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(04/04/07 4:00pm)
The baseball team went 4-2 last week, dropping two in a doubleheader against Kean University and picking up wins against William Paterson University, Neumann College, Gwynedd-Mercy College and Johns Hopkins University.
Slipping to No. 13 in the latest American Baseball Coaches Association Division III poll, the Lions are 11-6 overall and 1-2 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).
"We do not even bother with standings; they do not matter to us at all," senior catcher Gerard Haran said. "We were No. 1 most of last year and I would trade all those rankings to get back to the where we were in the postseason."
On Saturday, the Lions fell 7-0 and 4-2 to the No. 7 ranked Cougars of Kean University in a home doubleheader NJAC matchup. Those were the first two conference losses for the Lions in the young season.
In the first game, Cougar senior pitcher Joseph Augustine threw a complete game shutout against the Lions, giving up only three hits and striking out seven.
"He had good off-speed stuff," sophomore pitcher Eric Gertie said. "He changed his speeds, hit spots and just kept us off balance all day."
Haran, senior first baseman Blake Bullis and senior third baseman Matt Zonies were the only Lions able to get a hit.
Kean put two runs on the board during the top of the second inning and never looked back. Senior shortstop Perry Schatzow led the offense for the Cougars, going 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI.
Senior pitcher Brian Kraus took the loss on the mound for the Lions after 5-1/3 innings of work and three earned runs off seven hits.
The second game saw Kean pull away 3-1 in the top of the sixth inning when junior outfielder Eric Ammirata and senior first baseman Eric Richard drove in one run each. Richard broke Kean's career hit record during the game, placing the new mark at 196 hits.
Senior pitcher Blake Ortiz suffered his first loss of the season after seven innings and giving up three earned runs off eight hits. He is now 2-1 on the year.
"You have to give Kean the credit that they deserve; they are a great ball club with a lot of talent," Haran said. "We just got outplayed today; we got beat in every facet of the game. Bottom line is that they are a great team, and we cannot keep playing the way we are playing against teams like that. We have as much talent as everyone else. It is just not translating into wins. I think that if we stick with it, keep working hard, we will be alright. We have to play better and we know that."
The Lions opened up NJAC play on the road with a tight 7-6 win over William Paterson on Thursday.
The Pioneers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning, but with a key hit from senior outfielder Jeff Botti the Lions came roaring back. In the top of the eighth inning Botti produced a game-tying single to score Haran and even the score at five.
In the top of the ninth, Haran knocked a two-RBI single into left field to give the Lions the lead for good. Haran finished the game going 4-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored and three RBIs.
Senior pitcher Dave Waseleski picked up the win in relief of junior pitcher Mike Oliver. Waseleski put in 4-2/3 innings of work, allowing one run off three hits, and Oliver went 4-1/3 innings with two earned runs off eight hits.
The Lions blasted Neumann 17-3 last Tuesday in a game that saw the Lions get 14 hits and 11 RBIs.
Both Haran and junior short stop Jeff Toth connected for solo home runs. With his home run, Haran extended his College record to 40.
In the top of the ninth, the Lions poured on seven more runs with only two hits.
Junior pitcher Nick Amable earned his first win of the season for the Lions. He pitched 5-1/3 innings and allowed two earned runs.
The Lions offense continued to roll on March 28 when they picked up a decisive 14-7 victory over the Griffins of Gwynedd-Mercy. Leading the offensive effort for the Lions were senior second baseman Andrew Cosgrove and senior left fielder PJ Anzelone. Cosgrove pounded a two-run home run out of the park in the third inning while Anzelone hit his own home run in the sixth, driving in three runs.
Junior Bob Buskett earned his first win of the season on the mound for the Lions. He pitched for 5-1/3 innings and allowed three earned runs off of five hits.
The Lions defeated No. 19 ranked Johns Hopkins University 8-2 on Monday.
After leading 1-0 going into the fifth inning, the Lions offense broke out for five runs off three hits.
Botti added his first home run of the season in the eighth inning, pushing the Lions' lead to 8-0. He finished the game 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs.
Buskett picked up the win on the mound for the Lions after pitching seven scoreless innings, yielding only three hits with three strikeouts. He is 2-0 on the season.
"It is tough right now because I feel like we are not playing to our full potential," Bullis said. "But we are playing around with the positions and the lineup, changing up a few things. We are getting into the NJAC games now and I think we will be fine."
The Lions' next game will be a conference game against Richard Stockton College on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
(03/28/07 4:00pm)
The College's baseball team fell in its home opener on Thursday against Ursinus College by a score of 5-2.
The loss drops the No. 4 ranked Lions to 8-4 on the season, while Ursinus improves to 8-3.
"I think we still have a lot of work to do," junior pitcher Bob Buskett said. "We are playing good baseball and are winning games, but we are going to have a lot more fun once we play our best baseball."
Lions junior center fielder Dave Mebs started the offense by hitting a double down the first base line, leading off the bottom of the first inning. After advancing to third, Mebs scored via a sacrifice fly ball to give the Lions the lead.
A double by senior second baseman Andrew Cosgrove in the bottom of the second allowed him to score an unearned run later in the inning to double the Lions' lead.
The Bears' managed to tie the game during the top of the fourth inning. Needing only one hit, Ursinus crossed the plate twice after a double and a fly out to center field.
Taking the lead in the fifth inning, the Bears used a sacrifice bunt to move runners into scoring position. Sophomore first baseman David Randolph singled to right field for Ursinus, earning two RBIs and the game winning hit. The Bears tacked on another run in the top of the sixth due to a pitching error, extending its lead to 5-2.
"We could not get anything going after we fell behind by three runs," sophomore infielder Vince Mazzaccaro said. "Once we were not getting any runs, we tried to get them all back at once. So, as the game went on we kept putting more and more pressure on ourselves."
With 10 players left on base, the Lions fought hard but could not capitalize on runners in scoring position.
The Lions almost broke through in the bottom of the ninth inning. With two outs, senior infielder Matt Zonies doubled to center field. Mebs and senior right fielder Jeff Botti both walked to load the bases, but a groundout by senior designated hitter Gerard Haran ended the game for the Lions.
Junior pitcher Brad Kittle suffered the loss on the mound for the Lions. After six innings pitched and four earned runs his record falls to 1-2 this year.
"Our (pitching) staff as a whole has not been pitching to our potential," Buskett said. "Our entire staff has returned from last year and with the experience and talent that we have, there is no substitute for success. Things are going to get a lot better from here on out, and be ready to watch some exciting baseball."
Friday's game against Haverford College was rained out and will be played on a later date.
The Lions will host Gwynedd-Mercy College today at 3 p.m. in a game that was rescheduled from March 23.
(03/21/07 4:00pm)
While a late winter storm blew over New Jersey, the College's baseball team battled the heat in Phoenix on its way to an 8-3 record during its spring training visit to Arizona.
The trip out west saw the No. 4 ranked Lions outscore their opponents 115-71 and tally double-digit run totals on six different occasions.
Opening up the season with a shutout, the Lions trounced the Wartburg College Knights by a score of 14-0. Senior catcher Gerard Haran slammed his first home run of the season in the second inning, extending his school record to a total of 36 home runs.
Senior pitcher Brian Kraus picked up the win on the mound, allowing only four hits during his six-inning clean sheet.
On March 12, the Lions pulled off a 4-3-6-2 triple play against the Alvernia College Crusaders to end the game for a 15-9 victory.
With the bases loaded and no outs in the top of the ninth, the batter lined out to the Lions second baseman, who then threw the ball to first to turn the double play. The ball was dropped at first but the first baseman recovered, threw the ball back to second and managed to get the runner out there. The runner on third headed home and was thrown out to end the game.
Junior outfielder Dave Mebs had four RBIs and two runs scored.
Senior pitcher Brian Kraus went more than five innings in the no-decision and was named New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Pitcher of the Week.
Two losses during the trip came at the hands of No. 2 ranked Wheaton College. After 11 innings on Sunday, the Lions were edged by the Thunder 8-7. Senior left fielder PJ Anzelone walked with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth to score the tying run, sending the game into extra innings.
After the Lions scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th inning, the game was moved to a field with lights on account of darkness. Wheaton took advantage of the switch, scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning to clinch the game.
On March 16, in a game that saw 36 runs scored, the Lions fell to Wheaton 23-13. After leading 3-2 going into the top of the fourth, the Lions surrendered four runs to relinquish the lead. Another 13 runs by Wheaton over the next two innings put the game out of reach.
On Saturday, the Lions outlasted the Keene State College Owls 8-7 through 12 innings of play. With the game tied at seven in the bottom of the 12th, senior outfielder Jeff Botti led off with a single to right field. Later in the inning, Keene called upon freshman pitcher Mike Riley with the bases loaded and two outs. The first pitch was a passed ball, allowing Botti to score and seal the game.
Senior pitcher Bill Opel earned the victory, giving up just four hits and a pair of runs.
Against Macalester College, junior pitcher Brad Kittle took the loss after five innings, surrendering four earned runs off 10 hits. Macalester senior pitcher Ted Kimble subdued the Lions through nine straight innings, allowing only eight hits and two earned runs. Senior second baseman Andrew Cosgrove knocked his first home run of the season in the losing effort.
Squeaking by Johns Hopkins University 5-4 on Wednesday, Anzelone scored the winning run to give the Lions the win.
With the game tied at four, Anzelone led off the top of the ninth with a single. Anzelone scored when Mebs singled to left field after advancing to third via a sacrifice bunt and ground out.
The Lions posted another victory on March 12 as they bested Denison University 17-4.
Junior shortstop Jeff Toth's pair of three-run home runs paced the Lions against Denison. Haran and senior first baseman Blake Bullis each added three RBIs in another impressive display of the Lions offense.
Junior pitcher Mike Oliver was awarded the win after five innings and seven strikeouts.
One of the Lions' most decisive victories came against Keystone College in a 16-3 win last Saturday. Scoring six runs during the top of the fifth inning, the Lions took control as they pushed the score to 10-2.
Scoring 16 runs from 20 hits, the Lions were efficient in their offensive explosion. Anzelone and junior first baseman Bill Kropp each tallied a team-high four RBIs. Anzelone went 4-for-5 at the plate while Kropp was 2-for-5.
The Lions also picked up victories against Springfield College 8-5 and the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse 10-0.
Ranked No. 4 in the nation among Division III schools, the Lions are the favorite to win the NJAC Championship and should contend for the National Championship this year.
The Lions will begin a three-game homestand, starting with Ursinus College on Thursday at 3 p.m.
(03/21/07 4:00pm)
Countless children dream of turning their love for a sport into a professional career. Graduate Derick Grant is one of the fortunate and talented few that turned his dream of playing basketball for a living into reality.
When Grant was 7 years old his father took him to see the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters. The experience sparked Grant's love for the game.
"I remember that at the game, my father bought me a Globetrotters mini-basketball," Grant said. "I played with it so much that before I knew it the red, white and blue ball was worn out and colorless."
When he returned to the area at Sovereign Bank Arena on March 10 as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters, Grant took advantage of the chance to entertain and brighten the lives of a new generation of children.
"When I was 7 years old, I looked up to the Globetrotters and thought, 'Wow, they are so cool, it would be a great opportunity to be like them one day,'" Grant said. "Now, I am blessed to be in a position where kids come up to me and look up to me. It is an honor and I definitely do not take it for granted."
After being scouted at a basketball camp in Florida, Grant was offered a job with the New York Nationals (the Globetrotters' usual opponents). His play for the Nationals impressed management enough to earn him a spot on the Globetrotters' roster.
Recognized around the world as ambassadors of goodwill, the Globetrotters have traveled from city to city for the past 81 years captivating audiences and promoting a positive environment for younger fans.
In addition to playing games, players routinely visit elementary schools in an effort to promote the importance of character development. A Globetrotter is not only a basketball player, but an enthusiastic role model for children, charged with the responsibility of instilling positive life lessons.
"(Derick) is very personable and outgoing; that is one of the reasons why we like him," Globetrotters head coach Mike St. Julien said. "This is his first year with the team so he is learning and doing a great job."
Prior to the game on March 10, Grant and three other Globetrotters presented to the young crowd the organization's C.H.E.E.R. for Character Program. The acronym C.H.E.E.R. stands for cooperation, healthy mind & body, effort, enthusiasm and responsibility. Using only a basketball and their engaging humor, Grant and his teammates entertained the crowd while promoting these characteristics to the young audience.
Aside from basketball, Grant and the Globetrotters incorporated hilarious player commentary and on-court interaction with the fans. The experience was marked by periods of uncontrollable laughter from the fans and incredible athleticism.
After the game, fans were allowed to come down to the court. Grant and the Globetrotters took the time to sign hundreds of autographs.
"Sometimes I forget about what I do and I go out and someone asks me for my autograph," Grant said. "It is a great feeling to be recognized and to be approached like that."
Before graduating in 2005, Grant participated in 101 games and started 72. He netted a career average of 15.3 points per game and was named an All-American after his senior year. His speed, ball handling skills and shooting talents helped Grant become the third-leading scorer in Lions history with 1,543 points.
When asked what was the most useful thing that he learned while playing for head coach John Castaldo and the Lions, Grant responded by saying "patience."
"I was a pretty good scorer in high school and then I came to college freshman year and did not play much," Grant said. "Coach just told me to be patient and that my time would come. Patience helps when you are on the road for four months straight, playing every day. You never know what is going to happen from game to game."
Already contemplating life after basketball, Grant says he might pursue becoming a pilot when his playing days are over.
"I'm definitely interested in pursuing becoming a pilot after my career is over with; when it will be over with I can't say now, but it is definitely something that interests me."
The immediate future for Grant involves traveling around the country, promoting the game of basketball and goodwill to the next generation.
(02/28/07 5:00pm)
Surpassing expectations, the men's basketball team had a successful season that ended in a first-round New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) playoff loss to Ramapo College.
The Lions ended the year with a record of 12-14 overall and 5-8 in the conference. Going into the season, the Lions were projected to finish ninth in the NJAC.
Besting its preseason ranking, the College placed third in the NJAC South Division and qualified for the postseason.
"When you combine this with us only returning 10 players from last year's lineup and no starters, I feel us winning 12 games, finishing in 3rd in the South Division of the NJAC and making the playoffs is good foundation to build upon," head coach John Castaldo said. "We've had big wins over Jersey City, William Paterson, Montclair, a triple-overtime win over Muhlenberg and some good hard-fought games."
Two senior players, guard Brian Halligan and guard Drew Rosenfeld, will not be returning next year. Halligan served as one of the team leaders this season, starting all 26 games. He finished second on the team in scoring with 11.3 points per game and led the team in steals with 41 on the season.
Rosenfeld played in all 26 games this season, contributing 3.6 points, 1.2 rebounds and two assists per game off the bench.
"Drew and I know what it is like coming up through the program," Halligan said. "I am glad we could provide the young guys with a learning experience. Mark (Aziz) and Corey (Gilmore) are going to be a force next season. It is all about confidence and experience, and those two, I think, will be great leaders."
Junior forward Mark Aziz, guard Corey Gilmore and forward Jeff Warner will look to become the senior leaders going into next season.
Aziz carried the Lions all season and was one of the Lions' top players this year, leading the team in scoring (14.9 points per game), rebounding (6.1 per game) and blocks (42). He is ranked 10th in the conference in scoring and was named to the NJAC Men's Basketball All-Conference Honorable Mention Team.
Gilmore started every game at point guard for the Lions and led the team in assists with 3.2 per game. He was third on the team with 8.1 points per game and averaged 2.5 rebounds.
Warner added 5.7 points and three rebounds per game for the Lions this season while starting 14 games.
The rising senior class does not have the only players that can make an impact in the upcoming season.
Sophomore guard Jeff Molinelli and freshman guard Jay Frank should play an even larger role in the future. Frank averaged 6.8 points and 2.2 rebounds per game, while Molinelli averaged six points and 3.1 rebounds per game.
"For next year, in the offseason, I plan to work out extremely hard in the weight room ... and I am going to be taking about 300 shots a day while working on my defense," Frank said. "For my sophomore year I expect to be an integral part of our team's success. As a team, we will improve greatly."
(02/21/07 5:00pm)
The season is over for the men's basketball team as it came up short against Ramapo College in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Playoffs First Round game after qualifying for the postseason with a win over Rutgers University-Camden (5-19).
The College finished the season with a 12-14 overall record and went 5-9 in the NJAC.
Monday's 77-61 playoff loss to Ramapo College ended the Lions' season. The Roadrunners led by only three points at halftime, 31-28, thanks to a strong eight- point first half by senior guard Brian Halligan.
The Lions tied the game at 33 early in the second half thanks to a three-point shot by sophomore guard Jeff Molinelli. Ramapo then pulled away with a 9-0 run to push the score to 42-33. Outshooting the Lions 66.7 percent to 35.3 percent during the second half, the Roadrunners took control of the game, leading by as many as 18 points before the final buzzer.
Going into the game, head coach John Castaldo knew the game would be a difficult one for the Lions to win.
"In terms of our preparation for the playoffs we know we are surely the underdog going up to a well-balanced, experienced Ramapo team that handled us pretty good a few weeks ago," Castaldo said. "We'll prepare to play solid defense, take good shots and play aggressively." The Lions were dominated in the paint 38-18, while the bench players were outscored by Ramapo 25-9.
In his final game, Halligan led the Lions with 17 points, six rebounds and five steals. Molinelli and junior forward Mark Aziz joined Halligan in scoring double-figures with 12 and 10, respectively.
The Lions qualified for the tournament after Kean University fell to Rutgers-Camden 86-77 on Saturday.
"I went crazy when I found out that we were in the playoffs," Molinelli said. "I could not believe that we got in. It is just an amazing feeling."
Wednesday's 70-56 victory over Rutgers-Camden kept the Lions' playoff hopes alive.
"The win was important for two reasons," freshman guard Jay Frank said. "One reason was because it still kept us in the playoff hunt. The second reason it was important was because if this was our last game, we wanted to make sure that Shaggy (Halligan) and Drew (Rosenfeld) went out with a win."
Despite out-rebounding the Lions 22-17 in the first half, the Scarlet Raptors could not convert the extra possessions into points. The Lions shot 46.2 percent from the field during the first half, while holding Rutgers to just 24.1 percent. The Lions led all the way during the first 20 minutes, taking a 29-18 lead into halftime.
Rutgers improved its shooting during the second half to 54.5 percent, but was still bested by the Lions' blistering 57.6 percent shooting. The Lions controlled the game throughout the half and led by as many as 30 points en route to a 70-56 win.
Halligan paced the Lions in his final game, scoring a game-high 19 points. Junior guard Corey Gilmore added 13 points and Aziz rounded out the Lions' double-digit scorers with 10 points. Senior guard Drew Rosenfeld also contributed seven points and a career-high nine assists.
For Rutgers, senior forward Sydney Francis recorded a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds.
The win over Rutgers was the 200th career victory for Castaldo. Closing out his 14th season as the men's basketball coach, Castaldo has amassed a record of 200-148 while coaching for his alma mater.
"The 200th win is nice combined with my 210 wins in high school. It just means I have been coaching for a while," Castaldo said. "To me the value is placed more on the positive impact on the lives of the players that have played for me. The players that have played for me have also given 110 percent on and off the court. At times it doesn't show in the win/loss column, but in the end it shows up in real life."
(02/14/07 5:00pm)
The men's basketball team will not reach the postseason after dropping both of its games this week to Richard Stockton College and Rowan University. Both opponents are ranked first and second, respectively, in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) South Division.
The Lions' overall record stands at 11-13 and 4-8 in the NJAC.
Saturday's 81-61 loss to the Rowan Profs (17-5) put the Lions out of NJAC playoff contention. Rowan took control of the game early, jumping out to a 21-7 lead thanks to a 15-0 run early in the first half. The teams then traded baskets until the 6:33 mark.
Junior forward Mark Aziz led the Lions' 14-3 charge late in the first half, contributing 10 points during that span. However, Rowan closed the half with eight straight points en route to a 40-27 halftime lead.
Rowan extended its lead during the second half to as much as 30 points. The Lions managed to cut the lead to 21, but a dominant 28-point scoring performance by Rowan senior guard Thomas Baker helped put the game out of reach.
Aziz was the only Lions player to score in double-digits, netting 22 points.
Only one game remains for the Lions as their young team looks to the future.
"I think we have grown a lot; we have all become close as a team," freshman guard Jay Frank said. "I think both the coaches and players have grown with each other. I think we have learned what is expected and how good we are going to be in the years to come."
"We fought real hard coming down the stretch," senior guard Brian Halligan said.
"There is one more game left and we plan on playing hard. Hopefully, we can end the season on a good note and give the younger players some momentum going into next season."
On Wednesday, the College hosted Richard Stockton (16-7) and were defeated 66-58. With 14:11 remaining in the first half, the teams were deadlocked at 14.
The Ospreys took control with a 14-0 run, receiving a huge boost from junior guard Mario Lancioni. His 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting propelled the Ospreys to a 32-21 halftime lead. Lancioni would finish the game with 18 points and four assists.
Led by junior guard Corey Gilmore's 10 second-half points, the Lions would work their way back to within four, 45-41. However, sophomore guard Jerome Hubbard found his shooting touch late in the game for the Ospreys, draining four consecutive three-point shots.
"I just think their players have much more experience and knew how to handle the runs we made by making the runs of their own," Frank said. "It did not help us when Jerome Hubbard hit four threes, which really were the daggers."
Including the four shots from Hubbard, the Ospreys shot a perfect 5-for-5 from behind the three-point line after the Lions pulled to within four.
Despite forcing 23 turnovers while only committing seven, the game ultimately was decided by outside shooting. The Lions shot 17.4 percent (4-for-23) from the three-point line and allowed the Ospreys to convert 64.3 percent (9-for-14) of their three-point attempts.
Aziz paced the Lions in scoring with 14 points and six rebounds. Gilmore also finished the game with 14 points.
The Lions close out their season at home tonight against Rutgers University-Camden at 8 p.m.
(02/14/07 5:00pm)
Even though spring is not yet upon us, the men's tennis team unofficially began its season hosting an unscored exhibition match against the University of Delaware Blue Hens in the annual Lions' Spring Kickoff.
The Lions were successful in doubles matchups, taking six out of eight matches. In singles matches the Blue Hens had the edge, winning all eight matches.
"We were very pleased with the way our doubles teams performed," head coach Scott Dicheck said. "Obviously, our singles matches did not go so well. I do not know whether it was the matchups, but we will sit down and figure things out for next week. I'm optimistic about our competition next week."
Because Delaware is an NCAA Division I program, the event could not count toward official records or national standings. Both teams used the event to practice in a competitive environment before the actual season began.
The Lions' first doubles team, consisting of junior Michael Klimchak and sophomore Roger Mosteller, were able to win both of their exhibition matches.
"Roger and I got a chance to work on our doubles formation and gain some confidence going into next week," Klimchak said.
Klimchak dropped his first singles match later in the exhibition.
"My opponent played with the type of game that gives me a lot of trouble," Klimchak said. "He keeps a lot of balls low and just did not allow me to get into a groove."
Splitting their two doubles matchups were sophomore James Vance and freshman Jeremy Eckardt.
"Practice matches are always helpful to work out kinks in your game," Vance said. "It is helpful to play against Division I competition to fine-tune your game."
The Lions begin their official scoring season on Saturday at 10 a.m. against St. Lawrence University in the Student Recreation Center.
(02/07/07 5:00pm)
The men's basketball team suffered losses this week at the hands of Kean University and Ramapo College. Both contests were New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) games, dropping the Lions' record to 11-11 overall and 4-6 in the conference.
With only three regular season games remaining, all of which are against conference teams, the Lions will have to win at least two if they want to participate in the NJAC playoffs.
"You never know who is going to make it into the playoffs and who is not," senior guard Brian Halligan said. "We are going to win as many of these upcoming games as we can to try and get in."
Wednesday's away game against the Kean Cougars resulted in a 75-57 loss for the Lions. As a result, both teams were tied for the third and final playoff slot in the NJAC South Division.
Midway through the first half, the Cougars pulled away with a 12-0 run to give them a 10-point lead.
Rallying behind junior guard Drew Rosenfeld and freshman guard Jay Frank, the Lions responded with a 13-3 spurt of their own. Rosenfeld and Frank each had five points during the run that saw the Cougars' lead cut to two points. Late in the half, Kean netted a pair of free throws to close the half with a 29-25 lead.
During the second half, the Cougars extended their lead to 11 points with just under 10 minutes remaining.
The Lions managed to trim the lead to just four points on two occasions, but the Cougars sealed the game with a 21-7 run.
"We did not shoot well throughout the game," sophomore guard Jeff Molinelli said. "Twice we got within four points but no one could step up and get us over that hill."
The Lions shot only 28.6 percent from the floor on 56 shot attempts, while the Cougars made 49.2 percent of their attempts.
Frank and Rosenfeld came off the bench and led the way in scoring for the Lions. Frank scored 15 points and was perfect from the free throw line (8-for-8), while Rosenfeld notched 13 points and two steals.
The Lions also fell 74-55 to NJAC North Division leader Ramapo at home on Saturday.
Both teams seemed evenly matched early in the first half. With the score tied at 14, junior forward Assad Shaakir gave the Roadrunners the momentum with a put-back dunk. After that, the pace of the game increased in favor of the Roadrunners as they led 32-23 at halftime.
"They are such an athletic and fast team that we tried to keep the game at a slower pace," Halligan said. "But after the game began to pick up, we started to make more mistakes and the game got a little out of control."
Poor shooting, especially from behind the three-point line (10 percent), kept the Lions from bringing the lead down to less than 10 points. The Lions offense was also disrupted by Ramapo's double-teaming after the ball crossed half court.
After trailing by as many as 16 points, the College cut the lead to 11 after a Ramapo technical foul. The Roadrunners sank two straight baskets to suppress any Lions comeback.
Again, the Lions shot poorly from the field (34.5 percent) while converting only six of their 26 three-point attempts.
"You can either live by the three or die by the three," junior forward Mark Aziz said. "And we died by the three. We just could not seem to make our shots and they continued to play well."
Aziz led the Lions in scoring with 16 points, seven rebounds and four blocks. Four Ramapo players reached double-digits, including sophomore forward Tim Wesley's 19-point, 10-rebound performance.
"You are never out of the playoffs until the last game," Aziz said. "We have a few games left and hopefully we get a few wins to help us make it into the tournament."
The Lions play a home conference game tonight against Richard Stockton College at 8 p.m. and another NJAC game against Rowan University on Saturday.
(01/31/07 5:00pm)
The men's basketball team split its two New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) matchups this week by defeating William Paterson University at home and coming up short on the road against Rutgers University-Newark. The Lions' record stands at 11-9 overall and 4-4 in conference games.
On Jan. 24, the College edged visiting William Paterson University 56-53 in an up-and-down game for both teams. Neither team started off strong, with the first basket coming over two minutes into the game.
The Lions then caught fire, going on a 17-3 scoring streak to give them a 30-26 lead going into halftime.
In the second half, the Lions pushed their lead to 10 points, the largest lead of the game.
With the score at 45-35, the Pioneers went on a blistering 15-4 run of their own. Capped by a three-point shot by junior guard Da-Shawn Dwight, the run gave the Pioneers a one-point lead with 6:37 remaining.
Dwight had a game-high 19 points and was the only Pioneer to score in double digits.
The Lions fought back to regain a lead 54-50 lead with 19 seconds remaining in the game.
After a Pioneers three-pointer, freshman guard Jay Frank hit two clutch free throws to put the Lions up by three. The game was sealed when Pioneers senior forward Luis Martinez missed a three-point attempt as time expired.
A key to victory for the Lions was solid defense. They held the Pioneers to just 32.8 percent shooting throughout the game.
"We switched up our defenses quite often during the game in an attempt to confuse Paterson," head coach John Castaldo said. "It seemed to work and they were not shooting well."
Junior forward Mark Aziz continued to pace the Lions in scoring with 16 points. Senior guard Brian Halligan contributed 11 points and seven rebounds, while junior guard Corey Gilmore finished with 10 points and five rebounds on the night.
The Lions forced 20 Pioneers turnovers while committing 18 of their own.
"The Paterson game was a good win for us," Castaldo said. "Paterson was the preseason favorite to win the conference and was ranked as high as seventh nationally during the course of the season. We were picked ninth so it was a good win for our young team."
The College dropped Saturday's contest at Rutgers-Newark 76-52, denying Castaldo his 200th career coaching victory.
Despite matching the Scarlet Raiders in the first half, the Lions had no answer for the opposing team's offensive onslaught during the second.
Rutgers-Newark mounted a game-breaking 28-9 run that put the game out of reach. During that run, senior guard Philippe Slater had 10 of his game-high 21 points.
The lead grew to as much as 27 points for the Scarlet Raiders, as they shot 54.4 percent from the field during the half.
Aziz once again led the Lions with 18 points and four rebounds. His performance was followed by Halligan's 13 points and three steals. Frank was the third Lions player to reach double figures, scoring 10 points off the bench.
"We played hard and would have liked a win against Rutgers-Newark, but we got a huge win against William Paterson earlier in the week," sophomore guard Jeff Molinelli said. "We just have to come out hard on Wednesday at Kean (University) and get another key conference victory."
The Lions visit Kean University tonight at 8 p.m. and host Ramapo College at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
(01/31/07 5:00pm)
The College's women's basketball team went 0-2 on the road this week, falling to Mount St. Mary College and Rutgers University-Newark. The Lions' record dropped to 8-11 overall and 3-5 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).
The Lions lost an away game to Mount St. Mary on Wednesday by a score of 67-57. It was a tale of two halves defensively for the Lions. They played well in the first half, taking a 31-30 lead into halftime while holding the Blue Knights to just 37.9 percent shooting from the floor.
"In the second half, Mount St. Mary's had a lot of open looks in the paint," head coach Dawn Henderson said. "They ran a little play against our zone and we didn't adjust to it very well."
The Lions allowed the Blue Knights to shoot 51.9 percent from the floor in the second half and outscore the Lions 37-26. The Blue Knights had four players score in double figures, led by junior forward Jackie Markert's 10 points and 10 rebounds.
"We didn't capitalize on their mistakes when we had the opportunities," Henderson said. "They seemed to score every time we made a mistake."
Junior guard Sara Best led the way for the Lions with 12 points, five rebounds and two steals. Senior forward Breanne Dempken added eight points and eight rebounds for the Lions, while sophomore center Hillary Klimowicz, freshman center Alexandra Gregorek and sophomore guard Alyssa Michella each chipped in seven points.
On Saturday, the Lions fell on the road 59-48 to the Scarlet Raiders of Rutgers-Newark.
Henderson outlined the goals for the team going into the game.
"We need to play intense half-court defense, limit our opponents to one shot, take care of the ball on offense (and) convert layups and free throws," Henderson said.
The Scarlet Raiders began the game with a 24-8 opening run led by junior forward Toni Roselli. During the run, Roselli converted four straight three-point attempts. She would finish with a team-high 15 points, shooting 5-for-6 from behind the three-point line.
The Lions responded with scoring from five different players to creep their way to a 26-19 halftime deficit.
The Scarlet Raiders improved their shooting from 36.4 percent in the first half to 52.9 percent in the second half.
The Lions would not rebound from a 15-2 early second half run by the Scarlet Raiders that gave them a 41-26 lead with 14:50 remaining. The College would trail by as little as nine points until the final buzzer.
The Lions barely out-rebounded the Scarlet Raiders 35-34 and committed fewer turnovers (21-17). The College shot only 6-for-11 from the free-throw line and 2-for-17 from behind the arc.
The poor three-point shooting led to a 33.9 shooting percentage for the game.
Klimowicz tallied a team-high 14 points in the losing effort. She also added seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
Best was the only other Lions player to score in double figures with 10 points in the contest.
The loss to Rutgers-Newark marked the first time opposing head coach Kevin Morris was able to pull out a win against Henderson. Morris had previously dropped the last 11 meetings between the coaches.
"We're struggling right now," freshman guard Erin Drulis said. "We are trying to pull everything together to get into the NJAC tournament at the end of the season."
The Lions visit Kean University tonight at 6 p.m. and host Ramapo College on Saturday at 1 p.m.
(01/24/07 5:00pm)
The men's basketball team had an up-and-down winter break, tallying four wins while dropping four. Its overall record stands at 10-8, with a 3-3 mark in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).
"With us losing seven players last year and six players the year before via graduation, we are in a bit of a rebuilding mode," head coach John Castaldo said. "We have been working hard and are currently gaining that much needed experience and confidence."
On Jan. 17 the Lions defeated Rutgers University-Camden 65-62 in overtime. The game was sent into overtime after senior guard Dane Nicholson pulled the Scarlet Raptors even. Junior forward Mark Aziz scored the game-winning shot from the baseline with 22 seconds remaining in the extra frame. He would finish with a team-high 18 points. Halligan sealed the win by blocking a potential game-winning shot on the other end of the court just before time expired.
On Dec. 20, the Lions lost a tight one, 64-63, at home against St. Mary's College (Md.). St. Mary's junior guard Tyson Lesesne would need all of his team-high 21 points to overcome the Lions. His game-winning shot from the baseline with two seconds remaining sealed the win for the visiting team. The Lions were led by Aziz's double-double_ - 11 points and 11 rebounds - and a team-high 13 points from guard Jeff Molinelli.
The College began the new year with a 70-53 home win over Valley Forge Christian College. Coming out sharp after a two-week layoff, the Lions jumped out to a 34-23 lead at halftime and never looked back.
A balanced attack gave the Lions the victory with four players scoring in double figures. Freshman guard Jay Frank led the way with 15 points. He was followed by Aziz and Molinelli with 13 points and 11 points, respectively, and junior guard Corey Gilmore had 10 points as he rounded out the group.
Taking advantage of a rematch with St. Mary's College on Jan. 5 in the opening round of the Casa Mia Tournament at DeSales University, the Lions dominated in a 93-73 win. The high-scoring victory was made possible by a blistering 58.7 field-goal percentage. Junior forward Jeff Warner tallied a career-high 26 points to pace the team. Senior guard Brian Halligan had a career game in scoring with 20 points in the contest, while Aziz added 21 points and seven rebounds.
Splitting the games with St. Mary's College is an example of the Lions' potential to play exceedingly well, despite losing many key players in the last two seasons.
"All of our players need to continue to work hard, develop and improve, and most importantly, become more consistent. It is my hope that the consistency comes with experience," Castaldo said.
The Lions fell in the second round of the tournament to host DeSales University, 76-64. DeSales took control of the game midway through the first half with a 17-6 run, giving the host a 15-point lead at halftime. The second half saw DeSales extend the lead to as much as 24 points.
Attacking from long range, DeSales outscored the Lions 33-9 from beyond the arc. Frank led the Lions in scoring with 16 points, and Aziz put forth another solid performance with 14 points in the loss. For the Bulldogs, senior guard Steve Kriczky scored a team-high 21 points.
On Jan. 10, the Lions lost 66-57 against Richard Stockton College in their first conference game of the break. Down only one point at halftime, the Lions played the Ospreys close until the second half. A 23-point and 13-rebound performance by Ospreys senior forward Jon Greene led his team to a 37-29 second-half lead over the Lions. Gilmore was the high-man for the Lions with 18 points in the game.
The Lions were defeated at home 68-59 on Jan. 13 in another conference game against Rowan University.
Rowan led 40-30 at the break with the help of 12 first-half points by senior guard Thomas Baker. He would finish the game with a team-high 23 points. Halligan led the Lions with 17 points.
The Lions came back with a convincing 73-51 win over Brooklyn College two days later.
The Lions dominated defensively, out-rebounding Brooklyn 47-33 and holding the opposing team to just 31.1 percent shooting. Another key to the Lions' success was a balanced scoring attack. Three Lions finished in double-digits. Aziz finished with 24 points and Halligan scored 20 in the win. Freshman guard William Jett was the third man in double figures, finishing with 10 points.
With a winning season thus far, the Lions' head coach outlines what the team needs to do going forward in the season.
"I think we are still searching for our identity and hopefully we will continue to develop in the weeks ahead," Castaldo said. "With such a young team I really don't have an expectation (other) than us working hard every day to become a better team."
The Lions' next game is at home tonight against William Paterson University at 7 p.m.
(12/06/06 5:00pm)
The College's men's basketball team kicked off New Jersey Athletic Conference play with a 72-70 win over the New Jersey City University (NJCU) Gothic Knights.
After a loss to the University of Scranton Royals Monday, the Lions are 4-3 overall and 1-0 in the conference.
The Lions took a 31-28 lead into halftime against the Gothic Knights thanks to dominance from the three-point line. Taking aim from long-range, the Lions shot 45.5 percent from three-point territory while holding the Gothic Knights to just 25 percent in the half.
Senior guard Brian Halligan paced the Lions in the first half by draining four three-pointers and grabbing 10 rebounds. He finished the game with a double-double, 16 points and 14 rebounds.
After the half, the Lions built a 44-30 lead with the help of sophomore guard Jeff Molinelli.
His back-to-back three-pointers began a run of five straight shots for the Lions. It also sparked an offensively impressive second half, in which the Lions shot 63.3 percent from the field on 14-for-22 shooting.
"It started the half on the right foot," Molinelli said about his early second half shooting. "It was a great way to begin the half, and we all started hitting shots after that."
Freshman guard Josh Lopez responded for the Gothic Knights by scoring 10 points in under a minute, including three straight three-pointers. Until that point in the season, Lopez had only recorded nine points total. He finished the game with 20 points and four rebounds.
Two Lions turnovers allowed NJCU to pull within four, 71-67. Another Lopez three-pointer made it a one-point game. Junior forward Mark Aziz was fouled with 25 seconds remaining and made one of two free throws to put the Lions up by two.
With time expiring, Lopez missed a three-point shot to win the game. His only misfire of the night ensured a Lions victory.
Aziz finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Junior guard Corey Gilmore also chipped in a career-high 15 points.
"It is huge to start off well by winning our first conference game," Molinelli said. "Not a lot of people expected us to get this win, and I think it will give all of us a lot of confidence as we continue the season."
The Lions lost 71-49 against the Royals on Monday night.
Scranton sophomore forward Paul Biagioli scored a career-high 18 points for the Royals in his first career start. Royals sophomore forward Paul Hawk collected a double-double on 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Lions junior forward Jeff Warner led the Lions with 18 points on 7-for-12 shooting, including 4-for-9 from three-point range.
Aziz picked up seven points and had a team-high five rebounds as the the College was out rebounded, 38-23.
In the loss, the Lions shot 36.5 percent from the field and 55.6 percent from the free-throw line, while the Royals shot 51.8 percent from the field and 80 percent from from the line.
The Lions' next game takes place tonight against the Cougars of Kean University at 8 p.m.
(11/29/06 5:00pm)
For the second straight year, the College's women's soccer team finished second in the NCAA Division III national tournament, falling this time to Wheaton College (Ill.) 2-0 on Saturday in Florida.
The Lions finished out their season at 18-2-3, with both losses coming at the hands of the Thunder.
"I feel for the kids (since they had) their hearts ripped out two years in a row," Lions head coach Joe Russo said. "It just wasn't our day. You have to give credit to Wheaton; they are a very good team."
Disney's Wide World of Sports in Florida played host to the Lions' final two games.
Both Wheaton goals were scored in the first half by junior forward Sarah Richardson. The first came in the 16th minute, when Richardson buried a shot into the net from the right side of the penalty box. Then, with five minutes left in the half, Richardson settled a cross in the middle of the box, turned, and fired a shot to net her 21st goal of the season.
There were a couple of scoring opportunities for the Lions, despite being limited to only three shots on goal for the game. Junior defender Courtney Krol, always a threat to score off direct kicks, just missed one high from 35 yards out. Also, a good shot from freshman forward Briann McDonough was denied by a diving save from junior Thunder keeper Kristin Eggert.
For the Lions, freshman keeper Jessica Clarke finished the game with four saves, while Eggert recorded three saves for the Thunder.
The Lions ensured their place in the NCAA Division III Finals by winning three games earlier in the tournament.
In a rematch of last year's NCAA Championship game, the Lions got some revenge by defeating Messiah College 1-0 in double overtime on Friday. The game-winning goal, scored by Krol, came two minutes into the second overtime. Krol played a long ball from midfield into Messiah's penalty box that bounced over the head of the keeper and into the vacant goal. Although not conventional, the goal gave the Lions a shot for the championship.
"It was a strange ending without a doubt," Russo said.
On Nov. 19, the Lions defeated Amherst College at home in a dramatic penalty-kick shootout.
With the NCAA Sectional Final game scoreless through 110 minutes of soccer, both teams sent out five kickers and a keeper to decide the contest. Clarke dominated in the spotlight, shutting down the first two Amherst shooters.
"I could tell which way both of them were going to shoot from looking at their eyes and the way their hips were," Clarke said. "I was happy that I could help my team in the way that I did."
Meanwhile, Krol, sophomore midfielder Erin Cunliffe and freshman midfielder Kristina Shemming each found the back of the net on the first three Lions penalty kicks.
Clarke watched as freshman midfielder Meg Murphy sent the third shot for Amherst flying off the crossbar, giving the Lions the win.
The Lions were victorious over Middlebury College 1-0 in their second game of the tournament. Krol launched another long direct kick from 25 yards out that sailed just over the keeper's head and under the crossbar.
"I tried to put it on goal," Krol said. "After I hit it I knew it had a real good chance of going in."
The goal came 28 minutes into the contest and would be the deciding one for the Lions.
Clarke made three saves in the game, while sophomore keeper Adele Plunkett turned away eight shots for Middlebury.
Sophomore midfielder Laura Delaney, junior forward Kristin Cubicciotti and sophomore forward Jamie Kunkel were named to the All-Tournament Team in recognition of their excellent play.
Next season, the Lions will only lose one player, senior forward Christine Mullin, to graduation. Keeping most of the team intact and gaining another year of experience, the team looks to make another run at a national title next year.
"Playing in the NCAA tournament is by far the most exciting part of the season," junior forward Dana DiBruno said. "As a team, we are confident in our abilities and have gained more experience playing (in) the tournament."
(11/15/06 5:00pm)
The women's soccer team easily advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division III Soccer Championship by dominating Villa Julie College in a 10-1 game Sunday at the College's Soccer Complex. The Lions are 16-2-1 on the season.
"We knew we had to come out strong and dominate early," sophomore defender Courtney Krol said. "I think we made a statement to the rest of the teams in the tournament that we are ready."
The Lions certainly made a statement with their overwhelming performance. Outshooting the Mustangs 24-4 and earning six corner kicks while allowing none, the Lions controlled the game.
In the fourth minute, junior forward Dana DiBruno put the Lions on the board by placing a low shot into the right corner of the net. Then, with the ball bouncing around in front of the Mustangs' goal, DiBruno netted the game-winning goal 10 minutes into the game. Senior forward Christine Mullin and junior midfielder Kristen Cubicciotti recorded the assists.
"It is important to play the ball into space and make good passes to get our players open," Mullin said. "We knew they liked to pack their defenders into the center of the field and play a bunker-style defense. Our passes to the corners of the field exploited their game plan."
Indeed, the Lions were able to control the game offensively by continuing to play good passes to the outside of the field. Goal-scoring opportunities came from effective passing and numerous crosses from the corners.
The shooting remained constant when sophomore midfielder Laura Delaney put the Lions up 3-0 by heading a cross from Cubicciotti into the far side of the net. Shortly thereafter, Mullin fought a Mustangs defender off the ball and placed her shot past freshman goalkeeper Casey Brown.
Junior forward Beth Pagano also recorded a goal by launching the ball into an open Villa Julie net, giving the Lions a 5-0 lead heading into halftime.
Junior defender Toni-Anne Cavallo kept the Lions rolling in the second half. Her header 48 seconds into the period was her first goal of the season. Sophomore midfielder Nicole Papola then found herself one-on-one with the keeper after a well-placed cross from Mullin. Papola calmly stuck her shot into the top left corner of the goal, pushing the Lions' lead to 7-0. Sophomore midfielder Coleen Weber continued the barrage, hammering a low shot into the net for her third goal of the season.
Another goal from Pagano and an own goal that rolled into the Mustangs' net rounded off the Lions' scoring.
Villa Julie's lone goal came with just 2:35 left in the game. It was scored by junior forward Tonia Cristino, her team-leading 16th of the season.
Splitting time in the net for the Lions was freshman Jessica Clarke and sophomore Amy Hashem. They combined for one save.
Brown made eight saves for Villa Julie, while freshman backup Kristina Lopez recorded one save.
"We put forth a great effort today with our passing and ball control," Delaney said. "All the girls played very hard today."
Next for the Lions is a home matchup against Middlebury College on Nov. 18 to begin the third round of the tournament. After a win, the Lions would play the next day.
(11/08/06 5:00pm)
The College's eighth-ranked women's soccer team captured the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship with a 1-0 win over Montclair State University. The Lions advanced to the finals by way of a 2-1 victory over Kean University earlier in the week.
Saturday's contest was the fourth time the Lions have faced the Red Hawks in the conference finals in the last five years. They have dominated tournament play, winning 11 NJAC Championships in the last 13 years. With the win, the Lions earned their 16th straight bid to the NCAA Division III Championships.
"We have played well so far in the postseason and have gotten two wins, but we know we can play even better," sophomore midfielder Coleen Weber said. "Last year, we were on top of our game heading into the national tournament, and we need to prepare ourselves so we can make it back to the finals again."
Even though the NJAC Championship game featured a tight score, the Lions pressured the Red Hawks for much of the contest. Dominating the game in shots on goal, 25-3, and corner kicks, 11-1, it was just a matter of time before the Lions broke through and found the back of the net.
The winning goal was scored by sophomore forward Jamie Kunkel with 32 minutes left in the game. Kunkel connected on a long shot from outside the penalty box, finding the right panel of the net. The goal was her second of the postseason and her fifth of the year.
"After I cut the ball back I looked up and saw an opening," Kunkel said. "I knew a cross would not do much good so I tried to put the ball in the far right side of the goal."
Freshman goalkeeper Jessica Clarke made three saves in the shutout effort. Senior Kristen Kuhmann, Montclair's NJAC Goalkeeper of the Year, managed 10 saves in the game.
In the semifinal game held last Wednesday, the Lions defeated the Cougars of Kean University in a 2-1 home win. Kunkel got the Lions on the board by scoring her fourth goal of the season. Converting a pass from freshman defender Kyle Campisi, Kunkel put the Lions up by a goal just 19 minutes into the game.
The Cougars answered back with a 39th-minute goal from senior forward Heather Anzivino. The goal was Anzivino's 19th of the year, leading all conference scorers.
In the second half, junior forward Kristen Cubicciotti gave the Lions the go-ahead goal, placing the ball past freshman goalkeeper Nicole Groszew. Freshman midfielder Melissa Martin set up the goal, completing her first assist of the year.
Clarke picked up three saves in the win, while Groszew turned away eight shots.
"Both teams in the postseason were very good teams that posed huge challenges for us," head coach Joe Russo said. "We will try to keep getting better every day ... and see where that takes us."
"At this point you cannot get by with skill alone, because in NCAA competition everyone has skill," Kunkel said. "It is the team that is willing to work the hardest that is going to win games ... and that is what we are going to do."
(11/01/06 5:00pm)
With four more wins, the women's soccer team finished out the regular season ranked eighth in the nation with an overall record of 13-1-2. The Lions also went undefeated in conference play for the third straight year, sporting an 8-0-1 record.
"We went into every game expecting to come out on top," sophomore forward Allie Schilling said. "Losing was just not acceptable to us. The ties even felt like losses, but overall, we did a good job during the regular season."
Receiving the top seed in the conference tournament, the Lions will host a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) semifinal game tonight against Kean University at 7:30 p.m.
"We have a very serious mindset heading into postseason," sophomore forward Jamie Kunkel said. "Our practices are becoming more intense ... Every team we face from now on is going to be good."
The Lions defeated William Paterson University 4-1 on Oct. 19. The game did not start off well for the Lions, as an attempt to clear the ball was deflected backward into the net two minutes into the game. Sophomore Amanda Kurdyla was awarded the goal for the Pioneers.
Later, sophomore defender Jillian Casey answered back just five minutes later for the Lions, tying the game at one. Junior forward Dana DiBruno followed up by redirecting a nice cross into the back of the net in the 26th minute.
In the second half, sophomore defender Courtney Krol added to the lead by burying a direct kick from 40 yards out. The night ended with a goal from sophomore midfielder Coleen Weber, her first of the season.
Freshman goalkeeper Jessica Clarke picked up the win for the Lions. For the Pioneers, goalkeeper Jessica Reibis made 12 saves, while Kurdyla recorded the last nine minutes in net and made two saves.
On Oct. 21, the Lions pounded University of Mary Washington in a 9-0 victory. The first half featured two Lions goals, one from junior forward Christine Mullin and the other from Krol.
During the second half, the Lions erupted for seven goals. DiBruno began the half with her eighth goal of the season, while Kunkel chipped in with two goals of her own.
Sophomore midfielder Erin Cunliffe put the Lions up 6-0 with her first goal of the season. Junior forward Beth Pagano added two more scores on the board, before junior midfielder Christine Cavallo completed the night with a goal of her own.
Clarke needed one save for the shutout, while her counterpart, Laura McCarthy, managed 10 saves for the Eagles.
The Lions continued their scoring spree with a 13-0 crushing of New Jersey City University last Monday. The game was 20 minutes shorter than usual, as referees enforced the mercy rule. Mullin began the game with a game-winning goal in the second minute.
DiBruno, Schilling and sophomore midfielder Nicole Papola then pushed the score to 4-0 with goals of their own. Freshman forward Kelly Feeney netted her first collegiate goal with a blast from 30 yards out. Then, Cunliffe ended the first half barrage by finishing a pass from Cavallo.
Cunliffe completed a hat trick in the second half by adding two more goals to her total. Freshman forward Briann McDonough followed suit by tallying two goals of her own.
Freshmen midfielders Kristina Shemming and Mamoko Aoe added to the barrage by netting goals of their own. Junior defender Jenn Olszewski capped off the night with her first goal of the season, giving the Lions a 13-0 win. All four Lions keepers saw time in the victory.
In their last regular season game, the Lions defeated Rowan University 4-0. After an early foul in the box, Krol put a penalty kick past Profs goalkeeper Melissa Hall.
DiBruno then converted off a pass from Kunkel for her team-leading 10th goal. Krol then set up Weber off a long throw-in to put the Lions up 3-0 before halftime. Mullin, the Lions' only senior player, scored the final goal of the regular season.
Clarke did not even need a save to amass her eighth shutout of the season. Hall made 12 saves for the Profs.
Heading into the postseason, the Lions are not taking anything for granted.
"We just have to take one game at a time and focus on playing our absolute best from now on," Casey said. "Anything can happen in these upcoming games, but we will be ready."
If the Lions win the NJAC semifinals tonight in Lions' Stadium at 7 p.m., the NJAC Championships will take place this Saturday.
(10/18/06 12:00pm)
In a game that featured nationally ranked teams, the Lions received its first loss of the season in a 3-2 overtime match against Wheaton College. The last time the Lions dropped a regular season contest at home was Oct. 14, 1998.
The loss gives the fourth-ranked Lions an 8-1-2 overall record, while Wheaton moves to 12-2 on the season. For a team in the hunt for a national championship, the Lions understand the type of play required to win it all.
"That is the competition we will be playing against when we make our run for the championship," sophomore midfielder Nicole Papola said.
Saturday's game began as most have this season - with an early goal by the Lions. Junior forward Christine Mullin finished a cross from sophomore forward Jamie Kunkel in the eighth minute for her eighth goal of the season.
The Thunder responded quickly, however, with a 20th-minute goal by junior forward Sara Richardson, who leads her team in scoring with 13 goals this year.
Junior defender Courtney Krol confidently stepped up and gave the Lions the lead going into halftime by converting a penalty kick.
Wheaton tied the game shortly after the half with a penalty kick of its own. Junior midfielder Bethany Barton placed the ball past freshman goalkeeper Jessica Clarke.
The teams had multiple opportunities to score as junior forward Dana DiBruno's shot on goal was turned away by a diving save from junior goalkeeper Kristin Eggert of the Thunder. Soon after, freshman midfielder Maria Della Torre of Wheaton bounced a direct kick off the crossbar.
After a scoreless period of overtime, the deciding goal came just 1:13 into the second overtime. Freshman forward Taryne Lee guided a cross from Richardson into the net, giving the Thunder a 3-2 overtime victory.
Clarke made two saves in the game, while her 879:56 shutout streak came to an end.
"I think both teams played well on Saturday," head coach Joe Russo said. "I think a draw would have been a fair result."
Despite the disappointing outcome, the Lions remained focused after the game.
"The team mentality was that the game was over, not the season," sophomore defender Cara O'Neill said. "Yes, we were upset over the loss, but we realize that one regular season game does not make or break our year."
"This gives us a great opportunity to overcome adversity," freshman forward Kelly Feeney said. "We will come back strong from this and are looking forward to the next game."
Last Wednesday's contest against William Paterson University was rained out and will be made up tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.
(10/11/06 4:00pm)
The women's soccer team came away with two more victories this week, dominating Kean University 5-0 on Saturday and defeating Johns Hopkins University 2-0 last Monday.
Remaining unbeaten this season, the Lions move to 8-0-2 overall and 4-0-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).
Saturday's win over Kean University featured a rematch of last year's conference final. The Lions barraged the net, shooting 24 times throughout the game, with 16 of those shots on goal.
"We keep the field spread and allow our defense to make passes to the outside," sophomore midfielder Nicole Papola said. "That allows us to work the ball up the field more easily into scoring postion."
Junior forward Dana DiBruno got things going in the 14th minute by finishing a pass from sophomore forward Allie Schilling. DiBruno now leads the Lions in scoring with six goals on the season.
DiBruno then set up a goal for Schilling on a cross from the corner, giving the Lions a two-goal lead going into the half.
In the second half, junior forward Christine Mullin placed a corner kick in the back of the net for her third goal of the season.
Sophomore forward Jamie Kunkel kept the Lions rolling by scoring off a pass from sophomore defender Jillian Casey. Junior midfielder Kristen Cubicciotti ended the day by finishing an unassisted goal of her own to give the Lions a 5-0 victory.
Another solid performance from the Lions defense kept the leading national goal scorer, senior forward Heather Anzivino, scoreless during the game, allowing her only one shot on goal.
"We knew how good (Anzivino) was coming into the game," sophomore defender Coleen Weber said. "We just kept keying in on her to not allow her any room to score the way she has against other teams this season."
Freshman goalkeeper Jessica Clarke made another two saves in 80 minutes of play for her seventh shutout of the season. She has personally gone over 859 minutes without allowing a goal.
For the Cougars, junior goalkeeper Samantha Groh made six saves, while freshman goalkeeper Nicole Groszew made another two after relieving Groh.
After the loss, the Cougars went to 9-3 overall and 3-3 in the NJAC.
Monday's win over the Blue Jays featured a pair of goals by freshman forward Briann McDonough. Her first goal came late in the first half off a well-placed pass from freshman midfielder Kristina Shemming.
McDonough then scored with only 48 seconds left to seal the game for the Lions.
Once again, the Lions defense held strong, staving off a late offensive burst from the Blue Jays.
Clarke needed to make only two saves to record her sixth shutout of the season. The Lions defense has allowed only two goals in 920 minutes of play.
Teamwork and consistency have marked the Lions defense this season. Rarely does a defender make a mistake without a teammate coming to help.
"Consistently, we work on closing the gaps defensively in order to avoid getting caught in a bad position," sophomore goalkeeper Amy Hashem said.
"It is expected by everyone on our team that we will not allow goals to be scored," Weber said. "We have learned from the veterans from last year how to play solid defense and we carry their determination to not give the other team any opportunities."
Junior goalkeeper Kerry Hamilton registered four saves in the game for the Blue Jays.
Johns Hopkins left Lions' Stadium ranked 11th with an 8-2 record. The loss ended a five-game win streak by the Blue Jays.
The Lions play tonight at 7:30 p.m. against William Paterson University in Lions' Stadium.
(10/04/06 4:00pm)
The women's soccer team remains undefeated this season after last Wednesday's 3-0 win against Rutgers University-Camden and Saturday's 8-1 pounding of Rutgers University-Newark.
With a 3-0-1 record in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, the Lions are currently ranked second. Their overall record stands at 6-0-2.
The Lions took control early in Wednesday's win over Rutgers-Camden. Junior forward Christine Mullin scored only eight minutes into the game off a pass from sophomore forward Jamie Kunkel.
In the second half, junior forward Dana DiBruno netted her fourth goal of the season, assisted by sophomore defender Laura Delaney and junior Courtney Krol. Finishing off the evening was freshman Kristina Shemming, who scored off a pass from DiBruno in the 72nd minute.
Freshman goalkeeper Jessica Clarke did not need a save to complete her fifth shutout of the year.
"The team has a mentality of playing hard, regardless of the opponent or the score," Delaney said. "We look to win by the greatest margin possible."
The Lions took that mentality The women's soccer team remains undefeated this season after last Wednesday's 3-0 win against Rutgers University-Camden and Saturday's 8-1 pounding of Rutgers University-Newark.
With a 3-0-1 record in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, the Lions are currently ranked second. Their overall record stands at 6-0-2.
The Lions took control early in Wednesday's win over Rutgers-Camden. Junior forward Christine Mullin scored only eight minutes into the game off a pass from sophomore forward Jamie Kunkel.
In the second half, junior forward Dana DiBruno netted her fourth goal of the season, assisted by sophomore defender Laura Delaney and junior Courtney Krol. Finishing off the evening was freshman Kristina Shemming, who scored off a pass from DiBruno in the 72nd minute.
Freshman goalkeeper Jessica Clarke did not need a save to complete her fifth shutout of the year.
"The team has a mentality of playing hard, regardless of the opponent or the score," Delaney said. "We look to win by the greatest margin possible."
The Lions took that mentality into Saturday's game at Rutgers University-Newark, resulting in a dominant 8-1 final score. The Lions scored even earlier this time with a fourth minute goal from sophomore Jillian Casey, assisted by DiBruno. DiBruno followed with a goal of her own by finishing a cross from junior midfielder Kristen Cubicciotti seven minutes later. Shemming closed out the half with an unassisted goal, her fifth of the season.
The barrage continued in the second half with a 47th minute goal from Mullin off a loose ball shot. Junior Lori Adriance and freshman Briann McDonough each netted a goal from the 18-yard line to put the Lions up 6-0.
A Scarlet Raiders goal during the 69th minute ended the Lions' 700-minute shutout streak that began in the first half of the Lions' first game this season. The lone goal was scored by Jess Sapienza and was unassisted.
The night was capped off by sophomore midfielder Nicole Papola and junior midfielder Christine Cavallo, who each finished crosses to give the Lions an 8-1 decision.
"It was a good team effort," Papola said. "Eight different girls scored and everyone played to their potential."
"Our ability to score goals is a direct result of our players getting more comfortable with each other," head coach Joe Russo said.
Lions sophomore keeper Kristina Kuda recorded two saves during her 23 minutes in net. Clarke, who played the first 67 minutes of the game, kept her personal scoreless streak alive. She has not allowed a goal in 689 minutes of play.
"She is very vocal and keeps us under control," sophomore defender Coleen Weber said of Clarke. "She does a good job of distributing the ball and keeping us organized."
The Lions' next home game will be Saturday at 1 p.m. against Kean University at the College's soccer facility.