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(03/07/17 1:55am)
By Michael Battista
Staff Writer
Unlike the real George Washington, Christopher Jackson did not need to cross the Delaware River to enter a fortified Trenton, N.J. Jackson’s troops — in this case, students — gathered outside of Kendall Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 28, to await the former “Hamilton” star for the College Union Board’s Spring Lecture.
Most recognized for his performances as Washington in “Hamilton” and Benny in “In The Heights,” the multi-faceted star told students he wasn’t going to let anything stop him from speaking at the College.
“I was stranded at a hotel in Beverly Hills the day before yesterday, watching my friend get nominated for an Oscar,” Jackson said, to which the crowd erupted in cheers. “But I came all the way across the country so that I could be with you guys.”
Jackson started off the night by telling the audience a little about himself: what it has been like to be an actor, singer and writer since 1995 and how he is currently working on a CBS television show called “Bull,” in which he plays a hairstylist named Chunk Palmer.
“I’m still coming to terms with that,” Jackson said.
Jackson said he got where he is today by taking life one step at a time, and it’s incredible how his experiences continue to shape his life.
He wasn’t there just to lecture students — that was something they get enough on a daily basis, he said. Jackson was more excited to turn the house lights up and start a dialogue with the audience.
Talking about his time in “Hamilton” as Washington, Jackson told the crowd just how much time went into preparing for the performance, which included reading biographer Ron Chernow’s work “Washington: A Life.”
Jackson has read the book four times to date.
In an interview with The Signal, Jackson said he had one mission in mind when getting into character as America’s first commander in chief.
“My aim was to just portray him as truthful as I could,” Jackson said. “As far as my approach from an acting standpoint… I researched Washington himself for about three and a half years.
“And everyday that I was in the role, I was constantly researching,” he added. “Constantly trying to draw as much from his real life experience as I could. To have had any other kind of approach to it wouldn’t have served the piece very well.”
Walking the same grounds and seeing the same sights as Washington himself helped Jackson believe he could play the character. To walk around Valley Forge and other historical sites helped him understand the character just as much as reading about them, he said.
“I just try to stand up, say the words and believe them,” he told the audience.
Jackson brought up how he felt both connected and disconnected to Washington. From an emotional standpoint, he said his character’s anger and distance affected him in real life, but he’s become a happier person since leaving the show.
He also felt disconnected with Washington, as he owned slaves. Jackson said he wasn’t asked to reconcile that fact, but as an actor, “You have to make sense of the things that don’t make sense.”
The actor mentioned his co-worker and friend Lin-Manuel Miranda throughout the night, referring to him as his brother. Jackson noted how the lyricist, composer and fellow actor helped him land roles in other projects, such as Disney’s 2016 animated film “Moana,” in which he was the singing voice of Chief Tui, Moana’s father.
Jackson told The Signal that relationships like this are one of the most important things in his industry.
“(Relationships are) more valuable than the work itself,” Jackson said. “The power of the team that assembled around ‘In The Heights’ — and it assembled in layers and levels over time — really created the piece itself. I don’t think Lin gets to write for me unless he understands who I am. … Unless we form a friendship that is as close to a brother as anything that most of us will ever experience.”
Jackson said his relationship with people like director Tommy Kail and music composer Alex Lacamoire have also helped bring projects to life.
“It is a moment in time that happens when you are connected with people that you share such kindred spirits with,” he said. “And I think that is reflected in the work that Lin wrote, and what I have been able to bring to life. … There’s an implicit level of trust that exists. Lin and I have literally done thousands of shows together. I’ve spent more time onstage with him than a lot of the people that I’ve known for years.”
Jackson also acknowledged the impact his work has had throughout the world, for example, how he saw inspired high schoolers take part in programs to see how “Hamilton” was created.
When a student asked about “Hamilton’s” biggest impact on others, instead of mentioning this, he said, “We’ve yet to see it.”
He also saw how his work has touched on important issues like race and immigration. Jackson made light of growing up in Illinois and being proud of Barack Obama for becoming the first black president in 2008.
He said he had the honor of singing “One Last Time” of then-President Obama under Washington’s portrait before he left office — an experience no parent could ever envision for their child.
As the evening came to an end, Jackson announced he had time for one more question. The student related to Alexander Hamilton’s desire to create a legacy and asked Jackson how the idea of leaving behind a legacy influenced his actions.
Jackson took a moment, as he was happy that this seemed like the perfect way to end the show, and said how Hamilton and so many of the Founding Fathers were constantly worried about their legacies. So much so, he said, that these men impeded their work as they were more worried about what others would think than the possible impact of their actions.
Jackson told the audience he used to be that way, working on his legacy everyday in the form of keeping the lights on and feeding his family. Now, he works on sharing rich experiences with others and not worrying about what will be written in his obituary.
“Your personal legacy is what you do when you get up in the morning,” Jackson said. “You gotta live. You gotta live for yourself. You gotta live for your neighbor. You gotta live for the person around you. You gotta live for your parents.
“Meet their expectations, confound their expectations,” he said. “Confound your own expectations. Wake up and go further than you thought you could possible go when you went to bed last night.”
(02/28/17 7:48am)
By Michael Battista
Staff Writer
Rolling Stone reported on Feb. 20 that former WWE star, New Jersey-native Page Joseph Falkinburg, better known as Diamond Dallas Page, will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 2. The induction will occur the night before “Wrestlemania,” WWE’s biggest pay-per-view event.
From a talent and career standpoint, it’s easy to see why DDP is will be enshrined with legends such as Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels. During his career, Page won multiple championships and created some of the biggest moments during the 1990s, in what some consider the greatest time for professional wrestling.
He helped lead World Championship Wrestling against the WWE, then the World Wrestling Federation, in the “Monday Night Wars” as both shows battled for superiority.
Former WCW President Eric Bischoff said in an interview with WWE that Page’s ability to connect with the blue collar crowd is what helped him succeed.
“Diamond Dallas Page was the underdog,” Bischoff said. “He was the blue collar guy. He was the guy who was never suppose to make it.”
Growing up in Point Pleasant, N.J., Page battled through his parent’s divorce and his own dyslexia. He attended high schools in both Toms River, N.J., and Point Pleasant as a varsity basketball player.
Page first worked for WCW as a manager for other wrestlers. It was easy to see that Page had a incredible mind for the business. He could enthusiastically talk and elevate those around him with his eccentric attitude, but he yearned to compete in the ring.
The only issue was his age.
He was approaching his mid-30s at this time. While the industry was filled with stars from the ’80s who were past their prime and aging as well, a new wrestler in his 30s wasn’t seen as normal and many other promotions would have passed on to younger wrestlers.
Page didn’t give up. He trained every day in WCW development system and endured many losing efforts during his initial time. He was mentored by legends such as Dusty Rhodes and Jake “The Snake” Roberts on the psychological aspect of the business and how to improve his persona.
Their guidance would become essential in his bond with the fans over the next two decades.
In the mid-1990s, Page hit his stride, winning multiple singles championships and entering feuds with legends such as “Macho Man” Randy Savage and members of the legendary group, the New World Order. The fans were drawn by Page’s outspoken personality as he fought untouchable opponents.
It helped that Page’s finishing maneuver was one of the most well-liked and anticipated moves in the ’90s, The Diamond Cutter. The maneuver was both quick enough to be sudden, but slow enough so fans could stand up before the finishing execution. Fans were never sure how he would catch his opponent off guard with the move, but they appreciated it every single time.
Page would win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship in 1999, becoming the oldest first-time champion at the age of 43. Many more accomplishments followed in his career, spanning multiple organizations. His wins alone would probably be enough to get him into the WWE Hall of Fame. But the man behind the diamond cutter may usurp the wrestler.
It has become common knowledge that during the ’80s and ’90s, the wrestling workplace wasn’t alway a healthy environment. Drinking, performance-enhancing drugs and other vices were the downfall of many greats. To this day we see many heros from these time in horrible condition because of their addictions and what they put their bodies through.
Page never fell into that hole and has even gone out of his way to help others including former wrestlers. He helped found and create DDP Yoga which, according to the company’s website, “was originally developed… for athletes like himself who had suffered years of injuries due to high impact sports.”
The routine mixes elements of yoga with rehab treatments, as well as traditional workout principles, which makes it practical for anyone, ranging from athletes to those who are handicapped.
The healthy and positive lifestyle helped Page save the lives of former wrestlers Jake Roberts and Scott Hall.
Both men were shells of their former selves. In 2012, Roberts had become dependant on drugs and alcohol, financially strained and weighed more than 300 pounds. He could not complete simple tasks without losing his breath and eventually needed shoulder surgery. WWE had paid for stints in rehab centers, but nothing seemed to work.
Hall may have been in even worse shape. While dealing with addictions, Hall was also plagued by epileptic seizures and lingering injuries. He overdosed multiple times after his retirement from the ring and seemed to be going down a path of self-destruction. Once again, WWE helped pay for rehab, but going into 2013, nothing seemed to work.
Page called and offered a lifeline to both men. He invited Roberts and Hall to live in his home to rehabilitate them in a safe environment amongst friends. Roberts had been with Page for a few months when Hall was invited.
“What did I have to lose?” Hall said in an interview with Fox Sports in 2015. “I was drinking myself to death. I don’t even know why I answered the phone when Dally and Jake called because I wasn’t answering any calls or talking to anyone. I guess it was fate. Jake was one of my professional heroes and Dally was always a great friend.”
Today, both men are living sober lives and both credit their well-being to Page’s intervention.
While Page may have had an incredible in-ring career, his work outside the ring to help better the lives of people around him is what truly makes him a legend. His positivity and dedication to helping others has bettered the lives of so many, whether it be his fans or friends.
In the words of the man himself, “That’s not a bad thing… it's a good thing!”
(02/21/17 6:11am)
By Michael Battista
Staff Writer
On Saturday, Feb. 11, the New York Rangers played the Colorado Avalanche in what was another regular season game. Colorado has been struggling this season, allowing the Rangers offense to come alive in the third period when defenseman Kevin Klein, left winger Rick Nash and right winger Kevin Hayes all netted goals. As the final buzzer rang, those in Madison Square Garden erupted in cheers. Not only for the team’s offense in the 4-2 win, but because of their goalie.
Goalie Henrik Lundqvist wasn’t playing a normal game that night. The victory marked his 400th regular season win in his 12-year tenure with the New York Rangers.
The 34-year-old Lundqvist became the 12th goalie in NHL history to reach the 400 win mark, doing it in the shortest time compared to any other goalie — 727 games — becoming the only Swedish-born player to reach the feat thus far.
Rangers fans know how much Lundqvist’s accomplishment means not only for the team, but for the man himself. Even though he was drafted in 2000, Lundqvist’s first season was in 2005, right after the NHL lockout the previous season. Rangers fans were anxious for a new goalie after longtime goalie Mike Richter left the roster and retired after the 2003 season.
Lundqvist not only stepped up to Richter’s role, but he’s been one of the major cornerstones for the Rangers in more than a decade and earning the nickname “King Henrik.”
He has won 30 or more games 10 times over his career and currently looks to be on his way to hitting that mark again this season.
His style of play is completely unorthodox, but unpredictability and athleticism is what has gotten him to 400 wins. While he plays using the butterfly style — a technique in which the goalie gets on his knees and uses his entire body and guard pads to guard the lower part of the net — Lundqvist’s speed has kept opposing offenses thrown for a loop.
I’ll never forget certain moments, particularly playoff games, where Lundqvist essentially saved seasons from ending early.
During the 2015 playoffs, I remembered watching the first round games against the Pittsburgh Penguins on the edge of my seat in Travers Hall. Every single game was decided by a single goal and seeing centers Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby with the puck in the Rangers zone is one of the most terrifying feelings a Rangers fan can feel.
But no one should ever doubt the King, as Henrik stopped nearly every shot that came at him. He only allowed one goal in during those four games and the Rangers won every single one of those games en route to advancing to the next round, four games to one.
Lundqvist has done a lot in his career from winning the Vezina Trophy in 2012, to making the NHL All-Star Game three times and helping the Swedish national team win the gold medal during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Italy. It’s easy to see why so many people, not just including Rangers fans, see Lundqvist as one of the modern day elite goalies in the world and why he has earned the moniker of “King.”
With another incredible notch under his belt, Lundqvist will need to put the achievement behind and focus on winning the remaining games if he hopes to overcome one task that has alluded him his entire career: winning a Stanley Cup and riding down New York’s “Canyon of Heroes” as a champion.
Until then, Lundqvist will continue to play his position at an elite level. While there may be some bumps in the road and some rough games, no matter what happens, the citizens of Rangers Town will always be on their feet as the PA system in Madison Square Garden blares out, “And in goal, No. 30, Henrik Lundqvist!”
(02/14/17 7:36am)
By Michael Battista
Staff Writer
Baylor University is currently facing a lawsuit that claims at least 31 Baylor football players committed 52 rapes from 2012 to 2016, according to a federal lawsuit filed on Jan. 27.
A Washington Post article from the same day said the lawsuit included “five gang rapes, two of which involved 10 or more players at the same time, some of whom videotaped the rapes on their phones and passed the recordings around to teammates.”
I’m the type of sports fan who gets critical of punishments directed at sports programs. The idea that an entire group of players, some who came looking to make it big, must suffer when they had no association with the crime usually bothers me.
During the scandal at Penn State University, not only did I feel horrible for the many children who suffered during those decades of abuse, but I also felt for the football players who had to suffer because of Jerry Sandusky’s horrific actions.
The seniors, whose last year it is with the program, would be under sanction with no chance of a postseason. Sure, they could have left, but after playing in a program for three years, it seems like a shame to drop everything and play your last year in a new environment.
Baylor is not going to get that same sympathy as Penn State did. If the news continues to emerge that this disturbing case is true, the NCAA needs to be incredibly swift and harsh in its actions.
It was also reported that the former football coach Art Briles, former Athletic Director Ian McCaw and former President and Chancellor of Baylor University Ken Starr were aware of these heinous crimes and didn’t act on them. Reports from victims claim they reached out to top level personnel in the organization only to be ignored.
Few players were disciplined when accusations aroused, but some were convicted such as former defensive end Tevin Elliot, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in early 2014 for two counts of sexual assault against a former female Baylor athlete.
Baylor University’s case is a failure and a disgrace that spans not only the program, but deep into the administration of what is arguably one of the nation’s most recognizable schools. This was a despicable culture that was accepted and spread like cancer. If the reports and charges are true, multiple players had to be well aware of the crimes.
The Big 12 announced on Wednesday, Fe b. 8, that it will withhold 25 percent of future revenue payments to Baylor. However, with the university’s recognition in both the academic and college sports world, I fear this may not be enough.
Last semester, I reported on a story regarding players on Harvard University’s men’s soccer team creating vulgar lists that rated players from the women’s soccer team on looks and other sexualized factors. Instead of waiting for the NCAA to possibly step in, the school canceled the team’s remaining games and withdrew them from any postseason play.
I would actually admire Baylor University if it did anything like this. However, since NCAA Division I football is such a lucrative sport, I doubt it would.
The team is also coming off a bowl win last December when it beat Boise State University, 31-12, in the Cactus Bowl.
There is only one thing to do when a program and administration fails this many people, and that is to enact the NCAA death penalty.
Dan Madigan, a writer for the University of Connecticut’s student paper, The Daily Campus, explained in detail in a story from Feb. 9 what the death penalty entails for Baylor.
“The death penalty would mean no competitive football, recruiting or really anything football related other than conditioning for Baylor for one season,” Madigan said. “Players would be allowed to transfer, and scholarships would likely be cut. A multi-year bowl ban could be implemented as well.”
The penalty would be harsher than what Penn State received a few years ago. Regardless, I feel this case is worse. I don’t want to argue that abusing women is worse than abusing children because these actions against any human are incredibly disgusting and heinous.
In Penn State, the sports and college officials failed. The Baylor University players failed, too, and that failure spread through multiple people who could have done something.
The NCAA will be under scrutiny when it announce if it will discipline Baylor further for this incident. If it wants to remain good in the public eye and avoid a Brock Turner incident, the NCAA needs to make a statement.
(02/07/17 9:24am)
By Michael Battista
Staff Writer
Minus a stellar halftime show by Lady Gaga, I disliked the outcome of the game. The commercials this year weren’t as memorable as previous years’ and the first half of the game had the beginnings of what could have been one of the ugliest Super Bowls of all time.
But Super Bowl LI between the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots turned out to be one of the best football games I’ve ever seen, and Tom Brady has cemented himself as the greatest quarterback in today’s era with the 34-28 overtime win in Houston.
Not a single NFL quarterback has taken a team that was trailing 28-3 and pull a one-of-a kind comeback. Down 19 points entering the fourth quarter, Brady was able to pull the upset without tight end Rob Gronkowski.
Instead, he used the hands of players like running back James White who caught 14 receptions for 110 yards and wide receiver Julian Edelman who caught five receptions for 87 yards. The fierce comeback led to the team forcing the first overtime in Super Bowl history. They ultimately took their first drive downfield and capped it off with a 2-yard run by White for the winning touchdown.
Patriots fans finally have their own version of the famous David Tyree helmet catch from Super Bowl XLII. Edelman was heading to the ground, surrounded by a handful of Falcons, and losing the ball before re-catching it as the ball bounces off a defender’s leg into his hands. These types of plays make a Super Bowl legendary.
The Brady and Belichick connection have earned their fifth Super Bowl with New England, and the former earned his fourth Super Bowl Most Valuable Player honor. An award he was happy to accept from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after his four-game suspension.
With every game comes the loser and now Atlanta can join the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Indians and the University of North Carolina Tar Heels as this year’s squad of last minute chokers.
The Falcons were the best team this season on offense leading all NFL teams in scoring with 540 points. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, this season’s NFL MVP and AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, ended the first half going seven for eight with 115 yards passing, one touchdown and a perfect 158.3 passer rating. The birds offense looked like it couldn’t be stopped with wide receivers Julio Jones and Taylor Gabriel going for a combined seven receptions and 163 yards.
Atlanta’s defense also seemed to have Brady’s number early on with the Patriots almost ending the first half shutout before a field goal gave them three points. Brady was sacked, the ball was picked twice, once by a strip and the other by a interception for a pick six.
The Falcons, led by New Jersey-native and head coach Dan Quinn, forgot that there’s four quarters to play. Atlanta’s defense, which totalled for five sacks and few penalties all game, could have finish the game earlier.
Brady was able to get downfield twice, score touchdowns and then convert two two-point conversions in the final quarter of the game. While that was a testament to their offensive play, the Falcons dropped the ball — both metaphorically and literally as late game play showed. The one drive in the end is going to hurt Atlanta’s fan base for a long time.
Just under five minutes to go with the Falcons still leading by eight, the Patriots needed at least two possessions to win. Cornerback Logan Ryan is at the 50-yard line, with defenders all around. He breaks through and throws it up to Jones who somehow catches it in the air before getting both feet in bounds at the 20-yard line. But a number of penalties and stellar defense turned the first and 10 into a third and 33, leading to a fourth down. Out of field goal range, the Falcons had to punt allowing Brady to work and lead his team to tie it up.
The game really featured the two best teams in the NFL, each one just shined at a different point. New England was able to shine when it mattered most and their star shone brightest deep in the heart of Texas.
(01/31/17 7:01am)
By Michael Battista
Staff Writer
WWE put on one of it’s yearly mainstay pay-per-views on Sunday, Jan. 29, known as the Royal Rumble. In the 13th iteration of the event, WWE replaced what usually is a night of surprises and athletics with a demonstration of how deep its roster could be — key word being “could.”
The rules of the match are simple — two men start in the ring and fight, and every two minutes, another contestant enters the match until all 30 are in the ring. Wrestlers are eliminated if they leave the ring over the top rope and both feet touch the ground. The simplicity of it is what makes it fun to watch.
While WWE, along with all professional wrestling, is predetermined, the athletics of the match are always a sight to behold.
Seeing large competitors such as Barron Corbin and Braun Strowman throw people around is great, and the interesting ways people avoid elimination is always entertaining.
However, 2017 didn’t see as many highlight reel moments — nothing I can see being put into one of WWE’s promotional packages.
The rumble has had many older wrestlers return in the past, such as the late Roddy Piper popping up in 2008 or New Jersey native Diamond Dallas Page in 2015. The only real surprise was when fan-favorite Tye Dillinger — from WWE’s developmental brand NXT — joined the match at No. 10. Most fans, however, already assumed this would be the case, as the young star’s current gimmick of calling himself “The Perfect 10” made easy to make the assumption.
Another small surprise was when cruiserweight Jack Gallagher came in at No. 5. The crowd favorite was entertaining, using a few props such as an umbrella and his style of high flyer and brawling against the first few opponents made him a shining point of the match.
Sami Zayn and Dean Ambrose both put in dedicated performances, but their eliminations left something to be desired.
Ambrose has helped keep WWE relevant putting in hard work for the better part of last year as the WWE Champion and WWE Intercontinental Champion. He was eliminated by Brock Lesner, a part timer whose impact on the match — while being heavily advertized — was very minimal.
Lesner and Bill Goldberg continued their feud from last November… by having the latter eliminate the former fairly swiftly — mirroring their last match which only lasted one minute and 26 seconds. WWE, the first time you do this it’s really cool. Doing it again? You’re going to have a bit more of a mixed reaction of boos and cheers after the shock sets in.
Most fans will find the most irritating comes down to the last two entrants into the match — No. 29 The Undertaker and No. 30 Roman Reigns. The former is one of the biggest names in the industry, wrestling for WWE for more than 20 years and always adapting in order to stay in the forefront. The latter is WWE’s current attempt to create the brand’s top superstar. The experiment has not gone so well over the past few years with fans booing the protagonist whenever he comes out, but WWE insists to keep pushing him as a hero.
Having Reigns eliminate Undertaker at the end did not seem like the best idea. Fans may be on route to watch Reigns vs. Undertaker at Wrestlemania this year in April in what could be the Undertaker’s final match.
With established superstar and future WWE Hall of Famer Randy Orton winning the event by last eliminating Reigns — ensuring the night ended with some cheers this sets up a rematch for Wrestlemania. John Cena won the WWE Championship earlier in the night against AJ Styles, setting up Cena vs. Orton for the 22nd time on PPV.
The two have met on TV and PPV nearly 80 times, according to records from cagematch.net.
As two of the company’s biggest stars who both started at the same time and hold numerous titles between them, fans are justifiably tired of seeing this match. Even with Orton’s new character working with the creepy Wyatt Family, it may not be enough to save the fight.
WWE seemed to leave a lot to be desired with this year’s Royal Rumble. It certainly isn’t the worst of the past few years, but when the company promotes this as the most anticipated rumble because of star power, fans expect more.
(12/07/16 8:01am)
By Michael Battista
Staff Writer
In a night filled with laughs and lessons, the College welcomed back three former students to teach the current class about post-college careers in the sports world.
Alumnus Tom McCarthy (’90), the play-by-play announcer for the Philadelphia Phillies, moderated a discussion about the panelists’ current jobs and how their time at the College impacted them.
The panelists included alumnus Al Guido (’03), president of the San Francisco 49ers, and alumnus Luis Perez (’83), the former executive vice president and chief operating officer of Palace Sports Entertainment, which represents a number of Detroit teams and venues.
“It’s been exactly 30 years since I graduated here,” Perez said. “What’s happened here is astounding to me on campus. It really is a point of pride for me — like I get proud when I get the notes about the accomplishments the school is making.”
All three alumni told stories about how they reached the places they are now. None of them came into the College knowing exactly what they wanted to do, but all three encouraged students to explore their options to find what suited them best.
Guido said emotional intelligence is equal, if not greater, than intellectual intelligence. He credited former Lions football coach Eric Hamilton for helping him reach the College persuaded him to come to the College rather than become an Army Ranger.
“If someone asked me what were the things I learned, here is two things: accountability and work ethic,” Guido said. “Being part of the school or being part of the football team, the quote-unquote brotherhood of lifting each other up through tough times. I was one who didn’t do so well in high school, I had a bad year that I went through academically and sort of set me back. My teammates really were an extension of my family.”
Both Perez and Guido stressed the importance of communicating and working with others as a team to succeed in the sports industry.
McCarthy, whose two sons currently attend the College and participate in both baseball and the Sports Information office, said opportunities available at the College give students a chance to learn what it is like to hold positions outside of being a student.
“The advantage now is that there’s more to do,” McCarthy said. “They’ve always had students involved in the Sports Information department, but I think Mark Gola has done a great job in not only getting (my sons) involved, but also giving them the responsibilities to do it.”
Both Perez and Guido were members of Lions athletics, playing on the baseball team and football team, respectively, during their time here. They agreed that the experience had an impact on them.
“I’ve learned as much from that experience here than I did inside a classroom,” Perez said. “You talk about taking a group of people (with) very different backgrounds, different goals, different motivations, different styles and bringing them together to go and capture a common goal. There’s so much that I’ve learned from my time here that I apply now.”
The alumni also discussed how the vastly changing sports world has not only affected the field play, but the business of sports, as well. Guido said young people need to understand how each major sports league is run differently.
For example, Guido pointed out how the NFL relies on revenue from the entire league prospering, and Perez followed up with how the NBA mostly relies on revenue coming from the team itself.
After the talk, all three members fielded a few questions from the audience ranging from the recent debates over NCAA athletes being compensated to how the creation or moving of teams affects the sports world from a business sense.
When it was over, Guido said he hopes his words, along with the stories and advice given by the rest of the panel, can help lead students into a career they care about.
“Talking to people who have an interest in the world of sports, I feel like I can try and help however I can,” Guido said. “If I was able to provide some type of advice tonight that leads itself to someone going and looking and searching out a job opportunity that they’re passionate about then I’ll take that as a win.”
(11/29/16 4:53am)
By Michael Battista
Staff Writer
America had a chance to relax with family, eat a ton of food and watch three NFL games all on Thursday, Nov. 24. The games were great — even though the Dallas Cowboys won — which got me thinking about every major sport and their connection to a holiday.
The NFL has Thanksgiving, the NBA has Christmas Day, college football — especially the Rose Bowl — usually has New Year’s if it isn’t a Sunday, the NHL is trying to carve a place into New Year’s Day as well with it’s Winter Classic game — once again so long as it isn’t on a Sunday and MLB has Independence Day.
Ratings for these types of games are usually some of the highest of the year besides the playoffs for these sports, so players and league officials are more willing to step away from their families in order to take part.
So, why do these sports work so well on these holidays?
For some it’s a matter of tradition. For instance, football has been played on Thanksgiving for more than 100 years. In 1876, shortly after the game was invented, Yale and Princeton universities began an annual tradition of playing each other on Thanksgiving. The day was recognized as a time everyone would have off so more fans could attend the game. As time passed, the NFL and television came to be and eventually all three came together. The NFL realized that with that many people at home, more people could watch their games.
Not only do we have three games every Thanksgiving, but we have two teams that always play — the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys — America’s teams.
For others, like the NHL and MLB, it’s a time that fits the image of their respective game.
Baseball has always been a summer sport, so it only makes sense that Independence Day — the most summer holiday there is — should have baseball. A family grilling food together outside or sitting on a beach with a nearby radio or TV playing a baseball game before fireworks start going off — that is what I think of when I imagine Independence Day.
While the NHL may not be the most popular sport this country has, it fits in with the winter season.
Many players, both professional and amateur, from the northern U.S. and Canada talk about waking up on days when school was cancelled and playing on frozen ponds with their friends.
Former Islander Patrick Flatley, who was born in Toronto, said this was standard growing up in Canada.
“They say Canada is the home of hockey, but most kids that play hockey in Canada don’t play organized hockey,” Flatley said in an interview with NHL.com while promoting the 2014 NHL Stadium Series games in New York City. “They’re playing on a pond or a frozen river.”
Starting in 2008, the NHL began hosting an annual game that was held outdoors in a large sports venue, usually a football or baseball stadium. The first Winter Classic saw the Pittsburgh Penguins defeat the Buffalo Sabres in a shootout, 2-1.
Since then, the NHL has hosted seven more Winter Classics on either January 1 or January 2, and as someone who has had a chance to attend one — I saw the New York Rangers defeat the Philadelphia Flyers, 3-2, in 2012 — I can say it’s a great experience to have with family on a holiday.
In the end, why do these games work? It’s because they bring people together when they all have the time off from their responsibilities. Whether it’s because families are already together because of the holiday and need something to do, it belongs to the culture of the holiday or it emulates memories of someone’s childhood, these holiday games work, especially when people don’t have to worry about their work.
With the next holiday games being the NBA on Christmas Day, with the New York Knicks taking on the Celtics as one of the games, you can guess what my family and I will be watching on Sunday, Dec. 25.
(11/28/16 8:42pm)
By Michael Battista
Initially, I wasn’t going to write this.
After the election, I withheld my strong opinions since it would come off as one-sided and biased. However, more and more news outlets have recently come out with their reactions to the 2016 election. This has left me feeling so fed up that I need to say, “Enough is enough.”
Both parties, Democrats and Republicans did not help with the situation in this country with their actions after the election and frankly, I’m worried about what the future holds.
On one side, we have the anti-Donald Trump protests that broke out around the country right after Trump’s win over Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, Nov. 8, going into the early morning of Wednesday, Nov. 9. The chant of “Not my President” and claims that “Hate and sexism won the election” filled not only the streets of many cities around the country, but on social media, as well.
Trump won fairly. He didn’t stage an armed takeover of the White House and he didn’t cheat to win — he won exactly how each and every other president of the United States has won.
While I understand the anger, this is the same exact thing Trump supporters would have done if he had lost, and several news outlets and people on social media were critical of this in weeks before the election. Now, theese people find themselves doing exactly what they criticized.
The world doesn’t stop simply because your candidate lost. You don’t need to cry in the street and make it seem as though you are actually going to die.
On his first show after the election, late night personality Conan O’Brien tried to reassure the country with a sincere, and comedic, message.
“In the last few years I’ve travelled to a bunch of countries, Cuba, Armenia, the Middle East, where the people would give anything — anything — to have our system,” O’Brien said. “In America, we get to pick who’s going to ruin our country.”
All joking aside, he is right. We got to choose who would run this country and America chose Trump. We all need to respect that choice.
That’s not to say if he does something horrible we can’t criticize and try to get rid of him, but we can’t claim murder until someone is dead.
On the other hand, you have the Trump supporters and their recent #BoycottHamilton on Twitter. But, what does this accomplish?
Once again, we live in the U.S. and because of this, the cast of the Broadway musical “Hamilton” had the opportunity to speak after their performance as the Vice President-elect Michael Pence sat in the crowd.
Was it the right thing to do? That’s subjective.
Was it appropriate? Once again that’s subjective, but to the actors it would make sense due to the fact that the play centers around Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies. Then again, it could be argued that Pence didn’t deserved to be “attacked” in the theater as he sat with his family. If people want to use the term “safe space” in 2016, it works both ways and it can be argued that was his.
But in the end, yelling and complaining in the streets outside of the Richard Rodgers Theatre is not accomplishing anything and only gives off the message of not accepting others’ ideas.
The fact that Trump’s people are trying to say this “attack” on Pence was horrible and they shouldn’t have done it clearly shows that both sides just want to fight. That scares me — and also gives me hope that it will be easier for me to find a ticket to “Hamilton.”
Americans, you have the First Amendment to let people know how you feel, but that doesn’t mean you always should.
To the anti-Trump groups: While you may all have reasons — some very serious — about not liking Trump, you need to accept he is your president. People have died for our ability, our right, to vote and the way it comes off by saying you don’t accept it seems like a slap in the face.
To the Trump supporters and those who are boycotting a Broadway show for the views of its performers: You need to accept not everyone shares your views. This movement only seems to have the end goal of division, something our country just can’t afford to do right now.
So please, if you do take anything from this, please let it be acceptance. Understand and don’t hate, and remember that we get the chance to live in a country with boundless opportunity many others don’t have.
During his show, O’Brien also quoted the great Winston Churchill. In a speech given at The House of Commons in November of 1947, Churchill said, “No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”
(11/15/16 8:06pm)
By Michael Battista
Staff Writer
Over the course of a few days, Harvard University has gone from being one of the top universities in the world to just another college plagued with on-campus controversy surrounding its NCAA players.
On Monday, Oct. 24, The Harvard Crimson, the university’s newspaper, released a story detailing the existence of a 2012 Google doc created by the varsity men’s soccer team. The “scouting report,” as it has been called, ranked members of the women’s soccer team based on looks and other factors. Each girl had a photo attached with their name.
“The author, a member of the 2012 men’s team, also assigned each of them a nickname and a sexual position… One recruit, he wrote, ‘looks like the kind of girl who both likes to dominate, and likes to be dominated,’” according to a New York Post article from Thursday, Nov. 3.
Kelly Wieczerzak Jr., a junior defenseman for the College’s women’s soccer team, has a personal connection to the incident, as she knows a member of the women’s team. She learned about the “scouting report” before it became well-known, but she didn’t fully realize how far the men’s team had gone.
“I didn’t know how in-depth (the list) was,” Wieczerzak said. “But then, when I read about how they rated girls and some of the things (the men) said… it does show what goes on with gender and equality and, not to an extreme extent, but degrading women a bit.”
The challenges women face in college are immense and recurring, according to junior midfielder Kayla Bertolino.
“It’s hard to say that some of these things happen so often, but it’s almost like a reality,” Bertolino said. “It’s something (women) have to overcome at this point.”
For Bertolino, the culprit behind these issues was pretty easy to nail down.
“You can’t not say that women are being rated all the time, and that’s not (to say) it’s a double standard,” Bertolino said. “I believe it happens to men at the same time... It’s in how in-depth and how intense these scouting reports were… that part has become a reality.”
Wieczerzak echoed that sentiment, saying how a woman’s looks are constantly brought up.
“It’s almost like an everyday thing. People are constantly talking about people’s appearances and what their opinions are, whether it’s a guy or a girl,” Wieczerzak said.
The question of whether rating both men and women is acceptable has been discussed openly online and in the media since the story was published. Some say any person will internally judge others by their looks in private, while others believe it reduces people, especially women, to their looks alone.
Both athletes said they haven’t experienced any harassment or degradation at the College or their previous schools, as Wieczerzak transferred from Monmouth University and Bertolino from Wagner College this year, but both admit it is still a prevalent issue.
Here at the College, as with many schools around the country today, the issues of derogatory mentalities and female safety are high priority, especially this year. According to a Signal article from Tuesday, Oct. 11, reports of sexual violence increased from 2014 to 2015, including an incident that occurred in late September.
The College’s athletics department has been fortunate because no student athlete has been recorded with a major violation or police charge during this time, while major universities, such as Duke and Baylor, have been scrutinized for their student athletes’ actions.
The success of the women’s soccer team, along with the success of women’s sports in general, may help curb the amount of issues facing student athletes at the College, according to Wieczerzak.
“When I played at Monmouth, we had a very successful program and here, obviously, very, very successful,” Wieczerzak said. “It’s not surprising for people to want to support that. (It’s) not that if we weren’t successful, people would now all of a suddenly be caring about what we look like or what we did with sports and what not. But, I think that having some success… maybe people don’t wanna walk all over you or think they can say things to you. Whereas if we weren’t as successful, maybe we would be easier targets.”
While both athletes agree these events will occur, the future can be changed by the actions of today. Wieczerzak said she believes the swift decision taken by Harvard is going to serve as a future deterrent.
“For Harvard, (the school) took (its) season away, so for another team to see that, you might understand the circumstances of how serious it is,” Wieczerzak said. “But until something like that happens, no one really puts a consequence on it — it’s just people’s everyday actions. Hypothetically, if no one ever got a hold of their list they made, then they would still be playing. Once it’s out there and people see what’s going on, something needs to be done about it.”
Bertolino said making social progress is hard, but worth it.
“(Gaining respect is) going to be an uphill battle, but I think that every woman athlete has to still keep going,” Bertolino said. “It’s going to be hard… People are going to still disrespect it, but that’s their opinion, there’s nothing you can really do about that. But the people who care, the people who see it, I think those are the people that are going to start looking up to women’s sports and women’s athletes.... You can’t just keep wallowing, and I truly believe that.”
On Saturday, Oct. 29, The Harvard Crimson released another story directly from the women who were “scouted” in the list. They echo Bertolino’s thoughts, coming out with their names and saying they will move on from the incident — that they hope the story begins a conversation about this type of behavior within collegiate athletics across the country.
However, Bertolino doesn’t think she, or any other woman athlete, needs to try and change anyone’s opinion.
“To the people who don’t respect (women’s sports), to me, that’s fine. If they don’t want to and they don’t really have a sense and they don’t really have a care for it, then those aren’t the people you really want even supporting you if they aren’t going to be there from day one.”
(11/15/16 7:53pm)
By Michael Battista
Staff Writer
The women’s soccer team’s NCAA journey started and ended this past weekend as the Lions beat Marywood University, 7-0, during the tournament’s first round on Saturday, Nov. 12, before falling to Brandeis University, 1-1, in penalty shootouts during the Round of 32 on Sunday, Nov. 13.
The team seemed poised to strike back after a crushing defeat to Rowan University in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Final two weeks ago, and started out strong against a Pacers unit who had gone 11-5-2 during their season and won the Colonial States Athletic Conference Tournament title.
It didn’t take long for the 16-1-1 Lions to take control. Senior midfielder Marissa Scognamiglio took only seven minutes to give her team the lead, 2-0. Just before the fifth minute, Scognamiglio headed in a corner off of junior midfielder Jessica Goldman before heading in another kick — this time a free kick — just under a minute later again from Goldman.
“A big part of our game plan today was to come off strong in the first five to 10 minutes of the game,” Scognamiglio said.
“We just kept getting a few chances, Jessy put two great balls into the box, and I was kind of in the right spot,” she said.
That intensity didn’t stop after the initial first few minutes, as the Lions controlled the ball for the better part of the game.
The Pacers defense showed spurts of amazing plays, such as great defensive walls and swarms during corner kicks, but the squad wasn’t able to keep the Lions from reaching the zone giving them multiple chances to connect. In the 14th minute, and after a tripping was called inside the Pacer’s box, junior midfielder Elizabeth Thoresen converted a penalty kick opportunity into a goal.
While the experienced talent of the roster started the scoring for the team, it was the young Lion cubs who would seal the deal and impress during the remaining time.
Freshman forward Gianna Zarra not only scored her first collegiate goal in the 36th minute off an assist from junior midfielder Kayla Bertolino, netting an impressive goal that sailed just over the fingertips of the Pacer’s goalie, but also slammed in her second goal in the 47th minute.
“It felt pretty good,” Zarra said. “I’ve had some pretty close chances this year and they just haven’t gone away. So getting that one goal got me really motivated and just helped get another one. I think it just helped pick the team up, too.”
Rounding out for the Lions was freshman midfielder Joriam Rivera off an assist from freshman midfielder Despina Lianidis, who got passed the Pacer’s goalie as she came out to challenge in the 57th minute, before Lianidis netted a goal in the 82nd off an assist from freshman midfielder Alexa Pestritto.
The latter’s goal was an example of great teamwork, as the pass in the box caused the goalie and defense to shift giving Lianidis a clear shot for the back of the net.
Head coach Joe Russo gave many of the freshmen a chance to play in this game, including goalkeeper Nicole DiPasquale. Even without the normal starters, the team kept the Pacers back and didn’t give them a shot throughout the game.
“I think it helps boost our confidence and ultimately it helps for the games to come and the team just develops better as a whole,” Zarra said.
“I think it’s great that we had such a big win today,” Scognamiglio said. “Now we take it in for a couple of minutes, but our focus immediately goes to tomorrow’s game and what we have to do to prepare for that because this game really means nothing in the grand scheme of things.”
After winning its game against Virginia Wesleyan College immediately after the Lions game, 3-0, Brandeis University stood before the College in the Round of 32 with a record of 14-3-3.
The match started of with the Judges making a statement, traveling downfield and taking two hard shots at goal in under one minute. The Lions defense was tested throughout, with the early game being spent mostly in their zone. In a rare feat this season, the College was even on shots in the first half with the Judges, both taking four a piece and was even outshot after the final whistle, 13-10.
In an evenly paced match, Russo said both teams got chances and didn’t let up during the contest.
“I thought there was two even teams that kind of battled back and forth,” Russo said. “I think for the most part both teams had some pretty good chances… So it was back and forth.”
In the 26th minute, Thoresen was able to connect off a pass from senior forward Christine Levering. The pair snuck the ball passed the Judge’s defense and beat the goalie to give their team the lead, 1-0.
From there, the game was a back-and-forth struggle throughout, as both sides tried to get the upper edge with aggressive challenges and slick ball maneuvers.
In the second half, the Brandeis defense was able to neutralize the College’s offense for long periods of time, giving them time to coordinate chances. The Lions began to hone in on defense to hold back the Judges.
It wasn’t enough, as the superb play calling allowed Brandeis to run the ball down the sideline and cross to the top of the box. While the defense did block the pass, the loose ball set up junior forward Samantha Schwartz to slam a goal from 15 yards out into the bottom left corner passed senior goalkeeper Jessica Weeder.
The score remained the same after two 10-minute overtime periods, leaving the game to be recorded as a tie and the winner and advancing team to be decided by penalty kicks.
The Lions started out strong, with Weeder stopping the Judges first attempt and Goldman making hers. But the Judges battled back making their next four shots and stopping two of the next three from the Lions giving them the win and eliminating the Lions in the second round of NCAA play for the second year in a row.
The Lions season is now over, with a final record of 17-1-2. Russo said the team’s goal for next season is already clear.
“We do what we always do, we continue to get better,” Russo said. “Attack the off-season, we have our away training and our fitness and all that stuff that we need to do. Kind of get right back into the cycle of things.”
(11/08/16 10:43pm)
By Michael Battista
Staff Writer
If there were ever a day for the College’s women’s soccer team to win, it was the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Final on Saturday, Nov. 5.
Unfortunately, the College fell to Rowan University, 1-0, after an impressive showing against Kean University, 4-0, in the semi-final match on Wednesday, Nov. 2, both at Lions Stadium.
The Lions came into the tournament as the first seed in the conference, ranked fifth in the nation in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Coaches poll. Kean, coming off a win over Montclair University in the first round, looked to avenge its 5-1 loss to the College only a few weeks ago. However, it wasn’t meant to be.
As the game started at 5 p.m., the setting sun was in the peripheral vision of senior goalkeeper Jessica Weeder for the first half. The sunlight might have proved to be a challenge if Kean had the chance at a goal, however, the offensive squad didn’t let that happen.
In a complete shift from their last meeting, the Lions were the better team when it came to ball control early on in the game. The Cougars struggled to get any offensive push and could not take a single shot during the first half.
In the 27th minute, senior forward Christine Levering kicked the ball along the line as she took a cross from junior midfielder Kayla Bertolino and slipped it into the goal from the side of the net. She said coming into the game, the team needed to make an early statement.
“We played them before and we knew we didn’t play well in the first half (then),” Levering said. “We knew today we had to come out strong and have high energy.”
Throughout the half, they took 13 shots after multiple corner kick attempts and outmaneuvering the Cougar back line.
In the second, the Cougar’s floodgates broke completely as the Lions slammed in three goals. Freshman midfielder Alexa Beatty, positioned in front of the net, was able to adjust her body to angle in a cross from Levering to give the team the lead, 2-0, in the 54th minute.
In the 66th minute Levering got her head even more in the game as she headed in a corner kick from junior midfielder Jessica Goldman, her 18th of the year. The final blow came from freshman midfielder Haley Bodden, who headed in a chip pass from freshman midfielder Alexa Pestritto to give the Lions the win, 4-0.
For both Beatty and Pestritto, this was their first career collegiate playoff goals.
When asked about players like Goldman and junior midfielder Elizabeth Thoresen reaching the NJAC Final the previous two years only to lose, head coach Joe Russo said he didn’t believe that was a main focus for the team.
“We’re just trying to win the next game,” Russo said. “We have some experience and hopefully it pays off… We have a long way to go.”
The final was a rematch of last year’s contest, which saw the Profs beat the Lions, 2-1, in overtime to secure their second NJAC title. The last time the teams met on Wednesday, Oct. 26, the College secured the top seed in the conference with a win, 2-0.
This time the tables were turned, as the Profs struck quick and played hard defense the entire game. Sophomore Prof defender Maddie Williscroft was able to head in a corner kick attempt in the 4th minute of play in what was Rowan’s only shot on goal for the next 34 minutes.
The Lions had 18 shots all game, with 10 coming in the first half, but Rowan’s “iron wall” defense, as the Rowan radio announcers called it, kept the Lions back, forcing them to take longer shots that Prof goalie, sophomore Shelby Money, stopped with ease.
Money said she rallied around not only her teammates, but the large Prof section of fans making up the 379 at the game.
“It was difficult,” Money said. “But with the fans here and with my teammates supporting me in goal whenever I made a nice save they would cheer me on and that would build up my confidence. Being able to come out and get the crosses or the corner kicks and being able to keep going and keep being physical, it's just huge.”
The College was unable to rally around the pack of Lions in the stands, as the defensive efforts of the Profs seemed to stop their rallies throughout the game despite holding the ball for the majority of it.
The game became more aggressive as time went on, ensuring physical play from both sides which kept the ball moving. Goldman said this switch away from the team's style of play is what hurt them the most.
“We kind of played ‘kick and run’ and more in the air and aggressive like (Rowan) plays,” Goldman said. “So we weren’t playing to our strengths. I think that was the difference.”
While also giving credit to the Rowan team, especially the goalkeeping, coach Russo agreed with that statement.
“I agree with (Goldman) 100 percent,” Russo said. “I don’t think we played the style that we’re capable of playing… We did not play our usual possession style of soccer.”
Levering gave her team one of the best chances of the half with a bullet shot off a juke around a defender that Money saved for the Profs.
The second half was a repeat of the first, minus any goals from both sides. It was around this half where the game started to get more out of hand for the Lions as the physicality, inability to get around the Profs and constant pressure from a ready Rowan offense took its toll.
Two times Money was hit in the box by Lions players without a whistle being blown, much to the ire of the Rowan fans. She said this style of play comes naturally to her.
“I’ve always had to deal with stuff like that,” Money said. “As I was growing up, I grew up with a lot of boys in the family so I’ve always had to be aggressive… That goes into goalkeeping and I know there’s going to be teams like TCNJ that are gonna body up the goalkeeper… So I have to make sure that my head’s on straight.”
The 81st minute saw Goldman take a nasty fall during a play with a Prof, which lead to a moment of frustration with the official giving her a yellow card.
“I was getting frustrated ’cause I was getting fouled a lot and I just lost it for a second,” Goldman said. “I guess it was a bad foul and he gave me a yellow card.”
The Lions final chance came with just over seven minutes to go, when senior midfielder Marissa Scognamiglio headed a ball towards the net from ten yards out. But a diving stop from Money kept the game from tying late.
The game ended shortly after, with Rowan University winning their third NJAC title and their second in as many years.
While disappointed in the result, the season isn’t over for the pack just yet. The team has qualified for the NCAA tournament for a 25th consecutive time as the top-ranked team in the South Atlantic region and will be facing the Marywood University Pacers on Saturday Nov. 12 at Lions Stadium. Coach Russo knows this, and says the team needs to regroup if they want to succeed.
“There’s still a lot of soccer for us to play,” Russo said. “We just picked a bad time to not be at our best. We have to get to playing the way we’re capable of playing moving forwards.”
(11/08/16 5:24am)
By Michael Battista
Staff Writer
After the crazy ride that was Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, my father and I were finishing a conversation we had been having throughout that entire day. He wanted the Cleveland Indians to win because he felt if Chicago won, the Cubs would lose some of their appeal as the Lovable Losers.
As he texted me at 12:53 that morning: “they r not the cubbies anymore.”
While I see what he means, he should understand the feeling of wanting success after failure, especially since he’s been a New York Rangers fan for decades. For me, growing up a Rangers fan born in 1996, I can’t help but feel an understanding to the plight of Chicago Cubs fans going into the playoffs this year, as well.
Rangers have historically held the longest Stanley Cup drought with a 54-year gap between 1940 and 1994. People like my father grew up as Ranger fans seeing the team make it to the playoffs, and sometimes make it to the Cup — for my father, this happened two times in 1972 and 1979 — only to see them fall.
The Cubs made it to the playoffs a few times in their 108-year drought, but weren’t able to make it to another World Series for 71 years after 1945. Those fans endured year after year, heartbreak after heartbreak, only to hear the phrase, “Wait till next year.”
Waiting until next year sucks, especially when your neighbors take the top spot in your wake.
Chicago may have forgotten in all their Cub celebrations, but the Chicago White Sox were able to bring a World Series to the Windy City not once, but twice — 1917 and 2005 — since the Cubs last won in 1908. Imagine a Cubs fan in 2005, only two years after the infamous 2003 National League Championship Series, seeing your crosstown rival hold up the trophy your team couldn’t have.
The Rangers had to witness the pinnacle of New York Islander hockey in the early 1980s as the team brought four Stanley Cups to the island borough between 1980 and 1983. Their fans, who only had to wait eight years before they won a cup, chanted “1940” whenever they played the Rangers because they felt like gloating. To this day, my father will never be happy if the Islanders are in the playoffs or doing well.
I’m not trying to say the Rangers had to deal with more misery, but there are similarities, especially in how the misery came to an end.
Both championship series came down to two teams with little success to their name, with the Cubs and Indians totalling 176 years of playoff misery and the 1994 Stanley Cup pitting the 1940 cursed Rangers against a Vancouver Canuck team that, since its inception in 1970, had never, and still hasn’t, won its first Stanley Cup.
Both finals had back and forth series, both went to a deciding Game 7 and both were decided by just a single point differential. In my opinion, both games are some of the greatest playoff games in the history of their respective sports.
For me, these stories of the triumph of the 1994 Rangers are just that — stories. I’m still waiting for my chance to see my team raise the trophy instead of a crosstown rival — thanks Devils.
But for people like my dad who had years of heartbreak end in one night as confetti rained down from Madison Square Garden, it felt like redemption.
This is what Cubs fans feel. Late Cubs broadcaster Harry Caray said, “Sure as God made green apples, someday, the Chicago Cubs are gonna be in the World Series,” but he never got to see that. Generations of fans didn’t get to see that.
But finally, like God made green apples, it happened. I hope, and I’m pretty sure in his heart, my dad understands that.
When the clock struck zero on June 14, 1994, Sam Rosen famously called, “The waiting is over — the New York Rangers are the Stanley Cup Champions! And this one will last a lifetime!”
And for Cubs fans, so will Wednesday, Nov. 2. For Cubs fans, a famous sign held up during the 1994 Stanley Cup celebration will ring true.
“Now I can die in peace.”
(11/01/16 2:18am)
By Michael Battista
Staff Writer
The College secured the top seed in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) playoffs on Wednesday, Oct. 26, with a win over second seed Rowan University, 2-0.
The win gave the College an undefeated record, posting 15-0-1, and a perfect 9-0 in NJAC play. Head coach Joe Russo said the team never intended to go undefeated, but played their best.
“It’s not a goal we set out to achieve,” Russo said. “It’s just a product of what we’ve been doing everyday… It’s the end result of what we do daily.”
Emotions ran high before the game even started as the Lions celebrated and honored their senior players for whom this would be their last regular season home game. Goalkeeper Jessica Weeder, midfielders Lauren Malajian, Sarah Marion, Marissa Scognamiglio, Marykate “MK” Sullivan, defender Brianna Petro and forward Christine Levering all received flowers, hugs and thanks from the fans and their teammates.
While Weeder graduated last year, she was eligible to play for another season because she was out one year due to injury.
Levering, whose 42 goals and 104 points as a Lion prior to the Rowan game ranks her seventh all-time and sixth in program history, respectively, said the whole ceremony was amazing and showed how much the team came together.
“It was unbelievable,” Levering said. “The underclasswomen are awesome. They really went beyond with how prepared they got for this game and how pumped up we got together. They showed tonight that we mean a lot to them and we put a lot of work in. Every win is as a team, but it meant so much tonight.”
The game itself was a defensive master class early on, as both nationally-ranked teams — the College ranked fifth and Rowan ranked 10th — put on a display during the first 45 minutes.
The Lions only got off three shots during the first half, while the Profs were unable to connect on any chances at all. Rowan also had better ball control during the first half, outmaneuvering and outpacing the Lions. Russo said that his team didn’t connect early on, and it showed in its play.
“I thought in the first half we were pretty lax in the midfield, and they were able to play through (it), switching the point, and it just put us under pressure,” Russo said.
Freshman defender Taylor Nolan agreed with her coach.
“At first, we weren’t playing up to our full potential, and that reflected in the midfield a lot, and the defense did a good job of getting it out and doing what they needed to do,” Nolan said. “Once the midfield and everyone else got involved, it settled down a bit and we were able to play our own game.”
The team’s best chance to get a goal came in the 44th minute, when junior defender Abigail Emmert ripped a shot from the top of the box over the net to close out the half.
With the team in need of a win or tie to ensure their top seed in the conference, the College’s habit of coming out hot during the second half continued. Only six minutes in, Emmert laced another shot.
Four shots were taken in the first 20 minutes of the second half — more than in the entire first — and the last one garnered a new result. Levering, the team’s top scorer this season, increased her total to 16 when she headed in a cross off of junior midfielder Jessica Goldman. The ball hopped over the Profs goalie and gave the Lions the lead, 1-0.
“Senior night means so much,” Levering said. “Everyone has done so much for us over the past couple of years. So to give back to this team as much as I can is the greatest feeling. Tonight definitely meant a lot.”
The Lions passed smoothly and juked past Profs left and right. Russo said that this dynamic change was much different than the performance he saw during the first half.
“I thought we did much better in the midfield,” Russo said. “Our team in the second half, was much better centrally.”
However, the defensive unit took a late hit when Scognamiglio was injured while stopping a Rowan advance.
While a senior defender limped off the field, a freshman who was already on it would seal the game for the Lions.
In the 81st minute, Nolan kicked a shot from the top right of the box off a pass from Sullivan. The ball slipped into the left side of the net and the Lions clinched the win, 2-0.
Nolan said she’s happy she was able to give back to the group who taught her and the rest of the team so much.
“It was a really good feeling, especially seeing all their faces afterwards come up to me,” Nolan said. “I just wanted to do it for them. It just felt so good knowing that I was helping them win their senior night.”
The team, using the first round bye to practice, will face Kean University in the NJAC semi-final on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at Lions Stadium. Kean is coming off beating Stockton University, 1-0, in a first round matchup and will look to avenge their 5-1 loss to the College from two weeks ago.
Levering said she hopes the team will continue to play the same way.
“As long as we have the right attitude going forward and believe we can do it, I think we just keep it the same,” Levering said.
(11/01/16 12:53am)
By Michael Battista
Staff Writer
The College’s Homecoming tailgate on Saturday, Oct. 29, gave students a chance to enjoy the beautiful weather and spend time with friends. With a temperature hovering around 70 degrees, hundreds of students, alumni and family descended upon Lot 4 to enjoy the day.
John Castaldo, the executive director for Alumni Affairs, said that more than 1,500 alumni pre-registered for the event, and the tailgate itself had around 3,000 people attend at any given time.
Grill smoke filled the air, along with the scent of burgers and hot dogs as people gathered around tents and tables to dance, eat and socialize with friends and strangers, awaiting new friendships and cherishing old ones.
The College’s lacrosse team, both men and women, gathered together for the event. Michael Kelly, a junior nursing major and president of the lacrosse team, was on grilling duty. He explained that every year, both guys and girls get together to enjoy the day as a Lions family.
“We have a tailgate every year… It’s tradition at TCNJ,” Kelly said. “We all try to get together and hang out.”
While some students just came to socialize with friends, others decided to take initiative and start their own tailgating groups.
Joe Salamone, a junior interdisciplinary business major, used this chance to set up a single grill and gather some of his friends, some of whom came down from William Paterson University for the football game. The event doubled as a chance for the Entrepreneurship Club to meet.
“It’s a good networking opportunity,” Salamone said. “For the Entrepreneurship Club we’re always looking for entrepreneurial speakers. Being able to mingle with other fraternities that are on campus and other alumni (is a) good (way) to create connections through the event.”
Alumni were allowed to pre-register for the event and set up a table for certain groups. These ranged from members of Greek Life reconnecting with their brothers and sisters, to teammates who used to represent the Lions blue and gold, to old floormates who remember living next door to one another.
One of these groups was Gamma Sigma sorority, who had members come in from across the country to attend the event. Alumna JoAnn Pagano Susko (’72), who came from Florida to see her sisters, said she didn’t regret the trip.
“Many of our sorority sisters who went to the College are still in New Jersey, which is great,” Pagano Susko said. “Getting together with all of the friends from New Jersey is really critical to me.”
For many of these Lions, their differing lives may have taken them away from friends they met at college, but Homecoming gives them a chance to reconnect or reminisce about past years. Castaldo said that is the reason he and Alumni Affairs try to get alumni to attend.
“Homecoming, in the sense of the word, means ‘coming home,’” Castaldo said. “So from an alumni perspective, we invite our alumni back home to reengage them back into the life of the College. To reminisce about their successes and accomplishments while they were students or undergraduates here and to live the spirit and enthusiasm, or feed off the spirit and enthusiasm of our undergrads that are here.”
While people created throughout Lot 4, there was also talk of the College’s new policy regarding alcoholic beverages. Earlier this semester, school officials released new rules and regulations for Homecoming that stated no outside alcohol could be brought into the event. A third-party vendor was on-site to sell alcohol.
Alumni and parents attending the event seemed most upset by the new policy. They appeared to see the restrictions as an inconvenience, since they could easily purchase alcohol elsewhere.
Alumna Kristen Foerg (’16) said she feels this negatively affected the number of people that came to the tailgate.
“I wish they didn’t change as much,” Foerg said. “I feel like there’s a lot less people here than there were previous years, so that sucks.”
The alcohol sold at the event ranged from $3 to $4 per cup, depending on the brand. Beer came in cups that held 12 oz., the volume of an average can of beer, and wine cups held 5 oz.
Foerg said that when it came to current students, she felt they might find cheaper ways to get alcohol before the event, while alumni may not come at all.
“I think a lot of people will probably either just drink a lot more before or they just won’t come at all,” Foerg said. “I don’t think it’s really being helpful at the tailgate… I know plenty of people who didn’t come here at all.”
Ed Corrigan, a father of two current students at the College, said that as a parent, he thinks the rule change is good for students, but hurts the parents and alumni. He thought he saw a difference in the crowd this year, compared to past years.
“It started a lot later (compared to past years) because the kids are drinking off campus or in their rooms and then they come in here already buzzed because they can’t bring their own stuff in,” Corrigan said. “I can see it.”
At the time of his interview with The Signal, Castaldo said that no issues had arisen from the new policy being enforced. The policy, which had been discussed and approved by the Homecoming Steering Committee, which comprises individuals across campus and College alumni, had used other institutions as benchmarks when making the policy changes.
“The decision was made by those groups of people by the Homecoming Steering Committee,” Castaldo said. “ (We’re) just trying to create an opportunity where it was a safe environment, it was a healthy environment. It was an opportunity where we promote wellness and so far, we think that’s going well.”
(10/26/16 4:40pm)
By Michael Battista
Staff Writer
The women’s soccer team competed in two late-season classics last week at home, knocking off 5th-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology, 1-0, before coming back against Kean University and securing a dominant win, 5-1.
With two more New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) games remaining, coach Joe Russo said he never planned on letting some of his starters rest more during this game.
“Our mindset has always been from the beginning that if the game is on the schedule we’re gonna play to win and we’re gonna compete,” Russo said.
The 7th-ranked Lions came into the game against Stevens on Wednesday, Oct. 19, knowing the challenge that awaited them. The Ducks were 13-0, 6-0 in the Empire 8 Conference, and played soccer just the way a top-10 team should.
The Ducks showed their formidability, starting with the ball and charging downfield to get a shot off wide in just eight seconds. However the Lions struck back one minute later when senior midfielder Marissa Scognamiglio’s header shot went wide off the post.
Both teams are known for their offensive play and showed it, as the Ducks rattled off six shots during the first half while the Lions got off 10. The crowd of more than 400 was loud throughout, reacting at every chance and challenge. Junior defender Kelly Wieczerzak said that the team knew what it needed to do.
“We knew they were gonna be a tough challenge for us, but we were very well prepared for it,” Wieczerzak said. “I think we just know we needed to play our game and play to our strengths and that would be how we could get the ball around them, get forward and stay together.”
The College almost took a lead early on, as multiple shots rang out during the second minute. One strong kick from freshman midfielder Alexa Beatty seemed to get past the Ducks goalie, but the linesman called it offside.
Both teams traded the ball back and forth throughout the game. Senior goalkeeper Jessica Weeder racked up three saves as her teammates pushed back against the ravaging Ducks offense.
“The collected defending, the defending as a team, was very good,” Russo said. “I thought we were pretty well organized in the back... Jess Weeder was exceptionally good.”
In the end, junior midfielder Elizabeth Thoreson was the hero of the game. Early in the second half, she charged down field, off an assist from senior forward Christine Levering, the Ducks goalie came out to challenge. It was then Thoreson knew she had her.
“When she came out, I knew that she was beaten,” Thoreson said. “When a goalie comes out like that, especially that far out and with the angle I had, I just needed to be composed when taking the shot.”
The ball slowly trickled into the net, giving the team the 1-0 victory.
Next game saw the team up against NJAC foe Kean University. While the game against Stevens showed the Lions at their best, the team slowed down for the first 45 minutes of the Kean game.
While the Lions controlled the ball throughout the first half, the team was not able to score on any of its 12 shots and gave Kean the opportunity to get into a groove. With the game being sandwiched between two important games, with next week’s contest deciding who the top seed in the NJAC would be, Kean was set up to take down the Lions when they least expected it.
A foul by the College in the 27th minute allowed the Cougars a foul kick, which they were able to get passed Weeder in the upper left corner to put Kean up, 1-0. Russo would argue the call at first, believing the goal was indirect, or that the ball needed to touch another player before it entered the goal.
This was not the case, and the goal — which Russo later praised — stood.
After halftime, the Lions came out kicking from every area of the Cougar zone. Between the 50th and 55th minute, the Lions rattled off five goals to give them the lead, 5-1.
Junior defender Abigail Emmert was on fire as she blasted in two balls that came off previous attempts in the zone during the 50th and 54th minute, with the Kean goalie nearly stopping the second shot. Levering nailed in a cross from Thoreson in the 51st minute before firing off a bullet from 35 yards out in the 55th.
Kean shot four more times, but the Lions defense pushed them back.
Junior midfielder Kayla Bertolino nailed one more goal in before the second half ended. In the 71st, off a corner kick from freshman Callen Vandermay, Bertolino was able to sneak a header past the goalie after it deflected off a Kean player, giving the Lions the final goal in the 5-1 win.
On Wednesday, Oct. 26, the Lions will face NJAC second seed Rowan University in a rematch of last year’s NJAC Final. The game has playoff implications, as the winner will determine who is the top seed in the conference going into the playoffs. The team will also honor their senior players that night in a ceremony starting before the 6 p.m. kickoff.
Thoreson said she can’t wait.
“The games are starting to get really competitive and really hard, very important and high stake games, and this is where the fun starts for us,” Thoreson said.
(10/25/16 2:50am)
By Michael Battista
Staff Writer
“Gears of War” has been one of Microsoft’s staple series, and it was only a matter of time until a new Xbox One game was released. Available for Xbox One and PC on Tuesday, Oct. 11 — or Friday, Oct. 7, for those who pre-ordered the special edition of the game — “Gears of War 4” tries to start a new story in the “Gears” universe since the initial trilogy came to a close at the end of the third title. “Gears of War 4” revs up some originality, but a lot of cheap tactics are at play here, as well.
In the previous games, the main enemies of the series, the Locusts — a species of ungrounded, human-insect hybrids — were completely wiped out, which led to peace for the humans of Sera. However, since then, a central government called the Coalition of Ordered Governments (COG) has tried to restore order to the population.
Meanwhile, other clusters of people, referred to as Outsiders, choose to live on their own, free from COG’s rule.
In the lead up to the fourth title’s release, video game developer The Coalition advertised a new enemy type called “the Swarm,” who had been attacking human settlements and taking people in the middle of the night.
The strange thing, though, was that for the first two acts of the game — or between 90 minutes and two hours of playtime — you don’t fight against the Swarm at all. You fight against COG security, which seemed odd given how much attention the game’s new enemy had received in comparison. When you finally encounter the Swarm, they turn out to be quite similar to the Locusts, in both appearance and tactics.
That’s not to say the game’s storytelling is lazy. “Gears of War” has, for the most part, always dealt with a world in which people know what they are fighting against. The humans in the game know what the Locust are because they have been fighting them long before the player stepped into their world.
This time, when the player jumps in as James “JD” Fenix, the son of the previous games’ main character Marcus Fenix, they get the experience of uncovering a new terror along with JD.
The gameplay still uses the same iconic “Gears” formula, but seems streamlined and enhanced for the new console. If you like third-person cover shooters, then you’re going to enjoy this game, though, the story is sometimes off-putting.
The latest story mode has multiple sections that are taken from the game’s “Horde Mode,” in which the player(s) must survive waves of enemies while fortifying the area with defenses. The Horde crossover within the story didn’t make sense at first, but after a while, it settles with help from the new cast, who really keep the game alive.
While exploring new areas, JD and his team’s banter ranges from hilarious to informative to intense, depending on the situation’s context. While the gameplay may be vital, the characters are what make video games memorable. The “Gears” series has yet to fail in that department.
The game looks stunning, even more so than last year’s “Gears of War Ultimate Edition,” with the weather taking main stage. Rain, wind and flying debris look crisp without the frame rate ever dropping below 30 frames per second (fps). The entire experience, from appearance to performance, is immersive and stunning.
If you look back at my Signal review for the “Gears of War 4” beta, the multiplayer remains mostly the same, but with much more available content. It’s fast-paced and runs consistently at 60 fps. The main talking point for the multiplayer has shifted to a more competitive style, as The Coalition tries to push “Gears 4” to have an eSports scene.
While there is an option for social games, the reminders about competitions push the fact that the game wants players to be involved. Just like other recent eSports hits, like “Overwatch” and “Rocket League,” the game has microtransactions for crates to give both cosmetic and experience bonuses in-game, which dismays some players. In order to earn rewards, the game forces players to play well or pay well.
Overall, “Gears of War 4” might not go down as the best of the series, but it’s hard to overcome the hurdle of the past successes. That being said, “Gears 4” still shows why the series remains the best at what it helped start.
(10/19/16 3:33am)
By Michael Battista
Staff Writer
As the ball dribbles through the infield into Robinson Cano’s glove, the volume from the stadium’s crowd builds. He flips to Mark Teixeira before then-Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino can reach the bag. The game is over, and the 2009 New York Yankees are “World Champions for the 27th time,” according to Joe Buck.
But are they?
It’s strange to think about, but whenever we watch a finals series in the NBA, MLB or NFL it’s always for a so-called “world championship.” But how could that be when those organizations play mainly against other American teams?
America, here’s a shock for you: you can’t be the world champion if you don’t play against the rest of the world. Some could argue that the leagues here are the best in the world, and that is probably true, but you can’t just assume greatness. You need to earn it.
Let’s get back to baseball. The Yankees are “world champs”, but did they beat the Dominican Professional Baseball League’s champions from that year, Tigres del Licey? What about the Yomiuri Giants, former team of then-World Series MVP Hideki Matsui and winners of the 2009 Japan Series, or Nippon Professional Baseball’s World Series?
Some could make the argument that an American team at full strength would destroy these teams. To that, I say at least those countries have actually won the World Baseball Classic — something the United States has yet to do.
For all the shady deals and corruption charges, FIFA knows how to make and prove a world champion. When Leicester City won the Premier League, England’s largest soccer federation, they were the champions of just that — England.
From there, they must make it to the Union of European Football Associations Champions League and play against the other league champions from around Europe. It’s only after they win that are they the champions of Europe, and that’s still not even the world.
Finally, they need to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup, where they play each governing bodies best team — including the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, Oceania Football Confederation, Asian Football Confederation and the rest. It’s only if the Leicester City Filbert Foxes beat all these teams and wins the tournament are they “World Champions.”
A lot of work, right? Well, it should be.
If you want to claim you are the best in the world at something, all challengers from all corners of the globe should be able to prove themselves and try to dethrone you. Sure, there will be blowouts, but there could also be surprises.
During the 2007 International Federation of American Football championship, the finals came down between the United States and Japan. These aren’t players you’d see in the Pro Bowl or Super Bowl. They were young and upstart players looking to show off their best. They were ambitious college players showcasing their best talents and abilities.
In a game that’s named after our country, it took two overtimes to decide a winner, and one field goal gave the U.S. the 23-20 win. These were world champions.
Just playing one 16-game regular season, along with a max of four playoff games against your own country, doesn’t make you the best in the world. The Broncos, even with their recent issues at quarterback, would probably destroy other club teams, but it’s better to prove than to assume.
Either that, or stop using the title “world champions.”
The way I see it, sport fans should try to put their money where their mouths are and have the teams they love earn that title of best in the world.
Maybe this wouldn’t work in a sport like football quite yet, but basketball and baseball could try it. Sports we see on the Olympic stage (including baseball, since it’s slated to return in 2020), where different nations battle it out for medals, deserve to have a world tournament with each country’s best club. If the U.S. wins, then yes, Americans were right and they are the world’s best. But if they lose... I’d say the victor would earn the respect of a lot of fans that day.
(10/18/16 9:25pm)
By Michael Battista
Staff Writer
“You don’t know me.”
“There are barely any black or Hispanic teachers (at the College).”
“If I have dreads, I could have came from a family who really loves dreads… Why are you going to judge me because I have dreads?”
These comments were heard during Lambda Tau Omega’s “White Privilege” event on Monday, Oct. 4, in which attendees discussed the advantages of being white.
Dylilah Bryant, president of Lambda Tau Omega and a senior public health major, said she enjoyed how the event turned out and hopes more students will understand some of the issues that come with white privilege.
“It’s really hard to get people to actually come to these things,” Bryant said. “Especially when it says ‘White Privilege.’ Once again, it’s just something they’re avoiding the discussion of. And that’s our goal — to make it a discussion.”
The sorority welcomed sister and College alumna Caitlin Fair (’10) to talk about how white privilege has affected her and those around her.
“(My sorority sisters) wanted to do a workshop that they felt would be impactful to particularly the multicultural student body at TCNJ,” Fair said. “Talk about things that were important to college students today.”
As a Trenton native and teacher in that area, Fair told a story about one of her black students who came up to her car window in a known drug neighborhood.
“One of my kids was standing at my window talking to me about a football game he had just had,” Fair said. “A cop pulled up… and basically ran down on this kid and another kid who was on the other side of my car, asking them all these questions and just being really rough and I’m like, ‘Yo, this kid is 12.’”
During the talk, Fair discussed the perception of white privilege. She said some deny its existence entirely, while others say things like, “I don’t see color.” Most of those in attendance brought up personal experiences during the discussion, ranging from being singled out to instances of “whites wanting to be black.”
Bryant said that the sorority held the event because it wants to spread multiculturalism and empowerment.
“So, as far as white privilege… we feel like it’s (an issue) that needs to be discussed on this campus because it’s a predominantly white school,” Bryant said.
The College’s student body is mostly white. According to demographics from the Office of Admissions, 65 percent of the student population — 4,405 students — are white, while only about 6 percent — 378 students — are black. This doesn’t take into account students who identify as biracial or those who declined to report their race on their applications.
The College’s lack of diversity spurred some to attend the event, like sophomore business marketing major Sabrina McIntosh, who said she wants more students to understand how this issue affects everyone.
“I came to this event to be more informed about white privilege,” McIntosh said. “Knowing that I go to a predominantly white school, a lot of people here aren’t really informed. They know that white privilege exists, but they don’t necessarily believe they have it.”
Fair knows that this topic is difficult to convey to others. Some people only want to learn a little bit about racism before they give up or think it’s about white shame. There is also the issues of biases, which have been ingrained into people’s thinking over time and cannot be easily forgotten or overruled.
“The first part of the process of being able to unlearn things we’ve learned over the course of our lives is to want to unlearn those things,” Fair said.
The discussion topics hit home for many of those in attendance. McIntosh said she has felt as though others didn’t see her the same way because of her skin color and her choice of schools. She wanted more people to understand her and to be educated about white privilege.
“I’m a student that’s getting a scholarship from going here and people think I’m going here only because of my race,” McIntosh said. “Which is not a fact. I’ve worked just as hard as anyone else. My GPA is high… Just assuming I’m going to a predominantly white school because of my color is just something privileged people tend to say a lot.”
Bryant said while progress was made with the students who attended, there is still work to be done.
“This is an issue,” Bryant said. “This is something we should make more of a conversation instead of avoiding it ourselves.”
(10/18/16 6:40pm)
By Michael Battista
Staff Writer
The ninth-ranked women’s soccer team hit the road again over last two weeks, where the Lions took on three teams before they returned to the College for the first of a four-game homestand to finish out the season.
On Wednesday, Oct. 5, the team dominated Gettysburg College, 5-1, and didn’t give up its first goal until more than 600 minutes of play. Afterward, the College swept three New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) teams. It beat Ramapo College, 4-0, on Saturday, Oct. 8, Stockton University, 3-2, on Wednesday, Oct. 12, and Montclair University, 3-0, on Saturday, Oct. 15.
The team’s trip to Gettysburg was a one-sided battle from the start. In the eighth minute, junior midfielder Jessica Goldman was able to knock back a goal from the deep left side to put the team up early. The first half was dominated by the Lions, with senior forward Christine Levering scoring off a free kick just one minute after Goldman.
The freshmen were also able to show their worth against Gettysburg. Midfielder Haley Bodden scored her third goal of the season during the 21st minute off an assist from junior midfielder Elizabeth Thoreson in the top of the box. Two young cubs also had their first College goals: Defenders Taylor Nolan and Callen Vandermay scored in the waning minutes of the first half, with senior midfielder Sarah Marion assisting on Nolan’s goal, which kept the Lions up, 5-0.
The Lions held control most of the game, though Gettysburg’s only shot on goal turned out to be enough to end the College’s streak of not conceding. Reflecting on her opponent’s goal in the 82nd minute, senior goalkeeper Jessica Weeder said the Gettysburg Bullets never gave up.
“(Gettysburg) never once stopped fighting to get into our half and get a shot off,” Weeder said. “We had a momentary lapse in organization. They saw the opportunity to shoot, and they took it.”
Weeder said that just because the Lions won, doesn’t mean the conceded goal hurts any less.
“Even if we had 10 goals, it would still matter,” Weeder said. “We hold ourselves to a very high standard, and we strive to get a shutout every game. Once we start playing better teams, the games will become even more challenging, and giving up just one goal could mean losing a game.”
The next two road contests against NJAC teams Ramapo and Stockton were opposite experiences for the Lions. The team was able to outmaneuver the struggling Ramapo Roadrunners on Saturday and outshot them 23 to 7.
Levering put the team on top early when she scored in the 18th minute of the game before she netted another one early in the second half, giving her 10 goals this season.
Her second goal came off an assist from Thoreson — the pair has been extremely dominant this season. Levering said this teamwork has been a driving force for her.
“In the last two games, I think our team has just been working really well together getting up the field and creating a lot of chances,” Levering said.
Early in the second half, this teamwork paid off again as Goldman netted her sixth goal this season.
In the 85th minute, freshman forward Julianna Franco’s first College goal gave the team the win, 4-0.
The next game turned out to be a much different story when the Lions traveled to Stockton. Instead of scoring early and dominating the first half, the College wasn’t able to convert any of its seven shots into points during the first 45 minutes. However, the team was able to compensate as its defense left the Ospreys little chance to take any shots against Weeder.
Levering and Thoreson came out swinging in the second half and scored in the 51st and 58th minutes, respectively, giving their team the lead, 2-0. Levering’s goal came off an assist from freshman defender Jen McGrogan, while Levering herself earned an assist off Thoreson’s goal.
However, a string of poor decisions and slip ups led to team to the brink, as Ospreys senior midfielder Adrianna Boucher netted a penalty kick in the 73rd before coming back down the field to slam in a pass in the 76th minute, which tied the game at 2.
The team’s last overtime game was a tie against Johns Hopkins University earlier this year, and the late goal by Stockton made the situation eerily familiar. This time, only one minute was needed to decide the game, as Levering charged downfield and kicked in the winning goal off an assist from junior midfielder Kayla Bertolino to give her team the win, 3-2.
After the four-game road trip, the Lions returned home on Saturday to take on Montclair in a battle for the top of the NJAC standings. Both teams had registered at least seven shutouts during the season and the defensive talent was evident from the start.
The Lions were only able to get five shots off during the first half, but kept the Red Hawks back, leaving them without any chances, as well.
However, in the 15th minute, the offensive pairing of Thoreson and Levering was able to get past Montclair’s defense. Levering ripped a shot from far back, but hit the crossbar, leaving Thoreson to knock in the rebound to put her team up, 1-0.
Senior defender Brianna Petro said that while playing such a close game against Montclair, the team couldn’t take any chances.
“(We) just played everything safe and stay(ed) composed in the back,” Petro said. “It was critical for us to get the second goal because that kinda had our momentum going.”
The Lions did take a few chances too many, however, as the game filled with fouls on both sides and two yellow cards for the home team. These stoppages of play gave Montclair time to get into the Lions zone, before the defense was able to pressure them out.
In the second half, the Lions played more recognizable soccer. The team took nine shots against the Red Hawks and scored twice off impressive plays.
In the 51st minute, Levering scored her 13th goal of the season with what only can be described as a roundhouse kick around the defender that slipped between the goalie and the post.
Thoreson lifted the team past the dreaded two-goal lead in the 60th minute, after another shot by Levering was blocked by the goalie, which allowed her to sink it in for the final goal giver the Lions the win, 3-0.
The Lions now look toward Wednesday, Oct. 19, when they will face fifth-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology at home in their last non-NJAC game. Petro said the team needs to play as they have been, and not alter the formula unnecessarily.
“I think we need to focus on playing our game,” Petro said. “Can’t really predict how their going to play, or we can look at their formation and try to match up defensively in that sense. But just focusing on us and what we need to get done is the only thing we can really do.”