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(04/10/18 5:23am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
After a challenging two-game set against Middlebury College and Gettysburg College, the women’s lacrosse team breezed past Montclair State University, 16-2, on Saturday, April 7.
In their first conference match of the season, the Lions limited Montclair to 14 shots and two goals. Senior defender Elizabeth Morrison stifled Montclair’s offense from the moment the whistle blew.
The match opened with Montclair having possession until Morrison forced a turnover. She passed to junior midfielder Kathleen Jaeger, who immediately scored the Lions’ first goal. In the sixth minute, senior midfielder Amanda Muller recorded her 100th career goal off a free position attempt.
Montclair immediately countered on the next play when freshman attacker Rhiannon Brown received a free position attempt and netted a goal. In the aftermath, the Lions asserted their dominance and pelted Montclair with eight unanswered goals.
In the midst of the offensive outburst, sophomore midfielder Allie Gorman collected three goals while junior midfielder Kathleen Jaeger netted a pair of her own.
Montclair struck first in the second half before the Lions took over. After Montclair senior attacker Chelsea Orban scored a goal, the College put more goals up on the scoreboard. With the offense led by sophomore attacker Kasey Donoghue and Jaeger tallying four goals together, the Lions steamrolled past Montclair for a resounding 16-2 win.
So far into the season, the Lions have been an offensive powerhouse, as seven players recorded at least 13 goals. Fitzpatrick currently leads the team with 26 goals. Meanwhile, junior goalkeeper Miranda Chrone has kept the net secure by recording 47 saves.
The Lions will continue their quest for an eighth consecutive New Jersey Athletic Conference title when they take on Ramapo College of New Jersey on Thursday, April 12 in Mahwah, New Jersey.
(04/09/18 10:58pm)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
United by the common goal of feeding patrons of the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, but divided in the spirit of friendly competition, 10 campus organizations participated in Student United Way’s fifth annual PB&J race on Thursday, April 5 in the Brower Student Center.
Students from Sigma Lambda Gamma, Delta Sigma Pi, Alpha Xi Delta, Delta Zeta, Zeta Tau Alpha, Sigma Sigma Sigma, Humanitarian Yoga Club, Chi Upsilon Sigma, Women in Business and Circle K made a total of 1,251 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches by the end of the night.
With a plethora of plastic bags and gloves, utensils, loaves of bread and jars of peanut butter and jelly at their disposal, teams dove into sandwich making with concentrated speed. Not a single table was clean as students splattered the spreadings onto the bread.
Nevertheless, teams did have to follow several rules.
Allison Vergano, a senior communication studies major and president of Student United Way, assigned student judges to make sure that teams were using one peanut butter jar and one jelly jar at a time. Teams could only reload supplies once the jars were empty, and any mispackaged sandwiches were put on notice, according to Vergano.
“We definitely made our judges aware of their responsibilities,” Vergano said. “We made them arrive a half hour before the event and explained them in detail of what they needed to do. We also added a box of shame so when you make a no-so-great sandwich, it goes in there.”
While most rounds focused on making the most sandwiches in a given time frame, the creative round proved to be the most challenging as teams assembled intricate sandwiches with three slices of white bread.
Members of Circle K carved a sandwich with a lion's face on top and used peanut butter for its mane. Meanwhile, members of Women In Business illustrated a formally dressed businesswoman with oozing jelly for hair.
Stanley Zheng, a senior nursing and public health double major and a member of Circle K, loved working with other organizations to help donate to TASK.
“It was really fun,” Zheng said. “We got the opportunity to help those in need at TASK and collaborate with organizations that share Circle K’s message of philanthropy.”
Not to be outdone by their competitors, members of Sigma Sigma Sigma constructed a sailboat and fish roaming through the messy table cloth.
Delta Zeta, which was the only organization who had two teams at the event, created polar opposite designs. The first team depicted a day at the beach, complete with a palm tree, a person relaxing on a recliner, peanut butter acting as sand and jelly flowing as water. In contrast, the second team went with a winter theme, portraying an igloo with a complimentary snowman.
Other notable designs included members of Delta Sigma Pi sculpting a rose that represented their organization’s official flower and Zeta Tau Alpha creating a flower that symbolized the emergence of spring.
After two hours of running for supplies, scraping jars deep for every last dip of peanut butter or jelly and packaging spotless sandwiches, Delta Sigma Pi emerged as the victor followed by Sigma Lambda Gamma in second and Women in Business in third.
Caitlyn Vasquez, a senior psychology major and a member of Sigma Lambda Gamma, was happy to continue her sorority’s contribution to the event.
“Our organization has done this for the past three years,” Vasquez said. “It’s really nice and it’s good to know it’s for the greater good. We had a lot of determination and competitiveness to win the race.”
In the end, Vergano was proud of Student United Way’s efforts to improve the event from past occasions.
“We looked back at last year’s (event) and reflected on what we could improve on,” Vergano said. “We wanted to amp up the race and make it a bigger, better impact for the community.”
(04/03/18 7:12am)
Miguel Gonzalez and Alexander Reich
Sports Editor and Staff Writer
The baseball team seemingly leaves the diamond with a win after every game this season.
On March 27, the Lions defeated Widener University, 5-4, at George Ackerman Park. The team then prevailed over Haverford College, 4-3, at home on Wednesday, March 28. The following Saturday, March 31, the Lions traveled up to Newark, New Jersey where they played a doubleheader against Rutgers University-Newark and won both games, 12-0 and 7-3.
The team is currently on an 11-game winning-streak and has not lost a game since March 11, when they conceded to Aurora University, 8-3.
In the home game against Haverford, the Lions came out on top with the help of a walk-off hit by freshman utility player Avery Epstein. With the game tied at three in the bottom of the ninth inning, Epstein cracked a hit to left field and sent freshman infielder Aydon Chavis home for the game-winning run.
The Lions’ thunderous bats came to life against Rutgers-Newark. During the first game, sophomore outfielder Thomas Persichetti grounded out to the opponent’s shortstop, but collected an RBI in the process to put the Lions up, 1-0, in the top of the first inning.
In the third inning, Persichetti smacked a triple to right field and sent junior infielder Danny Borup to home plate to make the score 2-0. The Lions kept thriving in the third inning when senior infielder Zachary Shindler singled to right field and Persichetti scored to add another run.
With the Lions up 3-0 at the top of the fifth inning, senior outfielder Mike Follet ran home on a wild pitch to stretch the score to 4-0. Shindler then hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring Borup home. The Lions were piling runs on the scoreboard with a 5-0 lead.
In the ninth inning, the Lions continued their scoring bombardment when junior first baseman Tommy McCarthy took advantage of a wild pitch and scored to increase the Lions’ lead to 9-0. It wasn’t over for the Lions offensively, as the team showcased its hitting power.
After McCarthy scored, sophomore catcher David Cardona III doubled to left field, sending sophomore outfielder Jacob Simon to home plate and padding the Lions’ lead, 10-0. In the next at-bat, Borup smacked ground-rule double to left to score another run. As a result, Cardona III scored to improve the blowout result to 11-0. Persichetti singled to shortstop and allowed Borup to score and finish out the team’s 12-0 victory.
While the Lions were piling hits, senior pitcher Joe Cirillo was unstoppable at the mound as he struck out seven opponents.
The Lions’ energy kept rolling and building up for their second game of the double header against Rutgers-Newark. After a rusty start, the Lions started scoring when senior catcher Steve Bucci singled down to left field. Simon scored to put the Lions ahead, 4-3.
After picking up two more runs in the fourth inning, Shindler hit a fly ball to center field for a sacrifice RBI, scoring Borup from third. The rest of the game was quiet offensively, but the Lions ultimately secured their 7-3 win and swept Rutgers-Newark in the doubleheader.
Simon was satisfied with the team’s overall effort against Rutgers-Newark.
“It was exactly how we wanted to open up conference play,” Simon said. “They’re a very good team and had a lot of success within the conference last year. We jumped out to a large lead in the first game and just kept the momentum going all the way through.”
Simon also gives credit to Cirillo and senior pitcher Brandon Zachary for their strong outings on the mound.
“We got two great starts by seniors Joe Cirillo and Brandon Zachary and we backed them up with 30 hits and 19 runs combined,” Simon said. “We wanted to send a statement to the conference as well as get our revenge on them, as they bested us in the conference tournament last year. We played two solid games in all aspects and we’re going to take the momentum into a big week of conference and non-conference games.”
The team competes on the road against Rutgers-University Camden on Thursday, April 5. The Lions then return to George Ackerman Park on Friday, April 6 to play Rutgers again at 3:30 p.m. Afterward, the baseball team will compete in a doubleheader against Ramapo College at home on Saturday, April 7, and is scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m.
(04/03/18 7:00am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
The women’s lacrosse team faced two ranked opponents at Lions Stadium this week. On March 27, the Lions defeated Middlebury College, 10-6. The following Thursday, March 29, the team endured a 9-5 loss against Gettysburg College.
On March 28, head coach Sharon Pfluger was featured on Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Weekly for her notable 500th victory against The College At Brockport, SUNY.
The Lions were in for a challenge against Middlebury, as their opponent sought revenge from its 8-4 defeat to the College at last year’s NCAA Regional final. However, the team came out on top again and defeated Middlebury, who is currently ranked fourth in the IWLCA Division III Coaches Poll. Unlike previous matches this season, the Lions found themselves with an early 0-2 deficit in the first half, but junior midfielder Kathleen Jaeger turned the tide when she scored in the 23rd minute. Just two minutes later, sophomore attacker Olivia Cleale scored the equalizer with an assist from Jaeger.
With two minutes remaining in the first half, Cleale cradled through Middlebury’s defense and netted her second goal to give the Lions a 3-2 lead. Middlebury immediately countered on the next play when junior attacker Emma McDonagh snuck in a shot.
By the second half, both teams were tied at three. In the 37th minute, Cleale scored another crucial goal with the help of freshman midfielder Erin Jaffe. Middlebury struck again shortly after when McDonagh netted her second goal to tie the match at four.
Afterward, the Lions overwhelmed Middlebury with three successive goals by senior midfielder Amanda Muller, sophomore midfielder Allie Gorman and Jaeger.
While Middlebury scored twice, the Lions held their lead and netted two additional goals to claim the 10-6 victory. The next match against Gettysburg College yielded a different result.
Gettysburg, who is currently ranked first in the IWLCA Division III Coaches Poll, proved to be a challenging opponent. The Lions scored their least amount of goals in a game this season as they endured their second loss of the year.
The team struggled to score in the first half. In the 12th minute, Jaeger scored to cut Gettysburg’s lead to 1. Following the goal, Gettysburg poured in three goals until Jaeger scored again in the 23rd minute.
With the Lions down, 7-2, Jaeger kept the Lions’ offense alive when she scored off a rebound shot from senior defender Elizabeth Morrison. Entering the second half, the Lions were determined to erase their 7-3 deficit, but Gettysburg locked down on defense. Despite recording 15 shots, the team only managed to net two goals. Meanwhile, Gettysburg junior goalkeeper Bailey Pilder racked up 13 saves. In the end, the Lions suffered a 9-5 loss.
After a tough week, the Lions will begin competing in the New Jersey Athletic Conference when they travel north to Montclair, New Jersey, for a match against Montclair State University on Saturday, April 7.
(04/03/18 6:54am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
Students gathered in the Mayo Concert Hall for the College Union Board’s night with Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Champions Rick Lovato and Kamu Grugier-Hill on Thursday, March 29.
Lovato, a long snapper, and Grugier-Hill, a linebacker, discussed their journey from high school to the National Football League, as well as their experience playing in Minneapolis on professional football’s grandest stage — the Super Bowl.
Lovato, who hails from Middletown, New Jersey and played for Middletown South High School, was happy to be back in the Garden State. He was recruited by Old Dominion University on a half scholarship and became an All-American by his sophomore year. As an upperclassmen at Old Dominion, Lovato dreamed about competing in the NFL.
“Ever since I was a kid, all I wanted to do was play in the NFL,” Lovato said. “I watch all these teams. My whole entire family was Giant fans. Seeing all the good players out there, I wanted to be just like them. By the time I was a senior, I got my degree.”
After graduating with a degree in exercise science, Lovato was signed by the Chicago Bears. However, he was cut before the season began and ended up working at his father’s business, Joyce’s Subs and Pizza in Lincroft, New Jersey, before he received an offer from the Green Bay Packers.
“I was like, ‘What do I do with myself?’” Lovato said. “I don’t know if any opportunities were going to come to the pros. I sat 16 weeks working out and working at the sub shop everyday until I finally got the call to the Green Bay Packers.”
Lovato then spoke about his experience competing at training camp and earning the job with Green Bay.
“There were a lot of older free agents — guys better than me, but (the Packers) believed I could do the job,” Lovato said. “It was an incredible opportunity. I got to meet people who I still talk to, to this very day.”
After he was cut by both the Packers and the Washington Redskins, Lovato found consistent playing time with the Philadelphia Eagles, and eventually helped the team win Super Bowl LII.
“Who could imagine?” Lovato said. “I’ve always dreamed about winning the Super Bowl ever since I was a kid. It’s absolutely insane where life takes you. I really appreciate the journey that I had and getting the opportunity to be up here.”
Grugier-Hill’s journey to the Super Bowl proved to be just as miraculous as Lovato’s rise to the top. Grugier-Hill, who hails from Papakolea, Hawaii, emphasized his family’s love for soccer and his fortunate opportunity to play football at Eastern Illinois University.
“My family is a big soccer family, especially to this day,” Grugier-Hill said. “I originally wanted to be a professional soccer player. I didn’t start on the (high school) football team until senior year. My only offer was Eastern Illinois. I got in because of my best friend. The head coach said ‘Hey is there anyone else that can play?’”
Lovato mentioned that he played at Lions Stadium for Middletown South High School. Lovato competed at the 2009 New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Central Group Three championship game, in which Middletown South High School lost to Monroe High School, 30-10, in 2009, according to NJ.com.
“You know it’s insane,” Lovato said. “I’m from Middletown South High School. I played at TCNJ’s field during my junior year when we lost the state championship game to Monroe. It’s so cool to be able to represent all your places and represent all of New Jersey.”
Grugier-Hill and Lovato had different goals in mind when the big game arrived.
Grugier-Hill, who was cut by the New England Patriots before he was picked up by the Eagles, sought revenge.
“I really wanted to win because I hate them now,” Grugier-Hill said. “For me, that was pretty personal.”
Lovato felt lucky to compete against the Patriots instead of the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Super Bowl.
“Imagine if we played the Jaguars. No one would be talking about us,” Lovato said. “The fact that we beat the Patriots, beat the best in the business, beat Tom Brady, is absolutely crazy to be able to say.”
Lovato then recalled his cherishing moment when the Eagles officially won the Super Bowl.
“We were crying,” Lovato said. “We just won the game. It was like a Hail Mary. I was like, wait, we won? Everyone was sprinting around. I started bawling my eyes out. You just think about what you went through to get to that point. It’s so difficult to make it to that game.”
Grugier-Hill underscored the Eagles’ resilient attitude for its Super Bowl victory.
“We were just one group all together,” Grugier-Hill said. “We knew what we had to do. When someone got hurt, we didn’t flinch. When Carson was down, we still pushed through. It was an unspoken rule — put our heads down and keep grinding.”
While Lovato agreed with Grugier-Hill, he also pointed out the influence of veteran players.
“It was important to have guys with Super Bowl experience like Malcolm Jenkins and Chris Long,” Lovato said. “They can tell us guys who don’t have experience what it’s like.”
Lovato then recalled his preferred method that helped him stay relaxed for the big game.
“I watch ‘The Office’ just to see Dwight and Jim, and certain episodes that were my favorites. That literally calms me down so much,” he said.
Jayson Moelli, a freshman history and political science double major, was surprised to hear about Lovato’s surprisingly relatable strategy for remaining calm.
“It was exciting to meet them in person,” Moelli said. “It’s really cool seeing how they’re like us, especially with watching ‘The Office’ before the big game.”
Lovato then capped off the conversation by emphasizing how significant the Super Bowl victory was for the city of Philadelphia.
“I remember seeing a post of some guy whose wife just passed and brought her ashes to the parade,” Lovato said. “This is people’s livelihoods — cheering for the people and for the city. It was a surreal experience, just to see the love around the whole city.”
(04/02/18 10:51pm)
Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
While many students headed home for Easter, 12 others prepared sparkling performances for the ninth annual TCNJ’s Got Talent show in the Brower Student Center Room 100 on Friday, March 30.
The talent show, sponsored by the Junior Class council, was in full swing with judges Don Trahan Jr., the director of the College’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Elizabeth Bapasola, the assistant vice president for student affairs.
Joining Trahan and Bapasola were hosts Dominic Clark, a junior management major and Sukhman Singh, a junior finance major, who kept the audience entertained in between acts with numerous skits.
The show started with a medley of 2017 hits by senior communication studies major Kamy Reyes and junior biology major Roshann Iqbal. Roshann played his acoustic guitar while Reyes sung through the choruses of songs like “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber, “Closer” by the Chainsmokers and Halsey and “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran.
Kelly Sullivan, a freshman special education and English double major, followed up and sang a slow, dramatic rendition of “Glitter In The Air” by Pink.
Afterward, Danielle DeFlores, a junior psychology major, impressed the audience with her strong vocal range in her rendition of “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys.
Max Rosenberg, a freshman secondary education and mathematics dual major, performed the only non-musical act of the night. He caught the audience by surprise by successfully predicting a volunteer’s picks from three shuffled decks of cards — despite choosing from a seemingly randomized deck, the volunteer consistently drew three cards that came out to two, six and three.
“It was fun being different from everyone else and being a break from singing,” Rosenberg said. “I just like to provide a variety. There was definitely some jokes I didn’t expect and come up with. It was definitely enjoyable.”
Some students liked how Rosenberg set himself apart from the other contestants.
“I was partially biased to (Rosenberg) because I’m into card tricks,” said Amit Rana, a junior biomedical engineering major. “Everyone else also had amazing performances. There is no easy choice.”
Kristen Rutigliano, a junior psychology and elementary education double major, had the crowd up and singing along to “Gravity” by Sara Bareilles.
Christian Simpson, a freshman mechanical engineering, captured the enchanting spirit of “My Way” by Frank Sinatra with an electric guitar, and received a standing ovation from the audience.
In the next act, sophomore psychology major Jill Brueckner mimicked the actions of Alexander Hamilton’s wife — Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton — from the Broadway musical “Hamilton.” during an emotional rendition of “Burn.” Brueckner made the audience feel as though they were a part of the emotional Broadway scene in which she learns that her husband had an affair.
Celine Mileham, a junior chemistry major, then brought positive energy in her rendition of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley.
At the end of the show, Simpson was announced as the winner, with Brueckner following in second and Rosenberg in third.
Simpson said his winning performance was inspired by Seth MacFarlane’s rendition of “My Way” from the movie “Sing.” He was astounded to hear his name at first place.
“I thought it would be a stretch to get third place,” Simpson said. “Once I heard third and second, I thought it was over. But then first place happened.”
Both Trahan and Bapasola saw their role as judges as a great opportunity to connect with the student body.
“It was an honor to be able to serve and see how talented our students are,” Trahan said. “Students have so many hidden talents and that’s part of the diversity we have on campus.”
Bapasola complimented the junior class council for hosting the event, which allowed her to spend time with students in a different way than she normally does.
“It was such an honor to see students in a different light,” Bapasola said. “We’re used to working with them in leadership roles and seeing them present their talents was an honor. I think the junior class council did an amazing job organizing this.
(03/27/18 3:39am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
So, who exactly are the Loyola University Chicago Ramblers?
Are they the team that shattered millions of brackets and miraculously emerged out of the South region filled with perennial powers like the University of Virginia, University of Kentucky, University of Arizona and the University of Cincinnati?
Are they the team that captivated the nation with the warming, enchanting spirit of Sister Jean Dolores-Schmidt?
Are they the team destined to win its first NCAA championship since 1963, when they became the first team to start an all-African-American lineup?
Perhaps, but Loyola-Chicago is no cinderella — they’re just an exceptional basketball squad capable of beating anyone.
Unlike powerhouse schools with potential NBA lottery picks, Loyola-Chicago is a cohesive group of amateurs that thrive under the spotlight. Loyola-Chicago has proven to be a breath of fresh air compared to players sporting massive egos like Duke University’s Grayson Allen and University of Arizona’s DeAndre Ayton.
For example, junior guard Marques Townes once helped Fairleigh Dickinson University to a 2016 NCAA tournament as the 16th seed. As a sophomore, Townes showed potential when he scored 13 points and recorded three assists in an losing effort against past cinderella Florida Gulf Coast University. After sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer regulations, Townes grew to be an essential staple and sunk a crucial three-pointer during Loyola-Chicago’s 69-68 win against Nevada in the Sweet 16.
Another glaring example is senior guard/forward Donte Ingram. After three seasons of disappointment in the Missouri Valley Conference, Ingram has become a strong contributor to the team. In the 78-62 victory over Kansas State, Ingram dropped 12 points.
Then there’s redshirt junior guard Clayton Custer, who first started as an ineffective bench player at Iowa State University. After sitting out his sophomore year, Custer flourished with Loyola-Chicago, as he averaged 11.6 points per game and completed 46.4 percent of his shots from the field.
Custer is a stellar student-athlete as well. This season, he was named on the CoSIDA All-District V selection with a 3.52 grade point average.
With these team-orientated players, Loyola-Chicago burst onto the March Madness scene and outperformed higher seeded teams like the University of Miami, University of Tennessee, University of Nevada and Kansas State University.
Former President Barack Obama took notice of Loyola-Chicago’s success, tweeting “Incredible to have a Chicago team in the Final Four. I’ll take that over an intact bracket any day! Congratulations to everybody @LoyolaChicago - let’s keep it going!”
With a trip to the championship game on the line, Loyola-Chicago will face its ultimate counterpart, the University of Michigan. What sets Michigan apart from Loyola-Chicago’s previous opponents is its sheer talent and experience. During this past decade, Michigan has reached the Sweet 16, Elite Eight and the national championship. Despite its consistency, Michigan has not won the national title since 1989. The team is certainly no stranger to the sheer unpredictably of March Madness.
Will Loyola-Chicago become the ultimate cinderella or succumb like past cinderella teams like George Mason and Butler? Regardless of the outcome, Loyola-Chicago has caused pure madness in this year’s NCAA tournament.
(03/27/18 3:07am)
Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
While prospective students, families and ambassadors roamed around campus on Saturday, March 24, it was just a routine day for the College’s lacrosse team — bombarding opponents with goal after goal, check. Picking up clean sheets, check. Staying on top of national rankings, check. Fulfilling another milestone for Head Coach Sharon Pfluger, check.
On Saturday, the Lions bulldozed through The College at Brockport, SUNY, 16-0, as Pfluger became the first NCAA women’s lacrosse coach to win 500 matches after the team’s earlier win against Ursinus College, 15-6, on March 20 at Lions Stadium
The Lions were in full force against Brockport during the 16-0 win. Within 40 seconds, sophomore attacker Olivia Cleale netted in the team’s first goal. Brockport attempted to counter on the next play, but senior defender Elizabeth Morrison thwarted it and forced a turnover.
In the sixth minute, senior midfielder Amanda Muller scooped the ball and scored the team’s second goal. The Lions then doubled their lead to 4-0 with back-to-back goals from sophomore attacker Kasey Donoghue and freshman midfielder Erin Jaffe.
Afterward, Brockport prioritized on defense as the Lions missed several opportunities and Brockport senior goalkeeper Sarah Brown recorded three saves. In the 14th minute, Donoghue weaved through Brockport’s defense and fired a shot for the Lions’ fifth goal. Jaffe followed up by netting her second goal with an assist by junior midfielder Kathleen Jaeger.
The team never stopped scoring as Donoghue, Jaeger, Jaffe and Cleale broke past Brockport’s net. By halftime, the team held a commanding 10-0 lead.
The Lions continued their barrage of goals in the second half. Less than two minutes into the half, Donoghue struck again and recorded her fourth goal with an assist by Cleale. Sophomore midfielder Allie Gorman further extended the Lions’ lead to 12-0 when she intercepted a long pass from Brown and shoveled a shot through the net.
In the 39th minute, Gorman netted her second goal off a pass from Cleale. Donoghue then rocked Brockport’s defense and scored a pair of goals to help the Lions compile a 15-0 lead. Following another goal by Jaffe, the Lions spent the rest of the match draining the clock with safe passes.
The wintry weather didn’t bother the Lions in their 15-6 win against Ursinus College. The Lions got on the scoreboard first when Muller received a free position attempt and hurled in a goal. Ursinus then launched a counterattack led by junior midfielder Emily DiGiorgio.
The Lions were able to withstand Ursinus with a tremendous effort by junior goalkeeper Miranda Chrone, who recorded two crucial saves. In the 11th minute, junior midfielder Erin Harvey scored the team’s second goal off a free position attempt.
Ursinus’ consistent counters broke through in the 13th minute when senior defender/midfielder Franny Liberatoscioli secured a goal from a free position attempt.
The Lions immediately responded by firing four goals into Ursinus’ net. During the offensive burst, Gorman, Jaeger and sophomore midfielder Alexandria Fitzpatrick all scored.
With less than six minutes to go in the first half, Ursinus cut the Lions lead to 6-3 off two consecutive goals by DiGiorgio. However, the Lions kept building their lead when Fitzpatrick snuck in a goal before the first half concluded.
The Lions took command in the second half. After Ursinus’ senior attacker Taylor DeBernardi flickered in a goal, the team scored six unanswered goals and accumulated a favorable 13-4 lead. The team never looked back, claiming a 15-6 win against Ursinus.
After a successful week at Lions Stadium, the lacrosse team faces a familiar foe at home on Thursday, March 29. The team will have a chance to avenge last year’s national championship loss against Gettysburg College.
Gettysburg is currently ranked No.1 in the nation with an undefeated 6-0 record, according to the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Division III Coaches Poll. The Lions are ranked sixth nationally.
(03/20/18 9:45am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
The College’s lacrosse team endured its first loss of the season on the road against Wesleyan University, 7-6 on March 14. Earlier, on March 6, the Lions thrashed Cabrini University at Lions Stadium, 19-1 and rolled past Dickinson College,15-2, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on March 10.
Sophomore attacker Olivia Cleale was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference offensive player of the week for scoring four goals and recording six assists against Cabrini University the week of March 12.
Riding high on a four-game winning-streak, the lacrosse team encountered a formidable opponent in Wesleyan, currently ranked No. 18 in the nation according to the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Division III Coaches Poll.
In the first half, the Lions’ offense looked for openings, but had trouble scoring. Sophomore midfielder Allie Gorman and sophomore attacker Kasey Donoghue were often denied by Wesleyan sophomore goalkeeper Allegra Grant.
In the fifth minute, Wesleyan was in position for a strong counterattack when senior midfielder Amanda Muller throttled them, causing a turnover. Two minutes later, sophomore midfielder Alexandria Fitzpatrick netted in the Lions’ first goal off a free position attempt.
The team carried the momentum forward and pressured Wesleyan to foul for more free position attempts. Gorman and Fitzpatrick gathered two attempts, but were stopped by Grant. On the team’s fourth free position attempt, junior midfielder Erin Harvey hurled in a goal to put the Lions ahead, 2-0.
The Lions then doubled their lead to 4-0 with goals from freshman midfielder Erin Jaffe and Donoghue. In the 13th minute, Wesleyan sprung alive when freshman midfielder Rylee White scored a goal off an assist from sophomore midfielder Abby Manning. Less than a minute later, the Lions countered with another goal by Fitzpatrick.
Wesleyan then scored back-to-back goals to cut the Lions lead to 5-3. Despite Wesleyan’s resurgence, the Lions’ offense kept producing goals. In the 26th minute, Jaffe netted her second goal of the match with an assist from Cleale. By the end of the first half, the Lions sat on a comfortable 6-3 lead.
The Lions’ offense was completely frozen in the second half as Wesleyan evaporated its 6-3 lead and snatched the victory. The team launched shots at Grant, but weren’t able to get past her. In the 30th minute, Cleale nearly scored off a free position attempt when her shot ricocheted off of Grant and landed out of bounds.
Afterwards, Wesleyan struck with a goal by junior attacker Caitlin Wood. With Wesleyan only down by two goals, the Lions tried to hang on as their opponent rallied.
With three minutes left, Wesleyan junior midfielder Abigail Horst tied the match at six when she scored off a free position attempt. On the next play, Wesleyan scored the game-winning goal off another free position attempt.
The Lions then scrambled to send the game to overtime, but ultimately could not prevail against Wesleyan’s stingy defense.
Despite the loss, the Lions had a pair of notable offensive performances against Cabrini and Dickinson.
On March 6 against Cabrini, the Lions reached 19 goals while only allowing one. Fitzpatrick led the Lions’ offense with five goals while Cleale and Muller netted in four. Jaffe completed a hat-trick performance as well.
The team then followed up with another impressive performance against Dickinson on March 10. Once again, Fitzpatrick led the team with four goals while Cleale and Gorman both netted in three goals.
The lacrosse team will compete against The College at Brockport, SUNY at Lions Stadium on Saturday, March 24 at noon.
(03/20/18 9:40am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
While students were on spring break, the College’s softball team brought nothing but scorching fire in this year’s Sunkissed Games at Osceola, Florida. The College won eight games and lost only two, compiling a 11-3 regular season record.
On March 10, the Lions dropped their first game against Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 5-3. The team jumped to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning before WPI made a comeback.
Senior outfielder Madison Levine scored the team’s first two runs off a single to right field. Junior catcher Jess McGuire followed up with another run when she hit a single to send sophomore infielder/outfielder Annalise Suitovsky to home plate.
WPI immediately scored a run at the bottom of the first. With senior utility player Nina Murphy-Cook on second base, freshman outfielder/utility player Marissa Gonzales smacked a single. Murphy-Cook took advantage off a throwing error by the Lions to score.
The scored remained 3-1 until WPI tied the game at three in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Lions couldn’t score another run as WPI eventually won the game, 5-3.
The loss motivated the College for redemption in their next game. In the Lions’ next game, the team shutout Wheaton College, 9-0, with the help of freshman infielder/pitcher Alanna Namit’s no-hitter. Namit silenced Wheaton’s bats as she hurled 15 strikeouts. Her impressive performance was complemented by the team’s multiple steals and runs.
Head coach Sally Miller says the pitching staff is working together to constantly improve.
“Alanna had a good week of games as did many others on our staff,” Miller said. “All the pitchers have worked hard on their strengths including Alanna. The pitching staff is working together this year and helping each other out in practice and in games. The upper class pitchers are especially helping both Alanna and Eliza Sweet as being first years playing in a very competitive atmosphere.”
The Lions were just as dominant against Utica College and Trinity College on March 11. In the first game against Utica, the team was quiet until the bottom of the fourth inning.
With McGuire up at bat, sophomore infielder Megan Mayernik took advantage of an overthrow and crossed home plate to score the team’s first run. Afterward, the Lions pounded Utica with more runs on their way to an 8-0 shutout win.
In the second game against Trinity, Namit served another no-hitter as the Lions blanked their opponent, 9-0. Namit froze Trinity’s bats with seven strikeouts. At the same time, the Lions offense cooked up nine runs from multiple hits by freshman infielder Lauren Conroy, freshman outfielder Kaitlin Kocinski and Mayernik. Kocinski also blasted a two-run home run at the top of the third inning.
The team kept rolling past the competition on March 13 with victories against Eastern Connecticut State University, 10-1, and New York University, 11-1. In both matches, the Lions were able to complete the games in five innings based on the mercy rule.
The Lions’ March 14 game proved to be a roller coaster as the team dominated Washington College in a 11-3 win before being trampled by McDaniel College, 16-8.
After smacking 12 RBIs against Washington College, the Lions encountered a back-and-forth situation against McDaniel College. With the Lions holding an 8-4 lead in the top of the sixth inning, McDaniel’s offense exploded and scored a total of 12 runs. The 16-8 decifict was too much for the Lions to overcome at the bottom of the sixth inning.
The softball team immediately resurged and dismantled Haverford College and St. Norbert College on Friday, March 16.
In the 19-3 win against Haverford, Namit held the opponents to only three runs while the Lions’ offense exploded for 19 runs, 36 hits and six steals. Mayernik and senior outfielder Madison Levine led the team’s offense with four hits.
The Lions then finished their last spring trip game with a dominant 14-1 victory against St. Norbert College. Senior pitcher Sam Platt carried the Lions on the field by striking out three batters and holding St. Norbert to only one run. At the plate, Levine, Conroy, McGuire and junior outfielder Gaby Bennett all recorded three hits.
While the team has won plenty of games, Miller prioritizes on building strength and focus while practicing.
“They have attacked our practices with great focus and paying attention to what they need to do — to be better for the team,” Miller said. “Everyone is not at the same talent level as on any team, but as long as we take everyone's strengths and keep focusing on those, we can do well with production defensively and offensively as a team.”
After a tremendous week of softball, the Lions earned two awards. On March 14, Namit was named the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III national pitcher of the week. She was recognized for her two no-hitter performances against Wheaton and Trinity. On Monday, March 19, McGuire was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference player of the week for her offensive performance against New York University.
Despite the successes in Florida, Miller emphasizes that the team has a lot to build on before competing against conference opponents.
“The NJAC is the toughest conference in Division III softball,” Miller said. “We need to continue to stay focused on what we are about. We need every player to be accountable to their strengths for this team and continue to increase their awareness of their personal game. We have a lot of talented players and what we all witnessed in Florida is that they won games collectively with good defense, good offense and good pitching. This is what we will stay focused on.”
The Lions will look to continue their impressive 11-3 start to the season in a doubleheader against SUNY Cortland on at 3 p.m. on Friday, March 23 at Dr. June Walker Field.
(03/20/18 7:04am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
While a chilly breeze carried through the hollow campus, the men’s tennis team kept their rackets hot at the Student Recreation Center. The Lions captured their third straight victory against Goucher College, 8-1, on March 9.
The team swept Goucher at the doubles competition. Junior Mitchel Sanders and senior Chris D’Agostino fought to overcome Goucher freshman Tetsuya Ota and senior Jack Hodges, 8-5.
Juniors Matt Puig and Omar Bokhari followed up with an 8-4 victory over Goucher sophomores Frankie Mullinix and Slade Dumas.
Junior Tim Gavornik and sophomore Gokul Murugesan then topped off Goucher by defeating juniors Elliot Diehl and Josiah Meekins.
At the singles, the Lions continued their dominance and only dropped one match. Sanders topped Ota in two consecutive 6-2 decisions. Gavornik outperformed Goucher sophomore Frankie Mullinix with 6-2 and 4-0 decisions.
The Lions’ sole loss came at the hands of junior Achyuth Balijepalle in his matchup against Dumas. After splitting both sets, Dumas defeated Balijepalle in a final 10-5 decision.
The team then swept the next two matches with victories from Murugesan and D’Agostino.
On Saturday, March 24, the Lions head to Lawrenceville, New Jersey for a meet against local rival Rider University at noon. The team then returns to the Rec. Center to battle out Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Sunday, March 25 at 11 a.m.
(03/06/18 8:21am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
Coming off a 14-2 win against Neumann University on Feb. 24, the Lions dismantled Haverford University, 16-3, in a home game on the breezy night of Wednesday, March 1.
The Lions, ranked No. 2 in the country according to a poll from the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association coaches, displayed their offensive might against Haverford.
Senior midfielder Amanda Muller first got the Lions on the scoreboard in the fifth minute. On the next play, freshman defender Avery Sweeney added another goal. Fellow freshman midfielder Erin Jaffe scored off a pass from Muller in the sixth minute.
In the eighth minute, the Lions built a 4-0 lead when sophomore attacker Olivia Cleale hurled in a shot on a free position attempt. Haverford countered with its first goal on the next play, but the Lions offense kept rolling.
Sophomore midfielder Alexandria Fitzpatrick contributed two goals for the team in the first half. Meanwhile, the defensive duo of senior Elizabeth Morrison and junior Brooke Lionetti relegated Haverford’s offense to only three goals.
The lacrosse team dominated Haverford on both sides of the field in the second half. In the 23rd minute, Fitzpatrick netted her third goal of the game. Sophomore midfielder Allie Norman then scored back-to-back goals, giving the Lions a commanding 11-3 lead.
The Lions were not yet finished, as they went on to net five more goals with contributions by Cleale, Morrison, Fitzpatrick and junior midfielder Erin Harvey. Overall, the Lions outshot Haverford, 38-15 and forced 24 turnovers. The team’s defense proved to be rock solid — junior goalkeeper Miranda Chrone recorded five saves.
On the same day, the Tewaaraton Foundation announced Morrison as one of the 50 players on the women’s watch list for the annual Tewaaraton award. The award is given to the nation’s premier male and female college lacrosse players. Morrison is currently the only Division III player to be on the watch list.
With two wins and thirty goals tallied, the Lions will suit up for an away match against Dickinson College on Saturday, March 10.
(03/06/18 7:14am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
The College’s Office of Admissions announced its decision on Feb. 26 to not allow disciplinary consequences imposed on any applicant who participates in a peaceful protest while they are in high school affect their acceptance to the College.
The Office of Admissions took to social media to announce the College’s respect for civil discourse after the office received several inquiries regarding the fate of students who choose to participate in lawful demonstrations prior to their time at the College. Many high school students throughout the U.S. organized peaceful protests following the school shooting in Parkland, Florida on Feb. 14.
“We’d like to assure you that The College of New Jersey encourages civil discourse and respects the rights of students to participate in peaceful and lawful protests. Discipline resulting from such participation would not be held against applicants to TCNJ,” the Office of Admissions said in its announcement.
Jennie Sekanics, an admissions counselor for first-year recruitment, said that student activism is a valuable leadership quality that aligns with the College’s mission statement.
“We value the leadership students demonstrate through their involvement in their communities,” Sekanics said. “Our announcement certainly aligns with our mission statement. We believe in promoting critical thinkers and responsible citizens.”
Matt Middleton, the associate director of admissions for out-of-state recruitment, said that the announcement will make the College more appealing to prospective students, both inside and outside of New Jersey.
“I imagine our statement will have a positive impact on out-of-state students’ perceptions of TCNJ,” Middleton said. “It’s hard to know at this time about its impact on applications as our deadline already passed for this year.”
The College received 1,339 applications from out-of-state residents, and 102 out-of-state students chose to enroll in 2016, according to the College’s Center for Institutional Effectiveness.
Felix Aidala, a junior economics major, said the shootings at Florida have motivated many high school students to become politically active.
“It’s important to consider the implication of student activism not being considered as a positive trait of first year-applications,” Aidala said. “Over the past few weeks, high schoolers have had the opportunity to participate in a national debate to an extent that, at least to my knowledge, they never have before.”
Felix believes the College made the right decision to encourage student activism.
“To threaten to rescind the acceptances of these high school students who have just found their voice would be misguided,” Felix said. “The involvement of high schoolers in these national debates that affect them so deeply should be actively encouraged.”
While high school students continue to protest over gun violence, students agree that there is a clear divide between peaceful and violent protests.
“To me, the line between civil disobedience and violence is clear,” Felix said. “Civil disobedience is by most definitions nonviolent, so as I understand it. Any non-peaceful protest can’t be considered within the umbrella of civil-disobedience protests.”
Abigail Lee, a junior political science major, contended that student activism reaches across different levels, such as advocacy for nonprofit organizations.
“A student activist is someone who has worked on campaigns or with non-profits like Habitat for Humanity or local animal shelters,” Lee said. “These are great traits in college applicants. Violence is obviously not a positive aspect in a college applicant.”
Lee believes students should take a hands-on approach to tackling any social issues.
“I think high school and college students can learn that the best way to solve a problem is a hands on approach,” Lee said. “If a student sees a political candidate they think would be best for that office, they should volunteer on their campaign. If a student wants to help with the large homeless population in their town, they should volunteer at the homeless shelter.”
Don Trahan Jr., the director of the College’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, said the College has a responsibility to protect students’ rights to freedom of speech.
“As an institution, we have the duty to protect the students’ freedoms,” Trahan said. “I think students have a passion to use their voice and their constitutional right of freedom of speech. In some cases of protesting, the students might fear of admissions rescinding their offer or (the Office of) Student of Conduct questioning them. We want to honor freedom of speech with dignity and respect.”
Trahan anticipates a future growth of student activism like the civil rights movement.
“Student activism is becoming more active and exposed to media,” Trahan said. “It appears that students are coming more politically and socially conscious, similar to the late ’60s and early ’70s.”
With the growth of student activism in mind, Trahan said the College should be prepared to support the escalation of student activism.
“As we continue to grow nationally and globally, it’s important for our institution to be prepared for these situations,” Trahan said. “The student advocacy advisers group will be here to support students as they become more active.”
Elizabeth Bapasola, the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, urges the need for student activism to bring forth societal change.
“I do think we all need to be mindful of the TCNJ policies and procedures when wanting to advocate for change and utilize the many avenues already in place at TCNJ, such as our shared governance system,” Bapasola said. “In short, student leadership development matters, student political and social activism matters, and now, more than ever, our society needs leaders who have the skills, capacities and passion to work with others to bring about positive social change.”
Lance Taylor, a senior interdisciplinary business major, saw student advocacy as a strong trait among first-year applicants. He believes universities desire students who are capable of proposing changes to communities.
“Being an activist means you are willing to stand up for what you believe, in hopes of furthering a concept or idea that you feel will benefit society,” Taylor said. “Student activism requires courage, perseverance, self-starting and genuine care for those around you. I struggle to think of any university that would not want a student with those qualities to attend their institution.”
Taylor emphasized that every high school and college student should be open minded while addressing political and social issues.
“The current state of politics is so divisive that many individuals are afraid to talk about their beliefs,” Taylor said. “Civil discourse and community engagement supports the idea that everybody has a voice and everybody should be heard. This promotion of open-mindedness is a crucial principle that should be carried by high school and college students, the future of our country.”
Peter Shenouda, a sophomore political science and history double major, said he wants students to keep in mind that their freedom of speech is protected as long as it is passive and does not interfere with the student code of student conduct.
“In 1969, the Supreme Court ruled in Tinker v. Des Moines that students did in fact have free speech in schools,” Shenouda said. “Over the years, however, the Court would narrow their ruling and protect political speech in schools, so long as it was passive and did not interfere with the school’s mission of education.”
Shenouda believes that students should be prepared for any possible consequences resulting from their activism.
“The behavior of these students is disruptive to the learning environment of their schools, and their actions will have consequences,” Shenouda said.
Shenouda proposed alternative methods to student activism such as volunteering for campaigns instead of directly protesting. He believes that students can create more substantial change by collaborating with legislators and being involved in policy reform.
“Activism should absolutely be considered a positive trait in first-year applicants, but I believe that the activism should be advanced through different means,” Shenouda said. “Passionate students should volunteer on campaigns or for other interest groups ... putting in long hours at a congressman’s office is a meaningful way to affect change — leaving in the middle of math class is not.”
(03/06/18 4:57am)
By Miguel Gonzalez and Alexander Reich
Sports Editor and Staff Writer
After capturing the New Jersey Athletic Conference title, winning more than 30 games and reaching the NCAA Division III regional championship last year, the College’s baseball team opened a new season with a 10-4 victory over Gwynedd Mercy University on Feb. 28 at George Ackerman Park.
The Lions’ starting pitcher, junior Michael Fischer, had a slow start as he walked the first batter. He then committed an error trying to pick off the runner at first base. The first inning made the Lions anxious with Gwynedd Mercy powering through with hits and smart baserunning.
Gwynedd Mercy scored first with an RBI single and a wild pitch to take an early 2-0 lead. The Lions countered in the bottom of the first inning when senior utility player Austin Lindsay hit a line drive into center field to cut the Lions deficit to 2-1. The Lions kept firing away as senior outfielder Mike Follet smacked a base hit to right field to tie the game at two.
The Lions still had momentum going into the next batter when junior infielder Tommy McCarthy hit a double to put the Lions ahead of Gwynedd Mercy, 3-2. In the bottom of the second inning, the Lions struggled to score as easily as they did in the first inning.
Going into the bottom of the third, sophomore outfielder Jacob Simon made a great effort to hit a single and steal second base. The Lions could not take advantage of Simon’s baserunning as sophomore pitcher Michael Walley grounded out to end the inning.
Afterward, the baseball team produced run after run on their way to a 10-4 win.
On the mound, Fischer ended up pitching 5.2 innings. Offensively, McCarthy ended up having an impressive game going three-for-three at the plate with three RBIs and a run scored.
Junior pitcher Andrew Rowan was impressed by the team’s offensive performance.
“We played well today, our hitters were seeing the ball well,” Rowan said. “Putting up 10 runs in our first game against a team that has a few games under their belt is a great way to open the season.”
Rowan also credited Fischer’s powerful pitching for the win.
“Our pitchers did well too, Fischer battled through to get to the sixth inning which allowed our bullpen to carry us the rest of the way,” Rowan said. “Overall, it was a great team win, and we will continue that momentum into this weekend for a double header versus Keene State.”
The planned doubleheader against Keene State was canceled due to weather conditions. Despite the altered schedule, Simon was glad to be back at the field.
“It was really great to finally get out there and kick off the year,” Simon said. “We worked really hard in the offseason and preseason and it was really nice to see it come together out there.
Simon also acknowledged the substantial effort from each individual team member that helped the team take such a commanding lead, and ultimately win the game.
“We played a complete team game today,” Simon said. “The pitching was there, and the bats were alive and we were very solid defensively. We got down early in the first, but we answered right back and did a great job building on the lead throughout the later innings.”
(02/27/18 8:45pm)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
After a season full of victories, close calls and tremendous player performances, the women’s basketball team was set to compete in the New Jersey Athletic Conference tournament for the first time since 2015.
As the second seed, the Lions beat Stockton University, 70-56, on Feb. 20 at Packer Hall in the NJAC semifinals. The team was then knocked out by Montclair State University, 58-51, in the NJAC championship on Friday, Feb. 23.
Head coach Chessie Jackson says the team stuck to its typical routine to prepare for the game.
“Our team prepared for our semi-final matchup the same way that they have prepared for any opponent all year,” Jackson said. “We knew we needed to make some adjustments from the last time we saw Stockton at their place, so we focused on limiting second-chance scoring and being composed on the offensive end. The atmosphere was exciting and really helped our team’s energy from moment one.”
With a cheering crowd and Roscoe the Lion strolling through the sidelines, the Lions quickly jumped to a 6-2 lead. Freshman forward Shannon Devitt scored the team’s first two points off a jump shot. Senior guard Charlotte Schum then dribbled through Stockon’s defense and made a layup.
Stockton immediately countered when senior forward Sasha Williams caught the Lions on their heels and sprinted down the court on a fastbreak to score a layup. Sophomore forward Jen Byrne and senior forward Nikki Schott followed up the play with three-pointers of their own.
The team continued to bury Stockton until the second quarter. In the 11th minute, Stockton senior guard Lea Mendolla scored a layup to cut the Lions’ lead to 20-19. Both teams then spent the second quarter scoring back and forth, keeping the score close.
Schott hit her stride in the 18th minute and scored a layup and a pair of throws in 50 seconds. Stockton then countered as they scored a three-pointer and a layup to inch closer to the Lions, 33-29.
The team broke through in the third quarter. Byrne scored another layup in the 22nd minute. The Lions defense then blocked a layup attempt by Williams.
The team continued to overwhelm Stockton with a series of baskets to build a 48-34 lead. Junior guard Kate O’Leary joined in on the scoring barrage when she made a layup and a free throw in the 29th minute.
Jackson credits the team’s third quarter surge to aggressive scoring and proper rest.
“We made some strategic adjustments at halftime that gave us better structure in the third quarter,” Jackson said. “But we also had a chance to rest legs for 15 minutes, which really helped us push the tempo early in the third. I think that once we went on a solid run, our team had great momentum which gave individuals confidence to be aggressive and score hungry down the stretch. I was proud of the way we came out in the second half.”
By the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Lions held onto a commanding 53-40 lead which they refused to give up. In the 37th minute, junior forward Samantha Famulare drained two consecutive three-pointers. Devitt then padded the Lions lead to 70-54 when she grabbed a rebound and scored a layup. The Lions ultimately booked their ticket to an NJAC championship appearance with a convincing 70-56 victory.
The team’s next challenge was playing against Montclair State University on the road. Every victory the team achieved this season added up for a chance to claim the NJAC title.
Jackson and the team were more than ready for the NJAC championship game.
“Our team has been preparing all season for this opportunity and we see it as a real privilege to be able to compete in the conference championship game,” Jackson said. “I’m hopeful that our level of play will reflect that preparation.”
In the end, the defending NJAC champions, Montclair State, reasserted their dominance with a 58-51 win.
The Lions started off slow as Montclair State surged to a 10-5 lead as layups proved to be their specialty. The Lions then gained control and tried to catch up. In the fourth minute, Famulare stole the ball and passed it to Schum, who then scored a layup. Byrne then scored another layup to cut the Lions’ deficit to 14-10 at the end of the first quarter.
Both teams kept battling for a lead until Montclair pulled ahead in the fourth quarter. With the game tied at 49 in the 35th minute, Montclair halted the Lions offense. Senior guard/forward Katie Sire fueled Montclair’s offense with two jump shots to seal the Lions’ loss, 58-51.
(02/27/18 5:55am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
With spring break around the corner, the College’s softball team traveled south to Salisbury, Maryland for their season opener. During the weekend of Saturday, Feb. 24 to Sunday, Feb. 25, the Lions swept Keystone College, 7-1 and 7-3, and split a doubleheader against Salisbury University with a 6-4 victory and a 7-1 loss.
Coming off a rocky 14-17 record last season, the Lions set out for a strong start in 2018.
On Saturday, the Lions won back-to-back games against Salisbury and Keystone. In the first game against Salisbury, the team jumped to a 6-0 lead before Salisbury attempted a comeback.
In the top of the third inning, freshman outfielder Katie Winchock scored the Lions’ first run of the season off a single from sophomore infielder/outfielder Annalise Suitovsky. The team added two more runs when senior outfielder Madison Levine smacked a double to left field, sending Suitovsky and sophomore outfielder Helena Coppola to home plate.
The Lions then followed up with three more runs in the top of the fourth inning. Junior catcher Jess McGuire started off by cracking a home run. The team’s fifth run resulted from the quickness of sophomore infielder Megan Mayernik when she stole third base. Junior outfielder Marissa Pugliese, who was already on third base, took advantage of a throwing error to cross home plate. The team then got its sixth run off a double.
Head coach Sally Miller attributes the team’s high scoring to the players’ baserunning and hitting abilities.
“We had timely hits when runners were in scoring position,” Miller said. “We have been working on situational hitting in practice, trying to get them focused on run production and ways to accomplish and we made great adjustments in the batter box according to what the pitchers were throwing.”
While the Lions’ offense cooled off, Salisbury tried to climb back in the bottom of the seventh inning. Salisbury used a series of singles, doubles and steals to reduce the Lions’ lead to 6-4. Despite Salisbury’s comeback, senior pitcher Sam Platt sealed the Lions first win with a strikeout.
The Lions did not have much time to celebrate their victory, as they returned to the diamond for a game against Keystone College. Unlike the previous game against Salisbury, the Lions were able to secure a large lead thanks to effective pitching by the freshmen duo of pitcher/infielder Alanna Namit and pitcher Eliza Sweet.
The team’s offense proved to be the key to defeating Keystone at the bottom of the fourth inning. With the game tied at one, Levine hit a double to send freshman infielder Elyse Nardozza home, allowing the Lions to take the lead. Levine then benefitted from the sloppy playing of Keystone’s infielders when she scored all the way from first base solely off steals.
The Lions offense kept producing runs into the bottom of the fifth inning. The team took advantage of Keystone’s shaky fielding as they loaded the bases once again from throwing errors. Afterwards, the Lions increased their lead to 6-1 with hits by junior outfielder Gaby Bennett and Suitovsky.
The team later added another run in the bottom of the sixth inning to ultimately win its second game, 7-1.
On Sunday, the Lions collected another win against Keystone before being trampled by Salisbury. The team once again jumped to a 6-1 lead by the top of the fifth inning, but Keystone countered in the next inning when they scored two runs to cut the Lions lead to 6-3.
At the top of the sixth inning, the Lions added another run when Bennett blasted a triple to right field to send Mayernik home. The team then held on to its 7-3 lead for the win.
In the last game of the doubleheader, Salisbury attained redemption.
After three scoreless innings, Salisbury’s offense exploded in the top of the fourth inning. With the Lions down 6-0 with no outs, Namit closed the curtain and struck out three batters consecutively. However, the damage was already done and the Lions ultimately endured a 7-1 loss.
“We didn't adjust to their pitcher soon enough,” Miller said. The biggest takeaway from that game is hopefully they now see it looking back to that game. They need to trust adjustment info earlier, continue to have confidence in an adjustment. (It’s) something we discuss all the time.”
As the team prepares for the upcoming 2018 Sunkissed Games at Osceola, Florida, Miller plans on training the underclassmen to further adapt to their positions.
“These games are really important in the eyes (of) NCAA rankings,” Miller said. “We will still be trying to get everyone playing time in their key role and allowing players to get more and more confident in whatever role they have on our team. There is certainly no ‘set’ line up.”
Miller also emphasizes on mental and physical preparation.
“We have experienced players and a lot of freshman who are seeing the concentration and mental prep,” Miller said. “The preparation it takes (for) every batter, inning, every game. The Florida trip is a tough trip in that (it’s) a lot of games in a short amount of time and we can't take any games off. They are tough games mentally and physically and that is what we need to prepare for in the next 12 days.”
(02/27/18 4:28am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
and Alexander Reich
Sports Editor and Staff Writer
The Lions suffered a tough 95-86 loss against William Paterson University in the New Jersey Athletic Conference semifinals at Packer Hall on Feb. 21.
Sophomore guard Randall Walko wasn’t surprised by the Lions’ loss.
“I know our guys lost to William Paterson earlier in the season, so we aren’t surprised,” Walko said. “They have some major firepower and are very well coached. It’s definitely going to take a team effort all around to advance to the next round.”
Prior to the game, head coach Matthew Goldsmith also acknowledged William Paterson’s talent.
“William Paterson is an extremely talented team with a great coach,” Goldsmith said. “They will be ready to go Wednesday night. They do a great job of forcing their opponent to play their style. They were great in their last game and are hitting their stride at the right time in the season.”
Goldsmith was excited for the team to compete at home in Packer Hall for the NJAC semifinals.
“I think the team is extremely excited to be playing in the playoffs first and foremost, and to have a game at home is even better,” Goldsmith said. “Being in Packer always gives us a huge boost because our fans are so loud and into the game.”
From the beginning, the Lions attacked William Paterson’s basket. After the tip off, sophomore guard Niall Carpenter went on a fast break to score the first two points of the game.
In the third minute, William Paterson built up a 10-2 lead. Carpenter stopped their momentum and drove to the basket for a smooth layup, drawing a foul in the process. He then sunk the free throw to decrease the Lions deficit to 10-5.
From there, the Lions offensive rhythm improved. In the eighth minute, Walko went straight to the paint and threw in a layup to put the Lions ahead, 13-10. Walko wasn’t done yet, draining a three-pointer just a few possessions later. After a great performance early on, the Lions kept the crowd on their feet with their aggression.
In the ninth minute, Carpenter was fouled and made two free throws that increased the Lions’ lead to 18-13. The Lions kept attacking the offensive boards and shutting down William Paterson’s scoring opportunities.
With only two minutes left in the first quarter, junior forward Jordan Glover sunk a layup in the paint for the Lions. Meanwhile, sophomore forward Mike Walley had an outstanding half coming off the bench and drained a three-pointer to extend the Lions’ lead to 42-29.
Before the buzzer went off in the last few seconds of the half, Walko threw in a deep half court shot, firing up the home crowd.
In the start of the second half, the Lions began to slow down as William Paterson made a comeback. The Lions did attempt to stop William Paterson’s offense, but their opponent’s momentum proved to be too strong.
With 10 minutes remaining, the Lions tied the match at 65.
The game was not over yet, despite the Pioneers piling up points.
The Lions kept their hopes alive and cut William Paterson’s lead to six points with two minutes left in the game. Walko cut the team’s deficit to 85-80 when he made a layup. The Lions were only down by five points, but they couldn’t pull off the win in an intense playoff battle. The final score was 95-86, with William Paterson prevailing.
Walko says he did everything in his power to contribute to the team.
“I just try to do whatever I can to help the team win,” Walko said. “Whether it’s making shots, rebounding, defending, or whatever I can do to help and if my shot isn’t falling, I want to show I can contribute in other ways to help out the team in any way possible.”
(02/20/18 3:12am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
After a memorable regular season, the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams put forth their best effort at the Metropolitan Conference Championships from Friday, Feb. 16 to Sunday, Feb. 18 at Rutgers University.
For head coach Brian Bishop, the team’s main priority is to qualify for the NCAA Division III championships.
“Our first goal at (the championships) is to qualify as many athletes as possible for NCAA’s and the second goal is to win,” Bishop said.
Sophomore Harrison Yi and junior Sam Maquet started the first day at the 500-freestyle, where they placed in fourth and fifth with times of 4:35.95 and 4:39.50, respectively.
In the B-Final 500-freestyle, freshman James Keane raced his way to ninth place and recorded a time of 4:41.66. Afterward, freshman Kai Michaud and sophomore David Madigan finished within the top 20 at 15th and 16th places respectively.
At the preliminary 200-individual medley, junior John Gregory nearly qualified for the B-Final, claiming second place with a time of 1:52.58.
In the B-Final 50-freestyle, junior Alex Skoog closed in on third place with a time of 20.78. Freshman Griffin Morgan was not far behind as he finished in 15th place.
At the diving board, freshman Jay Soukup was the runner-up at the 3-meter dive with a score of 483.10. Sophomore Zachary Volm earned seventh place with a score of 301.30 points.
Heading into the Metropolitan Conference Championships, head coach Jennifer Harnett was confident that the team would be successful against the tough opposition.
“There are going to be some really strong teams at the meet,” Harnett said. “We just need to stay focused, have fun and not let other teams get in our heads. We have been a solid team that has really supported and pushed each other throughout the season. That is always a good recipe for success.”
Sophomore Annie Menninger earned sixth place at the B-Final 500-freestyle while improving her personal record at the event with a time of 5:11.23. Freshman Kelsey Ballard, junior Gabi Denicola and junior Hailey Thayer all claimed spots in the top 20.
Freshman Melanie Fosko achieved her personal best record at the B-Final 200-individual medley, where she got fifth place at a time of 2:11.85. Following Fosko, seniors Marta Lawler and Jillian Galindo and freshman Darby VanDeVeen all placed within the top 20. Afterward, freshman Elise Fraser earned 11th place in a competitive 50-freestyle with a time of 24.63.
Senior Hannah Raymond led the slate of opponents at the diving board, where she won the 1-meter event with a score of 448.85.
During the second day, the men stood at second place with a total score of 883 points. The College’s most notable performance was at the 400-individual medley. Maquet, senior Logan Barnes and Gregory claimed second, third and fourth place with times of 4:03.57, 4:04.73 and 4:05.11 respectively. Seven seconds later, Keane came in seventh place, clocking in at 4:12.52.
In the 100-butterfly, freshman Andrew Thompson snatched fourth place with a time of 50.50. Yi also finished in fourth place at the 200-freestyle with a time of 1:40.83. Senior Chris O'Sullivan saw success at the B-Final 100-breaststroke and won the race with a time of 58.03. In the 100-backstroke, Skoog claimed second place and clocked in at 50.07.
Soukup was competitive at the 1-meter event, as he finished in fifth place and scored 400.40 points.
Meanwhile, the women’s team was chasing after Long Island University for second place.
Fosko started the second day by finishing in seventh place at the 400-individual medley with a time of 4:42.39. In the next event, VanDeVeen, Thayer and senior Debbie Meskin qualified for the B-Final 100-butterfly by finishing within the top 20. Menninger went beyond to earn second place and set a personal record at the 100-breaststroke with a time of 1:06.00.
During the final day of the competition, the men squared up against the United States Merchant Marine Academy for second place. USMA just barely took second with 1208 points, with the Lions finishing closely behind with 1207 points.
Keane started off with a fourth place finish at the 1650-freestyle, clocking in at 16:18.96. Skoog was on top of the scoreboard at the 200-backstroke, winning the race with a time of 1:49.45. Gregory and sophomore Derek Kneisel also finished within the top 10 of the race.
Yi then claimed seventh place at the 100-freestyle with a time of 46.90. Maquet continued his dominance at the pool as he earned second place at the 200-butterfly and finished under two minutes with a time of 1:52.26.
After a series of contentious races, the Lions fate was ultimately sealed at the 400-freestyle relay. The team completed the relay just 29 milliseconds behind USMA for fourth place at a time of 3:03.95. USMA’s third place finish gathered enough points to put the team ahead of the College.
On the same day, the women earned third place overall.
Menninger had another impressive performance at the 1650-freestyle, earning fifth place while setting a personal best record time of 17:55.99. Following Menninger, Denicola and Ballard claimed seventh and eighth place with times of 18:18.01 and 18:25.55, respectively.
At the 200-butterfly, sophomore Samantha Askin, freshman Jamie Bowne and Meskin all finished within the slate of 20 competitors. The women were also competitive at the 200-breaststroke, where Lawler and Fosko placed fourth and fifth with times of 2:26.56 and 2:26.92, respectively.
(02/13/18 5:51am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
Despite the heavy rain, Packer Hall was filled with spectators, students and family members from both ends of the court to celebrate the women’s basketball team’s senior day on Saturday, Feb. 10.
Yet, the Lions’ main priority that day was the visiting team, Montclair State University, who ranked No. 22 nationally according to D3hoops.com. After a close and heated game, the Lions prevailed over opponent Montclair State with a 62-59 win.
The senior trio of guard Charlotte Schum and forwards Nikki Schott and Chiara Palombi had their own banners posted above the stands.
Sophomore forward Jen Byrne was looking forward to senior day.
“Coming into the game, it was a big match against Montclair,” Byrne said. “ It was really exciting, especially for senior day.”
The match started slow as both teams fought for points. Montclair State struck first as senior guard/forward Katie Sire caught a pass and scored a layup.
The Lions immediately responded on the next play when Schum scored a layup of her own.
Montclair then began to pick up the pace, scoring four times and gaining a lead of 11-5 over the College. In the eighth minute, Schott stopped Montclair’s momentum by making two free throws. Byrne followed with a jump shot to finish the first quarter.
The Lions still couldn’t slow down Montclair’s offense in the second quarter. With the Lions down 22-13, Schum sparked a rally by scoring back-to-back layups. Afterward, junior guard Kate O’Leary got into the groove and scored a layup along with a free throw.
The team kept shooting more layups as the second quarter continued. With 19 seconds remaining, Schott stole Montclair’s possession and assisted O’Leary’s three-pointer. By halftime, the Lions gained a 29-25 lead.
Schott and junior forward Samantha Famulare led the Lions’ offense in the third quarter. Schott drained three free throws while Famulare produced two three-pointers off the arc. Despite Schott and Famulare’s efforts, the Lions held a slim 46-44 lead by minute 30.
In the fourth quarter, the Lions were able to withstand Montclair and secure an important conference victory. Famulare drove to the hoop and scored a layup, followed by a free throw. Both Montclair and the College remained stagnant until Montclair senior forward Taylor Harmon scored a layup in the 35th minute.
The score then went back and forth, with the Lions holding a narrow lead, 60-59. In the last 13 seconds, Famulare scrambled open for a pass until an opponent fouled her. She then scored two consecutive free throws for the Lions to ultimately win, 62-59.
In an earlier home game on Feb. 7, the Lions defeated William Paterson University, 64-56.
The women’s basketball team is now undefeated at home this season, currently ranked second in the NJAC with a 14-3 conference record.
The Lions will travel to Newark, New Jersey to take on Rutgers University-Newark on Feb. 14, for the chance to clinch home field advantage for the NJAC tournament.
(02/06/18 8:12am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
After a memorable last home meet, the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams capped off their regular season on a tear at William Paterson University on Saturday, Feb. 3.
Both the men and women outpaced William Paterson, achieving final scores of 167-118 and 139-97 respectively.
At the 1000-freestyle, freshman Kai Michaud claimed first place with a time of 10:17.68. Just five seconds later, fellow freshman Griffin Morgan placed second with a time of 10:22.98 followed by junior Sam Maquet in third with a time of 10:28.93.
The rookies kept the momentum going when freshman Joseph Skotnicki earned first place in the 200-freestyle, clocking in at 1:51.04.
At the 100-backstroke, sophomore Derek Kneisel swam to first with a time of 54.17. Meanwhile, senior Logan Barnes secured yet another first place finish for the Lions at the 100-breaststroke, clocking in at 1:02.62.
The Lions were also dominant in the 200-medley relay. The underclassmen squad of freshmen Patrick Bakey, Andrew Thompson, Kneisel and sophomore Brian Tucker pushed their way to first with a time of 1:41.35. Bakey was not done yet, as he won the 50-freestyle and clocked in at 22.59. Thompson then dominated the 100-freestyle and snatched first place with a time of 49.03.
Sophomore Harrison Yi continued the Lions’ success as he won the 200-breastroke with a time of 2:18.51. Fellow sophomore David Madigan also captured first place at the 500-freestyle with a time of 5:03.74. At the diving board, freshman Jay Soukup performed well at the 1-meter event and earned first place with a score of 231.01.
Men’s swimming and diving head coach Brian Bishop was satisfied with the win at William Paterson.
“It was a nice comeback win after the tough loss to Rowan,” Bishop said. “Everyone was hyper-focused and it showed with a couple of early sweeps.”
The Lions’ domination was similar on the women’s side. Women’s swimming and diving head coach Jennifer Harnett said the team was well prepared coming into William Paterson.
“We knew they did not have a strong team but we set some team goals for ourselves and came in with great energy for the meet,” Harnett said. “There were some great races both with William Paterson and within our own team.”
The freshmen were well represented at the 200-medley relay. The freshmen squad of Elise Fraser, Melanie Fosko, Kayla Krisak and Jamie Bowne took first place with a winning time of 1:58.01.
Bowne secured another win in the 200-butterfly with a time of 2:27.83. Bowne’s effort was overshadowed by junior Hailey Thayer’s hat-trick performance.
Thayer started off with a victory in the 50-freestyle, clocking in at 26.17. She then swept the 500-freestyle, recording a time of 5:39.55. Thayer capped off her performance at the 200-individual medley with a winning time of 2:27.37.
Meanwhile, the Lions showed no signs of sophomore slumps. It all started with sophomore Annie Menninger capturing first place at the 200-freestyle with a time of 2:02.22. Fellow sophomore Samantha Askin then claimed first in the 100-breastroke with a time of 1:15.24. Sophomore Kazia Moore also secured first place in the 100-freestyle and clocked in at 56.79.
The team’s upperclassmen had stellar performances as well. Junior Gabi Denicola outlasted the competition at the 1,000-freestyle, clocking in at 11:17.07.
Senior Jillian Galindo secured another victory for the Lions at the 200-breastroke with a time of 2:43.50. At the diving board, senior Hannah Raymond displayed a first place performance at the 1-meter event and scored 272.93 points.
Harnett complemented Raymond’s efforts to be on top.
“Hannah is extremely talented and a hard worker,” Harnett said. “She makes everything look so easy. It has been great to see her shine in her senior year.”
The Lions now prepare for the upcoming Metropolitan Conference Championships. The meet is scheduled to be held at Rutgers University-New Brunswick from Feb. 16 to Feb. 18.