Athletics > Weekly Lyon > March 18, 2008
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Women's Basketball (22-7, 12-1) Completes Season in NCAA Tournament First Round
The Wheaton College women's basketball team competed in its first NCAA Tournament since 1995, completing its season with a narrow 71-67 loss on March 7 to eventual national quarterfinalist Tufts University. The Lyons finished with the third-most wins in program history.
During a contest played at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, New York, Wheaton trailed by 14 points with less than nine minutes remaining before pulling within 68-65 on junior Krystin Hickey's (Manchester, NH/New Hampton School) three-point play with 24.9 seconds left but coming up short. The Blue and White was in a 58-44 hole before Hickey hit two free throws with 8:09 remaining to spark an 11-2 run, during which five Lyons scored. After drawing within three late, Wheaton saw Tufts go 3-of-4 on free throw tries during the final 17 seconds. Hickey notched 19 points, six rebounds and three assists, while sophomore Jenny Champney (Bedford, MA/Bedford) had 12 points. Classmate Andrea Bailey (Needham, MA/Needham) tallied eight points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals, junior Bri Smith (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) notched eight points and three helpers, while classmate Jennie Pleat (Nashua, NH/Nashua South) went 4-of-5 for eight points off the bench.
Hickey (1,168 points) is sixth at Wheaton in career scoring, fifth in field goals (452) and ninth in three-pointers (68). Smith is third in three-pointers (118), Champney is seventh in blocked shots (69), and senior Becky Aitchison (Norwalk, CT/Trinity Catholic) is seventh in steals (199), eighth in assists (226), and 10th in each blocks (39) and field goals (380). Hickey finished with the second-best three-point percentage (.467) in program history, just .002 off the mark, while placing fifth in field goal shooting (.517), sixth in points (394) and ninth in field goals (149). Champney is second in single-season blocks (50) and eighth in field goals (150), while Bailey is fourth in assists (130) and ninth in three-point percentage (.394). Smith finished third in free throw shooting (.855), while Aitchison recorded the ninth-highest field goal percentage (.489).
Hickey Earns Spot on D3hoops.com's Five-Member Team of the Week
Hickey was named to the D3hoops.com Team of the Week for the week ending on Sunday, March 2 as one of just five women from around Division III to earn the honor. During a 3-0 week, Hickey led Wheaton to its first NEWMAC Tournament title, and initial NCAA Tournament berth in 13 years, by averaging 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists, shooting 62.5 percent (20-32) from the floor. She nearly notched a triple-double with 18 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in Wheaton's 79-36 first-round win over Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) before recording 16 points and eight rebounds during a 58-53 semifinal victory over Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), going 5-of-8 from the floor. Against Springfield College in the tournament title game, Hickey shot 7-of-11 for 15 points while adding five assists in a 74-69 triumph, recording a key three-point play with 53.4 seconds left that pushed Wheaton's lead to four.
Aitchison Named NEWMAC Player of the Week for First Time
Aitchison drew the first NEWMAC Player-of-the-Week accolade of her career for the week ending on Sunday, March 2 after leading the Lyons to their first NEWMAC Tournament crown and initial NCAA Tournament berth since the 1994-95 season. During a 3-0 week, Aitchison averaged 10.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.7 steals, shooting 56.0 percent (14-25). In Wheaton's first-round game against Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), she had six points on 3-of-4 shooting with five rebounds while playing only 23 minutes in a 79-36 win. In the Lyons' 59-53 semifinal victory over Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Aitchison tallied 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field and a 3-of-4 showing from the charity stripe to go along with six rebounds and four helpers. Aitchison notched 13 points, three assists and three steals during a 74-69 victory over Springfield College in the title game, helping the Lyons defeat a team that has claimed five league crowns in eight years.
Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field Teams Compete Twice, Complete Seasons
The Wheaton College men's and women's indoor track and field teams completed their seasons by competing at the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship on March 7-8 before having three athletes earn All-America honors during the NCAA Championship at Ohio Northern University this past weekend. At nationals, the Lyon women tied for 25th, while the men tied for 61st.
During the ECAC Championship at Harvard University, the Wheaton women placed sixth among 51 scoring teams, while the men were 23rd out of 58. Freshman Marcus Kohlman (Milton, MA/Milton) reached an NCAA Championship automatic qualifying height in the high jump, springing 6' 10 1/4" to place second. Sophomore Howard Powell (Brooklyn, NY/Boys and Girls) twice reached provisional standards in the 55-meter dash, finishing fourth in the finals in 7.66. On the women's side, Wheaton's 4x880-yard relay team captured the event title while shattering an 11-year-old school record in the 4x800M relay. Senior Megan Brousseau (Attleboro, MA/Attleboro), juniors Lily Calderwood (Harvard, MA/Bromfield School) and Natana Jules (Brooklyn, NY/Boys and Girls), and sophomore Katie Pratt (Litchfield, CT/Litchfield) comprised the quartet that finished in 9:30.24. Junior Chizoba Ezeigwe (Brockton, MA/Thayer Academy) won the 400M behind a provisional time of 56.66, while freshmen Diana Kornberg (Highland Mills, NY/Monroe-Woodbury) and Erin Neville (North Providence, RI/La Salle Academy) recorded provisional qualifying marks in the shot put and high jump, respectively. Kornberg was second at 42' 6 1/4", while Neville finished third at 5' 5 1/4".
Neville had Wheaton's best showing at the NCAA meet, coming in third during the high jump to corral her initial All-America award in her first national championship. Ezeigwe recorded her third straight All-America performance in the 400M, finishing seventh. Powell led the men with his first All-America showing, taking eighth in the 55M hurdles.
Baseball (6-4) Contests Eight Games Against 2007 NCAA Teams During Arizona Trip
The Wheaton College baseball team, ranked 13th in the Collegiate Baseball preseason national poll, played eight games against 2007 NCAA Tournament participants, including seven either nationally ranked or receiving votes, during its trip to Phoenix, Arizona. The Lyons opened play with a 12-4 loss against The College of New Jersey on March 8 and an 8-4 defeat at the hands of Cortland State College of New York the next day before downing Monmouth College of Illinois, 13-6 on March 10. The Lyons fell to Cortland State, 9-5 on March 11 before defeating Webster University of Missouri, 7-6 later in the day. Wheaton dropped an 8-1 decision to TCNJ on Thursday before winning the final four games of its trip, first knocking off Hope College of Michigan, 11-6 on Friday before clipping Montclair State University of New Jersey, 13-12 on Saturday. On Sunday, the Lyons swept a doubleheader, defeating Johns Hopkins University of Maryland, 13-8 and Western New England College, 3-0.
During Wheaton's opener against 14th-ranked TCNJ, the Lyons drew a 3-0 lead, with two runs scoring on sophomore Jeff Lieneck's (Foxboro, MA/Xaverian Brothers) first collegiate home run, but the Lions came back. Freshman Sean Munley (Trenton, NJ/The Hun School of Princeton) went 2-for-4, while senior southpaw Chris McDonough (Weymouth, MA/Weymouth) fanned six and yielded only two earned runs during six innings of work.
Against second-ranked Cortland State, Wheaton only trailed by a 2-1 count heading into the seventh before the Red Dragons broke the game open. Munley drove in two runs, while junior Nick Pecora (Highland Park, NJ/Immaculata) had two hits.
Senior Jake Yagjian (Brewster, MA/Nauset Regional) had the first five-hit, six-RBI game in program history by going 5-for-5 with six RBI and four runs and falling a triple shy of the cycle during Wheaton's game versus Monmouth. Pecora doubled twice and scored two runs, Munley tripled and drove in two runs, while senior Ken Depasse (Holden, MA/Saint John's) and freshman Eric Laliberte (Nashua, NH/Bishop Guertin) scored three times each. Senior Brian Hughes (Dudley, MA/Shepherd Hill Regional) yielded two earned runs in six innings for the win.
The Lyons took on second-ranked Cortland State a second time and plated four first-inning runs before leading 5-3 heading into the seventh, but the Red Dragons again rallied. Lieneck went 3-for-4 with two runs and two stolen bases, while Munley and sophomore Paul Malaguti (Andover, MA/Andover) had two hits apiece. Junior Adam Gingras (Woonsocket, RI/Woonsocket) pitched well during six innings, striking out five and yielding three runs but receiving no decision.
Against Webster, which is receiving votes in the national poll, Wheaton rallied to tie the game with three seventh-inning runs before Lieneck's walk-off single in the ninth won it. Lieneck went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a double, while Depasse and Yagjian had two hits each. Freshman lefty Kevin Calabro (Andover, MA/Andover) notched his first college win behind four innings of one-hit ball in relief.
During its second contest with 14th-ranked TCNJ, Wheaton was led by junior Robert Foote's (Walpole, MA/Walpole) two-hit performance. Freshman lefty Chad Kasik (Dudley, MA/Shepherd Hill Regional) had a strong outing in relief, striking out four during 2.2 innings of one-hit pitching.
Wheaton scored the first four runs against Hope, which is receiving votes, before plating the game's final seven runs, breaking a late tie with five in the seventh. Laliberte had three hits and three RBI, Lieneck added three hits and three runs, Munley went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI while swatting his first home run, and freshman Hadi Raad (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY/Hastings) was 2-for-4 with three runs and three RBI. Foote added two hits, and McDonough fanned nine in seven innings for the win.
In a wild contest with Montclair State that included 36 hits, 13 for extra bases, Wheaton rallied from an early 5-0 deficit and went ahead for good with a three-run eighth inning. Yagjian was 4-for-5 with three runs, Lieneck had three hits, two runs and two RBI, and Foote added three hits and three RBI. Pecora was 2-for-4 with three runs, Munley had two hits and four RBI, and Malaguti added two hits and two RBI. Senior Scott Guillerault (South Portland, ME/South Portland) recorded two hits and scored twice, while Raad rapped out two hits. Senior Keith Pescosolido (Newton, MA/Newton North) picked up the win in relief, while junior Jared Barnes (North Attleboro, MA/Bishop Feehan) tallied the save.
Against 10th-ranked Johns Hopkins, the Lyons led 6-0 before breaking a late tie with seven runs between the seventh and eighth innings. Guillerault drove in three runs and scored twice, Munley had two RBI, Raad went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI, while Yagjian had two hits. Kasik notched the win in relief, while junior Karl Olson (Bethel, ME/Gould Academy) tossed two innings for the save.
Wheaton completed its trip versus Western New England, as Hughes and sophomore Nick Kostaras (North Attleboro, MA/North Attleboro) combined to pitch a gem. Hughes yielded five hits during the first seven innings, striking out seven without walking a batter, before Kostaras earned the save after throwing two scoreless frames and allowing three hits and no walks while fanning three. Guillerault had two RBI, including the game-winner in the first inning, and Pecora had two hits.
Guillerault is among the top five in a number of career categories at Wheaton, ranking first in hit-by-pitch (31), second in home runs (23) and walks (96), third in RBI (144), tying for third in sacrifice flies (10) and tying for fifth in doubles (40). Yagjian is tied for third in sacrifice flies (10) and stands fifth in times hit by a pitch (20). McDonough is now first in pitching strikeouts (193) and fifth in wins (17), while Pescosolido is tied for sixth in pitching appearances (43).
Men's Lacrosse (0-2) Opens McCaffrey Era with Pair of Spring Break Losses
The Wheaton College men's lacrosse team began the season with a pair of losses under new head coach Mike McCaffrey, falling at nationally-ranked Villa Julie College, 17-5 on Wednesday before losing to host Colby College, 11-2 on Saturday.
Against Villa Julie, which was ranked 18th by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA), Wheaton trailed just 3-1 early in the second quarter and 8-3 at halftime before the Mustangs pulled away. Senior Richie Rasamny (Redding, CT/Joel Barlow) scored twice, and freshman Chris Landers (Manchester, MA/Proctor Academy) tallied his first two collegiate goals. In goal, sophomores Schuyler Horn (New Hartford, CT/Kingswood-Oxford School) and Alex Lewis (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) split halves, making seven and six saves, respectively.
Rasamny's first-quarter marker knotted the contest at Colby, and sophomore Tim Horan's (Cheshire, CT/Cheshire) man-up tally 22 seconds into the second period brought the Lyons within 3-2 before the Mules scored the final eight goals. Horn made a career-high 20 saves in nearly 53 minutes.
Women's Lacrosse (3-2) Moves Back Above .500, Wins Both Contests on Dallas Trip
The Wheaton College women's lacrosse team opened its season in New England for the first time since 2003, defeating Emerson College, 19-4 at Bryant University on March 6 but dropping its next two contests before winning twice during a trip to Texas. The Lyons fell at Gordon College, 15-9 on March 8 and at Colby College, 18-2 on March 11 but knocked off the homestanding University of Dallas, 18-3 on Friday. On Sunday, Wheaton defeated Salve Regina University, 22-9 at the University of Dallas.
Against Emerson, the Lyons broke open a 2-1 game with a 10-0 run. Freshman Emma Doyle (Hamden, CT/Hamden) led Wheaton with four goals during the contest, classmate Tess Meyer (Concord, NH/Concord) notched three goals and three assists, senior Meredith Hurd (Bath, ME/Hyde School) had three tallies and two helpers, while junior Madeline Williams (Annapolis, MD/Key School) and freshman Kathryn Sudbey (Sandy Hook, CT/Newtown) each recorded a hat trick. Freshman Annalisa Carson (Yarmouth, ME/Yarmouth) made four saves to earn the win, while classmate Marianna Marcellino (Milton, MA/Thayer Academy) had one stop during the second half.
Wheaton scored the first three goals at Gordon before the Fighting Scots took control. Junior Bridget Thornton (Southington, CT/Cheshire Academy) had two goals and an assist, while junior Caitlin Grant (Walpole, MA/Walpole) and sophomore Brittany King (Georgetown, MA/Proctor Academy) each scored twice. Carson made 10 saves during a complete-game effort.
Meyer and Sudbey scored as the Lyons fell against Colby. Marcellino made four saves during a little more than 15 minutes in her first college start, while Carson had seven stops.
Williams found the back of the net a career-high seven times at the University of Dallas, Hurd scored four times, while Grant and Thornton tallied two goals apiece. Carson made five saves.
Wheaton outshot Salve Regina, 42-7 during the first half and ended the opening period on a 14-1 scoring run to overcome a 2-1 deficit. King had five goals and an assist, Hurd tallied four markers and two helpers, and Grant had a hat trick and an assist. Carson made nine saves.
During the first five contests, Hurd continued her climb up Wheaton's all-time charts. She is now fourth in career goals (131) in program history, as well as seventh in points (146).
Softball (11-1) Wins 11 of 12 During Florida Trip, Off to Best Start in Seven Years
The Wheaton College softball team won 11 of 12 games in Fort Myers, Florida, recording its most spring trip wins since going 12-1 in 2001. The Lyons opened play on March 8 by defeating Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 6-3 and Elms College, 1-0. Wheaton downed a pair of out-of-region foes the next day, picking up an 8-1 win over Albion College of Michigan and corralling a 7-6 victory against Wilmington College of Ohio. On March 10, the Lyons blanked Eastern Nazarene College, 12-0 in five innings and Drew University of New Jersey, 6-0. Wheaton defeated Curry College, 7-3 the next day before losing to Pine Manor College, 8-6 later that morning. On Wednesday, the Lyons knocked off Ohio Wesleyan University, 3-1 and Lesley University, 14-4 before winning twice on Thursday, 5-2 over the University of Wisconsin at Superior and 6-0 against Bowdoin College.
Against RPI, freshman Kristen Hunt (Milford, CT/Jonathan Law) homered on the second pitch she saw in college, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBI and three runs while also doubling. Senior Alix Brozman (Chappaqua, NY/Horace Greeley) was 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, junior Brady Benton (Concord, NH/Concord) went 2-for-3, senior Jodi Moynagh (Worcester, MA/Holy Name Central Catholic) struck out nine over six innings for the win, and sophomore Andrea Bagley (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) pitched a shutout seventh for the save.
Junior Stacey Kelleher's (Brockton, MA/Brockton) two-out single in the sixth inning plated Brozman for the lone run against Elms, and Bagley tossed six shutout innings before freshman Courteney Collier (Bolton, MA/Nashoba Regional) earned the save with a scoreless seventh.
Wheaton scored seven first-inning runs versus Albion, and Moynagh struck out eight during a complete-game effort. Kelleher and senior Erika Marini (Pawtucket, RI/Saint Raphael Academy) each had two hits, with Marini tripling, while Moynagh stroked a two-run single.
The Lyons overcame a 6-2 deficit against Wilmington with five runs in the sixth inning. Freshman Nicole DeRosa's (Greenwich, CT/Greenwich Academy) RBI double knotted the score with two down, and Marini followed with a go-ahead triple to the right field gap for her 100th career hit. Benton finished with two hits and two runs, while Collier earned the win in relief.
Collier pitched a three-hit shutout against Eastern Nazarene, fanning six, while the Lyons plated eight runs in the second inning. Benton was 3-for-3 with three RBI, two runs and two doubles, DeRosa launched her first collegiate home run, while Marini had two hits, including a double, and scored twice. Freshman Julie Murray (Canton, MA/Canton) went 2-for-2.
Moynagh spun a three-hit shutout versus Drew, as she struck out six, while DeRosa hit another home run, and Marini doubled twice and scored two runs. Hunt went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Against Curry, DeRosa became the third Lyon freshman to homer twice in one game and the second to have three hits and two dingers, as she went 3-for-3 with five RBI. Senior Audrey Poulton (Charlestown, RI/Chariho Regional) was 3-for-3 with three runs and fell a home run shy of the cycle. Moynagh went six innings to earn the victory.
Wheaton's lone loss came after a big rally against Pine Manor was countered by a seventh-inning comeback by the Gators. Down 4-1, the Lyons plated five fifth-inning runs before Pine Manor scored four times in the top of the seventh. Benton went 3-for-4 with a triple, and Marini had two hits, including a triple. Wheaton set a program record with four three-baggers during the contest.
Hunt's two-run homer in the fourth inning put Wheaton ahead for good against Ohio Wesleyan. Benton and DeRosa had two hits each, with DeRosa tripling, while Moynagh struck out eight during a four-hit complete-game effort.
The Lyons came within one hit of a program record with 22 against Lesley. DeRosa went 4-for-5 with two RBI and a triple, Benton was 3-for-5 with three runs, three RBI and a home run, while Marini and Poulton each had three hits and two runs, with Marini legging out a triple. Brozman added two hits and three RBI, smacking a triple, Hunt had two hits and two RBI, and junior Lynn Cotto (Brookfield, CT/Brookfield) recorded two hits. Collier picked up the win, and Poulton notched a three-inning save.
Marini and Poulton drilled RBI doubles during the fifth inning to put Wheaton in front against Wisconsin-Superior. Murray went 2-for-2, Hunt added two hits, and DeRosa went deep. Bagley struck out eight during the first six innings before Moynagh fanned all three batters she faced for the save.
Moynagh tossed a three-hitter against Bowdoin, striking out nine. The Lyons scored all of their runs in the first two innings. Kelleher smacked a two-run single, while Poulton doubled.
During the trip, Brozman moved into a tie for eighth in program history in career sacrifice hits (22), while Poulton recorded her school-record fourth save and moved into fourth at Wheaton in pitching strikeouts (170). Moynagh climbed into third for innings pitched (413.1), is tied for third in pitching appearances (76) and became the fourth Lyon to reach the 40-win plateau (41).
Men's Tennis (3-1) Downs Trio of Non-Region Opponents During Hilton Head Trip
The Wheaton College men's tennis team, ranked 18th in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Northeast poll, recorded at least three wins on its Hilton Head, South Carolina, trip for the sixth consecutive season, downing a trio of out-of-region foes before falling to a regionally-ranked team. From March 9-11, the Lyons blanked each Shenandoah University of Virginia, Defiance College of Ohio and West Virginia-based University of Charleston. On Wednesday, Wheaton fell to Baldwin-Wallace College of Ohio, which is ranked in the ITA's Central poll, by a 7-2 final.
Against Shenandoah, freshman Brian Krantz (Milford, CT/Joseph A. Foran) blanked his singles opponent, while sophomores Kyle Hudgins (Uxbridge, MA/Uxbridge), James Little (Mount Desert, ME/Mount Desert Island) and Eric Pelletier (Bangor, ME/Bangor), and freshmen Harry Altman (Riverdale, NY/The Dwight School) and Greg Poulin (Boxboro, MA/Home Schooled) also each won in straight sets. In doubles, the tandems of Little/Poulin, Hudgins/Krantz and Altman/freshman Cullen Garrity (Middletown, MD/Saint James School) were each victorious.
The Lyons also blanked Defiance, as Hudgins, Krantz, Little, Pelletier, Poulin and freshman Trent Faltin (Durham, NH/Oyster River) each won in straight sets. Wheaton's doubles tandems of Hudgins/Krantz and Altman/Garrity both picked up 8-0 wins, while Little/Poulin also came out on top.
Wheaton notched a shutout for the ninth time in 10 wins since 2007 by downing the University of Charleston. Hudgins, Krantz, Little, Poulin and sophomore Chapman Beekman (South Kingstown, RI/South Kingstown) each won singles matches in straight sets, while Altman rallied from one set down for the victory. The doubles duos of Little/Poulin, Hudgins/Krantz and Altman/Garrity each won.
Against Baldwin-Wallace, Hudgins notched a 7-5, 6-0 victory at third singles and Krantz was victorious in the fourth spot, 6-2, 6-2 for Wheaton's lone points.
Women's Tennis (11-6, 3-4) Wins Three Spring Trip Matches for Second Straight Season
The Wheaton College women's tennis team won three matches during its trip to Hilton Head, South Carolina, for the second straight season, going 3-1 against out-of-region foes. The Lyons blanked Shenandoah University of Virginia and Ohio Wesleyan University on March 9 and 11, respectively, while being shut out by Division II Northern Kentucky University on March 10. Wheaton finished the trip with a 6-3 win over Baldwin-Wallace College of Ohio on Wednesday.
Against Shenandoah, junior Mallory Farmer (Washington, CT/The Gunnery) and freshman Sarah Geocaris (Newport Beach, CA/Sage Hill School) blanked their singles foes, while senior Maya Milic-Strkalj (Philadelphia, PA/Friends' Central School), sophomore Katherine Knies (Purdys, NY/North Salem) and freshmen Catherine Teague (Manchester, NH/Central) and Ellen Van Faasen (Manchester, MA/Manchester Essex Regional) also won in straight sets. In doubles, Geocaris and Teague notched a shutout, while the tandems of Farmer/Milic-Strkalj and Knies/Van Faasen won.
During Wheaton's loss to Northern Kentucky, Geocaris had the team's best singles showing, coming up short by a 7-6, 6-3 final. She combined with Teague on a narrow 9-7 loss at first doubles.
The Lyons reached the 10-win plateau for the second straight season and the third time in five years with a win over Ohio Wesleyan. Farmer, Geocaris, Knies, Milic-Strkalj, Teague and Van Faasen each won singles matches, while Wheaton's doubles duos of Geocaris/Teague, Knies/Milic-Strkalj and Farmer/junior Oriana Federico (Andover, MA/Lawrence Academy) each won.
Wheaton completed its trip against Baldwin-Wallace, as Geocaris, Teague and Van Faasen each won singles matches in straight sets. During doubles play, the tandems of Geocaris/Teague, Knies/Milic-Strkalj and Farmer/Van Faasen each came out on top.
This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 3/19/08.
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Women's Tennis: Geocaris and Teague draw weekly tennis honors from NEWMAC (more)