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.

Joe Godri - Villanova Coach

“Our program is the third oldest program in the country,” said Villanova Coach Joe Godri.  “We’ve been playing baseball here since 1866.  It’s important for the current and former players to be a part of the program.  I tell the guys four years you play for this team, but you’re part of it for a lifetime.”

The significance of the day is not lost on the current senior class which see the day from a players perspective today, and will from an alumni perspective in the near future.  The warmth and appreciation of teh team is expressed by Senior shortstop Marlon Calbi, named to the Big East Honor Roll this week.

“”It’s good to see everybody come back and support us,” Calbi said.  “At Villanova we feel it’s important to have those guys come back and show support.  we feel that on the field, we’re underdogs.  We’re underdogs all of the time.  That’s the way we feel.  When we see those players we played with, it’s a good feeling.”

Unfortunately, Villanova ran into a masterful performance by Notre Dame pitcher Adam Norton as The Irish beat the Wildcats 6 – 0 at the Villanova Ballpark in Plymouth Meeting.  The Junior right hander threw a complete game shutout.  He posted a career high 9 strikeouts, gave up 5 hits, and did not allow a Villanova runner to reach third base.  Norton improved his record to 4 – 3 this season.  This was the first time Villanova was blanked this season, Calbi felt Norton was nearly unhittable.

“There was not one pitch he made that was a pitch a hitter wanted to hit,” Calbi said.  “Each pitch was on the black.  Every single one had us off-balance.  It wasn’t our day offensively.”

“I told our guys he (Norton) had an A Plus game,” Godri explained.  “He was in total command.  We never got anything going.  The best part about Norton’s game is he can’t pitch tomorrow.”

Villanova Sophomore Pat Young took the loss giving up 5 earned runs and 11 hits in 7.2 innings of work.  Notre Dame scored twice in the 4th inning on an RBI single by right fielder Alex Robinson who later scored on an error by Villanova Senior first baseman Adam Nelson.  In the 8th inning Notre Dame got back to back singles by first baseman Trey Mancini and catcher Joe Hudson.  A fielder’s choice moved the runners-up, but it would not matter as center fielder Charlie Markson sent the ball over the left field fence for a 3-run home run.  The right hander is 5 – 4 this season.  Despite the loss Godri was pleased with Young’s performance.

“I was happy with Young,” said Godri.  “He’s our top guy.  He had a little trouble in the 4th inning.  I told him when he came out of the game, he gave us 8 innings.  He kept us in the ball game.  It didn’t work out for us.”

The top eight teams go to the Big East Tournament.  Villanova is in the eighth spot just behind Notre Dame, but have Pittsburgh and Georgetown on their heels.  The rubber match of this even weekend series features a pitching match of right handers Max Almonte of Villanova against Pat Connaughton for Notre Dame, the same Connaughton that caused problems for the Villanova basketball team this past season.  There are standings and tie-breaker implications in this game for both teams.  Calbi feels this will be an important game the Wildcats need to win.

“It is a big game for us,” Calbi stated.  “We’ll be coming out fired up.  Hopefully, it goes our way.”

BOXSCORE

Written By: Glenn Papazian

Penn Coach Karin Brower-Corbett wants the season to continue for this team, and another

“I’m very proud of this team,” said Brower-Corbett.  “All year we just fought and fought.”

Penn Goal Keeper Emily Leitner

The young Penn defense played an outstanding positional game in front of Senior goal keeper Emily Leitner.  Harvard out shot Penn 27 – 16 and had a time of possession advantage.  Despite that time and shooting edge Harvard could not get great shots at the net, then Leitner made 10 saves when the Crimson did get to the net.  Harvard was 0 – 3 on Free Position shots.  Early in the first half Harvard had possession of the ball for seven minutes, got six shots away, but did not score.  The Quakers were whistled for 10 penalties compared to 17 for Harvard.  Leitner credits the defense for her performance.

“They (the defense) played awesome,” said Leitner.  They were helping each other, not just one person going out on the ball.  Everyone was hedging and that’s why it took Harvard so long to get a shot.  We had pressure on them.”

The defensive players for Penn do not have a lot of experience.  Starters Taylor Foussadier, Meg Markham and Leah Mc Bride are Freshman while Allie Martin is a Sophomore.  The Red and Blue did not have the services of Sophomore Lydia Miller for this game.  The back line has grown as the season progressed.

“We’re young, and the first stance they (the defense) had was awesome,” Brower-Corbett said.  “It’s a little nerve-wracking for some of our freshman out there, but they didn’t play like that tonight especially in the defensive zone.  It was a long time that Harvard had the ball, and they were working us.  We were able to come up with a couple of caused turnovers, saves, and that gave us momentum on attack.”

Penn got off to a good start getting two goals from Sophomore attack Courtney Tomchik and a score from Junior midfielder Maddie Poplawski to take a 3 – 0 lead five minutes into the game.  The Quakers took a 6 – 1 lead into halftime as Junior midfielder Meredith Cain got a natural hat trick giving Penn their margin at intermission.

“We wanted our attack to work their defense,” Brower-Corbett said.  “We were moving well, not forcing things, and creating opportunities.  We were able to do  that today, and hopefully we can do that on Sunday.”

Harvard made a late charge getting to within 8 – 5 with just over four minutes left to play.  A late goal by Tomchik put the game in the win column for the Red and Blue.

Cain and Tomchik scored three goals in the game, Poplawski added two and an assist.  Senior attack Erin Brennan had a goal and three assists.  Midfielder Melanie Baskind led Harvard with two goals.

The top two seeds will battle it out for the title on Sunday.  Dartmouth defeated Penn 9 – 7 in Hanover on April 14.  Brower-Corbett is anxious to meet the Big Green again, this time on home turf.  And get another game for senior leaders Erin Brennan and Emily Leitner.

“We lost to them and we want to play them,” said Brower-Corbett.  “I said it after we lost to them that I want to see them again.  If we can play like we played tonight or against Princeton, we can win.  They have a couple of big threats, but if we play more of a team defense like we did tonight, and our offense creates like it did, we can win.  I am excited that we get to play them.  It’s going to be a battle.  We’re excited.”

“You want to play the best and Dartmouth is one of the best teams in the league and the NCAA,” Leitner said.

BOXSCORE

Written By:  Glenn Papazian

Kevin Cunningham - Courtesy of the Big East`

VILLANOVA, PA 5/3/2012 – The Villanova Wildcats and the Syracuse Orange met in the Big East Tournament semifinal round.  The game meant more than a trip to the finals.  The winner could lay claim to an NCAA Tournament at-large bid should they not win the tournament outright.  The #17 Wildcats may have come to the end of the road as the Orange dominated earning a 15 – 6 win at Villanova.  Coach Mike Corrado felt his team ran into a team that played better than his team.

“They outplayed us in every facet of the game,” said Corrado.  “It’s a tough way to end our season for a group of seniors that gave so much to our program.  It’s pretty tough.

Syracuse got off to the good start each team was looking to get.  Midfielder Bobby Eilers scored the first two goals of the game, but Senior attack Kevin Cunningham got the Wildcats to within 2 – 1 with 38 seconds to play in the first quarter.  It remained a one goal game until Syracuse midfielder, and resident of Villanova, Matt Walters scored with ten seconds to play until halftime giving his team a 6 – 4 lead at intermission.  Syracuse Coach John Desko felt the halftime lead took the pressure off his squad.

“The lead at halftime helped us,” Desko said.  “We’ve been playing from behind.  We came out and won the faceoffs and kept the pressure on.  Then we played composed.”

The Orange scored three of the first four goals of the third quarter, with Walters scoring again, to lead 9 – 5.  After three-quarters Syracuse led 10 - 6.

“They came out on the second half and did a great job on faceoffs,” said Corrado.  “They got out on a run and we couldn’t get the ball back.  That was tough.  You start pressing and give up high percentage shots.”

The Orange put the game away in the fourth quarter scoring 5 goals, and totally frustrated Villanova on offense.

The biggest problem Villanova could not overcome was a 41 – 22 advantage Syracuse had in Ground Balls.  Many of those came in face off situations.  Quite simply, Villanova could not get the ball or sustain possessions needed to have a chance to score and get back in the game.  Syracuse got into a comfort zone coasting to the win.

“It was the second half,” Desko said.  “The ground balls, that’s a huge stat.  We played with a sense of urgency, and played smarter.”

“We didn’t get enough touches.” Cunningham said explaining the lack of offense.  “Their faceoff guy did a great job in limiting our possessions.”

“That had a huge impact,” Corrado said about the ground balls disadvantage for the Wildcats.  “That’s a two to one advantage they had, and that allowed them to control the tempo and have long possessions.  There were times in that game when we did not have the ball for long stretches.  It’s tough to come back when you can’t get the ball.”

Eilers led Syracuse with four goals.  Attack Tommy Palasek had a goal and three assists.  The Orange had 36 shots and faced 30 from Villanova.  Goal Keeper Bobby Wardwell made 12 saves.

For Villanova Junior Attack Jack Rice scored two goals.  Cunningham got a goal and an assist.

The season may have ended for Villanova as they finish 8 – 7.  An at-large bid may have eluded them over the past tow games.  Corrado is not optimistic that his team will play another game this season.

“With St. John’s playing Syracuse in the championship one of them will get an automatic qualifier and Notre Dame will get an at-large,” Corrado said.  “That doesn’t help us very much.  You never know what will happen, but this did not help us tonight.”

Syracuse will play in the championship game against St. John’s who upset top seeded Notre Dame 8 – 7 in the first semifinal.  With the win by the third seeded Orange meant the top two seeds in the tournament were defeated in the opening round of play.

BOXSCORE

Written By: Glenn Papazian

College Men’s 4 x 800 Championship of America

4th Place – Villanova 7:21.04 – Brian Tetreault (1:51.2), Sam McEntee (1:49.6), Christopher Ftizsimons (1:50.1), Samuel Ellison (1:50.1)

College Women’s 4 x 800 College

4th Place – Penn 8:58.51 – Victoria Strickland, Veronica Salcido, Chelseas Delaney, Adrianne McCray

College Men’s 4 x 800 College

2nd Place – LaSalle 7:30.62 – Nick Ross, Nick Crits, Wayne Barthlomew, Paul Reilly