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(10/24/17 7:42am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
It was a tale of two contrasting stories for the No. 4 nationally ranked field hockey team this week.
On Oct. 17, the Lions bulldozed Stockton University, 6-0, on the road in Pomona, New Jersey. The team then returned to Lions Stadium for an anticipated matchup against the No. 13 Kean University on Saturday, Oct. 21. The Lions lost to Kean, 2-1, in overtime.
The Lions offense pounded Stockton defenders. Freshman forward Tori Tiefenthaler contributed three goals for the Lions.
The offensive surge began when sophomore forward/midfielder Kayla Peterson blasted a shot off a penalty corner from junior forward Taylor Barrett.
In the eighth minute, Tiefenthaler flickered a shot upward and netted in the Lions second goal.
Stockton immediately countered and pressured the Lions defense with four consecutive penalty corners. Senior goalkeeper Christina Fabiano thwarted Stockton, as she captured three saves.
By the middle of the first half, the Lions showed intense offensive aggression. After senior forward Elizabeth Morrison shot twice on goal, Tiefenthaler tapped the ball past left post to put the Lions ahead, 3-0. But Tiefenthaler was not done yet.
In the 30th minute, junior midfielder/defender Sydney Padilla launched a hurling shot from the top of the arc. Tiefenthaler caught the rebound and tapped in her third goal of the match.
With two minutes left in the first half, Morrison added her own goal when she secured a rebound and blasted the ball into the net. The Lions had a commanding 5-0 lead by halftime and carried their substantial lead to a 6-0 shutout victory.
The Lions welcomed conference rival Kean University on Homecoming night. Both the Lions and Cougars fought to stay undefeated in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, but Kean prevailed in a crushing loss for the Lions in overtime.
After a quiet first half, the Cougars struck first when senior forward Krista LaMaina tapped in a goal with an assist from senior midfielder/defensive back Shauna LaMaina.
In the 60th minute, the Lions began to press hard against the Cougars as they attempted three consecutive penalty corners. Junior midfielder/forward Caroline Quinn and Barrett both recorded shots, by they were blocked by Cougars freshman goalkeeper Megan Houser.
With three minutes remaining, sophomore forward Cayla Andrews knocked in a rebound and scored the equalizer to send the game to overtime. However, Andrews’ celebration was short lived when the Cougars scored the game winning goal within the next minute during overtime.
The team’s loss to Kean University marks the Lions’ third regular season loss to a ranked opponent. The Lions conclude their conference schedule with a 5-1 record, while Kean has a chance to clinch the top seed in the upcoming NJAC Tournament with their next match against William Paterson University.
(10/24/17 7:31am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
As the sun shined bright through Homecoming festivities, the men’s soccer team lost its chance at making the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament after a loss against Kean University.
On Saturday, Oct. 21, the Lions were defeated by Kean, 3-2, in a back-and-forth matchup. The team then bounced back on Sunday, Oct. 22, when they pounced on the College of Saint Vincent Dolphins, 9-0.
Heading into Saturday’s game, both the Lions and Kean urgently needed a win to keep their playoff chances alive. The Cougars were hanging onto fifth place in the New Jersey Athletic Conference standings while the Lions were making a late season surge for sixth place.
In the 26th minute, the Lions struck first when junior midfielder Nick Sample dribbled past opponents and blasted in a shot from 15 yards. The Lions then fought for possession for the rest of the first half as both teams struggled to score.
“We tried to keep steady possession and pacing during the game,” freshman goalkeeper Michael Kayal said.
During halftime, the 1997 men’s soccer team was honored by head coach George Nazario. Twenty years ago, the team reached to the NCAA national men’s soccer tournament final but, ultimately lost to Wheaton College, 3-0. During the tournament, the team defeated conference foes Kean University and Rowan University.
“It’s really an inspiration to see this team,” Kayal said. “They remind us that anything is possible. It’s possible to make it all the way to the national finals. It’s crazy to think that was 20 years ago, I’m still 18.”
Nazario was only in his third year of coaching when he led the Lions to the NCAA finals. He continues to hold the ’97 team in high regard.
“The 1997 team was all about building character and translating it to the field,” Nazario said.
Afterward, President Gitenstein visited to honor the College’s recent Blue and Gold Hall of Fame recipients.
After the ceremonies, the Lions couldn’t slow down Kean’s offense in the second half.
Kean quickly countered in the second half by pressuring the Lions until they received a penalty kick. In the 50th minute, Kayal jumped to block a header shot. The Lions defense, led by junior defensive duo Nick Provenzano and Nick Zolofra, continued to anchor the team and block shots as the game progressed.
In the 65th minute, Kean received a penalty kick after the Lions committed a foul in the penalty box. Senior defensive back Alex Noriega tied the match with a hard ground shot. In the following play, Kean scored again when freshman forward Vinceroy Nelson secured a long pass from the midfield and tapped in a shot from the inside penalty box.
With the energy of the home crowd in hand, the Lions fought hard to score an equalizer. In the 76th minute, senior midfielder Peter Dresch sent a cross into the penalty box where freshman midfielder Ryan Vazquez leaped in front of opponents and headed in the game-tying goal.
Ten minutes later, Kean countered when sophomore forward Kamsi Udodi skipped through Lions defenders and smacked a shot straight at Kayal. Kayal bobbled the ball and Udodi reclaimed the ball and put it through the net.
With the team down by 3-2, the Lions scrambled to score another equalizer, but it was too late.
“Each team had a fair share of chances,” Nazario said. “The goalkeepers from each side had their success and mistakes, but we fought hard to the end.”
On their last home game of the season, the Lions rebounded against the College of Saint Vincent, 9-0. During halftime, the senior squad of forward Michael Kassak, defender Matthew Paulo, midfielder Kevin Nelan and Dresch were honored for their accomplishments. The Lions offense flourished as Vazquez netted in four goals and freshman forward Abdullah Afridi scored twice.
Paulo, Kassak and freshman midfielder Kevin Esteves scored as well.
The Lions will conclude their season in Glassboro on Wednesday, Oct. 25, when they take on Rowan University.
(10/23/17 11:58pm)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
On a warm afternoon by the side of the Education Building, professor Tabitha Dell’Angelo was creating poems with one push of a lever at a time.
No internet, cables, adapters, Wi-Fi or even electricity were needed. Just a typewriter, a table, a box full of ideas and students hungry for quickly printed poetry.
Dell’Angelo, an associate professor in the department of early and elementary education and the coordinator of the urban education program, and students participated in Poetry 2 Go, an event where passersby requested poems to be immediately written on a typewriter. The three-hour event, sponsored by the urban education program and Sigma Tau Delta, lasted from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 18.
Students had the option of pulling ideas out of a box or requesting any topic for a personalized poem. The majority of poems featured two stanzas with four poetic lines.
“I’m a geek for typewriters,” Dell’Angelo said. “You don’t need technology, internet or even electricity to slide in a piece a paper and tell a story.”
Dell’Angelo and several students were using a typewriter that dated back to 1950, when it was produced by L.C. Smith Bros. and Corona Typewriters, Inc.
“It’s exciting to use a typewriter,” said Nina Navazio, a freshman secondary education major. “You get what you see in an instant. The letter. The space. The return to the next line.”
Alan Amtzis, the director of the College’s Regional Training Center graduate degree program, joined in and recalled his younger days of using a typewriter.
“Using the typewriter takes me back to when I was a kid,” Amtzis said. “The tippy-tacky sound. I wish typewriters were still used. It brings a different type of connection for a poet and it’s enjoyable. Sure, you can’t erase with a typewriter but you can never lose your data!”
The most important part of the event allowed students to freely type poetry and share it with their peers. Navazio and Fernandez had their own distinctive approaches.
“I rhyme in most of my poems,” Navazio said. “It’s all about rhythm and flow. Say like I want to rhyme rooms, I would think of spoons and somehow find a way to make them related.”
Meanwhile, Fernandez writes her poems freely.
“I’ll write about anything and everything,” Fernandez said. “Though, I do have a passion for love stories. Some of my lines can be cliché, but it turns out great in the end. If I want to write a really good poem, I won’t constrain myself and start freestyling.”
Ultimately, students were able to use an antique device and showcase fun poetry. Amtzis also emphasized the impact of great poetry.
“It’s always a challenge to write,” Amtzis said. “What makes a poem? We try to take a human experience and express it on paper. I’m always inspired by good poetry. Sometimes it takes days or weeks to understand a piece of poetry.”
(10/17/17 7:57am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
No team in the New Jersey Athletic Conference was a match for the Lions, thus far.
During the past two weeks, the field hockey team climbed to the top of the NJAC with four more wins, three in the conference and one out-of-conference.
On Oct. 3, the Lions mauled the Rowan University Profs, putting up a 5-0 shutout at Lions Stadium. Later on Oct. 7, the team defeated No. 3 ranked Montclair State University, 3-0 on the road.
The team returned to Lions Stadium on Oct. 10 and dispatched the Ramapo College Roadrunners in a shining 6-0 victory. On the Oct. 11, the National Field Hockey Coaches Association announced junior midfielder/defender Sydney Padilla as the NFHCA defensive player of the week for her notable defensive performances against Rowan and Montclair State Universities.
On Saturday, Oct. 14, the Lions narrowly escaped Collegeville, Pennsylvania with a tightly contested 2-1 win against Ursinus College.
At home against the Profs, the Lions silenced their opponent’s offense despite both teams recording the same amount of shots. Sophomore forward Cayla Andrews and senior forward Elizabeth Morrison led the Lions offense as they both scored two goals.
Andrews netted in the team’s first goal off a penalty stroke in the ninth minute. Afterward, the Lions overwhelmed the Profs defense with five consecutive penalty corners. In the 30th minute, Andrews struck again with her second goal when she dribbled through and backhanded a shot solid from 10 yards out.
The Lions offense did not stop their offensive charge as Padilla netted another goal off a penalty corner pass off of an assist from junior forward Taylor Barrett.
With the Lions up by three in the second half, Morrison carried the Lions offense to two more goals as the team got a 5-0 win.
After the victory, the Lions faced a heavyweight conference matchup against the undefeated 12-0 Montclair State Red Hawks. The team posted another shutout victory as the Lions held the Red Hawks to only four shots.
Freshman forward Tori Tiefenthaler got the Lions on the board in the third minute when she received a pass from sophomore forward/midfielder Kayla Peterson and tapped in the goal.
Both teams began to play more physically after the early score, recording 12 fouls. Morrison broke past the Red Hawks net in the 16th minute when she notched in her eighth goal of the season.
In the second half, Morrison scored again with seven minutes remaining. Andrews blasted a shot off a penalty corner kick and Morrison deflected the shot for her second goal of the game. Along with the three goals, the Lions also shunned the Red Hawks defense in the 3-0 win.
On Oct. 10, the Lions posted another shutout victory as they trampled the Ramapo College Roadrunners, 6-0. Freshman midfielder Samantha Reed, sophomore forward Iris Schuck, Andrews, Peterson, Tiefenthaler and Morrison all netted in goals. Meanwhile, senior goalkeeper Christina Fabiano, Padilla and the Lions defense held the Roadrunners to only two shots.
Unlike the previous victories, the Lions found themselves escaping with a 2-1 away victory against Ursinus College on Saturday, Oct. 14. With both teams tied 1-1 in the last four minutes of regulation time, Tiefenthaler knocked in the game winning goal off the left corner with an assist from Andrews.
The Lions are currently 10-2 this season and are undefeated in conference play with 4 wins. As of of Oct. 10, the Lions were ranked fourth in the nation in the weekly Penn Monto/NFHCA Division III poll.
The team will face one last conference match against Kean University on Saturday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. at Lions Stadium. The match will be a battle of conference powerhouses. The undefeated No. 14 Kean University Cougars may complete their sweep of conference opponents and increase their 15-0 season record. Meanwhile, the Lions may make a statement as they compete against their fourth nationally ranked opponent this season.
(10/17/17 7:51am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
While students were on fall break, the men’s and women’s cross country teams were chasing top 20 positions at two invitationals. On Oct. 7, the Lions traveled to Center Valley, Pennsylvania, to compete in the DeSales University Invitational. The men ran their way to a seventh place finish out of 28 teams in the 5000-meter race. The women claimed ninth place out of 22 teams in the 5000-meter race as well.
The following Saturday, Oct. 14, the Lions excelled in the Gettysburg College Invitational. The men finished in second place out of 25 teams. Meanwhile, the women took first place for the second time this season, outpacing 31 other teams.
268 runners competed at the DeSales University Invitational. Senior Dale Johnson pushed himself to a third place finish with a time of 26:10. More than a minute later, freshman Pelle Nogueira captured 32nd place and clocked in at 27:20. Fellow freshman Alex Carideo came in later as he finished in 41st place with a time of 27:38.
“I look forward to seeing how much our runners improve as the season goes on,” Johnson said. “We’re a lot deeper than we’ve ever been and the younger guys are already setting the tone for future success.”
Sophomores Evan Bush and Chris Coombs crossed the finish line in the top 100 positions. Lastly, sophomore Lucas Pick and freshmen Cedric Noel and Noah Preihs were able to reach in scoring positions.
While students were on fall break, the men’s and women’s cross country teams were chasing top 20 positions at two invitationals (envato elements).
At the women’s 5000-meter race, the freshmen led the Lions as they competed against 225 runners. Freshman Jessica Hrnciar secured 47th place with a time of 25:31. Just nine seconds later, fellow freshman Casey Hopkins ran to 51st place and clocked in at 25:40. Afterwards, freshman Jill Neggia and sophomore Kiera Cullen placed within the top 100 spots.
At Gettysburg, the men’s cross country team ran toe-to-toe with 239 runners in the 8000-meter race. Freshman Robert Abrams secured sixth place with a time of 26:06. Junior Quinn Wasko made it to tenth place and clocked in at 26:27. Fellow junior Brian Mitchell was only a second behind as he claimed 12th place with a time of 26:28.
Freshman Joey Erskine followed up and claimed 15th place with a finishing time of 26:32. Junior Luke Prothero and sophomores Richard Gruters and Andrew Dyer were able to get within the top 35 of the race.
The women’s cross country team outdid their fellow Lions and won first place overall in the 6000-meter race. Junior Natalie Cooper led the team with a second place finish, clocking in at 22:35. Not long after, fellow junior Madeleine Tattory got fifth place with a time of 22:50. Sophomore Gabby DeVito took eighth place and clocked in at 22:59.
Just seven seconds later, junior Erin Holzbaur claimed ninth place, hitting the clock at 23:06. Juniors Abigail Faith and Emma Bean and freshman MaryKate Bailey reached within the top 55 of the race.
The men’s and women’s cross country teams will now gear up for the New Jersey Athletic Conference championships at Stockton University on Saturday, Oct. 28. The men will be looking to claim their 24th consecutive conference title, while the women will be looking to claim the title after falling short at second place last year.
(10/17/17 4:50am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
Forget about Freddy Adu or the 2-1 loss against Iran in the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
The U.S. men’s national soccer team’s loss against Trinidad and Tobago on Oct. 10, was not a surprise. It was an inevitable failure and an embarrassment to all previous American teams who competed on soccer’s grandest stage.
The team didn’t fail to qualify because of Panama’s controversial goal against Costa Rica or Honduras’ 3-2 victory against Mexico on the same night. The loss didn’t happen because the team played in a slippery pitch either. It was simpler than that.
Taylor Twellman, a former USMNT player and analyst for ESPN, was blunt about U.S. soccer’s loss.
“And the discussion after Brazil, Max, was can we beat the Columbias, the Belgiums and the Argentinas of the world,” Twellman said. “You kidding me? We can’t beat Trinidad on a field that’s too wet and too heavy. What are we doing? What are we doing!”
The failure was on the Americans who couldn’t notch a vital win against a team currently in last place of the CONCACAF World Cup qualification group. Trinidad and Tobago had no incentive to compete unlike the Americans.
Christian Pulisic, a 19-year-old midfielder from Hershey, Pennsylvania, was anticipated to make noise at next year’s World Cup. Pulisic scored the U.S. team’s only goal against Trinidad and Tobago.
Americans across the nation would be preparing themselves for another exciting month of World Cup soccer next year. Another World Cup appearance would maintain soccer’s gradual rise in popularity in the U.S.
Instead, U.S. soccer misses out on the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
USMNT’s current roster speaks volumes of the abysmal state of American soccer talent development.
Forward Jozy Altidore, defender Omar Gonzalez and midfielder Michael Bradley have proven to be uninspiring competitors. Meanwhile, USMNT head coach Bruce Arena has insisted on using an aging core of forward Clint Dempsey, goalkeeper Tim Howard and forward Chris Wondolowski. While Arena has previously led the veterans to success, he has failed to develop the next generation of USMNT players.
With the exception to Pulisic and defender DeAndre Yedlin, Arena hasn’t utilized their young talent like goalkeeper Ethan Horvath. Moreover, the younger players haven’t been able to compete on the international level. The USMNT U-23 team failed to qualify the past two Olympics.Twellman emphasizes U.S. soccer’s lack of talented youth.
“As a whole, U.S. soccer’s not prepared,” Twellman said. “They have not done a good enough job of getting this ground ready to play. And keep in mind, the last two Olympics, no United States team qualified.”
While missing out on next year’s World Cup is devastating, it’s a necessary wake up call to the United States Soccer Federation.
It’s time for change across all levels of U.S. soccer and it starts with youth clubs.
There is a reason why soccer is the most popular sport in the world. Anyone in the world can play it.
From the Favelas of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to the sprawling fields of Reykjavík, Ireland and to the sweltering heat of Azteca Stadium in Mexico, any kid can play soccer — except in the U.S.
Many poor and minority children cannot showcase their raw talent thanks to the exclusivity of clubs and academies. These organizations charge thousands of dollars for uniforms, registration and tournament fees, travel expenditures and club dues just for a child to have a chance to play. It’s an unfair pay-to-play system that shuns many children from low-income backgrounds.
At the end of his speech, Twellman called for a drastic change in U.S. soccer.
“If this failure does not wake up everyone from U.S. soccer to Major League Soccer, from pay-to-play to broadcasters, to everything, then we’re all insane,” Twellman said.
Next year’s World Cup isn’t going to be the same without USMNT. Even though my parents raised me to be a fan of Mexico, I always loved watching USMNT make a splash at the World Cup. From players like Landon Donovan to the dedicated American Outlaws fan base, U.S. soccer has the talent and resources to be a premier national soccer team.
Unfortunately, Bruce Arena and U.S. soccer federation president Sunil Gulati just don’t embrace the motto — one nation, one team.
(10/17/17 4:21am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
The College was awarded the Collegiate Athletic Administrators of New Jersey Division III Cup for the 2016-2017 academic year on Friday, Oct. 13.
At the award ceremony in Somerset, New Jersey, Amanda V. DeMartino, the College’s executive director of athletics, accepted the award. It was the College’s 13th CAANJ cup since the 2009-10 academic year.
“TCNJ has a long history of winning the cup,” DeMartino said. “Our coaches have worked hard and pushed our student-athletes to excel in the classroom and on the field. For us, it’s all about building support for the student-athletes and alumni as well. Last year, our teams were very successful in the postseason.”
The CAANJ gives the award for overall athletic program excellence across all three NCAA Division levels and the junior college level, according to the New Jersey Athletic Conference’s website.
Along with the College, Princeton University, Caldwell University and Rowan College were awarded with the cup as well.
The CAANJ determines the winners based on their standings in the annual National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics’ Learfield Directors’ Cup.
During the 2016-17 academic year, five teams won NJAC championships and three teams captured regular season titles. The teams included field hockey, , lacrosse, baseball, men’s cross country, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, and women’s tennis. Moreover, 12 teams qualified to compete in NCAA national tournaments.
Women’s lacrosse highlighted the year as the team reached the NCAA Division III women’s lacrosse championship. The College’s baseball team also won its first NJAC championship since 2009 and made it to the third round of the NCAA Division III baseball tournament.
The College’s student-athletes also garnered many honors during last year including 17 All-Americans, 153 NJAC all-conference honors and 148 NJAC all-academic team selections.
(10/03/17 7:16am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
The men's soccer team endured challenging matches against both Division III Rutgers University campuses: the Rutgers University-Camden Scarlet Raptors and Rutgers University-Newark Scarlet Raiders.
On Wednesday, Sept. 27, the Lions battled the Scarlet Raptors to a 1-1 tie after two overtime periods at the Soccer Complex.
The following Saturday, Sept. 30, the team lost 3-1 to the No. 3 nationally ranked Scarlet Raiders in Newark, New Jersey, and dropped their record to 4-4-1.
Freshman goalkeeper Michael Kayal led the Lions defense together throughout the 110-minute marathon match against the Scarlet Raptors. The Raptors struck first in the 4th minute when junior midfielder Walter Barreto kicked the ball straight to Kayal.
Kayal blocked a plethora of shots as the Scarlet Raptors recorded four shots on two consecutive corner kicks. In the 26th minute, the Lions countered when junior midfielder Joerg Jauk scored on a penalty kick to the team a 1-0 lead.
Both teams fought hard for possession in the midfield. At the end of the first half, The Scarlet Raptors snuck in a last minute goal. Raptors midfielder Vincenzo Masitti secured a feeding pass from fellow midfielder Jawon Daniels and tapped in the tying goal.
With both teams tied at 1-1 at halftime, the match entered into a scoreless stalemate. During the second half, sophomore midfielder Sam Monaco, junior defender Nick Provenzano and junior midfielder Matt Skinner were able to land header shots, but none netted a goal. At the same time, the Lions defense was able to hold down the Scarlet Raptors to four shots during the second half.
In the first overtime period, Kayal made a crucial save to keep the game tied. Scarlet Raptors senior midfielder/forward Brad Maine shot upward and Kayal flicked the ball to off bounds. By the end of the second overtime period, both teams left the conference match with a 1-1 tie.
"It was that type of game where both teams sought important conference points," head coach George Nazario said. "Kayal had one important save in overtime to keep the game tied."
On the road at Newark, the Lions faced the undefeated 11-0 Scarlet Raiders. The Scarlet Raiders dispatched the Lions in the 3-1 loss.
The Lions were able to repel the Scarlet Raiders from their half until 16th minute. The Lions defense was then rocked by three consecutive shots.
The Scarlet Raiders broke through the Lions net when senior midfielder Hubert Dul feed a long pass to sophomore forward Fabio De Sousa. Sousa then dribbled past Kayal in a one-on-one confrontation and fired in a goal.
The men's soccer team endured more setbacks as the first half continued. In the 19th minute, Scarlet Raptors freshman defender Adrian Velazquez headed a shot at Kayal. Kayal was able to block the shot but Dul scored on the rebound to put the Scarlet Raptors up by 2-0.
The Scarlet Raptors continued their constant bombardment until the 29th minute. Sousa scored on a penalty kick to put the Lions into a 3-0 deficit.
"The team went on a 12 minute spell and scored three goals on us," Nazario said. "The statistics don't describe the match. The game was much tighter between both teams, but Rutgers showed why they are ranked third in the country."
In the second half, the Lions were able to prevent a shutout. In the 73rd minute, senior midfielder Peter Dresch hit the crossbar. Monaco then caught the rebound and dribbled past the Scarlet Raiders goalkeeper to score the Lions sole goal. Ultimately, the Lions dropped a 3-1 loss while the Scarlet Raiders increased their winning streak to 12 games. Heading into October, Nazario sees opportunities for the team to win more conference matches.
"It's a great time for the team to get on a roll," Nazario said. "We have the chance to play different opposition against a non-conference opponent. Then, the team can secure a conference win at Ramapo this Saturday."
(09/26/17 6:29am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
The men’s soccer team forced overtime twice this week. On Wednesday, Sept. 20, the Lions were handed a 2-1 overtime loss against Drew University at Lions Stadium. The team then tied New Jersey City University, 2-2, in overtime on Saturday, Sept. 23.
After being shut out by William Paterson University, the Lions were up for another challenge against an undefeated Drew University. Coming to Lions Stadium, the Drew Rangers were on a three-game winning streak.
Both teams held each other scoreless in the first half. In the 10th minute, Rangers forward Aidan Cserhat shot high above the goal post off a corner kick play.
Twenty minutes later, freshman midfielder Ryan Vazquez nearly scored when he launched a shot straight at the crossbar.
During the second half, the Lions broke the stalemate when the Rangers knocked the ball in their own goal. Senior captain forward Michael Kassak crossed the ball to the penalty box where a Rangers players tapped it in for a goal. With the Lions ahead by one goal, the Rangers started to bombard the Lions defense.
“When we put them under pressure, they gave the ball away consistently in their half of the field,” Kassak said. “From there we put one shot in the net.”
As time wound down to 10 minutes remaining, the Rangers received a free kick. Freshman goalkeeper Michael Kayal was able to block Cserhat’s attempt, but Cserhat caught the rebound and tied the match.
Despite the goal, Kayal had a tremendous performance and recorded six saves.
While the Lions were able to go toe-to-toe against the Rangers in the first overtime period, the Rangers eventually won the match, 2-1. In the second overtime period, Rangers defender Grey Swanson tapped in the winning goal.
Following the loss, the Lions traveled to Jersey City, New Jersey, for a conference match against New Jersey City University.
The Lions and the Gothic Knights were locked in an offensive battle as both teams recorded more than 15 shots.
The Lions quickly scored when junior midfielder Nick Sample headed in a pass from freshman midfielder James Pike. Later in the first half, the Gothic Knights struck back when midfielder Walter Salmeron netted in a goal off a give and go pass from midfielder Diego López.
The second half was no different as both teams increased the tie to 2-2. In the 65th minute, Pike took advantage of a turnover by the Gothics and scored the team’s second goal. The Lions were not able to hold on to the lead for long.
In the 75th minute, Salmeron kicked from 35 yards and scored his second goal of the match for the Gothic Knights. Afterwards, both teams couldn’t score and the match ended in a 2-2 tie.
(09/26/17 6:00am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
After a three week hiatus, the men’s and women’s cross country teams competed at the Osprey Open at Stockton University. The men finished second at the meet while the women claimed fourth place.
The Lions got a glimpse of the terrain as Stockon will host the upcoming New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship.
Freshman Matthew Kole led the Lions with an 11th place finish, 27:30.9. Kole was followed by sophomore Lucas Pick and freshman Pelle Nogueira, who clocked in 27:37.45 and 27:38.37 respectively.
Freshmen Alex Carideo and Evan Bush both had strong performances. Carideo completed the race in 27:50.3 and Bush in 28:02.3. The Lions came in second behind the Ramapo College Roadrunners. Six Roadrunners finished in the top 10.
Meanwhile, the women’s cross country team ran against strong competition like Philadelphia University, Stockton University and Ramapo College.
“We sent most of our freshman to compete in Stockton,” said coach Justin Lindsey. “Most of these players are competing for their first time. The main challenge is that they are running 6k for the first time as opposed to running 5k in high school.”
Junior Olivia Shenkman led the Lions with a 10th place finish, clocking in at 24:51.82. One minute later, sophomore Hannah Fay and senior Cassidy Cardone crossed the finish line at 25:41.92 and 25:42.49, respectively.
Two freshmen came after, as Jill Neggia finished with a time of 25:52.51 and Jessica Hrnciar clocked in with a time of 26:14.77.
The Lions will be trekking for first place on Friday, Sept. 29, as they compete in the Paul Short Invitational at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
(09/26/17 1:09am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
There has always been a small bridge between sports and politics.
In 1968, Olympic American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos endured nationwide criticism for raising black-gloved fists at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.
In the current state of professional sports, athletes would always stir public attention to social and political issues through gestures such as Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem.
During this past weekend, President Donald Trump has swayed many athletes, owners and fans to further take action.
During a rally in Huntsville, Alabama, the president encouraged NFL owners to fire players who disrespected the flag.
“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now,’” Trump said during the rally. “He is fired.”
Trump’s statement caused numerous public statement from NFL teams, including NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
“Divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players, and a failure to understand the overwhelming force for good our clubs and players represent in our communities,” Roger Goodell said in a released public statement.
The following day, President Trump went to Twitter and claimed that Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors were no longer invited to the White House. In response, LeBron James stated that the president has ruined the honor of visiting the White House.
“U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain’t going!” James posted on Twitter. “So therefore ain’t no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!”
NBA players — including Chris Paul — took to Twitter to criticize Trump’s remarks.
“With everything that’s going on in our country,” Paul said, “why are YOU focused on who’s kneeling and visiting the White House??? #StayInYoLane”
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr also responded to Trump’s tweets in a Sports Illustrated article.
“Sure, you’re going to have policies that align with your party, but that’s not the point,” Kerr said. “Respectfully, Mr. Trump, the point is this: You’re the president. You represent all of us. Don’t divide us.”
On Sunday, Sept. 24, multiple NFL teams went out to protest Trump’s comments. Starting with the game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens in London, several Ravens kneeled during the American anthem while the Jaguars held arms. Jaguars owner Shahid Khan also supported the Jaguars by his locking arms with players.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans stayed in the locker room during the national anthem.
Regardless of opinions, kneeling for the national anthem is not disrespectful and should not be held to offense. The beauty of the U.S. is that people don’t get shot, killed, punished or tortured for not standing up for the country’s anthem.
Players who protest the anthem are aware of the consequences of their actions. They know they will receive criticism. They know their actions will stir public debates, outcry and further protests. Will their jerseys be burned? Will they face possible unemployment from reluctant owners? Will they lose their valuable sponsorships? Yes, just ask Kaepernick.
On Sunday, Sept. 24, NFL players demonstrated that they are more than just professional football players. They are showing the public that they are well aware of today’s social and political issues.
Kneeling during the national anthem is not unpatriotic. Do you know what’s unpatriotic? Calling football players “sons of bitches” in public and insulting a former prisoner of war.
(09/19/17 5:38am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
After a 3-0 victory against Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham on Wednesday, Sept. 13, the men’s soccer team found themselves on the opposite side of a shutout when they lost 3-0 to the William Paterson University Pioneers at home on Saturday, Sept. 16.
The Pioneers scored twice in the first four minutes. When the Pioneers received a corner kick in the first minute, senior midfielder JP Gonzales crossed straight to the net. Junior defensive back Charlie Lizardo jumped on top of Lions defenders and headed in the Pioneers first goal.
Then the Pioneers scored again on the next play. Sophomore midfielder Cameron Allen received a pass from freshman midfielder Jordan Rosenblum and ripped a shot into the back of the net.
“The team came out flat against the Pioneers,” head coach George Nazario said. “They took advantage and knocked in an early goal.”
The men’s soccer team could not counterattack as often as the Pioneers. Pioneers such as sophomore midfielder/defensive back Keysean Brant-Sharp and Gonzales were constantly intercepting passes and winning one-on-one confrontations.
In the 25th minute, sophomore midfielder Michael Maltese landed the team’s first shot on goal.
Maltese took advantage of a breakaway from the Pioneers defense and shot at the right side of net. However, Pioneers sophomore goalkeeper Kyle Quigley leaped forward and caught the shot for a save.
Twelve minutes later, the Pioneers landed their third goal when Allen tapped in a shot to the bottom left of the net. Despite the 3-0 deficit, freshman goalkeeper Michael Kayal recorded two crucial saves in the first half.
The Lions were a different team in the second half with more physicality and aggressiveness.
Senior captain forward Michael Kassak set the tone as he ran past Pioneer defenders, secured a cross and shot closely at Quigley. Five minutes later, senior midfielder Kevin Nelan leaped in for a header shot off a corner kick from senior midfielder Peter Dresch.
Despite their aggressive play, the Lions offense continued to struggle. In the 57th minute, junior defender Nick Sample dribbled to an open space at the left side and ripped a hard shot high off the right goal post.
“For our offense, it was tough trying to get through the net mainly because of shaky rebounds,” Nazario said. “Our team had a hard time with possession and William Paterson simply knocked off scoring opportunities.”
With six minutes remaining, freshman forward Abdullah Afridi laid out another speedy shot at Kingley. The Pioneers immediately countered when sophomore forward Kyle Adams launched a cross to the middle of the Lions penalty box until freshman midfielder Ryan Vazquez slid in and blocked it.
The Lions ultimately lost their first conference match against the Pioneers, 3-0. The loss drops the Lions to a 4-3 record. Meanwhile, the Pioneers extend their win streak to six games and record their fifth consecutive shutout.
“Our team definitely learned today that soccer is a 90-minute sport,” Nazario said. “Even though we were quickly down by halftime, our team got back on its feet and started defending and taking more opportunities. We will definitely continue this resilient playing into our next match against Drew.”
The Lions will remain at home on Wednesday, Sept. 20, as they take on Drew University at Lions Stadium starting at 7:30 p.m. Later on Saturday, Sept. 23, the team will travel to Jersey City, New Jersey, for a conference match against New Jersey City University.
(09/19/17 5:15am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
The College has appointed Dr. Don Trahan Jr. to be the director of the newly established Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion within the Division of Student Affairs.
The Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion prioritizes building diversity, equity, access and inclusion within the College, according to Elizabeth Bapasola, the assistant vice president of Student Affairs. The director is tasked with executing initiatives to increase student inclusion on campus and collaborating with Academic Affairs to strengthen learning opportunities for students.
Trahan comes from Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he served as the director for the Office of Enterprise Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement. For over a year, Trahan gained experience in fostering inclusivity.
“I developed and implemented an Enterprise Diversity Education Platform and I launched an enterprise-wide call to action (for example, the Inclusion Advocates) in order to foster inclusive excellence across the organization,” Trahan said.
According to Sidney Kimmel Medical College, a part of Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, the Office for Enterprise Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement collaborates with the Center for Urban Health and Pipeline Programs to “reduce health and education disparities, increase student body and faculty diversity, and promote an inclusive environment for the entire university.”
Because of his range of experience, Trahan feels prepared to tackle his new position at the College.
“To date, I have worked with and led various divisions that adhere to the needs of the campus community under the aegis of change management,” he said. “Specifically, I have endeavored to promote and create an inclusive climate within the institutions I have been affiliated, with an emphasis on systems thinking, which positions me to understand all from a holistic lens.”
In addition to his dedication to inclusivity and his emphasis on systems thinking, Trahan said he has established relationships “with key stakeholders and community liaisons in order to create pipelines and assess growth processes as necessary for the organization.”
By establishing these relationships, Trahan has developed skills that may aide in promoting diversity and inclusion policies at the College.
“Such engagements have significantly influenced my lens as a transformative leader, researcher, and subject matter expert,” he added. “As such, I have developed the expertise necessary to oversee all facets that relate to diversity and inclusion and organizational change management.”
As director of the College’s Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion, Trahan will be responsible for advocating for marginalized students, overseeing the Office of Institutional Diversity’s Sustained Dialogue program, advising specific student groups and implementing a campus-wide diversity and inclusion curriculum in addition to other various responsibilities.
A big part of his role at the College also relates to creating and maintaining social justice, which he defines as “the manner in which we collectively recognize that all have civil liberties and basic human rights that should be upheld and honored, regardless of the intersection of one’s cultural identity.”
Trahan discussed how students can be proactive in achieving social justice.
“Like diversity and inclusion, social justice is not limited to racism and other social constructs but rather a framework to understand our society from a holistic lens,” he said. “In order to be proactive, we have to avoid being reactive. It means that we need to continue being mindful, at all times, that regardless if inequities directly impact us, we have a responsibility to speak up and hold each other accountable as a society.”
The introduction of the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion is part of the College’s strategic plan, TCNJ 2021: Bolder, Better, Brighter. Specifically, the office will help achieve the plan’s goals detailed in “Priority I: Attract and retain talented students, faculty, and staff into a diverse, inclusive, and healthy campus.”
According to the College’s Center for Institutional Effectiveness, in 2015, 4,405 white students accounted for the total undergraduate population of 6,758 students, or roughly 65 percent. In contrast, African American/Black, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, Native Hawaiian, not reported, non-residential alien and students of two or more race accounted for 2,353 of the total undergraduate population, about 35 percent.
Trahan is hopeful that the College’s Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion will make a profound impact on campus.
“I look forward to making history at TCNJ,” Trahan said. “I’m excited about fostering forward-thinking education, being innovative, and positioning TCNJ as a model for inclusive excellence in contemporary society. Most importantly, I look forward to being a beacon of support for the students at TCNJ, ensuring that equity is at the cornerstone for how we will be ‘bolder, better, and brighter’ as a campus community.”
(09/19/17 12:30am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
An 8.1 magnitude earthquake impacted off the coast of Chiapas, Mexico, on Thursday, Sept. 8, at midnight, killing 98 people, according to The Guardian.
The Mexican southern states Chiapas and Oaxaca endured most of the devastation. The states have a combined total population of nine million people and are the most impoverished areas in Mexico, according to CNN.
Oaxaca Governor Alejandro Murat stated that 76 people died and 11,000 homes were destroyed or damaged in Oaxaca. At the same time, approximately 5,000 homes were destroyed in Chiapas, according to The Washington Post.
The earthquake’s impact reached as far as Mexico City, where lamp posts and the Angel of Independence monument shook, according to The New York Times.
The United States Geological Survey reported at least six aftershocks exceeding 5.0 in magnitude. During the initial impact, around 1.85 million homes lost power, but 74 percent of them were restored within hours, according to CNN.
“The power of this earthquake was devastating, but we are certain that the power of unity, the power of solidarity and the power of shared responsibility will be greater,” said Mexico’s President Enrique Peña Nieto as he declared three days of mourning on Friday, Sept. 8, according to the Los Angeles Times.
As a result of the earthquake’s damage, Mexico’s Foreign Relations Department announced that Mexico will be withdrawing aid for Houston, according to ABC.
“Given this situation, the Mexican government will channel all available logistical support to the families and communities that have been affected in Mexico and has informed the Texas and U.S. governments that, unfortunately, on this occasion, it won’t be possible to provide the assistance originally offered,” Mexico’s foreign ministry announced, according to Politico. “This decision is due to the fact that conditions in both countries have changed and that Texas’s need for assistance has fortunately diminished.”
Mexico has not endured a harder earthquake since the 1985 earthquake that rippled Mexico City, according to The New York Times.
The earthquake killed at least 9,500 people, injured 30,000 people, and caused $4 million in infrastructure damage in Mexico City, according to LiveScience.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump offered condolences one week after the earthquake hit and blamed poor phone reception for his timing.
“Spoke to President of Mexico to give condolences on terrible earthquake,” Trump tweeted on Thursday, Sept. 14. “Unable to reach for 3 days b/c of his cell phone reception at site.”
On Saturday, Sept. 9, category one storm Hurricane Katia landed on the coast of Veracruz, Mexico, and killed two people. The Los Angeles Times reported that Hurricane Katia slowed down relief efforts for Chiapas and Oaxaca.
(09/12/17 4:11am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
The No. 6 nationally ranked field hockey team kept steamrolling its opponents this week. The team demolished Stevens Institute of Technology, 9-2, on Thursday, Sept. 7, and defeated Juniata College, 5-1, on Saturday, Sept. 9.
Junior forward Taylor Barrett wasted no time against the Stevens Ducks. In the fourth minute, Barrett navigated her way into the net after a penalty corner and scored with an assist from freshman forward Tori Tiefenthaler.
The Ducks tried to counter in two penalty corners, but senior goalkeeper Christina Fabiano deflected two shots.
The Lions were hungry for goals in the first half as they recorded 23 shots. In the 12th minute, sophomore forward Cayla Andrews scored off a pass from sophomore forward/midfielder Kayla Peterson.
In the following play, Peterson added to the Lions lead when she dribbled her way through Ducks defenders and flickered in the goal.
The Ducks briefly countered in the 25th minute and scored to decrease the Lions lead, 3-1. At the conclusion of the first half, the Lions pounded the Ducks offense and accumulated a 7-1 lead.
In the second half, the Lions offense cooled down while the defense maintained the Lions lead. The Ducks only added one more goal in the 43rd minute. In the midst, Fabiano had a strong performance at the net with five saves.
On Saturday, the field hockey team defeated Juniata College, 5-1. Tiefenthaler jumped the Lions to a quick start when she scored off a deflection from Eagles junior goalkeeper Jessica Gray. In the next play, Andrews added another goal to the Lions 2-0.
In the 5th minute, the Eagles cut the Lions lead to one goal when junior midfielder Meredith Shepard scored off an assist from senior forward Megan Martin. The Lions ultimately won the match, 5-1.
Tiefenthaler shined throughout the match as she scored two goals and recorded an assist. She currently has five goals this season. Within the first three matches of the season, the Lions have netted in 21 goals while conceding only four goals.
“The freshmen have been doing very well this year,” said senior forward Elizabeth Morrison. “They got through preseason well and are now an integral part of our team. Along with Tori, we have a few other freshmen that start and a lot of them sub in during games. Everyone on the team this year has a chance to play which makes practice competitive and fun.”
The team will be competing at home this week. On Tuesday, Sept. 12, the Lions will play against Drew University at Lions Stadium at 7:30 p.m.
The Rangers are currently looking for their first win of the season after losing in overtime against Keuka College, 2-1.
The Lions take on No. 1 ranked Messiah College on Saturday, Sept. 16, at Lions Stadium. The undefeated Falcons will be their biggest test of the season. The Falcons recently beat No. 3 Salisbury University 2-1 in overtime.
(09/12/17 3:36am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
The men’s soccer team endured some setbacks this week. The Lions lost 2-1 to Stevens Institute of Technology on Wednesday, Sept. 6, and Lynchburg College, 3-1, on Saturday, Sept. 9. Later on Sunday, Sept. 10, the team rebounded and beat Roanoke College, 2-1.
In their first home game of the season, the Stevens Ducks prevailed over the Lions in overtime, 2-1.
The Lions offense quickly pressured the Ducks in the early game. Junior midfielder Nick Sample connected off a corner kick and landed the Lions first shot on goal.
The men’s soccer team endured some setbacks this week (envato elements).
Ten minutes later, sophomore midfielder Sam Monaco nearly scored off a high header shot. While the Lions missed opportunities, the Ducks capitalized on their first try.
In the 27th minute, Ducks freshman forward Cristiano Hocken sprinted past the Lions defense on the right side and scored off the left corner of the net.
The Lions responded by substituting three players.
Two minutes into the second half, freshman goalkeeper Michael Kayal secured a save off Ducks senior defender Jonas Melendez. In the 64th minute, Kayal kept the Ducks from adding to their lead. Kayal stopped a shot from Hocken and prevented a corner kick attempt. Junior midfielder Nick Sample put the Lions on board when he left-footed his shot to the right corner.
Both teams were locked in a stalemate once the clock hit zero. In overtime, freshman midfielder Ryan Vazquez launched a shot at Ducks junior goalkeeper Aaron Henry. After the play, the Ducks advanced to the Lions net. Hocken scored the Ducks winning goal when his shot deflected off a Lions defender and reached past the goal line.
On Saturday, the team traveled south to Salem, Virginia, to compete in the All Sports Cafe Roanoke Invitational.
In the first game against Lynchburg College, the Lions jumped out to a 1-0 lead before conceding three goals and losing, 3-1.
The Lions offense had a strong start when junior defender Nick Zolofra headed in a goal off a pass from senior captain forward Michael Kassak. The Hornets threatened to scored afterwards but the Lions were able to extinguish their two corner kick attempts.
In the middle of the first half, the Hornets kept pressing the Lions defense. Kayal kept the Lions to their 1-0 lead by grabbing two saves. However, the Hornets broke through and stung the Lions twice in the 33th minute. Hornets senior defender Nate Berning tied the match when he ripped a shot into the right side of the net.
In the following play, Hornets sophomore forward Sherman Mitchell bumped a header shot onto the right side of the Lions net. By halftime, the Hornets were up, 2-1.
The Lions struggled to score in the second half. Hornets junior goalkeeper Dylan McLaurin stopped many Lions scoring opportunities and collected three saves.The situation grew worse in the 87th minute when the Lions were reduced to 10 players because of a red card issue.
The Hornets immediately took advantage and scored their third goal when Mitchell knocked the ball to the left side of the Lions net with an assist from senior forward Fredy Flores.
“Both teams (Lynchburg and Stevens) had a lot of talent and were able to play good soccer,” Kassak said. “They were very athletic and moved the ball well, but we definitely dominated our fair share of the game. We got the early goal but it came down to Lynchburg capitalizing on two of their scoring chances. We had a couple of chances.”
The following day, the Lions played against host Roanoke College and walked out with a 2-1 victory. Both the Maroons and Lions fought hard to score throughout the match.
The Lions struck first when senior midfielder Kevin Nelan rebounded his shot to the right side of the net. It was the first goal of his career.
In the second half, senior midfielder Peter Dresch added insurance by scoring the team’s second goal. With two minutes remaining, the Maroons attempted a last ditch rally. Maroons senior forward Cole Thornton scored on a penalty kick. Afterwards, the Lions were able to drain the clock to zero to secure the 2-1 victory.
The Lions are on the road this Wednesday, Sept. 13, when they compete against Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham. The following Saturday, Sept. 16, the Lions come home to the Soccer Complex for their first conference match of the season against William Paterson University. Kickoff is scheduled at 1 p.m.
(09/05/17 5:55am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
The Lions clutched out two second half wins at the Frostburg State University Tournament this past weekend, as they won 1-0 against Frostburg State University and 2-1 over Bridgewater College.
On Friday, Sept. 1, the Lions trekked south to Frostburg State University to compete in the FSU tournament. The team shutout the Bobcats, 1-0.
The first half remained scoreless as both teams couldn’t capitalize on opportunities. Sample shot on target in the 11th minute, but it was caught by Bobcats’ senior goalkeeper, Jackson Bicknell.
At the 58th minute, Kassak put the Lions ahead, 1-0, when he scored off a corner kick with an assist from senior midfielder Peter Dresch.
Less than 10 minutes later, freshman midfielder Kevin Esteves launched a shot that bounced off the post. The team was then given a corner kick.
Once again, Bicknell squashed a Lions scoring opportunity when he caught a header shot from freshman midfielder Ryan Vazquez. Despite the missed shots, the Lions withheld the Bobcats to only two shots and secured the 1-0 win. During the match, two freshman had standout performances.
“(Freshman goalkeeper) Michael Kayal had a great game and came up huge for us while (Junior goalkeeper) Dan Walsh,” Kassak said. “He made a good saves in the first half that really saved the defense. (Sophomore midfielder) Sam Monaco dominated the midfield and won every ball that came his way, which took pressure off our defense.”
The following day, Saturday, Sept. 2, the team won their second match against Bridgewater College, and the tournament with it.
The Lions were down 1-0 at halftime against the Eagles. The Lions offense immediately pressured the Eagles and landed five shots. 10 minutes later, junior midfielder Nick Sample scored off a cross from senior captain forward Michael Kassak.
“When we were down 1-0, we felt very confident about our ability to come back,” Kassak said. “We were dominating the run of play and we significantly outshot Bridgewater. When we put Bridgewater under pressure, they gave the ball away, which led to 2 of our goals on counter attacks.”
Kassak then intercepted a pass from the Eagles and gave freshman midfielder James Pike the chance to score the tiebreaker, which netted the Lions a 2-1 victory.
The Lions will play their season home opener against Stevens Institute of Technology on Wednesday, Sept. 6, at Lions Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Last season, the Ducks posted a 11-5-2 record and defeated the Lions 3-1.
“We are looking forward to proving ourselves against a solid opponent,” Kassak said. “Stevens always has a good team and it’s going to be a great chance to show ourselves and others how good our team is going to be this year.”
On Saturday, Sept. 9, the Lions will travel south to Salem, Virginia, to compete in the All Sports Cafe Roanoke Invitational. The team will first play against Lynchburg College. Last season, the Hornets won the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and reached to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
The Lions will then compete against Roanoke College on Sunday, Sept. 10. The men’s soccer team previously played Roanoke College on Sept. 6, 2015 and won 2-1.
(09/05/17 3:09am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
The men’s and women’s cross country teams had a busy opening weekend. On Friday, Sept. 1, the Lions competed at the Houghton Short Course Twilight Invitational. Then on Saturday, Sept. 2, the Lions competed against Division I teams at Rosedale Park in Pennington, New Jersey. Both teams came in first at Houghton, New York.
The men swept the competitors as they claimed six of the top eight spots. Junior Matt Saponara led the Lions and finished in third place with a time of 15:45.0. Senior Dale Johnson came in one second behind Saponara.
The women were more dominant as they represented five of the top six places. Junior Erin Holzbaur crossed the finish line in second place with a time of 14:51.2. Junior Natalie Cooper ran behind Holzbaur and claimed third place with a time of 15:02.1.
“The goal for the Houghton Invitational was to work on our pack running strategy,” said head coach Justin Lindsey. “I think we executed it well and we will continue to work on this as the season progresses.”
At the Blue/Gold Invitational in Rosedale Park on Saturday, the Lions excelled against Division I schools such as Rider University, St. Joseph’s University and the University of Pennsylvania. Freshman Matthew Kole ran the Lions fastest time, finishing in 15:53.82. Junior Quinn Wasko followed Kole with a time of 16:10.03. A second later, freshman Pelle Nogueira completed the race at 16:11.16.
For the lady Lions, freshman Mary Kate Bailey had a solid debut. She finished with a time of 19:55.39. Freshman Jessica Hrnciar followed Bailey and completed at 20:52.47.
Senior Cassidy Cardone also finished with a time of 21:01.02.
“The freshmen showed strong competitive energy and they seem to be making the transition from high school to college cross country competition well,” Lindsey said.
The men’s and women’s cross country teams are scheduled to compete in the Osprey Open at Stockton University in Pomona, New Jersey on Saturday, Sept. 23.
“The focus for the Osprey Open is to get the freshmen used to the course as the conference championships will be held there again this season,” Lindsey said.
(09/05/17 2:51am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
Smiling children at Foundation Academy Primary campus can now be found climbing the monkey bars, playing hide-and-go seek and chasing after one another.
Thanks to the generous efforts of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, students at the Foundation Academy Primary school have access to an updated playground, complete with a slide, jungle gym and monkey bars.
It all started out as a request from Alumna Cynthia Cardona (‘12). Cardona, a fourth grade math teacher at Foundation Academy Primary school in Trenton, asked the members of the College’s Lambda Theta Phi Latin fraternity to volunteer in the construction of the playground.
Cardona — also the daughter of the fraternity’s founding father, Hiram Cardona — cares greatly about the community.
According to Samuel Serrato, a junior urban education and Spanish double major, working with Cardona was a great opportunity for students at the College.
“It was amazing to work with Cynthia Cardona,” he said. “She was so supportive of her community and to our mission of helping all who are in need.”
Erly Solis, a senior psychology major and the fraternity’s community service advisor, said the idea came about when Cardona asked her father for assistance in building an ergonomic playground at her school.
Hiram Cardona suggested his daughter reach out to Lambda Theta Pi’s regional administration to help assemble the playground.
“We were more than happy to not only assist with this building project, but to honor one of our founding fathers,” Solis said.
Foundation Academies, a charter school system, received grants from Bai and Dr Pepper Snapple Group’s initiative, “Let’s Play,” to build the playground. Nonprofits KaBOOM! and Good Sports also supported the project.
“Although this chapter has never worked with the foundation before, it was a pleasure creating a relationship with them,” Solis said.
After two days of preparation, more than 200 volunteers — among them, 16 Lambda Theta Phi members — began construction of the playground on Friday, Aug. 18.
The volunteers were able to complete the entire project in only six hours, working from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The playground opened for use by the following week. More than 200 students at Foundation Academy Primary campus can now enjoy the updated play area.
Solis immediately saw the playground’s impact on Foundation Academy students.
“The project was very significant,” Solis said. “We recruited as many brothers as possible from our local TCNJ undergraduates, alumni chapters and other chapters in the area to take part in this worthy cause. The undergraduates strive to stay connected to our local community during the school year and also during the summer, and this was one of the main projects scheduled for this summer.”
Earlier this year, Lambda Theta Phi took part in a food drive to provide food for 19 families. The fraternity also participates in an annual day of giving to strengthen their relationship with the community.
“We do an annual Lambda Giving day where we select 10 families from the Trenton community and give them groceries,” Serrato said. “Lambda Theta Phi cares deeply about the community and will do anything to help out and uplift our community together.”
(08/29/17 4:39am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
After enduring hard losses in the second round of the NCAA tournament, the men’s and women’s tennis teams look to make noise at this year’s Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Oracle Cup.
Sporting a 15-3 record last spring, the women’s team was dispatched by Johns Hopkins University, losing 5-1.
With more experience in hand, the Lady Lions will be lead by a senior trio of Brittany Reedman, Maddy Stoner and Danna Tsay. Junior Alyssa Baldi will follow up her dominant sophomore season. Last year, Baldi won 17 singles matches while only losing two. Baldi will also collaborate with junior Sneha Rangu on doubles matches.
During the past summer, the Lady Lions excelled off the tennis court as well. Reedman was 1 of the 20 recipients of the 2017 Google Women Techmakers Scholarship.
“It’s astonishing,” coach Scott Dicheck said. “I never had a player accomplish so much and be recognized on and off the field. She’s going to have a great career after graduation.”
The Lady Lions begin their march to the ITA Oracle Cup against Rutgers University-Newark at home on Friday, Sept. 1 at the Tennis Complex at 1 p.m. After blazing past Cabrini University in the first round of the NCAA tournament, the men’s team was blanked by Skidmore College, 5-0. With the loss in mind, the Lions will be led by aces such as senior Chris D’Agostino, junior Mitchel Sanders and Tim Gavornik.
The Lions will also feature a freshman tour squad of Kia Fatahi, Rahul Goculdas, Andrew Mok and Sean Reilly.
“We have new guys ready to start,” Dicheck said. “They’re talented and hard workers. We love their attitudes. They are going to develop so much here at TCNJ.”
The team will need players who can win as many matches as alumnus Jack August and Mike Stanley. At the same time, junior Omar Bokhari may have a breakout season after serving his way to a 16-6 record last season.
The men’s tennis team will first compete in the Lions tournament at home on Thursday, Sept. 10. The tournament is scheduled to start at 10 p.m. at the tennis complex.