."
Haran hit a solo home run in the sixth inning, extending his team home run record to 41. He has six on the season.
On Thursday, the College put down Richard Stockton College 7-4 in another conference victory.
Senior pitcher Blake Ortiz took control of the game for the Lions, striking out 11 of 32 batters. Ortiz picked up the win, allowing three runs in eight innings of work.
The Lions offense came alive in the second inning, scoring three runs off four hits. Senior infielder Andrew Cosgrove, Haran, Bullis and Mebs all singled in the inning.
Duplicating their second inning performance, the Lions scored another three runs off four hits in the fourth, extending their lead to 6-1.
Botti went 4-for-4 with an RBI and two doubles to lead the Lions at the plate.
Lions baseball continues on Thursday in a home conference matchup against Rutgers University-Camden at 3:30 p.m.