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(04/29/11 2:23am)
The College’s softball team continued its playoff chase by losing two games and winning two games in the past week. The wins and losses give the Lions an overall record of 22-10 and an 8-6 NJAC record.
The Lions began last week by losing a pair of games to William Patterson University, by scores of 7-6 and 8-3, on April 21.
“The games against William Paterson were tough,” junior oufielder Crystal Lee said. “We actually played really well in the first game. We had a lot of great hits and we played solid defense, but the other team was just able to manufacture more runs than us. In the second game, they capitalized on some of our team’s miscues and we just weren’t able to score as many runs as we did in the first game.”
The Lions jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning, led by senior outfielder Colleen Cawley.
The lead stretched to 4-0 in the third inning, but the Pioneers responded with three runs in the bottom of the third, two more in the bottom of the fourth and another two runs in the bottom of the fifth to give them the 7-4 lead. The Lions plated two more runs off a RBI single from sophomore shortstop Ashley Sogulzzio’s bat and a catcher’s interference call. The runs weren’t enough, as the Lions fell to the Pioneers 7-6.
In the second game, both teams plated a run in the first inning, and the score was knotted at 1-1 until the top of the fourth. The Pioneers scored two runs in the top of the fourth and four more in the top of the fifth to push the score to 7-1. They did not look back from there, finishing the game with an 8-3 victory. Lions freshman pitcher Alex Carisone took the loss, yielding seven runs (four earned) in 4.2 innings pitched.
The Lions took two games against New Jersey City University with scores of 10-2 and 5-3, on April 22.
“We knew that we needed to come ready to play for the games against Jersey City,” Lee said. “Our goal for the NJCU games were to win every inning, meaning that even if the opponent scored or made a nice play, we would somehow do something even better to win that inning.”
The Lions set the tone in the first game by scoring three runs in the first inning, two off the bat of sophomore third baseman Kelly Hommen. The Lions continued their offensive barrage by scoring in every inning of the game. Hommen finished with a huge game with three hits and four RBI. Junior pitcher Lauren Fitzsimmons was also outstanding, as she tossed a complete-game one-hitter to give the Lions the decisive victory.
In the second game, the team used a big, four-run second inning to give them the victory. The Lions had two triples in the inning, one from senior Caitlyn Seamster and one from Lee. NJCU got a run back in the third, only to see the lead pushed back to four as Sogluizzo singled in a run. The Gothic Knights tacked on two more runs in the sixth and seventh innings, but the runs were not enough. Carisone picked up the victory, giving her a team-high of eight wins on the season.
The Lions currently sit fifth in the NJAC with an 8-6 record and only have four games left to push for a higher seed.
(04/20/11 10:10pm)
The College’s softball team played four games this past week, playing Richard Stockton College twice and Kean University twice. The College came away with three wins, two from Kean and one from Stockton. The three wins improve the Lions’ record to 20-8.
In the first game against Stockton, the College had a decisive victory by a score of 10-1.
Sophomore shortstop Ashley Sogluizzo kicked off the scoring barrage in the first inning against the Ospreys, crossing the plate after a hit off the bat of junior catcher Michelle Kent. The Lions tacked on five more runs in the third inning and never looked back, scoring three more runs in the fifth.
Junior outfielder Crystal Lee and sophomore third baseman Kelly Hommen each had three hits apiece. Freshman pitcher Alex Carisone also picked up her sixth win of the season.
“In the first game against Stockton we were able to capitalize on early opportunities to score,” Hommen said. “Combined with smart base-running we were able to avoid the outs and score runs.”
The second game against Stockton was a true nail biter as the Lions lost by a score of 8-7 in nine innings.
Going into the fifth inning, the Lions had a 2-0 advantage. Stockton tacked on four runs in the fifth and another three runs in the sixth to make the score 7-2.
Down by five runs in the bottom of the seventh, the Lions stormed back to even the score at 7-7. Doubles from sophomore outfielder Liz Huttner, Kent and senior outfielder Collen Cawley helped the Lions even the score.
The Ospreys were able to come away with an 8-7 victory after a RBI single in the top of the ninth gave them the lead. Freshman pitcher Austin Leigh pitched four innings of one-run ball in relief, only to take the loss.
In her return to the mound, junior pitcher Lauren Fitzsimmons picked up the win by pitching a complete game, a two-run gem with three strikeouts against Kean University. The Lions jumped to an early two-run advantage, only to see the Cougars tie the score up in the top of the third inning.
The Lions took back the lead with a RBI single from Huttner and a RBI double from junior first baseman Katelyn Congilose, to give them the 4-2 victory.
“Fitzsimmons is one of the biggest leaders and influential people on our team,” Hommen said. “Despite being hurt for the past few weeks, she has continued to motivate us and has really helped with our freshmen pitchers. Fitz has the ability and the potential to be one of the best pitchers in the country.”
Much like the second game, the Lions tacked on two runs, only to see the Cougars tie the score at 2-2. In the fifth inning, Lee ripped a bases-loaded triple, to give the Lions the 5-2 advantage. The Cougars clawed back to add on two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but Leigh came in for the two-out save. The save was the first of her collegiate career, which also enabled Carisone to pick up her seventh win of the season, the most by a Lion this season.
The Lions resume play on Friday, April 22, against New Jersey City University, in hopes of improving their 6-4 conference record. The Lions sit just two games behind Montclair State University for the top seed in the NJAC.
(04/14/11 12:08am)
The College’s softball team played five games this week against Rutgers University–Camden, Haverford College and Montclair State University. The team had mixed results, winning two games and losing three.
The team began the week by playing a doubleheader against Rutgers-Camden. The Lions lost by a score of 1-0 in the first game but bounced back to win the second game by a score of 5-0.
“What we lacked in the first game against Rutgers-Camden was being able to manufacture runs,” junior Crystal Lee said. “You can’t win games if you don’t score any runs regardless of how well the defense plays.”
The Lions’ bats came to life after game one to score five runs in the second game.
Sophomores Kelly Hommen and Liz Huttner led the Lions’ offense as both had a pair of hits. Hommen hit her first home run of the season, while Huttner finished the game with two doubles.
Freshman Alex Carisone was dominant on the mound, yet again. Carisone threw her second straight one-hitter, while finishing with six strike outs. The win garnered her five wins for the season, tying junior teammate Lauren Fitzsimmons for the team lead.
Prior to the game against Haverford College, the team had a meeting. What came out of the meeting was simple: Play as a team.
“Basically we said that we have to come out with much more intensity for the rest of the games in our season,” Lee said. “And most of all we stated we have to play for each other.”
The meeting seemed to work as the Lions put a beating on Haverford College 13-1. Freshman pitcher Austin Leigh received great run support to pick up her third win of the season.
The Lions had runs batted in from six different players. Leading the attack was Hommen who went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Senior Colleen Cawley also had a productive game with two hits and three runs knocked in.
The bats slowed down when the College went into its doubleheader with Montclair State University though.
The Lions were only able to score one run in both games, losing by scores of 4-1 and 7-0.
Carisone was back on the hill for the Lions in the first game, yielding three earned runs in the loss.
The Lions were only able to score one run and muster a total of six hits. Four of the six hits came from Hommen and sophomore Casale.
The second game had similar results, as the Lions were not able to make the proper adjustments. The Red Hawks led the scoring barrage with six runs in the second inning. The Red Hawks never looked back, as the Lions were not able to put a run on the scoreboard.
“Hitting is one of the toughest aspects of the game because it involves as much mental control as it does physical control,” Lee said. “It takes a lot of practice.”
The Lions hope to stay in the win column, as they continue conference play against Richard Stockton College on April 12.
(04/07/11 12:15am)
This week the College’s softball team had mixed results, losing two games in a double-header against No. 6-ranked Messiah College and sweeping two games in a doubleheader against Rutgers University-Newark.
In the first game against the Falcons, the Lions fell by a score of 5-4. The Lions were down early as the Falcons tacked on the first four runs of the game in the first three innings. The Falcons extended the lead to 5-1 in the fifth inning, but the Lions rallied back in the top of the seventh.
Senior Colleen Cawley and junior Michelle Kent each knocked in runs with singles, but the Lions’ rally was not enough as they lost the first game.
“There were a bunch of things we could’ve done differently against Messiah,” sophomore Kelly Hommen said. “Against a team like Messiah who’s ranked sixth nationally, there’s not a lot of room for error. We came out pretty flat the first game and dug a hole too deep for us to overcome.”
In the second game, the Lions were poised to pick up a win in the double-header. The Lions scored the first run of the game in the first inning but would surrender three runs to the Falcons in the bottom half of the inning.
Down 7-4 in the top of the sixth, the Lions once again staged a potential comeback, as they tacked on two more runs. One run came from a groundout by Hommen, while the other came off a single from Cawley. Again, the Lions came up just short, falling by a score of 7-6.
“In the second game we jumped out on top in the first inning and were pretty aggressive at bat,” Hommen said. “Colleen Cawley had a bunch of great hits for us, but they outhit and outplayed us. They were definitely the better team on Tuesday.”
In the double-header against Rutgers-Newark, the Lions looked like a completely different team. The Lions shut the Scarlet Raiders out in both games with scores of 5-0 and 4-0, led by stellar freshman pitching.
Freshman Kelly Hardman picked up the win in the first game, hurling a complete game shutout, yielding only five hits. Cawley would finish the game with a perfect three-for-three at the plate, while junior Crystal Lee and sophomore Liz Huttner each finished with a pair of hits. The Lions defense was also solid, as they ended the game with a 1-6-3 double play.
Freshman Alex Carisone also pitched phenomenally in the second game as she worked up a masterpiece of her own, recording six strikeouts in a one hit shutout.
Sophomore Ashley Sogluizzo headlined the Lions offense, finishing with a pair of hits and two runs scored.
“Alex has been really throwing the ball very hard lately, and her selection of pitches to choose to throw to a hitter has increased because more and more are really working,” said head coach Sally Miller. “Alex stays very composed on the mound and is in control as a first year pitcher.”
(03/30/11 7:42pm)
Coming into the NCAA Division III National Championships, the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams had lofty expectations. The men came in with a robust 8-2 record, while the women entered nationals with a perfect 9-0 record. Both squads ended their 2010-2011 seasons in remarkable fashion as the men placed 12th overall and the women placed fifth overall.
The women’s squad, led by sophomore Danica Roskos, totaled 198 points. Roskos won two national titles, winning the one-meter diving event and the three-meter diving event. Roskos’ victories etch her name in the Lions’ record book for being the only Lion to win national titles in multiple events.
“Danica did a phenomenal job this season, especially at nationals where she helped our team move up in the rankings to fifth in the nation,” sophomore Kaitlin Kilgannon said. “I can’t wait to see what Danica will do over the next two years.”
Junior Laura Pierce also had an impressive performance in her event. In the championship final, Pierce finished fifth overall with a time of 50.93 matching her previous school record. With her performance, Pierce was able to capture her third All-America honor.
Freshman Ashley Conroy destroyed the school’s previous program record in the preliminary heat with a time of 2:02.99. During the consolation finals, Conroy finished seventh with a time of 2:03.87. Overall, Conroy finished 15th, allowing her to earn her first All-America honor.
Sophomore Kayleigh Shangle qualified for the 200-meter breast stroke, finishing third in the consolation final with a time of 2:19.90. Shangle finished 11th overall with an All-America honor.
Four more All-America honors went out to the Lions 400-yard freestyle relay team. The team consisted of junior Traci Hofer, Shangle, senior Margaret Molloy and Pierce. The team set a new school record in the preliminary race with a time of 3:28.74, and would go on to place third in the consolation final and 10th overall.
The women’s fifth place finish this season gives them back-to-back top-10 finishes under head coach Jen Harnett. The Lions finished the season with a perfect 9-0 regular season, and repeated as New Jersey Athletic Conference and Metropolitan Conference champions. The women’s performance this season makes for one of their most successful seasons in school history.
“The (College’s) women’s swim team had its best season ever this year, which couldn’t have been achieved without the help from our amazing coaching staff,” Kilgannon said. “Not every meet, or practice was easy, but with the support of our teammates and the pep talks and moral from our coaches helped us push through. The team really came together this year and worked the hardest we have ever worked before and it really showed this year.”
The men’s squad accumulated 104 points during the four-day swimming bonanza, which was headlined by senior Tom Medvecky.
Medvecky placed sixth in the championship final race of the 100-yard butterfly and placed fourth in the 200-yard butterfly to earn All-America honors.
Junior TJ Burns finished first in the consolation final, and ninth overall in the three-meter diving event. Burns’ finish earned nine team points for the Lions, while also earneing himself an All-America honorable mention.
“I was satisfied with how I did this year at nationals,” Burns said. “It was nice to do well but there is are also many things to do to improve and not become content with the success.”
The relay team of sophomore Adam Schneider, junior Ryan Clark, senior Shawn Kircher and Medvecky performed admirably, finishing fourth in the race and 13th overall, earning the Lions eight points. The relay team finished the 400-meter freestyle relay in a mere 3:04.35.
The 12th place finish marks another succesful season for head coach Brian Bishop. Finishing 12th at nationals was just a piece of the pie for the men’s squad in 2010-2011, as they also repeated as New Jersey Athletic Conference and Metropolitan Conference champions.
(03/23/11 10:59pm)
The College’s softball team continued its 2011 season by playing two doubleheaders this past week.
The first doubleheader was played on Wednesday, March 16, against Moravian College, in which the team lost the first and won the second.
The second doubleheader was played against Susquehanna University, where the Lions also dropped the first game and won the second.
“I think we had a little bit of trouble hitting both Moravian and Susquehanna’s pitchers in the first games,” sophomore infielder Kelly Hommen said. “We made a number of adjustments at the plate and that was definitely evident in the way we hit in the second game.”
In the first game against Moravian, the College was held scoreless losing by a score of 3-0. The game was scoreless until the Greyhounds struck in the fifth inning with a double, which brought in a run. That run was the first that junior Lauren Fitzsimmons allowed the entire year, snapping her scoreless streak at 35.2 innings. The Greyhounds tacked on two more runs, while no-hitting the Lions in the process.
The second game proved to be a much different story, as the Lions were victorious, winning by a score of 6-0. Freshman Alex Carisone pitched seven shutout innings to collect her third victory of the season. The Lions broke out of their slump early with four runs in the first two innings. The Lions never looked back from there, scoring another two runs in the fourth inning, to defeat the Greyhounds 6-0.
In the first game against Susquehanna, the Crusaders jumped out to an early lead by scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. A pair of home runs in the fifth inning put the game out of reach, as the lead stretched to 9-0. Sophomore Ashley Sogluzzio had the lone hit in the game.
The Lions redeemed themselves in the second game of the doubleheader by winning 7-1. The sleeping bats in the first game were no more, as the Lions claimed an early 1-0 lead in the third inning. The Lions batted in two more runs in the fourth inning with junior Crystal Lee and sophomore Liz Huttner, each knocking in a run. The Crusaders were never able to overcome the deficit, enabling freshman Kelly Hardman to pick up her second win of the season.
“I think with all sports you need to have a short memory, forget about your mistakes, but you also need to learn from them,” Hommen said. “There were a lot of things that we took from the first game and used them for the second game. That’s what’s great about playing the same team twice; you learn a lot about their strengths and weaknesses, and you can use that for the second game.”
(03/16/11 9:48pm)
After finishing the 2010 season with a robust 33-10 record, the College’s softball team looked to duplicate last season’s success by playing nine games in six days in Orlando, Fla.
The team finished the road trip with an impressive 9-0 record while outscoring its opponents 62-18.
“Getting the opportunity to play consistent games in decent temperatures is huge for us at a complex where they understand how critical and important these games are for teams,” head coach Sally Miller said. “We have scheduled some very good competition down here at the same time. Competition that should also give us the opportunity to gain a lot of confidence as well.”
The Lions’ pitching staff was utterly dominant in Orlando, which was led by junior Lauren Fitzsimmons. Fitzsimmons pitched in 31.1 innings, recording 36 strikeouts and no earned runs.
Her dominant stretch included a no-hitter in the Lions’ opening game against Elizabethtown College, in which the Lions defeated the Blue Jays by a score of 2-0. The Blue Jays’ only base runner of the day was sophomore Courtney Comstock, who reached base on a walk in the seventh inning.
Freshman Alex Carisone also had a strong performance down in Orlando, pitching 13 innings and recording 13 strikeouts with a 1.08 ERA.
“I think now the pitching staff has a better understanding of what level they have to have their performance at for us to have success as a team,” Miller said. “A lot more hard work ahead for them and learning how precise every pitch has to be or the ball will get hit hard.”
Playing arguably one of the toughest positions on the diamond, junior catcher Michelle Kent has been considered by Miller as one of the key parts to the success of the pitching staff.
Kent’s experience and leadership behind the plate has been vital to this very young pitching staff that has three freshmen and one junior.
“Michelle Kent is doing a great job with returner Fitzsimmons and is trying to really help the first-year pitchers who need (Kent’s) experience behind the plate,” Miller said. “She is just a constant behind the plate and gives the pitchers one less thing to worry about.”
One of the biggest wins for the College was against Thiel College. The Tomcats struck for four quick runs in the first inning, but the Lions rebounded with six runs in the bottom half of the same inning. Sophomore Michelle Casale provided a big hit, ripping a loaded bases-clearing triple. The Lions did not look back from there, tacking on six more runs in the fifth en route to a 14-10 victory.
“We hit the ball, ran the bases extremely well and capitalized on the other team’s mistakes,” Miller said. “We have a lot of speed on this team, some noticeable and some very deceiving.”
The Lions were able to play players in different positions, while also testing the freshmen in some crucial games. As a result, Miller was able to evaluate the strengths of her team in a very small timeframe.
The Lions are back in action on March 17 against Moravian College at home.
(03/02/11 10:06pm)
The College’s women’s basketball team finished this past season with an overall record of 14-11. This record was a modest improvement from their 13-12 record last year. The improved record allowed the team to earn a playoff berth in the NJAC playoffs, but it fell short to Rutgers University-Newark in the first round.
“We never gave up and we all worked very hard which showed when we made the playoffs,” junior guard Hannah Tait said. “Although we didn’t go all the way or win the championship, I think we grew as people and players and learned a lot this season, which was very successful.”
One of the biggest wins of the season for the team was the game against Kean University on Feb. 2. The Lions pulled a huge upset against the No. 2-ranked Cougars. The win was crucial because it kept the Lions’ playoff pursuit alive, but more importantly the Lions proved a lot about how they play basketball. The team showed a lot of character and teamwork to pull off a victory against one of the best teams in the nation.
“That win set the tone for our final five games,” Tait said. “We were able to win four of our last five games of the season and we were able to make the NJAC tournament. It kept our spirits high and proved to us that we were able to play with any team.”
The end of the season also marks the end of senior Alex Gregorek’s career for the Lions. Gregorek finished the season with 11.8 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per game. Gregorek battled back from a major knee injury to ultimately finish her outstanding career with 1,039 points (13th all time), and 662 rebounds (sixth all time).
“Alex has had a huge impact on our program for five years,” head coach Dawn Henderson said. “She has grown as a basketball player and a leader. We will miss her on the
court, points, rebounds, focus and defensively, but we will also miss all the intangibles she brings off the court.”
The team will also say goodbye to seniors Stephanie Prall, Jamie Cresbaugh, Keri Washington, Nicole Diaz and Kelsey Kutch.
With the six seniors departing, the Lions will bring back their second and third leading scorers in juniors Jessica Imhof and Tait.
The rising seniors hope to carry a similar baton of success as the former seniors did this past season.
They’ll look to form a formidable one-two punch in the Lions’ offense as both have averaged a combined 19 points per game this past season.
“I think that many of the players have improved over the season,” Henderson said. “If I had to pick one, I’d say Jess Imhof. She has had a lot more playing time this season and has used it wisely. She has developed into a scorer for us. She can shoot the three or pull up off the dribble and she certainly had an impact on our late season run.”
With that said, the Lions’ outlook on next season is positive.
The veteran leadership of Henderson, and all of the rising seniors will certainly help the Lions continue their trend of ending the season with an improved record.
Nothing short of the best is expected from this Lions’ program, considering that they were able to win 28 games just three seasons ago.
“Our expectations are always high,” Henderson said. “We hope to get back into that NJAC final and earn another berth in the NCAA tournament.”
(02/24/11 3:28am)
In a must-win game, the College’s women’s basketball team prevailed against Rowan University to clinch a spot in the NJAC playoffs. The team had little time to bask in its victory, though, as they were back in action later in the week to take on Rutgers University-Newark. Unfortunately, the Lions fell to the Scarlet Raiders and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
The beginning of the week was promising as the squad defeated the Profs by a score of 62-55 on Wednesday, Feb. 16.
“We knew we were capable of making it to the NJAC playoffs, but because of our early losses in the season, it put us in a tough spot,” junior forward Hannah Tait said. “We proved to ourselves how good we could be and that if we played like that, we would make it to the playoffs.”
The game started off slowly for the Lions, who hit only one of their first 14 shots. The Lions’ offensive scheme began to go their way as junior guard Jessica Imhof and senior center Alex Gregorek began knocking down shots to give the Lions a 31-21 advantage in the first half.
In the first five minutes of the second half, the Lions pushed the score to 37-27. The Profs, however, stormed back with a 9-2 run to close the gap to only three points. From that point on, senior guard Keri Washington showed her veteran leadership as she took over the game on both the offensive and defensive ends of the ball. Washington scored the final five points of the game for the Lions to ice the game and give them a ticket to the playoffs.
“I was most happy that we won,” Tait said. “I could have sat the bench the whole game and would have still been thrilled because we made it to the playoffs.”
With the win, Gregorek posted a monster game scoring 10 points and nabbing 15 rebounds. Washington play was also outstanding, finishing with 15 points and seven rebounds. Other solid contributions belonged to Imhof who finished with 12 points and Tait who finished with eight points.
The playoff game against the Scarlet Raiders was a valiant effort on the Lions part, but the team fell short by a score of 63-48.
The Lions started the game off well, scoring the first three points of the game and limiting the Raiders to zero points for the first 5:30 of the game. The Raiders ended their scoring drought with a 13-3 run, extending the lead to nine. The Lions fought back, and cut the score to 23-18 to finish the first half.
In the second half, the Lions battled back to tie the score at 40-40 with only 8:47 left in the game. Things took a turn for the worst as the Raiders went on a 10-0 run over the next 2:27, and the Raiders never gave up the lead.
“We didn’t play that great and Rutgers Newark played well,” Tait said. “We would tie the score, and then they would make a run, and take the lead. We weren’t able to overcome the last run, and they came away with it.”
Turnovers were the story of the game for the Lions. The Lions committed a total of 19 turnovers, which was extremely difficult for them to overcome. Washington and Gregorek played well in the final games of their career at the College. Washington finished with a balanced effort of seven points and nine rebounds. Gregorek scored 15 points and was a scorching seven for 14 shooting from the field in her final game. Gregorek finishes her outstanding career with 1,039 points (13th all time) and 662 rebounds (sixth all time).
“Although we didn’t win, we fought hard and played as a team,” Tait said. “We knew we weren’t playing to our capabilities in the beginning of the season, but we turned it around and started winning. We grew as a team, and that is the most positive thing we can take away. We were able to overcome our early obstacles.”
(02/16/11 11:17pm)
This past week, the College’s women’s basketball team picked up a win and a loss.
Although the loss certainly does not help its cause, the team still remains in the playoff hunt. With their current record of 6-6 in the NJAC, the team faces a must-win situation in its next game.
To begin the week, the College’s women’s basketball team had a decisive victory over Rowan University by a score of 67-55.
“We played a really solid road game against Rowan last week,” said head coach Dawn Henderson. “We had all phases of the game: defense, rebounding and knocking down some shots.”
Heading into this game, the Lions were faced with a must-win game against the Profs.
In the first half, the Lions had a 31-25 lead by drilling four three-pointers. From that point on, the Lions never looked back and led the entire game. Rowan did make it close by trimming the lead to 40-35, but the Lions responded with an 8-0 run.
From that point on, the game never really got close again as the Lions were hot from beyond the arc, making a total of nine three-pointers.
Junior Jessica Imhof led all scorers with a career-high 22 points, as she was a scorching 5-for-7 from three-point range. Senior center Alex Gregorek chipped in with 16 points.
The game against Richard Stockton College proved to be a different tale for the Lions.
“Stockton is different than Rowan, they have different strengths and weaknesses,” Henderson said. “I hope that a positive is that we have learned that we can play with anybody and to just go out and give our all.”
The Lions trailed by only three points in the first half.
The second half of play for the Lions was equally disappointing as the first half, especially after their tremendous shooting performance against Rowan. The Lions finished the game by shooting 20-71 (28.1 percent) from the field, and could not take the lead at any point in the second half.
Even with the Lions’ loss, the team still had some success.
Gregorek had a dominant game scoring 19 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. Gregorek also etched her name in the record books as she scored her 1,000th point.
“I’m really proud of Alex,” Henderson said. “She’s had a great career at (the College). I’m especially happy that she has been able to come back from her knee injury and join the 1,000 point club.”
Junior guard/forward Hannah Tait also put up a strong performance. Tait scored 10 points and nabbed four steals in the loss.
The Lions will have a huge game against Rowan in Packer Hall on Feb. 16. In a win or go home situation, the Lions will have to bring their best punch against Rowan just as they did this past week.
(02/10/11 12:25am)
The College’s women’s basketball team picked up two wins this past week, keeping them in the playoff hunt.
To begin the week, the Lions had a thrilling win over No. 2-ranked Kean University with a 68-65 victory on Tuesday, Feb. 1.
The team had similar success on Saturday by defeating Rutgers University-Camden, 59-49.
“We know we are still in the run for a playoff spot and are working really hard to make sure we get there,” junior guard Hannah Tait said. “We played with a lot of heart and pride this week, proving to ourselves and others how good we are when we play up to our potential.”
Heading into the second half, the Lions had a 40-34 advantage by playing outstanding defense. The lead extended to 11 with 8:32 to play in the second half, but evaporated soon after as the Cougars made a frantic comeback to tie the game at 65 with a mere 1:10 remaining. With only 15.5 seconds left in the game, senior guard Stephanie Prall knocked down a free throw to give the Lions a 66-65 lead. Tait then netted a pair of clutch free throws with three seconds left to seal the upset for the Lions.
“I can’t deny that it wasn’t nerve wracking but I knew my teammates and coaches believed in me, which put me at ease,” Tait said. “We practice foul shots in practice all the time, so I just kept thinking you can do it, just like practice.”
The Lions received great play as a team, having four players reach double figures.
Senior center Alex Gregorek led the Lions with 12 points and seven rebounds, while junior guard Jessica Imhof chipped in with 12 points and four assists.
With that said, the real story of the game for the Lions was their great team defense, holding the Cougars to a stingy 30.3 shooting percentage.
Saturday’s game against Rutgers University-Camden proved to be much of the same outstanding play by the Lions, netting a 59-49 victory.
“Every game we play must be played like it is the championship game. That is because we need to win our next three games in order to make playoffs,” freshman guard Tiffany DeTulio said. “I know our entire team including myself really wants to be in that position.”
Coming off the huge win against the Cougars, the Lions wanted to keep the momentum going. They did just that by leading for nearly 36 minutes. The Scarlet Raptors pushed for a comeback with just five minutes left in the game, cutting the lead to just two points.
Imhof silenced any talk of a comeback, by knocking down a huge 3-pointer to give the Lions some breathing room. From that point on, the Lions eventually pushed the lead to 10 to finish the game.
Gregorek continued her outstanding play by scoring 20 points and shooting an efficient 8 of 12 from the field.
Senior guard Keri Washington registered her first double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Similar to the defeat of the Cougars, the story of the game was about the Lions’ defense. The Lions held the Scarlet Raptors to a dreadful 25.0 shooting percentage and forced the Raptors to commit 18 turnovers.
The Lions were able to futher their playoff push Monday, Feb. 7, by taking down Rowan University by a score of 67-55.
Imhof led the way for the Lions with 22 points.
The Lions will have to continue to play at this level if they expect to earn a spot in this year’s playoffs.
“We know we have to play hard, play as a unit and play up to our potential in all of our upcoming games,” Tait said. “We aren’t doing anything new. We are working hard in practice and believing in ourselves which is basically preparing us both physically and mentally.”
The Lions will tipoff versus Richard Stockton College at home today in a critical conference matchup that could decide the Lions’ postseason fate.
(02/03/11 5:15am)
The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams were equally successful this past weekend, as both were victorious over Rowan University and Stevens Institute of Technology. With the two wins, the men’s squad improved their overall record to 8-2, while the women’s squad remains undefeated at a perfect 9-0.
The women’s swimming and diving team was impressive, as they defeated Rowan by a score of 179-117. The win allowed the women to clinch their third NJAC title, while continuing one of the best seasons the women’s program has had.
Senior Margaret Molloy had a spectacular meet, securing wins in two individual events. Molloy took first in the 1000-freestyle with a time of 10:44.57 and the 100-butterfly with a time of 1:00.37.
Junior Laura Pierce continued her impressive season by winning the 200-butterfly in 2:09.56. Freshman Ashley Conroy placed first in the 100-backstroke with a time of 1:00.78. Sophomore Jennifer Zavoda added to the flurry of blue ribbons, with a win in the 200-yard freestyle posting a time of 1:58.15.
Freshman Sabrina Lucchesi led the way on the diving board with wins in the one-meter and three-meter diving events. Lucchesi posted scores of 277.58 and 295.05 in her two victories.
The men’s squad defeated Rowan by a score of 179-110, clinching their third straight NJAC title. The squad received outstanding play by the entire team, having 10 different swimmers winning individual events.
“We went into these meets with a lot of focus on the technical aspects of our races and getting excited as if these meets were a championship event since the regular season is over,” senior Shawn Kircher said.
With that said, the meet against Rowan was all about the Lion’s senior leadership. Pete Goldsmith captured the 1000-yard freestyle in a mere 10:03.20, while Tim Rauch chipped in by winning the 200-butterfly with a time of 2:03.41. Kircher tapped the wall first in the 200-freestyle posting a time of 1:44.04, and Tom Medvecky won the 100-yard fly finishing in 52.28. Finally, Joe Tseng exhibited dominance in the 200-IM, registering a winning time of 2:03.53.
On the diving board, junior TJ Burns placed first in the one-meter and three-meter diving events, fresh off his fifth NJAC Diver of the Week honor this season. Burns posted a score of 325.50 in the one-meter, and 333.53 in the three-meter.
“I swam well this meet, but I only did one individual event,” Medvecky said. “The team as a whole, however, swam smart and confident.”
On senior day against Stevens, the men dominated the pool in convincing fashion, winning 144-118.
Tseng and Kircher continued their success, as the pair led the Lions to victory. Tseng took down the backstroke events by winning the 100-yard in 53.29, and by winning the 200-yard in 1:55.78.
Kircher topped the field in the 100-freestyle in 47.24 and the 200-freestyle in 1:42.57.
“At this point in the season my race endurance has improved a lot, especially in my legs. We’ve done most of our physical training so now we’re focusing on fine-tuning our races,” Kircher said.
Other notable contributions belonged to Medvecky who won the 100-yard butterfly in 51.12, and sophomore Adam Schneider who won the 50-freestyle posting a time of 21.06. Freshman Phillip Hawley had a pair of second place finishes, as he finished behind Kircher in the 100-freestyle and Tseng in the 100-backstroke.
Likewise, the women defeated Stevens 146-116, completing the perfect 2010-11 regular season.
In the process, Pierce entered the school’s record books by winning the 50-freestyle event in 23.60. Pierce didn’t stop there, as she registered NCAA B-cut times in the 100-free style with a time of 51.75, and the 100-butterfly in 57.28.
Senior Katie Morgan celebrated Senior Day by posting a NCAA provisional time in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:24.28. Fellow senior Margaret Molloy took a trio of first-place finishes home. Molloy tasted victory in the 1000-freestyle (10:43.06), 500-freestyle (5:08.35), and 200-freestyle (1:55.00).
Sophomore Kayleigh Shangle shined throughout the meet, as she was victorious in the 100-freestyle, clocking in at 1:06.86.
With the conclusion of their regular seasons, the men’s and women’s squads will train hard the next three weeks in preparation for the Metropolitan Conference Championships at Rutgers University.
“I have improved in many different aspects, but the most important to me is the level of confidence,” Medvecky said. “Going into a race with no doubt that you can win is a tough skill to master. I have not mastered it, but I have improved dramatically.”
(02/01/11 1:56am)
The women’s swimming and diving team continued their impressive campaign, defeating New York University on Saturday and William Paterson University on Sunday.The Lions defeated the Violets and Pioneers in convincing fashion by scores of 189-107 and 177-100. The wins improved the Lions record to 7-0 on the year, and continued one of the best starts in the team’s history.
“As a whole, our meet against the Violets was a great meet,” sophomore Jennifer Zavoda said. “We won a lot of close races, not just fighting for first or second, but for each place, everyone swam hard until the end.”
Junior Laura Pierce dominated the meet against the Violets, as she finished first in all four of her events. Pierce was triumphant in the 50-yard freestyle (23.74), 100-free (52.36), 100-butterfly (58.03) and contributed to the 200-medley relay team.
Senior Margaret Molloy and sophomore Kayleigh Shangle also showed some dominance, as they also won multiple events. Molloy performed well in the 200-free and 500-free, registering times of 1:54.24 and 5:09.12. Shangle raced to top finishes in two breaststroke events, winning the 100 in 1:06.28 and the 200 in 2:26.82.
Sunday’s match against the Pioneers was a true team effort, as the team won 15 out of 16 events.
Pierce ended her amazing weekend by finishing first in the 200-butterfly (2:08.94) and 500-free (5:26.93). Pierce nearly made school history, as her time for the 200-fly challenged the school record time of 2:08.51 swam by Ava Kiss in 2006.
Junior Traci Hofer chipped in by claiming the 1000-yard freestyle event in 11:13.31 and 200-individual medley in 2:18.07. Sophomores Caroline Kelly and Danica Roskos also contributed strong performances. Kelly took down the 200-free in 2:01.64 and also took part in the 400-medley relay team that posted a winning time of 4:18.71. Roskos placed first on the one-meter board diving event with a total score of 282.83.
The men’s swimming and diving team were just as impressive as the women. The Lions dominated the pool by winning in dominant fashion 177-113 against the Violets and by winning 184-104 against the Pioneers. The wins improved the Lions’ overall record to 6-2.
“The biggest positive about the meet was our ability to get excited and swim confident,” senior Tom Medvecky said. “It is very difficult to be excited when our bodies are as broken down as they are and everyone is exhausted.”
In the meet against the Violets, senior Joe Tseng led the Lions by winning three individual events. Tseng finished first in the 100-yard backstroke, 200-back and 200-individual medley with times of 53.59, 1:57.56 and 1:59.72.
Other standout performances belonged to Medvecky and senior Shawn Kircher. Medvecky tapped the wall first in the 100 and 200-yard butterfly with times of 51.74 and 1:54.34. Kircher also finished first in a pair of freestyle events, clocking in at 47.46 and 1.43:22.
“I’m pretty happy with my performance; however, I still have work to do. My races were not perfect, and I need to focus on the things I did wrong in practice,” Kircher said.
Junior T.J. Burns once again showed why he is one of the best divers in the NJAC as he placed first in the one-meter and three-meter diving events, with 333.38 in the one-meter and a score of 349.13 in the three-meter.
The meet against the Pioneers showed much of the same that the Lions demonstrated against the Violets. Sophomore Evan Paulan finished first in two individual events and a relay, claiming first in the 100-yard backstroke (56.24), 100-butterfly (53.75) and 400-meley relay (3:35.38).
Lions’ freshmen also showcased some of their potential during this meet, as Matthew Knoth and Phillip Hawley each notched two first place finishes.
Both squads are back in action on Saturday as they take on Rowan University in Glassboro, where the women will try to stay unbeaten and the men will hope to keep the momentum going.
“This week the team will do the same workouts we normally do and keep the schedule the same. The only real change is to focus on getting excited for our races and our teammates the weekend. The more excited we are, the better we will swim,” Medvecky said.
(12/02/10 2:52am)
The 2010 Division III Cross Country Championships took place last week, which was held at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. Senior TJ Bocchino represented the Lions, posting a time of 25:34.0 in the 8K event. Bocchino’s effort placed him 116th out of 279 runners.
“Just having that experience going from year to year at nationals is huge,” Bocchino said. “I remember being a freshman and having no idea what to expect and last weekend it knew almost exactly what to expect. Just having that preparedness and knowing what to base your race plan around is great.”
Bocchino landed a spot in the Division III Championship by having an outstanding performance at the NCAA Atlantic Regional in Oneonta, New York. In the event Bocchino placed 17th out of 268 runners with a time of 25:27.6. Bocchino was the lone qualifier from the College for the men’s and women’s cross country programs.
Nationals are different than any other event throughout the typical cross-country season. The caliber of runners is so much deeper, and nationals include runners from many different schools.
“The thing about the National meet is that everyone has earned their way there and everyone wants it,” Bocchino said. “Some other meets throughout the year some people couldn’t care less about. But when you toe the line at nationals, there’s almost 300 other guys out there that want it just as bad as you do.”
Bocchino had an outstanding season and career. Having to deal with the pressures and time-consuming nature of student teaching, Bocchino was able to overcome both obstacles with great success. Looking back, Bocchino had an extremely rewarding and satisfying tenure at the College as both a student and an athlete.
“I’ve done things in my college career that I never thought possible coming in,” Bocchino said. “But this year I felt like I could have done something special. I’d just like to thank anyone who’s ever come out to support me or wish me well during my career. It’s been everything that I could have really asked for and I’m looking forward to a successful track season.”
(11/17/10 7:09pm)
The men’s swimming and diving team swam their way to another dominant victory as they defeated host Franklin and Marshall College, 156-98. The win marks their fourth straight victory, allowing the team to be undefeated for the 2010 season.
“We all swam really well,” senior Shawn Kircher said. “We had a great week of practice and it really showed in the meet. A lot of guys stepped up and put out some good swims.”
Kircher led the Lions by winning the 1,000-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle with times of 10:12.63 and 48.44. Kircher also swam alongside senior Tom Medvecky, freshman Stephen Gibson and sophomore Adam Schneider to win the 200-yard freestyle relay, with a robust time of 1:27.54.
Along with his impressive finish in the 200-yard relay event, Schneider contributed to the Lions victory with wins in the 50-yard freestyle and the 50-yard fly, posting times of 21.78 and 23.19.
Junior Ryan Clark also had one of his best performances of the season, winning the 200- yard freestyle and the 200-yard individual medley, with times of 1:47.00 and 2:02.34.
Freshmen Pat Durning and Mike Oliva also joined the winner’s circle with wins in the 50-yard backstroke and the 50-yard breaststroke.
The women’s swimming and diving team also had a convincing victory over Franklin and Marshall, outscoring them 161 to 99 and improving their record to 4-0.
“We had a lot of fast swims in the pool, and there was a lot of spirit and energy on deck,” junior Danielle Morrone said. “I think most of us really enjoyed swimming 50s and 100s of stroke, since we almost always swim 100s and 200s.”
Senior Margaret Molloy, sophomore Kayleigh Shangle and Morrone all led the Lions to a dominant victory over Franklin and Marshall, winning multiple events.
Molloy won the 1,000-yard free and the 200-yard freestyle with a times of 10:38.89 and 1:43.22. Shangle showed her versatility in the pool, winning the 50-yard breaststroke with a time of 31.02 and the 100-yard free with a time of 54.09. Finally, Morrone continued her outstanding junior season by winning the 100-yard butterfly and the 50-yard fly, posting times of 1:01.73 and 27.53.
Both the men’s and women’s teams will compete Friday, Nov. 19, at Rutgers University - New Brunswick.
“We’ll have the opportunity to compete against some great Division 1 talent, and we’re really looking forward to the challenge. It’s a meet like this when we find out what we’re capable of,” Morrone said.
(11/10/10 5:33pm)
The men’s swimming and diving team swam their way to another dominant victory as they defeated host Southern Connecticut State University 168-118. The win marks the Lions third straight victory (3-0), and contributes to an auspicious start to the season.
“We were able to get in some quality racing,” senior Shawn Kircher said. “Every meet is an opportunity to make ourselves better, and live racing is the best way to improve upon yourself over the season.”
Senior Tom Medvecky led the Lions, as he won the 200-and 100-yard butterfly events in convincing fashion, posting times of 1:55.75 and 53.01. Fellow senior Joseph Tseng continued his strong senior season as well, winning the 200- and 100-yard backstroke competitions with times of 2:01.03 and 54.92.
Other impressive finishes belonged to freshman Stephen Tarnowski, winning the 200-yard medley in 2:00.63, and sophomore Michael Caputo, winning the 100-yard freestyle event in 10:10.02.
T.J. Burns led the diving squad, posting scores of 300.63 and 293.41 in the 1 and 3-meter diving events.
“Overall I was happy with how I swam today,” said junior Evan Paulan who had a pair of second place finishes. “With the amount of tough training we have been doing on a weekly basis, it’s not easy to go fast or around best times. It is sometimes nice to go a decent or average time knowing that your body is hurting and that I am completely exhausted.”
Like the men, the women’s swimming and diving team also had a convincing victory over Southern Connecticut State, outscoring them 168.5 to 129.5. The win also improves their overall record to 3-0.
Junior Laura Pierce dominated throughout the event, winning three individual events and contributing to a first-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay. Pierce won the 50-yard freestyle in 24.63, the 100-free in 53.54 and the 100-yard butterfly touching the wall in 59.44.
Junior Tracey Hofer also had an impressive meet, winning the 200 free with a time of 1:58.58. She also contributed to the team’s 200 medley victory alongside Pierce, sophomore Kayleigh Shangle, and freshman Ashley Conroy.
“At the start of the race I focused on how I want to swim my race,” Conroy said. “I took the 200 back a 50 at a time and the last 50 I always try to pick up my speed and hope for the best.”
Other victories by the Lions belonged to senior Margaret Molloy. Molloy dominated the distance events by winning the 1000-yard with a time of 10:45.36 and the 500-free with a time of 5:11.91.
The men’s and women’s teams will prepare for their next meet on Nov. 14 at Franklin & Marshall College, in hopes of continuing their strong performances.
“We’re going to keep training hard like we’ve been doing, and work on our mistakes from our previous races,” Kircher said. “We try to use each meet to better prepare ourselves for the end result at the conference or national level.”
(11/03/10 4:03pm)
The men’s and women’s cross country teams both ran their ways to 2010 New Jersey Athletic Conference Champions at Richard Stockton College this past Saturday. The wins make it the 17th consecutive NJAC championship for the men and the 16th consecutive NJAC championship for the women.
“Although all of us may have been extremely nervous about the NJAC meet, we were also very excited going into the race,” sophomore Danielle Aran said. “We didn’t really know what to expect as other teams in the NJAC have gotten progressively better over the past couple years, but we did what we had to do to keep the New Jersey Cross Country tradition alive.”
The men’s side had a flurry of runners place in the top 15, allowing the College to collect a meet best 34 points. Junior Rob Nihen led the Lions, finishing third overall with a time of 25:44. Senior TJ Bocchino followed Nihen closely as he finished fourth overall with a time of 25:57. Other impressive finishes belonged to sophomore Max Sparshatt (seventh overall), freshman Dominic Tasco (eighth overall), and junior Nick Bond (12th overall). As a result of Tasco’s effort, he claimed the 2010 NJAC Rookie of the Year.
“I’m very happy with how I placed. Each race I run is helping me gain more experience for future races. I’m just happy that I was able to help out the team,” Tasco said.
The women’s side also exhibited dominance, also finishing with 34 points. The Lions had seven scoring runners place in the top 10, led by junior Claire Johnson, finishing fourth overall with a time of 22:36. Freshman Megan Flynn followed Johnson two spots later with a time of 22:49. Strong finishes also belonged to sophomores Cathy Goncalves (seventh overall) and Rachel Morris (eighth overall). The Lions rounded out the top 10 as junior Alyssa Bannon placed ninth overall, and sophomore Danielle Aran placed 10th overall. To put the icing on the cake, Johnson was crowned the 2010 NJAC Rookie of the Year.
“During the race, I didn’t feel as great as I wanted to. However, I knew going into it that it wasn’t about individual times but what was most important was to pass as many girls as you could,” Aran said.
After impressive meets by the men and women, the Lions were able to show why they have been so dominant in nearly the past two decades of NJAC play. They will continue their great play in the Atlantic Regional Championship hosted by SUNY Oneonta on Nov. 13.
“This meet really showed us that packing up and working together is going to be extremely important when we travel up to Oneonta for Regionals,” Aran said.
(10/27/10 4:34pm)
The men’s and women’s cross-country teams continued their 2010 campaigns at the Connecticut College Invitational, held at Harkness Memorial State Park. Both teams had robust finishes, as the men’s team placed third out of 20 teams, while the women’s team placed fourth out of 18 teams.
“I think this meet in particular brought us together as a team and showed us that we’re going to have to work in order to do as well as we want in the next few weeks,” sophomore Danielle Aran said. “Even if it takes a few painful workouts, I think we’re all willing to do what it takes in order to keep the New Jersey Cross Country tradition alive.”
The men’s side was led by senior TJ Bocchino as he finished the 8K the quickest with a time of 25:27, placing him first out of 225 competitors. Other impressive finishes by the Lions belonged to junior Rob Nihen and sophomore Andy Gallagher. Nihen crossed the finish line at 11th with a time of 26:02, while Gallagher finished 34th with a time of 26:43. Furthermore, Dominic Tasco had an impressive finish for a freshman, finishing 49th with a time of 26:56.
“As I finished, I knew I ran strong for the team. I just really wanted to know how we did overall, because every race counts,” Tasco said.
On the women’s side, sophomore Rachel Morris finished the 6K the quickest for the Lions. She finished with a time of 23:21, good for 11th out of 199 competitors. In addition, fellow sophomore Danielle Aran also had a strong finish with a time of 23:26, placing her in 15th place. Freshman Megan Flynn continued her excellent rookie campaign as she finished with a time of 23:56, finishing 35th.
“As I finished the race I was already thinking ahead to our next meet, our conference NJAC championship, where we will be challenged by Rowan for the NJAC title that has been won by (the College) for years,” Morris said. “There were two girls ahead of me as I ran toward the finish line, and I made sure that I passed both of them, in practice for NJACs, where every little point is going to make a big difference.”
The Connecticut College Invitational was a great event to build off of for the men and women. From this event, the men and women will use this as a stepping-stone, as they both begin their quest to continue their NJAC championship streaks at 16 and 15, respectively.
“Our team has been preparing for NJACs all season. In fact, it has been one of our main focuses. Other than that, we are just focusing on getting in good workouts and runs, and taking care of ourselves as best we can in preparation of our conference meet next weekend,” Morris said.
The men’s and women’s cross-country teams resume their seasons on Saturday Oct. 30, at Richard Stockton College as they compete in the NJAC Championships.
(10/14/10 12:47am)
This past week, the Tampa Bay Rays captured the AL East Division title, making it their second in three years. Considering how competitive the AL East Division is and how short their tenure in the MLB has been, makes this feat all the more impressive. Their ascent to the top of the league has been sparked by more than just a change in team name from the Devil Rays to the Rays, and a change in team logo from a manta ray to a ray of sunlight. In 2008, the Rays made it to their first World Series, just ten years into the franchise’s existence. To put this in perspective, the Cubs have been in existence since 1903, and their last World Series appearance was in 1945. So, you’re probably asking me how a team is able to be so successful in such a short time period with one of the lowest payrolls in baseball, right?
Teams with low payrolls cannot typically afford to bid for the high-priced free agent, so a much emphasis is placed on player development. Some teams succeed in player development, others don’t. The Rays were able to take advantage of making good draft selections in both the first round and the later rounds of drafts, but more importantly developing the players. Key players who the Rays have selected in the past are: Aubrey Huff (5th round), Wade Davis (3rd round), Carl Crawford (2nd round), B.J. Upton (1st round), Delmon Young (1st round) and the list goes on. It’s easy to draft high profile players coming out of college or high school, but developing them is another thing.
The Rays have been able to develop all of those players listed above, plus many more. Part of their success in developing their players is their approach. The Rays are extremely patient with handling their prospects, making sure that the players can handle the upper minor leagues, rather than jumping them from AA to the big leagues. With all of this said, the Rays were able to, in a sense, get lucky in 2006 and in 2007. Two of the premiere players in the league right now, were available to them in their respective draft positions, Evan Longoria and David Price. Both players weren’t rushed, but selected in the draft so that they could make immediate impacts, while also having star potential long-term. This is a testament of how strong the Rays scouting and player development truly was/is.
Furthermore, the Rays have more young talent on their way, Jeremy Hellickson and Desmond Jennings to name a few. While the Rays have a ton of young talent on their major league roster, they have a ton of talent in their minor league systems, which have consistently been ranked as one of the best by Baseball America. The Rays will be an American League powerhouse for the next decade, and this is all tied back to the strength of the Rays’ player development.