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(04/26/06 12:00pm)
With graduation approaching, my time as sports editor at The Signal, like the rest of my college career, has quickly come to an end. This past semester, my Sunday and Monday nights have been spent in the student center basement, doing my part to help produce a school paper that I hope provided some entertainment and enlightenment to the campus.
At first, The Signal was a job and something that I was supposed to do as a journalism major. But as I came to accept the fact that I would fall asleep in my 10 a.m. comparative politics class on Tuesday mornings, I began to enjoy my time spent here, knowing that my hard work and sleepless nights were worth it after seeing my glorious work on the back page of The Signal on Wednesday.
Through my time here, I have not only gained valuable experience and preparation for what I hope to be a successful career as a sports journalist, I have also learned the joys of working with some of the most interesting and dedicated people I have come to call my friends.
While I am proud to receive the SHLOG for "Most likely to abuse an assistant," I would like to thank my assistant, Lauren, for putting up with my sometimes crude and cranky behavior. I wish her luck and hope I have taught her well enough to follow in my footsteps. I must also thank my predecessor, Matt, for showing me the ropes and secrets of copying and pasting.
To the top editors - Kelly and Ashley, what would I have done without you catching all my mistakes? Well, I mean Kelly catching all my mistakes and Ashley reading track stories and thinking they were golf stories.
To my fellow editors, thank you for helping me with InDesign and layout problems. Thank you Tammy for your tireless work as copy editor and for providing me with some entertainment with your comments about how you don't understand sports lingo. To my neighboring editors, Allison and John Fialk, thanks for helping make the back right wall of The Signal office a little more lively. It was always fun to go back late Monday morning and find messages on my Facebook wall.
To Daniela, I will always be your F-O-X and your drunken dancing buddy. That also goes for Katelyn, Ashley, Donna, Paige and any other Signal girl who had the pleasure. To the rest of you I failed to mention, I hope you valued your time at The Signal as much as I did. I would like to wish all graduating seniors good luck as we venture into the not-so-promising journalism job market. Do not let the Nancy Graces of the world bring down the noble purpose we have learned journalists are meant to have. Carry on the tradition of excellence of both The Signal and our Hot College.
(04/05/06 4:00pm)
With three NCAA provisional times and nine Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) qualifying times, the men's and women's track and field teams held their own at the University of Maryland's Terrapin Invitational on Saturday.
"It was definitely a very solid showing," head coach Eric Mobley said. "We were running against some quality competition."
With several runners making their first appearance for the spring season, the meet served as good preparation for the team to compete as a full unit.
"It was like our first meet outdoors where we had the full team because a lot of people from nationals didn't run at the Monmouth season opener," Mobley said. "At this time of year those performances were good."
Senior Brittny Boyd paced the women's team with provisional qualifying time for the 2006 NCAA Championships in the 100-meter (12.29) and an ECAC qualifying time in the 200-meter (25.48). She also anchored the women's 4 x 100 relay team that took home a provisional NCAA time of 48.50.
Several freshmen performed at a high level. Freshman Martine McGrath picked up sixth in the 5000-meter in a time of 18:08 while fellow freshman Stephanie Herrick took a 14th place finish in the 1500-meter. Both qualified for the ECAC.
Sophomores Carolyn Gray, Erin Enderly and Jessica Bonelli also made qualifying runs. Bonelli was able to improve her personal record in the 200 by almost a full half-second and posted a time of 25.52. Junior Angela Tecco finished just ahead of Herrick in the 1500-meter to round out the women's qualifying times.
The men's team also benefited from underclassmen proving their worth. Freshman Rob McGowan placed eighth in the 400-meter with an impressive time of 49:35. Fellow freshmen Matt Warren and Greg Bull each won their respective heats for their races, with Warren competing in the 400 hurdles and Bull going the distance in the 5000-meter.
In the 1500-meter, senior Brian Donovan and sophomore Brian Kopnicki took home 7th and 14th places respectively, both ECAC qualifying times. Senior Karim Cockrell used his time of 11.06 in the 100-meter to earn a qualifying bid, while junior Colin Pierce jumped his way to the ECAC with a qualifying mark of 13.29 meters in the triple jump.
Track action will continue on Friday when the men's and women's teams will compete at the Sam Howell Invitational on Friday at Princeton University.
(03/01/06 5:00pm)
Silence blanketed the crowd like a midnight snowfall. The cheers that echoed in Packer Hall gymnasium moments before had quickly turned into gasps as freshman guard Chadd Barnes rattled in a three-pointer from 25 feet out to bring jubilation to his Rutgers team and disbelief to a suddenly deflated Lions squad.
The shock proved to be too numbing for the Lions as they fell in overtime and lost another game in the first round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament, which they should have won. Last year, it was Rowan University; this year, Rutgers University-Newark played the spoiler, handing the Lions a heartbreaking 46-38 loss on their home court.
Senior guard Jason Stallworth hit two clutch free throws in the waning minute of the game to put the Lions up three. After a traveling call committed by Barnes, the Lions would get the ball back with just 1.6 seconds left. The game was over. Fans were ready to leave. Coaches were thinking about their post-game speeches. But then the unthinkable happened.
With senior forward Scott Findlay seemingly wide open at mid-court, the Lions went with their touchdown play to inbound the ball. But when Findlay got muddled behind a Rutgers defender, the pass sailed over his head and landed out of bounds.
"They were just denying (Scott) so much that it was just a natural instinct to go the other way and throw it over the top," head coach John Castaldo said of the game-changing play. Even worse for the Lions, no one laid a hand on the ball. That meant no time ticked off the clock and the Scarlet Raiders regained possession at their end of the court, setting up Barnes' unbelievable shot.
"I can't let a walk take down my game," Barnes said of his shot that erased any memory of the traveling call he committed. "As a freshman, I wasn't ready to go home."
This loss was particularly hard for Findlay. To have all the hard work he has put into a storied college career end in such a heart-wrenching fashion gives a whole new meaning to the term "devastating loss."
He summed up the team's frustration for the game with a simple statement that masked the anguish of the defeat. "We wanted to win a championship and we didn't," he said.
The Lions were in control of the game up until the final shot. "The way the game was going, I thought it was going our tempo and the way we wanted to play," Stallworth said of the highly physical and defensive game.
Despite Findlay playing just six minutes in the first half due to early foul trouble, the Lions fought their way to a 17-16 half-time lead. Findlay vented some of his frustration to start the second half, scoring the Lions' first four points.
Ironically, the Lions came up with the plays when they needed them throughout the second half, except at the most crucial point of the game. Early on, sophomore guard Corey Gilmore drew a charge and then converted a tough floater in the lane to stretch the Lions' lead to five.
Later in the half, Stallworth hit a desperate fade-away that just barely beat the shot clock and put the Lions up 34-29 with five minutes left in regulation. In the closing minute of the game, Stallworth was sent to the floor by a Rutgers player but was called for a blocking foul.
Redemption was his though, as he forced a charging violation against senior guard Justin Carter on the ensuing possession. Stallworth would then draw a foul and hit two free throws to give the Lions a 36-33 lead.
On the next possession, the clock whittled down to six seconds, leaving enough time for Rutgers junior forward Jermont Horton to throw up a desperate three that caught nothing but air. Barnes was able to get the rebound but then stumbled into his own man and committed a traveling violation.
The rest of the game will live on in Scarlet Raiders' history.
Despite the loss, the Lions should be proud, as they seemingly played above their ability all year. "I want to give a tremendous amount of credit to our kids, a team that was picked to finish ninth," head coach John Castaldo, who was honored with the John K. Adams Coach of the Year award (top NJAC coach) on Monday, said. "These guys put themselves in position, collectively, to win basketball games - games they weren't even supposed to be in."
The Lions were picked ninth in the 10-team NJAC in the preseason, but they have developed into a true team throughout the course of the season.
They were in contention to win the conference and the coaching staff was glad to be a part of the season even though it ended the way it did.
"I've been here 13 years and coaching 27, and this is one of the most remarkable group of guys I have ever coached," Castaldo said. "These guys gave us everything they had all the time."
The Lions finished the season with 17 wins and nine losses and fourth place in the conference. Looking ahead, the Lions will have some fresh faces next year, as four of this year's five starters will be graduating.
(02/22/06 5:00pm)
Following back-to-back losses, the Lions fell out of first place in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) and limped into the conference tournament as the fourth seed.
The good news is they started the playoffs with a home game. However, last week, they let the momentum they built up in a seven-game win streak slip away and lost out on a bye in the first round, which the first-and second-seeded teams are awarded in the tournament.
"This league is such a marathon and maybe (the win streak) took a lot out of them," head coach John Castaldo said of his team. "We know we can play at that level (of the best teams in the NJAC). We just hope we didn't wear it out."
The Lions came into the game against New Jersey City University in a three-way tie for second in the conference, but after an 80-65 loss against the Gothic Knights on Saturday, the Lions must be wondering what happened to the magic they played with during the seven-game winning streak that was snapped earlier in the week to Montclair State University.
"I'm totally disappointed," senior forward Bobby Davison said. "It's a positive to make the playoffs but a disappointment the way we've played these past two games."
Ironically, on a day when emotions were high, with seven seniors honored prior to tip-off of the final regular season home game, the Lions did not play inspired basketball. "As a team, we were frustrated today," senior forward Scott Findlay said. "They actually took us out of our game."
The Knights caught fire early in the game and buried three-pointer after three-pointer, finishing eight for 16 from downtown in the first half. The Lions took the lead briefly after two energetic plays from Findlay and then senior guard Jason Stallworth. Findlay picked up a steal and finished the play with a one-handed dunk. Then after a Knights miss, Stallworth took a long rebound and went coast-to-coast to put the Lions up 20-19.
The Knights began to pull away late in the half, as their shots kept falling and finished on a 13-4 run to go ahead 40-31. Although the Lions opened the second half with a 7-0 run to get within two, that would be the closest they would come.
The Knights, led by senior forward Mark Washington, outplayed the Lions and treated this game as if it were the playoffs.
"It seemed like everything they shot went in," Findlay said. "They're a very good team." The Knights finished the game with 13 three-pointers, while shooting 59 percent from downtown. The Lions also had difficulty matching up with the Knights' athleticism. The Knights won the rebounding battle 44-33.
Findlay did what he could to keep the Lions in the game, putting up 22 points and 12 rebounds, but the Knights proved they were the better team on this day. Junior forward Devin Davis led the Knights' torrid shooting effort with 17 points and four of five from three-point land.
Last Wednesday, the Lions had their seven-game winning streak snapped by the Red Hawks of Montclair State University in a 77-68 road loss. Led by senior forward Gian Paul Gonzalez, who was fourth in the country as of Feb. 12 with 27.4 points per game (ppg), the Hawks played like a team desperate to make the playoffs while the Lions did not have much motivation, having already clinched a playoff spot.
This was the second game the Lions dropped to the Hawks this season. "Matching up with Montclair is tough because they start three guys that are six-foot-six and above," Findlay said. "They have some big bodies and rebound real well."
The Lions also had trouble matching up with Gonzalez. Even though they held him under his season average with 21 points, they couldn't stop him when it mattered most. Gonzalez took control of the game, scoring 19 of his 21 points in the second half.
In the first half, the Lions used double teams against Gonzalez and held him to just two points, but his teammates took advantage, knocking down six three-pointers.
The Lions tried to use single coverage on him in the second half, but Gonzalez got the better part of that defensive strategy. "Matching up with Gonzalez is always tough," Findlay said. "He works real hard to get open and has good low post moves."
The Lions finished the regular season at 17-8 with a conference record of 11-7 to grab the fourth seed in the NJAC Tournament. Their season was on the line last night when they hosted Rutgers University-Newark in the opening round of the conference tournament. Game results can be seen at tcnjathletics.com.
(02/15/06 5:00pm)
A month ago, the Lions sat at 4-5 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, with fans yearning for something to cheer about and the coaching staff frustrated with the inconsistent offensive play.
Four-and-a-half weeks later, the Lions are sitting pretty at 11-5 atop the conference and 17-6 overall. In the midst of a seven-game winning streak, they have developed into a true team and it's showing up as wins in the box score.
"These guys believe in each other," head coach John Castaldo said. "They feed off each other. There are no egos. It's amazing what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit."
The Lions' latest victims were the Scarlet Raiders of Rutgers University-Newark, whom the Lions disposed of with a 62-50 home victory on Saturday afternoon. The Lions were blown out by the Raiders earlier in the season 71-48, making the win that much more impressive.
With a smothering defense and unselfish offensive play, the Lions pounced on the Raiders in the first half and held them down for the rest of the game. After sophomore guard Corey Gilmore drew his second charge in the first half, the Lions moved the ball around until senior forward Bobby Davison cashed in on an open three-pointer, pushing the lead to 24-9.
Gilmore has been one of several defensive catalysts for the Lions and earned a starting spot midway through the season, largely thanks to his defensive presence. "I figure if I can stop the other team's guards, then I'll be able to stop what the other team is trying to do," Gilmore said. "If you stop the guards, then you stop their offense."
The Raiders, who were without the services of their leading scorer, junior forward Jermont Horton, had little going offensively, as they were hampered by the Lions defense, which forced 19 turnovers. The frustration was apparent on the sideline as Raiders head coach, Joe Loughran, muttered to his assistant coaches. "They've got no leadership out there," he said in the first half, in which he saw his team turn the ball over 12 times, four of which Lions' offensive charges caused.
The Raiders made a run to start the second half, cutting the 17-point half time deficit to nine, as freshman guard Chad Barnes completed a three-point play. But senior guard Jason Stallworth brought the momentum back to the Lions by drawing a foul and hitting both free throws.
Then senior forward Scott Findlay scored the Lions' next seven points, capped off by a three-pointer from the corner that put the game well in hand at 45-29. Findlay, who had a dunk taken back on a traveling violation, made up for it late in the game when he broke up a pass and went coast-to-coast, finishing with an emphatic dunk. He led all scorers with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Findlay took care of the paint on the defensive end, registering two blocks, but he's just part of a team defense that ranks second in the country as of Feb. 5, yielding a stingy 55.8 points per game (ppg). "We play good help defense," Findlay said. "We have some really quick guards that can stop penetration."
Last Wednesday, the Lions picked up their sixth straight win by toppling the Profs of Rowan University 72-54 on the road. Lacking a significant low-post presence, the Profs were powerless in containing Findlay, who posted a career-high 37 points and grabbed 19 rebounds.
"It was really just one of those games where my shot was falling," Findlay said. "I was getting the ball in really good position and was able to capitalize off of that."
The Lions blew this one open early on by going on a 14-0 run nine minutes into the first half, putting the score at 29-11. It was smooth sailing after that, as the Lions controlled the pace for the rest of the game.
Senior forward Matt Diamond, the Lions' second leading scorer, added 17 points and five rebounds. While Findlay and Diamond carried the offense, the overall team defense limited the Profs to just 54, well below their 75-point average.
Profs sophomore guard/forward Matt Byrnes, who is second in the conference in scoring with 26 ppg, was limited to just 15. Lions senior forward Dan DeSerio had the task of guarding the talented swingman for most of the night.
"I thought Dan did a remarkable job on Matt Byrnes," Castaldo said. "(Byrnes) played 40 minutes and didn't get his 15 points at crucial times."
On Nov. 22, the Lions squeaked by the Profs at home 50-49, but the way the team played on Wednesday proved once again how far it has come over the past three months. "We're a better team right now than the last time we played them," Castaldo said.
Castaldo attributed his team's development to several factors, including the belief and trust of the players in one another, players' understanding of their different roles and a team atmosphere unburdened by individual egos.
(02/08/06 5:00pm)
By defeating the defending New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) champion Roadrunners of Ramapo College 74-62 at home on Saturday, the Lions got their fifth straight win and moved into a second-place tie in the conference.
Once again rallying behind senior forward Scott Findlay, the Lions built an early 12-point lead in the first half and controlled the tempo for the rest of the game. Findlay led all scorers with 23 points while senior forward Matt Diamond added a career-high 22 points, including three three-pointers.
The Roadrunners were able to chip away at the Lions' lead in the second half and cut it to 54-47 after two free throws from sophomore guard Ahmad Mosby. Mosby then drew a charge on the Lions' next possession, shifting the momentum and making the home fans uneasy.
But as winning teams do, the Lions responded with a defensive stop on the next possession and put the game away from the line. Both teams were in the penalty with six minutes to go. Referees could have charged Findlay and senior guard Jason Stallworth with loitering, as the duo made a living at the line with a combined 21 for 24 effort.
Ramapo put on the defensive pressure from the outset, applying a full-court press after tip-off, but the Lions were ready for the task. Stallworth consistently broke down frequent double teams and made plays that led to easy baskets, as he dished out five assists to go along with 12 points. "We knew from the start they were going to be right up in our face in man-to-man coverage," Stallworth said. "We prepared enough for it that when they doubled us the guy that was open was able to flash to the middle."
In addition, the Lions were fortunate to get Ramapo's dominant big man, junior Rashawn Wilson, into early foul trouble, limiting him to just 16 in the game. Wilson, who leads the Roadrunners with over 18 points and eight rebounds per game, put up just seven points and five rebounds in limited action.
"We knew he was very prone to foul trouble," Findlay said. "He lowers his shoulder on shots and he likes to block shots. We just wanted to get him up in the air and try to get him in foul trouble, which we did and that was the game plan."
Senior forward Dan DeSerio had the honor of giving Wilson an early exit after drawing a charge with six minutes left in regulation. Wilson could only shake his head in disbelief after the referee charged him with his fifth personal foul. In his absence, the backboards might as well have had Findlay's name on them because he owned the glass, grabbing 17 rebounds in the game.
In addition, Findlay commanded frequent double teams that allowed him to get his teammates involved, as he finished with five assists. Midway through the second half, he surpassed former teammate Derick Grant, becoming the College's second all- time leading scorer.
"Its great on a personal level," Findlay said of his accomplishment. "But it's going to mean a lot more if we can continue playing like this and we can eventually win our ultimate goal of winning a championship."
Earlier in the week, the Lions took care of business, defeating the Raptors of Rutgers University-Camden in a 77-59 road victory behind Findlay's double-double.
Despite dropping its 15th straight game, the Raptors played tough, coming back from an early 15-5 deficit to cut the Lions' lead to one point late in the first half. "They're a dangerous team that no one in the league wants to play," head coach John Castaldo said. "You're supposed to win and you have to win that game."
The Lions came out roaring the second half, going on a 12-3 run, which Stallworth led off with a three-pointer, seconds into the half. The opening run gave the Lions a 14-point advantage, which they never let slip below 10. "We made some shots and held them scoreless for a little bit to open the half," Castaldo said. "That gave us some breathing room and we went from there."
Freshman guard Wayne Smalls did what he could to try and get the Raptors their second victory of the season, putting up 20 points and four rebounds. The one-man show was not enough to compete with a Lions team whose balance and team effort have become the key to its success.
Findlay poured in 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, and Diamond added 21 to pace the Lions. Stallworth and DeSerio each had solid all-around games. Stallworth chipped in nine points, five rebounds and four assists while DeSerio collected eight rebounds, seven points and a game-high six assists.
The Lions will look to keep their winning streak alive as they return to action tonight to take on Rowan University for an 8 p.m. matchup in Glassboro. On Saturday they will host Rutgers University-Newark at 1 p.m.
(02/01/06 5:00pm)
With a blossoming offensive threat, the men's basketball team knocked off two more conference opponents, including a 76-58 win over Kean University on Saturday and a 65-42 win against Richard Stockton College last Wednesday.
With a developing offensive punch, it appears the men's basketball team has found the kind of balanced scoring to compliment its already-established defensive presence, which ranked third in the country as of Jan. 22.
Despite missing two key players (senior captain Bobby Davison and sophomore forward Mark Aziz have been out the last three games due to injury), the Lions are cruising and riding on a three-game win streak.
The Cougars of Kean had no answer for senior forward Scott Findlay, who had his way in the paint. Findlay fought through double teams and uncalled fouls on his way to scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. It was senior guard Jason Stallworth, though, who made the plays when it mattered most.
Halfway through the second half, the Cougars cut the Lions' lead to 12, but Stallworth quickly put a stop to the momentum shift, scoring the Lions' next eight points. First he soared to the basket, drew contact and somehow managed to make good on the tough layup. Then, after making a short jumper on the next possession, he got a steal and converted on a three-point play, going coast to coast.
"There are times when they go on a run and you kind of sense the offensive shift," Stallworth said. "I like to be the guy who takes the big shots and has the ball at the end of the game."
Senior guard Brian Halligan provided a lift off the bench with 14 points, including three three-pointers and one dazzling play that brought a gasp from the crowd.
Halligan poked the ball away from a Cougar guard and managed to convert an off-balance underhand floater while being fouled in the lane. That put the Lions up 53-39.
In the first half, Stallworth also made the highlight reel. In a tremendous play, he jumped toward the basket looking for his own shot, but then hung in the air long enough to find senior forward David Boudwin, who was able to just barely beat the shot clock and give the College an early 10-point advantage.
The Lions, who have shot the ball particularly well of late, were money from downtown, going nine for 12 in the game. Senior forward Matt Diamond knocked down three treys, while senior forward Dan DeSerio added two. Diamond finished with 13 points and seven rebounds while DeSerio chipped in eight points.
"It was a good team effort," Findlay said. "Everyone has stepped up in scoring and that's what sparked our three-game win streak."
With a season-high 76 points, it was easy to overlook the defensive effort of this team. Sophomore guard Corey Gilmore, who has started the past three games, has made a clear difference. "Us inserting Corey in the starting lineup to go along with Stallworth may take away a little bit offensively, but it's given us a great defensive spark to start the game," head coach John Castaldo said.
Earlier in the week, the Lions took care of business, defeating Stockton 65-42. Once again, it was the defensive intensity and a balanced scoring attack that propelled the College to victory. Diamond finished with a team-high 17 points while Findlay put in 16 to go along with eight rebounds. Stallworth added 12 and DeSerio chipped in 11.
Battling the Lions' tenacious defense and an off-shooting night, Stockton couldn't buy a bucket, shooting 30 percent from the field, including 0-10 from beyond the arc.
"Corey really shut down a very good player for them," Castaldo said. "They had four guys coming into the game averaging double figures and no one on their team recorded a double figure night."
The Lions took a three-point lead into the locker room and never looked back. Stallworth scored five straight points to open the second half as the Lions stretched their lead to 14 after holding Stockton scoreless in the first six minutes.
The lead never slipped below 11 points as the Lions pulled away, leaving Stockton with a forgettable home loss.
The Lions will look to keep this momentum going as they travel to Camden to take on the University of Rutgers today for an 8 p.m. tip-off.
(01/25/06 5:00pm)
After losing three straight conference games, the men's basketball team proved it is as talented as any team by knocking off the top-ranked Pioneers of William Paterson University 73-63 at home on Saturday.
Not only did the Lions defeat the Pioneers, who came into the game on a nine-game winning streak and tied for first in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), but they also did it with their most balanced scoring attack of the season. Five players scored in double figures.
"It was the first time that we've had some good balanced scoring," head coach John Castaldo said. "That was the difference in the game."
With timely shooting and defensive intensity, the Lions took the lead from the start of the game and never looked back. Late in the game, junior forward Samir Sanu pulled the Pioneers within six points with 1:06 remaining as he knocked down his third three-pointer of the game. But that was the closest the Pioneers would come, as the Lions converted several key free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.
Despite being double-teamed for much of the game, senior forward Scott Findlay led all scorers with 18 points to go along with seven rebounds. The 18 points gave Findlay 1,475 for his career, and pushed him past Skip Johnson for fourth on the Lions' all time scoring list.
This win might just give this team the confidence it needs to get going, Findlay said. "When you lose three in a row, you start questioning yourself, but when you beat a team that's won nine in a row, it helps a lot," he said. "If guys keep knocking down shots like they did (Saturday night), we're going to be a tough team to beat."
Senior guard Jason Stallworth added 14 points and some offensive relief for his teammates. "Scouts knew that I was struggling so they would send my guy to double Scott," Stallworth said. "I knew if I could knock down the shots, it would take pressure off the other guys, especially Scott." Stallworth hit two key three-pointers in the second half to help the Lions maintain their lead.
Junior forward Matt Diamond also added 15 points, while senior forward Dan DeSerio and senior guard Brian Halligan each contributed 10 points in the win.
Earlier in the week, the Lions lost to the Gothic Knights of New Jersey City University 63-59, which was their third straight NJAC loss.
After losing six players to graduation, the Lions have struggled to find consistent scorers on a nightly basis and it showed. They shot just 33 percent from the field.
"We're ranked in the top three defensively right now," Castaldo said. "What we lack on the offensive side we've been trying to make up for it during the course of the year with our defensive awareness and intensity, and that has kept us in games."
When the Pioneers enjoyed an 11-point lead with less than two minutes to go, the game appeared to be over, but the Lions managed to pull within one thanks to some late-game heroics from Diamond and Findlay, both of whom carried the team all night long.
Late in the fourth quarter, Diamond knocked down his third three-pointer of the contest, and then Findlay followed with two free throws and a three-point play of his own to cut the lead to 58-55 with 23 seconds remaining. After two missed free throws from the Knights, Findlay converted on a feed from Diamond to bring the Lions within one.
The Lions' comeback came to a halt, however, after senior forward Ben Balcom grabbed a critical offensive rebound and converted on a pair of free throws to put the Lions away for good.
Findlay and Diamond each had double-doubles, but the Lions did not get much production from anyone else. Findlay scored a game-high 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds while Diamond notched 19 points and 10 boards. No other Lions player was able to contribute more than six points or four rebounds.
After giving up a 16-0 run in the first half, the Lions found themselves in an early hole 24-8. But they put the clamps down and went on a 16-3 run to close the half at 27-24.
Knights junior forward, Devin Davis, set the tempo in the second half by grabbing an offensive rebound and slamming it home to put his team up 33-26. From then on, the Knights continued to stretch their lead and pushed it to as many as 13.
Led by freshman forward Dana John who poured in 20 points to go along with five rebounds, the Knights are currently in second in the NJAC.
The Lions will try look to start a new winning streak when they travel to Richard Stockton College on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. conference matchup.
(11/30/05 5:00pm)
After defeating New Jersey City University (NJCU) one night before, the Lions men's soccer team lost its hope for a national title after falling to the defending national-champion Falcons of Messiah College 3-0 in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 19.
The Lions played the Falcons to a scoreless first half but the second half was a different story. Messiah came out firing, scoring two goals in just seven minutes. Senior midfielder David McClellan knocked one past Lions' sophomore goalie Matt Kasperavicius to break the game open and give his home fans something to cheer about.
"The first was a lucky goal," Kasperavicius said. "We cleared it out but it was deflected and the kid was able to put it in." Five minutes later, sophomore midfielder Patrick Lenehan put the Lions in a 2-0 hole, converting on a rebound that deflected back after a shot from junior forward Dan Wagner. Lenehan would later tack on an insurance goal with an assist from McClellan in the closing minutes of the game.
"The first goal is crucial, especially with an elimination game, and that was the case last night," head coach George Nazario said. "It was one of those games where whoever scored the first goal would probably win."
With the win, the Falcons put an end to the Lions' most successful season since 1997 when they finished as national runner-up. In 1996, the Lions took home the national title. The 3-0 defeat marked the first time the Lions allowed more than two goals in a single game all season and was the team's first loss in over a month.
The night before, the Lions earned the right to face Messiah by getting past conference rival NJCU 3-2 despite being outshot 22-8. It was the third loss the Gothic Knights suffered to the Lions during the year.
The Lions built a 3-1 lead after junior midfielder Michael Ferber scored 11 minutes into the second half. They were able to hold on despite the brilliant play of senior striker Chris Rosenthal, who scored both goals for the Knights.
"We were moving the ball around well," Kasperavicius said. "We got a couple of good chances early and put them away." Rosenthal, this year's New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Player of the Year, buried a feed from freshman midfielder Jonathan Bilbao to tie the game up at one goal a piece in the first half.
"He was probably one of the most influential players we've seen in Division III," Nazario said. "We wanted to try and eliminate him and play nine on nine all game but he ended up scoring two goals."
That goal came after an unassisted score by Lions sophomore forward Craig Langan, who has made a living this season scoring against the Knights, with each of his four goals coming against NJCU.
Junior defender Tim Dudek gave the Lions a 2-1 advantage going into the half by putting away a ball after a scramble in front of the Knights' net. It was his 10th goal of the season.
Rosenthal was credited with his second goal in the second half after his shot hit off the cross bar and then deflected off a Lion defender into the net. With a little under 20 minutes remaining, the Lions were able to outlast the Knights and escape with the win.
The Lions end their impressive season with a 16-3-1 record, which includes both the NJAC regular season crown and the conference tournament title.
(11/30/05 5:00pm)
The men's basketball team remains unbeaten, slipping by the Profs of Rowan University 50-49 last Tuesday thanks to some late-game heroics by senior guard Jason Stallworth. With the win, the Lions improve to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the conference.
With the shot clock winding down, Stallworth hit the go-ahead three-pointer, putting the Lions on top 48-47. The Profs regained the lead with under a minute to play, as sophomore guard Matt Byrnes hit a jump shot.
On the next possession, Stallworth broke for the basket and sunk a layup with 20 seconds left that brought the Lions' home crowd to its feet.
"We didn't call a time out, but Stallworth beat his man from the top of the key and hit a floater in the lane," junior guard Brian Halligan said.
On the Profs' ensuing possession, junior guard Tim Bowser was denied as Lions senior forward Scott Findlay swatted his layup attempt out of bounds.
With 1.5 seconds left on the clock, the Lions double-teamed Byrnes, who dropped 50 points against Philadelphia Biblical University in his last game, forcing the inbounds pass to freshman guard Billy Care. Care tossed up a desperation heave that flew off the mark.
Last year, the Profs ended the Lions' season, bouncing them out of the quarterfinals of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament. Still, with many newcomers, this game was not about revenge. "That wasn't in our minds because our team has four new starters," Halligan said. "We were more focused on getting off to a good start in the conference."
Halligan led the way for the Lions, finishing with a game-high 14 points while Findlay added nine points, 16 rebounds and four blocks. The Lions held Byrnes to just 13 points.
In other non-conference action, the Lions began the season by taking the championship title at the Salem State College Tip-Off Tournament, beating host Salem on Nov. 20 and Curry College the day before.
The Lions had to battle against Salem, but exploded in the second half to come away with the 62-51 victory. The Lions were a combined 0-for-11 from downtown in the first half en route to a 25-21 halftime deficit.
Led by junior forward Matt Diamond, the Lions came out roaring in the second half, opening with a 10-0 run. Diamond caught fire and knocked down five three-pointers in the half, finishing the game with 21 points. "Coach ran a play for the first three-pointer and I just went from there," Diamond said.
Findlay chipped in with 14 points, while Stallworth had a fine game with nine points, nine boards and six assists. "We played tough defense and slowed it down," Diamond said. "We made them play our style of game."
In the previous game, the Lions advanced past the first round of the tournament with a 59-57 win over Curry College. Findlay dominated in the post, putting up a Tim Duncan-like double-double with 25 points and 11 rebounds.
With excellent shot selection, the Lions shot 50 percent from the field en route to the win. Senior forward Dan DeSerio added seven points and 10 boards, while Diamond chipped in with 11 points.
The Lions will hope to carry the momentum over when they play host to Richard Stockton College on Wednesday in the 8
(11/16/05 5:00pm)
With five interceptions and an inconsistent offense, the Lions football team came up short in its season-finale conference game at Kean University 21-14 on Saturday.
It was too little too late as the Lions failed to complete a late comeback. Trailing 21-7 in the fourth quarter, the Lions cut the lead in half as sophomore running back Mike Feaster punched it in from one-yard out with just over three minutes remaining.
The Lions recovered the ensuing on-sides kick, but the offense couldn't move the chains and turned the ball over after failing to convert on fourth down.
With solid defense and good clock management, the Lions were able to get the ball back with 48 seconds left, but once again, the offense stuttered as the final seconds ticked away and closed out their season.
With the loss, the Lions finish the year at 3-7 with a conference record of 1-5. It is the first losing season for the team since its 4-5 mark in 2000. The game also marks the first time the Lions have lost to Kean since 1992.
The opening drive exemplified the team's play all season, as offensive inconsistencies contribued to the loss.
The Lions forced the Cougars to punt, but sophomore quarterback Jeff Struble coughed up the ball on the ensuing drive.
The Cougars recovered and were in the end zone two plays later, after sophomore quarterback AJ Roque found freshman wide receiver Chase Long for the 20-yard touchdown.
"That's been the story all year," senior wide receiver Ryan Ross said of the turnovers that have plagued the team all season. "I would hope by now we wouldn't be doing that."
Likewise, the Lions could not get it done in the red zone, converting on just one of their four trips inside the 20.
In first quarter, the Lions were one yard away from tying the game after Ross was brought down just short of the goal line for a 49-yard pass play.
"I dove but didn't get in and that hurt us because it would have tied the game," Ross said. "I gotta get in the end zone especially when we struggle to score points."
After two unsuccessful downs, the Lions brought out their halfback option trick play, but senior running back Leeaire Brown was intercepted in the end zone on his attempted jump pass.
The Lions eventually got on the board but not until late in the third quarter, and it was the defense that put up the points.
Sophomore defensive back Mike Ferris intercepted a Roque pass and took it to the house for a 19-yard touchdown return, trimming the Cougar lead to 13-7.
Regardless, the frustration on the offensive side set in like a dense fog that wouldn't go away at the end of the first half. Kean intercepted the Lions on three straight drives to end the half, including a pick-off in the end zone.
"That's how things have been going for us all season," Struble said. "It was just a bad game."
The Cougars made some mistakes, but they were able to capitalize on one of their own critical blunders.
Following Ferris' touchdown interception, the Cougars settled on a field goal attempt from the five-yard line after they put together a 74-yard drive. But the play broke down when sophomore holder and back-up quarterback James Felton felt the pressure after the snap.
He picked up the ball and rolled to his left and found back-up tight-end Matt Bouchard for what proved to be the game-winning touchdown.
The Cougars played an excellent defensive game, forcing five interceptions and a lost fumble. They were led by senior linebacker Kenny Hodge who picked up 10 tackles. In addition, their offensive line did not let up a sack, allowing Roque to throw for 156 yards and two touchdowns.
"This season, we experienced the worst," Struble said. "Next season, we'll be a year stronger and it will be a turnaround."
(11/16/05 12:00pm)
Following students' complaints, Sodexho Dining Services has changed its policy at Eickhoff Dining Hall to make food immediately available at 4 p.m. just as dinner charges begin. The policy was put into effect Nov. 10.
In the past, students who paid for dinner between 4 and 4:30 p.m. were not guaranteed to find food ready for the taking because the different food stations at Eickhoff required time to set up between the end of lunch and the beginning of dinner.
Explaining the process prior to Nov. 10, John Higgins, general manager of Sodexho, said, "There is a turnover period between lunch and dinner. Each station goes down for about a half hour and then they set up for another meal, but they should all be up and running by 4 o'clock."
That half-hour setup period between lunch and dinner has been wiped away with lunch stations now turning immediately into dinner stations at 4 p.m.
"The students were complaining that we close down at 4 (p.m.) and there was no food," Bertha, a Sodexho employee who works at Eickhoff, said. "Our manager told us that we don't shut down. So now we don't close."
The old layover period between lunch and dinner meant students planning an early dinner would have to wait until the stations were set up.
Even worse, some students said that while sometimes the food was ready to be served, they were still forced to wait because Sodexho employees said they were told by managers not to serve dinner until 4:30 p.m.
"Even at 4:20, I've gone into Eickhoff and all the food is out with plastic lids on it, but the workers won't take the lids off until 4:30 because their managers wouldn't let them," Michelle Blakely, junior secondary education/English major, said. "That's unfortunate because I have class at 5 p.m."
Under such circumstances, students paid upon entering the hall, but the food they paid for was nonexistent, limited or unavailable.
"If they're going to charge dinner prices, all of the dinner food should be available," Blakely said. "Eickhoff is supposed to serve a variety of food, but at the early dinner time, they wouldn't have that variety and it was disappointing."
Higgins agreed that the students had a right to object, recognizing their right as consumers to demand quality food and service.
"There shouldn't be anyone telling you that if there's food there, you can't have it," he said.
"I come (to Eickhoff) and expect the food to be there and when its not, it's frustrating," Brandon Burke, sophomore criminal justice major, said. "But today the food was out and it was OK," he said, after the change was implemented. The change is not enough to satisfy some students like Blakely, though.
"I'm glad that they complied with our complaints, but I'm sure it won't be long before students will have something else to complain about," she said.
(11/09/05 5:00pm)
On a day commemorating the seniors for their long-standing athletic and academic efforts, the Lions football team had little to be proud of following a demoralizing 27-0 shutout loss to the Golden Eagles of SUNY-Brockport at home on Saturday.
This was not what head coach Eric Hamilton had in mind for the last home game of the year. "There was nothing positive to come out of the game," he said. "It was very disappointing."
Both squads came into the game with identical 3-5 records and no playoff hopes, but desperate to get their respective seasons back on a winning track. But it was the Eagles who played like a team hungry for a win, taking advantage of countless Lions errors.
"We had players in situations to make plays and they didn't make them, but that's been the story all season," Hamilton said.
With a season-high 12 punts and an abysmal 116 yards of total offense, the Lions were as likely to put together a scoring drive as the gubernatorial candidates were of running a smear-free campaign.
Early in the second quarter, on a play that illustrated the Lions' frustration, freshman defensive end Justin Laurence reached out and blocked an Eagles punt, but Brockport recovered the loose ball just far enough downfield to get the first down. Then they used the next three plays to put together a 59-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown run up the middle from sophomore running back Brian Wise.
"They're a good team," Lions' junior wide receiver Ryan Ross said of Brockport. "They play one of the toughest schedules in the nation and they're always going to be ready to play."
Compounding their inability to execute offensively, the Lions did not take advantage of their opponents' mistakes. Late in the first half, sophomore defensive back Mike Ferris bobbled a punt, allowing Brockport to recover the ball at midfield.
On the ensuing drive, however, Wise fumbled and Lions' sophomore defensive back Sullivan Parker gobbled up the loose. He ran it back to the 20, leading the Lions to their only trip inside the red zone all game.
But on this day, the Lions had as much hope capitalizing on opportunities as the Philadelphia Eagles have in reconciling things with Terrell Owens. On the following drive, junior quarterback Chris Bell threw one of his team's few scoring opportunities away as his pass bounced off the fingertips of Ross and landed in the hands of a Brockport defender.
"There are no excuses," Ross said. "We just didn't get it done." Whether it was dropping passes or turning the ball over, the Lions did not come to play and the Eagles flew away with an easy victory.
Brockport's freshman quarterback Zack Luke threw for 285 yards and a touchdown while Wise combined for 87 total yards and two scores.
In the third quarter, Wise capped off a 10-play, 77-yard drive by punching the ball in from one-yard out to put the Eagles ahead 17-0. Later in the third, Luke hooked up with junior wide receiver Mike Bond for a 12-yard score.
Bond finished the game with 70 yards on three catches. Junior place-kicker Adam Lanctot would add a 49-yard field goal late in the game for his second score of the day to put more salt in the Lions' wounds.
The Lions will have one more opportunity to finish their season on a high note when they travel to Kean University next Saturday in their season-finale conference game that kicks off at 1 p.m.
The team does not underestimate the importance of its final game. "It's more important to finish with a win," Hamilton said, shrugging off the loss. "Our season didn't start the way we wanted it to but maybe it can end the way we want it to."
(11/02/05 5:00pm)
With a slow start and costly miscues, the Lions football team suffered a tough 21-14 loss to rival Montclair State University on Saturday, disappointing a packed Lions Stadium crowd at the annual Homecoming game.
The Lions ended the game just as they started it, with critical turnovers. With 42 seconds remaining, the Lions found themselves 21 yards away from tying the score, but sophomore quarterback Jeff Struble threw an interception near the end zone. However, on the next play, the Red Hawks gave the ball right back after a lost fumble, but another Struble interception on the subsequent play sealed the Lions' fate.
The turnovers were especially detrimental because they opened the door for Montclair scoring opportunities. "Every mistake we made they capitalized on," head coach Eric Hamilton said.
In the opening drive, senior running back Leeaire Brown coughed up the ball to set up the Hawk's first touchdown. Behind excellent blockers, Hawks' sophomore running back Ryan McCoach ran untouched down the left sideline for the easy 25-yard score. McCoach scored two touchdowns and ran for 75 yards in the game.
Later in the first quarter, the Hawks once again took advantage of a Lions mistake. Struble, who has taken over punting duties with senior place-kicker Blake Abbot out suffering a broken jaw, scrambled to recover a bad snap that sent the ball sailing over his head. Struble was able to fall on the ball, but the 30-yard loss on the play gave the Hawks good field position, and they scored on the ensuing drive.
Cold and windy field conditions made things even more difficult for the Lions' offense, which was unable to get into any sort of rhythm, turning the game into more of a defensive battle.
Despite giving up a few big plays that led to Red Hawks touchdowns, the Lions defense played well, limiting the Hawks to just one trip into the red zone. "They were coming at us from all angles," Hawks head coach Rick Giancola said. "They did a good job against us defensively."
Freshman defensive end Justin Laurence came up with several outstanding plays including a touchdown, after he recovered a bad snap to put the Lions on the board early in the third quarter. "I was really excited over the touchdown," Laurence said. "It doesn't really matter though, unless you win." He also added several tackles for losses and a blocked punt.
The Lions' other touchdown came on a 41-yard pass play as Struble found senior wide receiver Alan Kotteles slashing across the middle of the field.
In their pre-Homecoming game last week, the Lions picked up their third win of the season despite a desperate comeback effort by the Explorers of LaSalle University in a 21-16 win on a rainy afternoon on Oct. 22.
Senior wide receiver Ryan Ross hauled in a go-ahead 67-yard touchdown and Struble ran for a pair of one-yard touchdowns to cap off two impressive Lions' drives to secure the victory.
Following a grinding six-minute, 15-play drive that ended with a diving one-yard Struble touchdown, the Lions took a 21-10 lead. The game appeared to be over as the Lions held the 11-point lead late in the fourth quarter, but with less than three minutes remaining, the Explorers took advantage of two Lions' penalties to put together a 76-yard scoring drive with wide receiver John Zabel catching his second touchdown of the game as he slashed across the middle for a 14-yard score.
The Explorers would get the ball back with 29 seconds left on the clock, but the Lions' defense stuffed the Explorers' last stand for the hard-earned victory.
"We played well as a unit," sophomore defensive back Mike Ferris said about the Lions' defensive effort.
Earlier in the game, the Explorers would take the lead, but only for 20 seconds. Following Zabel's first touchdown reception that went for a 34-yard score, the Lions took the lead right back on their first play of the drive as Ross beat his man down the left sideline and ran it in for a 67-yard score to put his team up 14-10.
Ross finished the game with a career-high 117 receiving yards on five catches.
The win was especially important for the team that was coming off a disappointing 30-17 comeback loss at Western Connecticut last week.
"We really needed this win to get the confidence back," Struble said. Struble threw for 186 yards and a touchdown in addition to the two rushing scores.
The Lions made sure not to let this one slip away. "After the tough loss, we could have bowed our head and gave up on this season, but we're going to try and win the rest of the games," Ferris said.
Ferris did his part, making a spectacular play to give the Lions the ball back following a fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half.
The Explorers recovered the fumble on the kickoff, but Ferris got the ball back with an amazing interception. Extending his arms with his toes on the sideline, he snatched the ball out of the air as Explorer's sophomore quarterback Mike Jump did his best to throw the ball away with an underhand toss.
By splitting the last two games, the Lions now stand at 3-5 overall with a 1-4 conference mark. They will look to end on a high note in their last home game Saturday against SUNY-Brockport at noon.
(10/19/05 4:00pm)
Despite playing one of its best games of the season, the Lions' football team could not hold onto a lead and fell short in a disappointing 30-17 loss at Western Connecticut State University Saturday afternoon.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Lions took a 17-10 lead after senior place-kicker Blake Abbott converted a season-long 42-yard field goal, but that's when the Colonials used a little Homecoming magic to get back into the game and score 20 unanswered points in the final frame.
On the ensuing kickoff, junior wide receiver Adamis Gonzalez, who leads the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) in punt return yards, ran across field to take a kickoff that was purposely kicked away from him and went coast-to-coast for a 100-yard return, tying a school record and knotting the game up at 17.
"That was the turning point of the game," head coach Eric Hamilton said. "It was like a dagger in the heart."
Hamilton knew the elusive Gonzalez was a dangerous playmaker, similar to the Kansas City Chiefs' return man Dante Hall, but Gonzalez made sure he would get an opportunity to showcase his talents by taking the kickoff even though it was not intended for him.
The game remained tied nearing the two-minute warning when the Colonials of Western Connecticut made their way inside the Lions' 10-yard line.
They were able to take advantage of two pass interference calls against the Lions and senior tailback Jason Adamson scored the go-ahead touchdown on a two-yard run to put the Colonials on top 24-17 following the extra point.
The Colonials tacked on another score when senior linebacker Jason Alcin took an interception 32 yards into the end zone with 54 seconds remaining, putting an exclamation point on the Western Connecticut comeback.
"This is a tough loss for all of us," Hamilton said. It would have been huge to get the road win and come back home at 3-3 with three home games, Hamilton said. Instead, the Lions fall to 2-4 overall and 1-3 in the conference.
With junior running back Cory Schoonover out, senior back Leeaire Brown and sophomore back Dan Dornacker carried the load, rushing for 80 and 73 yards, respectively.
The Lions showed a consistent offense for most of the game, but simply could not make the timely plays that would cost them the game.
"I felt for three quarters, we had control of the game," Hamilton said.
Despite dominating the running game, the Lions did not take advantage of good field position or convert in the red zone, going 0-for-2 on the day while the Colonials were 3-for-3 from inside the 20 and made the clutch plays down the stretch.
"We didn't stop them when we had to and they stopped us when they had to," Hamilton said.
After Gonzalez's remarkable return, he was flagged for excessive celebration and given a 15-yard penalty.
After a short return, the Lions began their drive at the 50-yard line.
Sophomore quarterback Jeff Struble hooked up with senior wide receiver Ryan Ross for a 23-yard gain, but that was as close as the Lions would get to the end zone.
Two sacks and a penalty later, the Lions found themselves back near the 50 and had to punt the ball away.
Credit the Colonials' defense which came up with the big plays and kept the Lions out of the end zone for the entire second half.
The Lions had their opportunities, beginning two drives from inside Western Connecticut territory in the third quarter, but came away empty on each.
"When we had the lead, we had the chance to build on it and we didn't do it," Hamilton said.
The Lions were able to build a 14-10 lead by half time with senior wide receiver Alan Kotteles scoring both touchdowns. Kotteles was the favorite target of the Lions' quarterbacking crew on the day as he caught six passes for 82 yards.
Midway through the second quarter, he hauled in a 39-yard pass from Struble to put the Lions in front at the half.
His other score came late in the first quarter on a 22-yard strike from junior quarterback Chris Bell. That was part of the Lions' 12-play opening drive that tied the game at seven.
The Colonials got on the board first when senior quarterback Joe DiMeglio found sophomore tight end and younger brother, Mike DiMeglio for a three-yard touchdown.
Joe DiMeglio, who had thrown for 11 touchdowns in the past two games, threw for 175 yards and one touchdown.
Struble finished with 141 yards going 10-for-19 with a touchdown and an interception.
The Lions will try to bounce back next week as they begin a three-week home stand and host LaSalle University for a 1 p.m. matchup.
(10/12/05 4:00pm)
With a tremendous defensive effort, the Lions' football team picked up its first conference victory against the Pioneers of William Paterson University by a score of 13-7 on Saturday afternoon.
Despite a steady downpour, the Lions weathered the storm and survived two William Paterson drives in the final six minutes, each from inside their own 10-yard line, to take the game.
Deep into the fourth quarter, Lions' junior linebacker Josh Baker capped off a stellar defensive stand by sacking Pioneers' freshman quarterback Sean Ryan for a four-yard loss on a critical fourth-and-one. Baker led the team with nine tackles, eight of them solo.
On their next drive, the Pioneers took possession of the ball on the Lions' 28 with less than three minutes remaining after freshman Harold Green blocked a Blake Abbott punt.
That helped the Pioneers to drive inside the 10 once again, but the Lions defense did not budge, stuffing them on four straight plays. However, a critical pass interference penalty on fourth down gave the Pioneers a fresh set of downs.
"It was an aggressive play and a questionable call," head coach Eric Hamilton said. "They had nine shots to score from inside the 10."
The penalty could have been a game-changing call, but ended up being just another opportunity for the Lions' defense to prove its worth.
On this day, the Lions' defense was the determining factor and it could not be broken. After stuffing a run play for no gain, the Lions then forced three incomplete passes.
When sophomore safety Andrew Larkin broke up the game-ending pass, the goal line stand was complete, and the Lions were able to walk off the rain-soaked field victorious.
"We had our backs against the wall and we knew that we had to get things done," sophomore linebacker Nicholas Steffner said of the defensive stand.
Steffner made seven tackles, while sophomore defensive back Jeff Bower and senior linebacker Terence Nish each added six.
Thanks to constant sheets of rain, the turf field was difficult to play on, with players sloshing through puddles and standing water. The sloppy conditions made for an old school grudge match where defense proved to be the determining factor of who won the game.
Neither team was able to move the chains with much consistency with the two combining for 21 punts and just 406 yards of total offense.
As was the case last week, the Lions found themselves in a hole early on. "We have to go out and start the game like we've been finishing," Hamilton said.
After failing to convert on two field goal attempts, the Pioneers got on the board thanks to a 23-yard run by senior tailback Prince Breeden.
The Lions tied up the game late in the first quarter with a 77-yard drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown run by sophomore quarterback Jeff Struble.
The Lions then took the lead when Struble found junior fullback Sean Farrelly for a one-yard score late in the third quarter. After that, it was all on the defense.
Despite converting just 10 first downs, the Lions were able to muster just enough offense to give their defense a chance to win the game.
"Give our offense credit for coming back under those conditions," Hamilton said.
Struble finished the game with 117 yards passing and 53 yards on the ground, while senior wide receiver Ryan Ross chipped in by catching five passes for 57 yards.
With the win, the Lions improve to 2-3 overall and 1-2 in the conference. They will look to get off to a strong start when they return to action on Saturday for a 1 p.m. showdown at conference rival Western Connecticut.
(10/05/05 4:00pm)
It was too little too late for the Lions as they came up short against the fourth-ranked Profs of Rowan University on Friday night, taking the 30-20 loss before a packed stadium at John Page Field.
Despite digging themselves into a seemingly insurmountable 0-23 hole by halftime, the Lions turned a blowout into a nail biter by scoring three unanswered touchdowns in the second half.
As the fourth quarter began, the Lions needed to carry their momentum into the final frame if they had any hope of winning the game. After forcing a Rowan fumble in the end zone, the Lions took possession of the ball and used 10 plays to move 80 yards downfield in one of their best offensive drives of the season.
The drive was capped off by a nifty one-yard halfback touchdown pass, as senior running back Leeaire Brown found sophomore tight end Mike Thormann in the end zone to cut the Profs lead to three.
However, it was not enough and the Lions were unable to complete the miracle comeback as the Profs' potent offense secured the victory. In the fourth quarter, Profs junior quarterback Mike Orihel, kept the ball and ran it in for a one-yard touchdown, turning the tide and putting his team up 30-20 with just 6:20 remaining. The play was set up by a 43-yard run by junior running back Ulysses Encarnacion.
Credit the Profs for eventually putting this game away, but the Lions defense also came up big. "Our defense kept us in it," junior wide receiver Ryan Ross said. "We were able to put some points up, just not enough."
The Profs were able to control much of the game with their powerful running attack led by the duo of Encarnacion and sophomore running back Rob Richardson who rushed for 115 and 109 yards respectively. Likewise, Orihel, who threw for 40 touchdowns last season, had another productive game completing 21 of 33 passes for 248 yards and a touchdown.
Despite the forgetful first half and the loss, Lions optimistic head coach Eric Hamilton saw his squad become a football team in the second half. "What's encouraging is not only did we come back, we played with a lot of focus and intensity," Hamilton said.
The Lions came out strong to start the third quarter. "We were a different team," Hamilton said. "We were making great plays. It felt like last year all over again."
Following a Lions punt, sophomore wide receiver Vern Feigenbaum came up with a fumble recovery, giving his team a good scoring opportunity with quality field position. Sophomore quarterback Jeff Struble was able to put the Lions on the board with a nine-yard touchdown run seven minutes into the second half.
The Lions then gave their faithful followers who made the 70-minute trip to Glassboro something to cheer about when Ross returned a Profs punt 80 yards for the score. The play was set up by the Lions defense that held the Profs to a three and out, forcing them to punt.
"I got the ball on the 20 and then got some key blocks," Ross said. "I was tackled and rolled forward, but there was no whistle so I popped back on my feet and kept going." Ross' extraordinary run capped a two minute, 13 point swing for the Lions.
With critical mistakes and uninspired play in the first half, the Lions put themselves in a deep hole in the first two quarters. "We did everything badly and you can't do that against the fourth-ranked team in the country," Hamilton said of his team's first-half performance.
With an early fumble in one of their opening drives, the Lions turned the ball over, setting up an easy 26-yard touchdown run for the explosive Encarnacion. "We botched a field goal, and with 41 seconds left in the half, we gave up a cheap touchdown," Hamilton said.
Although the Lions' defense was able to hold the Profs to three field goals, Orihel eventually found senior wide receiver Phil Silva in the corner of the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown reception to close the first half.
The question remains whether this team will carry over their excellent second half play into next week's game. With a 1-3 overall record and an 0-2 conference record, the Lions will need to come out strong for their conference match up against William Paterson University on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
(10/05/05 12:00pm)
Although it seems destined for the American League playoffs to boil down to a Yankees-Red Sox showdown, the Angels and White Sox will look to disrupt the powers that be and try to knock off their respective opponents in the divisional series that started yesterday.
In the Angels-Yankees matchup, New York has the clear advantage at the plate with experienced, powerful hitters who've knocked in the second most runs in the league, behind only the Red Sox. Likewise, their hitters know how to work the count and have combined to walk 200 more times than the Angels.
However, what the Angels lack in power at the plate, they make up for on the bases. They lead the league with 154 swipes, led by versatile speedster Chone Figgins, who has nabbed 62 bases while appearing in every position except pitcher, first base and catcher. Although their second leading RBI man, Garret Anderson, has been nursing a sore back, all-world outfielder Vladimir Guerrero will have to come up as big as he has all season for the Angels.
Each team has a solid bullpen, so don't expect too many late-game heroics in this series. By moving former starter Kelvim Escobar to the pen, Angel's manager Mike Scioscia adds another strikeout specialist to help set up closer Francisco Rodriguez finish games. The Yankees still have the greatest postseason closer of all time in Mariano Rivera and former closer turned setup man, Tom Gordon.
The starting pitching is the question mark in this series. Because the Angels have the advantage of getting their starting rotation in line, they get the nod here. That means leading Cy Young candidate and 20-game winner, Bartolo Colon, will get a chance to pitch two games if the series goes to five. He'll be followed by John Lackey, whose 199 strikeouts rank him third in the league, and Jarrod Washburn, who will start game three on the road, where he sports a 2.65 ERA.
The Yankees will rely on late-season acquisition, Shawn Chacon, who has given up just two runs in his last four outings and journeyman Aaron Small, who has won his first 10 decisions since resurrecting his career. In addition, the Yanks will look to get a strong start from Randy Johnson who has gone 4-0 in September, but will not be available until game three. For game one, the Yanks will go with Mike Mussina, who has had some recent elbow problems, but will come into the game on six days rest. The Yanks may not get enough from their starting rotation so I'll take the Angels in this series.
Boston-Chicago: For the Red Sox, the good news is that their first round opponents, the White Sox, have not won a postseason series since 1917. However, Boston fans know full well that baseball curses are not meant to last forever.
Although nearly blowing a 15-game divisioanl lead, the White Sox pulled it together late in the season and have won eight of their last 10 games, including a season ending sweep of the Indians. Moreover, the White Sox know how to win close games, going 35-18 in games decided by one run, and their starting pitching should keep them in this series.
Former Yankees pitcher Jose Contreras has beecome the staff's ace, winning his last eight starts while allowing just seven runs in his last five outings. He will be followed by soft-tosser Mark Buehrle, who was pounded for six runs on 12 hits the last time he faced Boston, and Freddy Garcia, who has won his last two outings.
The Red Sox bring to plate the most productive lineup in baseball, scoring a run more per game than the White Sox. Boston features a pair of intimidating hitters in leading MVP candidate David Ortiz, who has an uncanny knack for coming up with clutch hits, and outfielder Manny Ramirez. The duo has combined to hit 92 homeruns and 292 RBI this season.
However, the Red Sox starting pitching has been less than impressive this year and they are without a starting pitcher with an ERA below 4.00. In addition, Curt Schilling, has been slow to regain last season's form, posting an ugly 5.69 ERA and a mediocre 8-8 record this season.
The bullpen has been the Achilles heel for the Red Sox. With Keith Foulke done for the season, Mike Timlin has stepped in as the interim closer and has been less than reliable, going 12 for 19 in save opportunities. With a thin group of middle relievers, Boston will have to rely on rookie Jon Papelbon to pitch critical innings.
On the other side however, the White Sox will rely on rookie closer Bobby Jenks to finish off games. Jenks will be helped, though, by former closer Dustin Hermanson, who will be available for late-inning relief. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has said he will retire if Chicago wins the World Series. Despite the lack of playoff experience, Guillen may be headed for early retirement as the Sox take the series.
First round predictions: Chicago in five, LA-Anaheim in five.
(09/28/05 4:00pm)
With a pair of 2-0 shutout victories against Ramapo College and Richard Stockton College this week, the women's soccer team now finds itself atop the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) and ranked third in the latest NSCAA/adidias Division III national poll with a 7-0 overall record.
Showing good possession and aggressive play, the Lions were able to put together several scoring opportunities in each game while limiting their opponents to only a handful of unproductive shots.
Despite the modest two-goal performances, the Lions created plenty of scoring opportunities, a good sign for the offense.
"We created a lot of chances, but our finishing wasn't very good," head coach Joe Russo said.
The Lions jumped out to an early lead against Stockton, as sophomore forward Dana DiBruno collected her ninth goal of the season off a deflection from sophomore forward Beth Pagano in the 40th minute.
The play was set up by a cross from sophomore midfielder Kristen Cubicciotti.
The Lions added an insurance goal in the second half, as freshman forward Allie Schilling converted on a well-timed feed from Pagano.
With the win, the Lions handed Stockton their first conference loss and snapped the Ospreys' three-game winning streak.
On Wednesday, the Lions dominated play, keeping the ball in Ramapo territory for most of the game while outshooting the Roadrunners 29-2.
Once again, DiBruno put the Lions on the board early as she cashed in on a short feed from Cubicciotti from within 18 yards.
The play was set up by a long throw-in from junior defender Courtney Krol. Later in the half, the Lions added another goal. Senior forward Brittny Boyd dribbled up the near side and chipped a perfect cross to the far post, where freshman defender Jillian Casey was able to one-touch the ball into the net for her third goal of the season.
Lions goal keeper Alissa Kacar enjoyed her team's defensive effort, as she needed just one save against the Roadrunners and three against the Ospreys to earn her third and fourth shutouts of the season.
The two games marked the first two appearances for the Lions on their home turf, which plays much quicker than a traditional grass field. However, the Lions were able to maintain possession and play well together.
"The possession is starting to come along," Russo said. "We're just getting used to this surface."
The Lions hope to carry this momentum into Wednesday's game against conference rival Rowan University for their 5 p.m. matchup.
(09/21/05 4:00pm)
In its best performance so far this season, the Lions' football team picked up its first victory with a convincing 42-20 trouncing of Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham at home on Friday night.
Junior quarterback Chris Bell got the first start of his career and took advantage of a weak Devil's defense, throwing for 253 yards and three touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Ryan Ross and running back Cory Schoonover each scored a pair of touchdowns.
Although the Lions' offense looked strong the entire game, piling up 305 total yards, the game went back and forth into the third quarter.
In the third, the Devils took advantage of the Lions' inept special teams following a 65-yard scoring drive from the College to score the go-ahead touchdown for a 20-14 lead.
After a bad snap, Lions' senior place-kicker Blake Abbott, who was named last week's New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) special teams player of the week, tried to pick up the loose ball but fumbled on the four-yard line allowing Devils sophomore defensive back Derek Gregory to swoop in for an easy touchdown.
"Our special teams were unbelievably bad," head coach Eric Hamilton said. "There's no excuse for any of that to happen."
Despite squandering their lead, however, the team showed poise by responding and controlling the game from that point on, scoring four unanswered touchdowns.
By making use of good field position, the Lions put together a 48-yard drive, capped off by a five-yard touchdown run from senior running back Leeaire Brown, who rushed for 53 yards on the night.
After another 48-yard drive that ended with a Schoonover touchdown, the Lions found themselves up 28-20 in the fourth quarter with an opportunity to put the game away.
With over seven minutes left and the game still undecided, the Lions put the hammer down by converting on a fourth-and-three in a big way. Bell found Ross streaking down the left sideline for a beautifully placed 25-yard touchdown strike.
Ross finished with a game high 101 yards receiving to go along with five catches.
The Lions tacked on one more touchdown for good measure on a bizarre but remarkable defensive play. Sophomore defensive back Jeff Bower laid a hit on sophomore wide receiver Robert Felicitta, stripping the ball at the same time. Bower then found fellow sophomore defensive back Mike Ferris on a lateral that Ferris took to the house for a 35-yard touchdown return.
Going into the game, both teams were desperate for a win. The Devils were winless against the College, having won just three games in the past three seasons combined. In addition, the Devils were coming off a 49-3 beat down in their home opener against Delaware Valley College.
The Lions, on the other hand, could not afford to start the season 0-3 and needed some momentum for their next game against conference rival Rowan University.
"All I wanted was to get the win," Bell said after the game.
Hamilton also felt the importance of the win, especially for the younger players on the team. "They need to know what it feels like and what it takes to win," he said.
If not for the mental mistakes, the game would have been a complete blowout for the Lions. In addition to the botched snap that gave the Devils an easy touchdown, the Lions had their first punt attempt blocked, giving the Devils great field position. That allowed Devils junior quarterback Dan Huff to put his team on the scoreboard early in the game as he capped off the 23-yard drive by rushing for a two-yard touchdown.
The Lions are off this week. They will have an extra week of practice to help them prepare for their biggest game of the year on Sept. 30 when they will go on the road to face Rowan, who is 2-0 so far this season.