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(02/04/09 5:00pm)
After falling in the New Jersey Athletic Championship (NJAC) last season to Kean University, the College must have had this date circled on their calendar since that heartbreaking loss.
Unfortunately for them, their plan for revenge was thwarted in one second.
The 2008 NJAC runners-up fell once again to the No. 19 Cougars 74-72 last Thursday night after a snow storm delayed the Wednesday's game until the following day.
The loss came after the Cougars sank a three-point shot with one second remaining to win the game by two.
"When the shot was made, everyone was shocked and it seemed the energy and excitement was sucked out of us," junior guard Karen Lassoni said.
The game was back and forth from the start, and as the game moved into the second half, both teams found themselves forced to recover from double-digit deficits.
Near the end of the game, the Lions went on an impressive 9-0 run to tie the game at 67-67.
Then, with the Lions down by one with 12 seconds to go, senior center Hillary Klimowicz converted two free throws to give her team a 72-71 lead.
The dagger into the College's heart followed as the Cougars guard Olivia Triano won it on the clutch shot from downtown.
Klimowicz led all scorers with 25 points and added 14 boards. Junior center Alexandra Gregorek also chipped in big with her 15 points, and senior guard Lisa Koch added a career-best nine dimes.
With the win, the Cougars further established their dominance in the NJAC South Division with an 8-0 record in conference and 13-3 overall. However, some Lions think this game could easily have gone the other way.
"Kean is a good team, but they are definitely not as good as years past," Lassoni said. "They are very athletic, but they are missing their best three-point shooter due to an ACL injury. Overall they are a very beatable team."
Despite the loss, the Lions did get back to their winning ways, as they handily defeated the Roadrunners of Ramapo College 65-53.
Klimowicz led the way once again, as she totaled 15 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks. Senior guard Alyssa Michella also contributed with 11 points and six boards of her own.
After its first loss in 11 games followed by the win, the College now stands at 15-4 overall with a 7-2 record in the NJAC. Ramapo drops to 8-11 overall and a 3-6 record in conference play.
"I'm feeling really good about the team despite our loss to Kean," Lassoni said. "When we put everything together like rebounding well and limiting our turnovers, I can't see any team getting in our way."
The Lions will test that mettle tomorrow as they are on the road for their next contest against the Blue Jays of Elizabethtown College. Start time is 7 p.m.
(01/28/09 5:00pm)
After a hard-fought battle against arch nemesis William Paterson University (WPU), the women's basketball team earned a well-deserved 69-65 victory over the Pioneers.
Hillary Klimowicz was the star of the game once again, as she set a College record by posting 35 points in a single game. She also grabbed a career-high 22 rebounds in the contest and notched six blocked shots.
Klimowicz's double-double was the 34th of her career, and she now stands at 11th on the school's all-time scoring list.
With the star center's help, the Lions took a comfortable 35-23 lead into the break, but the Pioneers opened the second half on a 12-4 run, threatening to pull off a surprising comeback.
The Pioneer surge continued until the midway pont of the second half as the Lions trailed by as much as six. But things turned around after senior guard Alyssa Michella drained a shot from beyond the arc, igniting a 13-4 Lions run to close out the contest.
"There was nothing better than the feeling at the end of the game when we won," sophomore forward Kelsey Kutch said. "It was a team victory."
The Lions' defense played a major role in back-and-forth battle with the Pioneers. By forcing 13 turnovers against the quick WPU offense, the Lions were able to control the clock and deny their conference foes pivotal scoring chances down the stretch.
"Overall it was a great team effort and we fought it out," Klimowicz said.
The Lions had a much easier time handling Rutgers University-Camden, as they dominated the outmatched Scarlet Raptors en route to a 85-46 victory.
After going up 12-0 in the first two minutes of action, the Lions' high-powered offense propeled them to 53-25 advantage at halftime. From there, the Lions never lost their edge.
In the winning effort, Kutch had a career game, recording 23 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Rookie guard Hannah Tait also had a breakout performance, as she notched a career-high 13 points.
After this hard-earned triumph, the Lions improved their overall record to 14-3 while the Pioneers dropped to 14-5 on the campaign. Both teams are tied with a 6-1 record in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). The loss by the Pioneers also snaps their five-game winning streak.
"Having a 14-3 record so far is great, but our goal is to be undefeated in January and we still have a lot of work to do with Kean coming up," junior guard Karen Lassoni said. "The most important thing is to take each practice and game one step at a time."
The Lions return to action in arguably one of the biggest games of the season, as they are on the road tonight against the team they lost to in the 2008 New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship (NJAC), the Cougars of Kean University. Tip off is slated for 6 p.m.
(01/21/09 5:00pm)
Senior center Hillary Kilmowicz netted her 1000th career point, head coach Dawn Henderson earned her 300th career win and the rest of the women's basketball team didn't so do badly themselves, racking up their eighth and ninth straight wins to wrap up a week of milestones for the Lions.
Just days after becoming the 12th woman to join the 1000-point club at the College, Klimowicz led the Lions to an overtime victory over the host Scarlet Raiders of Rutgers University-Newark 64-56 on Saturday.
"Getting my 1000th point was exciting," Klimowicz said. "It was a very nice accomplishment but without my teammates (it) would never have happened."
Klimowicz had an extraordinary game, tallying 24 points, 16 rebounds, and nine blocks.
"The overtime game against Rutgers-Newark was a good win for us," Klimowicz said. "Half of the team was sick but we pulled through. Overall it was a great team effort and we fought it out."
The win was a nail-biter indeed, as the College had to rely on the clutch heroics of sophomore forward Kelsey Kutch. The 2007-08 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rookie of the year sunk a pair of free throws near the end of regulation to tie the game, and then drained two more from the charity stripe at the beginning of regulation to propel the Lions towards the "W."
Consequently, the Lions may have won the game by making the most of their free throw opportunities, netting 17 of 25 from the line.
"I knew I had to make those free throws," Kutch said. "I had been sick for a while before this game and all I kept thinking was this is the kind of situation big time players thrive being in. There was nothing better than at the end of the game when we won and everyone on the team was excited and giving me hugs. I knew I just helped my team as part of their 45-minute fight to win, and it was a team victory."
With the win, coach Dawn Henderson recorded her 300th career win at the College and her 200th win in the NJAC. This is her 20th season at the College.
"I think Coach's 300th win was a great milestone for her in her career, but I know she is more focused on winning an NJAC championship and making it to the NCAA tournament than personal accomplishments," junior guard Karen Lassoni said. "She didn't even know she was approaching 300 wins until a couple of days beforehand, which really shows where her focus is."
The College would not have gotten to Coach Henderson's 300th win without helping her to her 299th victory, as the Lions handily defeated Rowan University 73-60 last Wednesday.
Trailing by six at halftime, the Profs kicked off the second half by putting together a few small runs, cutting the lead as close as three. But the Lions kept their rivals at bay, pulling away thanks to a huge 21-point output from senior guard Alyssa Michella.
The sharpshooting Michella nailed seven of the Lions' 11 shots from beyond the arc, and pulled down seven boards. Kutch also grabbed seven rebounds of her own and had 19 point in the winning effort.
"With Hillary and Alex (Gregorek) not playing, I put so much pressure on myself to do well knowing that's what everyone expected, and I put the world on my shoulders," Kutch said. "But with everyone around me performing so well, especially Alyssa hitting seven threes, I just feed off their play and just began having fun."
The victory puts the Lions at 12-3 overall and 4-1 in the NJAC. The Profs fall to 7-7 with a 1-4 record in conference.
The Lions will be looking for their 10th straight win tonight, when they host the Scarlet Raptors of Rutgers University-Camden at 6 p.m. at Packer Hall. As the Lions become immersed in the center of their challenging NJAC schedule, the leadership of their accomplished center and head coach.
(12/03/08 5:00pm)
After leading by only five at the half, the Lions feasted on their opponents on the road, tallying a 20-9 run in the second half to finish off the Sea Gulls 70-52.
The big story was the absence of senior center Hillary Klimowicz, as she was injured and unable to play during the contest. Still, the Lions rolled past the Sea Gulls with ease.
Picking up the slack for the star senior center, junior center Alex Gregorek scored 22 points on 10-14 shooting. Her teammates recognized her quality leadership.
"She did an awesome job stepping up when the team needed her most," junior point guard Karen Lassoni said.
When asked about filling in for Klimowicz, Gregorek made her feelings known.
"No one can fill in for Hillary any more than anyone can fill in for me or anyone else on our team," Gregorek said. "We are a unit."
Sophomore forward Kelsey Kutch also helped carry the load with her 21 points on 7-12 shooting. She also pulled down eight boards.
Overall, the Lions shot 49.1 percent from the floor against the 0-4 Sea Gulls. Despite their record, the Lions did not take this game for granted.
"They played us in a close game, and in college basketball at any division, no team should be taken lightly," Lassoni said.
Lassoni was in a giving mood just days before Thanksgiving as she dished out a season-high seven assists. Her role on the team is much more prevalent this season, as she now starts.
"I am definitely trying to be more like a second coach on the floor because the point guard needs to be in control," Lassoni said. "Leading by example is difficult, but it's a role I am determined to work on the rest of the season."
The Lions improve to 3-1 and are confident they can keep winning at the high level at which they are playing.
(11/19/08 5:00pm)
The women's basketball team won two consecutive games to win the Stevens Tip-Off Tournament as they rolled past Middlebury College, 65-47, in the first round and the College of Staten Island (CSI), 81-55, in the final.
"It's a good start to the season," senior center and tournament MVP Hillary Klimowicz said. "Although these games were won by decent margins, the box score didn't show these games were very competitive."
As the Lions' star center alluded, the road to the title was not as easy as the final scores showed. The Lions actually trailed the Middlebury Panthers at halftime during their first-round matchup.
Down 27-26 at intermission, the Lions put their offense in gear as they outscored their opponents 39-20 in the second half to coast to an 18-point victory and earn a game against CSI.
The 19th-ranked Lions were led down the stretch by Klimowicz as she tallied a game-high 25 points on 12-for-14 shooting and pulled down nine rebounds.
"The team did a very good job of getting the ball inside," Klimowicz said. "We go inside and score, and when the double teams come, we do a great job of scoring on the kickouts."
Some of those kickouts went to senior guard Alyssa Michella, who scored 13 points, with nine of those points coming on three-pointers.
Sophomore and last year's New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year Kelsey Kutch added 16 points.
"She's matured, and even more so from last year," Klimowicz said about the rising star. "As a freshman, you don't know what to expect and you make rookie mistakes, but she has certainly adapted and come a long way."
Kutch also made her mark in the final game of the round robin tournament, putting up another 16 points to help the College take down CSI and bring home the championship.
Four Lions reached double figures, including Kutch, Michella (19), Klimowicz (15) and junior center Alex Gregorek (10).
In addition to the diverse scoring, Michella, Klimowicz and Gregorek each pulled down seven boards.
"We're still molding, and our new players are still learning to fill their roles, but with all of this coming together, we're going to be solid," Klimowicz said.
The College is on the road for their fourth consecutive game as they travel to Maryland to play Salisbury University. Game time is slated for 3:30 p.m.
Michael O'Donnell can be reached at odonnel7@tcnj.edu.
(11/06/08 5:00pm)
It was not the happy ending the College faithful had hoped for.
The Lions' season came to a close Saturday at Pioneer Soccer Park as the Pioneers of William Paterson University (WPU) routed the men's soccer team 5-1 in the first round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament.
"It was pretty tough losing, but we knew it was going to be a hard game," junior forward Kevin Luber said. "We played tough and I feel that any other night the result is different."
The fourth-seeded Pioneers wasted no time on offense, jumping out to an early 1-0 lead in the 11th minute.
The Lions struck back quickly, however, as junior midfielder Anthony Staropoli tallied the lone College goal on an assist from Luber just 73 seconds later.
The assist was Luber's team-leading 26th point of the year.
"Kevin is a great player," senior midfielder Ryan McMahon said. "The last two years he has led our team in points, and ... whenever we've needed something big, it normally comes from him."
After Staropoli's goal, the Pioneers reclaimed the lead in the 19th minute after the Lions caught a bad break on a Pioneer goal that ricocheted off the left post and spun into the net. That score put WPU out in front 2-1 at halftime.
As the second half began, so did the offensive onslaught for No. 11 WPU. The Pioneers scored three second-half goals to secure the victory and a spot in the NJAC Tournament semifinals. They will play next on the road against top-seeded Montclair State University.
"It was pretty grueling physically, especially since we were on our heels playing defense for the majority of the game," senior forward Chris Nelan said.
Sophomore goalkeeper Eric Goldwaser was pulled in the 60th minute, recording no saves. Sophomore goalkeeper Chris Kulick made one save while allowing two goals in relief of Goldwaser.
The College did end the regular season on a high note, toppling Rutgers University-Newark 2-1 at the Soccer Complex.
McMahon started the scoring, tallying his second goal on the campaign on a feed from rookie forward Ray Nelan within the first two minutes of the contest.
"Getting the goal felt good," McMahon said. "To score and contribute was nice."
It then became a family affair as Chris Nelan notched his fourth goal of the season on yet another assist from Luber.
The Scarlet Raiders added a goal at the 35-minute mark, but it was not enough to obtain a win against the playoff-bound Lions.
Despite the Oct. 29 win, the Lions will go home early this year, finishing the campaign with an overall mark of 9-9-2 and an NJAC record of 5-5.
Michael O'Donnell can be reached at odonnel7@tcnj.edu.
(10/29/08 4:00pm)
The Lions took the first step toward their goal of a championship this week, clinching a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) playoff berth with a 3-0 win over the Roadrunners of Ramapo College.
The offense didn't waste any time getting on the board, as junior defenseman Matt Erny scored his first goal of the year on a feed from junior forward Kevin Luber early in the first half.
As the second half rolled around, the Lions continued their blistering pace, with sophomore defender Phill Cunha tallying a score in the first minute of the second half.
Several minutes later, senior midfielder Ryan McMahon recorded his first goal of the campaign on another assist from Luber.
"Clinching the playoffs was our first step, and now we want to finish out with a win Wednesday against Rutgers-Newark and get a higher seed," McMahon said.
In the net, sophomore Chris Kulick recorded three saves to earn the first shutout of his career.
Before clinching their playoff spot, the Lions had a disappointing outing as they fell at home to the Mules of Muhlenberg College.
The Mules scored two goals in the first half, including one in the first five minutes to seal the victory.
Despite the loss, the story for the College was sophomore goalie Eric Goldwaser, who received a red card that resulted in a converted penalty kick by senior Mule Billy Dalton. Goldwaser was subsequently ejected from the contest.
"Eric got caught in a tough spot on a breakaway, the player got past him and he knocked him over in the box," McMahon said.
The Lions are now 8-8-2, and 4-4 in the NJAC.
The men's soccer team will host a key NJAC matchup tonight against the Scarlet Raptors of Rutgers University-Newark. The game begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Soccer Complex.
Michael O'Donnell can be reached at odonnel7@tcnj.edu.
(10/22/08 4:00pm)
The Lions had a week of highs and lows, picking up a much-needed win, a hardfought tie and a heartbreaking loss.
The victory and defeat were tallied within the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) against two perennial playoff opponents, as the Lions took down the Pioneers of William Paterson University, 3-0, after falling to the Ospreys of Richard Stockton College, 2-1.
The 15th-ranked Pioneers' loss was their first in conference play, as well as their first shutout loss, as the Lions rolled to the win on the road in convincing fashion.
The offense took control in the contest.
Junior forward Kevin Luber scored the first and last goals of the game, netting his second on a free kick in the final second of the game. The scores were his eighth and ninth of the year.
Senior forward Chris Nelan helped the cause, slipping in his fifth goal of the year late in the second half to ice the game for the Lions.
"The win at William Paterson was a big result," Nelan said. "Scoring three goals and maintaining a shutout are both good indicators in the improvement of our game."
With the win, the Lions evened their overall record at 7-7-2, with a 3-4 record in the NJAC. The win also gave head coach George Nazario his 150th career victory in his 14th season with the College.
The fourth NJAC loss came as the Lions fell at home to the Ospreys of Richard Stockton by a final of 2-1. The Osprey's victory extended their win streak to eight games and improved them to an 11-3-1 overall record, including 5-1 in the NJAC.
The visitors struck first on a breakaway goal to end the first half up 1-0. Then, red hot Luber struck yet again, as he knotted up the game midway through the second half on an assist from junior midfielder Anthony Staropoli.
The tie was short-lived, however, as the Ospreys added the game-winner after the 77-minute mark to secure the win.
"The Stockton game was a very tough loss," Nelan said. "We had the better of the play for a lot of the game."
The Lions' only out-of-conference game was a grueling battle against the second ranked Falcons of Messiah College that resulted in a 1-1 double-overtime tie.
The Falcons struck first, as senior forward Matt Dorsey tallied his third goal of the season to put them up 1-0 at the break.
The lead lasted only a few minutes, as Lions' freshman midfielder Anthony DiPalmo recorded his first career goal to even the match at the final 1-1 score.
"It was pretty grueling physically, especially since we were on our heels playing defense for the majority of the game," Nelan said.
Sophomore goalkeeper Eric Goldwaser saved six shots in the game, while Messiah goalkeeper Jared Clugston notched two saves.
This game echoed a similar one from last season, as the two teams went to two overtimes with the Falcons edging the Lions in a 2-1 thriller.
"It was similar to last year's game in that both teams had opportunities to win - more so Messiah this time around," Nelan said.
"Our keeper did a tremendous job." The College will try and continue that headstrong play when they hit the field today, as they play host to Muhlenberg College at 3 p.m.
Michael O'Donnell can be reached at odonnel7@tcnj.edu
(10/22/08 12:00pm)
Nobody saw it coming.
The underdog Tampa Bay Rays are heading to the World Series for the first time in their 11-year history after defeating the Red Sox 4-3 in the American League Championship Series.
This series had it all, from blowouts to tight games, from power hitting to quality pitching. But it gave the fans something much more important: a rivalry that is very, very personal. Call me crazy, but this feud may surpass the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry as the most passionate and emotionally intense rivalry in baseball.
The longtime contention between the Yankees and Red Sox is well-documented. The Yankees got Babe Ruth for nothing in 1919 and then claimed dominance over Beantown's seemingly inferior team for the next 85 years. More recently, the Red Sox have garnered the upper hand, winning two world championships as New York struggles to find its identity.
While the Yankees try and reclaim their place in baseball's elite, the Rays literally fought their way to the top. After having a huge brawl in a spring training game against the Yankees, the Rays looked like they may have been venting the frustration of yet another losing season before it even began. How wrong that assumption was.
With their $43 million payroll, the Rays weren't going to take it anymore, and six months later, they beat out the Red Sox as American League East Champions. This was more than just your average playoff race, however. It was a struggle within the confines of nine innings, but it was also a battle with fists of fire and a history fueled by hostility that was planted over eight years ago. And no, you probably don't remember it.
Backtrack to 2000. The Red Sox are rolling toward the playoffs, and the team formerly known as the Devil Rays is in the basement of the division, as usual. Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez is on the mound pitching a one-hit shutout when veteran outfielder Gerald Williams strolls to the plate. On the fourth pitch, Martinez nails Williams on the left hand, apparently enraging the Devil Rays outfielder.
Possibly out of frustration, Williams rushes at Martinez, nearly knocking him to the ground with a forceful shove and then landing a punch with an overhand right. Benches clear, and eight Tampa Bay players are ejected in the subsequent brawl. This has the Devil Rays steaming, as no Red Sox players are tossed after the melee.
A couple more hit-by-pitches and a few brawls later, we arrive in 2008, as the drama this season revolved around Sox outfielder Coco Crisp.
Crisp was hit by a pitch in the right thigh by pitcher James Shields in a June 5 game at Fenway Park. The biggest bench-clearing brawl of the year followed, as Crisp infamously dodged a flaring fist from Shields and landed a punch of his own before the pile-on began.
This series may not have been as physically intense as Crisp and Shields' mid-summer fisticuffs, but the Rays needed to win for this rivalry to succeed. Tampa Bay may have won this battle, but the animosity and fire will remain for a very long time. The war will wage on as long as both teams have a pulse and want to prove their team's build is the true method of success.
Michael O'Donnell can be reached at odonnel7@tcnj.edu
(10/08/08 4:00pm)
After winning their first two games in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), the men's soccer team has now dropped three conference games in a row after falling to Rutgers University-Camden on Oct. 1 and to New Jersey City University (NJCU) on Saturday.
The Scarlet Raptors of Rutgers-Camden took down the Lions first, 1-0, as sophomore Matt Lanouette tallied the only goal of the game late in the second half on a header to secure the victory.
The Scarlet Raptors outshot the Lions 14-6 and had the advantage in corner kicks 12-1.
Sophomore goalkeeper Eric Goldwaser notched six saves in the contest, but the one that got away proved to be the difference. The opposing goalkeeper, freshman Tim VanLiew, needed to make only one save to achieve victory for his squad.
The Scarlet Raptors improved to an impressive 9-1-1 on the season, with a 2-1-1 record in the NJAC.
"We haven't gotten the results we've been looking for in the past few games, but sometimes that's just how the game is," Goldwaser said.
The score was different against No. 24 NJCU, but the result was the same for the College.
The Lions fell to the Gothic Knights 3-1 as the victors recorded three unanswered goals after trailing early.
The lone goal for the College was scored by senior forward Chris Nelan, as he drilled a breakaway goal to the left side of the net.
After the early score, the Gothic Knights struck back and tied the match up at 1 heading into the second half. They added their second goal on a penalty kick rebound as the Lions committed a handball to force the free kick. The Gothic Knights added a third goal late to ice the win.
With the win, NJCU remains unbeaten in the NJAC at 3-0-1 and is 7-2-2 overall. Both NJAC losses have dropped the Lions to 2-3 in the conference, and they now stand at 6-6-1.
"We have the bulk of the season still to play for, and things will start to click for us as the season progresses," Goldwaser said. "We knew coming into the season that we would get better as it went on, and we just have to stay positive and look to play for each other."
Looking to do just that, the Lions will head back on the road as they go head-to-head with the Falcons of Messiah College at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
(10/08/08 12:00pm)
The First International Thornton Wilder Conference presented a compilation of Thornton Wilder's works read by actress Marian Seldes and playwright Edward Albee in the Mildred & Ernest E. Mayo Concert Hall on Oct. 3.
A. Tappan Wilder, the nephew of the acclaimed author, presented the readings in three acts. He credited Penelope Niven, who is currently writing a Thornton Wilder biography, for helping him put the show together. But, he said, "If we go down in flames, it's all my fault."
In some ways it was like watching a play, as Seldes and Albee switched between characters with ease. In Act 1, which explored Thornton Wilder's correspondence to friends and family, Seldes and Albee took turns reading letters from Wilder's travel experiences throughout his life. Thornton Wilder often got inspiration for his works on his travels, calling them not vacations, but his "places of business."
Act 2 explored Thornton Wilder as novelist, as the audience heard excerpts from a few of his stories, including "The Ides of March." Seldes and Albee read separate parts from the same passages.
Sarah Reyes, sophomore English secondary education major, said, "It was really wonderful to hear Thornton's words come to life."
In the final act, focusing on Thornton Wilder as playwright, Seldes and Albee read pieces from three of his plays, including "Matchmaker" and "Our Town." The two conversed back and forth, eliciting frequent laughter from the audience. Almost as if they timed it, Seldes just finished reading her line when Tappan Wilder said, "End," causing the room to burst into a standing ovation.
Dana Dispoto, sophomore chemistry major, echoed the enthusiastic response. "I loved how they ended with 'Our Town' and Tappan's 'End.' It was just how Thornton Wilder would have ended a show."
(10/01/08 4:00pm)
After being knocked out of the playoffs last season by Rowan University, the men's soccer team gained their revenge at chilly Lions' Stadium Sept. 24 as they shut out the Profs 3-0.
This was the first time these two teams met since their heated matchup in last year's postseason, and the Lions took it to the Profs to gain a sense of redemption.
The star of the game was junior forward Kevin Luber, who netted the only three goals in the contest en route to the first hat trick in his illustrious career.
Two of Luber's goals came in the first half, including his first on a penalty kick to put the Lions up early, 2-0. Around the 71-minute mark, Luber scored his third and final goal of the match to seal the win for the Lions.
Luber's third goal was assisted by the brother tandem of senior forward Chris Nelan and freshman forward Ray Nelan.
With his stellar performance, Luber now leads the team with six goals and 15 points this season.
Despite Luber's standout day, it still seemed to be all about the team and all about the win.
"It's always nice to get a win," Ray Nelan said. "We still have hopes to be more successful as it is still very early in the season."
Chris Nelan agreed with his brother's assessment that the team isn't looking too far ahead.
"It is still so early," he said. "The team looks to be improved in some areas, but deficient in others. It is shaping up to be a good season, though."
Not to be outdone by his offense, sophomore goalkeeper Eric Goldwaser held down the fort as he made seven saves for his fourth shutout on the campaign. He now stands at an impressive 6-1-1 on the year in the net.
After the satisfying victory against Rowan, the Lions may have suffered a letdown against Montclair State on Saturday, as the fifth-ranked Red Hawks took the victory, 3-1.
With the win, Montclair State continues its 12-game regular season unbeaten streak, and is now 10-0-0 on the year for the second time in three seasons. Their undefeated start also includes a 3-0-0 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) record.
"The first loss is always a tough pill to swallow but things happened to fall into place (for Montclair State)," Goldwaser said, referring to the team's first loss in the NJAC. "Things did not happen the way we planned. Like any team though, you have to learn to deal with both losses and wins."
The only offense for the Lions was provided by Luber yet again, as he tied the game at 1-1 on a pass from Chris Nelan. The lead would only last for 2:22, as the Red Hawks quickly responded with the game-winner on a header off a corner kick. The Red Hawks outshot the Lions on the day 21-5.
The Lions now stand at 6-4-1 on the campaign, including a 2-1 NJAC record.
"As tough as these types of games are," Goldwaser said, "they are preparing us well for the NJAC games we have shortly ahead."
Coach George Nazario will be looking for his 150th career victory tonight, as the Lions will be on the road against the Scarlet Raptors of Rutgers University-Camden at 7 p.m.
Michael O'Donnell can be reached at odonnel7@tcnj.edu
(09/24/08 4:00pm)
After dropping a 3-0 decision to C.W. Post of Long Island University, the College began its New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) schedule with a shutout victory over Kean University, 2-0.
"We all know the real season started with the opening of NJAC," junior forward Kevin Luber said. "I had faith in the guys that they would be mentally prepared for this game, and that happened."
It certainly did, as the Lions had an all-around solid game. Sophomore goalkeeper Eric Goldwaser made seven saves to improve his personal record to 5-1-1, with three shutouts.
On offense, the Lions were actually outshot by the Cougars, 15-9, but they made the most of their shots on goal. Senior forward Chris Nelan netted the first goal of the contest around the 13-minute mark on a pass from Luber.
"It felt good to start producing immediately and to score the game-winning goal," Nelan said.
It was a defensive struggle after the first goal until junior midfielder Brian Galacia headed the final goal midway through the second half on an assist from freshman forward Ray Nelan.
The Lions had more difficulty against Division II opponent C.W. Post, when they were shut out in a match for the second time this season.
The teams played a scoreless first half with each team looking to capitalize on their defensive success in the second half. Pioneer junior forward Mike Whitehouse then scored two goals in the match, including a corner kick to break the 0-0 tie early in the second half.
Sophomore goalkeeper Chris Kulick had a respectable game and was arguably the sole bright spot for the College, securing five saves in just his second collegiate start.
"We still need to get things sorted out in hopes to be more successful. It is still very early in the season," Ray Nelan said.
Overall, the Lions stand at 5-3-1 on the year, including 1-0 in the NJAC.
The team members are looking to build off the good start they had in NJAC play.
"Hopefully, we will be able to go on a nice run and take a few games in a row and carry some momentum," Luber said.
The Lions continue their NJAC schedule tonight as they play host to the team that ended their bid for a conference title last year, the Rowan University Profs, in Lions' Stadium at 7:30 p.m.
Michael O'Donnell can be reached at odonnel7@tcnj.edu.
(09/17/08 4:00pm)
Freshman forward Ray Nelan scored his first collegiate goal, his first collegiate game-winner and brought an end to the men's soccer team's two-game losing streak all in one swift motion.
Nelan's goal was the only one scored in the team's final match at the Christopher Newport University (CNU) Classic as the Lions upended the Methodist Marauders 1-0 Sunday afternoon. Freshman midfielder Anthony DiPalmo picked up the assist.
"My first goal was mostly a relief for me, I feel as if it's something I can build on and continue to do more of," Nelan said.
The freshman hero believes his team can rebound from its disappointing week.
"After dropping two it's always nice to get a win. We still need to get things sorted out in hopes to be more successful," he said. "It is still very early in the season and we've yet to play an NJAC game so now is the time to have our lapses."
Sophomore goalkeeper Eric Goldwaser notched his second solo shutout of the season, recording four saves in the process. The stellar play has put him at 4-1-1 on the season.
"We played more as a team and more for each other than we had been in the past few games and things started to click," Goldwaser said. "We possessed the ball more and played well against a very aggressive Methodist squad."
With the victory, the 19th-ranked College now stands at 4-2-1 and is on the verge of hitting the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) portion of their schedule.
The week did not come without its lows, however, as the Lions dropped the first game of the Classic to host school CNU, 3-1.
The Captains dominated the contest, scoring three unanswered goals to begin the game. The Lions scored a goal later on, but it was too little too late and failed to provide any momentum.
"There were certainly aspects of the game that showed need for improvement," senior forward Chris Nelan said.
The Lions suffered another tough loss as they were handily defeated by fifth-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology, 3-0. Junior forward Terrence Johnson notched a hat trick to lead the Ducks to victory.
"It was pretty tough losing to Stevens 3-0 but we knew it was going a hard game," senior forward Kevin Luber said. "We played tough and I feel that any other night the result is different. We have a good team and we will prove it in coming games."
The College only managed two shots-on-goal all game.
"Having to deal with being on the road and injuries is never easy and CNU played very hard," Goldwaser said. "Things didn't fall into place for us as we had hoped."
The Lions are looking to start a new string of victories in the coming games ahead, especially those within the NJAC.
"As tough as these games were, they are preparing us well for the NJAC games we have shortly ahead," Goldwaser said.
Luber also believes the NJAC schedule will be good for the team, as he expects the team to regain its focus against its conference rivals.
"We are a pretty young team and we're still working out the kinks. We all know the real season starts this Saturday with the opening of NJACs."
Luber attributed part of this week's shortcomings to the youth of the team, adding the squad can only improve over time.
"After going down to CNU, losing the opening game was tough. We had high hopes of going down there and taking both games but that wasn't the case," he said. "I have faith in the guys that they will be mentally prepared for these games. If that happens we will go on a nice run and take a few games in a row and carry some momentum."
The team's next game is scheduled for tonight, as the College hosts C.W. Post at 7:30 p.m. at Lions' Stadium.
Michael O'Donnell can be reached at odonnel7@tcnj.edu
(09/10/08 4:00pm)
Even Tropical Storm Hanna could not rain on the men's soccer team's parade this week, as they tied soccer powerhouse Drew University 1-1 before taking their only match in the College's Soccer Classic, beating SUNY-Cobleskill 1-0.
The tournament was supposed to take place on Saturday and Sunday, but after the former hurricane made its way to the College, the Classic had to be shortened to just one day of action.
The 11th-ranked Lions first took it to the Rangers for 110 minutes, but the end result was the 1-1 double-overtime tie.
Junior forward Kevin Luber, who scored early thanks to an assist by sophomore defenseman Phill Cunha, was a key player for the Lions.
After Drew tied things up in the second half, the two teams played two scoreless overtime periods, finally resulting in a draw.
Sophomore goalkeeper Eric Goldwaser did what he does best, as he held the Rangers to one goal in the match and made six saves in 110 minutes of play.
"I thought the team played pretty well," senior forward Matt Junior said. "We were able to do what we went out there to do."
After having their second game of the week rained out Saturday, the Lions took down the Tigers of SUNY-Cobleskill 1-0 in the Tigers' lone game of the tournament.
The only goal of the game was scored by junior defenseman/midfielder Adam Dorflinger on an assist by senior midfielder and tri-captain Ryan McMahon. The score was the first of Dorflinger's career and put the Lions out in front for good.
Goldwaser came up big for the Lions yet again, as he recorded three key saves to notch his first career solo shutout.
With the win, the Lions now stand at 3-0-1 for the season.
"It is shaping up to be a good season," senior forward Chris Nelan said.
The Lions will next take the field tonight as they travel to Hoboken, N.J., for a match with Stevens Institute of Technology Ducks at 7 p.m.
(09/03/08 4:00pm)
The Lions' men's soccer team started its '08 campaign by rolling past the Devils of Farleigh Dickinson University-Florham 3-0 and then defeating the University of Redlands Bulldogs 3-1 to claim the Stevens' College Cup Tournament Championship.
The story of the tournament was walk-on senior forward Matt Junior. Junior tallied two goals in the season opener against FDU-Florham, his very first game for the College.
"To score one goal in my first college game would have been more than most expected," Junior said. "So to score two was really a great feeling."
Both of his goals were assisted by junior forward Kevin Luber, and Junior's first goal was also assisted by freshman midfielder Ed Kozic. Junior feels the team's chemistry is developing quickly.
"The transition to the team has been very easy for me," Junior said. "Usually it's hard to join a team without knowing anybody, but we have a great group of guys and it didn't take long for me to feel like I had been playing with them for years."
Senior forward Chris Nelan notched the first score of the game against FDU-Florham. The goal proved to be the game-winner for the Lions and was the first game-winner of Nelan's career.
In what seemed to be a complete offensive mismatch, the Lions recorded 33 shots on goal while the Devils only managed one.
On the defensive side of the ball, sophomore goalkeeper Eric Goldwaser picked up his first career win in his debut as a starter as he saved the only shot on goal in his 84:50 minutes of work. Goldwaser combined with sophomore goalkeeper Chris Kulick to complete the shutout victory and advance to the final against the Bulldogs.
The College then tackled the University of Redlands 3-1 to claim the tournament title. The Bulldogs became the first opponent to score on the Lions the entire weekend, but a flurry of offense led by Luber quickly ended the Bulldogs' hopes of an upset.
Luber was the first Lion to score with his goal off a penalty kick at 36:42. Then, Nelan added his second gamewinner in as many days when he scored the go-ahead goal just three minutes later.
Nelan's goal was assisted by sophomore defenseman Phill Cunha, who also added the third and final goal to ice the victory for the Lions.
"I thought the team played pretty well," Junior said. "After we were able to get rid of some of the first game jitters, we were able to do what we went out there to do, and that was win."
The Lions' next game is scheduled to take place tonight in Madison, N.J., as they travel north to take on the Rangers of Drew University. Start time for the game is 7 p.m. The Lions will play host twice over the weekend, facing SUNY-Cobleskill on Saturday and the College of Mount Saint Vincent on Sunday. Both games will be held at 3 p.m. in Lions' Stadium.
(09/03/08 12:00pm)
Picking up where they left off last season, the Lions used blistering defensive play to take it to the Violets of New York University, 4-0, before scorching the Christopher Newport University (CNU) Captains 5-0 to be crowned champions of the Elizabethtown College Blue Jay Classic.
Eight different Lions combined for nine goals in the two victories.
"We all give it 110 percent on the field because we know the person sitting next to us would do the same," sophomore midfielder Casey Caruso said. "We got off to a great start. It was nice that there was a variety of people who scored."
Two of the scores in the first contest against the Violets came in the first half. Caruso scored the first goal of the year on an assist by senior forward Jamie Kunkel, and shortly thereafter, senior defenseman Jillian Casey put in another score to pad the lead, putting the Lions up 2-0.
The Lions, the third-ranked team in the NSCAA Division III poll, struck quickly in the second half as sophomore midfielder Gina Colati tallied her first goal of the season.
Sophomore midfielder Julianne Delorenzo recorded the fourth and final score on the day for the Lions. Her goal was assisted by freshman forward Maria Grady, and the assist was Grady's first point in her collegiate career.
"It felt great to score in the opening game," Delorenzo said.
Sophomore goalkeeper Kate Piotrowski headed up the solid defense of the game, making two saves in the shutout win.
"I thought we played well as a team," Delorenzo said.
The second game handed the Lions a different opponent, but the Lions earned another shutout, this time against the CNU Captains.
The Lions scored only once in the first half on a goal by senior defenseman Laura Delaney, but lit up the scoreboard with four more goals in the second half. Caruso, Grady and senior midfielders Erin Cunliffe and Coleen Weber each contributed to the rally.
Kunkel had two assists in the game, including an assist on Caruso's second-half goal. Freshman defenseman Nikki Migliori also had two assists in the contest, while junior midfielder Melissa Martin added another.
The team members seem extremely confident and determined after the tournament triumph.
"We lost a lot of great seniors, but we are looking pretty good," Delorenzo said.
Caruso agreed with Delorenzo's sentiment.
"We know what it takes to be the best and we are willing to do whatever it takes," Caruso said.
The team will take the field next in the TCNJ Adidas Classic on Saturday as they host Amherst College at 11 a.m.
(04/30/08 4:00pm)
After taking one of two from the visiting Pioneers of William Paterson University, the Lions claimed the fourth seed in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).
"Our goal was to be in (the) top six and we did that," head coach Sally Miller said. "I'm very glad we're in the tournament."
Game one went to the Pioneers, as they edged the Lions 3-2 on a sixth-inning home run that broke a 1-1 tie.
The Lions tried to come back, scoring one run in the bottom half of the sixth on an RBI double by senior catcher Lauren Musacchia. Before the game, Musacchia and senior infielder/outfielder Christina Lizzi were honored for their contributions to the program.
"These are two players who have really been a huge part of this program as well as the College community," Miller said. "Chrissi has been a starter for four years, and Lauren's come on strong within the last few weeks. Their role as commander is something we don't take lightly."
Back on the field, Lizzi had an RBI of her own, an infield hit that scored freshman infielder Colleen Cawley in the bottom of the third inning.
On the mound, despite hurling a complete game, sophomore pitcher Ashley Minervini picked up the loss.
"We weren't ready to play," Miller said. "The passion and emotion was there on a beautiful Alumnae Day, but we split, and I wasn't happy about it. It was very puzzling because we know a lot about how they play."
In the second contest of the twin bill, the Lions ended on a high note by shutting out the Pioneers 6-0.
Freshman Alex Sietsma led the charge for the Lions, as she tossed a two-hitter while fanning six Pioneers.
"(Sietsma) did a really nice job," coach Miller said. "There's no greater feeling than when (a) pitcher's efforts are combined with executed offensive adjustment."
The Lions' offense gave Sietsma plenty of support, as it scored three times in the top of the first. Sophomore infielder Rachel Greeby and junior catcher Kelly Armstrong each knocked in a run in the inning with a double and single, respectively.
Junior utility player Camille Heller also drove in a run that allowed sophomore infielder Ellen Seavers to cross home plate.
Seavers had a big game herself, as she went 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs.
"I knew she was going to impact the team since (our opening road trip in Florida)," Miller said. "She's a major impact player and phenomenal shortstop. When she hits, everyone responds, and her double really set the tone."
With the split, the Lions end the regular season with a 23-15 overall record and an 11-7 record within the NJAC. The Pioneers end their regular season with a 22-17 record with an 8-10 conference mark.
"We've grown a lot this season, and we've had to make a lot of adjustments," Miller said. "The players have stuck with it and fought through the inexperience. We're a real tough team, and in the tournament we have to bring our A-game for all seven innings."
The Lions kicked off their postseason run yesterday with an opening round matchup on the road at Rowan University.
(04/23/08 4:00pm)
With a sweep of New Jersey City University (NJCU), the softball team kept its sights set on the postseason and saw head coach Sally Miller earn her 350th career win.
"We did some good things early on to get us to this point, and these wins were not easy," Miller said. "(NJCU is) a good hitting team, but our defense made some phenomenal plays, not to mention our pitching was excellent."
The Lions began their twin bill with a slim 1-0 victory in a game featuring sophomore pitcher Ashley Minervini.
The second-year hurler pitched a one-hit masterpiece, striking out four in the process. She also batted in the lone run of the contest, as she plated freshman pinch runner and infielder Kathy Sikora in the bottom of the seventh inning to secure game one.
"Offensively, Ashley can be a very good hitter," Miller said. "As the season has gone on we let her hit more, and she's a very strong girl so I knew she'd hit it hard."
Minervini attributed her success to her teammates.
"It obviously feels great to do what I did, but it really was a team effort," Minervini said. "I wouldn't have been able to do anything without the team behind me."
In the second contest, the Lions took down the Gothic Knights 7-3.
This game had a flair for the dramatic as the deciding play was a two-out, seventh-inning grand slam to dead center field by sophomore outfielder Danielle Hagel.
"That heck of a lot of pressure on her didn't faze her," Miller said.
The game started off with a focus on offense as Greeby got the Lions rolling with a two-RBI double in the top of the first inning. Hagel then added an RBI groundout to make it a 3-0 game.
The game became a pitcher's duel until the bottom of the sixth frame when the Gothic Knights knotted things up. Freshman pitcher Alex Sietsma pelted a Gothic Knight with the bases loaded before a two-run single tied the game at 3.
The tie set up the breathtaking finish as Hagel belted the aforementioned grand slam to seal the 7-3 victory for the Lions. It was her third home run of the season.
Miller called for a time out prior to Hagel's at-bat to warn her to "hit quickly" since the pitcher was pitching quickly.
"That put pressure on the pitcher, and that was the difference when (Hagel) got in there," Miller said. "She adjusted."
Minervini finished the final 1.1 innings for the Lions after Sietsma exited in the sixth.
"I knew Alex was tired, so I brought Ashley in because she's been doing this all year," Miller said. "When she's on, she's on. Today, her pitches were crisp."
With the sweep, the Lions stand at 20-14 overall and 8-6 in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play.
"We feel really good," Miller said. "Early on, that wasn't really us playing, and we've (come) back and (are) now sitting pretty well. We need to take the next four games and do what we're capable of doing. We're not going to be given any of these games."
Miller's 350th career win, the second game of the doubleheader against NJCU, came in her 13th season at the College. While working as the Lions' softball head coach, Miller has achieved a record of 350-157-2.
The Lions will take the field for their final doubleheader of the season as they host their NJAC rival, the Pioneers of William Paterson University on Saturday. The first game is slated for a 1 p.m. start.
(04/16/08 4:00pm)
The Lions put up a fight but fell twice at home to the 16th-ranked Red Hawks of Montclair State University, finishing their seven-game win streak in the process.
"We played really well during the streak," head coach Sally Miller said. "This team knows what they're capable of collectively and we were confident going up against Montclair, but we just didn't get the key hit."
"We certainly battled and fought," she added.
Game one saw an exciting finish, as the Red Hawks squeaked by, 4-3, in an eight-inning thriller. The final run was scored in the top of the frame as sophomore pitcher Ashley Minervini threw a wild pitch that sent the go-ahead run home.
"It wasn't the ideal circumstance, but stuff happens in a game like that," Minervini said. "It's how you bounce back from that is what matters."
The game went back and forth as the Red Hawks scored two early runs before the Lions made it a one-run game in the bottom of the fourth on back-to-back doubles by senior infielder/outfielder Christina Lizzi and sophomore outfielder Danielle Hagel.
After Montclair added another run on a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded, the Lions pulled to within one run in the same inning as sophomore infielder Rachel Greeby knocked in freshman outfielder Steph Cintron on a groundout.
As the game moved to the seventh, junior catcher Kelly Armstrong helped the Lions play on as she singled in the third College run to send the game into extra innings.
"It was exciting to watch and coach," Miller said. "This team doesn't give up, and I did feel momentum in our favor, but (Montclair) just took advantage."
In the second contest, the result was identical and just as exciting, as the Lions once again fell just short in a 4-3 loss.
The College struck first this time around as Armstrong cracked an RBI single in the top half of the first inning that put the team up 1-0.
The Red Hawks tallied two runs in the bottom of the second inning to take the 2-1 lead. The runs ended freshman pitcher Alex Sietsma's scoreless streak at 32.2 innings.
After trading runs again in the third frame, the drama picked up in the seventh inning as sophomore infielder Ellen Seavers belted a solo homer in the top half of the inning to knot the score at 3.
Montclair ended the game on an RBI single off of Sietsma to pick up their second victory of the day.
With the two losses, the Lions stand at 18-12 overall and are 6-4 in the tightly contested New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) for a No. 5 ranking. The Red Hawks lead the conference with a perfect 10-0 record.
"We're still sitting well in the conference," Miller said. "We have four sets of games left and a lot of work to do."
The College's next doubleheader comes on Saturday as they play host to NJAC-opponent New Jersey City University at at 1 p.m.