5/28/2102 – The NCAA Regionals have concluded with seven athletes from local Division I schools getting a shot at a national championship.  The group is headed by defending national titlist Sheila Reid from Villanova who will compete in the 5000 meters.  This will be the fourth consecutive appearance by Reid in the national championships.  She will be joined by teammate Bogdana Mimic in the 5000 meters.

Villanova heads the local list with five runners competing in five events.  Penn and Temple will send an athlete as Maalik Reynolds returns in the high jump for Penn.  Travis Mahoney will compete in the 30oo meter Steeplechase for Temple.

Villanova

Women: Three Wildcats head to the nationals as Reid and Mimic compete in the 5000 meters.  Reid finished third in her section with a time of 16:13.47.  Mimic, who will also compete in the national championships for the third consecutive year, placing fifth in her section in a time of 16:28.14.  The top five finishers in each section moved on the championships.  Sherika Ward will make the trip to the finals in the 100 meter hurdles turning in a time of 13.25.  Ward finished fifth in her heat.  The top three runners advanced automatically with the next three runners advancing on time.

Men: Samuel McEntee will compete in the 1500 meter championships.  Finishing third in the second of two heats in the 1500 meters  McEntee advances to his first national title round.  His time was 3:48.73.  Samuel Ellison qualified in the 800 meters running a personal best 1:47.76 for fourth place overall.

Penn: Returning to the national finals will be high jumper Maalik Reynolds.  He is one of twelve qualifiers with a jump of 2.19 meters (7′ 2.25″).  Reynolds made his first three jumps, then missed on his first try at 2.16 meters.  Reynolds cleared the bar on his second attempt. On his final attempt at the qualifying height Reynolds was good on the attempt to move to the championship round.

Temple: Travis Mahoney placed ninth overall running a season-best 8:40.00 in the 3000 meter Steeplechase.  Mahoney is the school record holder in this event.

The national championships will take place from June 6 – 9 at Drake University in Des Moines, IA.
Written By:  Glenn Papazian

Contact: Glenn@phillycollegesports.com

Saint Joseph;s Coach Fritz Hamburg

The Hawks started the tournament beating Rhode Island 3 – 0.  Alex Preacher tossed a five-hit shutout sending Saint Joseph’s to the winners bracket.  The win also avenged a regular season loss to the Rams.  In game two Junior Kyle Mullen struck out a career-high 12 batters, but the Hawks fell 4 – 3 in 13 innings to Dayton.  Mullen tied the school record for most strikeouts in a season (90)set by Jamie Moyer.  The loss sent Saint Joseph’s into a rematch with Rhode Island in an elimination game.

Again. Saint Joseph’s got a great pitching effort as Sophomore Daniel Thorpe recorded his first career complete game leading the Hawks to a 3 – 2 victory.  Senior Brett Tiagwad scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as the team staved off elimination.

The season finally concluded for the Hawks as Saint Louis recorded the 6 – 0 win.  Tiagwad had two hits to lead the Hawks.

Saint Joseph’s finished the season with 25 wins.  They played a record-setting 57 games.  During the season the Hawks won their first Liberty Bell Classic championship, and played in their first ever Atlantic 10 Baseball Championships.

Written By:  Glenn Papazian

Contact: Glenn@phillycollegesports.com

A summary of the competing athletes is below.

Villanova Women

The Wildcats will have 12 athletes competing in 12 events led by defending national champion Sheila Reid running in the 5000 meters.  Bogdana Mimic will also participate the 5000 meters.  Both have qualified as All-American in the race.Sprinter Sherika Ward will run in the 100 meter hurdles.  In the middle distance events Nicky Akande will run in the 800 meters, while Emily Lipari and Ariann Neutts will run in the 1500 meters.  Sprinter Christie Verdier is a qualifier in the 400 meters.  Running in the 10,ooo meters will be freshman Megan Venables.  In field events  Villanova will be represented by Samantha Francis in the triple jump and Samantha Yeats in the high jump.  Jamie Klein will compete in the javelin, and Alexandra Wasik the pole vault.

Villanova Men

Samuel McEntee leads a group of seven Villanova athletes to qualify.  McEntee will be joined by Brian Tetreault and Rob Denault in the 1500 meters.  Samuel Ellison and Chris Fitzsimmons will run for the Wildcats in the 800 meters.  Sprinter Nicoy Hines will run the 400 meter hurdles.  In the field Elbert Maxwell will compete in the long jump.

Penn Women

The Red and Blue will have three women athletes making their second straight appearance.  Paige Madison runs in the 400 meters, Victoria Strickland is in the 800 meter event, and Morgan Wheeler is in the javelin.  Jillian Hart is making her initial NCAA appearance in the pole vault.  Kristen Judge will compete in the high jump.

Penn Men

The Quaker contingent will be led  by Hepatagonal High Jump Champions Maalik Reynolds.  This will be his second outdoor appearance.  Reynolds finished seventh last year, and enters as the 4 seed.  Making his second appearance in the 800 is Brian Fulton.  Ryan Cunningham will run the 1500 meter race.  Jake Brenza also goes to the NCAA Regions for the first time in the shot put.

Temple Men

Travis Mahoney will run the Steeplechase.  He is the defending Atlantic 10 champion in this event.  In field events Darryl McDuffie will take part in the high jump while Gabe Pickett and Derek Holland will compete in the triple jump.  Pickett is the reigning Atlantic 10 champion.

Temple Women

School record holder and Atlantic 10 champion Margo Britton will represent Temple in the shot put.  She will also hope to advance to the NCAA finals in the discus.  Jade Wilson will run in the 400 meter hurdles.

LaSalle Men

Three Explorers qualified on the men’s meet.  Nick Crits will run in the 1500 meters.  A pair of runners Alfredo Santana and Dave Hausherr will complete in the 10,000 meter run.

LaSalle Women

Running the 10,000 meters will be Megan McGlinchey who won the Atlantic 10 title in this event.  Megan Lutz will compete in the same race.

Saint Joseph’s Men 

Kevin McDonnell is set to compete in the 10,000 meter for the second time in his career.

Written By: Glenn Papazian

Contact: Glenn@phillycollegesports.com

Temple Coach Ryan Wheeler

“Despite our record I feel we accomplished a lot,” said Wheeler.  “I feel the program has a purpose and a direction.  We are moving in a right way, and I’m looking forward to next season.”

The Owls finished with   19 – 33 record, 7 – 16 in the Atlantic 10.  The team finished the season being swept by Rhode Island.  This game represented a chance to view where Temple baseball resides now, but how the present team can give a glimpse of taking the team to another level.  Wheeler does see positives gained this season that can be the foundation for better days ahead.  And a spot in the Atlantic 10 Tournament in the near future.

“I wanted to build a program where we are teaching every day, and we have players who are eager to learn and want to get better,” Wheeler said.  “The players who are coming back I can;t thank them enough for their effort.  They’ve been working extremely hard to get better.  I think that is a key component in moving forward.  We’ve got some young talent who got to play and get the experience they desperately need.  That will make them better in the future.  We’ve got a good foundation to build on.”

The younger payers that need top learn and carry the torch this season included field players such as Freshman Nick Lustrino who played every infield position and catcher.  He batted .291 this year with 28 runs, 53 hits, and 16 runs batted in.  Lustrino added more than numbers.

“He was one of our top hitters, and brought a decent amount of energy to practice every day,” said Wheeler

On the mound Adam Dian, Eric Peterson, and Pat Peterson will return.  Pat Peterson was 3 – 4 on the season with a 3.51 earned run average.  He had 13 starts and pitched 84.2 innings giving up 74 hits and struck out 68 batters.  Eric had a 5.29 earned run average in 17 appearances pitching 49.1 innings.  Eric had a 1 – 1 record giving up 54 hits and recorded 35 strikeouts.  Dain also appeared in 17 games recording a 1 – 1 record with a 4.46 earned run average.  Dian pitched 34.1 innings giving up 22 hits and struck out 24.

Those players must perform for the Owls to be successful.   There is a need for improvement that need to be undertaken in the upcoming summer months.

“We have to get better in every area,” Wheeler said.  “We have to get better pitching all the way around, we’ve got to play better defense, and get some timely hitting.  There is plenty to work on.”

However, the current senior class will not return to the field, but will leave a legacy that the current underclassmen need to follow.  It was the final collegiate day for seniors Foster Dunigan, Taylor Juran, Jabair Khan, Steve Nikorak, Brant Norlander, and Brian Sustersic.  Those players became the teachers providing a vision of what could be in the future.  The contributions of the seniors and especially Steve Nikorak will be invaluable to Temple according to Wheeler.

“Steve Nikorak is outstanding young man, and did a tremendous job all season long in trying to show the younger players how things are supposed to be done and in the right way,” said Wheeler.  “All the seniors were teaching how to work and how to be a college athlete.”

Temple showed they did not want their season to end.   Despite trailing 12 – 2 in the bottom of the ninth, the Owls batted around scoring 3 runs to end the game at 12 – 5.  They would not go quietly, and playing to the end impressed their coach.  After the game Nikorak was found raking the third base area.  Maybe it was his last Temple game, but it did not end his involvement with the team.  All of the little things that are noticeable are pointing in the right direction for the Cherry and White.

“I think the young men are excited and are hungry to learn,” said Wheeler.  “They brought the right attitude every day.  We’ll keep working with them to get them where they need to be.”

For Drexel it was a history making day as the Women’s Novice 8 and Second Varsity 8 won gold medals, the first gold medal victories for the women’s program.  The Women’s Varsity 8 won gold in the Petite Final.  The Men’s Novice 8 captured a silver medal for the third straight year, while the Men’s Varsity 8 took home a bronze medal in the finals.  Overall, Drexel placed second with a total fo 35 points.  Purdue took first with 37 points.

The Men’s Novice 4 remained undefeated this season for Temple winning a gold medal.  The Men’s Junior Varsity 8 placed 5th in their race.  The Cherry and White placed 4th in the Women’s Varsity 8 Petite Final.

Saint Joseph’s men and women brought home bronze medals.  The men won its first medal since 2010 in the Lightweight 8.  The Second varsity 8 placed 6th in the final.  The women took third in the Second Varsity 8, a race they won the previous year.  The women Varsity 8  finished 6th in the Petite Final.

RESULTS

Grand Finals

Women’s Second Varsity 8

1. Gold Medal – Drexel 7:11.124 – Kerry Walsh (Coxswain), Jackie Bender, Elizabeth Campanella, Juliana DeMarici, Mallory Sykes, Amanda O’Malley, Alyssa Leahy, Asiya Mahmud, Colleen Delaney

3. Bronze Medal – Saint Joseph’s 7:13.473 – Laken Ethun (Coxswain), Alexa Lawson, Kelsey Laszelere, Jill Perkins, Jackie Castorino, Nicola O’Donnell, Angeline Novella, Jenni Broring, Meaghan Scher

Women’s Novice 8

1. Gold Medal – Drexel 7:04.592 – Catherine Hamilton (Coxswain), Meredith Bracken, Emily Gartland, Olivia Babiec, Bridget Pfeifer, Amanda Kleuser, Joy Lingling, Jayme Batcher, Elise Levito

Men’s Varsity 8

3. Bronze Medal – Drexel 6:02.401 – Randall Lee (Coxswain), Kurt Linton, Paul Wisniowski, Aleksander Radovic, Lorenzo Albala, Sebastian Ryan, Vanja Busic, Michael Faust, Will Masters

5. Temple 6:06.266 – Donald Norris (Coxswain), James Barr, Aaron Heyde, Mike Mirabella, Brian Reehill, Diordje Vilmanovic, Perry Cox, Kevin Nally,  Brandon Joyce

Men’s Second Varsity 8

4. Drexel 6:19.790 – Marc Smith (Coxswain), John Pieper, Marcus DeMarici, Martin Khait, Brian Timlin, Kevin Rorabaugh, Ryan Mallgrave, Timothy Drake, Patrick McGann

5. Temple 6:21.772 – Matthew Sbei (Coxswain), Sean McKenna, Joe Bellesheim, John Boehm, Mike Van Assche, Trey Ehmer, Steve Linderman, Chris Roberts, Alex Klein

6. Saint Joseph’s 6:25.225 – Caroline McGuire (Coxswain), Patrick Kennedy, Michael Walsh, Mark Ioli, Tom Zresz, Nick Shafer, Rob Gilroy, David Robinson, Matt Johnson

Men’s Novice 8

2. Silver Medal – Drexel 6:09.310 – Victoria Kenion (Coxswain), Dean Hill, Brian McCabe, Hartman Byers, Jake Murphy, Christian Ladd, Casimir Czworkowski, Brigorios Papadourakis, Cameron Staines

Petite Final

Women’s Varsity 8

1. Gold Medal – Drexel 6:55.857 – Alex Paulin (Coxswain), Julia Jackson, Elizabeth Daugherty, Mollie Cusack, Samantha Cowan, Elizabeth Bratton, Emily Coyle, Sierra Baca, Alexa Antonioli

4. Temple 6:59.121 – Ellie Oken (Coxswain), Gina Inverso, Allison Boc, Taylor Wasserleben, Joanna Sutor, Kara Jackson, Claudia Loeber, Paige O’Sullivan

5. Saint Joseph’s 7:01.842 – Katie Messina (Coxswain), Amanda McEvoy, Felicia Gojmerac, Gabriella Parker, Taylor Biesiada, Bridget Dempsey, Ariana McDevitt, Brittany Roth, Rachel Shustack

Men’s Novice 4

1. Temple 6:51 – Matthew Ciarella (Coxswain), Connor Murphy, Pat Woodruff, Josh Kuzo, Vince DiPentino

Men’s Lightweight 8

3. Bronze Medal – Saint Joseph’s – Brandon Ciccone (Coxswain), Tom Garry, Mike Sheehan, Brandon Hanna, Sean Stewart, Matt Benedetto, Justin Gentile, Nick Hoell, Chris Young

“I think we frustrated them on attack,” said Brower-Corbett.  “They only scored 10 goals, and they are a pretty high scoring team.  I do think we limited their chances.”

Penn out shot Loyola 24 – 23 in the game.  The Quakers forced 15 turnovers playing in front of Goal Keeper Emily Leitner.

“I think our defense played really well,” Leitner said.  “We were there to help.  They (the defense) played a really solid game.”

It was a close game that Penn lead or tied most of the game.  There were 9 ties and 5 lead changes.  The game went into overtime tied at 8.  The Quakers went ahead 9 – 8 on a goal by Junior Midfielder Meredith Cain with 21.6 seconds remaining.  Brower-Corbett wanted to limit the chances for Loyola, but the Greyhounds got the tying goal on a free-position goal by Kara Burke at the .3 second mark.  In the second overtime Cain was stopped on a shot, then a fast break that saw Hannah Schmitt take a pass from Sydney Thomas beating Leitner with a high shot to win the game.

Caroline Bunting

Attack Caroline Bunting had 3 goals for Penn.  Attack Erin Brennan and Cain each had 2 goals and one assist.

The game ended the careers for Penn Co-Captains Brennan and Leitner.  The next day, they returned to Franklin Field for graduation.

BOXSCORE

Written By: Glenn Papazian

Contact: Glenn@Phillycollegesports.com

That’s how it would have sounded over the airwaves; however Saint Joseph’s Senior pitcher Erin Gallagher did set the school record with that win surpassing Christina Kowlaski who set the previous record for wins in 2000.  However, it is not the number or the accomplishments that drive Gallagher.  After the game it was the win over Saint Louis that mattered.  What she accomplished will be celebrated at a later time.

Erin Gallagher

“It will be nice to look back on it in a couple of years,” Gallagher said.  “Most importantly we are fighting for a conference (tournament) spot with Saint Louis, so to beat them is more important.”

The Food Marketing major has many accomplishments on the softball field.  For her career she has a 66 – 39 record.  In 692.2 innings pitched Gallagher struck out 632 batters in her career in the circle for the Hawks.  The native of Abington, PA started 106 games, and pitched 45 complete games.  Erin ranks first in all of the above categories.  Gallagher has a career Earned Run Average under 2 as she helped the Hawks to the third game of the Atlantic 10 Tournament.  In the Atlantic 10 Gallagher was 2 – 1 with a .9 ERA, struck out 7, and was named to the All-Tournament team.  It will not be the numbers that Gallagher will remember when she thinks of her four years on Hawk Hill; it will be teammates and her entire experience as a Hawk softball player.

“We’re really fun on the road,” Gallagher said when asked about what will be her fondest memory.   “We were at Saint Louis last year when a hurricane came through.  We were in the middle of it at a restaurant.  We had to duck and cove.  We drove back because the airport was destroyed.  We had a seventeen hour drive.  The bus rides were so good.  It was a lot of fun.”

Gallagher gave her team a fun time, not so for the opposition.  Starting as Freshman Gallagher had an immediate impact on her team.  The right hander struck out five and gave up two hits in her first collegiate win over George Mason.  As a Sophomore she threw a no-hitter against Penn and against Saint Louis in the Atlantic 10 Tournament Gallagher struck out a career-high eighteen batters.  In her Junior season it was another no-hitter against George Washington.  This season Gallagher pitched a complete game, one hit, shutout against Rider.

Her place on the mound is where Gallagher feels the most at home.  It is where she wants to be, pitcher vs. batter.  Gallagher wants it on her shoulders.

“It’s a lot of pressure,” Gallagher said.  “If you mess up there is no one to blame but yourself.  You control the game.  I’m used to it.  I live for that kind of thing.  It’s tough, but when you do well, it takes the pressure off.”

And she has earned the respect and confidence of her Coach Terri Adams.

“I’ll take my chances with Erin in any game,” said Adams.  “She has more heart than a majority of any of the kids I’ve coached.  If we are going to win a ball game, I want it with her.”

Gallagher excels in the classroom.  She has been a Saint Joseph’s University Athletic Director’s and Atlantic 10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll member.  Gallagher was selected to receive the Saint Joseph’s Class of 1950 Award that goes to the student-athlete as the school’s top graduating senior.  The future lies in front of Erin Gallagher.  What will happen has yet to be written.  If the past is any indicator of the future she will hit the strike zone in the game of life as well.  And she will, most likely, enjoy the ride.

Written By:  Glenn Papazian

Contact Glenn@Phillycollegesports.com

Team of the Year - The University of Pennsylvania

Team of the Year – Penn

The Quakers won the Ivy League for the sixth consecutive season.  Although the Red and Blue did not win the Ivy League tournament championship, they did impress the selection committee with their play and strength of schedule to get an NCAA Tournament bid.  The Quakers played their usual national schedule.Penn recieved an 11 seed playing at #6 seed Loyola.  The game in Baltimore was a tightly contested game with Loyola winning by one goal in overtime.

Player of the Year – Erin Brennan – Penn

Our Player of the Year is Penn attack Erin Brennan.  The Senior and Tewaaraton Award nominee lead the City Six in Points with 60, scoring 33 goals and 27 assists.  The team co-captain totaled 68 shots of which 56 were on goal (.824).  She started all 17 games this year.  Brennan started all but one game in her career,  the game she missed was due to illness.  She was a team leader since arriving on campus in 2009, a season in which she was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year.  Brennan was an All-Ivy selection in each of her four years.  She is now a Wharton School graduate.

Rookie of the Year – Caitlyn Brostrand – LaSalle

The freshman from Runnemeade, NJ lead the Explorers in goals with 36, the third highest single season total for a first year player in school history.  Brostrand had a career-high 5 goals in a game against Richmond.  She was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team.

Co-Coaches of the Year – Karin Brower-Corbett of Penn and Candace Taglianetti from LaSalle 

Karin Brower-Corbett led the Penn Quakers to their sixth consecutive Ivy League championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.  Penn did not have a high win total against one of, if not the toughest schedule in the nation.  However, the team continued to improve and finally won the regular season title with wins at Harvard and a title-clinching game at Princeton.  Penn loses two senior leaders in Erin Brennan and Emily Leitner, but has an excellent Junior class and good incoming Freshman.

Candace Taglianetti led her LaSalle Explorers in a vastly improved season.  The Explorers recorded a program record 20 wins this season, and were 3 – 4 in the Atlantic 10.  In 2011 the team was 4 – 12 overall and went winless in conference.  Taglianetti recruited a freshman class that will have impact on the team for the next three seasons.

All-Philly Division I Women’s Lacrosse Teams

First Team

Goal Keeper - Emily Leitner, Penn

Offensive Players (Attack and Midfield) - Erin Brennan, Penn  Justine Donodeo, Villanova  Kelli Joran, Drexel  Alyse Maiden, Drexel  Stephanie Markunas, Temple  Amanda Norcini, Drexel  Maddie Poplawski, Penn  Melanie Sarcinello, LaSalle

Defense – Rachel Baker, LaSalle  Elizabeth Fox, Saint Joseph’s  Shawna Giust, Villanova  Emily Kane, Drexel

Second Team

Goal Keeper - Megan Corliss, LaSalle

Offensive Players (Attack and Midfield) – Claire Andrews, LaSalle  Caitlyn Brostrand, LaSalle  Meredith Cain, Penn  Grace Dinn, Saint Joseph’s  Stephany Parcell, Temple  Charlotte Swavolva, Temple  Courtney Tomchik, Penn  Charlotte Wood, Drexel

Defense - Lauren Caminiti, Temple  Sara Ciaverelli, LaSalle  Meg Markham, Penn  Lydia Miller, Penn

Third Team

Goal Keeper - Tess Bishop, Temple

Offensive Players (Attack and Midfield) -  Abby Ananian, Saint Joseph’s  Caroline Bunting, Penn  Karly Cohen, Temple  Kristin Kopenhaver, Drexel  Lauren McDermott, LaSalle  Nora McGurkin, LaSalle  Missy Schweitzer, Temple  Jaymie Tabor, Temple

Defense - Taylor Foussadier, Penn Allison Herman, LaSalle  Julia Lanzetta, Drexel  Alli MacDonald, Saint Joseph’s

Rookie of the Year - Caitlyn Brostrand

Player of the Year - Erin Brennan

Karin Brower-Corbett - Co-Coach of the Year

Candace Taglianetti - Co-Coach of the Year

 

Written By: Glenn Papazian

Contact: Glenn@Phillycollegesports.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHILADELPHIA – Sunday started out on a down note for Penn with a tough loss to Dartmouth in te 2012 Ivy League Tournament Final. However, as the day came to a close there was reason for celebration as the Quakers were awarded an at-large berth to the NCAA Championships.

The Red and Blue will make their sixth consecutive trip to the national tournament and start their path to a national title at Loyola (MD) next weekend for a 1 p.m. game on May 13.

Penn is making its eighth overall trip to the NCAA Championships and second as an at-large selection in the last two seasons. Penn is 9-7 overall in NCAA Championships games, with trip to the final weekend of competition three times since 2007. Last year, Penn was defeated by No. 5 seed Duke, 12-9, in Durham.

“We are excited to have another week together as a team,” All-Ivy goalkeeper Emily Leitner “We realize the opportunity we have now with this chance to make a run and it is something we need to capitalize on.”

This will be the second time Penn and Loyola (MD) will meet in the NCAA Championships, but the first since 1983. The Quakers defeated the Greyhounds, 9-5, in the 1983 first round for Penn’s first-ever win in the NCAA Championships.

The Quakers claimed a sixth consecutive Ivy League regular season championship this season with a 6-1 record in Ivy play. They enter the tournament with a 9-7 overall record, but have played one of the toughest schedules in the country with all seven losses coming at the hands of teams ranked inside the top-13 at the time of the meeting. The Quakers boast an RPI of No. 14 and with the fifth-highest strength of schedule in the country.

Loyola recently won its second consecutive BIG EAST Tournament championship and enter the tournament with a 12-5 overall record.

2012 NCAA First Round Matchups
#1 Florida vs. Albany
#2 Northwestern vs. Notre Dame
#3 Maryland vs. Massachusetts
#4 Syracuse vs. Dartmouth
#5 North Carolina vs. Navy
#6 Loyola (MD) vs. PENN
#7 Duke vs. Virginia
#8 Towson vs. Penn State

Penn Goal Keeper Emily Leitner

Penn lead early in this game as Senior attack Erin Brennan, Junior midfielder Maddie Poplawski, and Freshman attack Courtney Tomchik scored as the Quakers went ahead 3 – 0 with 14:30 remaining in the half.  The game took a similar tone to the Penn win over Harvard on Friday.  Dartmouth had possession time, but could not get anything past Leitner.  However, the offense went dry.  The goal by Tomchik would be the last Penn score for the next 33:48.

“They sent the double team early, and at times we panicked,” said Brennan.  “The momentum changed in their favor and we lost it.  I, myself, forced shots when we should have driven it or pulled it out.  We forced those shots, and they were the game breakers against a team that can score.  They were working it for a really long time.”

The Big Green did get a score with 1:40 remaining in the half as Leitner tried to send a pass up field that was intercepted by Dartmouth  midfielder Lindsey Allard who found fellow midfielder Kirsten Goldberg who put the ball  into the net cutting the deficit to 3 – 1.

Early in the second half Dartmouth tied the game at 3 on goals by Allard and Goldberg.  The Big Green went ahead on a free position goal by Sarah Plumb to move in front 4 – 3 with 18:58 on the clock.  Attack Hana Bowers scored back to back as Dartmouth led 6 – 3.  Poplawski ended the scoring drought for Penn with a free position goal with 42 seconds on the clock.  In that half Dartmouth goal keeper Kristen Giovanniello kept the door shut making 8  saves in winning the tournament Most Outstanding Player Award.

Penn had the early momentum, but when Dartmouth took it away, the Red and Blue could not get it back.  That led to impatience and frustration on the part of the Penn offense.

“We were causing turnovers in the defensive end, we were getting the ball from them, but we came down and went for the first thing giving them the ball back,” said Brower-Corbett.  “They (Dartmouth) weren’t having to pay for their turnovers, we weren’t generating from our caused turnovers, we gave the ball back and played defense.  If you play defense for that long, they’re going to score, and there is no way around it.”

Dartmouth was able to keep possession of the ball despite having 11 turnovers compared to 10 for Penn.  The Quakers defense aggressively tried to get it back.  However, it may have been too aggressive as Dartmouth had a 36 – 15 edge in Fouls, and a 9 – 2 edge in Free-position shots.

“We are not a team that fouls a lot, but 36 – 15 is interesting,” said Brower-Corbett.  “For a team that does not foul a lot it seemed that everything we did was a foul today.  I am not blaming the officials.  We need to do the job in our end, but it wasn’t helpful.”

The season ends for the Red and Blue, and now must wait for a decision by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee to find if the season will continue.  Brower-Corbett is not sure if they will get the call.

“I don’t know, but I think there are two at-large bids that are up in the air,” Brower-Corbett said.  “We have a strength of schedule that is extremely strong, but we didn’t win any of those games.  It depends on how they see the Ivy League.  I don’t know if they will take two from the league.  We had a strong schedule, but we didn’t win.  In the end they take teams that win.”

The Quakers end the season 9 – 7, and won their 6th consecutive Ivy League regular season crown.  This is a young team that has great potential.  However, the team will miss the play of the two Seniors Erin Brennan and Emily Leitner.  Those two will move on to real life competition.  The instinct here says that Emily and Erin will be winners there as well.

BOXSCORE

Written By: Glenn Papazian

TOURNAMENT NOTES:

Dartmouth is the third winner of the three year old Ivy League Tournament.

Emily Leitner had 19 saves during the tournament.

Erin Brennan, Maddie Poplawski, Courtney Tomchik and Meredith Cain were selected to the All-Tournament team for Penn.

Dartmouth placed Kristen Giovanniello, Georgia Bird, Hana Bowers, Kirsten Goldberg, Kelsey Johnson, and Sarah Plumb on the All-Tournament team.  Melanie Baskind of Harvard and Cornell’s Caroline Salisbury were also selected.