The Week That Was

January 14, 1997 - January 20, 1997

by Jim Mullins
Assistant Director
Sports Information

Corsairs winning streak reaches 7 with 7-0 win over Tufts

UMass Dartmouth ran its winning streak to seven straight behind a hat trick by Jamie DiBona (Weymouth, MA) and Ryan Sloper's (Billerica, MA) eighth victory in goal as the Corsairs blanked Tufts University 7-0 at Hetland Arena on Jan. 18.

The Corsairs (11-1, 5-1 ECAC Central) got off to a quick start, scoring four goals in the first period for a lead they would not relinquish. Jamie DiBona scored the first of his three on a power-play at 5:09 from Brian Keaveney (West Roxbury, MA). Pat Schultz's (Wareham, MA) first goal of the season made it 2-0 and was followed by a Jermie DiBona (Weymouth, MA) goal and Jamie DiBona's second of the period. Chris O'Reilly (Belmont, MA) scored the only goal of the second period, before Marc Salvi (Cheshire, MA) and Jamie DiBona closed out the scoring in the third. Sloper made 18 saves to improve his record to 8-1. The shutout was Sloper's second this season and dropped his goals against average to 2.10 with a .913 saves percentage.

Mike Doherty (Stoneham, MA) scored his team-leading 11th and 12th goal of the season to lead the Corsairs to a 6-1 ECAC Central win at New Hampshire College Jan. 16. In goal, Sloper stopped 24 shots to pick up his seventh victory. UMass Dartmouth got on the board in the first period when Jason Cormier (Waltham, MA) scored an unassisted, short-handed goal for a 1-0 lead :56 seconds into the game. Goals by John DeFazio (Cranston, RI), his first of the season, and Doherty lifted the Corsairs to a 3-0 lead at the first intermission. Both teams exchanged goals in the second period with Jarrod DiBona (Weymouth, MA) giving UMass Dartmouth a 4-1 lead on a goal from Salvi and Keaveney. Three more third period goals from Steve Bartkus (Quincy, MA), Salvi and Doherty closed out the scoring for UMass Dartmouth.

After 2 OT loss to UMass Boston
Corsairs pick up two more wins

Coach Brian Baptiste's Corsairs rebounded from their 81-79 LEC loss to UMass Boston last Tuesday at the Tripp Center with a pair of non-conference victories at Clark University (97-78) and at Wheaton College (72-71).

UMass Dartmouth (6-6, 1-2 LEC) held the lead only twice against Wheaton College on Jan. 18: 2-0 and when the final buzzer sounded. Mosadi Caldwell's (Providence, RI) field goal with less than seven seconds to play gave UMass Dartmouth the lead and he made sure it would stick by deflecting a Wheaton College shot at the buzzer. Despite shooting 23% in the first half (10-43), the Corsairs trailed by only two points, 37-35. In the second half, UMass Dartmouth found its range, connecting on 17 of 33 (51.5%), setting the stage for Caldwell's last-second heroics. Captain Rick Taylor (Freetown, MA) added 16 points and seven rebounds and Sean Donovan (Quincy, MA) had 13 points.

The Corsairs dropped a heartbreaker to LEC rival UMass Boston when the Beacons scored the game-winner in the final seconds of double overtime on Jan. 14. The two teams were tied at 67-67 after regulation and 75-75 after the first extra session. Caldwell and Jason Antonio (Matapoisett, MA) were the Corsairs' top scorers with 14 points each while Tony Moreira (Pawtucket, RI) had 11 points and Tim Nelson (Reading, MA) added 10. Caldwell grabbed nine rebounds, Antonio had seven and Taylor picked up six rebounds to go along with seven points. Two nights later in Worcester, however, the Corsairs regained their long-range shooting touch. In a 97-78 win at Clark University, UMass Dartmouth shooters connected on 11 of 24 three's including four each by Donovan (18 points) and Antonio (18 points). Caldwell grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, connected on eight of 11 from the free throw line for 18 points. Taylor was the fourth Corsair to hit double figures, scoring 16 points plus 10 rebounds and four steals.

Caldwell earned LEC Honor Roll distinction for the second straight week, averaging 17 points and 9.3 rebounds plus his 50% shooting from the floor in UMass Dartmouth's three games last week. Taylor (13.5 points), Bland (13.3 points) and Antonio (12.4 points) rank fourth through sixth in the LEC scoring race, while Taylor is second in rebounds (6.6 per game) and Bland in fourth in rebounds (6.2). Donovan leads the LEC in three-pointers (26-59) at 44.1% and Antonio is sixth (20-53) at 33.7%. Taylor is second in field goal percentage at 51% and in blocked shots (1.2 per game). Antonio is tied for first in the conference in steals with 2.9 per game.

Swimmers pick up first win
against Worcester Polytech

The Corsairs posted their first victory of the season with a 136.5-86.5 victory over Worcester Polytech at UMass Dartmouth on Jan. 18. Coach Jim Filippo's squad captured five individual races, a pair of relays and both diving events to improve their record to 1-2. Mike Lane (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) picked up a pair of individual victories, taking the 200 IM in 2:13.52 and the 100 Breast in 1:00.26. Jason Howe (Short Hills, NJ) was the 100 Fly winner (:58.65), Gary Jones (Seekonk, MA) won at 100 Free (54.34) and Mike Pereira (Riverside, RI) took the 100 Back (1:00.26). The 200 M Relay team of Pereira, Lane, Jay Munnis (Braintree, MA) and Erol Moe (Windham, NH) posted a winning time of 1:48.23. In the 200 Free Relay, Jones, Moe, Will Whiting (Attleboro, MA) and Howe combined for a winning time of 1:37.84. Dan Ryan (Northampton, MA) swept both diving events, capturing the 1 Meter event with 189.90 points and the 3 Meter event with 143.85 points.

Losing streak reaches four with
losses to Clark and St. Joseph's

UMass Dartmouth's losing streak reached four in a row last week when the Corsairs were knocked off by Clark University in Worcester, 93-37 on Jan 18. Darilyn St. Germaine (Wareham, MA) was the Corsairs' high scorer with eight points. The first-year center is still ranked second in LEC rebounding, averaging 11.4 rebounds per game and 11.7 points per game (6th in LEC). She is also averaging 1.1 blocked shots per game, third in the conference. Teammate Shannon Martin (Scituate, MA) is tied for 6th in rebounding with 7.1 rebounds per game, while also averaging .5 blocked shots per game (tied for 7th) and eighth in steals at 2.1 per game. Natarsha Silva (Brockton, MA) is fifth in steals with 2.5 per game. Kelly Berger (Buzzards' Bay, MA) is among the top ten LEC scorers and assist leaders, averaging 10.8 points (9th) and 3.2 assists (7th) per game.

The Corsairs (3-7, 1-2 LEC) losing streak reached three after a 71-57 non-conference loss to St. Joseph's on Jan. 16. St. Germaine was the Corsairs' leading scorer with 18 points and 11 rebounds plus a game-high three blocked shots. Martin had another strong game on the boards, pulling down 11 rebounds plus three steals and four points. Berger also hit in double figures for UMass Dartmouth, scoring 11 points with five rebounds and dishing out seven assists. Silva and Cathy Danner (Marshfield, MA) both had eight points and four rebounds each.

Two night's earlier, a last-second basket by UMass Boston gave the Beacons a 49-48 LEC victory over the Corsairs. When Martin stole a UMass Boston pass and went coast-to-coast to give the Corsairs a 48-47 lead with 26 seconds left to play, UMass Dartmouth appeared to be on its way to its fourth win of the season. But UMass Boston's Edna Phifer scored the last of her game-high 19 points with less than seven seconds for the game-winner. Berger was UMass Dartmouth's leading scorer with 14 points, including six of nine from the free throw line. St. Germaine turned in another solid effort for the Corsairs, scoring 12 points and grabbing a game-high total of 25 rebounds, 15 in the first half. Danner added six points and seven rebounds, while Jennifer Pitner (Millis, MA) chipped in six points.

As a team, Coach Cathy Houtman's squad leads the LEC in two categories, free-throw percentage and three-point shooting. Through 10 games, UMass Dartmouth has made 99 of 204 free throws for 48.5% and on three-pointers, the Corsairs have connected on 14 of 60 for 23.3%. Berger's 11-38 on three-pointers (28.9%) lead the team along with her team-high 32 assists.

Barbarossa selected to play in Div.III All Star Football Classic

Senior John Barbarossa (Billerica, MA) has been invited to play in the first Annual USA Division III Senior All Star Football Classic at Robeson Stadium in East Orange, NJ on April 6, 1997. The game is a national all star game, restricted to seniors from NCAA Division III college who have received All-America or All Conference honors.

Barbarossa was one of five New England Football Conference (NEFC) players named to the 1996 New England Football Writers College Division All-New England First Team. A three-year starter for Coach Bill Kavanaugh's team, Barbarossa earned First Team honors as a defensive lineman. He was also named NEFC First Team at defensive end, tight end and punter and second team as a place kicker. Barbarossa is one of only four players from New England selected to play in the game.

Cardoza earns provisional spot
in NCAA Division III meet

With a throw of 53-9 1/4 in the 35 lb weight at the Corsairs' meet with Bates College on Jan. 18, Bradley Cardoza (Mattapoisett, MA) took first place and earned a provisional qualifying position in the NCAA Division III regional meet. Ken Papetti (Dedham, MA) and Mitch Sousa (Fall River, MA) finished second and third, respectively in the same meet. Papetti jumped 42-6 1/4 and Sousa reached 40-11, while Tim Mannle (Milford, CT) was eighth (37-7 3/4). Sousa also posted a third in the long jump (20-2 1/4), a fifth in the 55 meters (:07.00), eighth in the 200 meters (:25.05) and a sixth-place finish (5-6) in the high jump. Bill Ferreira (Fall River, MA) was seventh in the mile at 4:45.12.

Kuntz and Defonza can't lift Corsairs over Worcester Poly

Linda Kuntz (Billerica, MA) and Lynn Defonzo (Milford, MA) turned in several strong individual performances against Worcester Polytech on Jan.18, but it wasn't enough to give the Corsairs their first victory of the season. The Corsairs team fell to 0-4 after the 95-59 loss. Kuntz captured three victories for UMass Dartmouth, winning the 200 Free (2:07.91), 100 Breast (1:23.71) and the 500 Free (5:42.20). Defonzo was a double winner in the diving events, taking first place at 1 Meter with 219.22 points and winning at 3 Meters with 223.98 points.

McDonald picks up 2 top five
finishes at Bowdoin meet

Maura McDonald (Greenfield, MA) picked up a third place finish in the 1500 meters (5:07.88) and a fifth in the 1000 meters (3:24.5) to lead UMass Dartmouth in a meet with Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME on Jan. 18. The Corsairs fared well in the throwing events as Julie Briggs (Jefferson, MA) placed third in the 20 lb weight (41-5) and Jennifer Raxter (Fall River, MA) also took third in the shot (31-2). Tara Carson (Beverly, MA) was fifth behind McDonald in the 1500 meters (5:27.32). In the 55 meters, Becky Robitaille (Acushnet, MA) placed fifth (:08.00) with teammate Erin Benoit (Shrewsbury, MA) right behind in seventh (:08.13). Laura Caselden (Westfield, MA) placed sixth in the 600 meters with a time of :51.22.

UMass Dartmouth Sports Notes

A lucky Corsair basketball fan will get a chance to win $5,000 at one of the six remaining UMass Dartmouth men's basketball home games. One fan, picked randomly from the fans in the stands, will have an opportunity to attempt to make a lay up, free throw, three-point shot and a half-court shot within 30 seconds. Make all the shots within the time limit and the lucky fan will win $5,000. The contest will continue this season until someone wins the $5,000 prize. The Corsairs' home games where the contest will be held are Jan. 21 vs. RIC, Jan. 25 vs. Southern Maine, Feb. 6 vs. Salem State, Feb. 8 vs Western Conn., Feb. 15 vs. Trinity College and Feb. 18 vs. Eastern Connecticut.

This Week's Schedule
(home games in bold)

Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
21 Swimming Ice Hockey Basketball	22	23 Women's Basketball	24	25 Basketball Track Swimming Ice Hockey

Tuesday, Jan. 21

Women's swimming vs. Wheaton College
Men's swimming vs. Wheaton College
Ice hockey vs. Bentley College
Men's basketball vs. RIC
Women's basketball vs. RIC

Thursday, January 23

Women's basketball vs. Worcester Polytech

Saturday, January 25

Men's indoor track @ MIT
Women's indoor track @ Coast Guard
Men's swimming @ Clark University
Women's swimming @ Clark University
Ice hockey vs. Assumption College
Women's basketball vs. Southern Maine
Men's basketball vs. Southern Maine

Jim Mullins
Assistant Director, Sports Information and Daily News
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
285 Old Westport Road
Dartmouth,MA 02747-2300
Phone: News (508) 999-8965 Sports (508) 999-8720
Fax: (508) 999-9200
JMullins@UMassD.edu
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 Last Updated On: 6/5/06