Elizabeth Morgan | The Bucknellian The team poses together at the Invitational. Together, they put on an impressive performance that saw numerous Bison finish in top spots.
Alex Wagner
Sports Editor
Maria Cioffi ’16 continued her successful campaign last weekend, coming out on top of the singles and doubles brackets while competing with the women’s tennis team at the Mount St. Mary’s Invitational in Emmitsburg, Md.
To get to the finals of the Flight A singles bracket, Cioffi fought hard to defeat Loyola’s Megan Hahn 6-2, 3-6, 10-6 on a super tiebreak in the semifinals. In the final game, she defeated Elena Vidrascu ’14, who is also her doubles partner, 6-3, 6-2.
In the doubles field, Cioffi and Vidrascu won against Megan Hahn and Olivia Ott of Loyola in the semifinals. In the finals, they defeated their teammates Lydia Colvin ’15 and Alyssa McAndrew ’15 in the final, 8-6.
The weekend’s action marked the second time in two tournaments that Cioffi has reached the finals in both singles and doubles play, marking a great start to her collegiate career. Vidrascu also added on the accolades to her career for the Orange and Blue, improving her career doubles record to 31-32, which ranks her 22nd in all-time for the Bison, a standing she also has for career combined wins.
“As for the team, I think everyone did excellent this weekend and it was a huge improvement from our home tournament last weekend. Everyone played smartly from what I could see, and there are definitely some things to be worked on but it’s only going to get better and better from here,” Vidrascu said.
In addition to placing the two teams of Cioffi/Vidrascu and Colvin/McAndrew, the Bison also placed a third team in the finals when Ellie Fraser ’16 and Kristen Bishof ’15 reached the Flight B doubles bracket finals. Unfortunately, they were unable to win against Carly Landini and Liz Rossi of Mount St. Mary’s in that match.
The Bison will be back in action when they host the Bucknell Invitational on Sept. 21-23.
The men’s tennis team split up last weekend to compete in the Princeton Invitational and the Mount St. Mary’s Invitational.
At the Princeton Invitational, Josh Katten ’13 and Evan Zimmer ’13 both won their singles matches, while Katten also teamed up with Kelly Morque ’13 to win their first-round doubles match and defeat Princeton’s Mohamed El Tonbari and Michael Lin, 8-4. Despite Katten’s first round singles win over Andrew Berman of UPenn (4-6, 6-4, 6-2), he had a tough second round match-up and lost to St. John’s MJ Every after dropping the opening frame 6-1. Zimmer’s first match went well as he beat Cornell’s Alex Sidney 6-3, 6-2, but he was defeated by Yale’s Kyle Dawson 6-0, 3-6, 6-1.
As the tournament progressed, the Orange and Blue struggled as Nick Bybel ’16 lost his match to Arvis Berzins of Fairleigh Dickinson 6-3, 6-0, which ended the Bison’s contention in the singles bracket. Similarly, Morque and Katten brought the team’s competition to a close at the Princeton Invitational when they lost in an 8-5 contest against Wake Forest’s Sam Bloom and Brendan Henry.
In Emmitsburg, Md. the Bison were only able to send two players through to the second round. Octavio Canibe ’15 won 7-5, 3-6, 10-7 over Duk Young Park of Morgan State and Jonathan DeFrancesch ’15 defeated Jordan Kuchta of Loyola (Md.) 6-4, 6-3 in the first round. In the semi-final round, Canibe was a 6-2, 3-6, 10-4 winner over Adam Salam of Mount St. Mary’s and DeFrancesch defeated Morgan State’s Jannick Tash 5-7, 6-3, 10-4 in their Flight B semifinal.
In the doubles arena, partners Canibe and Rosen won 9-8 against Mike Salomon and Salam of Mount St. Mary’s. The Bison duo lost their next round match to Duk Young Park and Tash of Morgan State, 8-4.
On Sunday, Canibe lost to Matt Blake from Mount St. Mary’s in the finals by a score of 7-5, 6-2 to place second in the Flight A title bout. Also competing in the finals was DeFrancesch, who defeated Evan Ward 6-4, 6-4, and won the Flight B singles title, tallying a career best with three consecutive wins this weekend. Aidan Lynch ’14 also defeated Bobby Gorczakowski of Loyola 7-5, 6-4 in the backdraw.
“Overall, it was a successful weekend for everyone. There was solid competition at both tournaments and we got a lot of matches in, which is very important at this point in the season. We hope to have a productive week of practice and be at our best for the St. Joes tournament,” Morque said.
After the Bison’s strong performance at the Mount St. Mary’s Invitational, they will prepare for the St. Joseph’s Invitational in Philadelphia on Sept. 21-23.
Courtesy of Athletic Communications Kebah Edoho ’13 spikes the ball. She played a critical role in the Bison’s success at the Bucknell Invitational.
Katherine Harris
Writer
The women’s volleyball team finished its last weekend of non-conference play strong last weekend, going 2-1 during the Bucknell Invitational on Sept. 14 and 15.
“Since it was my first home game, I was really nervous and excited to see a lot of people show up to support us,” said Karen Campbell ’16. “The energy from our supporters in the gym was great and it made me really enjoy playing on the home court in front of a big audience.”
The Bison started the tournament against a tough Fordham team, losing 3-0 again in a repeat of the two squads’ meeting the weekend before. Individual performances for the Orange and Blue were stronger in the second match-up between the teams, as Hannah Young ’14 racked up five blocks while Campbell and Kebah Edoho ’13 had three each. On offense, Meghan Wentzel ’16 totaled 17 assists and Jessica Serrato ’14 added 10 kills to the performance.
On Saturday, the Orange and Blue came back with a vengeance, burying a Providence squad while earning their first three-set victory of the year. Multiple players stepped up in the win, including Serrato with eight kills and Edoho with six. Morgan Mientus ’14 contributed 11 digs, while Kat Tauscher ’13 recorded her first career double-double with 19 assists and 10 digs. The first home win of the season was also a high point for the Bison as head coach Cindy Opalski recorded her 400th career win.
“I think we are really going to surprise some people in the Patriot League and pull out some big wins this year. We finally are finishing matches when we are up two games to zero, and not letting the other team get back into the game,” Mientus said.
Continuing their domination for the day, the Bison finished the tournament with a 3-0 win over Quinnipiac. Mientus finished with 11 digs, while Serrato and Campbell both had performances that solidified their spots on the All-Tournament Team. Serrato finished with 11 kills on the day, totaling 29 kills and 21 digs on the weekend. Campbell ended up with five kills and four blocks, and 15 kills and 10 blocks for the entire tournament.
“Overall, I think the weekend offered an excellent ending note to our pre-conference play. We have all individually made critical changes and improvements in the last six weeks, and as a team we are growing stronger each week,” Serrato said. “We also recognize that we, along with the other Patriot League teams, are now 0-0 all over again, and we have serious competition ahead of us.”
The Bison will now prepare for the opening weekend of Patriot League play as they travel to Lafayette to face off against the Leopards tonight.
Madelyn Zachara | The Bucknellian The Orange and Blue attempt to capitalize on a throw in. They found many ways to score over the weekend, compiling eleven goals.
Chris McCree
Sports Editor
Coming off its first two victories of the season, the men’s soccer team exploded for 11 goals last weekend in a pair of wins against Adelphi and Albany on its home turf. The Orange and Blue dominated both games from start to finish, outshooting their opponents 18-7 and 18-9, respectively.
“This weekend was a critical step for our team,” Patrick Figgie ’16 said. “After battling out five difficult games to start off our season, coming back home and being able to play our own game is a great sign of moving forward. We were able to control the tempo of both games more so than in the previous five, which allowed us to keep possession and have more attacking chances.”
On Friday night, the Orange and Blue recorded the highest goal total in 20 years with seven goals, shutting out an Adelphi squad that beat the team 1-0 last season. Conor Keeley ’15 led the Bison with two goals, while five others recorded single goals.
Brendan Burgdorf ’13 got the Bison started with a goal in the sixth minute of play, followed by a headed goal from Jonathan Grad ’15 right before the half. Joe Meyer ’14 scored his second goal of the season early in the second half, while Figgie, Keeley and Mark Leibensperger ’15 all scored their first collegiate goals in the later parts of the contest.
“Coming into the weekend we were riding a two game win streak, so it was important to be able to keep that momentum going–especially at home–in front of a great crowd,” Brian Ward ’15 said. “Last year, we did not get the result we wanted in our home opener, or when we went to Adelphi, so to get the win this year feels even better.”
Following the big win, the Bison continued their strong play against Albany, taking down the Great Danes, 4-0. Defender Mayowa Alli ’14 scored two goals in the first half, while Ward and Burgdorf each added one of their own in the second.
On the defensive side, the Bison were strong once again, allowing just nine shots in 90 minutes of play. Mike Lansing ’16 recorded his second straight shutout of the year, only having to make two saves throughout the match.
“The overall team effort that we gave this weekend was amazing,” Ward said. “Twenty-two different guys played, eight different guys scored, two different goalies got complete game shutouts and no matter what combination of players we had on the field, our level of play never dropped.”
Due to their large goal differential, the Orange and Blue took the Class of ’98 Invitational crown, while Penn State took second.
Playing their best soccer of the young season, the Bison look poised to compete for a Patriot League title. The Bison will travel to Lehigh tomorrow for a nighttime showdown against their rivals.
“After this weekend, we are definitely looking forward to playing Lehigh in our first Patriot League game,” Meyer said. “I think it is important to realize that while we had a great weekend, we still need to come ready to play and ready to work hard. We are confident right now and need to focus on getting ready for Saturday’s match.”
Edward Louie | The Bucknellian Courtney Nelson ’15 strikes the ball. The Bison gained valuable experiences in their two game trip; to the west coast.
Ajan Caneda
Copy Editor
The women’s soccer team went 1-1 this past weekend to earn second place in the St. Mary’s Tournament in Moraga, Calif. It has been 13 years since the Orange and Blue have traveled to the West Coast and they started out with a 3-1 victory against CSU Bakersfield on Sept. 14. Two nights later, the Bison had trouble finding the net, as they fell 2-0 to Saint Mary’s (Calif.). Chelsey Garkowski ’14, Kayla Yee ’13 and Corinne Collins ’13 earned spots on the All-Tournament Team.
Traveling to the West Coast had no negative effects on the Orange and Blue, as Yee dished an assist to Garkowski leading to the first goal of the match in the fifth minute. CSU Bakersfield outshot the Bison 7-4 in the first half, but were unable to score on Sandita McDermott ’13 who had six saves in the game.
“It was great to play in the scenery we did on Friday,” forward Cassie Denger ’15 said. “The temperature was great and the sun was shining; it was a beautiful day to play.”
The Roadrunners continued their aggressive play, reeling off another 15 shots in the second half, but the Bison made their opportunities count. Liz Dwornik ’14 delivered a cross pass that led to a shot by Denger, which gave the Orange and Blue a 2-0 lead. Five minutes later, Jenna Tryon ’13 launched a long pass to Garkowski, leading to her second goal of the game and a team-leading four shots. The Roadrunners scored in the 80th minute to prevent the shutout.
Twenty-four players saw action in this game, and goalie Jessie Ashworth ’16 made her collegiate debut with two saves in 12 minutes of action.
“It was great to get a win on the West Coast,” Denger said. “By using all 24 players it really helped us keep the level of play high in the heat. We always had fresh legs on the field and it gave us a great advantage in the second half. Winning feels great no matter what coast you’re on.”
Although McDermott had a season-high 10 saves against Saint Mary’s, the Bison offense couldn’t get going, losing 2-0 to the host team. This is only the second time this season that the Orange and Blue were held scoreless.
The Gaels were able to jump out to an early lead with a goal in the 16th minute. Both teams battled for position to score, but it stayed 1-0 at halftime.
The Bison were determined to even the score with five more shot attempts in the second half. It would be to no avail, as the Gaels stopped their offensive flow. Saint Mary’s scored their second goal in the 88th minute to put the game away.
The Orange and Blue have their final game before Patriot League play tonight at 7 p.m. at home against Canisius.
“Going into conference play, we have the highest expectations. We have seen it all in the pre-conference season and hope to carry those experiences forward to help us have success in the Patriot League,” McDermott said.
The Orange and Blue’s cycling team rolled over to neighboring Milton Township on September 8th to compete in the annual Milton Harvest Festival Road Race, where they emerged in first place. The race has been a long held pre-season tradition for the team but they haven’t been able to take the title until this year.
There was a great showing from the strong sophomore core of the team consisting of President Brian Case ’15, Vice-President Daniel Lazier ’15 and Sam Cowans ’15. These three cyclists, with the help of alumnus Daniel Wood ’09, were able all place in the top 25. This strong showing secured the Bison the top team spot, taking it from returning champions Big Earl’s Bike shop. Cowans was towed into a second place overall finish by a strong lead-out by the three aforementioned cyclists.
“The [Bison] cycling program is headed in a really good direction and it’s awesome to be here to be a part of that growth and success,” said Vice-President Lazier.
The Orange and Blue’s cycling team is a member of the Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference (ECCC). The ECCC is a competitive cycling conference that spans from Southeast Canada to Delaware, containing 55 teams. The Bison have always been a competitive team within this conference, despite the small size of their program.
There was also a strong showing from the rest of the team, including Kolbe Mckee ’16, Audrey Love ’16 and Eric Wengert ’16. They are sure to add to the team even more as time goes on.
“I was really excited to see such a good turnout, especially with the newer riders. I’m just really looking forward to the spring racing season so we can see how we stack up against the rest of the eastern conference,” said President Case.
After such a strong performance at the Milton Harvest Festival Road Race, it will be exciting to watch the group race in the ECCC this spring.
Brandon Wesley ’14 played an instrumental role in the football team’s opening 19-17 victory over Marist on Sept. 8. Despite inclement weather that delayed the game for over an hour, Wesley didn’t let the pressure of the quarterback position get to him.
“I did not do anything special to prepare for this game at all; I usually just try to stay pretty relaxed and calm before games. Funny thing is, I almost fell asleep before this game while we waited in the locker room because of the rain delay. That might have been a little too much relaxation,” Wesley said.
It appears the relaxed approach worked, as Wesley completed 74 percent of his throws, en route to 190 passing yards. His most clutch throws came in the fourth quarter 14-play drive that culminated in the game-winning kick by Sean Cobelli ’14.
“I also think a large part of my success came from the great blocking of the offensive line, who often times receive very little credit for our success as a team. Without them, we wouldn’t have been in position to make that game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter,” Wesley said.
Wesley and the football team will continue their 2012 campaign at Delaware tomorrow.
The most damning stat from the 2011 NFL regular season is 8-8.
That was the final record of the so-called “dream team”–the Philadelphia Eagles.
The dream team was as doomed as a runaway train from the very beginning. The moment an unproven squad puts the proverbial target on their back, that’s usually it.
The Eagles were no exception. They stumbled out of the gate to a 1-4 record, and a couple of Michael Vick injuries and brain freeze moments later, they fell flat on their faces with an out-of-contention, 8-8 finish.
You could say this year is the “make-or-break” year for the Birds. It could be Vick’s last shot to prove he can stay healthy and lead a contending team deep into January. It could be Andy Reid’s disappointing curtain call after 14 years if the Eagles aren’t around for the postseason. It could be DeSean Jackson’s one and only chance to win back some of the “haters” he garnered in the city of brotherly love because of the many issues he carried onto the football field amidst his contract dispute last year.
It could even be a season ending with a parade down Broad Street.
A week one win over the Browns doesn’t score the team anything more than a pat on the back and a “good luck next week,” though. Besides, after a bumpy preseason featuring two Vick injuries and the death of Andy Reid’s son, Garrett, the team looked very sloppy in victory.
For the first time in many years, Philadelphia fans don’t have any idea what they have. When this offense clicks, it’s hard to find a better one in the NFL. They can beat you with speed, they can beat you deep, they can beat you on the ground and they can beat you with off-the-wall play.
But if the mental mistakes creep in like they did last year–dropped passes, tons of turnovers (something that happened once again against Cleveland), poor third down play calling, Vick’s unwillingness to slide at the end of plays)–they could be just another disappointing means to an end.
The defense could be a lot better with Pro Bowl middle linebacker, DeMeco Ryans, there to sure up the middle of the field. Or, it could be much of the same if the 28-year-old Ryans truly isn’t the same player after his 2010 Achilles injury. For what it’s worth, he looked very comfortable against the Browns’ inept offense.
This year is pretty much a mulligan for the boys in green. After failing miserably last season, no major changes occurred. In fact, quite the opposite. Reid has been given a “do-over,” straight from the mouth of owner Jeffrey Lurie. Players like Trent Cole, Evan Mathis, Todd Herremans, LeSean McCoy and even Jackson were given the extensions and financial security they all clearly desired. Even Juan Castillo, former offensive line coach and now defensive coordinator, has been given second life.
That’s a lot of leeway to go around, which makes this season all the more important.
The preseason already seemed to have an underlying ominous tone, as Vick couldn’t even stay on the field for a quarter at a time–let alone a game at a time. It’s a “live-and-die-by-the-quarterback” league, and the Eagles can’t afford to have Vick out for a few games at a time. Great teams need continuity and Vick has to find a way to give his locker room that this year.
The Eagles might be equipped with the best all-around running back in football: McCoy. Despite the blow of losing All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters to an Achilles injury in the off-season, Eagles fans can expect big things out of the electrifying 24-year-old they call “Shady.” However, it’s DeSean “all eyes on me” Jackson who fans are really going to be judging this year.
Jackson exploded onto the scene immediately during his rookie campaign in 2008. Within a year he was a triple-threat Pro Bowler who could beat just about anyone in a footrace. Last year, he had serious problems because of his aforementioned contract dispute. As a result, his season stat line was the worst since his rookie year and his mind-blowing mental errors cost the Eagles dearly throughout the year.
Despite the negative press Jackson brought upon himself, the organization decided to believe in the usually up-beat 25-year-old and gave him a five-year, $51 million contract. With his financial worries behind him, it’s time for Jackson to light up the highlight reel like he did for the first three years of his career.
It’s talent like the combination of Vick, McCoy and Jackson that makes analysts continue to show some faith in the Eagles’ Super Bowl chances. But talent only takes you so far; they need to win.
The Eagles are still “on the clock,” but it’s time for them to nut up or shut up–because this roster will assuredly be clocked out if they can’t make some serious noise this year.
Chloe Chou | The Bucknellian A Bison golfer looks to capitalize on the short game. Unfortunately, inclimate weather kept the Orange and the Blue from defending their win streak at home.
Chris McCree
Sports Editor
The men’s and women’s golf teams kicked off their seasons with third and seventh place finishes, respectively. This past weekend, the Colgate Invitational in Hamilton, N.Y. gave the men a team score of 618 or 42-over par, leaving them 20 strokes behind tournament champion, Youngstown State. The women’s team had a tougher time during its host tournament, failing to extend its event winning streak to three straight years.
For the men, Dan Bernard ’13 led the team with a 36-hole score of 153, earning him a top-10 finish in a field of 54 competitors.
“The team performed pretty well,” Bernard said. “It was good for the freshmen to get some tournament experience in the tough conditions over the weekend.”
The Bison started two first-years this weekend, Luke Edelman and Nick Geissler, who finished T-21 and T-36, respectively, in their first collegiate tournaments. Edelman posted scores of 80 and 76 over the two days, while Geissler finished with two rounds of 83 and 80.
“Personally, I was disappointed with my performance on both days and will not take it lightly,” Edelman said. “I plan to work very hard in the coming weeks to ensure better performances in the future. Although I was very upset with my performance, I must say that the entire feel of the tournament was great between our team, our coach and the tournament itself.”
Rounding out the top five for the Bison were Schuyler Stitzer ’14 and Zach Pogust ’15 who finished T-13 and T-18, respectively. At the end of the tournament, all but Youngstown State’s Bill Gaffney were over-par. Gaffney held a seven stroke victory at one under par.
Coming away from the weekend, the Bison can be satisfied that they were able to finish ahead of host team and league rival Colgate, who finished with a 639.
For the women, Bridget Wilcox ’14 led the team with a 54-hole total of 231. Wilcox was the sole player for the Orange and Blue to record three-straight rounds under 80, allowing her to finish in the top 10 at +21.
Coming into the event, the Bison were the two-time defending champions, but could not find the consistency to win this year. At the end of the three rounds, Boston University stood atop the leaderboard after squeezing by both Rutgers and Seton Hall by a stroke. The Orange and Blue were able to finish strong, posting its best round of the tournament on Sept. 9 to move from eighth to seventh in the 15-team field.
“Well the tournament was a little disappointing. We’ve won our home tournament for the past two years, but this year it just didn’t happen for us. None of us played our best, but it’s a building year for us and we know what we need to work on,” Lexi Klein ’15.
The men’s team will return to play today when they host the Bucknell Invitational, while the women will take the week off before heading to Michigan to play in the Wolverine Invitational.
Edward Louie | The Bucknellian Calvin Garrett ’16 kicks the ball in preseason practice. The Bison were well prepared for their season opener against Marist, emerging with a 19-17 win.
Eric Brod
Senior Writer
Coming off the momentum of their turnaround 2011 season, the football team opened up the 2012 campaign with a hard-fought 19-17 win over Marist. The offense was led by quarterback Brandon Wesley ’14, who was 20-27 for 190 yards and two touchdowns.
Wesley put together a masterful game-clinching drive, which spanned 14 plays, seven minutes and 23 seconds. The drive was capped by a 36-yard field goal by Sean Cobelli ’14. Jeremiah Young ’13 ran for 35 yards on seven plays after last year’s leading rusher, Tyler Smith ’13, left the game early with an ankle injury.
Marist was able to close the gap to 19-17 after quarterback Chuckie Looney led them on a 10-play, 80-yard drive, but the Red Foxes were unable to recover the ensuing onside kick with 31 seconds remaining.
The Bison took a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter on a touchdown pass from Wesley to fullback Travis Friend ’14. The drive was set up by a fumble recovery returned 55 yards by safety Ryan Morgan ’14. Marist responded by tying the score at seven late in the first quarter, but the Orange and Blue regained the lead on a 22-yard Cobelli field goal to take a 10-7 lead. The Bison extended their lead late in the second half to 16-7 on Wesley’s second touchdown of the game, this one to Jake Flaherty ’14, capping an eight-play, 43 yard drive.
Quite possibly the most impressive part of the win was that the offensive line, featuring four new starters, did not allow a sack and was able to give runners enough space to run, as the Bison averaged 3.7 yards per carry. Head coach Joe Susan attributes the offensive line’s success to composure and a balanced offensive attack.
“Our offensive line did a good job maintaining their composure. That is critical in their first start together,” Susan said. “Our effectiveness was enhanced by being able to balance the offense.”
Susan also noted how Wesley and the line worked together to make each other’s jobs easier.
“They did a very good job in protection, especially against a pressure front,” Susan said. “Brandon was smart with the ball and our passing game is based on timing. Hence, we did not give up a sack.”
Despite being outgained offensively 366 to 332 by Marist, the Bison were able to use a balanced attack to efficiently break through the Marist defense. The Bison racked up 142 rushing yards and 190 passing yards.
On defense, the team was led by Morgan and Evan Byers ’15 with eight tackles each. On offense, receiver Victor Walker ’14 had six catches for 81 yards.
The Orange and Blue, leading the nation in turnover differential last season, were even in the category on Sept. 8, with two turnovers a piece for each team.
The Bison next travel to Newark, Del. to take on the Delaware Blue Hens tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. before opening at home on Sept. 22 to open Patriot League play against Lafayette. Susan expects the team to be ready to face the challenges Delaware will create.
“We will continue to improve as a team and make necessary adjustments in scheme and personnel to do so. Delaware poses different challenges as they have excellent skill offensively and a very good defensive front,” Susan said. “We have to be more secure with the ball and control it to keep their offense off the field. Field position will be a critical factor in this game.”
