Men's Soccer
Michael King
UMass just took the lead 2-1 against No. 1 Boston College with a goal from Mark DeSantis. The Minutemen need only to maintain its lead for the final few minutes to clinch a birth in the Round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Minutemen at the Carrier Dome
Men's Basketball
Michael King
There's a pretty big crowd here in Syracuse for tonight's game between the Orange and UMass. The Carrier Dome is an impressive structure. Since it doubles as a football arena, half of the stadium is cut off. The court itself is on one endzone and there is a set of moveable bleachers around where the 50-yard line normally would be.
The Syracuse student section is completely filled with students glad in Orange and Blue. Judging from the player introductions, they will be a vocal bunch.
Michael King
There's a pretty big crowd here in Syracuse for tonight's game between the Orange and UMass. The Carrier Dome is an impressive structure. Since it doubles as a football arena, half of the stadium is cut off. The court itself is on one endzone and there is a set of moveable bleachers around where the 50-yard line normally would be.
The Syracuse student section is completely filled with students glad in Orange and Blue. Judging from the player introductions, they will be a vocal bunch.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Warriors waive Lasme
Men's Basketball
Michael King
The Golden State Warriors waived forward Stephane Lasme earlier today. The team also signed veteren center D.J. Mbenga. The 7-foot center gives the Warriors more height in the front court than the 6-foot-8 Lasme. Mbena played in 21 games for the Dallas Mavericks last season, averaging less than four minutes per game.
Lasme was drafted in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft and was the first UMass player selected since Lari Ketner in 2002.
Michael King
The Golden State Warriors waived forward Stephane Lasme earlier today. The team also signed veteren center D.J. Mbenga. The 7-foot center gives the Warriors more height in the front court than the 6-foot-8 Lasme. Mbena played in 21 games for the Dallas Mavericks last season, averaging less than four minutes per game.
Lasme was drafted in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft and was the first UMass player selected since Lari Ketner in 2002.
Lowe in street clothes
Men's Basketball
Michael King
As the Massachusetts men's basketball team warms up for its game against Wisconsin-Green Bay at the Mullins Center, Chris Lowe is not playing. Lowe not being in uniform means that both senior forward Gary Forbes and freshman Gary Correia will see time at the position. Ford loves Forbes' versatility, but prefers to use him on the wings so he can focus on scoring. But it's unclear if Correia is ready to run the team.
Michael King
As the Massachusetts men's basketball team warms up for its game against Wisconsin-Green Bay at the Mullins Center, Chris Lowe is not playing. Lowe not being in uniform means that both senior forward Gary Forbes and freshman Gary Correia will see time at the position. Ford loves Forbes' versatility, but prefers to use him on the wings so he can focus on scoring. But it's unclear if Correia is ready to run the team.
Friday, November 16, 2007
UMass 1, Boston College 1
Hockey
Joe Meloni
Will Ortiz hit a streaking Mike Kostka in the low slot to beat John Muse and even the score at 1-1. The Eagles scored the games first goal in the second minute of the period when freshman winger Joe Whitney spotted a wide open Nathan Gerbe and an equally barren passing lane to Paul Dainton's left. Gerbe one-timed it past the UMass goaltender.
Both goals were scored on the power play.
The game is getting increasingly physical as it progresses. The BC defenders have taken every chance they can to rough up UMass's smaller forwards, namely Ortiz and James Marcou.
The shots on goal slanted heavily in favor of the Minutemen at 26-17. BC freshman net minder John Muse is doing a wonderful job replacing the departed Cory Schneider. On the other end, UMass freshman Paul Dainton is making the saves he should make. The BC goal was simply a wonderful passing play made by two of Hockey East's most dynamic forwards.
The UMass men's soccer team's game was slated for 8 p.m., but the previous game - between Charlotte and Saint Louis - just ended with the 49ers winning 3-2 on penalty kicks after a scoreless regulation and overtime period.
Saint Louis was the tournament's top seed, but Charlotte goalkeeper David Martin made three saves on five PK chances for the Billikens.
UMass takes on Rhode Island later this evening. The Rams beat UMass, 3-1, earlier this season in Amherst.
Joe Meloni
Will Ortiz hit a streaking Mike Kostka in the low slot to beat John Muse and even the score at 1-1. The Eagles scored the games first goal in the second minute of the period when freshman winger Joe Whitney spotted a wide open Nathan Gerbe and an equally barren passing lane to Paul Dainton's left. Gerbe one-timed it past the UMass goaltender.
Both goals were scored on the power play.
The game is getting increasingly physical as it progresses. The BC defenders have taken every chance they can to rough up UMass's smaller forwards, namely Ortiz and James Marcou.
The shots on goal slanted heavily in favor of the Minutemen at 26-17. BC freshman net minder John Muse is doing a wonderful job replacing the departed Cory Schneider. On the other end, UMass freshman Paul Dainton is making the saves he should make. The BC goal was simply a wonderful passing play made by two of Hockey East's most dynamic forwards.
The UMass men's soccer team's game was slated for 8 p.m., but the previous game - between Charlotte and Saint Louis - just ended with the 49ers winning 3-2 on penalty kicks after a scoreless regulation and overtime period.
Saint Louis was the tournament's top seed, but Charlotte goalkeeper David Martin made three saves on five PK chances for the Billikens.
UMass takes on Rhode Island later this evening. The Rams beat UMass, 3-1, earlier this season in Amherst.
No score after 1
Hockey
Jeremy Rice
UMass 0, Boston College 0
The Massachusetts hockey team and Boston College battled back and forth in the first period, but to no avail. Neither team could muster a goal, despite a handful of opportunities for both.
UMass had the best chance, with a 5-on-3 with about five minutes remaining in the period, but put together a pair of lackluster power plays and struggled to keep the puck in the offensive zone.
BC drew a 5-on-3 of it own as time expired and will begin the second period with a two-man advantage.
The Massachusetts men's soccer team is also in action tonight in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 tournament against one of its biggest rivals, Rhode Island. Check back for updates on both games as the night progresses.
More from the press box after the second period...
Jeremy Rice
UMass 0, Boston College 0
The Massachusetts hockey team and Boston College battled back and forth in the first period, but to no avail. Neither team could muster a goal, despite a handful of opportunities for both.
UMass had the best chance, with a 5-on-3 with about five minutes remaining in the period, but put together a pair of lackluster power plays and struggled to keep the puck in the offensive zone.
BC drew a 5-on-3 of it own as time expired and will begin the second period with a two-man advantage.
The Massachusetts men's soccer team is also in action tonight in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 tournament against one of its biggest rivals, Rhode Island. Check back for updates on both games as the night progresses.
More from the press box after the second period...
Boston College at UMass
Hockey
Joe Meloni
UMass and BC just skated off the ice after the pre-game shoot around. Operation 8K looks like a moderate success. The student section is basically full and the general admission half of the Mullins Center is scattered with youth groups and families.
For the Minutemen, sophomore defenseman Martin Nolet is out of the lineup for his third consecutive game; freshman Doug Kublin will skate alongside captain Mike Kostka on UMass's first defensive pair.
UMass top line is unchanged from last weekend, but - as it's been all season - the other three lines are different from the games with Boston University and UMass Lowell.
UMass:
LW - P.J. Fenton C - Cory Quirk RW - Chris Davis
James Marcou - Michael Lecomte - Alex Berry
Shawn Saunders - Brett Watson - Will Ortiz
Matt Burto - Jordan Virtue - Scott Crowder
LD - Kublin RD - Kostka
David Leaderer - Justin Braun
Topher Bevis - John Wessbecker
Paul Dainton looks like the option in net, but all three goaltenders on the roster were in pads during the warmup.
The Eagles are part of the five-way tie atop Hockey East with UMass, New Hampshire, Northeastern and Providence.
Junior winger Nathan Gerbe is back from a one-game mandated Hockey East suspension and is paired with center Ben Smith and right wing Dan Bertram. In Gerbe's absence, BC dropped a 5-2 decision at UNH to continue a three-game winless streak after starting conference play with two wins and a draw.
Hockey East points leader Joe Whitney is on the left side of BC's top line. The 5-foot-6 freshman has 12 points - three goals, nine assists - in his first nine college hockey games.
The big news out of Chestnut Hill this week was the departure of Brett Motherwell for the American Hockey League. He was one of BC's top defenders and his exit left the Eagles without one of the top defenders in the country.
More From the Press Box after the first period...
Joe Meloni
UMass and BC just skated off the ice after the pre-game shoot around. Operation 8K looks like a moderate success. The student section is basically full and the general admission half of the Mullins Center is scattered with youth groups and families.
For the Minutemen, sophomore defenseman Martin Nolet is out of the lineup for his third consecutive game; freshman Doug Kublin will skate alongside captain Mike Kostka on UMass's first defensive pair.
UMass top line is unchanged from last weekend, but - as it's been all season - the other three lines are different from the games with Boston University and UMass Lowell.
UMass:
LW - P.J. Fenton C - Cory Quirk RW - Chris Davis
James Marcou - Michael Lecomte - Alex Berry
Shawn Saunders - Brett Watson - Will Ortiz
Matt Burto - Jordan Virtue - Scott Crowder
LD - Kublin RD - Kostka
David Leaderer - Justin Braun
Topher Bevis - John Wessbecker
Paul Dainton looks like the option in net, but all three goaltenders on the roster were in pads during the warmup.
The Eagles are part of the five-way tie atop Hockey East with UMass, New Hampshire, Northeastern and Providence.
Junior winger Nathan Gerbe is back from a one-game mandated Hockey East suspension and is paired with center Ben Smith and right wing Dan Bertram. In Gerbe's absence, BC dropped a 5-2 decision at UNH to continue a three-game winless streak after starting conference play with two wins and a draw.
Hockey East points leader Joe Whitney is on the left side of BC's top line. The 5-foot-6 freshman has 12 points - three goals, nine assists - in his first nine college hockey games.
The big news out of Chestnut Hill this week was the departure of Brett Motherwell for the American Hockey League. He was one of BC's top defenders and his exit left the Eagles without one of the top defenders in the country.
More From the Press Box after the first period...
Friday, November 9, 2007
Two out of three ain't bad
Hockey
Jeremy Rice
UMass 5, BU 3 - FINAL
The Massachusetts hockey team made a living out of doing it last season, and if you're going to choose a period to take off, the least of three evils would be the second period.
That seems to be the Minutemen's strategy once again this season. After winning a hard-fought first period, 2-1, Boston University owned the second period and tied the game at two.
The Minutemen made good, however, on the latter end of their bargain with a convincing three-goal third period to knock off the Terriers on the road for the first time since the 2003-04 season, when UMass won, 2-1, on Jan. 7, 2004. That was the same year as the team's only Hockey East Finals appearance, a 2-1, triple-overtime loss to Maine.
UMass took a 3-2 lead near the seven-minute mark with a power play goal by freshman Chase Langeraap, who won out a tussle in front of the net. BU responded with Pete MacArthur's second goal of the game. MacArthur earned the top Star of the Game honor despite being on the losing side, with two goals and an assist.
MacArthur took a pass at the right goal post, and UMass goaltender Paul Dainton had no chance, as MacArthur lifted the puck over Dainton's left shoulder.
Will Ortiz notched the game-winner for UMass with 6:46 remaining. Freshman Shawn Saunders dug the puck out from behind the net and slung it out to Justin Braun at the top of the right circle. Braun's shot on goal deflected out to Ortiz low on the left side.
Ortiz punched it right back on net, beating Brett Bennett for the deciding score. P.J. Fenton added insurance with an empty-net goal at 19:29, his first goal of the season.
The moods of the two coaches were as different as a power play goal and an empty netter. UMass coach Don Cahoon credited his team for its persistence, and resilience after allowing a goal on the first shift of the game.
BU's headman Jack Parker called his penalty kill units "inept," and noted the significant advantage UMass had on faceoffs as a major difference in the game.
The Minutemen will be back in the eastern part of the state tomorrow night to face UMass Lowell. The sister schools fought to a 2-2 tie earlier this season.
Jeremy Rice
UMass 5, BU 3 - FINAL
The Massachusetts hockey team made a living out of doing it last season, and if you're going to choose a period to take off, the least of three evils would be the second period.
That seems to be the Minutemen's strategy once again this season. After winning a hard-fought first period, 2-1, Boston University owned the second period and tied the game at two.
The Minutemen made good, however, on the latter end of their bargain with a convincing three-goal third period to knock off the Terriers on the road for the first time since the 2003-04 season, when UMass won, 2-1, on Jan. 7, 2004. That was the same year as the team's only Hockey East Finals appearance, a 2-1, triple-overtime loss to Maine.
UMass took a 3-2 lead near the seven-minute mark with a power play goal by freshman Chase Langeraap, who won out a tussle in front of the net. BU responded with Pete MacArthur's second goal of the game. MacArthur earned the top Star of the Game honor despite being on the losing side, with two goals and an assist.
MacArthur took a pass at the right goal post, and UMass goaltender Paul Dainton had no chance, as MacArthur lifted the puck over Dainton's left shoulder.
Will Ortiz notched the game-winner for UMass with 6:46 remaining. Freshman Shawn Saunders dug the puck out from behind the net and slung it out to Justin Braun at the top of the right circle. Braun's shot on goal deflected out to Ortiz low on the left side.
Ortiz punched it right back on net, beating Brett Bennett for the deciding score. P.J. Fenton added insurance with an empty-net goal at 19:29, his first goal of the season.
The moods of the two coaches were as different as a power play goal and an empty netter. UMass coach Don Cahoon credited his team for its persistence, and resilience after allowing a goal on the first shift of the game.
BU's headman Jack Parker called his penalty kill units "inept," and noted the significant advantage UMass had on faceoffs as a major difference in the game.
The Minutemen will be back in the eastern part of the state tomorrow night to face UMass Lowell. The sister schools fought to a 2-2 tie earlier this season.
Tied after 2
Hockey
Joe Meloni
UMass 2, BU 2
A Bryan Ewing power-play goal at 7:38 tied erased the one-goal lead UMass built in the first period.
The Terriers took over the game in the second half of the game after it was completely even for most of the period. But the Minutemen had their chances in the period, but wasted those opportunities.
A back-checking Michael Lecomte stripped a BU defenseman in the high slot and turned to the BU net. He waited and BU net minder Brett Bennett went to his knees. Lecomte wristed a shot by Bennett, but over the goaltender's glove and off the glass.
At 10:04 of the period, both teams had 14 shots on goal, but at the end of the second, BU holds a 20-17 advantage.
For the second consecutive game, UMass spent a lot of time in the penalty box during the second period. Senior captain Mike Kostka went off first for slashing and then for holding leading to Ewing's goal.
Junior Topher Bevis cross-checked Ewing in the corner to Paul Dainton's left and put UMass on the penalty kill again. The Minutmen killed the penalty off, but UMass coach Don Cahoon stressed the need for his team to stay out of penalty kill situations to save the legs of his most-talented scorers. In a game like this, tied entering the third period, that could seriously hurt the Minutemen.
BU has done a good job staying out of the box, committing one penalty in the game and none in the second period.
More From the Press Box after the third period...
Joe Meloni
UMass 2, BU 2
A Bryan Ewing power-play goal at 7:38 tied erased the one-goal lead UMass built in the first period.
The Terriers took over the game in the second half of the game after it was completely even for most of the period. But the Minutemen had their chances in the period, but wasted those opportunities.
A back-checking Michael Lecomte stripped a BU defenseman in the high slot and turned to the BU net. He waited and BU net minder Brett Bennett went to his knees. Lecomte wristed a shot by Bennett, but over the goaltender's glove and off the glass.
At 10:04 of the period, both teams had 14 shots on goal, but at the end of the second, BU holds a 20-17 advantage.
For the second consecutive game, UMass spent a lot of time in the penalty box during the second period. Senior captain Mike Kostka went off first for slashing and then for holding leading to Ewing's goal.
Junior Topher Bevis cross-checked Ewing in the corner to Paul Dainton's left and put UMass on the penalty kill again. The Minutmen killed the penalty off, but UMass coach Don Cahoon stressed the need for his team to stay out of penalty kill situations to save the legs of his most-talented scorers. In a game like this, tied entering the third period, that could seriously hurt the Minutemen.
BU has done a good job staying out of the box, committing one penalty in the game and none in the second period.
More From the Press Box after the third period...
Mass Attack up early
Hockey
Jeremy Rice
UMass 2, Boston University 1
The Massachusetts hockey team jumped out to a 2-1 lead after one period at Agganis Arena in Boston tonight. The Terriers' Pete MacArthur beat goaltender Paul Dainton through the 5-hole 33 seconds into the game, but the Minutemen seemed to be in control the rest of the way.
They took advantage of their first power play with a tip-in goal by Mike Kostka. Chase Langeraap gathered the puck and found James Marcou at the right circle. Marcou relayed the puck to Mike Kostka at the point. Kostka fired at the net, beating BU goalie Brett Bennett to tie the score.
With just over three minutes remaining, UMass took the lead during a 4-on-4. UMass gained possession of the puck and took it right into the BU zone. The next minute of play resembled a UMass power play, and defenseman Topher Bevis reinforced that notion with a goal from the top of the left circle.
The Minutemen had great puck movement on the play, with Chris Davis digging the puck out of the right corner, to Justin Braun at the top of the right circle. Braun fed it across to Bevis, who fired it home. The puck was deflected by Bennett, but he could not get all of it, and UMass gained the one-goal advantage.
More From the Press Box after the second period...
Jeremy Rice
UMass 2, Boston University 1
The Massachusetts hockey team jumped out to a 2-1 lead after one period at Agganis Arena in Boston tonight. The Terriers' Pete MacArthur beat goaltender Paul Dainton through the 5-hole 33 seconds into the game, but the Minutemen seemed to be in control the rest of the way.
They took advantage of their first power play with a tip-in goal by Mike Kostka. Chase Langeraap gathered the puck and found James Marcou at the right circle. Marcou relayed the puck to Mike Kostka at the point. Kostka fired at the net, beating BU goalie Brett Bennett to tie the score.
With just over three minutes remaining, UMass took the lead during a 4-on-4. UMass gained possession of the puck and took it right into the BU zone. The next minute of play resembled a UMass power play, and defenseman Topher Bevis reinforced that notion with a goal from the top of the left circle.
The Minutemen had great puck movement on the play, with Chris Davis digging the puck out of the right corner, to Justin Braun at the top of the right circle. Braun fed it across to Bevis, who fired it home. The puck was deflected by Bennett, but he could not get all of it, and UMass gained the one-goal advantage.
More From the Press Box after the second period...
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Minutewomen earn some hardware
Women's Soccer
Domenic Poli
Domenic Poli
Members of the Massachusetts women’s soccer team have been showered with awards over the past week. Senior Kaelyn Caldwell was named to ESPN The Magazine’s Academic All-District First Team as well as her third straight Academic All-Conference team. Senior Britt Canfield became the Atlantic 10 Player of the Week and an Honorable Mention All-Conference honoree as junior Vanessa Patry was also named Honorable Mention All-Conference.
Caldwell, a defender, is now qualified to be named College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSida) Academic All-America. In her senior season she pocketed her first-career goal Oct. 7 at Xavier and notched assists on Oct. 13 against Rhode Island and Nov.4 George Washington.
Canfield, a forward, ended the season with eight goals and 10 assists, for 26 points. She nailed two goals in UMass’s 2-1 win over Richmond Friday and an assist in a 2-2 tie with George Washington Sunday. It is the second time this season she has been given the honors.
She finished 11th in the country in assists per game (0.59) and 37th points per game (1.53). She capped off her collegiate career eighth on the Minutewomen’s all-time points, with 77, and 10th in goals, with 30.
Patry, a junior captain, had a stellar third year. The forward wound up with four goals and four assists, for 12 points – the most she has ever amassed in one season at UMass. This is the first time she has received A-10 honors.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
UMass 4, Merrimack 0
Hockey
Joe Meloni
The Minutemen dominated the second period, taking a 4-0 lead. The Minutemen are 35-0-1 since 2003 when scoring four or more goals in a game.
Sophomore Will Ortiz made it 2-0 seconds after a power-play ended when he tipped in a rebound after a scrum in front of the goal. It was his third of the season, which led the team until Matt Burto scored his third to make the score 4-0.
Dainton kept the Warriors off the board with some nifty saves in the period. A Merrimack player saw a teammate streaking into the UMass zone unmarked and made a perfect pass onto his stick before Dainton slid across and kicked the deflection out.
Both teams had seven shots on goal in the period and both teams forced quality chances, the Minutemen merely capitalized on the opportunities.
Elsewhere in Hockey East, UMass-Lowell leads Boston University, 4-2 after two. Northeastern leads New Hampshire, 2-1, with the third period getting under way. After a one-point weekend against Providence in their last action, the losses of BU and UNH should help the Minutemen in the standings down the rode. That is, of course, if UML and NU hold on.
Joe Meloni
The Minutemen dominated the second period, taking a 4-0 lead. The Minutemen are 35-0-1 since 2003 when scoring four or more goals in a game.
Sophomore Will Ortiz made it 2-0 seconds after a power-play ended when he tipped in a rebound after a scrum in front of the goal. It was his third of the season, which led the team until Matt Burto scored his third to make the score 4-0.
Dainton kept the Warriors off the board with some nifty saves in the period. A Merrimack player saw a teammate streaking into the UMass zone unmarked and made a perfect pass onto his stick before Dainton slid across and kicked the deflection out.
Both teams had seven shots on goal in the period and both teams forced quality chances, the Minutemen merely capitalized on the opportunities.
Elsewhere in Hockey East, UMass-Lowell leads Boston University, 4-2 after two. Northeastern leads New Hampshire, 2-1, with the third period getting under way. After a one-point weekend against Providence in their last action, the losses of BU and UNH should help the Minutemen in the standings down the rode. That is, of course, if UML and NU hold on.
UMass 1, Merrimack 0
Hockey
Joe Meloni
Freshman Michal Lecomte scored the second goal of his career at the 7:13 mark of the first period. James Marcou intercepted a clearing pass from a Merrimack defenseman and hit Lecomte streaking into the Warrior zone. Lecomte waited for the goaltender to commit one way before beating Andrew Braithwaite on his blocker side.
The Minutemen went 0-for-2 on the power play in the period and killed off two penalties of their own. There are two seconds remaining on the second penalty, a holding minor on sophomore Justin Braun. P.J. Fenton looks more comfortable in his role as power-play point man. While his shots still aren't as crisp as they need to be, he moved the puck well and created a few solid chances. Although the best power-play opportunity came when he misfired and the puck deflected off a cluster of players in the slot to a wide-open Cory Quirk in the left face-off circle. Braithwaite made the save on the Quirk wrister.
Overall, UMass looks more sharp than it did at any point last weekend. The Minutemen out-shot the Warriors 13-9 in the opening period. Despite the nine shots, the Warriors didn't test Paul Dainton much.
Joe Meloni
Freshman Michal Lecomte scored the second goal of his career at the 7:13 mark of the first period. James Marcou intercepted a clearing pass from a Merrimack defenseman and hit Lecomte streaking into the Warrior zone. Lecomte waited for the goaltender to commit one way before beating Andrew Braithwaite on his blocker side.
The Minutemen went 0-for-2 on the power play in the period and killed off two penalties of their own. There are two seconds remaining on the second penalty, a holding minor on sophomore Justin Braun. P.J. Fenton looks more comfortable in his role as power-play point man. While his shots still aren't as crisp as they need to be, he moved the puck well and created a few solid chances. Although the best power-play opportunity came when he misfired and the puck deflected off a cluster of players in the slot to a wide-open Cory Quirk in the left face-off circle. Braithwaite made the save on the Quirk wrister.
Overall, UMass looks more sharp than it did at any point last weekend. The Minutemen out-shot the Warriors 13-9 in the opening period. Despite the nine shots, the Warriors didn't test Paul Dainton much.
UMass vs. Merrimack Pre-game
Joe Meloni
Hockey
Sophomore goaltender Dan Meyers is dressed for the first time since the opening weekend. Freshman Paul Dainton will start however and Matt Gedman was in uniform during the team's initial warm up.
For the Minutemen, P.J. Fenton, Cory Quirk and Chris Davis will start and make up the first line. Sophomore Brett Watson is still out of the lineup, making room for freshman Brian Keane on the second line. Keane centers a trio featuring sophomore Will Ortiz and freshman Shawn Saunders. Saunders is playing the second game of his career. Against Connecticut, he scored the first goal of his career in his only action this season.
Check back during the intermission for more updates.
Hockey
Sophomore goaltender Dan Meyers is dressed for the first time since the opening weekend. Freshman Paul Dainton will start however and Matt Gedman was in uniform during the team's initial warm up.
For the Minutemen, P.J. Fenton, Cory Quirk and Chris Davis will start and make up the first line. Sophomore Brett Watson is still out of the lineup, making room for freshman Brian Keane on the second line. Keane centers a trio featuring sophomore Will Ortiz and freshman Shawn Saunders. Saunders is playing the second game of his career. Against Connecticut, he scored the first goal of his career in his only action this season.
Check back during the intermission for more updates.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
A Minutewoman by any other name
Women's Soccer
Domenic Poli
Domenic Poli
Baseball immortal George Herman Ruth was more commonly known by his nickname, "Babe." Legendary defensive lineman Ed Jones was called “Too Tall.” And college basketball great Pete Maravich was “Pistol Pete.”
For as long as professional sports have been familiarized in American living rooms thanks to the invention of television, certain athletes have had nicknames bestowed upon them with which their coaches, teammates and loving fans and friends refer to them. And the Massachusetts women’s soccer team is no different.
Almost as soon as they sign a letter of intent with the Maroon and White, incoming female soccer stars have a playful pseudonym given to them by UMass coach Jim Rudy. He said he likes nicknames not only because they help him reach a personal level with his players, but they also make opposing players confused when he shouts instructions from the sidelines addressed to someone with a name that is not listed the roster.
Here is a list of Rudy’s nicknames for each of his Minutewomen and how they earned them:
Senior midfielder Jenny Roehrig (a.k.a. J-RO)- “There’s a J-RO… there’s an A-Rod, so that’s where (she) got (hers). (That) was obvious.”
Redshirt senior goalkeeper Kristin Walker- “Walker’s just Walker. In fact, nobody knows her by ‘Kristin.’ Her mom said something about ‘Kristin this or that’ – I didn’t know who she was talking about.”
Senior midfielder/defender Kaelyn Caldwell (a.k.a. Mini)- “When I first saw her I thought she was sort of a small kid. She plays big but I thought she was a small kid so I called her ‘Mini.’
Senior midfielder/defender Tina Rodriguez (T-Rod)- [Same reason as Alex Rodriguez]
Junior defender Melissa Toulouse (a.k.a. Mel or Melacious)- “(‘Melacious’) is the antithesis of who she is. A malicious person is a bad person and Mel is just a happy-go-lucky, good person. It’s being facetious.”
Sophomore forward Cristina Adams (a.k.a. Young Adams)- “Because she’s young.”
Redshirt sophomore defender Amy Ballew (a.k.a. Lew)- “I call her Lew and I call her Amy.”
Sophomore forward Jacquelyn Desjardins (a.k.a. DJ)- “I call her ‘DJ’ for Desjardins (French for ‘of the gardens’). I love French names. My wife is French Canadian.”
Sophomore midfielder Meghan Gould (a.k.a. Lesley)- “She was on crutches a lot of last year [after undergoing two leg surgeries] and her nickname was ‘Limp-along Lesley.’ [Rudy picked ‘Lesley’ because it is an alliteration of ‘Limp-along’]
Sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Luckey- “I don’t have one (for her). When you’re Luckey (lucky) you don’t need a nickname.”
Sophomore midfielder/forward Katie Ruggles (a.k.a. Rugg)- “It’s abbreviated and it’s quick.”
Sophomore forward Sydney Stoll (a.k.a. Syd the Kid)- [She got the nickname when she was a freshman]
Freshman defender Kelsey Anderson (a.k.a. Woo)- “It’s just a nickname that her sister told me to call her. I think when she was a young baby or something she used to just jump up and down on the bed and go, ‘Woo, woo’… I don’t know. It sounds good and it’s quick.”
Freshman midfielder/forward Ashley Hamel (a.k.a. Ham or Ash)- “Ham for Hamel. I call her Ash, too.”
Freshman midfielder Therese Smith (a.k.a. Tee or Smitty)- (Her teammates) call her ‘Tee,’ I call her ‘Smitty.’ I’ve had two (players) I’ve called ‘Smitty’ over the years. It’s quick and it works.”
Freshman defender Alyssa Visconti (a.k.a. Wee or Vava)- (Her teammates) call her Wee. That means we have a ‘Wee’ and a ‘Woo.’ I call her ‘Vava’ because she’s very technical like a Brazilian. Vava! Although she is of Italian descent.”
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