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(03/05/08 5:00pm)
The lacrosse team is back this season looking to perfect last year's 12-3 record and make yet another run for a championship title.
The Lions begin the season ranked third in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association Division III Preseason Poll following Salisbury University and defending national champions Franklin and Marshall College.
The College will face five other ranked teams throughout the season including matches versus No. 2 Salisbury University and No. 4 Gettysburg College - both schools accounting for the Lions' only two losses in the regular season last year.
"The team is getting stronger everyday," head coach Sharon Pfluger said. "We have so many of our players back on the team from last year and that has certainly helped since they are so familiar with the way everyone else plays. The chemistry is quite evident on and off the field."
Forward Karen Doane and midfielder Toni-Anne Cavallo are returning to the starting lineup this year for their final seasons. Both seniors were tagged as first-team All-Americans last year.
Doane led the team offensively last spring, racking up 49 goals while extending her scoring streak to 21 consecutive games. Cavallo led the team in assists with a total of 15.
"All of our seniors are outstanding leaders and are tremendous role models," Pfluger said. "They have an abundance of highly competitive experience and their hearts are so into the season and the team."
"I know they will continue to lead the team exceptionally the entire season," she added.
Pfluger also returns to the lacrosse field for her 22nd season. The coach has won 92 percent of her games while coaching for the College and was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame last November.
Junior Caitlin Gregory is in goal for her second season as a Lion. Gregory made an impressive 95 saves last season but attributes the Lions' success to incredible teamwork.
"We demand a lot out of each other," she said. "We aren't settling for anything less than what we are capable of. If we stick together and demand the best out of ourselves and each other, we are going to have an unbelievable season."
Last season, the team advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament before being eliminated by the Panthers of Middlebury College. The loss snapped the Lions' streak of 23 consecutive trips to the tournament's semifinals.
The team will start its campaign on March 8, traveling to Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham for its first game. The Lions will first appear at Lions Stadium to face Eastern University on March 25.
(02/06/08 5:00pm)
Last Wednesday night, junior women's basketball player Hillary Klimowicz passed the 900-point career mark.
This season, Klimowicz has been lighting up the scoreboard for the Lions as their 6-foot-3 center. While Klimowicz is undoubtedly an individual force to be reckoned with, she said she just loves to be part of a team.
"I've been in a few different groups and clubs throughout my life and nothing compares to having teammates that you know you can rely on and who will be there for you," Klimowicz said.
Klimowicz came to the College her sophomore year after first attending St. Joseph's University as a freshman. While there, she scored 275 points and earned the Atlantic-10 Rookie of the Year award. Looking to transfer out of St. Joseph's, Klimowicz found the College to be the best in-state option for both academics and athletics.
This season alone, Klimowicz has captured the New Jersey Athletic Conference's (NJAC) Player of the Week title four separate times.
Klimowicz did not immediately intend to play basketball at a high level. She began playing the sport in order to spend time with a close friend.
"It was more of a social thing for me," she said. "But after a few years, something sparked in me that made me very competitive."
That competitiveness goes hand-in-hand with the dedication she shows in playing for the College. According to Klimowicz, the team practices six days a week for two hours at a time in addition to weightlifting twice a week.
"We had three 6 a.m. practices a week last semester but have only one 6 a.m. this semester," she said. "That's a relief since I'm not really a morning person."
Although she is constantly balancing a hectic schedule, Klimowicz does try to find opportunities to spend time with friends and practice the piano. She is also involved with Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed community service fraternity on campus.
While Klimowicz continues to dominate for the College, she doesn't see herself playing basketball as a career.
"I could see myself possibly playing overseas, but I think coaching is more definite for my future," she said. "I coach little kids in the summer and love doing that."
After finishing 13-14 last season, the Lions now hold a 15-5 record and are ranked No. 2 in the NJAC's South Division.
"Turning last year's losing season around has been a challenge," Klimowicz said. "But it has allowed us to bond as a team and really learn what being an athlete, and more importantly a teammate, is all about."
(01/23/08 12:00pm)
While the College was out for Winter break, Fall athletes continued to receive awards and honors in recognition of another exceptional athletic season.
Lions' football went beyond expectations this year as the team came home with a win in the first round of the NCAA tournament and a total record of 9-3.
Senior defensive tackle Joe King was put on the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Southeast Football All-Star Team. King was also named ECAC 2007 Division III Player of the Year after 28 tackles for a loss and 15 sacks this season and was given D3football.com and All-America honors.
Joining King on the All-Star Team are senior offensive lineman Robert Keyes, senior defensive back Andrew Larkin and senior punter Jeff Struble.
The field hockey team went 17-3 this season, recording 11 shutouts and placing two players on the ECAC Division III First Team.
Junior defender Kelly Mitchell was a key component of the Lions' defense and was honored as the 2007 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Defensive Player of the Year.
Junior forward Katie Reuther also earned her spot on the First Team after scoring 35 points on 13 goals and nine assists last fall.
The men's soccer team (10-6-3) saw five of its players named to the 2007 NJAC All-Star Team. Sophomore forward Kevin Luber, the Lions' leading scorer, was named to the NJAC First Team, while seniors midfielder Joe McGinley and defender Frank Fiorilli earned spots on the Second Team.
Seniors midfielder Craig Langan and forward Nima Rahimi were also given honorable mention for their contributions to the Lions this season.
Luber, McGinley and Fiorilli were chosen for the All-Metro Region Team by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
The women's soccer team received recognition for yet another successful season. Seniors midfielder Dana DiBruno and defender Courtney Krol both reeled in All-America honors.
Both DiBruno and Krol were also named to the All Mid-Atlantic First Team along with forwards junior Jamie Kunkel and sophomore Briann McDonough.
Sophomore Jessica Clarke, 2007 NJAC Goalkeeper of the Year, earned a spot on the All-Mid-Atlantic Third Team after leading the nation in goals-against average with .238 goals per game.
(11/28/07 12:00pm)
Junior rugby player Michael Brad Forbes was selected to play on the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union All-Star Team last week, making him only the seventh Lion in the program's history to be given this honor.
Forbes endured two full days of tryouts earlier in the month, competing side-by-side with 42 other players representing 13 Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union (EPRU) colleges and universities. After engaging in a skills assessment, fitness test and scrimmage, the group was narrowed down to the 29 players who will go on to play the Palmetto Collegiate All-Stars and Clemson University in January.
"This was the first time I'd ever been involved with something quite like this," Forbes said. "The atmosphere was very tense. Everyone there was good."
Forbes plays wing for the College, a position in rugby usually reserved for the quickest members of the team.
Deemed "Mr. Glass" by his teammates, Forbes proved to live up to his nickname during tryouts.
"I dislocated my shoulder on the first day and tweaked something in my knee on the second," Forbes said.
Forbes' injuries did not seem to discourage coaches during the evaluation process of tryouts, and he was chosen to travel with EPRU's team.
If anything, Forbes' injuries have made the athlete more determined to work harder to help make the all-star team a success.
"Making the team is only the first step," Forbes said. "A big part of that is healing and strengthening my problem areas that have been prone to injury in the past, like my ankles, shoulders and knees."
Forbes will attend a weekend camp at Albright before traveling with the team on January 19-20 to Charleston, S.C. for the all-star games.
(11/14/07 5:00pm)
The Lions went into the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Tournament this weekend playing as they have all season - with a mix of dominating offense and stellar defense. But a few bad breaks on Sunday left the team on the losing end of a 2-1 game.
On Sunday, the time clock clicked down to zero but the Lions still had a chance for an upset goal with three consecutive penalty corners. The Panthers of Middlebury College were able to withstand the enormous offensive push and managed to get the ball out of the 16-yard mark, effectively ending the game and the Lions' season.
It seemed the Lions would take a victory from the Panthers as they put heavy pressure on the defense early in the first half. The teams continued to battle inside of the Panthers' 16-yard mark but the Lions struggled to get a shot off.
A hit from the Panthers took the momentum down the other side of the field and toward Gregory. After three straight penalty corners and three saves by Gregory, Middlebury's junior midfielder Lindsay McBride rocketed a shot into the back of the cage to take the lead.
The Lions had plenty of chances to even the score, drawing six penalty corners from the Panthers in the first half alone, but were unable to make contact into the cage.
"We didn't capitalize on our opportunities," Gregory said. "Unfortunately, they did."
McBride took advantage of yet another Panthers' penalty corner in the first half, scoring her second goal of the game.
"Obviously as a goalie I look to myself for the goals that were scored," Gregory said. "I keep wondering 'what if I did this different or that different?' But it comes down to the fact that they put the ball in the cage and we just couldn't get it in there."
The second half seemed to bring about a rejuvenated Lions offense, which drew two penalty corners within the first two minutes. The Lions spent the majority of the second half in Panthers territory but continued to struggle in getting a shot off.
With two minutes left in the game, the Lions finally managed to put a point on the scoreboard. Junior forward Kelly Mitchell scored her first goal of the season, scoring off of a penalty corner. Both junior defender Jackie Gelinas and Waller assisted the goal.
The tournament started on Saturday versus the Herons of William Smith College as the Lions reminded everyone they were gunning for a championship crown.
Junior forward Katie Reuther opened up the scoring for the Lions, netting a goal off of a penalty stroke 17:09 into the first half.
The original goal seemed to open up the floodgates for the Lions, as sophomore forward Jessica Falcone scored twice more in the half within a span of 58 seconds, leaving the Lions with a three-goal advantage going into halftime.
It didn't take long in the second half before the Lions struck again. Freshman forward Mary Waller gathered a loose ball in front of the cage to net her third goal of the season and the Lions' fourth of the game.
The final goal for the Lions came when Reuther set up freshman forward Leigh Mitchell for her team-leading 16th goal of the season.
The Herons seemed to have some fight left in them as they managed to slip one by junior goalkeeper Caitlin Gregory with 10 minutes left in the game. Overall, Gregory made five saves for the night to secure the 5-1 win.
The No. 5 College finished the year with a 17-3 record for the second straight season. Middlebury College will go on in the tournament to face Salisbury University on Friday.
(11/07/07 5:00pm)
The field hockey team ended its season dominating the competition as usual, earning a 6-0 victory versus the Ospreys of Richard Stockton College on Thursday.
The team's winning streak was extended to six games as they wrapped up another successful season.
"I think it is mostly in part to our hard work and dedication," junior defender Ashleigh Pecherski said. "Everyone wants it more than the next person and you can really feel that out on the field."
Junior forward Jenny Lubin initiated the scoring for the College, netting a goal 24 minutes into the first half. Freshman forward Leigh Mitchell was quick to follow, rocketing a shot into the cage off of a pass from Pecherski.
The Lions blew the game wide open in the second half with Mitchell scoring yet again less than 10 minutes into the half. Sophomore forward Jessica Falcone followed suit, scoring two goals of her own.
Freshman forward Mary Waller added the second goal of her collegiate career to give the Lions a total of six points.
Junior goalkeeper Caitlin Gregory made one save throughout the game, picking up her 11th shutout for the season.
The victory put the Lions at 6-0 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) and 16-2 overall.
While the team prepared for its second-round appearance in the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Tournament, it received a little help from former Lions in the annual alumnae game.
"The alumnae game gets us ready for postseason and is really great practice for us," Pecherski said. "They are so talented and they really help us out."
With the Lions finishing strong in the regular season, the team earned home-field advantage for the regional round of the NCAA tournament. The College will make its 27th consecutive appearance in the tournament after clinching the NJAC.
The Lions, who earned a bye into the second round, will play the winner of the Keene State University and William Smith College matchup Sunday at 1 p.m.
(10/31/07 4:00pm)
The field hockey team clinched the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) title for the second consecutive year.
With a 5-0 victory over Ramapo College, the College earned its 21st NJAC title as well as an automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA Division III Tournament.
This year marks the program's 27th appearance in the tournament.
On Sunday, the teams took to the field to finish the remaining 29:47 of a previously suspended game. The two teams met on Tuesday, Oct. 9 before play was halted due to lightning.
When the teams parted ways over two weeks ago, the Lions led 4-0. Once play resumed, the Roadrunners continued to struggle against the Lions' offense as freshman forward Leigh Mitchell netted the lone goal of the night.
"We have definitely been clicking as a team in the past games," Mitchell said. "Everyone has been playing very well as a whole unit and each player picks up for others' mistakes."
In its matchup versus Kean University on Tuesday, Oct. 23, the Lions came into the game as the top-scoring offense in the NJAC with 3.56 goals per game while Kean's defense had allowed a mere .89 goals per game.
The teams struggled for control during the first half as the Lions barely held onto a 1-0 lead going into halftime.
The Lions netted three goals in the first four minutes of the second half. The team tacked on two more goals as juniors Jenny Lubin and Katie Reuther scored to make it a 6-0 game.
The Cougars spoiled the shutout with 10 minutes to go, but the College got the final goal of the game as junior forward Kendra Boyd netted her fifth goal of the season off of an assist from Reuther.
Prior to the game, the team celebrated "Senior Night" by honoring seniors Colleen Dougherty, Alycia Gotthold, Sheri Grondski, Ashleigh Pecherski and Gina Quaranta.
The Lions went on to face a challenge from No. 8 SUNY-Cortland. Lubin scored the only goal of the game off of a penalty corner in the second half. The win snapped Cortland's 18-game home winning streak and put the Lions at 15-2 on the season.
Junior goalkeeper Caitlin Gregory made two saves in the game to earn her ninth shutout of the season.
The team is scheduled to travel to Richard Stockton College for a 3:30 p.m game.
(10/17/07 12:00pm)
The Lions went into last week looking to extend a six-game winning streak when everything changed in a flash - literally.
The College led Ramapo College by four goals at the half when the game was postponed due to a lightning storm.
The two rivals will meet again on Thursday, Oct. 25 to resume play.
But the Lions' troubles did not end with the storm. In a Saturday showdown of top-ranked teams, the No. 2 College fell to No. 3 Salisbury University 3-1, ending the Lions' winning streak.
The loss marks the first time the Lions did not emerge victorious at home this season.
Both teams stepped on the field ready for battle and played an intense but scoreless first half. Most of the action took place in the midfield, with each team struggling to get a shot on goal. Both the Lions and Sea Gulls were only able to get off three shots each during the first half.
"We dominated in between the 25's," junior goalkeeper Caitlin Gregory said. "We just didn't play as well as we could have in the two circles."
The Lions were the first to strike offensively in the second half, as junior forward Jenny Lubin directed a shot into the corner of the cage off of a penalty corner.
The Sea Gulls came back with a vengeance, pushing the ball up field and scoring a mere 38 seconds later.
"After we scored, I think we may have relaxed for a minute," Gregory said. "That's when they came back and tied it up."
A scramble in front of the goal caused the Lions' eventual downfall when a stray ball made it past Gregory, putting the Sea Gulls on the better side of a 2-1 advantage.
An additional goal by the Sea Gulls with six minutes remaining sealed the Lions' defeat.
The Lions played strong defense throughout the game, including a defensive save by senior midfielder Colleen Dougherty. Gregory had four saves in the game.
The game represented Salisbury's 12th consecutive victory and improved them to 13-1 on the season.
The Lions fell to 9-2 but remain undefeated and ranked first in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play. The Lions went 6-0 in conference play in the 2006 season.
Gregory said she and her teammates will not allow the game to break their focus.
"We have three games this week, so we can't just dwell on the loss," Gregory said. "We have to move on and get ready for this week."
The Lions get the chance to redeem themselves this week, playing two NJAC opponents.
The Lions will go on the road to face the Pioneers of William Paterson University on Saturday at 1 p.m. before hosting the Cougars of Kean University on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
(10/10/07 4:00pm)
The No. 3 field hockey team conquered the competition this week, extending its winning streak to six games.
Opponents Rowan University and Susquehanna University left both games scoreless in the College's fourth and fifth shutouts of the season. The defense soared throughout last week, allowing junior goalkeeper Caitlin Gregory to face a total of only six shots on goal for both games.
The game against Susquehanna also marked head coach Sharon Pfluger's 400th victory with the College's field hockey program.
In its 3-0 victory over No. 13 Rowan, the College showed no mercy, dominating the Profs both offensively and defensively for the majority of the game.
The Lions got an early jump on the Profs as senior midfielder Colleen Dougherty made contact with a loose ball, directing it straight into the cage a little more than seven minutes into the game. The goal marked the second consecutive game in which Dougherty added a point to the scoreboard for the Lions.
"Knowing how good Rowan usually is, we knew that even if we were up by one, two or even three goals, if we let up at all, they would put the ball in the cage," Gregory said. "We continued to play the game as if the score was 0-0."
The Lions left no doubt as to who was taking home a victory as senior defender Sheri Grondski netted another goal off of a penalty corner.
With a 2-0 score, the Profs rallied offensively, nearly finding the net with 12 minutes left in the half. The ball wound up getting past Gregory only to be stopped by junior defender Jackie Gelinas.
The play was Rowan's only close attack on the cage of the game. Another Lions goal in the second half made the final score 3-0.
Later in the week, the College went on to face the Crusaders of Susquehanna.
Junior forward Katie Reuther netted her team-leading eighth game-winning goal of the season, scoring early in the first half. Reuther rebounded a loose ball off the pads of junior goalkeeper Lyndsay Meabon and found an open corner of the cage to tally the College's first score of the day.
The final two goals came in the second half, making the score 3-0. The Lions outshot the Crusaders 19-2.
The team may face some challenges this week as it faces off with Salisbury University on Saturday at 5 p.m. and Johns Hopkins University on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., but Gregory is confident her team will come prepared.
"If we play like I know we are capable of playing," she said, "there is nothing that can stand in our way."
Dougherty agreed with Gregory, saying the team should be able to extend its win streak with next week's game.
"We will definitely face some challenges against Salisbury," Dougherty said. "They are a good, aggressive team. If we continue to work as hard as we have been and play with the heart and determination we have been, the outcome of the game should be in our favor."
(10/10/07 12:00pm)
The College's rugby team started off the season on a somber note this year, dedicating a moment of silence before its first game in honor of former teammate Ken Johnsen Jr., a mechanical engineering major who passed away on Sept. 9 after a long battle with lymphoma cancer.
It has been nearly two years since Johnsen graduated from the College but it was his attitude on and off the field that his teammates continue to remember.
"I will remember Kenny as one of the most humble kids I ever met, who took to our sport like a natural," former teammate Joe Maringola said. "I argue that he is the most complete and skilled fullback this school ever produced. Beyond that, he had a good heart."
Johnsen continued to work hard after graduation, where he began graduate school and hiked half of the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail. Only then was he first diagnosed with lymphoma, a cancer resulting from a malignant change in the lymphocytes, a certain type of white blood cell.
Throughout the next two years, Johnsen continued to push himself in his fight against the cancer.
"The guy was such a tough man," former teammate Joe Millard said. "Old-school guy in my book, tough as nails."
Johnsen came to the College from Parsippany, N.J., and almost immediately began playing rugby. Instantly, he was recognized for his hard work and drive, as well as his ability to make anyone laugh. Off the field, he earned the nickname of "Flamer" following an incident with a flaming shot of alcohol.
In his final season playing rugby, Johnsen and the rest of the team came home winners of the Division II Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union Championship - a first for the club sport. His intensity for the game and distinct style of play was one that was admired by his teammates.
Johnsen passed away 13 days after he turned 25, but his legacy continues to be remembered by his former teammates, current rugby players and friends. The team has dedicated the 2007 season to Johnsen, remembering the intense player and unique person he was.
The team will also be fundraising for the "Light the Night" walk on Oct. 13. All proceeds will be going toward the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Johnsen's honor.
For more information on the walk, or how to donate, visit lightthenight.org.
(10/03/07 4:00pm)
The field hockey team's winning streak continued this week as the Lions scored victories against Montclair State University and Manhattanville College.
The two wins this week leave the Lions with a 7-1 record and a four-game winning streak.
The No. 3 College's 3-2 win snapped a 16-game winning streak held by No. 13 Montclair that dates back all the way to October 2006.
Freshman forward/midfielder Leigh Mitchell scored early in the game, netting her fourth goal of the season nine minutes into the competition.
The Lions were able to hold off the Red Hawks for the majority of the first half until a blocked shot off the pads of junior goalkeeper Caitlin Gregory was rebounded for a goal. The two teams went into the second half locked at 1-1.
In the second half it was Montclair who took the early lead, scoring off a penalty corner six minutes into the half. It seemed that the Lions' defeat was imminent as the minutes counted down, but senior defender Sheri Grondski tied the score with her first goal of the year with 15 minutes remaining.
The College would take the lead once again five minutes later with a goal from senior defender Ashleigh Pecherski off yet another penalty corner. The defeat left the Red Hawks with an 8-1 record. It was the first time the team scored a victory at Montclair since 2003.
"Our win against Montclair was huge," sophomore forward Jessica Falcone said. "When we were down, we stayed composed and just kept playing our game."
The impressive victory over Montclair left the College with the confidence to dominate a visiting Manhattanville in a 7-0 win.
The Lions showed no mercy, shooting on goal a total of 39 times while holding the Valiants to a single shot on goal for the entire game. The first three Lions' goals of the game were scored within a five-minute period.
"We basically maintained offensive possession for almost the entire game," Falcone said. Falcone and junior forward Kendra Boyd were each responsible for two of the Lions' goals.
As the Lions' lead increased, senior goalkeeper Gina Quaranta was given the chance to show off her skills in the cage, keeping the Valiants scoreless for her 10 minutes of play.
Both Quaranta and Gregory earned a shutout for the win over Montclair.
The Lions are scheduled to travel to Susquehanna University on Saturday for a 4 p.m. start.
(09/19/07 4:00pm)
Junior Caitlin Gregory burst onto the College athletics scene last season, recording 95 saves in 15 games as the lacrosse team's starting goalkeeper. The College community has come to know Gregory as a successful lacrosse goalkeeper, but this season her skills protecting the field hockey cage are taking center stage.
Prior to the start of the season, Gregory had not dressed in her field hockey pads or picked up a stick to play the game she has loved since grade school in nearly four years. This season, she is all suited up and standing in goal for the undefeated field hockey team.
Before becoming a Lion, Gregory attended Temple University on a hefty lacrosse scholarship.
"I was not happy with my progress as a player (at Temple)," Gregory said. "I felt I could become a better athlete and I knew that I would be able to at (the College)."
Gregory is all-too-familiar with the pressures of being a two-season goalkeeper. She attended Eastern Regional High School where she started for its lacrosse team and its No. 1 nationally-ranked field hockey team. In her entire high school career, Gregory never lost a game and tied only once in either sport.
"I had always been a softball player," Gregory said, "but after a terrible year playing softball, I reluctantly switched to lacrosse the winter of my sophomore year. I had no idea what I was doing."
Playing lacrosse landed her with the opportunity to compete at her choice of colleges. So how did she end up in a Lions uniform? Gregory was drawn in by the College's field hockey and lacrosse head coach Sharon Pfluger who has a reputation for coaching championship teams both on and off the field.
"Coach Pfluger is an unbelievable coach, and I really do feel lucky to have her as a mentor," Gregory said. "She is like a mother away from our real ones, and we can go to her for anything."
Pfluger has recorded over 400 wins as the lacrosse coach, including 12 last season with Gregory in goal.
"She is a talented goalkeeper who continues to improve everyday," Pfluger said. "We have the utmost confidence in her and we are looking forward to a successful season with her in the goal cage."
While much of Gregory's time is spent on the field, she admits that it does get stressful juggling classes and homework with practice and games. Though lacrosse practice has not started yet, the field hockey team practices six times a week. In between practices and games Gregory manages to find the time to do schoolwork, be an avid Phillies fan and draw "good luck pictures" for her friends and teammates.
"I have the best family, friends and teammates in the world, and that's all I really need," she said.
Gregory's optimistic attitude seems to be key when it comes to playing the games she loves. Three games into the season, Gregory has recorded three wins including two shutouts, and she has high hopes for her team.
"There is no doubt in my mind that we will achieve our goals," she said.
With her confidence and determination, Gregory will play an important role in leading both teams to successful seasons.
(09/12/07 4:00pm)
Ashleigh Pecherski returns to the Lions as a senior this season, leading the undefeated field hockey team to a 3-0 record. In the College's 3-0 victory against Eastern University, the starting defender earned the second hat trick of her college career, scoring all three points for the Lions. Pecherski leads the team this sea-son with 18 shots on goal and four goals in three games.
(09/12/07 4:00pm)
Senior defender Ashleigh Pecherski scored all three goals in the College's 3-0 victory over Eastern University.
The starter earned her second hat trick of her career and her fourth goal of the season in Thursday's game.
"I was able to get the ball in the cage," Pecherski said, "but it was my teammates who were able to get me the ball in the perfect spot to allow me to do that."
Three minutes into the contest, junior defender Jackie Gelinas worked her way up the field, dodging two Eagles defenders to cross the ball to Pecherski in front of the cage.
Eastern's junior goalkeeper Kelly Garland was unable to stop Pecherski's shot into the corner of the cage.
However, Garland did not go down without a fight. A penalty stroke was called against the Eagles after a defender blocked the ball from going into the cage with her body from behind the goalkeeper.
Pecherski once again had a chance to score on the penalty but the shot was blocked.
The Lions held a 1-0 advantage going into the second half.
With crowd members hopping to their feet in excitement, Pecherski netted her final two goals during the second half within a two-minute period.
The Eagles were unable to get their offense moving during the remaining 10 minutes of the game.
Thursday's victory puts the Lions' record at 3-0 while the previously undefeated Eagles are left with a 2-1 record.
Lions junior goalkeeper Caitlin Gregory recorded her third win and second shutout for the team.
"It is such an amazing feeling to walk off the field winning and feeling that we accomplished something together," Pecherski said. "We have such a talented, hardworking team and I am just excited to see what happens in the future."
The future success of the Lions will be tested as they travel to Ursinus College on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. game.
(09/05/07 4:00pm)
Despite the College's 15-0 loss to Muhlenberg College in the season opener, senior defensive lineman Joe King was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week. King had a total of nine tackles and three sacks during the game for a Muhlenberg loss of 25 yards. Although the College was shut out, King and the rest of the Lions' defense held the Mules to 78 rushing yards. King currently leads the NJAC with six tackles for a loss.
(09/05/07 4:00pm)
The field hockey team started its season off with a bang, securing its first two wins over the weekend.
The team went into the 2007 season tabbed to finish second behind Rowan University in the New Jersey Athletic Conference by the STX/National Field Hockey Coaches Association.
In Saturday's season opener versus NCAA Division III opponent Millersville University, the Lions managed to hold on to a 3-2 lead and secure a victory.
The Lions attacked first with a goal from freshman forward/midfielder Gabby Cafone. But the Marauders didn't go down without a fight, answering back with a goal of their own.
Each team scored once more in the first half, but it was the Lions who rose to the occasion in the second half with a final goal from junior forward Jenny Lubin.
For the remainder of the game the Lions played solid defense, preventing the Marauders from making a comeback to tie the game again.
With one game behind them and confidence from the previous day's win, the team blew away the competition on Sunday.
The Bombers of Ithaca College fell as the Lions dominated both defensively and offensively. The Lions maintained control of the ball for the majority of the time, outplaying the Bombers in almost every aspect of the game.
With a final score of 5-0, the Lions earned another important victory, putting their current season record at 2-0.
Leading 2-0 going into the second half, freshman midfielder Kellyn Riley, junior forward Kendra Boyd and junior forward/midfielder Katie Reuther tacked on one goal apiece to push the final score to 5-0 and ensure victory for the Lions.
The importance of teamwork became evident during the game as five different players scored each of the team's goals.
"We played well as a whole," senior defender Ashleigh Pecherski said. "It is great to know that you have everyone working hard, not only for themselves but for each other out there."
Pecherski, who is in her final season with the Lions, was able to do her part for the team by netting one of the five goals on Sunday.
After making her debut as the team's goalkeeper this weekend, junior Caitlin Gregory made a combined total of six saves and recorded her first shutout. Gregory has experience guarding the net as she is also the starting goalkeeper for the lacrosse team.
A handful of freshmen made their own debuts this weekend, proving themselves to be talented players as they made their own contributions to the team. Freshmen forward/midfielder Leigh Mitchell and Riley both earned their first collegiate goals during the game.
Head coach Sharon Pfluger, on the other hand, is hardly a novice to the game. Going into her 23rd year as the College's head field hockey coach, she has earned an overall record of 402-70-9, including the two most recent wins.
Even with two impressive victories on its record, the team is still dedicated to improving for its next game against Eastern University at home tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.
"We have to work on our transition from offense to defense and making sure that we are getting back fast enough to put pressure on the opposing team," Pecherski said.
Although still early in the season, the recent victories seem to hint that the team is coming back with a vengeance after losing to Messiah College in the third round of the NCAA Division III tournament last season.
"I expect a lot from the team this year," Pecherski said. "We work very hard and have a lot of heart. As the season progresses, I think everything else will just fall into place."
So what can be expected from the College's field hockey team? If the last two games are any indication: an impressive season and quite possibly a championship title.
(08/29/07 4:00pm)
This time last year, Gerard Haran was preparing for his final season as starting catcher for the College's baseball team. After being picked up by the St. Louis Cardinals, Haran has set his sights on something much bigger.
Haran, who graduated from the College with a degree in journalism earlier this year, ended his 2007 season with a .327 batting average while leading the Lions with 53 RBIs, 13 doubles, 14 home runs and a .661 slugging percentage.
In addition to becoming the 2007 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship team's star player and helping the Lions earn an impressive season record of 34-11, Haran ended his college career as a three-time First Team All-American in NCAA Division III. He was also named Player of the Year by the Eastern College Athletic Conference alongside lacrosse's senior midfielder Karen Doane.
Haran seemed to be on the fast track to the major leagues, yet when it came time for the Major League amateur draft - he was overlooked.
"I know when he was passed up in the draft, we were all extremely disappointed," former head coach Rick Dell said.
But Haran was not willing to give up on his baseball dreams just yet.
After graduation, he continued to pursue a baseball career until he was signed by the St. George Roadrunners of the Golden Baseball League.
The catcher managed to impress Major League scouts with his power-hitting and incredible defense, gunning down five baserunners in his first 10 games for the Roadrunners.
After playing for the Roadrunners for a mere two weeks, Haran's contract was bought out by the St. Louis Cardinals.
"It definitely feels so surreal," Haran said.
Today, the College alumnus spends his days in Florida where he plays for the Cardinals' rookie league farm team in the Gulf Coast League with the possibility of one day playing in the majors.
"Finally somebody recognized his talents," Dell said. "I think given an opportunity and given a chance, he'll embrace the situation. It sounds like he's headed for good things."
Haran certainly left his mark in the College's record books. He holds the College's career records for most doubles (58), home runs (49), RBIs (215) and runs scored (184). He was named the 2006 NCAA Division III National Player of the Year at catcher as well as the NJAC Player of the Year in both 2006 and 2007.
With a future full of possibilities, Haran expressed his gratitude for the opportunity he has been given.
"I love the sport, I love the game," he said. "I'm just glad to be playing."
(05/02/07 4:00pm)
The College's lacrosse team swept the competition this week, scoring victories against Montclair State University and Susquehanna University.
The two wins leave the College with an 11-2 record for the season.
The No. 5-ranked Lions rekindled their rivalry against the Red Hawks with a 12-10 win as the teams met on the field for the first time in more than 20 years.
The Lions started off the game with an early lead, scoring their first four goals five minutes into the first half. However, the Red Hawks continued to challenge the Lions, staying within two points for the entire game.
Junior midfielder Toni-Anne Cavallo continued to be an asset for the Lions' offense with four goals and two assists. The teams slowed down the pace in the second half with the Red Hawks scoring four times. The Lions added three more goals to hold on to their lead and the game.
Defense proved to be a big part of the game, as the College caused 20 Montclair turnovers. Junior goalkeeper Caitlin Gregory had three saves for the night but accredited much of the Lions' success to her defense.
"It's hard to be a goalie because of the added pressure of being the last one to protect the cage," Gregory said. "But the girls in front of me worked extra hard to eliminate Montclair's opportunities and to help me out."
The defense appeared to break down against Susquehanna University, allowing the Crusaders to score just 18 seconds into the game. However, the Lions came back with a vengeance, letting the Crusaders score only one more goal for the rest of the first half.
The College began to dominate, rattling off goal after goal to take an impressive 14-3 lead at the half.
Junior midfielder Karen Doane and Cavallo once again led the team with four goals each. The goals brought Doane to over 40 goals for the season - the second time she has accomplished this feat. She has 123 goals in 48 games for the Lions. Cavallo had a five-point game, pushing her over the 100-point mark for her career. She has 71 career goals and 32 assists.
Adding to the Lions' offense was sophomore attacker Rachel Gordon, who scored three times. Gregory once again took home the win with three saves and a final score of 17-5.
"The game gave us an opportunity to put everything together, from attack to defense to goalkeeping," Gregory said. "It's one of our last regular-season games to prove ourselves."
The Lions finish their regular season against Frostburg State University on May 4. Afterward, they begin competing in the NCAA Division III tournament, set to begin May 9.
(05/02/07 12:00pm)
The Rathskeller came alive with Latin culture last week as Uni?n Latina presented "The Beat of Nuyorican Poets."
It was not your average poetry reading, as the event featured three well-known Nuyorican poets and an open-mic to give others an opportunity to share their work.
The featured guest poets each took turns performing their poems, appearing on stage several different times throughout the night.
"They each brought their own different styles to promote different messages about everything from politics, race, careers, to urban lifestyles," Uni?n Latina's vice president Danielle Romero said. "Their messages were definitely an eye-opener to all, especially those that do not know much about these topics."
The first poet, Karen Jaime, expressed her frustration with women's stereotypical roles in society.
"They say that behind every good man is a woman, but I'm tired of being left behind," she read.
The poet is a former hostess of Friday Night Slam at the Nuyorican Poets Caf? in New York City. Between poems, Jaime joked around with the audience, but the majority of her works took a more serious tone.
She summed up her view on women today as she read, "A wedding does not have to equal a shackle, love does not have to equal pain and alone does not have to equal lonely."
The next poet to perform was 2002 Nuyorican Grand Slam champion Kahlil Almustafa.
"I use poetry to understand my reality," Almustafa said.
He presented his reality in the form of intense poems dealing with race, violence and stereotypes portrayed by today's media.
Before reading one of his poems, he discussed the case last year in which an unarmed man was shot 50 times by police outside a strip club in his hometown of Queens, N.Y.
When referring to it in his poem "How to Speak American," Almustafa recited, "the newspapers will tell you on page 16 that another violent black man got killed tonight."
The show's mood was lightened by the final poet of the night, Big Mike, who constantly referred to himself as a "brother without color" and "a cracker who cares." He has appeared on HBO's Def Poetry Season Six and currently has his own DVD in stores.
The majority of his poems were actually in the form of letters and hate mail he had written to different celebrities, including Wesley Snipes and Tom Cruise.
"What happened? You used to be 'Top Gun,' Tommy," Mike read. "Now jumping on couches is 'Risky Business.'"
The biggest laughs of the night came from his poem titled "Letter to the boy who tries to date my 15-year-old niece Jasmine." The letter was littered with funny, but protectively violent imagery indicating what Mike would do if the boy tried to touch his niece.
"I'll make Jigsaw from 'Saw' look like Ward fucking Cleaver," he read.
The night wrapped up with several students reading selections from their own original poetry.
"The open-mic at the end was also an amazing experience not just for those who spoke but also for the ones who listened," Romero said. "It gave everyone the chance to experience poetry at its greatest."
The night was organized by Gabriella Martinez and Josette Marrero as part of Latin Celebration Awareness month.
(04/25/07 4:00pm)
The College's lacrosse team dominated the competition once again with a 16-6 victory over the Colorado College Tigers. The Lions, ranked No. 5 in the nation, remain perfect at home this season with a 5-0 record and a 9-2 record overall.
The Lions' quick offense was first to strike, as the team scored five unanswered goals early in the game. The Lions were relentless in their attack, going less than a minute between goals. In one play, junior midfielder Karen Doane was able to gain control of the draw after a goal and score again eight seconds later.
Doane led the Lions offense throughout the game, taking eight shots and scoring a total of five goals. Doane netted one of these goals on a free position attempt, which was followed by another Lions goal from junior attacker Bernadette Campbell 14 seconds later. By the end of the first half, the Lions held a 9-3 lead.
The College continued to play strong in the second half, netting six unanswered goals. The Lions allowed the Tigers only three goals for the entire second half. In net for the College, junior goalkeeper Caitlin Gregory was credited with six saves for the game.
"The game was a combination of solid defense and smart attack," Gregory said. "As the season progresses, we've learned to play more as a whole, rather than the attack playing as a unit and the defense playing as a unit."
Junior midfielder Toni-Anne Cavallo and freshman attacker Angela Wilmer were both key to the Lions offense, as each player had three goals along with two assists from Cavallo. Cavallo earned her third straight 20-goal season for the Lions and also set a career high in assists with 12 on the season. Cavallo also earned the honor of being named the ECAC Metro Player of the Week.
The Lions did win the game, but the team's high score also served another purpose. The team held a Goal For Goal fundraiser with proceeds from the game going to United Cerebral Palsy and Angelman Syndrome Foundation Inc.
Prior to the game, the team sought out pledges for each goal that the College scored. Last year, the lacrosse team raised $1,500, but this year the charity event became more personal as the team had the chance to touch the lives of two families.
The younger sister of senior defender Tara Withers is an inspiration for those living with Cerebral Palsy.
"They recently had a benefit for her in my town and the team donated money for that," Withers said. "Because of that, they wanted to continue to support my family, which was awesome."
Former standout College of William and Mary lacrosse player Julie McGravey Waicus has two children who suffer from Angelman Syndrome.
Tuesday's game against Montclair State University was also part of the Goal For Goal fundraiser, which finishes on May 4 as the Lions play Frostburg State University.
The Lions visit Susquehanna University on Saturday at 1 p.m.