by Jim Mullins
Administrative Assistant
for Promotion/Public Information

Field hockey

You can't fault Corsair field hockey coach Marilyn Ritz if she has to look at a team roster for her first few games this season.

UMass Dartmouth returns only five starters from last year's 9-9 squad, but Ritz hopes to more than offset the lack of overall experience by adding 13 newcomers, many of whom might be able make an impact in their first season.

"The additional players helped us gain a lot of depth in defensive positions, something we were lacking last season," said Ritz, who is entering her 16th year with a 129-87-18 career record. "With only five returning starters, the team's early success will depend on how quickly the younger players learn the system and each other."

One of the returnees Ritz and the young Corsairs will be looking to early will be sophomore forward and co-captain Ashley Dorman (Harwich, MA). With a team-leading eight goals and one assist last season, Dorman's 17 points established her as one of the Corsairs' top offensive players heading into this season.

Senior co-captain Sara Dipilato (Shrewsbury, MA) joins Dorman along with junior defender Erin McHugh (Dartmouth, MA), sophomore Erin McDonald (Greenfield, MA) and sophomore goalkeeper Paula Malcom (Milford, MA) as the Corsairs' other top returning players.

Ritz also points to junior forward Becky Chase (Westport, MA), sophomore forward Sandy Methe (Whitinsville, MA) and sophomore defender Sarah Tuxbury (Sudbury, MA) as three players who gained valuable experience a year ago and from whom she is hoping for key contributions. Junior defender Carolyn Catulo (Dartmouth, MA) and sophomore defender Cara Fidalgo (Winchester, MA) also picked up experience on defense and could see more action this season.

Malcom is coming off a very solid first season with the Corsairs last year. In 10 games guarding UMass Dartmouth's net, Malcom allowed only seven goals, chalking up 60 saves for a goals against average of 0.83. She earned 3.5 shutouts during the season. Backing up Malcom in goal will be first-year players Jennifer Burrows (Hubbardston, MA) and Cassana Ouellette (Tewksbury, MA).

Another player Ritz will be looking at as a returning veteran will be sophomore Jennifer McGuinness (E. Taunton, MA), who returns after taking a year off for military service. McGuinness was a starter as a first-year player on the UMass Dartmouth team which finished 13-4 and qualified for the ECAC Division III playoffs in 1996.

Two of the first-year players joining the Corsairs' roster for the first time this season are products of outstanding local field hockey programs. Caroline Kocor (Fairhaven, MA, MA) played her field hockey at Dartmouth High, while Andrea Goggin (Acushnet, MA) played at Bishop Stang High School. Ritz said both players could be used on either defense or at midfield.

Ritz said there will be plenty of competition for a spot on the forward line between Alexandra Wildes (Carver, MA), Sara Supino (W. Springfield, MA) and Julie Remick (Buzzards Bay, MA), a sophomore, who did not play a season ago. Remick could also play midfield if needed.

Competing for defensive positions during the pre-season are Leigh-Ann Wiseman (Demarest, NJ), Deanna White (Essex, MA), Beth Murray (Springfield, MA), Christina Muise (Groton, MA) and Megan Foresteire (Spencer, MA).

At the key midfield positions, Ritz said she might be looking for a replacement for Erin McDonald, who could move to the forward line to take advantage of her speed and endurance. Among the other players competing for time as either midfielders or on defense, in addition to Kocor and Goggin, are Kristen Greene (Medfield, MA) and Jaclyn Michalos (Norwood, MA).

In addition to their work on the field, three members of Ritz's team have demonstrated outstanding work in the classroom as well. Dipilato, Chase and McHugh represented UMass Dartmouth on the National Field Hockey Coaches' Association Division III National Academic Squad last year and will be trying for a repeat performance this season. Dipilato has been named to the squad twice, while Chase and McHugh were first-time selections a year ago. In order to qualify, players much have been varsity starters or significant reserves with a minimum grade point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale.

In addition to 13 new faces on the roster, the Corsairs will also have to get used to a new conference this season. For the first time this season, the Little East Conference is sponsoring competition in field hockey for 1998. The Corsairs will play Eastern Connecticut, Southern Maine, Keene State College and Plymouth State College before competing in the first LEC field hockey tournament on Oct 29 through November 1.

For the third year in a row, Coach Bill Kavanaugh's Corsairs finished with an 8-2 record, closing out the 1998 season ranked #6 in the final ECAC New England Division III football poll. In the New England Football Conference (NEFC) Blue Division, UMass Dartmouth placed second with a 5-1 record.

UMass Dartmouth players earned several conference and region all-star honors and for the first time in the program's 11-year history, the Corsairs placed a player on a national Division III All-America team.

Defensive back Mike Cotton (Middleboro, MA) was a First-Team choice on the 1998 Football Gazette Division III All-America and a First-Team All-East selection. Cotton was also a Second Team selection on the Hewlett Packard Division III All-America team. Cotton led NCAA Division III defensive players with 11 interceptions during the season. Three of his interceptions were returned for touchdowns. Cotton earned a weekly New England Golden Helmet after returning two interceptions for touchdowns.

The All-America award caps an outstanding season for Cotton, which saw him earn First-Team All-NEFC honors, a First-Team ECAC New England Division III selection and he was named to the New England Football Writers' 1998 Division II and III All-New England team. Cotton was part of the UMass Dartmouth defensive unit which finished the season ranked #3 in total defense in the NCAA Division III. The Corsairs' defensive unit led the NEFC in passing efficiency defense, holding NEFC opponents to the fewest passing yards, plus 18 interceptions and only four TD passes allowed, fewest in the NEFC.

The Corsairs had eight players on the NEFC All-Star team, more than any other team in the NEFC. The senior pass-catch combination of quarterback Jay Furtado (Swansea, MA) and wide receiver Ryan Bland (Dartmouth, MA) were the Corsairs' only repeat NEFC First Team selections from last season. A two-time ECAC Division III New England and New England Football Writers First Team All-Star, Furtado earned First Team NEFC honors at quarterback and NEFC Offensive Player of the Year for a second straight season. In 10 games as a senior, Furtado connected on 163 of 298 passes (54.7%) for 2,298 yards with 28 TDs and 10 interceptions. He averaged 229.8 passing yards per game.

Bland earned First Team NEFC and New England Football Writers All-Star honors as a wide receiver for a second year in a row and was a second team ECAC Division II New England All-Star. Bland had 69 passes in 10 games (11th best in Div. III) for 919 yards, a 13.3 yards per catch average, and a 91.9 yards per game average. He caught 12 TD passes, plus two rushing TDs and had two interceptions on defense.

Also named to the NEFC First Team were offensive guard Nate Manderson (Ipswich, NY) and offensive tackle Kevin Mahoney (Dix Hills, NY). Manderson, a 6-0 230-pound senior guard and Mahoney, a 6-2, 270- pound senior tackle were key players in the Corsairs' offensive unit which finished second in total offense in the NEFC (383.7 yards per game) and first in pass offense (233.8 yards per game).

Joining the four NEFC First Team selections from offense were four members of the UMass Dartmouth defense. Cotton was joined by defensive lineman Matt Souza (Mansfield, MA) and senior linebackers David Spiriti (Everett, MA) and O. J. Powell (Wareham, MA). Spiriti, an NEFC Second Team All-Star a year ago as a junior, teamed with the Powell to give the Corsairs outstanding play at linebacker. Spiriti (7.1 tackles/game) and Powell (6.5 tackles/game) finished the season ranked first and second in tackles for the Corsairs' defense.

Named to the NEFC Second Team was Corsair tight end Mike Armandi (Foxboro, MA), who had 19 catches for 283 yards, an average of 14.9 yards per catch and four TDs. NEFC Honorable Mention went to defensive lineman James Lupton (Wareham, MA), who also earned Second Team ECAC Division III New England All-Star honors. Freshman place kicker Brian West (Raynham, MA), who connected on 28 of 35 extra points and made three of five field goals for 37 points, was an NEFC Honorable Mention.

After two straight losing seasons, UMass Dartmouth's volleyball team posted its first winning season since 1995 as second-year coach Rick Quintin continues to improve the Corsairs' prospects for the future.

With the addition of several new players to the 1998 roster, Quintin's Corsairs had several strong showings in both match competition and in a pair of invitational tournaments. Playing in front of a home crowd at the Tripp Center helped the Corsairs to a second-place finish in the UMass Dartmouth Invitational, and one week later, the Corsairs finished third in the 1998 Little East Conference Tournament.

One of the season highlights for UMass Dartmouth was having sophomore outside hitter Amy Wilson (Dartmouth, MA) named to the 1998 Little East Conference First Team All-Star squad. Wilson was the only player not from LEC champion Eastern Connecticut named to the LEC First Team.

LEC All-Star honors capped an outstanding season for Wilson, who also earned LEC Player of the Week distinction on Oct. 18 after helping her team finish second at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational. Wilson had 36 kills, seven blocks, three service aces and was named to the All-Tournament team. One week later, Wilson led the Corsairs to a third-place finish in the LEC Tournament, earning All-Tournament honors for her efforts.

Among the LEC statistical leaders for the season, Wilson was second in kills with 2.97 per game and she was fifth in hitting percentage at .281. Corsair teammates Carla Ferreira (Marion, MA), a first-year player, and sophomore Karyn Ferreira (Marion, MA) took the top two LEC spots in blocks. Carla averaged 1.88 blocks per game and Karyn finished with 1.43 blocks per game, helping the Corsairs lead the LEC in that category (3.28 per game). Junior setter Gen O'Brien (Swansea, MA) placed fourth among LEC setters in assists averaging 7.28 per game.

Three UMass Dartmouth players achieved LEC Honor Roll distinction during the season, including Wilson (Oct. 25), O'Brien (Oct. 4) and K. Ferreira (Sept. 20).

As a team, the Corsairs led the LEC in blocks, placed second in hitting percentage (.217) and fourth in kills (8.37). O'Brien led the Corsairs with 801 assists, while Wilson was tops in kills with 315, followed by Carla Ferreira (207), Karyn Ferreira (169) and first-year outside hitter Molly Dixon (Rochester, MA) (165).

UMass Dartmouth finished the season with an 8-3-1 record, highlighted by the Corsairs' third consecutive Little East Conference women's tennis championship. Coach Warren Preti's squad extended its championship run for another season, and combined with Preti's three consecutive men's LEC championships, gives the Corsair tennis programs six straight LEC tennis championships.

UMass Dartmouth captured the LEC championship by finishing atop the six-team field with 23 points, three ahead of runner-up Rhode Island College with 20 points and third-place Southern Maine with nine points.

UMass Dartmouth got off to a good start on the first day of competition, Oct. 17, by taking two of the three doubles titles, setting the stage for the six singles matches the following day. Playing on their own home court, the Corsairs took four of the six singles matches to clinch the championship on Oct. 18.

Tri-captain Kelly Berger (Buzzards Bay, MA) led the Corsairs with a #1 singles victory and teamed with UMass Dartmouth's #2 singles champion, Mary Bourque (Rochester, MA) for a #1 doubles crown. The LEC championships were the sixth and seventh of Berger's four-year tennis career at UMass Dartmouth. As a junior in 1997, Berger was LEC champion in #2 singles and #1 doubles. During her sophomore year, she was part of the #2 doubles championship team. As a first-year player in 1995, Berger captured the #6 singles title and was part of the #3 doubles title team.

Bourque is also a multiple champion in LEC championship competition. In addition to her #2 singles championship this year, Bourque was the LEC's #4 singles champion and #1 doubles champion last season. Bourque also has a #3 doubles title to her credit two years ago, raising her number of LEC titles to five, one behind Berger. UMass Dartmouth had a pair of first-time LEC singles champions in Christina Bendzewicz (Lowell, MA) and Dana Feinstein (Franklin, MA). In the doubles championships, Bourque and Berger captured the #1 doubles championship while tri-captains Kasha Gula (Mansfield, MA) and Shannon Kelleher (Saugus, MA) were the #2 doubles champions

While the Corsairs took six out of nine titles, they had two teams finish as runners-up in their respective events. Gula lost her #3 singles title match and the #3 doubles team of Bendzewicz and Christine Mace (Abington, MA) lost their championship match.

Men's and Women's Cross Country

After a frustrating 1997 season filled with injuries and illness, UMass Dartmouth's women's cross country team rebounded strongly in 1998. Coach Jon Hird's Corsairs recaptured the Little East Conference and New England Alliance Championships and proved they belonged among the top ten teams in New England, the NCAA's most difficult region

The Corsairs were led by co-captains Maura McDonald (Greenfield, MA) and Karla Jarquin, (Shrewsbury, MA) throughout the season. After a second place at Amherst College, the Corsairs posted strong showings at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational (fourth), the Codfish Bowl in Boston (4th) and 11th among Division III teams at the All-New Englands.

The combined LEC/New England Alliance title saw the Corsairs place McDonald, Jarquin and Tara Carson (Beverly, MA) second, third and fourth, respectively, while Kristen Shea (Dartmouth, MA) and Jackie Gorski (Warwick, RI) helped UMass Dartmouth outscore Southern Maine.

All five UMass Dartmouth runners earned NE Alliance All-Conference honors and the first three finishers were All-LEC. For McDonald, it was the third time in her career she had achieved All-LEC status, while Jarquin and Carson were honored as All-LEC for a second year.

In the NCAA Division III Regionals, McDonald concluded her career with a 15th place finish (18:38) and Jarquin was 33rd (18:59). Both McDonald and Jarquin earned NCAA Division III All-England and NCAA Regional honors for their efforts.

On the men's side, the Corsairs showed continued progress throughout the season, despite the loss of Gary Mello, an NCAA qualifier and 5,000 meter All-America from the previous season.

Mello's departure left Coach Hird with a young squad, which spent the better part of the season showing significant improvement. Sophomore captain Jeff Reed (Westport, MA) and junior Pat Gallagher (Fairhaven, MA) both improved their times by two minutes. Brian Akeley (Peabody, MA) provided a lift for the Corsairs early in the season before suffering a mid-season injury.

After Akeley went down with his injury, three newcomers to cross country filled the void. First-year runners Chris Rogers (Weymouth, MA), Jason Caisse (Templeton, MA) and John Fitton (Westport, MA) demonstrated potential and gained valuable experience for next season.

The Corsairs placed third overall in the LEC championships, 21st at the ECAC Division III Championships, and 24th in the NCAA Division III regionals

Men's Golf

Under the direction of head coach Paul Fistori, the Corsairs' golf team had a 4-2 record in matches, earned an invitation to the ECAC Golf Championships for the first time in the program's history and placed one golfer on the Division III All-New England team.

UMass Dartmouth finished 15th overall at the 39th annual ECAC Golf Championships played at Saratoga Springs Country Club in New York. The Corsairs carded a two-day total of 634 in the 18-team field.

The Corsairs' low score of the ECAC tournament belonged to Joey Lopes (Sagamore Beach, MA), who fired a 78-75 153 to place him 30th in the individual competition. One stroke back of Lopes in 38th place were teammates Jon Ruel (Mattapoisett, MA), the Corsairs' captain, and Brendan Meehan (Webster, MA) with identical 78-76 154 scores.

UMass Dartmouth's men's golf team wrapped up its 1998 season by finishing 24th overall and sixth among Division III teams with one All-New England golfer at the New England Championships played at New Seabury. Leading the way for UMass Dartmouth was Matt Lane (Holden, MA), who carded a 78-81 159 to finish 53rd overall and sixth among Division III golfers. Lane earned Division III All-New England honors for his performance.

From a field of 13 teams at the ECAC Southern Qualifier, UMass Dartmouth turned in a combined score of 321 to finish second behind Holy Cross (315) and ahead of WPI (323). Lopes and Meehan fired the Corsairs' low round of the tournament with a pair of 76s.

At the Southern Maine Invitational, the Corsairs finished first from a field of 10 teams with three players finishing among the top nine. Meehan had the low individual round of the tournament with a 77. Ruel was one shot back at 78 and Lopes finished at 80. Mark Loud (Pocasset, MA) carded an 82, while Lane had an 89.

In the UMass Dartmouth Invitational, played at Country Club of New Bedford, the Corsairs finished second with a score of 428. Ruel was low man for UMass Dartmouth at 82, followed by Lopes' 84 and Meehan's 86.

Women's Soccer

When Coach Alex Silva's Corsairs were able to score goals, they proved to be a successful team during the 1998 season. In the seven games UMass Dartmouth either won or tied, the Corsairs outscored their opponents, 11-3, and recorded four wins and three ties. The Corsairs' problems arose when they had trouble scoring goals. UMass Dartmouth was outscored 44-4 in 12 losses, including nine shutouts, leaving the Corsairs with a 4-12-3 overall record. The Corsairs finished 1-5-1 in the Little East Conference (LEC), tied for sixth place with Rhode Island College.

UMass Dartmouth's leading scorer was sophomore Stephanie Oles (Putnam, CT), who had a team-leading four goals for eight points, with 23 shots on goal in 18 games. Junior Elizabeth Salvia (Andover, MA) and senior Amy Prendergast (Sudbury, MA) tied for second in scoring with seven points each. Salvia had three goals and an assist, while her teammate, Prendergast, had two goals and three assists. First-year player Melanie Ross (Methuen, MA) finished third in scoring with two goals for four points. Salvia led the team with 38 shots on goal in 19 games, Oles was second and senior Jennifer Tolson (Whitman, MA) (0-2-2) was third with 21 shots on goal.

Sophomore Jen Nelson (Medford, MA) was the Corsairs' workhorse in goal, appearing in 18 games and finishing with a 4-11-3 record. Nelson allowed 41 goals, faced 249 shots and came up with 183 saves. She finished with a 2.12 goals against average (8th in LEC) and posted five shutouts during the season. Nelson was the only UMass Dartmouth player to earn recognition from the LEC during the season, having been selected for the LEC Honor Roll after making 15 saves in a 1-0 win over Bridgewater State.

Men's Soccer

In Niall O'Donnell's second season with the Corsairs' men's soccer program, UMass Dartmouth finished with a 5-13-1 overall record and a 3-4 mark in the Little East Conference (LEC). The Corsairs tied for fourth place, with Western Connecticut, in the eight-team conference.

UMass Dartmouth played in nine one-goal games during the 1998 season, posting a 4-5 record with three of those games coming against LEC opponents. The Corsairs managed three LEC victories this season, but UMass Dartmouth fell just short of making a major move up the conference standings. Of UMass Dartmouth's four LEC losses, three were by a one-goal margin. Among the narrow losses by UMass Dartmouth during the 1998 season were a 2-1 loss to LEC champion Plymouth State College, a 3-2 overtime loss to third-place Eastern Connecticut and a 1-0 season-ending loss to Western Connecticut, resulting in the tie for fourth-place.

One of the keys to the Corsairs' improved play in 1998 were the efforts of defender Patrick Gavin (Thornton, CO). A junior in his first season at UMass Dartmouth, Gavin was an outstanding defensive player for the Corsairs, finishing the season with a team-leading three assists for three points. Gavin, a Second Team LEC selection, was UMass Dartmouth' only representative on the LEC 1998 All-Star team.

Freshman Jason Ponte (Dartmouth, MA) was the Corsairs' leading scorer on the season, finishing with four goals and two assists for 10 points. Keita Monteiro (Taunton, MA) was second in scoring, netting four goals with an assist for nine points and senior tri-captain Mike Tuccillo (Woodbridge, VA) was third with two goals and three assists for seven points.

Freshman Dave Duraes (Fairhaven, MA) and junior Rob Costa (Taunton, MA) shared the netminding duties throughout the season. In 12 games, Costa allowed 20 goals and made 45 saves for a 1.82 goals against average. Costa had one shutout to his credit and a 3-5-1 overall record. Duraes appeared in 10 games, allowing 27 goals for a 2.79 goals against average. Duraes came up with 59 saves on 131 shots and finished with a 2-8 record.

Early in the 1998 season, UMass Dartmouth's Tony Moreira (Pawtucket, RI) earned LEC Honor Roll distinction on Sept. 20 after scoring twice in UMass Dartmouth's first victory of the season, a 4-1 win over Worcester State College.