Leary leads UMD lacrosse past Salem State

Tarek Donnelly (left) in pursuit of a Salem State ball handler.

UMD’s Matt Leary (4) making a play in front of the cage.

By Trevor Medeiros

While last Saturday afternoon’s game was played under cloudy skies, it was a sunny outcome for the UMass Dartmouth men’s lacrosse team, as they cruised to a 13-6 victory over non-conference opponent Salem State at Cressy Field.

In fact, there’s been little to complain about so far, as the Corsairs have opened the season at a solid 7-1 mark. One of the reasons for the stellar start has been the play of junior attackman Matt Leary. He paced the UMD offense against the visiting Vikings, scoring five goals to go with an assist.

“Matt Leary was phenomenal, had a great day,” said UMD head coach Kevin Mahoney.

The Corsairs jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one quarter off goals by Leary, freshman midfielder Josh Arsenault and junior midfielder Steve Colella. Leary tallied his second goal two minutes into the second, beating Vikings goalie Keith Hardy to his right off a spin move from behind the cage.

“We got a young team that’s really starting to develop and come together,” Leary said after the victory.

Justin Jones finally got the visiting team on the scoreboard a minute later, but Leary responded midway through the quarter, scoring a powerplay goal from the left side. Junior midfielder Matt Swirbalus and sophomore middie Pat Kohout added goals to give UMD a 7-1 halftime lead.

“We played very well,” said Mahoney. “We had a good first half, we came out playing. We’re playing good lacrosse. Our better players are stepping up in games like this.”

The second half was much of the same for the home team. Leary’s best goal came 11 minutes into the third, when he stole the ball from an unsuspecting defender and beat Hardy left-side to extend the Corsair lead to 10-3.

Freshman Tim Walsh (two goals) opened up the final quarter with a goal in front of the net off a nice pass from senior attackman Robert Young. Despite being just a freshman, Walsh is among the team leaders in points from his attack position.

“You can’t ask anything more of that kid,” said Leary of Walsh. “He’s finishing strong, and he’s a great attackman.”

Walsh, Leary and sophomore Andrew Foster have become a trio that is given opposing defense fits so far this spring.

“They’re doing phenomenal out there,” said Mahoney. “They’re starting to mesh, which I like.”

The Corsairs have also been holding it down on the defensive end of the field this season, led by senior goalie Steve “Cheese” Chase. He played so well against the Vikings that he was relieved by freshman Brendan Casey, who played six minutes of garbage time in the forth.

“Our defense is playing well,” Leary said. “Cheese is standing on his head every game.”

Mahoney agreed: “Steve Chase was great in the cage again.”

The Corsairs’ next three games come against the likes of LEC opponents Eastern Connecticut, Southern Maine, and non-conference Emerson, and despite the stellar start, Mahoney knows there’s always room for improvement.

“We need 60 minutes of intensity. We haven’t had a complete game yet.”

And if UMD does put together that complete game soon, it will mean more sunny days for the Corsairs.

Tim Walsh (33) makes his move against a Salem State defender.

No Mercy! Corsairs baseball team routs Plymouth State

By Trevor Medeiros

UMD shortstop making an easy out.

Freshman pitcher Scott Tibbetts (45) throwing heat.

When Dylan Zygmont’s seventh-inning homer cleared the right-field fence, it was a fitting end to a day full of offense for the UMass Dartmouth baseball team. Zygmont’s two-run shot invoked a 10-run mercy rule, as the Corsairs beat visiting Plymouth State in the second game of a LEC doubleheader, 14-4, on a chilly Sunday afternoon. The Corsairs posted another 11 runs in the first game, but were defeated by the Panthers, 18-11.

In game two, however, UMD got seven strong innings from starting pitcher Brian Pedrotti. The freshman gave up four runs (three earned) on seven hits, striking out six in the process. Pedrotti got stronger as the game went on; he struck out the final two batters he faced in his outing.

The Corsairs scored two runs in the bottom of the first frame, and never looked back. They built their lead in the very next inning, sending seven batters to the plate. Three Corsairs came home, two of them coming via Casey Askeland’s double to deep left-center field off Panther pitcher Taylor Ketchum.

Plymouth State responded immediately in the top of the third, sending nine batters of their own to the plate, scoring four runs to cut the UMD lead to one. Two of those runs came when Brandon Hodge’s hit fell harmlessly in front of Corsair CF Jeff Macchi.

The Corsairs extended their lead to 6-4 in the bottom of the third, as sophomore Tom La Dore scored from third on a passed ball by Dan Eagan. La Dore scored again in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI groundout by Kevin Narey. He was brought home later in the inning on an RBI by Matt Ryan to extend UMD’s lead to 8-4.

In the bottom of the sixth, new PSU pitcher Joe Brayton did little to stop UMD’s onslaught, as the Corsairs scored four more times to extend their lead to 12-4, putting the game out of reach for the Panthers. With the victory, UMD improved their record to 2-17 and got their first LEC win of the spring. Next up for the Corsairs is a home tilt on Friday (4/11) against Babson.

LEC women’s track: Rookie of the Week

PROVIDENCE, RI — Freshman Briley Morrill of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s track and field team has been honored by the Little East Conference. Morrill has been named Little East Conference Women’s Track Rookie of the Week.

Morrill placed sixth at 100 meters in 13.71 seconds at the Jim Sheehan Memorial Meet at Fitchburg State last weekend.

“It’s a well-deserved honor,” said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach Jon Hird. “Briley works hard at practice and is the leader of the women’s sprinters.”

The Corsairs will return to action when they host the UMass Dartmouth Invitational Saturday.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Kansas Jayhawks take home title

By Trevor Medeiros

Down by nine with just over two minutes in the NCAA Division 1 basketball championship, things looked grim for the Kansas Jayhawks. But a funny thing happened on the way to a championship for KU.

On the 20th anniversary of Danny and the Miracles, the boys from Lawrence came up with Mario and the Miracles. Mario Chalmers hit a fade-away three-pointer in the waning seconds of regulation to send KU to overtime against Memphis. From there on, it was all Chalmers and co. as KU took home their first national title since 1988 with a 75-68 overtime victory against the Tigers.

Derrick Rose and his Tigers were soooo close to their first national title. Then, Bill Self decided to have his players foul UM, knowing how it was their Achilles heel. Sure, they made their free throws in the tournament up to Monday night, but that was when the games were already won. However, with the fate of a championship hanging in the balance, that’s enough pressure to make even Tiger Woods sweat, let alone players like Chris Douglas-Roberts and Rose.

Rose and CDR forgot to bend their knees and follow through at the charity stripe, missing three of four free throws, leaving the door open for KU and Chalmers’ heroics. It was certainly a comeback for the ages in a game matching the two best teams in the land.

Both these teams earned their way into the title game by beating a couple of legendary programs. Kansas made Roy Williams wish he never left Lawrence, as the Jayhawks totally outplayed North Carolina. The Tar Heels had trouble matching up against athletic teams all season, and KU was oozing with athleticism.

Throw in seven-footer Colt Aldrich, who came off the bench to handcuff Naismith winner Tyler Hansbrough, and it’s no wonder why Kansas advanced to play Memphis. The Tigers did a little handcuffing of their own, as Joey Dorsey frustrated UCLA big man Kevin Love, as UM beat the Bruins by double digits.

But getting back to Monday’s game, the easy thing would be to say that Memphis choked the game away on the charity stripe (how ironic). I, for one, am actually going to praise John Calipari’s kids. I know it’s tough to say a team that went 38-2 suffered through a lot of adversity, but Memphis did an outstanding job silencing many doubters on their (near) championship run.

However, they failed to put the nail in the coffin, leaving the door open for the Jayhawks to take the throne as college basketball’s royalty for 2008. Should yours truly get some credit, too? I mean, I did predict that Self’s squad would cut down the nets earlier in the semester. Then again, I said UCLA would beat KU in this very same game. Hey, while this isn’t a fitting tribute to my college hoops acumen, maybe it’s my own little tribute to John Kerry.

Women’s lacrosse beats RIC

Larissa Basque fights her way through the opposition to get the ball during the Corsairs’ April 1 game.

Allison Trearchis charges up the field during last week’s game against Rhode Island College.

NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. — The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s women’s lacrosse team scored the final six goals of the first half, took a 9-3 halftime lead, and went on to defeat visiting Rhode Island College, 14-8, in the 2008 Little East Conference opener for both teams at Cressy Field on Tuesday, April 1.

Senior attacker Marie Spang broke the tie by scoring three consecutive goals in a span of 2:40. Her first goal, with 7:17 left in the first half, gave the Corsairs the lead for good, and her next two goals, both assisted by senior attacker Susie Nearhoof, gave UMass Dartmouth a 6-3 lead with 4:37 left in the first half. Sophomore midfielder Kara Basque, Spang and sophomore midfielder Allison Trearchis scored to make it 9-3 at the intermission.

Sophomore attack Emily Conte scored 5:02 into the second half, but the Corsairs got a pair of goals from freshman midfielder Larissa Basque and one each from Trearchis and freshman attacker Samantha Watson to lead, 13-4, with 12:52 remaining.

Spang finished with seven goals and one assists for UMass Dartmouth. Her seven goals were one short of the Corsair record of eight goals in a game held by assistant coach and former star attacker Katelyn Elliott. Trearchis and Larissa Basque each scored twice, and Nearhoof and sophomore midfielder Gillian Carey each had three assists.

Cont and senior midfielder Kerry McDevitt each scored twice for RIC, and McDevitt added two assists.

UMass Dartmouth out shot the Anchorwomen, 29-28. Senior goalkeeper Erin Doherty made 13 saves for the Corsairs, while freshman goalie Hilary Switzer made 12 for RIC.

“We tried a new defense, and it was awkward at the beginning, but our captains stepped up for us and came through,” said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach Jerry Jennings. “Marie Spang did a great job and led us offensively, and Erin had an outstanding game in goal. I was very pleased with the way she played.”

The Corsairs improved to 3-1 and 1-0 in the Little East Conference with the victory, while the Anchorwomen dropped to 0-5 and 0-1 with the defeat. UMass Dartmouth will return to action when they host Eastern Connecticut State next Thursday, April 10th, while Rhode Island College will host Keene State Saturday.

Corsair student-athletes earn Little East Conference academic honors

PROVIDENCE, RI — The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth placed 25 student-athletes on the inaugural Little East Conference All-Academic Team.

The team includes student-athletes who competed on teams last fall, and were sophomores or better with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or better. The team included student-athletes in the fall sports sponsored by the LEC: field hockey, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s tennis and women’s volleyball.

“We’re very proud of the academic performance of our student-athletes,” said UMass Dartmouth Director of Athletics Ian Day. “To have UMass Dartmouth be represented by this many students is outstanding.”

Men’s tennis falls to Salem State, 9-0

NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. — Visiting Salem State won a close match at number one doubles, swept the doubles matches and went on to defeat the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s men’s tennis team, 9-0, in a Little East Conference match at the UMass Dartmouth Athletic Complex Monday afternoon.

Senior Josh McCoy was involved in the closest matches for the Corsairs. He and junior Christoph Foster lost to Adrien Malosse and Rob Random at number one doubles, 8-6. He was defeated by Random at number three singles, 6-2, 7-5. The Vikings didn’t lose a set in the match.

The Corsairs dropped to 1-3 and 0-2 in the Little East Conference with the defeat, while SSC improved to 5-3and 3-0 with the victory. UMass Dartmouth will return to action when they host Johnson & Wales in a non-conference match Thursday afternoon.

Corsair cheerleaders put on show at Tripp

By Shara Sarnelli and Jeff Bogosian

The Division II all-girl UMD cheerleading team is currently performing in Nationals, held in Daytona, Florida, in hopes of winning the title during Finals this Friday.

Each of the three stunt groups implement powerful heel stretches.

On Monday night, the UMass Dartmouth cheerleading team held a Friends and Family Night in the gymnasium. Friends and family members of the cheerleaders crowded the bleachers to watch the team perform and perfect their routine for the last time before leaving for Daytona, Florida.

The team left early Wednesday morning to fly down to Florida to compete in Nationals for the National Cheerleading Association (NCA), which they have been proudly going to for several years now. Thursday is Preliminaries and Friday is Finals. Being a Division II all girl team, the cheerleaders compete against 21 other teams.

As National champions of the years 1999, 2001, 2006 and placing second in 2007, their success has established them in the upper echelon of the cheerleading world. Last year’s second place finish to Elmira College has left them anxious to another shot at the title, as said by cheerleader Niki Gassett.

To prepare for this competition, the team has been practicing three nights a week for three hours at a time, not to mention the daily double session practices during school breaks. With the strenuous practices, the cheerleaders have become masters at tumbling, dancing, jumps and incredible stunts.

Before they showed off their routine for family and friends to see, they had to get the crowd involved in 45 second cheer, which is required at Nationals. This cheer is given a score based mainly on crowd appeal and involvement, which carries over into Finals.

The girls entered the mat with pride for their school, using decorative signs and banners. The crowd cheered along with the team as they shouted, “We Are...UMD!” and other phrases like “Go Blue” and “Clap.” Colors of blue and gold were used to represent UMD.

As the girls prepared to perform their routine, the crowd began to cheer louder. The confidence, devotion and motivation radiating within this team could be brightly seen and felt. They had been waiting and preparing for this all year.

The routine began with strong, tight, fast dance moves and moved into tumbling. Elite stunts followed with high basket tosses. The routine included a strong jump sequence with back tucks.

Incredibly challenging stunts were implemented, including bow and arrows, heel stretches, scales and arabesques, which all proved not only the team’s stunting techniques but the flexibility of the flyers (the girls on top). Some of the stunts dismounted by doing 720’s, or the top twisting around two times quickly when dismounted.

Intense tumbling passes were executed, complete with round-off back handsprings, back tucks, back layouts and more. Tumbling is definitely a strength of the team.

More elite stunts and pyramids were accomplished before more dance moves. The dancing built up and quickened with the music, leading to the routine’s ending pose. The smiles grew at the closing, but never faded from the faces of the girls throughout performing the routine.

Best of luck to the team in Nationals!

CHEERLEADER PROFILE

Feldman prepares for Nationals

By Jeffrey Bogosian

Allie Feldman is a junior psychology major at UMass from Paxton Massachusetts. She is also one of their standout cheerleaders and has been on the team since she was a freshman. She graduated from Achiest High School in 2005 where she also cheered. Allie was recently asked about her life and the cheerleading team.

What do you plan to do when you graduate?

Allie: Well I’m going to take a year off to internship, since cheering takes up all my time, and then I am going to go to graduate school to get my P.H.D.

How long have you been cheerleading for?

Allie: I’ve been in cheerleading for 10 years.

What’s your role on the cheerleading team?

Allie: I’m a base.

What’s your favorite part about cheerleading?

Allie: I love everything about it: the tumbling, stunting, dancing. I love the rush when competing and there are hundreds of people watching, especially at nationals, and I love my team; we’re a really close group of girls. After spending so much time together since September we get to know a lot about each other and have a lot of fun together.

What made you want to do cheerleading?

Allie: Well, I was in dance and gymnastics before and I thought I’d try it out since it involved both sports and I just loved it ever since I guess.

Is cheering in college a lot different from being on the other teams you’ve cheered for?

Allie: Yes cheering in college is very different. There is a whole different level of commitment involved due to time management and having a lot more work to do. The competition is so much more intense it’s ridiculous, in a good way. Another aspect that is really different is the fact that we are a purely competitive team. A big part of cheering in high school was to cheer the teams on at games, so it was difficult to get used to not cheering at football or basketball games anymore. But we are one of two teams in the entire nation that are strictly competitive and that’s something to be proud of.

What do you say to people when they try to tell you that cheerleading isn’t a sport?

Allie: The people who think competitive cheerleading is not a sport have no idea what it actually entails. The high levels of gymnastics involved, along with dangerously difficult stunts and dancing have been increasing over the years. The only way people will know competitive cheerleading is a sport is they actually go to a competition and experience it for themselves.

What’s your best cheerleading memory?

Allie: Winning nationals two years ago, there is no greater accomplishment.

What’s it like to go to a national tournament?

Allie: I have never experienced anything like it in my life. There are hundreds upon hundreds of cheerleaders from all across the country all competing for that chance to be on top. There is such an intense pressure to perform at your best, and knowing that you have only one chance to prove it is overwhelming. I can’t even describe how it feels to run out on a stage, on the beach, with all eyes on us, it’s such an incredible rush. It reminds me what cheerleading is all about and why I do it, the feeling is irreplaceable.

If you could change one thing for your senior year about the team what would it be?

Allie: That’s a tough question. The team is so different every year and sometimes it’s tough to get used to, but as people come and go and things change but we always manage to stay close and have a lot of fun in the process. So there is nothing I would change.