Athletics > Weekly Lyon > 2002-03 > March 31, 2003
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Baseball (8-4-1, 1-1) Posts 3-1-1 Week, Opens NEWMAC Play with Split against Clark
The Wheaton College baseball team posted a 3-1-1 week and in the process opened New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play with a split against Clark. Ranked sixth nationally according to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), the Lyons played UMass-Dartmouth to an 8-8 draw in a game that was called due to darkness on Tuesday, followed by victories over Bridgewater State (7-6) and Southern Maine (6-2). On Saturday, Wheaton saw its 16-game conference regular season winning streak come to an end with a 7-6 loss to Clark in 11 innings. The Blue and White salvaged the split later that afternoon, downing the Cougars, 9-4 in seven innings.
At UMass-Dartmouth, Wheaton held an 8-4 advantage through seven and a half innings, but the Corsairs tallied one run in the bottom of the eighth and three more in the ninth to salvage the tie. Trailing 5-1, UMD picked up two runs in the bottom of the third and one in the sixth to cut the deficit to 5-4 entering the seventh inning. In the top of the eighth, a three-run double by Wheaton sophomore Keith Cooper (Swampscott, MA/Pingree School) built the Lyon lead back to four runs at 8-4. In the ninth, the Corsairs used three hits and three walks to knot the score at eight runs apiece. Wheaton finished with 10 hits on the day, led by John Ablondi's (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) 4-for-5 performance with three runs scored, an RBI, a double and stolen base. Freshman hurler Bryan Duplissie (East Swanzey, NH/Monadnock) worked five innings for the Lyons, striking out three batters while giving up one earned run.
At Bridgewater State, senior hurler Mike Hunsinger (Fall River, MA/Durfee) posted his 25th career pitching victory and in the process tied Wheaton's all-time mark for wins in a career. Following a Bear run in the first, the Lyons used four hits including a pair of doubles coupled with a Bridgewater error to plate five runs in the top of the third frame. Senior Scott Beattie (Springvale, ME/Sanford) recorded a two-run double and Duplissie plated two more runners with a single to highlight the inning. The Blue and White scored single runs in the fifth and sixth and led 7-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth. The hosts refused to go away quietly, tallying three runs to close the margin to one run. The Bears would get no closer however, as the final out came back to the pitching mound to put an end to the rally. Hunsinger went seven innings, allowing one earned run on seven hits with three strikeouts. Offensively, Beattie went 2-for-4 with two RBI, two doubles and a run scored, while Duplissie finished with two RBI and a run scored.
Sophomore pitcher Jon Jackson (Ipswich, MA/Hamilton-Wenham) struck out eight batters and yielded only four hits in eight innings of work in the victory over Southern Maine on Friday. USM started the game hot with an early 2-0 lead. The Lyons cut the deficit in half when freshman Rafael Castillo (Queens, NY/Christ The King) recorded his first collegiate hit, which scored Beattie to make the score 2-1. The Blue and White erupted for four runs in the third inning, highlighted by a two-run double from senior Brett Edmunds (Wolfeboro, NH/Kingswood Regional). After a rough first inning, Jackson settled down, giving up only one hit over the next seven innings, while striking out seven batters in that span. Junior Trevor Alexander (Wilton, ME/Mt. Blue) came in to shut the door on the Huskies in the ninth, striking out two. Offensively, Edmunds was the lone repeat hitter in the game, going 2-for-4 with a double and two runs batted in.
Versus Clark, Wheaton spotted the Cougars six runs before breaking into the scoring column in the opener, as the visitors used three hits, two hit batters and a Lyon error to tally five runs in the top of the second inning. Trailing 6-2 entering the bottom of the sixth, Wheaton responded with four runs on three hits, a hit batter and three Cougar errors. Junior Tim Ziakas (Roxbury, NJ/Roxbury) knocked in two runs with a one-out double. With the scored knotted at six runs each, the Clark pitcher forced a fly out to first base to end the Wheaton rally. Following four scoreless innings in what was scheduled as a seven inning contest, the Cougars posted the game-winning run in the eleventh inning. Alexander suffered the loss, fanning two batters and allowing the one run in three innings of relief.
In game two, Wheaton again fell behind early, this time trailing 4-1 entering the fourth inning. In the bottom of the frame the hitting parade began, as the Lyons registered five straight hits, including a two-run homer by junior Jesse Woods (Reading, MA/Reading), the first of his career, and an RBI triple from Cooper. All told, Wheaton totaled seven runs and eight hits to take an 8-4 lead that was not relinquished. First-year hurler Joe White (Bedford, MN/Manchester West) earned his first collegiate win on the mound, striking out three Cougar batters while scattering six hits in four innings of work. Sophomore Kevin Doherty (Tewksbury, MA/Tewksbury) returned to the mound for the first time in two years following elbow surgery, giving Wheaton a lift with one strikeout and only one hit allowed in three innings of relief. Doherty earned his first collegiate save in the process.
Hunsinger and Cooper Named NEWMAC Pitcher and Player of the Week
Hunsinger and Cooper were named NEWMAC Pitcher and Player of the Week for the week ending on March 23. Hunsinger was named the first ever Pitcher of the Week for the conference, as this season marks the first time in the five-year history of the league such an award has been given. A senior co-captain for the Lyons, Hunsinger picked up two victories on the mound in Homestead, Florida. In a 9-6 win over Bowdoin, he struck out two batters in seven innings of work to earn the win. Versus the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Hunsinger fanned five batters while yielding only one earned run in seven innings of play. Cooper, a sophomore outfielder, posted a .424 batting average with seven RBI, six runs scored, seven walks, two doubles and three stolen bases in eight games on the week. The highlight came against Albright College, as Cooper went 2-for-3 with four RBI and a run scored. On the week, he had five multiple-hit games, including two games with three hits.
Men's Lacrosse (1-4) Splits Non-League Contests with Roger Williams and WNEC
The Wheaton College men's lacrosse team picked up its first win of the season on Tuesday afternoon, as the Lyons downed Roger Williams, 15-9 at Elms Field. On Saturday, host Western New England defeated the visiting Lyons, 12-7.
The Roger Williams game was close early, as both teams traded goals in the first period, resulting in a 2-2 tie after one. Junior Scott Liston (Plainfield, NH/Kimball Union) and classmate Zak Putnam (Cape Elizabeth, ME/Cape Elizabeth) each netted goals in the first period for the Lyons. The pair continued to propel Wheaton in the second stanza, as Liston tallied two more goals and Putnam two goals and two assists. The Hawks stayed close however, as the Lyons entered the intermission with a slight advantage of 7-6. Wheaton built a substantial lead in the third period, as the Lyons outscored Roger Williams, 5-1 in the period. Junior midfielder Chris Milligan (Madison, CT/Daniel Hand) scored early in the third period followed by a score from senior Zach Hurd (Bath, ME/Hyde School). Another Putnam goal gave Wheaton a 10-6 lead midway through the stanza. Putnam led the way for the Lyons with four goals and a career-high five assists, while Liston added three goals and a career-best three assists. Wheaton junior goalie Bryant Denny (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven) stopped 10 shots.
At Western New England, the first half was a low scoring affair, with the Golden Bears taking a 3-2 advantage into the half. WNEC broke the game open in the third stanza, outscoring the Lyons, 7-3 in the period. Trailing 10-5 after three quarters, Wheaton only mustered a pair of goals over the final 15 minutes. Putnam led the way for the Lyons with two goals and an assist, while junior Evan Carbotti (Newport, RI/Portsmouth Abbey) contributed two goals. Milligan had a goal and an assist in the loss. Denny denied 13 shots in the cage for Wheaton.
Women's Lacrosse (1-2, 1-0) Begins League Play with Victory over Smith, Falls to Nationally-Ranked Bowdoin and Gordon in Non-Conference Action
The Wheaton College women's lacrosse team began the week with a pair of non-conference losses to nationally-ranked Bowdoin, 15-13 on Tuesday and Gordon, 10-8 on Thursday. On Saturday, the Lyons steamrolled over Smith, 24-1 on Keefe Field to open league play.
On Tuesday, host Bowdoin rallied to score eight of the final ten goals of the game in a comeback win. The Lyons held a 5-4 edge at halftime and managed to extend their lead to 11-7 with 17 minutes left on a goal by junior Lauren Maynes (Woodstock, VT/Woodstock Union). Maynes combined with sophomore Vanessa Pisano (Vineyard Haven, MA/Martha's Vineyard) in putting on a scoring exhibition, as the two scored all of the Lyons' goals. The Polar Bears rallied, however, to score seven unanswered goals to take a 13-11 lead with just under five minutes left. Wheaton cut the lead to 14-13 on a goal from Maynes with 36 seconds left, but could not score the equalizer as the Polar Bears clinched the win with a goal with two seconds left. Wheaton's A.J. Vasiliou (Middletown, CT/Mercy) made 16 saves in the defeat. Pisano finished with seven goals and Maynes six.
Even at two goals apiece against Gordon, Wheaton scored three unanswered goals to hold a 5-2 advantage well into the first stanza. With 3:10 showing on the clock, the Scots pulled within two goals, however a mere eight seconds later Pisano scored the first of her two goals to put Wheaton back on top by three. In the second half, the Lyons were unable to answer the offensive outburst by Gordon. In just over the first five minutes of play in the second half, the Scots took the lead for good at 7-6. Pisano led Wheaton with two goals and three assists, while Maynes recorded three goals in the losing effort. In goal, Vasiliou stopped 13 shots.
Versus Smith, the Blue and White opened the scoring almost immediately, as Maynes scored the first of her five goals 1:56 into the contest to make the score 1-0. Wheaton tacked on 13 more goals in the stanza, two more from Maynes and three from Pisano, to lead 14-0 heading into the intermission. The Lyons led 17-0 before the Pioneers got on the board. Offensively, Pisano had five goals and three assists on the afternoon with Maynes adding five goals and an assist. Junior co-captain Peri West (Weston, MA/Weston) recorded three goals and three assists. Vasiliou stopped three shots in the cage.
Softball (16-2, 2-0) Runs Win Streak to Eight, Opens League Play with Sweep at Holyoke
The Wheaton College softball team ran its winning streak to eight games this week, which included sweeps of UMass-Dartmouth, Bridgewater State and Mount Holyoke. Ranked 14th in the country according to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), the Lyons knocked off UMD, 8-0 in six innings and 11-0 in five innings, Bridgewater State, 3-0 and 10-5 and Mount Holyoke, 11-0 in five innings and 1-0. Wheaton began its conference slate with the twinbill sweep over Holyoke.
Wheaton began its northern schedule in strong fashion Tuesday, as the Lyons downed local rival UMass-Dartmouth. Wheaton racked up 19 runs on 20 hits on the day. Senior co-captain Rachael Powers (Quincy, MA/North Quincy) batted 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a pair of doubles and a stolen base, while sophomore Jessica Foster (Sidney, ME/Messalonskee) went 2-for-2 with two RBI, a run scored and two doubles. Junior hurler Jackie Demling (Norwood, MA/Norwood) tossed a four-hit complete game shutout with four strikeouts and one walk.
In the nightcap, Wheaton tallied a pair of runs in the first and then exploded for nine runs on six hits in the third to put the game away early. Sophomore Jennifer Nelligan (Brockton, MA/Brockton) posted an all-around solid performance for the Lyons, as she improved to 3-1 on the mound with two strikeouts and two hits in three innings of work in addition to batting 1-for-1 with three RBI, a run scored and a triple. Multiple hitters included senior co-captain Maren Schrader (Canby, OR/Canby) and junior Lori Hill (Chestnut Hill, MA/Newton North). Schrader was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, an RBI and a double, while Hill went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
Highlighted by a two-run home run from sophomore Sarah Malloy (Cumberland, RI/Cumberland) in game one against Bridgewater State, the Lyons managed to blank the Bears. Game one was a pitcher's duel, as Demling and the Bear pitcher kept the game scoreless for five and a half innings. In the bottom of the sixth the Lyons' bats came alive, as Hill knocked home the first run of the game on a fielder's choice and Malloy followed with the first home run of her career. Demling picked up her seventh win, recording 13 strikeouts and yielding just two hits in seven innings.
In game two, the Bears started the game hot with three consecutive hits. Recording the next two outs, the hosts looked as if they were going to escape the inning unscathed. However, a grounder back to Nelligan on the mound ended up in right field as she overthrew Malloy at first base. Two runs scored on the overthrow and two more came in for a 4-0 Bear advantage. The Lyons answered, as Nelligan cracked a three-run homer to pull Wheaton within one in the first. Powers followed suit with a solo shot in the next at-bat to tie the game at four. In the bottom half of the second, the Blue and White took the lead on another solo homer, this one coming from junior Amanda Dow-Allen (Greenfield, MA/Stoneleigh-Burnham). The Lyons took the lead for good in the bottom half of the third inning, as Dow-Allen and junior Carmella Ranieri (Framingham, MA/Framingham) both recorded one-out singles. Nelligan and Powers then knocked them home with RBI singles to make the score 7-5. Nelligan picked up her fourth win of the year, giving up eight hits and striking out four in four innings.
At Mount Holyoke, powered by a one-hit pitching performance from Demling in game one and a game-winning RBI single by junior Brianna Shawah (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock Township) in game two, Wheaton had little difficulty sweeping Holyoke. In game one, Sarah Malloy highlighted the first inning with a two-run double to make the score 3-0. In the third, Hill knocked home two runs, while Schrader drove in three more with her first double of the season, as the Lyons plated six players in the inning. On the mound, Demling took a no hitter into the bottom of the fifth, until a Holyoke player ruined Demling's no-hit bid with a two-out pinch-hit single. Demling struck out three batters and walked one in picking up her eighth win of the season. Offensively, Hill was 3-for-3 with two RBI, while senior Powers and Ranieri each had two hits in the win.
Game two proved to be much tighter, as the Mount Holyoke hurler pitched seven strong innings, spreading out six hits and yielding only one run. However, that was not enough as the Lyons plated one runner in the second inning to pull out the 1-0 victory. Foster led off the second inning by getting hit by a pitch. She advanced to second on a sacrifice by Dow-Allen. Shawah then singled home Foster two at-bats later with the eventual game-winning run. On the mound, freshman Brittany Ames (Conway, NH/Kennett) posted her third win of the season, giving up one hit and striking out four in five innings of work. Classmate Amy Rowbottom (Norridgewock, ME/Skowhegan Area) picked up her first collegiate save, tossing two innings while fanning two batters. Schrader was the only multiple hitter of the game, going 2-for-4 with a stolen base.
Demling Named First Ever NEWMAC Pitcher of the Week
Demling was named the NEWMAC Pitcher of the Week for the week ending on March 23. This is the first time in the five-year history of the conference that a Pitcher of the Week has been named. Demling posted a 4-0 record on the week, leading Wheaton to a 7-1 mark in Fort Myers, Florida. In her four games, she tossed two shutouts, struck out 40 batters and gave up only one earned run in 29 innings pitched. The highlight of the week came against Richard Stockton College on Wednesday, as Demling recorded a career-high 15 strikeouts in Wheaton's 2-1 win. In wins over the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and Keene State College, Demling struck out 11 batters in each contest.
Men's Tennis (9-0) Continues Torrid Pace with Three Non-Conference Victories
The Wheaton College men's tennis team continued its torrid pace this week, sweeping Johnson & Wales, 7-0 on Wednesday and Bridgewater State, 7-0 on Thursday. The Lyons also picked up a victory on Tuesday by default, as Connecticut College was forced to forfeit its match.
Wheaton had little difficulty with Johnson & Wales, as the Lyons stormed through doubles play with a pair of 8-2 finals in the first and second slots followed by six straight-set triumphs in the singles portion of the match. Junior captain Scott Longmire (Belmont, MA/Belmont) posted a 6-0, 6-1 final in second singles, while first-year Matt Sheers (Beacon, NY/Beacon) was victorious 6-4, 6-3 in the top slot. Juniors Adam Wright (West Bloomfield, MI/West Bloomfield) and Ian Peck (Mount Vernon, NH/Souhegan) along with first-year athletes Nick Potter (Concord, NH/Concord) and Mike Moss (Needham, MA/Needham) all surrendered less than three points in their straight-set wins in the three through six singles positions. In the top of the lineup at doubles play, Wright and Potter sided for an 8-2 victory. Peck then joined freshman Jeff Selesnick (Concord, NH/Concord) for an 8-2 win at second doubles, while junior Jonah Cool (Palo Alto, CA/Henry B. Gunn) and first-year Brian Spielman (Madbury, NH/Oyster River) made their third doubles debut a memorable one with a decisive 8-1 triumph.
Against Bridgewater State, Wheaton took the doubles point by winning in the second and third spots. Wright and Potter swept their opponents, 8-0 in the second position, while Peck and senior Brooks Cutright (Ipswich, MA/Ipswich) picked up an 8-2 win in the third slot. In the singles matches, Wheaton captured the one through five slots in straight sets, highlighted by 6-1, 6-1 victories from Longmire and Peck in the two and four spots, respectively. Sheers won at number one singles, Wright at third singles and Potter in the fifth spot. Moss had to go to a tiebreaker in the sixth slot, but managed to pull away with a 10-6 win to preserve the shutout.
Eight Wheaton Student-Athletes Named to 2002-03 NEWMAC All-Academic Team
Eight Wheaton College student-athletes were named to the NEWMAC All-Academic team for the winter of 2002-03. Honorees must follow a certain criteria to qualify, including having a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better upon completion of the 2002 fall semester, attaining at least a sophomore standing and participating on a varsity team for the entire season. The women's swimming and diving squad led the pack with five recipients, among them; juniors Rachel Fontaine (Claremont, NH/Stevens) and Jessica Martin (Bridgton, ME/Lake Region) and sophomores Nicole Bassaleh (Mansfield, MA/Mansfield), Katie Levine (Needham, MA/Needham) and Blake Worrall (Duxbury, MA/Duxbury). Rounding out the list were a trio of women's basketball players in seniors Kerry Deshefy (Clinton, CT/The Morgan School) and Nicole Gerety (Rockland, MA/Rockland) and junior Bethany Jones (Winsted, CT/The Gilbert School).
Leading the swimmers to a 6-5 overall record and a seventh place finish at the NEWMAC Championship, Levine, Worrall and Bassaleh each played a part in Wheaton's 226 total points. Levine scored points for the Blue and White in the 200-yard freestyle as well as in four relay events, including a school-record time in the 200-yard freestyle relay (3rd place) and 400-yard freestyle relay (6th place). Worrall also played a role in the two record relay teams. In addition, she was a member of the 400-yard medley and 800-yard free relays that finished seventh and eighth, respectively. Bassaleh was a part of four relay teams that scored points at the conference championship, including the 200 free (15th), 200 medley (15th), 400 medley (15th) and 400 free (16th).
Last year's NCAA free throw percentage champion, Deshefy started every one of Wheaton's 23 games this season. Averaging 8.7 points per game, she was the team leader in assists and steals. Deshefy also ranked second in the league in steals (2.5 spg), tied for seventh in three-point field goals made (1.4) and ninth in three-point field goal percentage (.267). Jones and Gerety paced the Lyons in the front court. Jones started 22 of 23 games this season, averaging 3.7 points and 4.0 rebounds. Gerety saw limited time off the bench, scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 boards in 10 games. The Lyons finished the season 8-15 overall and 4-5 in conference play.
Six Field Hockey Players Named to STX/NFHCA Division III National Academic Squad
Six Wheaton College field hockey players have been named to the 2002 STX/NFHCA Division III National Academic squad. Honorees must follow a certain criteria to qualify for such an award, including having a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or better through the first semester of the 2002-03 academic year and competing as a starter or key reserve. Recipients of the award are seniors Stephanie Allen (Holden, MA/Notre Dame Academy) and Amy Haller (Pittsburgh, PA/Western Reserve Academy), junior Nicole Marchetto (Amherst, MA/Amherst), sophomore Jessica Gagnon (Rindge, NH/Conant) and first-year athletes Leigh-Anne Cioffredi (Lebanon, NH/Lebanon) and Elizabeth Rowland (Holliston, MA/Holliston).
Playing in the backfield, Allen started all 19 games for the Lyons, recording two defensive saves on the year. Haller sported a 2-1 record in her goalkeeper position with two shutouts and a 0.83 goals against average in seven games. Marchetto posted five points (2 goals, 1 assist) in 18 starts as a midfielder. Gagnon's season was cut short due to an ankle injury early in the season and saw action in just six games. Cioffredi started in all 19 games on defense, posting one defensive save, while Rowland tied for the team lead in points with 14 (7 goals). As a team, Wheaton posted an 8-11 overall mark, including a 4-4 record and a fifth place finish in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC).
Mahan Garners ECAC and D3hoops.com All-Region Accolades
Wheaton College men's basketball junior Scott Mahan (Bridgewater, MA/Cardinal Spellman) was selected to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III All-New England second team and the D3hoops.com All-Northeast third team announced by the respective organizations this week. ECAC all-stars are voted on by member ECAC Division III New England region coaches, while the D3hoops.com team is selected by Sports Information Directors at all Division III northeast region schools.
In 26 starts, Mahan led Wheaton to its second most successful season in school history with an overall mark of 19-10 and a trip to the semifinals of the ECAC Division III New England Tournament. Averaging nearly a double-double of 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, he ended the season ranked first in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) in rebounds and blocks (2.1 BPG), second in scoring, sixth in field goal percentage (.557) and seventh in free throw percentage (.733). Mahan also shattered Wheaton's all-time single-season record for blocks (58), free throws made (129) and rebounds (266). Named NEWMAC Player of the Week twice, he led the Lyons in scoring 16 times and rebounding on 18 occasions this season. At the NEWMAC Tournament, Mahan paced Wheaton in scoring and rebounding in both games.
As a team, Wheaton advanced to its fifth straight semifinal round of the NEWMAC Tournament in the five-year history of the conference. Additionally, the Lyons were selected to their fifth Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament berth in the 14-year history of the program.
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