Category: Women

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Featured Lacrosse Sports Women

Athlete of the Week: Sophie Kleinert ’14

By Chris McCree

Sports Editor

 

Sophie Kleinert

Year: Sophomore

Position: Midfielder

Hometown: Greenwich, Conn.

Major: Political Science

 

Season Statistics:

 

GP-GS: 12-12

Goals: 11

Assists: 2

SOG %: .720

Ground Balls: 10

 

Despite being part of a 14-11 losing effort to Patriot League rival Lafayette, Sophie Kleinert ’14 put together an impressive offensive performance for the Orange and Blue on Saturday, leading the team with three goals and five shots on target. Starting at midfield for the Bison, Kleinert gave the team the early lead with her first goal of the day less than two minutes in. Later in the half, Kleinert came through with another big goal to preserve the team’s lead following a Leopard offensive rally in which the team tallied two goals within 15 seconds. Entering the second half with a one-goal lead, the Orange and Blue maintained the momentum after Kleinert scored her third goal. 

Along with her three goals, Kleinert also recorded a ground ball and draw control, raising her season totals to 10 and 11 respectively. She also showed off her accurate shooting abilities, as all five of her shots were on target.

Although the team has not had much success this season, Kleinert has certainly elevated her game from her rookie year. Just 12 games into this year, Kleinert has already nearly doubled the six goals she scored last year.

Currently, the Bison hold a 3-9 record and have five regular season games remaining on the schedule. Looking to earn their first league victory, Kleinert and the Orange and Blue will travel to Holy Cross this Saturday to take on the Crusaders at 1 p.m.

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Rowing Sports Women

Rowing places eight boats in top seven

By Lindsay Regruto

Senior Writer

The women’s rowing team had a strong showing at the Occoquan Sprints on Sunday in Fairfax, Va. with all three varsity eight boats placing in the top seven, another varsity eight boat taking fourth in its final and a novice eight boat taking first in its finals. 

“In the grand final, the varsity eight were in lanes one and two racing right next to each other just like every morning,” Christy Holodnik ’12 said. “Every morning the two boats push each other to be faster … and that is exactly what happened during the final.”

Two of the varsity eight boats with coxswains Jacqueline McKeone ’13 and Alexandra Higbee ’12 finished second and third respectively in the second heat of the competition while the third varsity eight boat with coxswain Katherine Anderson ’12 pulled out a first place finish in the third heat. McKeone’s and Anderson’s boats advanced to the final and took third and fourth respectively. The third varsity eight boat (cox: Higbee) advanced to the petite final taking first over Georgetown by almost five seconds to place seventh overall.

The second varsity eight boat took third in its heat and finished fourth in the final of its division. The Bison also had a strong showing in the novice eight with its boat taking first in its heat by seven seconds over Old Dominion. The novice eight boat continued to the final, beating out Delaware for first by about eight seconds.

“[We] had an exciting showing this past weekend,” Ally Cohen ’12 said. “All of our boats held their own against some tough competition.  We are looking forward to races to come and are excited to keep getting faster.”

The Bison will host Drexel and the Princeton Lightweights on Saturday at 8 a.m.

 

 

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Sports Track & Field Women

Women’s track comes away with trio of golds

By Katherine Harris

Writer

After winning the indoor Patriot League title in the winter, the women’s track and field team started off its outdoor season strong last Saturday with many impressive performances at the Towson Invitational.

“After the layoff between the indoor and outdoor season, I was very pleased with the result,” head coach Kevin Donner said. “We looked at this first outdoor meet more as a rust-buster and did not worry too much about times and distances.”

Even with the team not as worried about individual times and distances, there were still many shining moments on the day in Towson, Md. The Bison ended the meet with three gold medals, including a time of 48.43 seconds in the 4 x 100 meter relay that missed breaking into the program top-10 list by one hundredth of a second.

Another of the victories for the Orange and the Blue came from Rebecca Misko ’12 with her throw of 41.44 meters in the discus. Her mark was closely contested by teammate Abby Monaghan ’13, whose second-place throw of 41.43 meters just barely missed Misko’s distance.

The Bison continued their success in throwing events as they took the second through fourth spots in the javelin. Tayler Siegrist ’13 led her teammates with a throw of 137’ 8’’, while Sarah Trahan ’12 threw 127’ 5’’ and Erin Norris ’15 came in at 125’ 8’’.

In the pole vault Yanelis Mestre ’15 earned sixth in the school records books with a career best 11’ 1.75’’. Mestre earned the fourth place spot in the meet, while Autumn Schellenberger ’14 grabbed fifth on the day.

The Orange and Blue also had strong performances on the track, with Hana Casalnova ’14 leading the way with her winning time of 4:38.19 in the 1500 meters. Casalnova was also followed in the event by teammates Emily Waksmunski ’14, placing fourth, and Stephanie Fulmer ’12, coming in at fifth.

“I thought that the team performed really well in the meet this weekend,” Beth Braunegg ’14 said. “We are ahead of where we were last year at this time so this is setting us up for a strong showing at the league meet in a few weeks.”

The Bison also had three members place in the 800 meters. Braunegg led the way with her time of 2:16:09, while Caroline Tolli ’13 came in close behind in third at 2:16:70. Rounding out the top five was Emily Liggett ’12, whose 2:18:29 earned her the fifth spot in the race.

“We just wanted to be competitive, which we were,” Donner said. “The times and distances will come as we get into mid-season form by mid-April. Next weekend … will give us a good gauge on where we are at as a team.”

The team will seek to continue to improve its marks this weekend at the Colonial Relays, taking place on Friday and Saturday at William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va.

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Softball Sports Women

Softball drops four of five

By Thomas Walter

Writer

The softball team opened Patriot League play this past weekend by losing four straight at home to Colgate, but rebounded with a split in a doubleheader against La Salle on Wednesday.

The Orange and Blue hit the ball well but left runners stranded in scoring position all weekend long. In the four games against the Raiders, the Bison recorded just four total runs off 15 hits.

“The most important thing for us to turn around is to get our bats moving so we can produce more offensively,” Cassie Greenhawk ’13 said.

On Saturday, the Orange and Blue kept it close in both of the day’s games, falling 4-3 and 2-0. Mary Horton ’13 went one-for-one with an RBI and three walks in game one, while Tori Robinson ’15 recorded the team’s only hit in game two.

Sunday’s games were much more lopsided as the Raiders were able to outscore the Bison 11-1 and 5-0.

“Even though the results weren’t that great, the team definitely took some positives out of this past weekend, the first being that even though there were a lot of runs scored against the team there was solid pitching effort all weekend long,” Courtney Conover ’14 said.

Going forward, the team knows that it must continue this trend of solid pitching if it wishes to succeed late in the season.

“I’d have to say that our pitching staff did a phenomenal job pitching during the Saturday double-header,” Greenhawk said. “They really held their own against Colgate as far as minimizing their opportunities to get runners in scoring position.”

After a disappointing weekend against Colgate, the team took to the field Wednesday against La Salle to get another warm up in before facing off against Lehigh. After dropping the first game 1-0, the Bison responded strongly with a 5-2 victory. Laura Sandford ’13 drove in the winning run in the second game in order for the team to get another win under its belt and get some confidence going into this weekend.

“The La Salle games definitely give us extra confidence going into Lehigh,” Conover said. “I think we let the first game get away from us, but we answered back in the second game and came back to win the game.”

The team travels to Lehigh this weekend to play its second Patriot League series of the season. The series is set to start on 1 p.m. this Saturday.

“The biggest thing we need to get done against Lehigh is hit when we have runners on, especially when they are in scoring position,” Conover said. “We have definitely been leaving too many runners on base and that’s definitely something we want to improve on this weekend.”

 

Categories
Lacrosse Sports Women

Women’s lax remains winless in conference play

By Ajan Caneda

Writer

The women’s lacrosse team was unable to pick up its first conference victory this past weekend, falling to Lafayette 14-11 in Easton, Pa. Lafayette held the Bison scoreless for the final 12:30, allowing the Leopards to hand the Bison their ninth loss of the season.

Midfielder Sophie Kleinart ’14 scored a team-high three goals, while Katelyn Miller ’14, Ryan Wenk ’13 and Lindsey Ferro ’14 had two goals each.

“Our main goal going into the game against Lafayette was to win draw controls and keep possession,” Miller said. “[Ana White], who takes the draw for Lafayette, leads the nation in draw controls, so it was really crucial for us to be aggressive and give it our all right from the whistle.”

The Bison got off to an early 4-1 lead behind two goals from Miller and an unassisted goal by Arriana Sajjad ’15. Neither team could gain a comfortable edge. The Orange and Blue were able to attempt more shots (15-12) in the first period, but the game remained close. Wenk closed out the period with a goal that gave the Bison a 7-6 lead at the half.

“We came out strong from the very beginning by getting a 4-1 lead, but the game kept going back and forth,” Miller said. “Our attack was really hard to stop because we had multiple threats who could score.”

An early goal in the second period knotted the score at 7-7, but the teams continued to trade goals. Emily Kookogey ’15 dished an assist to Ferro, while Wenk nailed her second goal of the game that gave the Orange and Blue a 10-8 lead. It would be short-lived, as the Leopards answered with two goals of their own. Lafayette took their first lead of the game with 13:53 remaining. Ferro evened the score back up off a free position shot, but that would be the last goal for the Bison.

The Orange and Blue were outshot 13-9 in the second half, while Lafayette held the draw control advantage in the game (15-12). The Leopards also capitalized on free position, scoring five goals off of seven attempts.

“We need to learn to stay composed when we are up and use the clock to our advantage. We didn’t exploit the man-up situations, which allowed [Lafayette] to come back,” Kleinart said.

The Bison look to get back on track against Holy Cross on Saturday in Worcester, Mass. This is the second match of a four-game road trip for the Orange and Blue.

“We definitely fought the whole way through and learned so much that I’m confident the next time we play them, we will be able to be much more competitive,” Miller said.

Categories
Sports Tennis Women

Women’s tennis gets shut out by Georgetown

By Andrew Lichtenauer

Senior Writer

The women’s tennis team fell to Georgetown at the Hoyas’ home court on Friday. The Hoyas beat the Bison in every match, winning the contest 7-0. Georgetown is now 8-5 on the season, while the Orange and Blue have now lost eight straight outings and are 2-11.

Dumitrita Iepuras ’12 and Daria Tuzhikova ’13 competed hard in each of their singles matches, but both players ended up with losses. Tuzhikova put up a fight against Madeline Jaeger but eventually lost 6-2, 6-1, while Iepuras lost her singles match against senior Lauren Greco 6-1, 6-1.

The Bison played well in the No. 2 doubles matches with Courtney Casey ’12 and Lydia Colvin ’15, taking four games against Tina Tehrani and Victoria Sekely. Tehrani and Sekely were victorious in the end, winning 8-4. 

The Bison competed against Towson yesterday after press time. They will return home this weekend to take on Colgate at 1 p.m. this afternoon and George Mason at 11 a.m. tomorrow.

 

Categories
Sports Water Polo Women

Bison Athlete of the Week: Hallie Kennen ’12

By Chris McCree

Sports Editor

 

Player Profile:

Hallie Kennan ’12

Position: Driver

Hometown: Palo Alto, Calif.

Major: Environmental Studies

 

Statistics:

Games: 2

Goals: 5

Assists: 5

Steals: 2

Field Blocks: 1

Heading into last weekend riding a rough 10-game losing streak, the women’s water polo team came away with two big wins over Mercyhurst and Grove City thanks in large part to the strong play of Hallie Kennan ’12. Kennan recorded a total of 10 points over the two games, leading the Orange and Blue with three goals and four assists in the first game. The senior then added two more goals and an assist later in the nightcap against Grove City. Kennan’s seven-point performance against the Lakers tied a person career-high for Kennan and is the best individual performance of the season for the team.

Through the team’s 30 games this season, Kennan has certainly been the Orange and Blue’s most productive offensive weapon. Sitting nine points above the team’s second-highest points earner, Kennan has recorded 42 goals and 43 assists so far this season, making her just 20 points shy of the 300 mark for her career. On the defensive side, Kennan has made her presence felt, recording a team-high of 40 steals as well as nine field blocks.

Since beginning her collegiate career in 2009, Kennan has played a critical part in the team’s successes. During her sophomore year, Kennan emerged as the team’s top scorer with 58 goals in 27 games and earned Second Team All-CWPA Southern Division honors. Last season, Kennan once again led the team with 55 goals and was recognized for her demonstrated leadership and loyalty to the team by earning the team’s Allyson Gillespie Award. With one month remaining in her Orange and Blue career, Kennan will look to carry the team to a strong finish.

The Bison will take on Michigan and GW next weekend in College Park, Md., before hosting the Southern Championships on April 14 to 15.

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Golf Sports Women

Women’s golf takes sixth

By Andrew Lichtenauer

Senior Writer

The women’s golf team finished sixth and ninth of 11 teams at the UNC-Wilmington Seahawk Classic on March 24 and 25, respectively in Wallace, N.C. The Bison posted team scores of 306, 311 and 312 in the 54-hole event, putting them 63 strokes behind tournament champion East Carolina. Old Dominion came in second (872) followed by first-round leader Longwood (873).

Leading the Orange and Blue was Bridget Wilcox ’14, who started off the tournament with an exceptional first round of one-under-par (71). The sophomore followed her impressive first round with solid rounds of 76 and 78 to finish off the 54-hole event in a tie for 19th place individually (225).

“My driving and irons have really improved and I was feeling confident going into the round,” Willcox said. “I have been working really hard and it definitely paid off.”

Lauren Bernard ’14 had the low round of the day on Sunday for Bison, posting a third-round 75. Minjoo Lee ’12 finished with a pair of 79s after shooting 77 on March 24.

James Madison’s Nicole Sakamoto was the individual medalist with a four-under 212. Sakamoto beat out second-place finisher Samantha Morrell of Old Dominion by just one shot.

The Bison will hit the links again when they compete in the Big South Championship April 9-11 at The Patriot Club in Ninety-Six, S.C.

Categories
Sports Water Polo Women

Water polo snaps losing streak

By Katherine Harris

Writer

The women’s water polo team had an impressive weekend, posting a pair of victories against league opponent Mercyhurst and non-league competitor Grove City at Grove City on March 24. With the much-needed wins, the team improved to 2-3 in conference and 12-18 overall for the season.

“Overall, I think the team was relieved to get these two wins. After a tough spring break record, these last two games really brought back some of the team’s spirit and confidence. Before both games, we discussed specific strategies and tactics to help shut these teams down, and we went out and executed them very well, which contributed greatly to our success,” Hallie Kennan ’12 said.

In the first match of the afternoon, the Bison battled the Mercyhurst Lakers in a CWPA conference contest, prevailing with 14-7. Kennan and Julianne Valdes ’14 tallied three goals each. Kennan also had four assists in the match, becoming the first Bison to score seven points in a game this season and matching a career high in the process.

Krystle Morgan ’13, Taylor Barnett ’15 and Ariel Frankeny ’12 netted two goals apiece and goalkeeper Rena Heim ’14 recorded 10 saves. The combined effort led to the end of a 10-game losing streak.

The Bison played the Grove City Wolverines in their second match of the day. Barnett and Morgan led the way with four and three goals respectively, leading to an eventual 15-8 win.

Kennan and Valdes again stepped up and tallied two goals each for the victory. Barbara Peterson ’15 also contributed two goals and goalkeepers Heim and Brittany Connell ’12 posted three and one saves respectively for the Orange and Blue.

“What was great about these games was that all our players were able to get some playing time,” Kennan said. “Everyone had the chance to get involved and contribute to the outcome, which I think helps the team develop even more confidence and a better sense of responsibility.”

The Bison will now have two weeks of practice before they play again. Their next matches will be on April 7 when they travel to College Park, Md. to play Michigan and George Washington.

Categories
Sports Tennis Women

Women’s tennis falls to rival Navy

By Lindsey Regruto

Senior Writer

The women’s tennis team put up a strong start against Navy in its Patriot League opener, but couldn’t pull out the win, falling 5-2.

The Orange and Blue secured the doubles point, winning two of three matches. Daria Tuzhikova ’13 and Elena Vidrascu ’14 pulled out a 9-7 win at No. 1 doubles, while Courtney Casey ’12 and Lydia Colvin ’15 secured the doubles point for the Bison with another tight win (8-6) in the No. 2 position. Dumitrita Iepuras ’12 and Jen Bush ’15 played a great match to almost sweep the doubles position but fell 9-8 to their Navy opponent at third doubles.

“It was a tough match for us against Navy,” Vidrascu said. “I don’t think that it was necessarily because they were better. We have the players, we have the talent, we just need the confidence.”

In singles, Iepuras earned the lone victory for the Orange and Blue, defeating her opponent decisively 6-3 in two sets. Iepuras’s win brings her tied for eighth in program history for total wins with a record of 106-84. Vidrascu took her match to three sets, winning the first 6-4 but dropping the last two. The Bison couldn’t pull another win in singles, dropping matches in spots two through six.

“We have all been working really hard,” Vidrascu said. “We’re better than the outcome we’ve been showing this spring […] and I look forward to having our dual match [against Navy] during Patriot League Championships.”

About halfway through their season, the Bison have earned just two victories in 13 games and are about to enter in the most important stretch. Over the next three weeks, the team will take on four Patriot League opponents starting with Colgate on April 6.

Before then, the Bison will face Georgetown today and Mount Saint Mary’s tomorrow.