Author: cdm016

By Ajan Caneda

Writer

The women’s volleyball team ended their season with back-to-back straight set losses at Army and Holy Cross last weekend.

The Bison failed to end the season with a win at Army on Saturday. The team struggled in the first set as the Golden Knights got off to a 19-7 run. The Bison improved in the next set but were defeated 25-14. The third set was the most competitive as the Orange and Blue had 12 kills. After Army took a 23-17 lead, the Bison went on a 5-0 run to pull within one thanks to two straight service aces from Rose Lewis ’14 and an assist from her to Kristen Titley ’14.

It would not be enough as Army pulled away to win the set 25-22. Setter Kat Tauscher ’13 contributed 20 assists while Katie Baumgarten ’12 and Kebah Edoho ’13 led the Orange and Blue with six kills each. The Bison finished with an attack percentage of .129, .121 and .086 in each set, respectively. Emily Sawanobori ’12 had another defensive showcase as with 13 digs.

Last Friday, the Orange and Blue battled Holy Cross in a hard fought contest and were on the attack from the start. The Bison got off to an early 3-0 lead in the first set as Sawanobori started with two service aces. She finished with four for the game. Both teams battled hard in all three sets, but the Crusaders came out on top each time (25-20, 25-21, 25-21).

McAhren’12 and Edoho ’13 lead the Bison with nine kills and seven kills respectively and Sawanobori also contributed a team-high 13 digs. The Orange and Blue finished with .189 and .196 attack percentages in the first two sets, but struggled as they had a -.029 percentage in the third set. Tauscher ’13 added 19 assists for the Bison.

The Bison tied for sixth in the Patriot League and ended the 2011 season with a 6-17 record, going 3-11 in conference play.

By Chris McCree and Thomas Walter

Sports Editor and Writer

The women’s basketball team opened its season this week with a 46-35 home win over St. Peter’s and a pair of losses at Rider and at home against Youngstown State. Forward Felicia Mgbada ’13 led the team in scoring with 11 points during the team’s home opener against St. Peter’s and Christina Chukwuedo ’12 headed the Bison attack against Rider with 16 points.

Against St. Peter’s, the two sides remained extremely close throughout the course of the game as the Bison did not earn a double digit lead until the final seconds. The team closed the game on a 7-0 run with five of the seven points coming from free throws. Over the course of the game, just 10 of the team’s 46 points came from outside the three-point arch or the foul line.

Playing in her first collegiate game, Amy Zehner ’15 netted 10 points and added 10 rebounds to her game totals. Lindsay Horbatuck ’13 also contributed double-digit rebounds.

In the team’s second matchup, a 63-43 loss against Rider, Chukwuedo scored 14 points in the first half alone and added two more in the second half to finish the contest with a career-best 16.  Mgbada added 10 of her own in the first half, allowing the team to head into the half with a 36-32 lead. In the second half, the Bison offense stalled as the team only made one field goal on 21 attempts. Rider quickly took advantage of the Orange and Blue’s lack of offensive production and jumped out to a commanding lead mid-way through the second half, cruising to victory.

After an impressive 10-point performance in her first game as a Bison, Zehner exploded for 25 points during Wednesday night’s 57-56 loss to Youngstown State. Zehner’s great offensive production allowed the team to take 17-point lead early in the second half, but the Bison could not hold on for the victory. With just under six minutes remaining in the contest,  the Youngstown State squad caught fire, mounting a 14-2 run which put them right back in the game. With a minute left to play, the Orange and Blue held a slim 2-point lead until a flurry of missed shots and rebounds put Penguins guard Kenya Middlebrook at the foul line down by one with the opportunity to win the game. After sinking her first shot, Middlebrook sank the second  to give the Penguins the victory.

After starting the year at 1-2, the Bison will travel up to Buffalo, N.Y. to face the University of Buffalo tomorrow. The game is set to take place at 5:30 pm. 

By Greg Stevenson

Senior Writer

The men’s basketball team faced two major-conference opponents on the road during the opening week of the 2011-2012 season, falling to the Vanderbilt Commodores 80-68 and Minnesota Golden Gophers 70-58. 

“It was a very frustrating loss for us because we came in the game expecting to win,” Mike Muscala ’13 said of the Vanderbilt game. “I felt that we were ready to play, and played tough and composed for most of the game. They were a very athletic team, and it was a game we definitely need to learn from moving forward.”

Against the Commodores on Tuesday, perimeter defense ruled the court in the opening 20 minutes. The Bison limited Vanderbilt to 2-15 shooting from beyond the three-point arc and trailed by just a point at the halftime break.

The No. 18 Commodores opened the second half strong, outscoring the Orange and Blue 20-8 in the first six minutes to push the lead to 47-34.

In all, four Bison registered 10 or more points. Consistent mid-range jumper Joe Willman ’13 earned 17. Joshea Singleton ’15 and Brian Fitzpatrick ’13, also finished in double-figures.

In their season opener versus the Golden Gophers, the Bison took a  five-point advantage thanks to outside shooting from Bryson Johnson ’13. His four three-pointers were a game high and helped him tally 16 points overall.

Down the stretch, the Orange and Blue didn’t record a field goal after being ahead 53-48. Trevor Mbakwe of Minnesota scored nine in that period, turning a close game into a blowout.

“It felt good to start the season off shooting well, but it would have been nice to carry that late in the second half when we needed it most,” Johnson said. “It was tough because we should have won the game. Anytime you fall up short of what your team goals are, it’s always disappointing. But it shows us that we still have a lot to work on and that we are a very competitive team.”

Looking for their first victory of the season, the men’s basketball team takes on St. Francis tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. After finishing last season with a 13-game home winning streak, currently the 17th longest in the nation, the Bison look to defend Sojka Pavilion.

“I’m really excited for the first home game,” Muscala said. “We owe St. Francis from last year, so I urge all the students to come out and cheer us on.”

By Greg Stevenson

Senior Writer

It wasn’t exactly the storybook ending the Bison men’s basketball team is used to.

Even after securing the Patriot League’s lone berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2011, and even though its opening-round opponent would eventually win the national championship, the lopsided, 29-point defeat at the hands of the Connecticut Huskies was not the legacy this team wanted to leave on the basketball program, especially in the shadow of the squads that beat Kansas and Arkansas years ago.

“We don’t go a day without thinking about that game,” said Enoch Andoh ’12, a key bench player from last year’s team, expected see an expanded role this season.

And if motivation is to play a large role in the Bison men’s basketball team repeating as conference champions and returning to the postseason, look no further than that game.

“The UConn game definitely motivated us to work a lot harder and get stronger,” said Cameron Ayers ’14, who made significant strides at the end of last season and will likely fill the spot at point-guard left by Darryl Shazier ’11 in 2012. “We felt a little embarrassed, but we embraced the process and learned a lot from it and now we are more mature and ready for this year’s challenges.”

After winning 16 of 17 games in the Patriot League and going 23-3 after December last season, the expectations for this year’s team will be as high as they ever have been. The Bison were a unanimous selection to finish in first place in the conference again this season. And with the talent in both the front- and back-court, it is no surprise why.

The Orange and Blue return four starters from last year’s title-winning squad, including Patriot League Player of the Year and Tournament MVP Mike Muscala ’13. Arguably the most dominant player in the conference, Muscala recorded five double-doubles last season while averaging almost 15 points and eight rebounds per game. His national recognition skyrocketed when, in the course of a week, he had two buzzer-beating winning baskets, one to beat Richmond and the other Holy Cross.

Even with opposing defenses keying in on him, don’t expect much to change in Muscala’s game this season.

“I believe my role on the team this season is to be a leader, both by example and vocally, and to be a consistent force on the offensive and defensive end,” Muscala said.

As for his goals for this season, “I want to lead the league in rebounding this year,” Muscala said.

Also returning as starters for their third season in Bison uniform are Bryson Johnson ’13 and Joe Willman ’13. Garnering a reputation as a deadly-accurate outside shooter, Johnson finished seventh in the nation in three-point percentage. His speed and elusiveness, combined with a balanced offensive attack, should keep this sharpshooter going.

As a compliment to Muscala down low, Willman earned his spot in 2011 by grabbing hard-fought rebounds and making tough shots under the basket. His height will continue to expose many opponents’ weaknesses and prove to be a match-up problem for them.

Probably the most important asset this year will be Bryan Cohen ’12, who has become known as the premier stopper in the Patriot League. In his previous three seasons, Bryan Cohen ’12 has set the standard for how defensive basketball should be played and comes into 2012 looking to win conference Defensive Player of the Year for a third consecutive season.

Against UConn, Cohen had the tough task of guarding Kemba Walker, who eventually won NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player and was a lottery pick in the NBA draft.

“I pride myself on fulfilling my role of being a defensive stopper for our team and doing what is necessary for our team to win,” Cohen said. “I’m extremely excited for this upcoming season as it is my senior year and I make sure that my teammates and I are working their hardest to get a little better each day.”

The final position in the Orange and Blue starting line-up, point guard, will likely go to Ayers, who will have to fill the shoes of Shazier, one of the most outstanding players this program has seen at that position. A four-year starter, Shazier was a prototypical point-guard, finding open teammates while also taking care of the basketball, finishing second in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio.

Despite playing off the ball for most of the season, Ayers logged valuable minutes in key conference games, averaging nearly eight points per contest, and was named to the Patriot League All-Tournament team during his rookie year.

The Bison will once again need to rely on a deep bench, and production from their second rotation will start in the post with Andoh, whose performance in overtime in a late-season game against Lafayette kept their winning streak alive.

Also off the bench will be guards Ryan Hill ’14 and Ben Brackney ’14 and forwards Colin Klebon ’13 and Probese Leo ’12. Brian Fitzpatrick ’13 will play his first game in a Bison uniform after sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. Other newcomers, Joshea Singleton ’15, Cory Starkey ’15 and Steven Kaspar ’15 should see playing time in 2012.

Right out of the gates, the Orange and Blue will face two major conference opponents—Minnesota and Vanderbilt—during the first week of the season. In addition, the team will take on six out-of-league schools that made last year’s NCAA Tournament that includes Syracuse, Richmond and George Mason. Combined with the always-tough Patriot League schedule, the Bison will be tested early and often this season.

“Our tough non-conference schedule is important because it allows us to play against stronger and more athletic teams,” Johnson said. “We play every game to win and those games are really exciting for us to play in because we want to prove that we belong.”

With the disappointment from Connecticut game still lingering, the men’s basketball team heads into the 2011-2012 season looking to prove to the nation that the Bison belong on the national stage. But, before they have that opportunity, the Bison have a long road through a tough non-conference and Patriot League schedule ahead of them.

“I think we will do very well this year,” Willman said. “Anything less than winning the Patriot League will be a disappointment for all of us.”

By Chris McCree

Sports Editor

 

Player Profile:

Tayler Siegrist

Junior

Defender

Hometown: Madison, N.J.

Major: Management

 

Statistics:

Games: 2

Shots: 5

Goals: 2

Defensive saves: 1

 

After posting an 8-12 regular season record, Tayler Siegrist ’13 led the women’s field hockey team to a second-place finish in the Patriot League tournament this past weekend in Washington, D.C. During the team’s first-round upset of No. 1 American, Siegrist recorded her first ever multi-goal performance, propelling the team to its first championship appearance since 2008.

After scoring her first goal midway through the first half, Siegrist went on to net the game-winner for the Orange and Blue with just over three minutes left to play, breaking the 2-2 tie. The following day, Siegrist led the team with two shots on goal and recorded a pivotal defensive save late in the second half to keep the team’s deficit to just one goal. Despite her defensive efforts, the Bison were not able to pull off the win as Lafayette came away with a 3-1 victory.

This season, Siegrist was a crucial component to the team’s success. Even as a defender, Siegrist was active in the offense as she finished the year with a total of nine points and a career-best four goals. She anchored the Bison defense, leading the team with three defensive saves on the season. As a junior, the Orange and Blue will look for Siegrist to improve on her strong play next year and lead the team to another successful season.

By Eric Brod

Senior Writer

In their season finale at Emmitt Field, the Bison fell to Lafayette 2-0 to finish the season 7-9-2. Seniors Andrew Powell ’12, Marc Hartmann ’12, Tommy Caso ’12, Ryan Sappington ’12, Luke Joyner ’12 and Nader Sawtarie ’12 were given a pre-game ceremony and will finish their careers as the third-most winning class in program history.

Lafayette’s Kyle Scharfenberg scored both goals for the Leopards, the first in the 17th minute off a corner kick and the second in the 66th minute. Although the Bison were unable to generate consistent pressure,  they still out-shot the Leopards 14-10. Powell provided the best scoring chance for the Orange and Blue in the 15th minute off a direct kick, but Lafayette goalie Graham Heydt was there for the save.

All three goalies received playing time in the finale, as Caso and Hartmann played their final games in net as Bison. Orman Kimbrough ’14 made his season debut with just two minutes remaining in the game.

Despite missing the postseason for the first time since 2008, the team has much promise for the 2012 season. Joyner, one of the senior co-captains on the team, knows his class has left a lasting legacy on the program.

“Nothing can take away from the two Patriot League championships our senior class was a part of. As part of this program for four years, I’ve made some memories that will last a lifetime,” Joyner said.

By Ajan Caneda

Writer

The women’s swimming team traveled to Annapolis, Md. last Saturday to compete in a Patriot League quad meet. The Bison defeated American and Lafayette 226-71 and 242-57 respectively, but lost to Navy 160-129. Diver Katie Hetherington ’15 won the one-meter diving event and Stephanie Koziel ’15 won the 200 IM.

“What was different about this meet was that it was long course as opposed to our usual racing distance of yards. The team is definitely on track for a great season,” Koziel said. “All the upperclassmen have been saying that there’s a great new energy to the team this year and I think that’s really been helping us do as well as we have been. This meet really showed us where we stand currently in the league and what other work we have to do in order to meet our goals.”

Koziel also finished third in the 200 meter butterfly and fourth in the 200 meter backstroke. Kelly Pontecorvo ’14 and Melissa Besman ’14 also placed highly, coming in second (9:27.83) and fourth (9:31.46) in the 800 meter freestyle. In the 100 meter breaststroke, Emily Norton ’15 came in second. The 100 meter butterfly was a close race as Kristen Purdy ’14 and Kaitlyn Sweeney ’12 tied for first at 1:07.52. Alex Panzarino ’14 finished in third place, just 1.09 seconds behind them. The Orange and Blue also had a first-place victory in the 400 meter freestyle.

“I think both the swimmers and divers have been doing very well. We have been training very hard this year and it is definitely showing during the meets,” Hetherington said. “In addition, we are very supportive of each other both in and out of the pool, which helps a lot when we compete. Also, the atmosphere at meets is always really fun which produces some really good swims and dives.”

“Overall, the women’s swimming team has had a strong start to the season,” head coach Dan Schinnerer said. “I was very pleased with how good of shape we started the year off and September was a great month of practice for us. Over the last few weeks, we have battled some illness and injury, but we are starting to regain our health and this past weekend was a good step forward. We have had a nice mix of good performances from returning swimmers and some great debuts from a talented frosh class.”

The Bison will be at home next weekend as they compete in the Bucknell Invitational Nov. 18 through Nov. 20.

By Andrew Lichtenauer

Writer

Matthew Segar ’12 led the Bison men’s swimming team in a quad meet at Navy in Annapolis, Md. last weekend. Segar won both the 200 and 400 freestyle, leading the men’s team to a pair of Patriot League victories. The Bison defeated American (227-67) and Lafayette (226-72), but lost to host and rival Navy (152.5-128.5). Segar was also part of the gold medal-winning 400 free relay, as the Bison had six first-place showings altogether. Segar’s victories were impressive–-he won the 200 free by 1.16 seconds, and claimed the 400 free by just 0.02 seconds.

The Bison and Navy dominated the competition and combined to win all 14 of the events contested over the weekend. American and Lafayette combined had only four finishes in the top five until Navy started swimming exhibition races in the last three events.

The only other Bison individual to win a race at Navy was Eric Sokolosky ’12, who tied for first place in the 50 free with Navy’s Robbie Parker. Sokolosky was also part of the winning 400 free relay team with Segar, Thomas Brown ‘12 and Taylor Harris ’12.

“Facing Navy is definitely a challenge, but always a welcome one. They are a powerhouse team with a lot of talent and depth, so competing against them is often a test of our own training and perseverance,” Sokolosky said. “I’m proud of the way our team performed this weekend and look forward to facing Navy and the other schools in the league for PL championships in March.”

Long-course training over the summer contributed to the Bison’s success in the quad meet at Navy.

“We’ve all done long-course training when possible this year, which was beneficial in preparing us for the quad meet,” Sokolosky said. 

Mike Nicholson ’14 posted two wins late in the meet, winning both the 100 fly and 200 IM. Nicholson, Christian Treat ’13, Sokolosky and Brown also teamed up to take the silver medal in the 400 medley relay. Brown was also the Bison’s top finisher in the 100 back at fourth place and 200 back at second place.

Jon Jones ’15 was the only Bison to compete in the diving events, and finished fourth in the three-meter and second in the one-meter. His score of 232.65 in the three-meter ranks him sixth in program history.

For Segar, the quad meet at Navy gives the team some perspective.

“As a team, the quad meet let us know that we can compete against the best, but we still have a long way to go before we see Navy again at the end of the season,” Segar said. 

The Bison return to the pool in two weeks when they host the three-day Bison Invitational in Kinney Natatorium on Nov. 18-20.

By Andrew Arnao

Writer

The women’s volleyball team was officially eliminated from the Patriot League Tournament last weekend, losing 3-0 to both Lehigh and Lafayette. The Bison now have a 3-9 record in the Patriot League.

On Friday, Nov. 4 against Lehigh, the Bison fell in the first set 25-17. The Bison had a brief 6-5 lead in the second set, only to see it dashed by a 10-2 run by Lehigh and an eventual 25-11 loss. They had their best performance of the night in the third set, when late efforts from Anne Ellenberger ’12 and Kat Tauscher ’13 kept the game tied at 22-22, but Lehigh scored three straight points to clinch the sweep.

The Bison had a 0.069 and 0.000 attack percentage in the first two sets respectively, but managed a 0.286 attack percentage during the third set. Kyleigh McAhren ’12 led the offense with five kills, while Tauscher managed 16 assists. Ellenberger also had three blocks to increase her Patriot League-leading total.

The Orange and the Blue played much better against Lafayette on Saturday, but still did not pull out a win. Despite maintaining leads for most the first set, the Bison eventually fell behind and lost 26-24. The second set was close until a 10-1 run by the Leopards gave the Bison a 25-14 loss. In the third set, neither team had more than a three-point lead for the entire duration. The Bison played for set point at 25-24, but they couldn’t capitalize. The two teams trades more blows back and forth until the Leopards eventually won 30-28.

“We struggled this weekend in sticking to our game and playing our game,” Katie Baumgarten ’12 said. “We didn’t play to our greatest potential, but we are working hard this week to finish our season with two wins.”

McAhren had 11 kills for the Orange and the Blue, while Tauscher led the team with 19 assists and Emily Sawanobori ’12 led with nine digs. Overall, the Bison had a 0.086 attack percentage, though they had a 35-32 edge in digs.

The Bison play their last two games on the road against Patriot League rivals Holy Cross and Army. The Orange and the Blue play Holy Cross Friday at 7 p.m. and Army on Saturday at 4 p.m.

“We had a tough weekend at Lehigh and Lafayette, but we are really looking forward to our final week of practice,” Rose Lewis ’14 said. “I think we have the right mindset to go to Holy Cross and Army and end our season on a high note.”

By Scott Padula

Writer

The Bison finished third at the Southern Championships this weekend in Princeton, N.J.  The Orange and Blue beat Mercyhurst 18-9 before defeating Penn State Behrend 14-1. In the semifinals, the Bison lost to their rival Navy, 11-5. To wrap up the tournament, the Orange and Blue beat Johns Hopkins 10-7.

In the first game of the weekend, the Bison squared off with Mercyhurst. The Orange and Blue jumped out to an early lead, taking a 9-6 lead into intermission. In the third quarter, the Bison sealed the 18-9 victory by shutting out their opponent while scoring seven goals of their own. Brian Barron ’13 led the Bison in scoring with four goals in his first action since mid-October. Julian Colina ’14 recorded a team-high seven points with three goals and four assists. Spencer Richley ’12 and Nick Barnett ’12 also had significant contributions with three assists and three goals respectively. In goal, Matt Napleton ’13 registered six saves in 24 minutes of play.

In their game Saturday afternoon, the Orange and the Blue faced Penn State Behrend. The Bison started the game strong, taking an 8-0 advantage into the half and never looked back. They went on to win the game 14-1. The win was in large part thanks to Keegan Williams ’15 who recorded eight saves in 32 minutes of play. Greg Norton ’15 led all Bison with four points, while Barnett recorded three assists and Beau Caillouette ’12 registered two goals.

In their final game Saturday, the Orange and Blue lost to the Naval Academy 11-5. The Bison could not get anything started on offense, falling behind 5-1 after the intermission. The Orange and Blue were unable to mount a comeback, as they fell to No. 16 Navy for the second time this season. Napleton stopped 14 shots while allowing 11 goals in 32 minutes. Jack Else ’14 and Caillouette led the Bison with two goals and two assists, respectively.

“Our game against Navy was beneficial in the sense that we know what we need to work on against them. Their 6-on-5 defense, called the “nickel,” is one that is characteristic of their team and has been for as long as I can remember. It allows them to quickly counter-attack and score, and we got beat on it too many times. I think that overall, we needed to come out with more intensity in that game. We played too hesitantly, and Navy came out gunning for us,” Richley said.

In the final game of the tournament, the Orange and Blue saw Johns Hopkins in the third-place game. The Bison scored three goals in both the first two quarters before going onto a 10-7 victory. Alex Nowlin ’14 registered four points with three assists and a goal. Else had a notable performance with four goals, and co-captain Richley led the team with three goals.

“This was a disappointing Southern Championships for us, but it should help us learn some lessons that can help us win Easterns. Against Navy in the Semis, we came out flat and could not get anything going on offense, which gives the opponent momentum on their counter-attack. We need to start our games with more intensity so we’re not putting ourselves in a hole. Tighter defense and execution on the offensive end are what we will focus on in order to bring home an Eastern Championship,” Napleton said.

The Orange and Blue are idle this weekend as they prepare for the Eastern Championships next weekend in Cambridge, Mass.