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(02/02/16 9:39pm)
By Michael Battista
Sports Editor
It’s rare nowadays that sports fans get to experience true, storybook endings.
Over the weekend, NHL fans were able to witness a two-month struggle end with a moment that will be etched into sports history.
John Scott, the Pacific Division All-Star Team captain with five NHL goals to his name, played like he belonged in the All-Star game on Sunday, Jan. 31, in Nashville, Tenn.
In the new 3-3 tournament format, the Pacific faced off against the Central Division late in the afternoon, where Scott scored two goals against All-Star goalies for his team on route to a 9-6 win.
During the game, Scott even got into a friendly scuffle with former teammate and Central Division team captain Patrick Kane. The crowd, who was just as against Kane as they were for Scott, ate it up.
In the championship game against the Atlantic Division, both teams played amazingly well. In an era where All-Star games are usually blowouts with little defense, the final score saw the Pacific Division win, 1-0.
When all was done and the Pacific began to celebrate, all eyes rested on Scott. The Most Valuable Player (M.V.P.) of the game, who is awarded a brand new car, is voted by the fans.
The fans in the arena knew who it was going to be from the start.
As Scott was being interviewed over the intercom system by NBC Hockey analyst Pierre McGuire, the crowd began to chant the three letters
“M.V.P., M.V.P., M.V.P.!”
Seizing the moment, Scott’s teammates gathered around him and raised him in the air on their shoulders.
Picture this: A guy with only five NHL goals being lifted into the air by some of the game’s best players.
Scott would win the M.V.P., with multiple hockey teams’ social media outlets pushing for him as well, and the NHL Hall of Fame has asked for his All-Star Helmet to be displayed in its halls.
What started out as a simple joke has ended with a player, who didn’t belong, becoming intertwined with the history of the NHL.
But that night, John Scott was only one thing: an M.V.P..
(01/27/16 4:43am)
By Michael Battista
Sports Editor
Between Tuesday, Dec. 1, and Friday, Jan. 1, National Hockey League (NHL) fans were able to vote online for one player in each of the four divisions to make it to the All-Star Game, which will be played on Sunday, Jan. 31, in Nashville, Tenn. The players who received the most votes were named team captains for their respective divisions.
The players chosen were league legend Jaromir Jagr of the Florida Panthers in the Atlantic Division, current Stanley Cup Champion Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks in the Central Division, the newest member of the 500 career goals club Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals in the Metropolitan Division and John Scott of the Arizona Coyotes in the Pacific Division, who has a grand total of five NHL goals under his belt. So, how could this have happened?
Shortly after the voting began, the #VoteJohnScott hashtag started to make its rounds on Twitter. Scott, an enforcer, played for an already mediocre team and fans thought it would be fun to try to vote him in.
The votes kept flooding in, wave after wave, and Scott was in first place in the Pacific Division.
Things got interesting when Scott was traded to the Montreal Canadians, an Atlantic Division team, and was then sent down to the American Hockey League (AHL). Reports then surfaced that both the Coyotes and the NHL approached Scott asking him to decline his position in the All-Star Game, which he refused.
The team claims the trade was fully business-minded, but the sliminess and coldness of the situation was definitely evident to NHL fans when they heard the news.
The 33-year-old Canadian is expecting twins with his wife soon and already has two children. His children were the reason he did this — to give them the experience of being at All-Star Weekend.
“They’re excited for it — probably more excited than I am,” Scott said in an interview with “Puck Daddy,” Yahoo Sports’s NHL blog. “It’ll be one of those ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experiences.”
Now they may need to pack their things and move because of a trade that many think was just to solve the All-Star Game issue.
But this story has a happy ending, which might turn out even better than originally planned.
The NHL released a statement on Tuesday, Jan. 19, saying that Scott will in fact be allowed to play in the All-Star Game and serve as captain for the Pacific Division team.
Many players around the NHL have started to root for Scott and want to see him succeed. From start to finish, his positive outlook throughout the entire ordeal has won over many, including some of the fans who scoffed at the idea of him playing.
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy said he wants the place to go nuts.
“I hope the building goes crazy for him,” he told the Pitsburg Post-Gazette. “I hope that he scores many goals. I hope his team wins. I hope he raises the All-Star Cup… You root for a guy like that, who has been very positive through a tough situation.”
Only time will tell how this story ends. Even though Scott will be representing the Phoenix Coyotes, a team that has no other representation at the event, he had a potential idea. In an interview with Canadian sports talk show host Bob McCown, Scott quipped that if allowed, he would wear a St. John’s Icecaps jersey because “that’s who I’m with now.”
(12/01/15 10:36pm)
By Michael Battista
Sports Editor
Early November is both an exciting and challenging time when it comes to fall collegiate sports. The season begins to wind down, conference playoffs determine who will play for the championship and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) begins to make the brackets of its national tournaments.
Two New Jersey programs earned the right to play in their respective NCAA tournament. The College’s Lions played in their 25th straight tournament after receiving an at-large bid thanks to their national ranking and record before being eliminated in the second round. Meanwhile, Rutgers University’s Scarlet Knights clinched their first-ever second seed tournament spot and are competing in the elite eight of their bracket.
However, one thing separates the two programs, and while both may be skilled and deserving of credit, only one of them will receive attention from this turn of events. Rutgers, which is a Division I (DI) program, play against the most skilled and competitive schools in the nation. The College, on the other hand, plays in Division III (DIII), a cheaper alternative to DI that does not supply student athletes with any athletic scholarships.
But why is it that when talking about powerhouse teams in the NCAA, many never mention any other division besides DI?
Programs, such as the ones in place at the College and Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., — who is hosting the NCAA DIII women’s soccer tournament this year — are both top talents in their relatively smaller competitive groups. The New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), in which the College plays, has many other competitive and talented teams, such as Montclair State University and current NJAC champion, Rowan University. But it also includes many teams with few wins in their programs, with team stats and records being relatively low.
The same goes for Williams College, which plays in the New England Small College Athletic Association. Teams there have won six conference championships and have been to 11 finals, overall, while four teams have never even made the final.
The College’s women’s soccer assistant coach Katie Lindacher, who played women’s soccer all four years while she was a student at the College, thinks the chance to play in the NCAA every year is a good thing.
“I believe there are many benefits of playing for a DIII school over a DI school, but one mainly being that I got the opportunity to compete for a national championship every year, while still having the time to balance school, friends and family,” Lindacher said. “I could have gone DI just to say I went DI and won nothing but a couple of games.”
You can be a big fish in a small pond, or you can be a regular sized fish in a large ocean filled with other fish.
However, Lindacher also mentions that while the pond may be smaller in DIII, the quality of the sport does not decrease.
“The quality of soccer and competitiveness does not tremendously drop from DI to DIII, so I still got to play at a high level while keeping a balance in my academia and social life,” Lindacher said. “People do not understand Division III sports and tend to put them down as if they are not as good as other divisions when, in fact, we (the Lions) have defeated DI and DII teams. DIII is misunderstood and actually plays for the love of the game rather than scholarship money.”
Lindacher mentions how academics and social lives can be evenly balanced in DIII, and that is something that really sets DIII institutes apart.
According to scholarshipstats.com, in 2013, the total value amount of athletic scholarships given out in DI schools reached two billion dollars, with the average scholarship for women athletes being $14,660.
Since DIII schools don’t pay student-athletes scholarships, their funds can be used to improve other facets of college life, including academic and social parts. The College was just recently named a national exemplar by the Council of Undergraduate research (CUR), which according to a Signal article from Wednesday, Nov. 4, was awarded “highlighting campus efforts and resources devoted to such studies.”
Lindacher believes titles such as this, in addition to athletic accomplishments, make institutes like the College more appealing than other schools that just highlight one or the other.
“As highly academic as TCNJ is, we are also known for great soccer, too,” she said. “As an athlete, when making my college decision, I had to think about both academics and soccer. TCNJ had both high quality education and soccer, so it was an easy choice.”
She also explains how the struggles of being a student-athlete are not dulled by being in a lower division.
“Being a student-athlete at TCNJ is not easy, but with time management, there was never an issue with assignments and soccer,” Lindacher said. “If I had to miss class for a game, I knew it was my responsibility to complete any work that I missed. There was never a time I thought soccer wasn’t as important as my grades because I came here to put forth my whole effort into both. The division has nothing to do with school over soccer or vice versa. I could have gone DI or DII, but I chose TCNJ because of it’s balance of high academics and quality soccer.”
While the divisions may differ, the quality of the sport still lies on the player. Considering the fact that the College’s women’s soccer team has made it the tournament two decades in a row, that should show just how qualified the program is.
There are schools in different divisions that are better than the College, and some that are not. The College may be looked over in some aspects to places like Rutgers or other big DI schools, but on its own in women’s soccer, it does stand out among the rest.
“TCNJ is a legacy just simply based on facts,” Lindacher said. “(We) have won three national titles and have been to the Final Four 12 times. Coach (Joe) Russo (placed) fourth for most wins in all divisions of college soccer. So, I believe, in the soccer world, we are a powerhouse. In our division, we are a stand out team and one of the biggest games on everyone’s schedules. We can certainly play with other divisions, regardless of us being Division III.”
(11/18/15 12:39am)
By Michael Battista
Sports Editor
The Lions started and ended their NCAA tournament journey this past weekend, beating St. Lawrence University in the first round, 4-1, on Saturday, Nov. 14, and falling to Williams College on Sunday, Nov. 15, 3-0, in the second round of play.
The St. Lawrence Saints came into their first tournament game in school history since 1986 with an impressive 13-4-2 record, while the Lions were coming into their 25th straight tournament appearance with a 12-3-4 record.
The College took the lead early and didn’t look back when freshman midfielder Arielle Curtis was able to knock in a goal just under four minutes into the game. After the goal, the Lions had a few chances that went wide and high past the net, but in the 28th minute, junior defenseman Marissa Scognamiglio scored her first goal of the night, with an assist from sophomore midfielder Elizabeth Thoresen, putting the team up, 2-0.
The Saints quickly retaliated, proving why they deserved to be in this tournament, getting one passed senior goalkeeper Jessica Weeder to cut the Lions’ lead in half.
The first half quickly ended after that, but the College didn’t let the short break put any hinges in their play. Senior defenseman Brianna Cummings scored just 57 seconds into the second half, giving the Lions a 3-1 lead.
Sophomore midfielder Jessica Goldman said the team finishing on offense was the main difference between Saturday and Sunday.
“We played very well on Saturday and finished the chances we got,” Goldman said. “I think that was the difference between Saturday and Sunday — we finished our chances. Missy (Scognamiglio) played extremely well and had a part in every attack. Our back line was really strong throughout the entire game.
“Once a team gets a goal it is easy for games to slip away, but our back line made sure that didn’t happen,” Goldman said. “We came out in the second half and scored to put us up. 3-1. For us, that really solidified our position in the game.”
St. Lawrence had few chances throughout the game to come back, only getting two shots on goal against Weeder and only the one going in. Scognamiglio scored one more time in the 65th minute, where score would stand until the final buzzer, 4-1.
The team moved on to the second round, where they faced off against the Williams College Ephs in a rematch of last year’s elite eight game where the Lions lost, 1-0.
In a rare occurrence for the season, the College was outshot by a total of 15 to nine, with Williams playing tight offense throughout both periods.
The Ephs struck first in the middle of the first half, when sophomore midfielder Evan Gancedo knocked one in passed Weeder to put Williams up, 1-0.
Looking back on the game, Goldman says the Ephs’ tight offensive and defensive play is what won them the game, while the Lions’ missed goal chances cost them in the end.
“Williams deserves a lot of credit, they are an extremely talented team,” Goldman said. “What gave us the most trouble was their counter attack. Whenever we lost the ball they would be down our throats within five seconds.
“In the first 30 minutes of the game we were putting a lot of pressure on them and had a lot of chances. I thought we had a great chance at winning, as long as we kept to our style of play,” Goldman said. “However, when you get tired from playing defense for large portions it’s hard to get back into a rhythm. I tried to keep my head level after they scored the first goal because we’ve come back from being down before.”
Williams increased their lead two more times in the second half thanks to goals from senior midfielder Mai Mitsuyama and senior midfielder Crystal Lewin.
The score remained the same as the clock hit 90, and the Lions fell, 3-0, eliminating them from the NCAA tournament and ending their 2015 season with a record of 13-4-4, while the Ephs move on to face Stevens Institute of Technology.
Moving forward, Goldman thinks the team needs to focus on staying a complete unit.
“We now need to focus on staying close as a team and preparing for spring season,” Goldman said. “We are going to continue to do our workouts and come back for the 2016 season hopefully as a better team. We’re gonna learn from this season and move on together as a team.”
(11/11/15 12:53am)
By Michael Battista
Sports Editor
The Lions advanced to the New Jersey Athletic Conference title game for the third straight year after a 5-0 win against Rutgers-Newark at home on Tuesday, Nov. 3, but were defeated by the top-seeded Rowan Profs, 2-1, in Glassboro, N.J., on Friday, Nov. 6.
The second-seeded Lions came into the matchup with previous wins against Rutgers-Newark under their belt from earlier this season, while the Scarlet Raiders were competing in their first NJAC semi-final in school history.
The College controlled the ball on offense for a majority of the game, taking a total of 14 shots on goal while keeping Rutgers-Newark at zero for 90 minutes.
Sophomore midfielder Jessica Goldman put the team on the board early, when just under 15 minutes into the match she was able to break away and launch a shot from the 30 yard line that sailed over the goalie, putting the Lions up, 1-0.
The second half saw even more aggression from the team, as they racked up four more goals in the 45-minute stretch. Junior midfielder Lauren Malajian was able to knock one in from the far post and just under two minutes later, freshman midfielder Arielle Curtis scored her first goal in her college career off an assist from junior defenseman Marissa Scognamiglio.
Sophomore defenseman Abigail Emmert and freshman forward Kate Galgano rounded out the goals for the match, giving the Lions a 5-0 win, and senior goalkeeper Jessica Weeder her 10th clean sheet of the year.
Assistant coach Katie Lindacher said the team was looking for a game like this.
“For Rutgers-Newark, we just had a couple games where we just weren’t scoring so we were fighting to score a lot of goals and we were fired up to do so,” Lindacher said.
The win earned the College a chance to return to Rowan University in a rematch of the regular season final for the NJAC Championship.
The Rowan University Profs came into the matchup as the No. 1 seed in the NJAC, an honor they earned in the last regular season game against the College in a 1-0 win.
Lindacher says the Lions came into the game with a lot of energy.
“The team definitely had more drive to push through in the conference tournament,” she said. “To come out and lose the top seed, they just want to come out on top in the final.”
The match showcased the best parts of the NJAC, with both teams playing tight defense all game while not making many mistakes on the offensive side of the field. Weeder saved two shots for the Lions while Profs’ freshman goalie Shelby Money made six saves all game.
Scognamiglio put the Lions on the board first after a foul by Rowan in the box allowed her to take a penalty kick, putting the team up, 1-0.
However, the Profs weren’t the NJAC’s top team for no reason, and in the second half they attacked the College’s zone early on. Capitalizing on a chance in the 65th minute, Profs’ freshman midfielder Sarah Rosenberg was able to knock in a cross from the right side of the field passed Weeder, tieing the game at 1-1.
The Lions took four more shots on goal, but the score remained the same after the clock struck 90, pushing it into overtime, with the golden goal rule in affect.
In the overtime period, the Profs were able to control the ball and keep the Lions from taking a single shot. Just over three and a half minutes into the period, freshman forward Cathryn McCarry became the hero of her team’s season when she scored the winning goal to give the Profs the 2-1 win, the NJAC championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
“It was two teams that wanted it really badly and only one can win,” Lindacher said. “Rowan came out on top.”
The Lions lost their second NJAC final to the first round seed in two years, but Lindacher thinks looking forward is the best option.
“Just from the tradition of the team and the legacy of the team you just know we are TCNJ and we have a standard to uphold,” she said. “Even though we didn’t get the championship these last two years, we know next year is another chance because we are TCNJ and a powerhouse in the conference.”
Despite the loss, the team learned on Monday, Nov. 9, that they received an at large bid to the 2015 NCAA Division III Tournament, and will face St. Lawrence University at Williams College on Saturday, Nov. 14. The 13-4-2 Saints will be playing in their first NCAA tournament since 1986, while the Lions will be competing in their 25th straight trip to the event.
(11/03/15 11:05pm)
By Michael Battista
Sports Editor
After an impressive season, it took only one goal to usurp the Lions from the top spot in the NJAC, as the team fell, 1-0, against Rowan University on Thursday, Oct. 29, on the road. The Profs were right behind the College all season when it came to points, but they won right when it mattered.
Sophomore midfielder Elizabeth Thoresen said the loss stung more than others.
“If I say it didn’t bother me, I would be lying. It stings a lot,” she said. “As a team, we all worked so hard and came up a little short. But we are not finished by any means... To win the tournament we will have to work even harder but I believe in my teammates and our determination to be successful.”
The team traveled to Glassboro, N.J., for its last regular season game on the year, as well as its last NJAC matchup.
The Profs (5-1-2) came into the match needing a win if they wanted the NJAC top seed, while the Lions (6-1-1) needed to win or tie to keep the top spot in the conference.
After the first whistle, Rowan came out attacking right away, getting three chances to score in the first 10 minutes, including a goal by sophomore forward Melissa Kelly who, thanks to quick passing, was able to get around the Lions’ defense and score to put the Profs up, 1-0, early.
Junior, forward Christine Levering says the Profs opening attack was tough.
“I think they had high pressure from the start,” she said. “We had some opportunities but didn’t finish them.”
The Lions picked it up the rest of the first half, not allowing another shot on goal from the Profs and taking a total of eight shots themselves. Thoresen nearly tied the game 29 minutes in, but her shot went high and ricocheted off the crossbar.
The College could not finish on any of its attempts all game, thanks to an alert Profs defense and a fair amount of bad breaks on the field.
The second half continued with the same trends as the first, with the Lions’ unable to connect with the crucial goal. Their seven shots on goal failed to get past Rowan’s freshman goalie Shelby Money, with three of them being saved by her alone.
“Rowan fought hard for the win and deserve credit for that,” Thoresen said. “They scored we didn’t. I do not want to make any excuses. I have no explanation other then we have to work harder and we plan on it.”
A shot by Lions junior midfielder Lauren Malajian, her second shot on goal of the game, was saved in the last five minutes of the game, keeping the score, 1-0 — leaving the Lions to drop the top seed to Rowan right before the playoffs, slipping into second.
Thoresen says the team can definitely can improve from this.
“After reviewing the game in my head and talking it over with my teammates, we controlled the possession of the ball for most of the game,” she said. “Unfortunately we came close a few times without success. Without giving away any secrets because we are on the radar screen of a lot of teams, we will play faster, we will play smarter, we will play harder and we will play better.”
The team will have a bye during the first round thanks to their record, and they now prepare to take on Rutgers-Newark, who is competing in their first NJAC semi-final in school history, on Tuesday, Oct. 3, at Lions’ Stadium.
Levering knows exactly what the team has to do and what they’re capable of, putting it short and sweet.
“I think we can beat any team with our potential,” she said.
(10/30/15 2:37pm)
By Michael Battista
Sports Editor
With the season in its final stretch, the women’s soccer team fouled late, and lost their first game of the season with a 4-0 final against Stevens Institute of Technology on Wednesday, Oct. 21. They also tied fellow New Jersey Athletic Conference team William Paterson University on Saturday, Oct. 24, 0-0, after double overtime.
In the last non-NJAC game of the regular season, the Lions traveled up to Hoboken, N.J., to face off against the No. 12, 11-2-1, Stevens Ducks.
From the start, neither team gave up anything easily, with both trading shots at the other’s goals evenly. Over the 90-minute span, the Lions only narrowly outshot the Ducks, 16 to 13.
The College’s offense did put pressure on the Ducks, with sophomore goalkeeper Lindsey Mahnken pushing back numerous shots in order to keep a clean sheet for the match.
Stevens struck first blood 25 minutes into the first half, and added three more goals in the second, with the last coming only 40 seconds from the games’ final horn.
Their winning streak increased to seven games, while the Lions’ 14 game season long streak was broken.
Coach Joe Russo thinks the team could have done better.
“I don’t think the final score was indicative of the play we put out,” he said. “The two teams were pretty even, but it just wasn’t our night.”
The team had to shake off the loss quickly, as three days later they traveled to Wayne, N.J., in a match game against William Paterson University.
After a hard season, the 4-9-2 (1-5-1 in the NJAC) Pioneers played an impressive defensive game against the No. 6 ranked Lions, holding them to zero goals the entire game.
The team’s chances piled up in the second half, totalling 14 shots on goal in all the entire match. While on the other side, the Pioneers’ first and only shot on goal came in the first overtime.
The Lions’ offense couldn’t finish on their shots, and got over zealous four times as they were called offsides. Sophomore midfielder Elizabeth Thoresen, who had five shots in the contest, also received a yellow card late in the 71st minute.
“We didn’t capitalize on our chances,” Russo said. “Our play and spirit was good, but we didn’t finish.”
After both the regular 90 minutes and two overtime periods, the score remained 0-0, giving the Lions another tie on the season.
Now with 20 points in the NJAC, three points above Montclair State University and Rowan University, the Lions hold the lead and with a win or tie against Rowan on Wednesday, Oct. 28, on the road, they will clinch the top seed in the upcoming conference tournament.
Even with the past few games in recent memory, Russo thinks the team is still a threat.
“We have (the conference’s) attention,” he said. “We played very well on Saturday, we just need to work on our chances.”
(10/21/15 12:34am)
By Michael Battista
Sports Editor
When you purchase and wear an athlete’s merchandise, you’re saying you like them and support what they do on the field. However, when they do something wrong in the real world, people seem to forget how much they adored these players. We forget there is a person behind the number who isn’t always the athlete we perceive.
Every few months the stars align in just the right order that a current or former athlete comes under fire for something they’ve either said or done. Thanks to the Internet and the ease of getting this information out, players can go from MVP and Hall of Famer to monster in less than 24 hours.
I’m not defending the actions of some of these players. People who do horrible things deserve to be judged in the public eye if that’s where most of their lives have been played out. However, it still shocks me when people say, “How could they do this?” and “My child looked up to them, what should I tell them now,” to which I say, “What exactly is stopping these players from becoming bad people?”
The NFL has been particularly notable in this spectrum: Ray Rice — Super Bowl champion with the Baltimore Ravens, three time Pro Bowl member and infamous for knocking his wife out in an Atlantic City casino elevator; Aaron Hernandez — AFC champion with the Patriots and BCS and SEC champion with the University of Florida who has been convicted and is serving prison time for the murder of his friend Odin Lloyd; Ray McDonald — NFC champion with the 49ers and SEC champion with the Florida Gators who was released from the Chicago Bears earlier this year after being charged with domestic violence and child endangerment.
All of these players were paid millions of dollars, adored by cheering fans and endorsed by large corporations. We loved to watch them play and supported them without really knowing just the kind of people they truly were. Needless to say many of these teams held events where you could return these jerseys in exchange for another player, but I’m curious how many people “bought into” these figures before finding out the truth.
One of the biggest plays in Super Bowl history was “The Helmet Catch” in Super Bowl XLII, where New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning escaped a near certain sack and threw down field to wide receiver David Tyree, who pinned the ball to his helmet as he fell to the crowd. The play is remembered fondly as one of the greatest plays in the history of the game as the Giants went on to beat the undefeated Patriots to win their third Lombardi Trophy.
Fast forward to 2011, where Tyree became an advocate in the fight against same-sex marriage in New York along with the National Organization for Marriage. He said in an interview that he would trade his famous catch and the Giant’s title to keep marriage between a man and a woman and said “the beginning of our country sliding toward...anarchy” would be the passage of the Marriage Equality Act. Now some can argue about his reasons and some can say that he can think how he wants to, but ask yourself — Do you want your child looking up to someone like this? Someone who would trade away all of that to stand on a side of history most of the public considers wrong?
The idea we can separate the personal life of someone and their actions in their field baffles me. When you wear a player’s jersey or anything else that identifies that person, you are endorsing everything they do. That’s why you can’t walk around in a Ray Rice or Alex Rodriguez shirt right now, because you don’t want to be connected to them.
It doesn’t matter who you are. Some people are just bad people, and in this world we have a lot of them. Some people might be raised in a certain situation that affects how they handle situations. Some people come from backgrounds where money is scarce, and when they come into such large quantities of it they do stupid things.
But sports fans like to see their heroes only by what they do on the field, and don’t consider them as a person when they hold them up for all to see. Not every athlete is a horrible person, but by the same logic, not every one of them is a saint either.
Players like Mickey Mantle, Pete Rose and Lawrence Taylor all put up Hall of Fame caliber stats in their sports, but all have faults like drinking, gambling and drugs, respectively. So, if you have said, or have seen younger children saying they want to grow up to be like their favorite player, take a step back and ask, “Who is the person behind the jersey?”
(10/20/15 5:00pm)
By Michael Battista
Sports Editor
This late in the season, every game, especially New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) games, make a huge difference. Over the College’s fall break, the College’s women’s soccer team continued to prove why they are top team in the NJAC and ranked No. 9 in the nation with four straight wins, three coming against fellow NJAC teams.
The only non-NJAC game came against Virginia Wesleyan College on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at home, and the Lions put on a display beating the Marlins, 5-0.
The overall team effort on both offense and defense was in sync for most of the 90-minute game and sophomore midfielder Jessica Goldman, who scored in the second half, thinks the team is finally clicking together.
“It feels good, something’s clicking,” Goldman said. “We’re finally getting good chemistry with one another. As long as we keep working like this to keep our top spot in the NJAC, we’ll be set.”
The team did just what Goldman said they should and shut out their next two games against NJAC opponents, first on Saturday, Oct. 10, when they handily beat New Jersey City University, 9-0, at home and then took care of Rutgers-Camden on Wednesday, Oct. 14, with a 5-0 win on the road.
In the last home game of the regular season on Saturday, Oct. 17, the Lions faced off against another NJAC rival, Ramapo College.
Before the first whistle, the team honored their senior players in a pregame ceremony. Forward Justine Larocca, midfielders Christina Roach and Taylor Lusardi, defender Brianna Cummings and goalkeeper Jessica Weeder were all honored for their dedication to the team and were wished good luck in the future.
Cummings thought the feeling was bittersweet.
“It’s a bitter feeling knowing this is my last home game (if the Lions fall out of the top seed),” she said. “The ceremony made me feel proud to play with the girls I started it with.”
After the touching display, the team got set for the matchup against the Roadrunners.
After an even start by both teams, with strong offensive plays mixed with defensive lines that kept the shot count low early on, Ramapo got a chance and capitalized, scoring nearly 12 minutes into the game, putting the Lions down, 0-1. This was the first time all season the College had trailed at any point.
The Lions didn’t take this sitting down however, when junior defender Marisa Scognamiglio came back and scored less than 20 seconds later thanks to an assist from Goldman to tie the game, 1-1.
After that, the team began to take over on offense, outshooting the Roadrunners six to one in the first half.
Throughout the 90 minutes, Ramapo’s defense exposed the overzealousness of the Lions’ attacking offense and the Lions were penalized 15 times in total for offsides calls. This type of play stopped a lot of breakaways, and kept the Roadrunners in the game longer.
Sophomore defender Abigail Emmert said the key is to keep up with teams like this.
“It’s important not to give into team’s playing like this,” she said. “You need to keep up with them and not give them chances.”
The second half continued with the Lions gaining the upper hand of offense, but the players in the Ramapo zone kept them back long enough and blocked enough shots to push the game into double overtime.
It looked as though the game would end in a tie, but just under five minutes into the second overtime, the College broke through. After a corner kick from Goldman, the ball moved back and forth in the Roadrunners zone. Lusardi headed the ball against the crossbar, but Emmert was able to kick in the rebound to give the Lions the 2-1 win.
Emmert said these games are the most important, no matter how you win.
“Going into the postseason, it’s important we get those points (both in the NJAC and NCAA) and important we get those wins,” Emmert said.
With 19 points in the NJAC, five points above Montclair State University and Rowan University, the Lions need to keep playing the same way they have since two of their last three games are against NJAC opponents on the road.
The final non-NJAC game is their next one against Stevens Institute of Technology on Wednesday, Oct. 21 in Hoboken, N.J.
(10/06/15 4:57pm)
By Michael Battista
Sports Editor
The New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) has been a tight race the past few years, with both Montclair State University and the College making strong plays to become pack leaders. The Lions made strides in securing their lead in their last two conference games, tying Stockton University, 0-0, on Wednesday, Sept. 30 and beating top NJAC team Montclair State, 2-0, on Saturday, Oct. 3.
The NCAA 11th-ranked Lions came into the Stockton matchup 2-0 in conference games, but Stockton’s defense showed exactly why they are unbeaten in these games (0-0-3 record).
The Ospreys’ defense played like hornets during the match up, swarming any Lion that entered their zone, giving the College few actual chances at a goal.
Sophomore midfielder Elizabeth Thoresen says Stockton was determined to keep them out.
“They were hungry for the ball,” she said. “They had four girls on the ball every time and cleared it out quickly.”
The Lions did get chances throughout, but Ospreys goalie Nicole Pallante blocked or saved every ball that came her way, including six in the second half alone.
The game broke into double overtime, and Thoresen had a chance in the closing moments of the match to win it for the team. However, the ball drifted wide left, leaving the game, 0-0.
Thoresen says this just gives her more to practice on.
“I need to focus on crossing in the box, and also finishing from a ball in the air,” she said.
The College now has three ties this season overall, but still remains undefeated in the loss column—and they had one of their biggest challenges to that title on Saturday, Oct. 3, when they traveled up to Montclair, N.J., to face the Red Hawks.
The game was a rematch of last year’s NJAC final, which Montclair won, 3-2, on penalty kicks to secure the NJAC title. A year is a long time, however, and this Lions squad was a different beast entirely.
Sophomore midfielder Jessica Goldman said the team wanted to prove something.
“Obviously Montclair is a huge rival for us,” Goldman said. “We used our losses in the past to motivate us. We didn’t necessarily want revenge, we just wanted to prove how good we can be.”
Just three minutes into the game, junior midfielder Sarah Marion, off an assist from senior midfielder Christina Roach, put one behind the Red Hawk goalie to put the team up, 1-0 early.
Montclair still continued to prove why they are one of the top dogs in the NJAC, playing tight defense and pushing the Lions into their own zone multiple times. The Red Hawks put seven shots on goal against Lions goalie, senior Jessica Weeder, who finished the game to earn her eighth solo shutout of the season.
The College pushed through again during the 16th minute, when Goldman, with an assist from Thoresen, buried a shot in the Red Hawk’s goal.
The second half was scoreless from both teams, with each getting a handful of chances at each other’s goals without being able to finish.
Goldman said the Red Hawks’ push in the second wasn’t any issue.
“They became a bit more offensive, and started to get in our half a little bit more, but I still think our will to win was greater,” she said. “Even when they started to get momentum we worked hard to shut it down quickly and regain our composure.”
The game ended, 2-0, and the Lions secured their place at the top of the NJAC Conference, with a conference record of 3-0-1, and an overall record of 7-0-3. They are still ranked 11th in NSCAA coach rankings, and could gain ground with a few more wins.
Goldman said after nine games, something has finally come together with the squad.
“Throughout this season so far something has seemed a little off, everything hasn’t been fully there,” Goldman said. “In the Montclair game something clicked, and it was great to see the team reach another level. We know now how great we can play, and we won’t settle for anything less.”
The team now looks ahead toward their next game at home, on Tuesday, Oct. 6 against Virginia Wesleyan College at 4 p.m.
(09/29/15 9:39pm)
By Michael Battista
Sports Editor
On Tuesday, Sept. 22, the world lost a true American icon. Not just a baseball legend, not just a World War II hero and not just the coiner of many iconic phrases, but a hero to people of all ages in all walks of life.
Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra passed away at the age of 90, leaving the world in silence after years of making us all laugh and smile. He was a 13-time World Series Champion (10 as a player and three more times as a coach), 18-time All-Star, three-time American League MVP, a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.
In 1942, the New York Yankees signed Berra and sent him to the minors. However, with the U.S. going to war, he had to drop his bat in favor of a rifle. Berra served as a Navy gunner’s mate during the D-Day invasion of Normandy. He was one of a six-man crew on a rocket boat, firing on German defenses at Omaha Beach.
After that, Berra’s career in Major League Baseball actually began in 1946. He excelled at hitting “bad” pitches, the ones most batters would either foul off or leave alone hoping they would be called balls. This, in turn, made him a master at bat control, allowing him to take low pitches deep with a “golf club swing” and driving high pitches down the line.
His work at the plate made him an essential piece of a feared Yankee championship dynasty. In 1947, the Yankees beat their crosstown rival Brooklyn Dodgers in seven games to capture the championship, and between 1949 and 1953, they captured five more in a row. Today, these teams are considered some of the best in the game’s history.
The next time the Yankees reached the World Series was in 1956, and it would be one of Berra’s iconic moments. During Game Five, Yankees’ pitcher Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game (to date) in World Series history. As the 27th batter struck out, in one of the most recognizable images of his career, Berra ran out and jumped into Larsen’s arms.
The image is unforgettable — both men in a moment, frozen in time. Before all their teammates rushed them, there was Yogi and Larsen together, a pitcher and his catcher.
After a few more seasons of play, and a few more rings, Berra moved his talents from the field to the bench. He worked as both a manager and coach for both New York baseball teams — the Yankees and the newly created New York Metropolitans (Mets). His tenure as a coach finished in Houston with the Astros in 1989.
Berra’s work off the field was just as important as his work on it. In 1998, the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center opened on the campus of Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., The site, which houses memorabilia from Berra’s career, was created in hopes of teaching children valuable lessons such as to “preserve and promote the values of respect, sportsmanship, social justice,” according to the museum’s website.
Beyond that, Berra had a way with his words that made people laugh and scratch their head all within five minutes.
For example, he said “It ain’t over, till it’s over,” when talking about his Mets being in last place during the 1973 season, where they battled back to make the World Series. When asked how to get to his house, his directions were simple: “When you get to a fork in the road, take it.” When describing how the shade affects Yankee Stadium as he played, he said “It gets late early out there.”
I could fill this story with dozens of these “Yogisms” and still not be halfway done. My family actually had a direct encounter with this type of wit. A few years ago, my late great uncle and my brother went to an event to see Yogi Berra and get an autograph. My uncle had been at Berra’s first game, where he hit a home run during his second at bat. When he told Yogi this, he only looked at him and said “I was at that game, too.”
Berra’s work both on and off the field has made him an icon in the hearts of many. There’s a lot more I can talk about, but there isn’t enough space on this entire page to fit it all.
Yogi Berra was an unforgettable personality that left a mark on us all, no matter the age or team bias.
The 1993 baseball film “The Sandlot” says it perfectly:
“There’s heroes and there’s legends. Heroes get remembered but legends never die.”
(09/29/15 9:35pm)
By Michael Battista
Sports Editor
When one player is the significant reason your team has won its past two games, not only does that person receive praise — she receives a target on her back. One such player is Lions’ sophomore midfielder Elizabeth Thoresen, whose four goals over the stretch of the week helped push the College past Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham, 3-0, on Tuesday, Sept. 22, and past Kean University, 2-1, on Saturday, Sept. 26.
The Lions traveled up to Madison, N.J., to face off against the 4-3 Devils, who were coming off a strong 6-0 win against The City College of New York.
Right from the start, the Lions controlled the pace of the game. Within the first three minutes, Thoresen got off a wide shot and within 25 minutes the College had gotten a total of five shots off, compared to the Devils’ zero.
“Our defense, game by game is getting better,” Thoresen said. “We had some big times players, like graduates Jordan Downs and Kendra Griffith, to replace. Abby (Emmert), Courtney (Durstewitz) and Jessica Weeder are meeting the challenge to build the chemistry.”
The half ended with neither team pushing through, and the second continued on with the same results, until the 69th minute.
Thoresen, with an assist from junior midfielder Lauren Malajian, kicked in a shot passed FDU’s goalie, to put the Lions up, 1-0. She was not done, though, and less than three minutes later scored again off an assist from senior defender Brianna Cummings.
She attributed this to her constant training both in practice and on her own.
“I would say that this streak of good play is a result of efforts in the offseason and in season practices,” she said. “Creating scoring opportunities for myself and for others was one of the aspects of my game I really wanted to focus on.”
After a goal from Malajian in the 82nd minute, the Lions held onto the lead and won, 3-0.
The Lions’ next opponent was Kean in Union, N.J., on Saturday, Sept. 22, a conference game. Thoresen made her intentions for the team clear.
“The plan for Saturday is to bring our A-game,” she said before the game. “This is an NJAC game. We want to send a message to everyone saying that we are a team to be afraid of.”
And if the team isn’t feared at this point, Thoresen definitely is, after the past performances she’s recently put on.
The Lions’ offense had complete control during the entire first half, shooting 11 times and keeping the ball away from the Cougars, enough to hold them to zero.
Thoresen broke away from the pack in the 23rd minute, after a collision with a defender, to pick up another goal for her season total and put the College up, 1-0.
The game continued on, and five minutes into the second half, Kean was able to get its first shot off. However, the Lions still showed their offensive dominance when, off an assist from sophomore midfielder Jessica Goldman, Thoresen once again placed one past the Kean defense and put the team up, 2-0.
Thoresen, who was awarded NJAC conference honors last week and looks to be on track for another set, continued to credit her ability not only to her practice with the team, but her personal practice during the offseason.
“This high level of competition improved my game tremendously by forcing my game speed to be faster and my techniques to be sharper,” she said. “This summer I really wanted to improve myself to make an impact on the team and help us win. After the results from last season, I would not be satisfied with myself unless I came to this season prepared and ready to win.”
The Cougars showed offensive bursts in the second half, even scoring with 15 minutes to go in the game off a handball in the box. The Lions would keep them suppressed, however, giving them the 2-1 win and another conference victory.
The team now looks forward to facing Stockton University at home on Wednesday, Sept. 30, in another NJAC conference game.
(09/24/15 12:17am)
By Michael Battista
Sports Editor
The original “Gears of War” video game was launched into the gaming market in late 2006 and quickly became a fan-favorite. Nine years later, “Gears of War Ultimate Edition” is now being made available on the Xbox. The new release looks to rekindle the spirit and excitement of the original in a package that’s familiar, but also refreshingly modern.
Developed under the direction of series creator Rod Fergusson and The Coalition Studio, the title is a re-release of the original game with enhanced features and gameplay. The game’s assets have been completely remade from the ground up using modern game design methods. “Gears of War Ultimate Edition” includes new story chapters, boosted 1080P graphics and 60 frames per second multiplayer.
The story takes place on a fictional Earth-like planet called Sera, where humans are locked in a deadly war against the Locust, a subterranean species of reptilian creatures. Players take on the role of former war criminal Marcus Fenix, who is now a soldier fighting for the human race in a 12-year long war that could lead to total extinction. Throughout the story, Marcus and his fellow soldiers fight the varied Locust creatures in an attempt to set off a device which could end the conflict and spell victory for humanity.
Players are thrown into the war with little backstory. This unconventional aspect of the game serves to make it more realistic, as it would be unusual for characters to stop and explain the conflict in the midst of battle.
Dedicated fans can learn more about the rich world and characters featured in “Gears of War” through the franchise novels and comics that have been released over time.
The gameplay within “Gears of War Ultimate Edition” is quite similar to the original release, which includes a standard third person shooter with cover mechanics. The new game, however, has smoother and more accurate shooting than previous editions in the series.
The single player story remains largely similar to the original, with unchanged voice acting and orchestral soundtrack. The cutscenes, however, have been remade and now allow for more detailed characters and enhanced emotion in what used to be very plain and generic scenes. A scene you may have seen 10 times before in previous editions of the game will now look new and feature a different viewpoint of the action. For this reason, “Gears of War Ultimate Edition” can be equally exciting for new players and returning fans alike.
The game’s multiplayer feature has also received an overhaul but still manages to remain true to the series staples. Faster paced matches along with dedicated servers to handle weaker internet connections make the game an experience that both newcomers in social, non-intense matches and veterans in competitive, high-skill matches can enjoy equally.
“Gears of War Ultimate Edition” sticks out in a world where remakes and remasters have been coming out left and right for the past two years. The new release of “Gears of War” holds more than just a few updated graphics. The latest edition of the game has been remade, but will still feel familiar to those who fell in love with the original.
“Gears of War Ultimate Edition” adds enough of the new, while retaining much of the older editions to make it worth the $40 price tag. Throw in the fact that players now have access to all previous “Gears of War” editions for free on the Xbox One via backwards capability, and you have yourself a worthy investment.
(09/24/15 12:16am)
By Michael Battista
Sports Editor
In the sports realm, games can be close contests, hard fought with a finish that leave both teams knowing they gave it all they could. Then there are games similar to the ones the College’s women’s soccer team played on Wednesday, Sept. 16, against Penn State Harrisburg, where they picked up a 12-0 win, and beat Rutgers-Newark, 5-0 on Saturday, Sept. 19.
The College came into the game on Wednesday sporting a 2-0-2 record, looking for a breakout performance after multiple close matches.
Five minutes in, a penalty shot from senior midfielder Taylor Lusardi slid into the back of the net, starting what would be a blowout game.
The Lions controlled this game from the opening kickoff, keeping possession of the ball for a majority of the 90 minutes and outshooting the Nittany Lions, 34-1.
Lusardi scored a hat trick in the matchup, with two more goals coming in the eighth and 31st minutes. In this situation, she said the most important thing is not letting up at any point.
“In a game like this you need to keep the energy up for the entire game,” she said, also finding some humor in the situation. “We scored some goals, it was nice.”
The Harrisburg defense was unable to keep the College back for long. In one instance, freshman midfielder Martha Papapetrou scored, followed no less than 13 seconds later by a goal from sophomore forward Hannah Richman.
Players such as junior midfielder Lauren Malajian and sophomore midfielders Elizabeth Thoresen and Richman all scored twice during the contest, while Papapetrou, junior defenseman Marykate Sullivan and freshman forward Kate Galgano all scored once.
Lusardi said that a game like this is great for working on certain parts of the team that need improvement.
“We had time to perfect things we needed to work on as a team,” Lusardi said on the team’s successful game. “Finishing definitely being one of them.”
The game ended with a 12-0 win for the Lions, leaving Lusardi, who was given the team helmet as the game MVP, to praise her team for their effort.
“The chemistry we have is amazing,” she said. “We have talent and depth in our roster. If we work on finishing (our opportunities) we’ll be set.”
After that, the team quickly put the win behind as they prepared for their first conference matchup against Rutgers-Newark on Saturday, Sept. 19.
The Scarlet Raiders came into the game 6-1, also looking for a win in their conference debut for 2015. The Lions shutout Rutgers-Newark in their conference opener.
Early on, the Lions’ defense showed why they are ranked 16th in the nation in Division III, holding Rutgers to zero shots in the first half and only two in the second half.
Coach Joe Russo says the team’s backline has been coming along nicely this season, using both new and old talent together.
“Collectively, (the backline) has been great,” he said. “The new crew has done well together.”
The College’s offense was also on full display during the game, with the Lions keeping possession of the ball for most of both halfs. Ten minutes into the first half, junior defender Marissa Scognamiglio, off an assist from Thoreson, headed in a cross past the Rutgers goalkeeper to put the Lions up, 1-0, and picking up her first goal of the season.
Sullivan also picked up another goal for her season total in the 35th minute, as did junior midfielder Sarah Marion in the 46th and 70th minutes and Thoresen in the 61st minute of regulation play.
Russo says that games like this and the last one are good for team morale, and helps further the team’s progress in certain areas.
“Anytime you score a lot of goals it’s positive for everybody,” he said. “It takes time for the team to get into this sort of rhythm, it’s a process.”
The game clock hit 90 minutes, and the match ended with the Lions coming out on top 5-0, earning their first conference win.
Russo admitted the team still has things it can work on before the next match up.
“We can definitely be better in the attacking third and finishing our chances,” he said.
The Lions now prepare to travel up to Madison, N.J., hoping to keep their undefeated record in tact when they face Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Florham Campus in a non conference game on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m.
(09/15/15 8:31pm)
By Michael Battista
Sports Editor
The Lions took part in the TCNJ Adidas Classic during the weekend, winning their game against SUNY Oneonta on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2-0 and tying Johns Hopkins University 0-0 on Sunday, Sept. 13, in double overtime.
The College entered the Classic looking to improve their record of 1-0-1, while SUNY Oneonta hoped to expand their winning streak to three games.
The Lions came out strong right out of the gate, getting two shots on goal within six minutes. Sophomore midfielder Jessica Goldman was able to net her first goal of the season close to 20 minutes in, thanks to an assist from sophomore Elizabeth Thoresen, putting the College up, 1-0.
The defensive effort by the team was the major reason why the Red Dragons had issues on offense, and were only able to get their first shot on goal 39 minutes into the game.
However, the Lions did have a scare 20 minutes into the game when junior forward Christine Levering went down on the field holding her leg, and needed to be helped off.
Senior midfielder Christina Roach believes it isn’t anything too serious.
“I think it’s just soreness,” she said. “But just to be safe, we had to take her off and have it looked at.”
Coach Joe Russo echoed the statement, but also emphasized time is needed to have her looked at.
“She’s going to be evaluated by our doctors,” he said. “But it’s far too early to tell.”
The second half was just as dominant for the team, leaving SUNY’s defense with the large task of keeping out the College’s offense.
Roach was able to get through them all in the 57th minute for her first goal of the season, with help from Goldman to put the team up, 2-0.
The score remained, giving the College a hard fought victory. However, the team didn’t have much time to celebrate as the next game followed on, Sunday, Sept. 12, against Johns Hopkins University.
Roach said the team has to keep focused to remain successful.
“Just grind it out, focus and play 90 minutes,” Roach said. “If you get tired, just fake it as long as you can and keep going.”
However, the team would need to play more then just 90 minutes.
It should be noted that Levering did not play in the match, and it is still unknown to what extent she is injured. She was seen using crutches on the sideline cheering her teammates on. Russo said she will be seeing the team doctor as soon as possible.
The teams came into the contest ranked nationally in Division III — the College being ranked ninth and Johns Hopkins ranked fifth — and their play showed why that is.
Both teams came out strong, with defensive dominance keeping both offenses in check for the entire duration of the game, giving up very few legitimate chances.
The beginning of the first half was all Lions, with shot after shot being taken against junior Hopkins goalkeeper Clara Aranguren. However, halfway through and with some fresh faces on the field, the Blue Jays took over, putting pressure on Lions goalkeeper, senior Jessica Weeder. In total the Lions had seven shots against the Blue Jays who had four.
Thoresen, who was part of numerous pushes into the Johns Hopkins zone, said things just weren’t going the right way.
“I think it was just bad luck,” Thoresen said. “Everything that could go wrong did and we weren’t able to finish during opportunities.”
The second half saw more of the same, but with the Blue Jays attacking more aggressively and getting off 12 shots compared to the College’s nine. However, the shots were more evenly paced out, with Johns Hopkins getting off a shot followed by the College and vice versa. Neither team held on to the ball long in this half.
Ninety minutes came and went, leaving both teams to go out for at least two 10-minute overtime periods. The Lions dominated the first overtime, getting off five shots and leaving Johns Hopkins with nothing. Freshman midfielder Arielle Curtis had a shot opportunity at the end to put the team up, but it was blocked, leading the teams to a second overtime.
Neither team could get an upper hand over the other this time, leaving the game to end in a 0-0 tie.
Roach says the team’s disappointment will have to lead into some improvements.
“Our will to win was there, we wanted this game more then them,” Roach said. “We need to work on finishing (our opportunities).”
The team now has a few days off to rest and practice before they take the field again on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at home against Penn State Harrisburg.
(09/09/15 9:04pm)
By Michael Battista Sports Editor
Kicking off their season, the College’s women’s soccer team played to a 0-0 tie in their first game against Gettysburg College, but followed with a 2-0 victory against Widener University — showing both new and returning talent in the process.
The season opener on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at Lions’ Stadium against the Gettysburg College Bullets was dead even from the very start. Gettysburg controlled the ball most of the first half as the Lion’s defense pushed them back at almost every opportunity. The Bullets got off four shots on goal, doubling the shots that the College could amount in the 45-minute span.
However, each team could match each other. When Gettysburg had the ball in the Lion’s zone for an extended period of time, the College would immediately do the same to them keeping the pace even.
Coach Joe Russo, coming into his 25th year as the team’s head coach, attributes this to each team’s mentality.
“Both teams are good,” he said. “They’re well-organized and stingy when they play.”
While the Bullets were the better team in the first half, the last 45 minutes belonged to the Lions.
Gettysburg was unable to get a single shot on goal for the rest of the game, while the College was able to release seven in the second half alone. Players like sophomores Jessica Goldman and Abigail Emmert and junior Christine Levering kept the Bullet’s defense on their toes.
While the Lions pushed, they could not get the deciding goal, and Gettysburg’s defense did its job well — they blocked as much as they could, pushing the game into not one, but double over time.
The two 10-minute halves went by quickly with the College taking shots in each but never connecting.
“As the game went on, we got better and better,” Russo said.
Goldman said in those hectic situations, you need to gain back control.
“When it gets to that hectic point, you need to calm the game down and try to get in back in your own control,” she said.
But when asked about the play at the end, Goldman was very straightforward.
“At that point, you’re just trying to put it in,” Goldman said.
The ball would not go in, however, and the score remained 0-0 for the final.
“We need to focus on the final,” she said. “We had chances. We’re trying to find our chemistry and work together still.”
The team had a few days to rest and practice with one another before traveling to their next game on Sunday, Sept. 6, against Widener University in Chester, Pa.
The game was heavily in favor of the College from early on. Within five minutes, Levering recorded a shot on goal and within 20 minutes, both her and Goldman had a combined total of five shots.
The Lions had a total of 12 shots in the first, compared to one by Widner. The team was unable to connect with a goal in the first half however. Within five minutes of the second half, senior Taylor Lusardi scored the team’s first goal of the season with a header off a corner kick. After that, the Lions stayed in control, once again keeping Widener to only one shot, and sealed the deal with a goal from junior Sarah Marion in the 86th minute.
The Lions won the game 2-0, with a total of 23 shots on goal.
Now, the team has a few days to prepare for the TCNJ Adidas Classic, which will bring in tough opponents such as SUNY Oneonta on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 1:30 p.m. and John Hopkins University on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 1:30 p.m.
(09/01/15 3:19pm)
By Michael Battista
Sports Editor
The 2014 women’s soccer season was full of trials and challenges for every player and coach on the team, including then-freshman, economics major Jessica Goldman. After winning the NJAC title in 2013, the incoming class of new players had a lot of expectations focused on them. Goldman noticed this right away.
“As a freshman it’s hard to come into such a successful team and really comprehend the level that we play at,” she said.
But after that brief bit of adjustment, Goldman season’s skyrocketed into an award winning effort. Playing in all 22 games (20 of which she started), she was able to net eight goals — the third highest number on the team. She also yielded eight assists, and took a total of 29 shots on goal throughout the season.
For her efforts, Goldman was awarded NJAC Rookie of the year for 2014. However, she knows the effects of playing at such a high level.
“I think winning the award last year puts a target on my back,” she said. “I’m very proud of that achievement, but I am aware that it adds pressure.”
She also realizes that it sets a bar for her to reach in 2015, however Goldman doesn’t mind to reach farther than she’s gone.
“Even though that achievement is great, I’m not keeping the bar there,” she said. “I want to raise the bar for myself and continue to grow as a player in order to ultimately help my team get better.”
The team had an impressive run in the 2014 NCAA tournament making it all the way to the Elite Eight, beating opponents such as Allegheny College, Williams Smith College and Misericordia University. Goldman was even the deciding factor in the Williams Smith game, where she scored the game winning goal in double overtime.
“We had a fantastic turn around from a loss to Montclair to the NCAAs,” she said. “We played some of our best soccer in the tournament.”
The team’s run came to an end, however, after a close 1-0 loss to Williams College in the quarterfinals. The whole run showed Goldman just what being in a tournament can do to a player.
“That loss to Williams in the Elite Eight was something I’ve never felt before,” she said. “Being apart of the tournament and getting so far brings something out of you. I so badly want to get to a final four, and I know we’re good enough to do it this year.”
The team now has to prepare for the new season, with the first game on Tuesday, Sept. 1 against Gettysburg College. Goldman, now a sophomore, has high hopes for the team pointing out the strong class of new players joining the fray.
“The incoming class has a lot of talent and I think they can really add something special to this team,” Golman said. “We have one player, Arielle (Curtis), that has been doing very well stepping into the back line while we have a few injuries. They understand that they need to work hard to earn playing time, and does everyone on this team, and I think the fans should be very excited to see this new class.”
“We have so much talent and heart and I’m extremely excited for the season to start and for our 2015 team to show what we’re all about.”
(08/25/15 9:32pm)
By Michael Battista
Sports Editor
With the fall semester starting, the College’s women’s soccer team is making its final adjustments before their first match on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at home against Gettysburg College.
After the team’s loss last year to Montclair State in the NJAC Tournament final, and their loss to Williams College in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals, the Lions are looking to bounce back with a strong regular season. They also hope to make an impact at this year’s TCNJ Adidas Classic, with their first match against SUNY Oneonta on Saturday, Sept. 12.
Coach Joe Russo and his squad posted an impressive 18-3-1 record last year and hope both returning and new players can keep up the stellar performance.
Besides practicing, some of the Lions made a trip to the Great White North earlier this summer in hopes of seeing the United States Women’s National Soccer team compete for the World Cup.
Team members from years past, including former goalie Kendra Griffith (’15) and Kate Landrigan (’13) joined current players and staff on the trip, to see the U.S. beat Germany 2-0 on their way to the finals, where they later beat Japan 5-2, capturing their third World Cup.
Sophomore marketing major, defender Christina Stabile told tcnj.edu that the entire experience was incredible.
“The American spirit was contagious,” she said. “Seeing that game in person was nothing compared to watching it on a screen. The fans, the food, being with my teammates and the atmosphere all contributed to an incredible experience.”
Back home, the Lions now have the large task of trying to mold their own team into championship caliber.
The team has a large class of new freshmen all vying to be on the field, including Kelly Gallagher of Annandale, N.J. (Raritan Valley), who is hoping to get a spot as one of the team’s goalies. Another hopeful is Kate Galgano of Toms River, N.J. (Toms River North), who is one of two new freshmen hoping to get a spot as a forward on the team.
The final roster will be made before the first ball is kicked, meaning a lot of tension for these students who already have the normal difficulties a new college student has.
(08/25/15 9:24pm)
By Michael Battista
Sports Editor
If I told you a show took place where Stephen Amell, the actor from the CW’s “Arrow,” fought a British king and a cosmic prince and where Jon Stewart decided the outcome of a fight by hitting someone with a chair, what would the standard response be? It shouldn’t be that surprising, since the World Wrestling Entertainment was in Brooklyn for their yearly event, SummerSlam.
Returning to New York/New Jersey area for the first time since 2007, the event was just one part of a packed weekend for WWE, which had three separate and individual shows on Saturday Aug. 22 through Monday, Aug. 24 — all in the Barclays Center.
NXT, the developmental level of WWE, which features the “future stars” of the company, took center stage on Saturday with NXT Takeover Brooklyn selling out the arena. Young talent, such as “Gorgeous” Tyler Breeze and Pamela Rose “Bayley” Martinez entertained the extremely loud crowd while competing for titles, pride and for a chance to be called up to the main roster. Other, more established, wrestlers in the independent scene, such as Jushin “Thunder” Liger, Samoa Joe and Finn Bálor also competed to the joy of the crowd.
Sunday night saw the main roster take over Barclay for the company’s second largest show of the year, SummerSlam. Consisting of 10 matches over four hours, the show featured the WWE’s biggest stars, including John Cena, Brock Lesnar and the Undertaker. However, actor Stephen Amell was also on the card, competing with the high flying Nevil against Stardust and King Barrett, the former of which had attacked and insulted him multiple times before.
The largest matches of the night were the bouts between Undertaker and Brock Lesnar, and the Champion vs. Champion match pitting United States Champion Cena against WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.
In consistent wrestling fashion, the matches ended in a shocking way — but neither in a way any wrestling fan had ever seen coming.
In the Title for Title match, comedian and former host of “The Daily Show,” Jon Stewart, a passionate wrestling fan, ran into the ring while the referee was down and attacked Cena — who was celebrating fulfilling his 500th Make a Wish request that night. The plot twist cost him the match and his title.
While in the Undertaker vs. Lesnar fight, a rematch 15 months after their last bout, ended in confusion. Late in the match, Lesnar caused the Undertaker to submit, or tap out from pain. However, the referee never saw it and restarted the match allowing Undertaker to pick up the win.
To a wrestling fan, these results could bring happiness, anger or confusion. While anyone on the outside looking in will just say “that’s just wrestling.”
(05/06/15 9:17pm)
By Michael Battista
Sports Assistant
The College’s softball team finished their regular season last week, sweeping Montclair State but getting swept by Ramapo College.
The team traveled up to Montclair N.J. on Friday, April 24, to face the 13-18 Red Hawks after a rain delay postponed the game earlier in the week.
Despite previously coming up short against Muhlenberg, the Lions were hoping to keep up the strong play going into the NJAC tournament, and they needed to start this against Montclair.
After a scoreless first by both teams, Lions junior right fielder Christine Desiderio doubled to left field allowing junior pitcher Ashtin Helmer to score.
After that, Helmer continued to help keep the Red Hawks at bay by keeping it scoreless for them up until the bottom of the fifth when she gave up a home run to tie the game.
Almost as a redemption of sorts, Helmer was able to put the team back in the lead the very next inning with a double to center field, bringing in a run. Desiderio had a repeat performance as well, singling in a run soon after to give the Lions a two-run lead.
The Red Hawks had a brief comeback in the bottom of the sixth, scoring one run. But freshman Sam Platt was able to pick up the save as the Lions picked up the win, 3-2.
The next game between the two schools was much more one-sided in favor of the College.
In the first inning, Helmer was able to reach first on a fielder’s choice and got to second on a throwing error, which lead to two runs for the Lions right away.
After a scoreless second by both squads, the Hawks were able to pick up two runs in the third. But the fourth inning brought up freshman Bria Bartsch, who singled to left field to give the team the lead once again.
The sixth inning sealed the game for the Lions when they scored a total of six runs off hits from Desiderio, junior pinch-hitter Kristen Fitzsimmons and freshman Jess Stevenson, who homered three runs. The seventh inning saw Desiderio come up big once again, homering in two more runs for the Lions as well.
The Red Hawks scored three more runs in the bottom of the seventh, but the Lions were able to close them out picking up the 11-5 victory.
Helmer said that the team, looking towards the playoff, needs to keep playing at a high level.
“As a team, we know that we need to perform at a higher level as we enter postseason play,” she said. “Teams are more seasoned at this point, and in order to be competitive, we need to be just as seasoned. This is the point of the season that really counts. We need to leave everything on the field as we enter the NJAC tournament.”
The team only had a day to recover, as they traveled to Mahwah N.J. on Saturday, April 25 to face off against the Ramapo College Roadrunners.
The College was in for a challenge early on, as Ramapo scored four runs in the first inning off two singles. The Roadrunners’ pitching kept the Lions from scoring until the sixth inning, but before that, they picked up two more runs off a home run from their catcher.
Junior Deanna Utter added another homer for the season — her sixth — bringing in two runs for the team. Still, between the home run and a fielder’s choice by sophomore Nerylix Cerda to bring in another run, the offense wasn’t enough as the Roadrunners took the win after scoring again, making the final, 7-3.
Helmer said the team just didn’t do enough in the end.
“We simply did not play to our full potential against Ramapo,” she said. “We have each taken accountability and analyzed our performances individually.”
The College had a second shot against Ramapo, however, and played a tighter game throughout.
The home team scored first in the second inning, scoring two runs off a double and single combined, but the Lions quickly tied it back up in the third with a solo home run from Bartsch to left field, and a single from Stevenson to bring in the tying run. The tie didn’t last long, though, as Ramapo took the lead in the fourth inning off a solo home run.
“Ramapo came out strong right from the get-go, giving it their all, and it really showed when they took the field,” Bartsch said.
It didn’t end, though, as Ramapo homered one more time in the sixth inning. That was the last run, as the Lions picked up the 5-2 loss.
The team now looks toward the NJAC tournament starting on Tuesday, April 28, against William Paterson University in Wayne N.J. at 4 p.m.
Looking at the tournament, Bartsch says she thinks the team doesn’t need a specific plan going into the game.
“I don’t feel that we’re going to use any specific strategy,” she said. “Rather, I believe the team, as well as myself, is simply planning to take the field fighting, giving everything we have every play.”