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(04/27/10 5:02pm)
Keeping a tight grip on first place in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), the Lions split their doubleheader on Saturday April 24, against the Roadrunners of Ramapo College.
The No. 7-ranked National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll, the Lions squeaked out the win in game one 1-0, while the Roadrunners handily took the second contest by a final of 5-0.
“We were disappointed with our offense, but happy with our defense,” sophomore catcher Michelle Kent said. “We managed the Ramapo runners really well. They have a lot of speed.”
The split with Ramapo keeps the Lions in first with 24 points, while the Roadrunners sit in third with 20 points. Second place belongs to the Profs of Rowan University, who have 22 points.
“The NJAC is still one of the most competitive conferences, and anyone on any given day can win,” Kent said.
Game one was all about senior Ashley Minervini, as the College’s ace outdueled Ramapo counterpart Deanna Giordano to pick up her 12th win and sixth shutout of the season.
The Lions’ starter scattered seven hits while fanning seven. Giordano took the loss despite not allowing an earned run on six hits.
“She was completely dominant, and she worked the hitters well, especially with her screwball and keeping the ball down,” Kent said, who was behind the plate for Minervini’s gem of a performance. “She did really well.”
All the help Minervini would need was from an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Freshman second baseman Ashley Sogluizzo scored on an infield error after reaching base on a single.
“During any type of game like this, you’re tense, and you’re pushing for your offense to do well,” sophomore pitcher Lauren Fitzsimmons said. “Sometimes when facing a dominating pitcher, we
have to make adjustments in the box. Luckily, we made something happen and pulled out a win.”
However, the same cannot be said for game two. The lack of offense finally caught up to the team, as the Roadrunners broke out with five runs in one inning against Lions’ game two starter Lauren Fitzsimmons.
All of those runs came with two outs.
“When I had runners on second and third, I was pitching against Michelle’s (Kent’s) sister, Amanda, and on a full count, I didn’t get a call that we all thought was a strike,” Fitzsimmons said. “We all thought it was a questionable call, but it wasn’t the strike three pitch the ump was looking for. You got to bounce back, but I got taken out shortly thereafter.”
Fitzsimmons suffered her first loss of the season. Her worst inning, the fifth, did not go as she planned, as the sophomore walked home two runs with the bases loaded, followed by a bases-clearing triple.
The loss was her first after running off 14 straight wins to start the season.
“To be honest, the record doesn’t matter to me,” Fitzsimmons said. “Just because a win of mine is recorded as a win doesn’t mean I feel I pitched that way. My record doesn’t mean anything. We win as a team, and in this case, we lost as a team.”
Only getting one run in two games may be a cause for concern to some teams, but to Michelle Kent, who had one hit in the double-dip, it’s all about becoming better against this type of adversity.
“Honestly, we didn’t make adjustments to win, but in the future, we just know what we need to do,” Kent said. “We should be fine, we need to just make the adjustments.”
With just one more doubleheader, Saturday at Lions’ Park at 1 p.m. against the New Jersey City University Gothic Knights, the 26-6 Lions need to get their best efforts in the weeks ahead.
With the conference tournament just days away and the Lions facing the best pitchers the NJAC has to offer, offense will most definitely be at a premium.
(04/20/10 10:45pm)
With the playoffs just weeks away, the Lions continued their torrid run through the regular season conference schedule by routing the Pioneers of William Paterson University on Saturday.
The team pulled off a 3-0 shutout in game one, while showing off the bats in a 7-1 romp the second half of the twin bill at Lions’ Park.
“There are two huge wins,” head coach Sally Miller said. “Coming off a few doubleheaders that were not the best offensive performances, we got back to basics and hit our stride in both games.”
The No. 9-ranked team in the nation, according to the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll, took it to William Paterson in the initial contest thanks to dominant pitching of senior Ashley Minervini. The ace of the Lions’ staff blanked the Pioneers on five hits. She didn’t walk a batter while fanning five to pick up her 10th win of the season.
“She’s been good all year,” Miller said. “Our pitching has been dominant up until now.”
Her stuff was there, so she didn’t need much support from the offense. Nevertheless, her offense continued its impressive overall output.
Sophomore left fielder Crystal Lee used her speed to knock an inside-the-park home run in the fifth inning.
Seniors Ellen Seavers and Dani Hagel both had RBIs for the Lions as well. Seavers singled in rookie second baseman Ashley Sogluizzo in the first, while Hagel plated freshman pinch runner Michelle Casale in the sixth.
More of the same occurred in the second game. The hit parade was led by sophomore catcher Michelle Kent, who went 2-4 with two RBI singles. Lee pitched in with a 3-5 day, including two runs and a RBI herself.
Like Minervini, pitcher Lauren Fitzsimmons didn’t need much help. The sophomore hurled a complete game for her New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) leading 13th win of the season. “Fitz” scattered four hits over the seven innings while striking out five.
“(Fitzsimmons has) been consistent and dominant all year,” Miller said. “She’s beenstrong, hitting her pitches when she needs to.”
Before the games, the team learned that they would be without their starting rightfielder Rebecca Florczyk for the rest of the season, as the sophomore suffered a stress fracture in her right shin.
“Basically, I’ve been playing with horrible shin pain in my right leg all season,” Florczyk said. “I went for treatment on a regular basis with the athletic trainer, but nothing was helping and in fact, the pain only got worse as the season went on. This injury is out of my hands and all I can do is focus on getting better for next season.”
With Florczyk focused on her return in the fall, the team is still looking towards the conference tournament and beyond. With their next doubleheader looming this Saturday against Ramapo College, the team will look to stay hot and keep their hold onto first place in the conference.
The team currently is tops in the NJAC with 18 points, sporting a 9-1 record. They are 23-5 overall. With a mark like that, one could think the team is a lock for the playoffs. But that is not how Coach Miller does things.
“In the NJAC, there is not a team you can look past, and the truth of matter is there is a lot of talent on a lot of teams,” Miller said. “We are having a great season, but I have not looked past our next upcoming game. We have to play with what’s gotten us here do what we do well, and things will take care of itself.”
Momentum is certainly key at this point in the season, and with the Lions playing extremely well all season long, they know this fact better than anyone else.
(04/06/10 6:22pm)
After getting off to a hot start in Florida, the Lions continued its strong play to begin the conference portion of their schedule, as the team swept the Red Hawks of Montclair State University in a doubleheader this past Friday.
The pitching was the anchoring factor for the No. 8-ranked Lions, as senior Ashley Minervini and sophomore Lauren Fitzsimmons each tossed a shutout in their respective outings at Lions’ Park.
Minervini got late help in game one from classmate Ellen Seavers, as the Lions’ shortstop singled in the bottom of the sixth, allowing rookie second baseman Ashley Sogluizzo to score the lone run of the contest.
“We came out really flat, and the entire game, Coach (Sally Miller) was yelling at us to pick it up,” sophomore right fielder Rebecca Florczyk said. “We knew we could get a run on the board, and finally Ellen got it for us. We were glad to get it, but it shouldn’t have had to come to that.”
With that lone run of support, Minervini executed her team-leading eighth complete game of the season, blanking the Red Hawks with four strikeouts. She allowed six hits over the seven innings.
Seavers went 2-2, including the game-winning single as well as a double in game one.
“It was very stressful actually since we didn’t get a run until the sixth,” Minervini said. “While we were playing a bit flat, I had nothing but faith that my team would do anything and everything they could to get a run on the board. I just had to focus on my job of providing the best defense I could on the mound.”
More of the same came in the latter contest. Fitzsimmons continued her dominant season, as she did not allow a Montclair State runner to reach third base while only giving up two hits in the process.
Her team shut out the Red Hawks once again, this time by a final of 5-0. The junior is now 8-0 on the season.
“She has been taking control of games, and the thing about her is that she adjusts really well against whatever team we’re up against.”
Florczyk said. “She’s really consistent. She hit her spots today.”
The girl known as “Fitz” to her teammates did get more than enough help on offense. Florczyk took advantage of a Montclair State error, scoring a run in the top of the third. The team never looked back.
Florczyk, who has been hot recently, cracked a base it in the following inning to score another run for the College. She had a pair of hits on the day.
“It was frustrating because I went 0-for-2 the first game, and at the beginning of the second I knew I needed to get one (hit),” Florczyk said. “I just had it in my head to get on base any way possible and to score. We all needed that sense of urgency.”
It seemed to work. Three runs later, the College had themselves a doubleheader sweep of their New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rival.
“It feels great to start out conference play with two wins over a competitive team like Montclair,” Minervini said.
After the two victories, the Lions are riding high at 15-3, with the undefeated 2-0 start in the NJAC.
“We as a team know how important it is because now having the No. 8 ranking, we have a target on our back,” Minervini said. “Teams are now out to get us so it’s important to maintain composure and continue making strides in improving our game.”
Looking to do just that and build on this impressive start, the team will travel to Haverford College Thursday to take on the Fords. The double dip
(03/23/10 4:34pm)
Coming off a very successful 7-1 road trip in Orlando just a week ago, the Lions split a hard fought doubleheader on Saturday in Bethlehem, Pa. against the Greyhounds of Moravian College.
Both games ended in a 1-0 score, with the Greyhounds squeaking by in the first contest, while the Lions edged out their opponents in the second.
“We played very well and it’s great to be performing so well this early on against such a solid and talented team,” senior pitcher Ashley Minervini said.
In game one, the lone run was scored in the bottom of the seventh and final inning, as freshman infielder Amanda Dizinno cracked a home run to seal it for the home team.
“The pitch was working on them all game and I didn’t think twice about throwing it,” Minervini said. “After, I just tried not getting too upset.”
Up to that point, it was indeed all about the pitching, as Minervini of the Lions dueled with sophomore Jenna Carmon pitch-for-pitch. Minervini allowed just one run on four hits in her fifth complete game of the season, while Carmon only gave up two hits.
“They both were pretty effective since both teams were scoreless until the seventh inning,” sophomore outfielder Rebecca Florczyk said, who has a pair of hits in game one. “Ashley did a great job, but unfortunately one of their girls got a hold of a great pitch and it cost us the game. It happens.”
More of the same occurred in the second game. Sophomore pitcher Lauren Fitzsimmons improved her perfect 4-0 record on the year by allowing just four hits and fanning five.
This time, however, the Lions pulled out the win on a botched fielding play by the Greyhounds in the fourth. This allowed rookie infielder Ashley Sogluizzo, who had singled earlier in the inning, to score the lone run.
“Well, even though we weren’t really hitting the ball to gain any runs, I was willing to take whatever we could get,” Florczyk said. “Sometimes that means taking advantage of the other team’s errors.”
With the split in the double dip, the Lions are now 8-2 overall, while Moravian College sits at 7-5. Such a hot start is exactly how the team envisioned things.
“Having left Florida 7-1 this year, we’re expecting a lot more out of ourselves because we proved to other teams early on that we are certainly good enough to compete against them and win against them,” Florczyk said.
Looking to continue the hot streak, the Lions will have their first home contests of the season when they host a doubleheader on Thursday at 3 p.m. against the Falcons of Messiah College.
(03/17/10 7:12pm)
This is a joke.
The heir to the NBA throne, LeBron James recently filed to change his jersey number from 23 to 6 for the 2010-11 season. He did so because he feels the NBA should retire the number of arguably the greatest player to ever step on a basketball court, Michael Jordan, league-wide.
This has to be a joke.
There is also speculation that James may be changing his number in an effort to catch up to the jersey sales of his biggest rival, one Kobe Bryant. Since Bryant changed his digits from 8 to 24, he has had the top-selling jersey for the past two seasons. Since “King James” most certainly has an ego, regardless of how mild-mannered and unselfish he may seem to be, he had to know from “Black Mamba’s” example that this was the way to get what he wants and take the top spot.
Please tell me this is a joke.
Even if you give LeBron the benefit of the doubt, and you think his tribute to Jordan is real, this is still a major problem. Yes, Jordan did many things never seen before in the NBA. He was the first to have his own basketball sneaker. He developed his name into a brand name, now one of the hottest sportswear companies on the planet. He also helped usher in the slam dunk, not to mention he has six championship rings.
Put all those things together, and it still doesn’t even come close to the accomplishments made by one Jackie Robinson.
Yes, this is most certainly a joke.
Robinson, who had his jersey number 42 retired throughout Major League Baseball in 1997, achieved something of a magnitude that probably will never be achieved again. The Brooklyn Dodger great broke down barriers for an entire race, and integrated African-Americans into America’s pastime during a time in which these people were ridiculed, harassed, and threatened with death.
This type of danger would easily scare anyone away, but not Robinson. He took on the challenge, and even he may not have truly realized at the time how enormous of an impact he made not only on the sport of baseball, but also society as a whole. Had it not been for Robinson, who knows if African-Americans would be accepted on a baseball field and in a community, if at all.
The number 42 is no longer just a number. Anytime you see that number on a jersey, even in sports other than baseball, you know what it truly means. It means freedom, it means equality, it means strength, and it means perseverance.
What does the number 23 mean? Most people think of Jordan when that number is present, but it means little more than that of arguably the greatest basketball player of all-time. Furthermore, should a number like this be retired, it should be retired by the team for which he played for. If the Bulls want to immortalize Jordan in Chicago in that manner, then so be it. However, Jordan does not mean the same to everyone everywhere. Quite frankly, I’m a Wilt Chamberlin guy myself. Conversely, Jackie Robinson means much more to everyone, even if the stance is against Robinson’s social accomplishments. It’s as simple as that.
I understand LeBron’s alleged sentiment, and it is certainly appreciated by many true basketball fans. But, it’s merely a good intention combined with a careful stroke of ego. Whether he wants to honor Jordan and whether he wants the best-selling jersey in the NBA is irrelevant. If Michael Jordan’s jersey number gets hung in the rafters in every NBA arena, it will devalue the retirement of number 42, and it will tarnish the advancements in equality Robinson worked so hard to achieve.
In retiring Robinson’s number, we’re talking about true greatness, and not just greatness on the court or the field. To retire MJ’s number across the NBA, at the behest of LeBron James, would simply be one thing: a joke.
(02/02/10 5:41pm)
Just days after losing their senior captain Karen Lassoni, the College trekked on, picking up a win on the road over New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rival Ramapo College 68-58 on Saturday.
“It’s nothing different than what we’ve preached to them all year, and that’s ‘get better every day you step on the court,’” Head Coach Dawn Henderson said.
The Roadrunners took an early 6-5 lead, but a field goal from beyond the arc by sophomore guard/forward Hannah Tait gave the Lions the lead, and they never looked back.
Tait had a huge game for the Lions, netting 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Fellow sophomore Jessica Imhof also stepped up big, adding a career-high 17 points of her own, including making three-of-four from downtown.
Leading by as many as 21 points in the contest and by as many as 16 in the second half, the Lions sealed their first conference win on the road this season.
“This was a really big game,” Henderson said. “We’re fighting for playoff spot and we were highly-motivated. Jess hit a lot of baskets and Hannah has been steady for us all year.”
Conversely, things were not as easy within the confines of Packer Hall. The team was soundly defeated by NJAC rival Richard Stockton College 71-64 last Wednesday.
The initial defense of the Lions looked promising at first, not allowing an Osprey bucket until 15:25 left in the first half.
However, the quick and physical Richard Stockton offense ran off a 13-point lead on 60 percent shooting in the opening period. They never gave up that lead.
“We’re not scoring a lot on offense so we rely a lot on defense, and we just didn’t play well on defense,” Henderson said. “We didn’t come out with mindset that we needed to what we needed to do. We dug ourselves in too deep of a hole.”
In the second half, the Lions cut the Osprey lead to four, but due to clutch free throw shooting,
“I always want my team to battle, and I’m proud of them for doing that (in the second half), but a moral victory is not what you’re looking for at this point in the season,” Henderson said. “We really need to spread it out over two halves.”
In the loss, junior guard Stephanie Prall notched a career-high 14 points while Tait added 14 points of her own. Junior forward Kelsey Kutch scored 12 points and pulled down four boards, while Imhof rounded out the Lions in double figures with 10 points.
Despite the defeat, the Lions are still above the .500 mark in the NJAC South Division at 5-4, and 12-9 overall.
“Obviously, I’d feel better with Karen, but I’m very pleased with how we’ve played,” Henderson said. Unfortunately, we go on the road for the next four games, but if we can go 3-1, then I’ll be happy.”
Down the aforementioned stretch when every game matters, the College looks to secure their spot in the postseason with a win tonight at Rowan University at 6 p.m.
(01/19/10 3:21pm)
With two wins over Rutgers University, one Newark and another Camden, and a victory over Centenary College, the Lions are trying to grab every possible conference win in this crucial stretch of the season.
It was a tale of two games against the two Rutgers Universities, as the Lions edged out the Scarlet Raiders of Newark in a thrilling overtime battle of 61-59.
The win was, in big part, thanks to sophomore guard/forward Hannah Tait, who tallied a career-high 25 points to lead the Lions to victory. The Staten Island native also scored five of her team’s six points in overtime.
Down the stretch, the win came courtesy of great defensive play late. The Lions, the top-ranked defensive team in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), allowed just three points in the extra session.
Despite the strong play at the end, it was a test of mettle through the second half. The College had led by as much as 10 in the period, but Rutgers University-Newark went on a run to cut the deficit to just two.
The sharpshooting from long distance by the Raiders knotted the game up at 56 with 1:08 remaining in regulation, and that was the way things went into overtime. Both teams combined on 19 makes from beyond the arc.
Senior guard and captain Karen Lassoni had a strong game in the win, recording a season-high nine points while posting three assists. Fellow captain and junior guard Keri Washington also had a strong performance, scoring 11 points while pulling down seven boards in front of the home crowd at Packer Hall.
Shockingly, this was only the second win for the Lions at home this season. The first came just three days earlier as the team pounded Rutgers-Camden 71-38.
The game was not close whatsoever. After opening up the contest 22-6, the College went from there and led at halftime. Once again, Tait led the way, netting 16 points for the home team.
The defense was also the focal point for the Lions, as they held the Scarlet Raptors under 25 percent shooting for the game and forced 20 turnovers. In eight of the team’s nine wins this season, they have held their opponent under 50 points.
Last Monday, Jan. 18, the College hosted the top-scoring team in Division III. The Centenary College Cyclones scored well below its average in the Lions’ 78-67 victory.
Junior forward Kelsey Kutch scored a career-high 26 points as the Lions won its fourth-straight game. Washington registered the double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Tait also added 18 points.
The dominant Lions’ defense once again stifled its opponent, as the Cyclones only shot 31 percent from the floor as a team.
After the fourth straight win, the Lions now stand at 10-7 overall and 3-2 in the NJAC. Strong play through January and February will be necessary if they look to make a run at the postseason.
The Lions play against only NJAC rivals for the remainder of the season, so every game is crucial. The College will host Montclair State University on Saturday Jan. 23 at 1 p.m. The Alumnae game will also be played that day, at 9:30 a.m.
(12/01/09 3:50pm)
After pulling off an impressive string of victories, including defeating undefeated No. 2-ranked Williams College, the Lions are headed to the national semifinals of the NCAA Division III Tournament.
For the veterans, it’s another chance at a National Championship.
“It feels great to be going to San Antonio for the Final Four,” junior forward Briann McDonough said. “This is something we have been working for and wanting all season.”
And for the first-year players, it’s early success that can be beneficial to such a young career.
“I’m so excited to be playing at this level with a team filled with such talented athletes, especially as a freshman it makes it that more memorable,” freshman forward Allyson Anderson said.
Nevertheless, the Lions had their chance to advance to the semifinals by first upsetting the 19-1 Ephs of Williams College on their home field in Williamstown, Mass. by a final score of 1-0.
The win meant a little extra, as the Lions were knocked out of the tournament by the Ephs just one year ago in the round of 16.
“I absolutely think that it was appropriate for us to knock them out in the same round just as they did last year,” Anderson said. “This was our chance to regain what the team lost last year and it was a perfect way to regain respect.”
Anderson put the only goal in net in this very defensive matchup. Her unassisted score at 64:56 was her eighth of the year, including her third game-winner.
Anderson has been the offensive spark plug for her team, as she has tallied one point in each of the Lions’ first four tournament games. She has two goals and two assists thus far.
“My goal, along with the effort from every player on that field goes to show you that we fight for everything until the job gets done,” Anderson said.
The defense provided a necessary spark of its own, as senior goalkeeper Jessica Clarke notched a season high nine saves to keep the high-powered Ephs offense silent for 90 minutes.
“Williams is a great program and we are happy with how we performed to advance,” Clarke said. “Our defense has been stepping up tremendously.”
The team made their biggest collective impact the following day. The Lions advanced to the Final Four for the fifth time in seven years after edging out Ithaca College 1-0 in the quarterfinals.
The lone goal of this contest was off the foot of McDonough, who added yet another heroic play to her resume.
The junior avoided the oncoming Ithaca junior goalie Jessica Platt and placed the ball into the net on a well-timed pass from Anderson.
The goal at 19:13 was McDonough’s eighth of the year, and her team-leading fifth game-winner.
“I don’t really see myself as the hero,” McDonough said, who played on the semifinals teams in 2006 and 2007. “All my goals come from all my teammates working hard and me being lucky enough to get it past the keeper.”
The defense did their part as well, and they did exactly in this game what they’ve done for the past 702 minutes and 33 seconds — not allow a goal.
Much of that is due to the stellar play of Clarke, who, with the win, recorded her 16th shutout of the season. She had five saves in this contest.
Including their tournament games, the Lions have put up eight shutouts in a row.
“I am happy with the streak, but that does not compare to my excitement about the Final Four,” Clarke said.
After advancing to this point by virtue of their win over the College’s New Jersey Athletic Conference rival Rowan University 2-1, the No. 15-ranked Bombers end their season at 16-5-1.
This win is certainly the Lions’ biggest of the year, but their next game may be against their toughest opponent to date. The College will go head-to-head with the top-ranked Falcons of Messiah College, who are 23-0-1 on the season. These two powerhouses will play at Blossom Soccer Stadium in San Antonio, TX on Friday, Dec. 4 at a time to be announced.
The two teams are no strangers to each other. The Lions defeated the Falcons in semifinals in 2006, with the Falcons gaining revenge the following year in the exact same round.
“A bunch of us remember losing to Messiah in the semifinals and it is in the back of our mind,” McDonough said. “But overall, we are all just excited to be playing in the semifinals and hope to advance to the finals.”
After advancing to the finals in two of the past seven years, the 20-2-1 Lions know that this is a spot that they cannot take for granted.
“Our goal of achieving a national championship still has not been achieved,” Clarke said. “Although we have been there numerous times it is still not enough and keeps us hungry and motivated.”
They have taken down giants before, so if the Lions can upset the best Division III team in the nation, just one more win would secure the program’s first national championship in nine years.
(11/17/09 8:56pm)
With two convincing wins in the first two rounds of the NCAA Division III Tournament, the Lions are continuing to ride high on their quest for a national championship.
“We are very excited to be at the spot we are at now,” senior goalkeeper Jessica Clarke said. “We have worked extremely hard all year to get to here.”
The team handily took down host Amherst College by a final of 4-0 in their second round matchup.
In a very quiet first half, the Lions scored the lone goal thanks to freshman forward Kate Landrigan’s goal with 9:33 left in the half.
The second half was a completely different story. The Lions stormed out of the gate with a goal just 2:33 into the half. This score was off the foot of senior defender Jillian Casey, as she knocked in her ninth of the year and second in the tournament off a nice pass from junior forward Briann McDonough.
Freshmen forward Allyson Anderson and defender Brittany McGinley iced it for the victors within 10 minutes of each other. McGinley got her second goal in as many days thanks to a dime from Alexa Rozzi, while Anderson got her goal on a pass from Eva Gimello.
Despite having the distinct shots-on-goal advantage in the majority of their games this season, the Lions were matched by the Jeffs in this contest. Both teams recorded 17 shots apiece.
“Each game has been a battle,” Clarke said.
The defense cannot be overlooked either. Thanks to a season-high nine saves, Clarke recorded her 14th shutout of the season. That is a career high for the senior.
The four-year starter says the two games in two days may have had something to do with her busy day.
“Anytime a team plays back to back games in a weekend, it becomes an issue of grinding it out,” Clarke said. “It may not always be pretty but our team exhibited a great deal of determination and fight throughout the game.”
By virtue of their win, the College will now go head-to-head with unbeaten Williams College, who stands at 19-0 on the year. The College is now 18-2-1 after their second round victory.
There is also the chance of the Lions meeting a New Jersey Athletic conference rival in the next round of Sectionals. If the Lions can hand Williams its first loss, and Rowan wins its game against Ithaca, thes two rivals would meet with a berth in the semifinals at stake.
The time and venue of the contest between the Lions and the Ephs has yet to be determined.
“Williams is a good program, one that
we lost to last year,” Clarke said. “Our entire team is looking forward to the opportunity to play them again on their field.”
The College’s first match in the tournament was the opposite win over their first-round opponent Plattsburgh State.
The theme of the game was scoring early and often, and two first-half goals was all the team needed to keep the momentum going and win 2-0.
Casey got her tournament play off to a good start, scoring unassisted just 4:12 into the game.
Not long thereafter, sophomore defender Brittany McGinley hooked in a beautiful one-timer on a pass from Anderson to add the insurance for the College.
The scores were just two of the 25 shots the College took on the day. Plattsburgh managed just three.
“We definitely came to play and our offense did an excellent job of putting away our chances,” sophomore forward Maria Grady said.
With outscoring their opponents 6-0 in their two tournament games thus far, the Lions are confident in their chances. As many of the players have spoken of their hard work, it remains to be seen if that hard work does indeed pay off.
“I believe regardless of whom we are playing and their record, if we play like we are capable it will be a good weekend of soccer,” Clarke said.
(11/10/09 6:07pm)
All athletes dream of winning the game in the final seconds.After a thrilling defensive battle, sophomore forward Maria Grady did just that to win the Lions’ fourth New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) title in five years, as they edged the Ospreys of Richard Stockton College 7-6 in penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie through regulation and two overtime periods.
“We are very excited to have won the NJAC again,” senior goalkeeper Jessica Clarke said. “We came up short last year and we made sure not to forget that. Our coaching staff has guided us in the right direction to get back to the championship.”
Even those who had yet to taste NJAC championship glory know what it means to a program like the College.
“This is my first time winning the NJAC tournament and it is such an amazing feeling,” Grady said. It’s what we as a team have worked for this season. We worked hard and didn’t give up. That is what this program is about.”
After the second overtime period concluded at chilly Lion’s Stadium Friday night, the game shifted to the penalty kick format. In each of their six attempts, both teams converted, keeping things at a dead heat.
It would be the seventh round that decided the championship, as senior goalkeeper Jess Clarke stopped Stockton’s rookie midfielder Dailey Todd to give the Lions a chance to ice it.
Grady would end up the hero, as she executed her penalty kick to clinch the victory and the conference title. The celebration ensued.
“Our (penalty kick) shooters, and Maria, did a great job during the shootout,” Clarke said. “We would have liked to have won the game in regulation, but we were just unfortunate to not have put one in the net (in regulation).”
Grady feels as if she was just in the right place at the right time.
“I don’t feel as if I was the one who ended the game in any way. I was just the next one who happened to shoot,” Grady said. “It could have been anyone. I was not too nervous, more excited because Jess saved the previous and all I had to do was pass the ball into the net.”
By virtue of their win, the Lions earn an NJAC automatic bid to the 2009 NCAA Division III Tournament. On the flipside, the Ospreys will hope their 14-6-2 overall record will land them an at-large bid into the tournament.
But this automatic bid did not come easy. Despite a few scoring opportunities near the end of regulation, freshman Osprey goalkeeper Maria Dorris made a pair of incredible acrobatic saves to keep the game knotted up at zero.
The rookie goalkeeper had quite the busy evening, making 12 saves to record her sixth shutout of the season. She showed much fortitude in going up against the vaunted Lions’ offense and keeping things even with Clarke, who had to save just two shots for her 12th shutout of the season.
Dorris “did well clearly if we had that many shots and could not finish,” Grady said. “She was very athletic, and there were many shots we had that I was shocked didn’t make it past her.”
The Lions had a distinct shots-on-goal advantage (36-3) as well, but were unable to convert any of those shots. They also had all of the nine shots in the two extra sessions.
“To have dominated a game like that and to not come out on top would have been devastating,” Grady said.
Despite their dominance on offense without scoring a goal, the Lions managed to pull out the victory, and advance one step closer to their ultimate goal.
After the thrilling win, the Lions improved their record to 16-2-1 on the year, and will wait for the tournaments brackets to be announced.
“We feel that if we play to the best of abilities, our chances in the tournament are very good,” Clarke said. “We are all looking forward to it.”
If the Lions keep things up on defense and convert on their enormous shot totals, there is no limit to how far they can go. As Coach Russo has preached, execution is the key.
(11/04/09 1:53am)
With the last game of the season on the horizon, the women’s soccer team did what they’ve done all season — win at home.
The No. 2 seed in the upcoming conference tournament made it known they are ready to make a run after ending the regular season with a dominant 7-0 home win over Rutgers University-Newark.
“We feel like this was a good game to get in before postseason started,” senior goalkeeper Jessica Clarke said. “We made sure just to focus on the game of that day, and we wanted to close out the regular season before looking into post season play.”
The College has clinched a first round bye thanks to its second place finish in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), and will host William Paterson University at home in the first playoff matchup.
“We’re just trying to get everyone on the same page, we’re just playing good soccer and it is what it is,” head coach Joe Russo said. “It’s nothing out of the ordinary, and we didn’t do anything different in this game than any other.”
In the senior night contest against their NJAC rival Scarlet Raiders, it was all about the four-year players.
Senior defender Jillian Casey capped off her stellar year with two goals in the first half to get the Lions rolling early. These two scores were her sixth and seventh of the season.
Junior midfielder Casey Caruso scored twice as well for the vaunted Lions offense, including a score just 1:36 into the game off the foot of Briann McDonough. She ends her impressive season with a team-high 10 goals.
“Those goals were important because we got them early, and they changed the game,” Russo said. “To score early means you can play more relaxed and with more confidence, and we did that.”
Goalkeeper Clarke capped off her memorable senior season with a combined shutout with sophomore Samantha Iamurri. Each goalkeeper played a half to achieve the Lions’ 13th shutout of the year.
Clarke is amazed with the fact that this huge victory was her last regular season win of her career.
“I just can’t believe how quickly my time here has gone, and I am very thankful for having the chance to play at such a great program,” Clarke said. “My experience here has been nothing short of enjoyable and memorable thanks to all the girls and coaches I have played with and for.”
The defense continued in the second half, but the offense did so as well. The explosive Lions offense hit the back of the net four more times in the final stanza, including a remarkable goal by forward Brenna Rubino.
The rookie beat Rutgers-Newark sophomore goalie Kat Renteria one-on-one on a pass from sophomore defender Brittany McGinley to secure her third winner of the season.
“It was a great ball in by Brittany, and she cleaned it up really well,” Russo said. “She played behind back line, and Brenna did a great job running in time and finishing.”
Goals by juniors Brianna Brennan and forward Julianne Delorenzo would ice it for the College, who tied its greatest margin of victory this season.
“We just came out with a lot of intensity, and we only had a couple night games on our schedule this year, we always get excited to play under the lights,” Clarke said. “Our team did a great job all around because we came out aggressive in all positions. Games like that are great because everyone gets the chance to create a scoring opportunity.”
The College ends its dominant regular season at 15-2 overall, including a 7-2 record in-conference. They were undefeated at home (6-0).
Despite all the accolades, accomplishments, and records, Russo knows there is still more work to be done.
“We really haven’t accomplished anything yet as far as I’m concerned,” Russo said. “We have an important game to win, and that’s what is getting our complete attention. Yes, we got the first-round bye and second place finish in the conference, but our focus is now on the task at hand.”
(10/27/09 4:30pm)
After blanking visiting Ramapo College 4-0 on Saturday, senior goalkeeper Jessica Clarke set the school record for most all-time shutouts by a goalkeeper with 42. She has 10 this season alone.
Clarke passed Victoria Nusse, who played between the pipes for the Lions from 1998-2001.
“She’s been a consistent, steady performer since she first arrived here, and she’s just continued to get better and be a leader,” head coach Joe Russo said. “The record is well-deserved. She’s been the main constant of the defense, and that’s a direct result of her work ethic.”
Clarke, humbled by the record-breaking event, tried to explain that it was more than just her play in net that led to her claiming the record.
“The record is a tribute to all of the girls who have played and our team dedication to defense,” Clarke said. “I am happy it has occurred but am ready to move forward to complete the regular season. Our team is looking forward to finishing up the NJAC (New Jersey Athletic Conference) and get into the postseason.”
The defense that Clarke is so quick to credit did make things much easier on her against the Roadrunners, keeping the ball in front for much of the game and allowing her to have just one save.
“As always, we’ve been defending better and better as a team,” Russo said. We make a concerted effort to defend, and when that happens, the goalkeeper benefits directly from it. It’s a point of emphasis for us.”
Even more importantly is that with the win, the Lions clinch a first-round bye in the upcoming NJAC Tournament, and with that bye, they will host their first playoff game.
The team is currently second in the NJAC standings, with a 6-2 record in-conference for 18 points. They are 14-2 overall.
“We are happy to have the chance to host the second round of the tournament,” Clarke said. “We would like to play at home for as long as possible.”
The bye is certainly, in part, thanks to the first half offense in the win against the Roadrunners. Just 10:30 into the contest, defender Jillian Casey tapped in her fifth score of the season. The senior connected on the goal on a pass from freshman midfielder Toni DeMaio.
Two more scores were recorded in the first half, as sophomore forward Jaclyn Greco and classmate defender Annie McCarthy each notched a goal to put the Lions up three at the break.
“Our first half was very good,” Russo said. “We created a lot of chances in the first 45 minutes, and we scored good goals. They were all opportunistic goals and they were well-deserved. It helped us settle in and play more of a relaxed type of a game.”
The final score came off the foot of junior midfielder Casey Caruso just under two minutes into the second half, as her eighth goal of the year was on a pass from DeMaio. It was her second assist of the day.
“(Caruso’s) done very well,” Russo said. She’s our most consistent finisher, and it’s hard to find kids like that. She understands and reads game well, and that goal was gift-wrapped from Toni, and she put it in nicely. ”
With the way his team played in this record-breaking contest, Russo believes this momentum can be brought into the final home game and beyond, but he isn’t looking farther than the next game.
“We’re focusing on Wednesday, because the tournament is the most competitive I’ve seen in my 20 years of being here,” Russo said. “We need to take care of business, and we wanted to go in with a few wins in succession to carry on the momentum.”
With another very impressive regular season in the books, the Lions look to take their probable second seed in the NJAC Tournament to bigger and better things.
“Our team’s ultimate goal is to first win the NJAC championship and then move forward into the NCAA tournament,” Clarke said. “Postseason is the most exciting part of the season, and we are all very excited moving forward. We understand that each game is crucial and we cannot look past the next game.”
After having their contest from Oct. 21st canceled due to inclement weather, the College will look to conclude its regular season on a high note at home tonight, as they play host to Rutgers University-Newark at 7:30 p.m.
(10/21/09 2:37am)
If I told you a former professional wrestler, coming from a business in which the fighting is scripted and predetermined, was the best pound-for-pound Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter in the world, you would probably think I was crazy.
Well, that statement is as real as it gets.
Brock Lesnar, the former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Superstar and Heavyweight Champion is now the very best in the world of MMA.
Lesnar has reigned as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Champion for the past 10-plus months, and shows no signs of slowing down. After falling to a much more experienced Frank Mir in his UFC debut, Lesnar has steamrolled the competition on his way to winning the UFC title.
So how has a professional wrestler become so legitimate almost overnight? There are many factors that make this man the absolute best.
Lesnar was, before his WWE stint and contrary to popular belief at that time, a “real” athlete. The 32-year-old South Dakota native was the 2000 NCAA Amateur Wrestling Champion, compiling a record of 106-5 in his four years of college.
His weight at 265 pounds is deceiving. The man is one of the heaviest fighters in the Heavyweight class in UFC, and he uses that to his fullest advantage. With overpowering strikes, Lesnar wears down his opponents to the point in which he can take them down to the mat, get in a mounted position, and pummel them to the point of a Technical Knock-Out (TKO).
He also has the confidence that borders on arrogance. After his rematch and victory against Mir for the UFC Heavyweight title at UFC 100 on Pay-Per-View, Lesnar got on the microphone, saying anything and everything on his mind. From talking about “getting on top of my wife” to drinking Coors Light because “Bud Light (a large UFC Sponsor) won’t pay me enough,” Lesnar just wants to be treated as the best.
He knows he’s good. Just ask him.
Lesnar’s WWE-like theatrics may not be what UFC President Dana White wants, but he certainly has nothing to be upset about. The recent rise in popularity of MMA and UFC and the debut of a world-renowned professional wrestler are not mutually exclusive.
With UFC now being covered by the likes of ESPN, Yahoo Sports, and other sports media outlets, it shows that giving a personality who has mainstream publicity along with credible athletic background has helped put UFC even further into the public eye.
The UFC needs Lesnar at the top as badly as Lesnar needs to be at the top. After a sudden and negative exit from the WWE in 2004, Lesnar tried his hand in the NFL. He made the practice squad of the Minnesota Vikings, but was cut just days later.
Having not played football since high school, the hopeful defensive tackle was one of the last cuts due to his mediocre play and his penchant for starting fights in scrimmages and preseason games.
With no other place to turn to fulfill his athletic potential, Lesnar’s UFC arrival has benefitted both parties. Lesnar is the best, and UFC is the major league of MMA. His dominance of the brand will only add more luster to his credibility not only as a fighter, but also as an athlete in general.
It also helps UFC’s cause as well, as the higher-ups must be pleased with the publicity and media attention a man with Lesnar’s name recognition brings.
Yes, Lesnar is arguably the best in the world. His strength is, so far, unmatched, and his cocky attitude keeps him fighting to stay on top. He will certainly be there for a long, long time.
Lesnar will try to continue to cement his already growing UFC legacy, as he defends his title against the undefeated 259 ½ lb. knockout specialist Shane Carwin. If I was a betting man, I would definitely put my money on the champ.
Lesnar would tell you to do the exact same thing.
(10/20/09 2:29pm)
Since losing its first and only game of the season to Rowan University just seven games ago, the No. 18-ranked Lions have not only gone undefeated — the defense has not allowed a single goal.
“We’ve been playing very well with creating chances on offense and becoming solidified on defense,” head coach Joe Russo said.
The College recorded its sixth shutout victory in as many games by edging New Jersey Athletic Conference rival Richard Stockton College 1-0 last Wednesday.
The story of the game was goalkeeper Jessica Clarke. The senior had three saves on the day to tally her ninth shutout of the season and the 41st of her career. This ties her with Victoria Nusse for most in the program’s history. Nusse set the mark back in 2001.
“I feel so honored to have achieved this,” Clarke said. “The record is definitely a tribute to all of the girls who have played defense during my four year here. It would not be possible without them.”
Both teams exuded a very stingy defensive game plan on the field, with very few scoring chances allowed for either team.
“It’s our overall commitment as a team defensively,” Russo said. “We’ve been buying into defending as a group, and it’s been working effectively. We’ve been very, very good at defending.”
“Our defense has taken that loss in stride,” Clarke added. “We have learned from it and made sure to build since.”
The Lions’ lone goal came from freshman midfielder Toni DeMaio, who hit a one-timer at the left side of the box on a beautifully-placed pass from sophomore defender Nikki Migliori. The goal, which was scored on a restart at 21:48, was DeMaio’s second on the season, and the assist was Migliori’s seventh.
“Toni’s just getting back from an ankle sprain, so she’s just getting her feet wet again,” Russo said. “It’s her second game winner for the year. She’s been playing very well since coming back.”
The goals were more plentiful for the Lions in a matchup against Eagles of the University of Mary Washington, as the home team downed their opponent 5-0 on Oct. 11.
The scoring happened early and often. Junior midfielder Casey Caruso scored on a pass from Migliori via a direct kick to put the Lions up one just 1:38 into the match.
Fellow junior Briann McDonough joined her classmate, tallying her first goal of the contest to put the hosts up 2-0 midway through the initial half. She then netted yet another on a nice assist from Caruso to increase the College lead to three.
“She’s been outstanding right from the get-go (of the season),” Russo said. She’s a remarkable athlete, and a good leader on and off the field. She’s a real pleasure to coach.”
Two more goals were tallied in the second half courtesty of sophomore defender Brittany McGinley and freshman forward Allyson Anderson, respectively, to ice the game at the final score of 5-0. McGinley’s goal was the first of the season for her, while Anderson tallied her fourth on the campaign.
“Overall, it was a great team effort,” Russo said.
The win kept the Lions undefeated at home, but they have been just as dominating on the road. Their most recent contest away from home was a convincing 4-0 win over the Ducks of Stevens Institute of Technology on Oct. 7.
The Lions completely controlled this game from start to finish, as they forced the Ducks to play back on defense for the majority of the game.
The scoreboard was lit up twice by freshman forward Katie Landrigan, who came off the bench to provide the spark for the Lions offense. Landrigan got into the game at the 26-minute mark and scored less than three minutes later. The goals were her third and fourth on the season.
“It’s a good freshmen class, and they’ve contributed since they’ve been here,” Russo said. “We have high expectations. They’re getting better as a group every day.”
The two remaining scores were off the feet of seniors Jillian Casey and Kristina Shemming in the second half of play. Casey notched her fourth on the year on a header from Migliori’s corner kick. Midfielder Shemming got her first of the season after recovering a loose ball in the box which she rocketed into the net.
Overall, the Lions outshot the Ducks 30-3.
With that dominating performance, the Lions now stand at 13-1 overall, including a 5-1 record in the NJAC.
Their attempt at a seventh win in a row in their match at William Paterson University was washed out on Saturday due to rain. It is scheduled for makeup Tuesday at 3:30 pm.
“We’re just concerned with the next game,” Russo said. “We don’t look ahead, and we have to take care of business and control how well we are going to compete in the next game.”
The College’s next contest is on the road today in a 4 p.m. match against Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
(10/06/09 2:56pm)
If a soccer team can combine a productive offense with a dependable defense, then wins will follow. For the women’s soccer team this week, the team’s offense gave it plenty of goals and the defense shutout the competition twice.
Playing the first home game in over a month, the Lions won in dominant fashion, obliterating New Jersey City University 7-0. The team also won its ninth and final road game in a row, compiling an 8-1 record in that road swing with a 3-1 record in-conference.
The win is the team’s sixth shutout victory in seven games.
“We’ve been playing well as a group, and we’ve put a lot of time and effort in,” head coach Joe Russo said. “And it shows.”
In their contest against the Gothic Knights, the team got things rolling midway through the first half, when rookie forward Allyson Anderson and junior midfielder Casey Caruso scored a pair of goals in a span of 3:08.
Near the end of the half, another pair of scores were recorded by freshman forward Joanna Pisani and senior defender Jillian Casey. Pisani scored first on an assist from Casey, and switching roles, Casey netted her goal on a pass from Pisani.
At halftime, the Lions had a commanding 4-0 edge.
“It’s difficult to score in this game, but we have kids with strong personalties who are capable of scoring,” Russo said. “The good thing is that we’re always creating a lot of chances. Hopefully these last few games have given us confidence to capitalize.”
As the second half began, the offensive onslaught continued. Caruso netted her second of the game before sophomore defender Nikki Migliori got in on the action with her goal on a direct kick.
The Lions ended the huge output on a goal from midfielder Chelsea Tompkins. It was the freshman’s first of her career, and capped off the seven-goal, 36-shot day for the College.
The defense was present in the contest as well, as the combination of senior Jess Clarke and sophomore Samantha Iamurri in net gave the Lions yet another shutout victory. The team did not allow one shot on goal.
But the Lions’ stingy defense was limited to their game against the Gothic Knights. In their contest against the Scarlet Raptors, the Lions produced another shutout by a final of 2-0.
“We got used to it (being on the road), and we were away a lot more than we would have liked,” Russo said. “These kids travel well and play well on the road, but we were excited to come back home.”
After a scoreless first half, the Lions took command in the second.
Junior forward Briann McDonough imposed her will on the contest, as she recorded the game’s first goal midway through the period, and then just 2:12 later, assisted a score off the foot of sophomore forward Jaclyn Greco. The goal is Greco’s first of her career.
“She (McDonough) is the heart and soul of all of this,” Russo said. “She’s a tireless worker, and a very determined kid. We go as she goes.”
Despite only scoring two goals, the Lions dominated the stat line, outshooting the Scarlet Raptors 41-2.
As dominant as that statistic is, Clarke recording another shutout is also quite impressive. With her 39th solo shutout of her career, she now ties herself with Danielle Mastrosimone, who played from 1992-95, for second on the College’s all-time shutout list.
“I feel very lucky to have been given the opportunity to compete here at (the College), and there have been so many talented goalkeepers who have been successful here in the past,” Clarke said. “I know I would not have reached this point without the guidance of our great coaching staff and, of course, the dedication of our team. Although I’m the one in goal, a shutout record is a complete team effort.”
After these two convincing conference wins, the Lions now stand at an impressive 10-1 overall, including 4-1 the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). With that type of dominant record, Russo likes his team’s prospects even more in the coming month.
“October, schedule wise, is a very favorable month for us,” Coach Russo said. “We’re looking forward to it.”
The team returns to action outside of the NJAC, as they will travel to Hoboken at 8 p.m. tonight, Oct. 7 to take on Stevens Institute of Technology.
(09/29/09 5:50pm)
After the first loss of the year, the Lions needed to come back with a big victory.
Casey Caruso was the player who provided that big victory.
The junior forward netted a goal 3:24 into second overtime as the No. 6-ranked Lions took a 1-0 game against the hosting Red Hawks of Montclair State University on Sunday to improve to 8-1.
Caruso’s goal, her fourth of the year, may have shifted the momentum back into the corner of the Lions, as they won their second game in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) in three attempts.
“After last season, I think the team, at least the returning players, knew that nothing would be handed to us,” Caruso said. “We work hard every day at practice and hope for the best.”
Much of this momentum can be credited to the defense and goalkeeper Jess Clarke. The senior tallied her sixth shutout of the season in nine chances with just one save on Sunday, showing just how overpowering the Lions’ defense can be when their opponents have the ball.
“All of the positions on our team have been doing a tremendous job defensively,” Clarke said.
Contrary to the solid defensive play on Sunday, much of that was not there in the Lions game against the Profs of Rowan University last Wednesday, especially in the second half.
In what may have been a potential NJAC championship preview, the No. 23-ranked Profs downed the Lions 4-0, thus ending a seven-game winning streak to start the season.
After allowing just one goal in the first 45 minutes, the Lions allowed three goals in the final half to ice their first loss of the season.
“They are a very tough team who fight until the end,” Caruso said. “We knew this going in to the game; it was a hard-fought battle.”
With the win, the Profs improved to 5-1-1 on the year, including 2-0 in the conference.
The lack of offense certainly did the team in as well, so some things may need to be altered in establishing a more fiery offensive game.
Despite the loss, the Lions now stand at an impressive 8-1 overall, and show no signs of stopping the early season dominance. It appears the team has just one thing on its mind.
“We want to get back to where we were as a team two years ago and get back to the final four,” Caruso said. “Last season just didn’t cut it for anyone.”
The College looks to continue its run with a win on the road against conference opponent Rutgers University-Camden tonight, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m.
The Lions then return home on Saturday to host NJAC rival New Jersey City University at 1 p.m.
(09/25/09 4:55am)
At the beginning of the season, the Lions sought to sit atop the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) once more. Seven games into this season the team is well on its way to achieving that goal and reclaiming the NJAC title.
After starting 5-0 this season, the Lions chalked up two more wins this week, including one against NJAC archrival Kean University.
Their hot start has landed the team at eighth in the current National Soccer Coaches Association of America Division III poll.
“It’s a good mix of younger kids and returning players,” head coach Joe Russo said. “We’re playing very, very well, and it’s a collective effort.”
However, coach Russo still believes in the “one game at a time” philosophy.
“There’s a lot of soccer to be played,” Russo said. “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
The College squeaked out the road victory against Kean in the final minutes of the game, as junior forward Briann McDonough tallied the lone score for both teams with 3:35 left in regulation. It was the co-captain’s fourth of the season, and her third game-winner.
“Bri’s goal was allowed by previous touches, and it was everything just coming together,” coach Russo said. “But she’s been outstanding. To assert herself and be such a factor from last year to this year, it’s remarkable.”
McDonough’s clutch play is not the only way the Lions have won their first seven games. The team has set the pace of each and every contest by completely outshooting their opponents. Against the Cougars, the Lions won the shots-on-goal battle 25-6, including 12-2 on corner kicks.
“We played very well in stretches of the game and grabbed hold of it, but then it would get away from us,” coach Russo said. “For awhile, it became a scramble.”
The shutout was senior goalkeeper Jess Clarke’s fifth of the season. She just needed four saves to hold down the fort in net for the College.
“All of the positions on our team have been doing a tremendous job defensively,” Clarke said. “We have made sure to stress the importance of defense, and when everyone on the team is defending well together as a unit, it becomes a problem for other teams to create any offense.”
The same trend occurred in their nationally-ranked game against No. 15-ranked and undefeated Swarthmore College. With a decided 26-2 advantage in shots on goal, the Lions tallied a goal in each half to secure yet another victory 2-0.
“Our style of play allows us be more of a threat especially when our backline gets involved offensively,” Clarke said. “We have been successful in coming out strong and creating great opportunities to score.”
The Garnet, 5-0 before this defeat, was unable to muster any offense in this one. Clarke made another pair of saves in goal, and the Lions earned their third shutout in a row.
“Any time we get a shutout, we’re excited.” Russo said. “It’s an all-together thing, and when we defend with a purpose, it makes Jess’ job easier.”
On offense, the Lions scored midway through the first half off the foot of midfielder Casey Caruso. The junior’s third score on the campaign was assisted by Briann McDonough.
The second and final score of the contest came when rookie forward Alexa Rozzi scored on a feed from sophomore defender Nikki Migliori.
“They (the younger players) are big part of this start,” Russo said. “We play a lot of young kids, and they’re good young players. They know what it takes to be successful, and they’re only going to get better and better.”
With youth and experience together, the Lions have pulled off a run that could very well lead them to another NJAC title, but coach Russo isn’t looking too far ahead.
“I’m not clairvoyant and I can’t predict what’s going to happen,” Russo said. “Our motto is just get better every day. Let’s work hard, support each other, concentrate on what the task at hand is, and let’s see where it takes us.”
After winning their first NJAC game, the Lions look to continue that in-conference success when it travels to Gettysburg, Penn. to take on the no. 22-ranked Profs of Rowan University at 5 p.m.
(09/15/09 4:09pm)
The women’s soccer team started the season seeking to avenge its first failure to claim the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) title in three years.
After two weeks of play, the College is well on their way to achieving this goal. The Lions are undefeated with five victories, and have won two tournament titles in two weeks.
The College defeated the host school, State University of New York at Oneonta, and Hartwick College on consecutive days to win the Oneonta Mayor’s Cup.
The match against the Red Dragons was nothing short of a dog fight. After nearly 80 minutes of scoreless action, Oneonta took a late 1-0 lead on freshman forward Kayla Brantmeyer’s goal.
However, the Lions did not falter, and the visitors evened up the score on the first career goal by freshman midfielder Toni DeMaio. The rookie out of Parsippany tied up the contest on a beautiful cross from sophomore defender Annie McCarthy with 5:01 remaining.
The 1-1 tie sent the game into overtime, but one extra period was not enough.
Both teams fought hard into another overtime. But it was the co-captain Briann McDonough, who would be the hero. The junior forward netted a goal just 3:41 into the second overtime to secure the victory for the Lions.
“It’s great to see everyone get an opportunity,” senior goalkeeper Jess Clarke said, “It shows how much depth we have this season.”
McDonough’s goal was her second of the season, but this wasn’t her only clutch moment in the tournament. McDonough scored the only goal the Lions would need as they handily took down the Hawks of Hartwick College 5-0.
With her goal coming in the 20th minute, McDonough was later named the Most Valuable Offensive Player of the tournament. McCarthy, DeMaio and freshman forward Katie Landrigan were also named to the all-tournament team.
The forward tacked on a pair of goals just two minutes apart to solidify the Lions four-goal output in the second half. Goals were also scored in that period by youthful classmates Brenna Rubino and Alexa Rozzi, adding insurance for the College victory.
“This year we have 17 new players to the team,” Clarke said. “It is crucial that the returning players exhibit the proper way to maintain the reputation as one of the most respected programs in the country.”
Clarke just needed one save to record her third shutout of the year.
The Lions have been extremely efficient on both sides of the field, scoring an impressive 22 goals while only allowing two on defense.
“If we continue to work hard we can have a very successful and exciting year,” Clarke said.
The undefeated Lions continue the streak of road matches tonight, Sept. 16, as they travel to Swarthmore College to battle the Garnet at 7:30 p.m. The College will then trave to Kean University for the team’s first NJAC game of the season.
(09/08/09 11:14pm)
The women’s soccer team began the season eyeing a return to the top. After their three wins this weekend, they’re a little closer to achieveing that goal.
“I believe we’re off to a good start,” senior goalkeeper Jessica Clarke said. “We still have to work out and practice to work stuff out. But right now, things look good.”
The Lions dominated the Dallas, PA-based round robin tournament. They pounded their opening round opponent, Lycoming College 8-1 before finishing off host Misericordia University in a 5-0 shutout.
In the contest against Lycoming, the College poured it on in the first half, scoring seven goals to nail down the win early.
Six different Lions tallied goals in the opening half, led by junior midfielder Casey Caruso, who recorded the first two goals for her team.
“It’s great to see everyone get an opportunity,” Clarke said, who split time in the net along with sophomore Samantha Iamurri. “It shows how much depth we have this season.”
Senior defender Jillian Casey and sophomore defender Nikki Migliori each tallied a goal. Freshmen forwards Katie Landrigan and Joanna Pisani, freshman midfielder Amy Van Dyk and freshman forward Allyson Anderson each netted a goal as well. For all three of these rookies, this was the first goal of their respective College careers.
“We have 17 new players this year, so it’s great to have these girls step up and see action and get results. I’m proud, but we’re still not satisfied,” said Clark.
The final match in the tournament was much more competitive in the first half, but with four second-half goals, the Lions blanked the hosts 5-0.
Just 1:25 into the game, Anderson scored her second goal of the tournament to give the Lions an early lead.
With a 1-0 lead going into the second half, the team clicked their offense back into overdrive. Casey scored yet again, and junior forward Briann McDonough got in on the fun with her first goal of the season just 10 minutes later.
Capping off the afternoon was Van Dyk and freshman forward Brenna Rubino, who each scored a goal to round off the five-goal effort.
“We definitely had more opportunities to score in the first, and we should have capitalized,” Clarke said. “We needed to accomplish more in the second (half), and we made sure we knocked the ball and took advantage.”
It only took Clarke two saves to complete her second shutout of the year and 33rd of her career. She is now third on the College’s all-time list.
Her first shutout of the year came when the Lions took their opener at home over the Violets of New York University 2-0.
Clarke only needed a pair of saves in this one as well to earn her first shutout.
“I’m just really grateful to have the team in front of me and a top-notch defense,” Clarke said. “It’s a team effort, and me only needing two saves shows how the ‘D’ is working.”
With the NYU game scoreless at halftime, the Lions needed some help on the offensive side of the ball. After netting a score 50 seconds into the second on a header, sophomore defender Annie McCarthy scored another to clinch the victory for her team.
The team’s next challenge will be in the Oneonta State Mayor’s Cup, as the Lions will play the hosting Red Dragons as well as Hartwick College. The first of those games will be on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
(09/01/09 4:31pm)
Another year, another NBA Finals has passed. As expected, Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers took on and defeated … the Orlando Magic?! That wasn’t in the script.
The Cleveland Cavaliers could not make the dream series happen after the Magic soundly defeated the Cavs 4-2 in their best-of-seven series. Many discussed which players (namely not LeBron James) cost the Cavs the series with their sub-par performances, and looking even further, how the team could appease “King James” with vast improvements in the offseason. He, of course, had one of the best statistical series in recent memory, averaging nearly a triple-double in the series, with 38.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 8 assists per game.
But this may be more than an issue of statistical superiority. This may delve deeper into how James handles himself as the leader of his teammates, and how he handles being a leader in general. It may not be the popular thing to point the finger at James, but it would not hurt to analyze his skills as a leader. Perhaps his great basketball abilities dont’t translate into being a good leader.
James’ biggest rival today is arguably Kobe Bryant. The similarities between them are much more resounding than at first glance. James is leading a team of role players and, despite the argument for Mo Williams, does not really have a viable sidekick, nor has he ever. This is Kobe Bryant circa 2004-05, when he began leading the Lakers as the top player on that squad. No matter how hard he tried, he could not get the Lakers over the hump by himself. Although James has had more success as the sole superstar on his team, he has suffered from the same issue. Their penchant for taking over a game is also something to debate and compare.
In the Eastern Conference Finals against the Magic, James had to score 35 or more points every single night just to keep his team in the game. The same goes for Bryant in the years before the Paul Gasol trade. James even had to knock down one of the most amazing shots in game two of the series to keep his team in the driver’s seat. Sounds like Kobe’s shot in overtime against the Phoenix Suns in game four of the first round of the 2006 playoffs, doesn’t it? Both the 2006 Lakers and this year’s Cavaliers were subsequently dominated and eliminated from their respective playoff series.
It took three years after the departure of Shaq for things to gel, but with the same core, the Lakers did just that, and now they’re a title favorite each year. This may be the only problem for the Cavs, despite the fact experts peg this team as one that cannot get James his title. That chatter sounds awfully like the talk Bryant heard during his post-Diesel days.
James completely carried his team in the 2007 playoffs, and he has never carried a team more than when he took the Cavs past Detroit and into the finals. He may just have achieved more than many would have expected in the early stage of his career, his fourth season, and due to this, the fans may be expecting too much from the supposed savior of Cleveland sports.
Will this ruin James? No. He still is the heir to the throne left by Michael Jordan as the NBA’s best. But, just like Jordan, he needs a sidekick, and he needs time to evolve. Jordan won his first title in his seventh season (James will be in his seventh next season). James will win titles, but he needs patience, and so do his fans. Not shaking hands after a Conference Finals loss is not how he should be remembered. Moreover, James should and will be regarded as one of the best of all-time. Just ask the man whose career his parallels: Kobe Bryant.