Football
The football team ended its season as New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) champions, finishing 9-3 after falling in the second round of the Division III playoffs.
The Lions lost to perennial powerhouse Mount Union College on the road, ending a season that featured an eight-game winning streak and a 6-1 NJAC tally.
Leadership by 31-year head coach Eric Hamilton and the team's 18 seniors was instrumental to the team's success.
Senior running back Dan Dornacker and senior defensive back Andrew Larkin were co-captains of the team, which saw a five-game turnaround from a year earlier. Senior defensive lineman Joe King notched 71 tackles and a team-high 15 sacks en route to NJAC Defensive Player of the Year and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Southeast Division III Player of the Year honors.
Captains for next year's team include junior defensive lineman Marc Fabiano, junior defensive back Dave Fontoura and junior offensive lineman Mike Skomba.
- Duncan Slobodzian, Staff Writer
Women's Soccer
The women's soccer team lost 2-0 in the NCAA Division III semifinal to No. 2 Messiah College. The Lions finished with an overall record of 21-1-1 and picked up many postseason honors.
Senior forward Dana DiBruno notched her third National Soccer College Athletic Association (NSCAA)/Adidas Women's NCAA Division III All-America honor while senior defender Courtney Krol picked up her second.
With team leaders DiBruno and Krol gone, the Lions will look to junior forward Jamie Kunkel to carry the offensive load next season. Her 17 goals led the team this year, and sophomore forward Briann McDonough topped the assist column with 12.
Head coach Joe Russo picked up NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year honors. Standout sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Clarke had another stellar year in net for the Lions, recording 12 shutouts while boasting a 0.24 goals-against average.
- Justin Jez, Staff Writer
Men's Soccer
The team ended its season with a 10-6-3 (5-2-2 NJAC) record. While the season started with a four-game win streak, three of which were away games, the Lions finished up with four consecutive losses. The final loss was a heartbreaking shutout to Rowan University, 1-0, in the NJAC quarterfinal.
Senior goalkeeper Steve Scutellaro played 1,330:07 minutes in 16 games for the Lions, earning a save percentage of .825 and a goals-against average of 1.22. Senior Matt Kasperavicius had eight games in the net for the Lions, taking a goals-against average of 1.58 and a save percentage of .704.
Sophomore forward Kevin Luber led the team in goals with 10, one-fourth of the Lions' total scores on the season. Senior midfielder Craig Langan contributed seven goals to the Lions' effort.
Losing 11 players to graduation, the team will look to younger players like freshman defender/midfielder Mike Razzoli - the only freshman on the roster to play in all 19 games - to lead its 2008 campaign.
- Allison Singer, Sports Editor
Field Hockey
The Lions ended the field hockey season with an overall 17-3 record and a perfect 6-0 conference record.
The Lions' defense was ranked 10th in the nation, allowing an average of one goal per game. Senior goalkeeper Caitlin Gregory made her field hockey debut this season, recording 11 shutouts in the process.
Freshman midfielder Leigh Mitchell also made her collegiate field hockey debut. Mitchell racked up 36 points, leading the team with 16 goals and tallying four assists.
Head coach Sharon Pfluger earned the title of NJAC Coach of the Year as she led her team to the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Tournament for the program's 27th consecutive year.
"We had a great group of student athletes who worked diligently every day to achieve their goals as individuals and as a team," Pfluger said.
The Lions' quest for a NCAA Championship title was stopped by Middlebury College by a score of 2-1 in the regional finals.
- Kristen Lord, Nation & World Editor
Women's Tennis
The 2007 portion of the women's tennis team's season was one of perfection as the Lions won all five of their NJAC matches. Team members brought home trophies, taking first in singles and doubles events in the International Tennis Association's (ITA) Northeast Regionals. Also, sophomore Jackie Shtemberg became the College's first women's tennis ITA National Champion.
"Nationals were the highlight of (2007)," head coach and United States Tennis Association New Jersey Coach of the Year Scott Dicheck said.
A rocky trip to California at the beginning of the 2008 portion of the season handed the Lions four consecutive losses. However, the team finished its regular season by winning six of its final seven matches.
Key players for the College this year have been Shtemberg (23-8) and her senior No. 1 doubles partner, Christina Contrafatto (16-10).
The team finished the regular season with a record of 12-6, earning an NCAA Tournament bid on Monday.
- Bobby Olivier, Staff Writer
Men's Tennis
The men's tennis team had one of its most successful seasons in the team's history.
In the ITA Northeast Regionals in September of 2007, seniors Mike Klimchak and Eric Ferriere met in the finals with Klimchak taking the win 7-5, 6-0. Klimchak also competed in the ITA National Championship, finishing seventh overall to earn an All-America citation.
Like the women, the men suffered several losses in California to begin their spring season but came on strong toward the end of the year. The Lions finished the season winning five of their last seven matches, ending the year 9-5 with a national ranking of 14th before their final loss to Middlebury College.
Klimchak (16-9) and senior Roger Mosteller (11-3) have been key players for the team. The Lions received an invite to the NCAA Tournament Monday.
- Bobby Olivier, Staff Writer
Cross Country
At their first meet, the Lions found strong competition they would later face at the regional meet.
The men's and the women's first-place team finishes at the NJAC Championship were highlights of the season. Junior Chris Guerriero was the individual NJAC Champion for the second year in a row, earning his second All-America title after placing 23rd at Nationals. The men also took first at the DeSales Invitational.
Freshman T.J. Bocchino, NJAC Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Year, and senior Angela Tecco, NJAC Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year and Rookie of the Year, also took home individual honors.
"They have done a lot more work than (was) asked of them," head coach Phil Jennings said of his teams.
- Leeann Weiner, Staff Writer
Women's Basketball
This season was one of both success and heartbreak. After claiming the NJAC South Division Championship with a 22-7 overall record, the team fell to the Kean University Cougars in the NJAC Tournament Final.
The Lions did claim a NCAA Division III Tournament bid, however, but were eliminated in the second round by powerhouse Mary Washington University.
"Ending our season earlier than we wanted was hard to swallow," head coach and NJAC Coach of the Year Dawn Henderson said, "but we worked really hard, stayed focused and we had fun."
Junior center and NJAC Player of the Year Hillary Klimowicz was the focal point of the offense, averaging 16.9 points and 11 rebounds per game. She won numerous awards and notched the 1,000-point mark in her illustrious career.
The Lions plan to have the same team back on the court next season, minus the key veteran leadership of senior guard/forward Sara Best. The Lions' co-captain ended her final season averaging 10.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.
- Michael O'Donnell, Sports Assistant
Men's Basketball
The Lions finished their season with an overall record of 6-19 and an NJAC record of 2-11. The 2007 season was new head coach Matt Hunter's first after the previous head coach, John Castaldo, was promoted to the position of athletic director.
The Lions will lose three key players - forward Mark Aziz and guards Corey Gilmore and Jeff Warner - to graduation.
Aziz, who started all 25 games for the Lions, led the team in scoring with 14.2 points per game while grabbing an average of 5.8 rebounds per contest.
Warner finished with a 9.7 points-per-game average while pulling down 7.4 rebounds per game.
Gilmore proved himself to be a solid point guard for the Lions as he led the team in minutes with 30 while scoring 7.4 and tallying 2.2 assists a game.
Junior guard Jeff Molinelli put up 10.3 points per game while adding 4.8 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Jay Frank averaged 11.4 points per game and shot 42 percent from three-point range.
- Justin Jez, Staff Writer
Swimming and Diving
Senior Ava Kiss, a four-time All-American, emerged victorious at the Division III National Championship in the 100 butterfly event, breaking the College's record time for that event as well as the national record time. Kiss was also the first women's swimming national champion in the College's history.
Senior Lauren Pfeiffer also competed in the championship, finishing 21st in the 100 breaststroke. The women finished their season with a record of 4-8.
The men's team had a successful regular season, finishing 7-5 with an untarnished 4-0 home mark.
Senior Josh Forsman set school records in the 100 and 200 freestyle events as well as the 100 butterfly. He also contributed to the school-record 200 medley team.
Another key swimmer for the men's team was freshman Tom Medvecky, who set school records in the 500 freestyle and 200 butterfly and was also a part of the record-setting 800 freestyle relay team.
- Bobby Olivier, Staff Writer
Wrestling
With a dual-meet record of 19-3 and a first-place finish at the Metropolitan Conference Championship (METs), the wrestling team met with success this winter.
At the METs, freshmen John Barnett (141 pounds) and Justin Bonitatis (165 pounds) finished as individual champions, boding well for the future of the team. Barnett and Bonitatis finished their rookie seasons with records of 12-5 and 11-3, respectively.
On the veterans' end, senior co-captain Ray Sarinelli (133 pounds) finished his stint at the College with a 90-28 career record and a 16-4 tally on the season.
The team's other star senior, co-captain Steve Carbone (285 pounds), finished with a 12-4 season record and a 67-28 career record. Carbone led the team in pins with 16.
Juniors Greg Osgoodby (174 pounds, 17-3) and Al Wonesh (165 pounds, 16-1) also made big contributions in 2007.
- Allison Singer, Sports Editor
Track and Field
The track-and-field season has been one of success and broken records.
At the New Jersey Invitational, the men's 4x1500-meter relay team set a school record. The women's 4x800-meter relay also set a school record at the Penn Relays.
Junior Stephanie Herrick secured numerous honors, including an All-America title. Herrick broke her own record and set a meet record in the 1,000-meter at the indoor ECAC Championship.
Junior long jumper Kristen Tricocci was also named an All-American.
Freshman Dennis Waite had a personal best and set a meet record at the outdoor Greyhound Invitational in the 1,500-meter.
Both the men and women's indoor teams took first at the NJAC Championships.
The majority of the team qualified for the ECAC Championships. Additionally, the team looks toward the NJAC Championship and the NCAA Division III Championship.
- Leeann Weiner, Staff Writer
Lacrosse
The Lions' regular season ended this week as they came away with a spot in the NCAA Division III Lacrosse Tournament.
Offensively, senior midfielder Karen Doane led the Lions this season. Prior to Tuesday's game, Doane had netted a career-high 56 goals this season.
Senior goalkeeper Caitlin Gregory tallied 87 saves over the course of the season.
This year, the Lions will earn their 24th consecutive bid to the NCAA Tournament, which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, May 7. Last season, the team advanced to the quarterfinal round before losing to Middlebury College by one goal.
According to head coach Sharon Pfluger, the team is hoping to earn a regional host site for next year's tournament.
- Kristen Lord, Nation & World Editor
Softball
Despite having a young team, the Lions are enjoying a successful season that has carried them into the NJAC Playoffs.
The Lions are now 23-15 on the season, including an 11-7 conference record.
The team is riding high off a well balanced wave of offense and a two-pitcher rotation. Sophomore Ashley Minervini provides the experience and firepower while freshman Alex Sietsma adds youth and exuberance to the mound.
At the plate, sophomore infielder Ellen Seavers has brought the power, hitting four home runs and knocking in 20 RBIs. She is slugging a team-high percentage of .576.
Rachel Greeby is sparking the offense, leading the team in RBIs with 24 while batting .316.
The Lions will start their run for the NJAC title as the fourth seed in the tournament.
-Michael O'Donnell, Sports Assistant
Baseball
The Lions saw a regime change at the head-coaching spot, but they remain athletically consistent. Interim head coach Dean Glus oversaw a team that finished its regular season tied for third in the NJAC by riding strong starting pitching and timely hitting to a 28-8 (12-6 NJAC) record.
The Lions, who were ranked as high as fourth, finish the season ranked 11th nationally in the d3baseball.com Top 25 poll.
After training in Arizona, the Lions returned to New Jersey, rattling off an 11-game win streak to move their record to 20-2.
Statistically, team leaders included junior second baseman Adam Tussey with a .392 batting average, senior centerfielder Dave Mebs with 45 runs scored and junior third baseman Vince Mazzaccaro with 40 RBIs.
"When you have the group of 33 guys we have, it made it worthwhile," Glus said.
The regular season has ended, but the three-time defending NJAC champions are ready to begin tournament play tomorrow at home.
