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(10/06/04 4:00pm)
The College's women's soccer team earned their 100th victory in Lions' Stadium last Wednesday after a 3-0 shutout win over their rival, the Profs of Rowan University.
The Lions now boast a 100-3-7 record on their home turf and have given up fewer than 20 goals in 110 games.
"This was an important win," head coach Joe Russo, who has been with the Lions through each of their 100 wins, said. "It's a credit to every single kid that's been through our program."
After 40 minutes of play, senior midfielder Katie Egan scored her first goal of the season as she connected with a cross from senior midfielder Lynda Schuster and shot the ball past sophomore goalkeeper Gabrielle Ditchey.
Just five minutes later, sophomore forward Caitlin Brennan found a quick pass from freshman midfielder Christine Cavallo and sent the ball into the back of the net to bring the Lions to a 2-0 lead at halftime.
But the Lions still had another fierce half to play.
"We knew that we could not let up even a little bit or else they would have taken advantage of the situation," Egan said. "We fought hard to keep them out of their game and make them play to ours."
In the end, the team's perseverance paid off.
The Lions sealed the win over the Profs as this week's New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Rookie Player of the Week, freshman midfielder Dana DiBruno, tallied the third goal of the game off a cross by Egan.
"Winning the game felt great because it was another step in the right direction for this team," Egan said.
In total, the Lions boasted a 23-3 shot and 13-4 corner kick advantage.
This was the 10th time the Lions faced the Profs and the Lions now lead the series 9-0-1.
Later in the week, the Lions crushed the Scarlet Raptors of Rutgers-Camden 6-0, to add another shutout win to their record.
In their sixth shutout of the season, the Lions scored just as many goals and still managed to maintain a tight defensive line to thwart off any offensive attacks. They did this so well that, while the Lions pounced on the Raptors' defense and broke through with a total of 25 shots, the Raptors only sported three shots on Lions junior goalkeeper Alissa Kacar the entire game.
"Our defense is known to be a solid, stingy and relentless group of girls who know the meaning of hard work," Egan said. "They know what it takes to shut out teams and they strive for that every game."
The first of these shots to reach the net came after the Lions were awarded a penalty kick when junior forward Brittny Boyd was pushed down in the box. Senior midfielder Lauren DiStefano took the kick, which was deflected but not caught by the Raptors' sophomore goalkeeper Tracy Stonaker. Boyd capitalized on the loose ball and swiftly planted the rebound into the net.
With the Lions leading 1-0, Brennan stepped up and headed a cross off a corner kick by Egan for the second goal.
In the second half, the Lions continued to score, starting with two goals from Boyd and Schuster in the first two minutes of the half. Boyd connected a cross from Schuster in mid-air and senior forward Stephanie Peters lobbed a shot over Stonaker's head from about 20 yards away making the score 4-0.
As if that was not enough, freshman midfielder Kristen Cubiccotti and DiBruno assisted and scored the Lions' final two goals, respectively.
"The Rutgers-Camden game was surrounded by a lot of emotion this year," Egan said. "Last year was the first time they had ever beaten us and our team was not going to let that happen again."
The Lions now lead their series history with Rutgers-Camden 3-1 and improve to an 8-1-1 record overall with a 5-0 NJAC record. This also continues their 49-game winning streak at home, which dates back to their last home loss on Oct. 14, 1998 - a 2-0 decision to William Paterson University.
"Although our final goal is to win the NCAA Championship, our team's theory this year has been to take each game one step at a time and I think we have been successful in doing that," Egan said. "Our coach's saying is that, in order to be the best in the country, you have to be the best in your own backyard."
Up next for the Lions will be a non-conference match-up at Gwynedd-Mercy College on Thursday at 4 p.m.
(09/29/04 4:00pm)
The College's women's soccer team improved their overall record to 6-1-1 this week with victories over two New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) teams.
Last Wednesday, the Lions triumphed over the Roadrunners of Ramapo College, dominating the game with a 21-3 shot advantage and a 10-0 corner-kick margin over their opponent.
Outrunning the Roadrunners for most of the first half, the Lions first took the lead when sophomore midfielder Caitlin Brennan fired a shot off a cross by sophomore midfielder Lisa Kokotajlo.
"I was completely fired up, along with the rest of the team after I put the first goal in the net," Brennan said. "We had many opportunities in the beginning of the game and, once one goal was scored, we were ready to add a few more."
However, the Roadrunners were also ready and prepared to fight back.
With only 17 seconds left in the first half, Ramapo's sophomore forward Christine Andreyko snuck a goal past Lions' junior goalkeeper Alissa Kacar to tie the game at one. In 11 meetings with the Lions, this was the first time that a Roadrunner had put one past a Lions keeper.
In the second half, tension mounted as the score remained tied.
But senior midfielder Lynda Schuster soon netted the Lions' second goal when she converted a pass from freshman forward Dana DiBruno.
And that was not the end.
Schuster, this time assisted by senior midfielder Lauren DiStefano, added an insurance goal just six minutes before the final whistle.
The closing score stood at 3-1 and the Lions remain undefeated in their series history with the Roadrunners, 11-0.
"We were very excited about the 3-1 victory over Ramapo," Brennan said. "We would have definitely liked to add in a few more goals to our lead, but we left Ramapo's field with another win so we were very content."
A similar outcome ensued at Saturday's contest when the Lions posted a 4-1 win over the Ospreys of Richard Stockton College (RSC).
"Coming into the game on Saturday, the freshmen were unaware of how big the game really was," DiBruno said. "We were trying to learn about the huge rival from the older players on the team."
The team certainly figured out their competitors quickly. As in their previous contest against Ramapo College, the Lions dominated the game against Stockton boasting an 11-3 shot advantage and a 7-1 corner-kick margin.
The Lions also dominated the scoreboard. Senior midfielder Stephanie Peters tallied her first goal of the day at the 15-minute mark off a cross from junior forward Brittny Boyd. Ten minutes later, Peters followed up a hard shot by DiStefano and sunk her second goal of the evening giving the Lions a 2-0 lead.
But with seven minutes remaining in the half, the Ospreys fired back. Senior midfielder Dana Ash cut the Lions' lead down to one as she launched an unassisted ball past Kacar.
In return, DiBruno converted the rebound of freshman midfielder Christine Cavallo to end the half at 3-1.
"Our goal was perfect timing because it put us in a great position to start the second half," DiBruno said. "Mentally, it gave us a little advantage."
A final goal was then added shortly into the second half by Boyd who headed a cross from Schuster. Boyd now has three goals and three assists on the season.
Osprey junior goalkeeper Becky Baisley finished up the game with eight saves for RSC while Kacar finished with three stops for the Lions.
After adding these two recent wins to their record, the Lions have a positive outlook on the rest of the season.
"We have a very good feeling about this season," Brennan said.
"It is not common to have such a talented group of seniors and leaders and we are all looking to take advantage of it," DiBruno said. "We are taking each game one at a time and concentrating on the present."
Today the Lions will have a home conference game against rival Rowan University at 5 p.m.
(09/22/04 4:00pm)
The women's soccer team triumphed 2-0 over the Red Hawks of Montclair State University (MSU) in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) opener on Thursday night.
"Because it was our fist NJAC game, we knew that we had to work our hardest to get the win," senior midfielder Stephanie Peters, who scored the Lions' final goal, said.
And they did.
However, for the first part of the game, play was fairly even and concentrated primarily around midfield.
Together, both teams took only six shots in the first half. But just prior to the 15 minute mark, one of those shots found its way past Red Hawks sophomore goalkeeper Kristen Kuhmann, to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.
Junior Brittny Boyd scored the goal. Boyd broke through the Red Hawks defense chasing a dump pass from senior defender Shannon Scott and placed the ball into the lower right corner despite the effort of the Red Hawks diving goalkeeper.
The Lions retained their 1-0 lead into halftime.
In the second half, Peters, assisted by sophomore midfielder Lisa Kokotajlo, added an insurance goal when she fired a shot into the lower left corner from about five yards out. This is the fourth goal for Peters this season.
Junior goalkeeper Alissa Kacar aided in the shut-out with a pair of stops. She now has four shut-out wins for the season.
Kuhmann picked up six saves for MSU.
This is the 18th time the Lions have faced the Red Hawks. The overall series record for the Lions stands at 16-1-1.
"(Because of this history), we knew that they would be gunning for us so we knew how crucial it was for us to stick together and play our hearts out," Peters said.
After this victory, the Lions improve to a 4-1-1 season record and are ranked ninth in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division III poll.
As for the rest of the season, Peters said the team is "going to take it one game at a time and give it 110 percent."
The Lions will ride out to face Ramapo College of New Jersey today at 4:30 p.m. in their second NJAC game of the season.
(09/15/04 4:00pm)
It was a bittersweet weekend for the College's women's soccer team at the Esprit DIII Tournament in North Carolina.
The Lions, ranked 10th according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Adidas Division III Pre-Season Poll, suffered their first loss of the season in the first game of the tournament against the University of Puget Sound Loggers on Saturday morning, 3-2.
The Lions then came back to shut out Emory University, 3-0, in their second game of the weekend.
"The tournament was definitely a really important one," senior midfielder Lynda Schuster said. "The opportunity to play two top 10-ranked teams was something we needed."
The Lions began the first game with a quick goal by senior midfielder Lauren DiStefano. Just 40 seconds into the game, DiStefano shot one past the Loggers junior goalkeeper Erin Williams to give the Lions an early lead of 1-0.
But the Loggers struck back. Eighteen minutes after the Lions' goal, junior forward Cortney Kjar tied the game at one when she scored off the dribble from 12 yards away. Five minutes later, Kjar scored again off a cross from junior forward Elizabeth Pitman.
The score would remain tied at one through the rest of the first half.
In the second half, Kajar, completing her hat trick, scored from the 18 yard line giving UPS a 3-1 advantage. The Lions fought back with one more goal to tighten the margin but the Loggers held on for the win, 3-2.
"We didn't get the outcome we were looking for but I think it was the wake-up call our team needed," Schuster said.
The Lions swore the next game would be different. And it was.
On Sunday afternoon, in their last game of the tournament, the Lions again took an early lead against the Emory University Eagles as senior midfielder Stephanie Peters connected with Schuster and DiStefano at the 10-minute mark to make the score 1-0.
D?j? vu set into the minds of the Lions. But, this time, they made sure to avoid a come-back win from their opponent.
"After losing to UPS, we realized what we needed to do was to come together as a team and win against Emory," Schuster said.
A little before halftime, Schuster scored off a cross from junior forward Brittny Boyd to stretch the Lions lead to 2-0. The Lions would hold the advantage into halftime.
Schuster then sealed the win with an unassisted goal from the 18 yard line.
"I felt great knowing I could help contribute to the win," Schuster said. "Even though we got unlucky a few times, hitting the post twice in a row, the important thing is that we finished on the chances we had and didn't allow their offense the chance to do anything."
Schuster's two goals and one assist, together with the Lions' almost impeccable defense which held the Eagles to only two shots and two corner kicks, clinched the game for the Lions.
"In the game against Emory, we pulled it all together," Schuster said. "Our defense played amazing and our offense and midfielders worked very well with each other passing and creating scoring opportunities."
Furthermore, junior goalkeeper Alissa Kacar went home with her third shutout of the season.
After their victory over Emory, the Lions remain confident that they will accomplish the high, but feasible goals they set for themselves this season.
"I think our team this season is going to be amazing," Schuster said. "We set our goals back in August - on the first day of preseason - and we plan to be practicing and playing until the last possible day of the season. Each and every player on our team is amazing and I think that with all of us working together, as a team, there is nothing that will stop us from reaching our goal of being national champions."
After this weekend, the Lions record stands at 3-1-1. Up next for the team will be their first New Jersey Athletic Conference game of the season against Montclair State University at Lions' Stadium tomorrow at 7:30pm.
(04/07/04 4:00pm)
The College's men's and women's track and field teams posted six NCAA Division III provisional qualifying times, among other accomplishments, at Princeton University during the Sam Howell Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
"Six qualifying times is very good for early in the season," head coach Steve Dolan said. "The team competed very well."
On the women's team, sophomore Tiffany Clark led the Lions with two strong performances. She won the 400-meter run with an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 55.92 and was also a member of the Lions' 4x100 relay team, which came in first place with another provisional time of 48.52. Freshman Khristelle Manuyag and sophomores Brittny Boyd and Kate Powell were part of the relay team as well.
Another NCAA provisional time was hit by senior Beth Vesey in the 1,500-meter run, placing third with a time of 4:40.22. With a time of 10:00.16, Vesey took second place in the 3,000-meter run.
Senior Lindsay Scarborough ran the steeplechase for the Lions, which is a relatively new event for women. It consists of a foot race of usually 3,000 meters over a track with hurdles and a water jump.
"This is only the third year it's been an NCAA event," Scarborough said. "But it's getting more popular."
Scarborough finished the steeple with a provisional time of 11:11.09 and walked away with second place.
"I'm happy with my time," Scarborough said. "I'm still learning how to hurdle though, so I expect to be able take more off my steeple time than if I were running a flat 3K."
The men's team also posted a few NCAA qualifying times.
Notably, senior Kevin Semanick had an impressive showing in the 400-meter hurdles. Semanick won the race and finished with an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 53.59 seconds
Also, junior Brian Donovan, in his first time competing in the 10,000-meter run, picked up an eighth place finish with an impressive NCAA provisional qualifying time of 31:15.24.
Originally, Donovan was hesitant about running 10,000 meters. "It's such a long race," he said. "I told myself I would never run it."
But after some encouraging words from his coach, Donovan ran the race and now has no regrets.
"Twenty-five laps around a circle actually weren't as bad as I thought they were going to be," he said. "I was having fun with it."
Donovan even has plans for future 10,000-meter races. "I just squeezed in by only five seconds this time so I have to run faster next time," he said. "Hopefully, if I do well the next time I run it, I'll be running at nationals."
Another provisional time was met by freshman Jeff Zodda, who picked up second place in the 800-meter with a time of 1:53.23.
Overall, the team is very proud of its performances considering its competition.
"It's cool to see how the team stacks up against Division I schools," Scarborough said. "It's a great feeling to run past someone who is probably getting paid to be there and know you're just out there because you want to be."
This genuine determination will guide the team towards future victories as the season progresses.
"We've seen improvements from the first week to the second week and we're building momentum for the meets later on in the season," Dolan said. "I'm pleased with everyone's efforts."
(03/31/04 5:00pm)
The men's swimming and diving team competed at the three-day 2004 NCAA Division III Men's Swimming & Diving Championships hosted by Principia College last week.
Defending NCAA Division III Champion, Kenyon College collected its 25th straight team title after accruing 678.5 points. The Lions finished in 14th place with 79 points.
The Lions earned 18 All-American honors.
In the 200-free relay, the Lions' foursome of sophomore Jeff Glenn, freshman Kyle King, senior Steve Nepola and junior Nick Steffanci had a time of 1:24.42 to finish ninth in the event and earn All-America Honorable Mention honors.
Similarly, the Lions collected All-America Honorable Mention honors in the 200 medley relay. With a time of 1:34.49, the men finished in 12th place nationally.
Swimming the relay was sophomore Steve Swenson and juniors Davy Bisslik, Jack O'Donnell and Steffanci.
After receiving All-American status, the relay team collectively expressed their gratitude.
"It's an honor to be called an All-American," Bisslik said.
"I feel like a champion," Swenson said.
In the 400-free relay, the Lions team finished 10th nationally with a time of 3:07.31. This earned the foursome of Glenn, King, Bisslik and Steffanci All-America Honorable Mention honors.
An even greater showing came in the 400 medley relay when the Lions posted a seventh place finish with a time of 3:26.01 to earn four swimmers All-America honors. The medley relay consisted of Bisslik, senior Wes Donnelly, King and Swenson.
In the 100-breast, Swenson finished in 12th place nationally to collect All-America Honorable Mention status after recording a time of 57.24 in the finals.
However, Swenson does not take all of the credit for his achievement. "I think a lot of it had to do with my new suit that I wore this year," Swenson said. "It has good technology put into it."
Swenson and his suit also finished 11th nationally in the 200-breast to collect All-America Honorable Mention honors."I just swam with my heart in that race," Swenson said.
He posted a time of 2:03.95 and just missed breaking the College's record of 2:03.74.
Swenson anticipates even higher accomplishments in the future."I'm expecting to break it next year," Swenson said.
Overall, the team is looking to improve on this year's placing.
"Some of us swam our best times but, in general, we didn't have the best swims all around," Bisslik said.
"However, I think we have a great team and next year it's going to be an even better team," he added.