The Week That Was

November 20, 1996 - November 25, 1996

by Jim Mullins
Assistant Director
Sports Information

Corsairs edge Fitchburg State
but fall to Bentley College

After sweeping a pair of games at the Pepsi Invitational in Potsdam, New York three weeks earlier, the Corsairs (4-1, 0-1 ECAC Central) ran their winning streak to 3 straight with an exciting 7-5 victory over defending ECAC North/Central/South champion Fitchburg State College. In front of an enthusiastic crowd for the home opener at Hetland Arena, Jeramie DiBona (Weymouth, MA) scored 5 goals and added an assist to lead the Corsairs to victory.

Three nights later, however, the Corsairs winning streak was stopped when Bentley College edged UMass Dartmouth in overtime, 8-7 in the Corsairs' ECAC Central opener.

In the Fitchburg State game, a rematch of last year's ECAC championship game, Jeramie DiBona scored a pair of first period goals for a 2-1 UMass Dartmouth lead at the first break. Jarrod DiBona (Weymouth, MA) made it 3-1 less than a minute into the second period to give UMass Dartmouth a 2-goal lead. In a span of just over 5 minutes, beginning at the 5:08 mark, Fitchburg State exploded for 4 straight goals and a 2-goal lead of its own, 5-3.

Not to be outdone, Jeramie DiBona responded by scoring 3 more goals in just over 3 minutes to put the Corsairs ahead 6-5 after 2 periods. Chris O'Reilly (Belmont, MA) added an insurance goal late in third period and the Corsairs' defense stiffened in front of goalie Louis Weimann (Burlington, VT), who made 18 saves in the 7-5 decision.

Goals by both teams weren't too hard to come by in the Bentley College game played in Waltham. First period goals by A.J. Carthas (Quincy, MA), Brett Flint (Danvers, MA) and Mike Doherty (Stoneham, MA) were matched by three Bentley College goals for a 3-3 tie after one period. Steve Bartkus (Quincy, MA) and Craig Hardy (Everett, MA) gave UMass Dartmouth a 5-3 lead with 2 goals inside the first 2 minutes of the period, only to have Bentley College go a tear of its own.

The Falcons scored 3 goals in 4 minutes for a 6-5 lead at the second intermission. Doherty's second goal tied the score, 6-6, but the Falcons took a 7-6 lead with less than 14 minutes remaining in regulation. Hardy's goal at 18:47 forced the game into overtime where the Falcons scored the eventual game-winner just over a minute into the extra session. Weimann started in goal for the Corsairs and made 7 saves before Ryan Sloper (Billerica, MA) took over, stopping 22 saves in a losing effort.

Despite wins by Kuntz, Corsairs
drop opener to Regis College

UMass Dartmouth opened its 1996-97 on the short end of a 114-84 decision to Regis College at the Tripp Center pool. Coach Jim Filippo's squad (0-1) received several strong performances in both the swimming and diving events.

Co-captain Linda Kuntz (Billerica, MA) kicked off her senior season with a pair of victories in the 1000 Free (11:33.39) and the 500 Free (5:43.73). Kuntz was also part of the Corsairs' 200 Free Relay team which took first place with a time of 1:59.17.

Joining Kuntz in the winning 200 Free Relay effort were Jen Wilson (Waltham, MA), Jess Kallipolites (Windsor, MA) and Katie Bernardo (Assonet, MA). Wilson brought home the Corsairs' other victory of the season opener, taking the 500 Free in 1:12.01. Jen Paquette (New Bedford,MA) opened her season with a pair of victories in 1-meter diving events. She scored 149.35 points in the voluntary and 142.50 in the optional competition.

Barbarossa earns NEFC 1st Team
honors at 3 different positions

When opponents scouted UMass Dartmouth this season they had a hard time telling when John Barbarossa (Billerica, MA) left the field. Turns out he didn't leave the field often.

Prior to the season, the senior co-captain was moved from tight end to defensive end, but after a few games, he ended playing both offense and defense for UMass Dartmouth. He didn't get much of a break on special teams either, handling the Corsairs' punting and field goal kicking duties.

When it was time for the New England Football Conference coaches to vote on the 1996 NEFC All Conference Team, most of them wrote Barbarossa's name everywhere they could. Barbarossa earned the rare honor of being named First Team All-Conference at 3 different positions - defensive lineman, tight end and punter and Second Team place kicker. All season long Barbarossa did everything the Corsairs' coaches asked of him, finishing fifth in tackles with 42 (32 solo), 3 sacks and an interception on defense. At tight end, he grabbed 11 passes for 282 yards (25.6 yds/catch) and 3 TDs. His 37.1 yard punting average was tops in the NEFC. Barbarossa also led the NEFC in scoring as a kicker (41 points) and led UMass Dartmouth in scoring with 65 points, including 32 of 34 extra points and 3 of 10 field goals.

Joining Barbarossa on the NEFC's All Conference First Team for 1996 was senior offensive tackle Kevin Magnussen (Millis, MA). Magnussen, a four-year player for Coach Bill Kavanaugh's Corsairs, started his first game midway through his freshman season and remained one of the stalwarts of the UMass Dartmouth offense for the next 4 years.

After finishing second in the NEFC this season behind two-time champion Worcester State, the Corsairs placed 6 players on the All Conference Second Team. Senior co-captain Matt DeGrandpre (Marion, MA) at defensive line, junior linebacker Rob Carney (Leicester, MA) and senior defensive backs Paul Barnett (Wareham, MA) and John Skabeikis (Dorchester, MA) represented the defensive unit on the NEFCs All Conference Second Team. The Corsairs' offense placed senior co-captain Andrew Timo (Bourne, MA) and sophomore running back Jo Jo Goodine (New Bedford, MA) on the NEFC's All Conference Second Team.

Men's Soccer

Nelson Melo invited to play in
N.E. Senior All Star game

After four seasons as part of the UMass Dartmouth men's soccer program, Nelson Melo (Fall River, MA) played his last collegiate soccer game last Sunday at Springfield College's Benedum Field.

Instead of wearing his familiar UMass Dartmouth uniform, however, the former Durfee High School soccer standout represented the Corsairs on a team of Division III all -stars at the 1996 New England Intercollegiate Soccer League (NEISL) Senior All Star Game.

Melo was one of only four players from the Little East Conference selected to play in the 1996 game. The annual NEISL game features the top college and university senior all-stars from Divisions I, II and III competing against each other for the only time in their careers. This is third year in a row the Corsairs have a representative on the Division III senior all-star team. Two years ago, Eddie Jacob was named to the team and last season, Dan Souza represented UMass Dartmouth.

UMass Dartmouth Sports Notes

A pair of former Corsair athletes have been appointed assistant coaches in their respective sports for the winter season. Former basketball player Steve Motta (Fall River, MA) will join coach Brian Baptiste's staff as an assistant coach and former ice hockey goalie Shawn Grenier (East Taunton, MA) has been named one of Coach John Rolli's assistant coaches.......Former Durfee High basketball coach Tom 'Skip' Karam had to step down from his volunteer coaching position due to personal reasons. Karam said an old knee injury made it very difficult for him to stand up for any length of time and may require surgery in the future.

This Week's Schedule
(home games in bold)

Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
26 Men's & Women's Basketball Ice Hockey Swimming	27	28 Happy Thanksgiving	29	30

Tuesday, November 26

Men's Basketball vs. Worcester State College
Women's Basketball vs. Worcester State College
Ice Hockey @ Stonehill College
Men's Swimming @ Bridgewater State College
Women's Swimming @ Bridgewater State College

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