Connecticut College Sports Roundup

Connecticut College's sports teams hit a rough patch on Saturday, with both basketball teams and the women's ice hockey team losing to their competitors and the men's ice hockey team managing only a tie against Williams College. The swimming and diving teams continued a strong season with a sixth straight meet win while some members of the indoor track team posted championship-qualifying results. The following information was provided by William Tomasian, sports information director at Connecticut College:

Men's Basketball: Wesleyan 61, Conn College 57

Junior Derick Beresford made a pair of free throws with :07.5 on the clock to break a 57-57 tie as Wesleyan survived a threat from the visiting Camels to escape with a 61-57 men's basketball victory here today.

Wesleyan advances to 15-5 on the season, 4-3 in conference action while the Camels fall to 6-13 overall, 0-7 in the league.

Wesleyan trailed for a total of only 1:09 during the contest as Connecticut College had a three brief leads and there were seven ties, but the Cardinals, playing without leading scorer Shasha Brown, got 20 points and seven rebounds from Callaghan and 12 points and four assists from Beresford to avert the upset.

Connecticut College was led by sophomore Mason Lopez, who scored 17 points while sophomores Matt Vadas and Tyrone Turner added 10 for the visitors. Junior Rob Harrigan grabbed eight rebounds to pace the Camels. Game honors on the boards went to Wesleyan sophomore Glen Thomas with 10. Freshman Chris Tugman added eight boards for Wesleyan.

The game was closely contested throughout as the largest lead was seven points, held by Wesleyan three minutes into the second half, 29-22. But a 12-5 Camel run tied the count at 34-34 with 12:10 to play. Wesleyan again pulled ahead by seven, 45-38, with 7:35 on the clock, only to have Connecticut College respond by taking its first lead in about 25 minutes with a three-point play by Turner with 4:11 to go, giving the Camels a 49-47 edge.

Connecticut College last led, 13-10, with 9:30 remaining in the first half. Wesleyan tied the game, 49-49, on a jumper by senior Jason Mendell, before Mendell added a three-pointer at the 2:20 mark for a 52-49 Cardinal lead. He finished the game with 12 points.

Down the stretch, Connecticut College tied the game, 54-54, on a trey by Lopez at the 1:00 mark, and again knotted the count, 57-57, when Vadas converted a three-point play with :15.3 remaining. Beresford was fouled on Wesleyan's next possession, leading the to winning free throws.

Wesleyan, which had dropped three of the last four meetings vs. Connecticut College despite holding a decided 36-21 lead in the series, is back on the court Wed., Feb. 1 hosting in-state non-conference foe Eastern Connecticut.

Connecticut College returns to action Tuesday with a trip to in-state rival Western Connecticut, also in a non-conference game.

Women's Basketball: Wesleyan 51, Conn College 43

Wesleyan scored nine straight points in the final six minutes to break away from a 40-40 deadlock vs. Connecticut College here this afternoon and go on to claim a valuable 51-43 NESCAC women's basketball victory.

Wesleyan improved to 12-5 overall, 4-3 in the conference while Connecticut College fell to 14-4, 4-3.

Ahead for Wesleyan is a meeting with undefeated, top-ranked Amherst Tuesday at home in a game that doesn't count in the NESCAC standings. Connecticut College resumes action Monday, hosting cross-town rival Coast Guard in a non-conference matchup.

After the Camels scored 10 straight points to erase a 40-30 deficit and draw to a 40-40 tie, Wesleyan took the lead for good on a free throw by sophomore Amber Wessells with 5:17 to play. Senior Eileen Gaffney followed with a basket at 3:36 for a 43-40 lead. Neither team scored for more than two minutes as Wessells canned the next bucket at 1:30 for a 45-40 edge.

The Cardinals then sank four of their next six free throws to move ahead, 49-40, with just 24.6 seconds to go. Connecticut College failed to score for more than 5:30 during crunch time, going 0-for-9 with two turnovers over a span of nine possessions.

Neither team led by more than four points during the first half as Wesleyan went into the locker room clinging to a 24-23 advantage. Opening the second half with a 16-7 run, the Cardinals pulled out to a 40-30 lead, but three pointers by freshman Jocelyn Summers and senior Jenn Shinall sandwiched a basket by sophomore Tara Gabelman and a pair of sophomore Caitlin Cimino free throws to give the Camels a 10-0 burst and a 40-40 tie.

Wesleyan senior Sam LaCroce, who had six of the Cardinals' 16 points to begin the second stanza, led all scorers with 14 points. Gaffney and sophomore KellyAnn Rooney added 10 for Wesleyan, which defeated Connecticut College for the 14th time in the last 15 meetings and leads the overall series, 30-25. Gaffney also had a game-high 10 rebounds for a double-double as Wesleyan generated a 46-31 edge on the glass.

Gabelman paced the Camels with 13 points and seven rebounds. Shinall hit double-digit scoring with 10. Cimino tied for her team's lead on the boards with seven.

Men's Ice Hockey: Conn College 3, Williams 3

The Williams College men's ice hockey team (10-3-5) went right back at it at home this afternoon battling to a 3-3 tie against the Connecticut College Camels (5-10-3).

"This weekend was a step in the right direction," Connecticut College head coach Jim Ward said Saturday night. "Over a two-game span, we finished more checks and blocked more shots than we had over the course of the season. This is a testament to all of our players commitment to playing solid two-way hockey and the net result is our best weekend in terms of points. It's great to go on the road and play well against two of the traditional powers in NESCAC hockey and in the country."

"Our freshmen provided us with some timely offense this weekend, Ward said. "Steven Victor and JC Cangelosi provided us with a nice lift."We also got solid production out of our go to guys, including Keith Veronesi, J.J. McGregor and our offensive leader Sean Curran. We are looking forward to playing our home and home weekend with Tufts. Another new feature of the league scheduling allows us to go up against each other twice in one weekend."

After a tough OT loss last night against the Tufts Jumbos, the Ephs were determined to get back into the win column. But after falling behind early in the first period, Ephs' freshman defender David Jerrett's third period goal would bring the game to overtime. After neither team was able to score in the extra period, the game came to an end in a tie.

The first period was a fast paced, aggressive once as the Camels put the Ephs on their heels, scoring just five minutes into the game. Camels' freshman defender, Mike Doyle fired a snap shot from the left point that beat Ephs' senior goalie Ryan Purdy for the first goal of the game.

Williams was quick to respond when Ephs' junior forward Evan Dugdale evened the score at 1-1 only three minutes later. After a Camels' turnover in their own defensive end, Ephs' senior defenseman Justin Troiani found Dugdale who fired a wrist shot to the top left corner over the shoulder of Camels goalie, sophomore, Marcus Calvanico.

Shortly after Dugdale's game tying goal, the Ephs were whistled for their first penalty of the afternoon. The Connecticut power play kept the pressure on the Ephs and was able to give the Camels their one goal lead back.

With nine minutes remaining in the opening period and the Camels still with a man advantage, Camels' sophomore forward Keith Veronesi found senior forward J.J. McGregor who fired a one timer past Purdy to make the score 2-1 in favor of the Camels.

The Ephs had several chances to tie the game in the closing minutes of the 1st period, but strong goaltending from Calvanico helped the Camels keep their 1 goal lead when the horn sounded end the opening period of play.

Both teams began the second period with the same energy as the first. Physical play from both sides kept the pace up but neither team was able to take advantage of their early scoring opportunities.

Finally the Ephs were able to respond again with just four minutes left in the second period which tied the game again, this time at 2-2.

Ephs' freshman forward Alex DeBaere made a nice move to beat Calvanico after receiving a centering pass to the slot from sophomore defenseman Paul Steinig. Matt Doyle also tallied an assist on the second equalizing goal.

Play continued to flow from end to end and it seemed as if time would expire leaving the two teams tied going into the third.

With only 20 seconds left in the in the period, Camels freshman forward JC Cangelosi received a break away pass that left him one on one with Purdy and with a defender on his back . Cangelosi was able to put Purdy off balance and score in the remaining seconds of the period to give the Camels their one goal lead back, 3-2 going into the third and final period.

The third period opened with a Connecticut penalty in the first minute. The Ephs' power play, determined to even the score once again, kept the pressure on the Camels' penalty kill.

The Ephs were able to benefit from their man advantage as Troiani was able to find fellow defenseman Jerrett along the blue line who fired a slap shot that snuck right over the blocker of Calvanico and underneath the cross bar to tie the game one last time at 3 goals a piece.

The Camels would be awarded one more power play before time expired in regulation, but were not able to capitalize as the Ephs' penalty kill handled the Camels' man advantage rather soundly.

Both teams had chances in the final minutes of play to put the winning goal on the board but would come up short.

Camels' sophomore defenseman Kevin Reich sent one in front of Purdy but it was redirected just wide of the goal.

With less the 5 seconds left, the Ephs skated down 2 on 1 towards the Camels' goal when Steinig crossed the puck to sophomore forward Matt Doyle who fired a wrist shot too high as time expired in regulation and the game would head to overtime.

"Any night can go either way," Ephs' head coach Bill Kangas said. "We won the third period, but still struggled to finish. Both teams had their chances but the goalies played great tonight."

The overtime period couldn't help decide the outcome of this one as the Ephs kept the pressure on but to no avail; the final horn sounded with the score still tied at 3-3.

Women's Ice Hockey: Amherst 2, Conn College 1

Senior net-minder Sinead Murphy (Rochester, Minn.) collected 25 of her 32 saves in the final two periods of action to lift the Amherst College women's hockey team to a 2-1 victory at Connecticut College Saturday.

The seventh ranked Lord Jeffs secured their fifth straight win, improving their record to 15-3 with a 9-1 mark in the NESCAC. The Camels fall to 8-7-2 with a 5-6-1 record in the NESCAC.

Melissa Martin (Berkley, Mass.) scored the difference making goal at the 7:36 mark of the second period. Kaitlyn McInnins (Franklin, Mass.) contributed a first period goal for Amherst.

Connecticut College senior Jillian Dolliff (Excelsior, Minn.) accounted for the Camel offense with her fifth goal of the season in the third period. Ariel DiPasquale (Whitestone, N.Y.) and Andrea McRae (Stittsville, Ontario) assisted on the score.

Kelsie Fralick (West Chester, Pa.) stopped 41 shots in the loss for the Camels.

Amherst out-shot the Camels 43-to-33.

The two teams sponsored a Teddy Bear Drive to benefit the Boston Children's Hospital. Connecticut College's team manager Lowell Abbott joined forces with Stephanie Clegg of Amherst College for the Teddy Bear Drive.

Connecticut College junior Molly Murphy also coordinated a bone marrow drive. The drive is a part of the hockey community's way of honoring the memory of Mandi Schwartz, a former Yale University player who died from Leukemia. Mandi was a teammate of Molly's sister Caroline at Yale. Caroline is now an assistant coach at Trinity College in the NESCAC.

The Camels also welcomed several members of the Southeastern Connecticut Special Olympics Speed Skating Team at the game on Saturday.

"I'm proud that our student athletes are committed to assisting others," Connecticut College head women's hockey coach Kristin Steele said. "It is particularly motivating that two competing teams are willing to work together to make these efforts successful."

Swimming and Diving

The Connecticut College men's and women's swimming and diving teams celebrated senior day in grand style with both teams collecting their sixth straight victory in a dual meet with Keene State College at a packed Lott Natatorium Saturday.

The 21st ranked Camel women (7-3) defeated the Owls 175-113, while the men (8-2) outlasted KSC in a close 147-144 triumph.

Head coach Marc Benvenuti saluted his seven seniors in a pre-meet ceremony. Harry Beauregard (Cumberland, R.I.), Erika Fernandes (Westport, Mass.), Lauren Pappas (Stratford, Conn.), Albert Perley (Charlotte, N.C.), Hillary Scott (Chapel Hill, N.C.), Tim Walsh (Lincoln Park, N.J.) and Carrie Wesnousky (Davis, Calif.) were saluted in front of their home crowd for one last time.

In the men's action, Kirk Czelewicz (Lowell, Mass.) scored the triple-play with victories in the 100 and 200 yard breaststroke as well as the 200 yard individual medley with respective times of 1:00.60, 2:15.59 and 2:00.26.

Sophomore Sam Gill (Springfield, Ill.) triumphed in both the 50 and 100 yard free with times of 21.68 seconds and 47.69 seconds. Gill added a third victory in the 100 yard fly, registering a time of 51.39 seconds.

Walsh, arguably the most dominant men's swimmer to compete in Lott Natatorium, found the winners circle in the 200 yard backstroke, posting a time of 1:56.79 for the Camels. In the 100 yard back, Sean Paquette (Middletown, R.I.) secured a victory with a time of 54.40 seconds.

Julia Pielock (Deerfield, Mass.) posted two wins for the Camels Saturday. Pielock, the reigning NESCAC Women's Swimmer of the Week, triumphed in both the 100 and 200 yard free with respective times of 54.34 seconds and 1:57.53.

Esther Mehesz (Wethersfield, Conn.) won the 500 and 1000 yard freestyle with respective times of 5:15.31 and 10:39.69. In the 200 yard fly, Ellie Huelbig (Rutherford, N.J.) posted a victory in 2:11.17.

Erika Fernandes won the 50 yard free in 24.98 seconds. In the 200 yard back, sophomore Rachel Bohn (Trumbull, Conn.) was victorious with a time of 2:12.88.

Molly Longstreth (Bethesda, Md.) earned a clean sweep in the one and three meter diving with respective scores of 154.20 and 158.25 points.

The Camel women swept the two relays. In the 200 yard medley relay, Rachel Bohn, Katie Karlson (Wayland, Mass.), Erika Fernandes and Julia Pielock posted a winning time of 1:51.78.

Mackenzie Lilly (Frederick, Md.), Karlson, Jessica Schanzer (Monterey, Calif.) and Pielock teamed for another Camel win in the 400 yard free relay.

Indoor Track

The Connecticut College Track & Field team competed in the Terrier Classic at Boston University this weekend. 

Alex Mavrovic (Thetford Mines, Quebec) set a school record in the 5k, qualifying for New England Division III, Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and the All-New England Championship with a time of 14:45.67. Sophomore Mike LeDuc (Canton, Conn.) posted a time of 14:48.82 in the 5k to join his teammate in qualifying for three aforementioned championships.

Patrick Dermody (Erieville, N.Y.) had his ticket stamped for the New England Division III Championship with his time of 15:27.17 in the 5000 meters.

In the 500 meters, Ian Rathkey (Old Lyme, Conn.) qualified for both the ECAC and New England Division III Championships with a time of 1:07.00. Junior Dan Smoot (Lexington, Mass.) set a school record in the 60 meter hurdles, posting a time of 9.71 seconds for the Camels.

Sara Gildersleeve (Sharon, Mass.) paced the Camel women by setting a school record with a time of 26.66 seconds in the 200 meters. Gildersleeve qualified for both the New England Division III and ECAC Championships with the performance.

Junior Sarah Matthews (Westwood, Mass.) will join Gildersleeve at the ECAC and New England Division III Championships. Matthews nearly broke a school record she had previously set in the 500 meters with a time of 1:20.45.

In the 1000 meters, Kim Bolick (Hopkinton, Mass.) had her ticket stamped for the New England Division III Championship with a time of 3:08.58.

Samantha Pevear (Somersworth, N.H.) set a personal record in the weight throw, covering a distance of 38 feet even in another strong showing for the Camels.