The Geneseo women’s soccer team opened their season on Friday Sept. 1 with a prominent level of competitiveness. The women came out of the tournament with two victories, immediately demonstrating their hard work and determination to have a successful season.
Read MoreKnight of The Week: Audrey Reid
Senior forward Audrey Reid is a key component for the Geneseo women’s soccer team. Born in Moneta, Va., Reid grew up in Hilton, N.Y., which is about an hour away from Geneseo. She began her soccer career at the age of five.
Read MoreWomen’s lacrosse hopes to finish season strong
The Geneseo women’s lacrosse team has finally found their forward momentum—just in time for the end of the regular season and playoffs.
The team has just come off a two-game winning-streak, defeating both SUNY Oswego on April 18 and SUNY Fredonia on Tuesday April 25. The 13-4 win against Oswego was crucial to the team’s success and was described as a “must win game” by head coach Carly Ritchlin.
“It was a great win for the team; it just confirmed for us how talented we are and if we continue with the all-in attitude and continue to persevere, we can compete with any team we play,” Ritchlin said.
These wins also help the team to put themselves in the best position possible for postseason seeding. The goal every year for the Knights is to make it far in the playoffs and to win the NCAA Championship.
“I know this team has the heart and the ability to [keep winning],” Ritchlin said. “We have learned a lot this season, and we are finally coming together and playing well together.”
The team started off the season in a very off-and-on fashion, unable to keep much of a winning streak. Ritchlin attributed this to the young nature of the team. The new players had to take time to get used to the team dynamic and to the collegiate aspects of the game.
“We are a young team that took a bit of time to find our way,” she said.
As a result, the team had a lot to learn and this ensured a sturdy foundation for the team not only for the remainder of the season, but for the future as well.
“We hit a couple of rough patches and not once did anyone give up. That speaks volumes in terms of what type of players we have,” Ritchlin said. “They are amazing young women who sacrifice so much to be successful. I am very proud of them.”
The team’s three seniors played an integral role in leading the team to its success thus far. Their leadership styles have made a deep impact on the younger players and they embody what Geneseo lacrosse means.
Ritchlin noted the seniors’ incredible work ethics, which they demonstrated not only this season, but also throughout each of their years playing for the team. The drive to work hard sets a good example for the team’s future leaders.
“Everyone has been committed to bringing this team together—the ladies have worked really hard and have been challenging themselves and each other to be the best team we can be,” Ritchlin said. “We are talented, hardworking and committed to success.”
For the rest of the season, the Knights are focused on winning games. They have two home games against St. John Fisher College on Friday April 28 and SUNY Potsdam on Saturday April 29.
Coming off these last two wins, the team is arguably in their best form, which can only bode well for the rest of the season.
LeBron James aging impacts career
LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers scores against Paul George of the Indiana Pacers during the second half of Game 3 in the National Basketball Assocation playoff series. The Pacers fell 119-114 to Cleveland on Thursday April 20. (Darron Cummings/AP Photo)
We have all witnessed the highs and lows of LeBron James’ career after he entered the National Basketball Association in 2003, when he was drafted No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
If we’ve ever seen a low point in James’ career—on the court—it was in his first year with the Miami Heat in 2010, or in the Eastern Conference finals, when James and the Heat faced off against the Boston Celtics in game five.
The inhuman prodigy in his athletic prime, who averaged over 25 points per game that season, made only three shots in game five, as the Celtics would go on to cruise to a 120-88 victory in 2010. The Heat would continue on to defeat the Celtics and eventually lose to the Dallas Mavericks in six games in the NBA finals.
Speculation after these playoffs occurred due to the supernatural expectations of James, especially now that he was on this ‘super team.’ Was there an injury that we did not know about or some off the court distraction that James had endured? What if there was an easier explanation? What if James was just tired?
The man who basically made the Cavalier organization relevant again, taking them to their first NBA finals in team history in 2006-07, may have just been tired.
The fact was that after James chose to leave Cleveland, his own city, most of all of the sports world hated him. That would take a lot out of most people, but he dealt with it, going on to win two NBA championships with the Heat and once with the Cavs.
And as the King gets older, currently at age 32, we have to ask the question again: does he have enough left in the tank?
The Cavs bragged earlier this season about having a cutting-edge system that put players into various categories of fatigue, which we should believe was mainly for James. It was supposed to be a way to manage his minutes and to keep him healthy so that come playoff time, he would be ready.
But as the Cavs dwindled in the East, James did everything but rest. Losing 15 of their last 26 regular season games, the team was on edge. By the end of the season, James led the NBA in minutes per game, the opposite of Cleveland’s stated goals. Not only does he play a high number of minutes, but also when he’s out there, it’s arguable that no team relies more on a player than the Cavs depend on James. The Cavs win with James and they lose with James.
Sure, they have Kyrie Irving, who is inevitably one of the best—if not the best—point guard in the NBA. They have knock-down shooters on the wing with Kyle Korver and J.R. Smith. And then they have Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson working low on the boards, both being able to step out of the perimeter and to knock down jumpers.
When push comes to shove, if James doesn’t show up, the Cavs might be able to win a few games, but it is very unlikely that they will be able to win another NBA championship.
Softball fights hard for playoffs
The softball team is in an intense battle for a playoff spot after losing their last three games. The losses were not what the team or head coach Dave Sylvester were looking for.
“This team is working hard and looking to peak at the end of the year,” Sylvester said. “We have an uphill battle left to make the playoffs, but I believe if we can win five games in the next eight games, we will make it to the SUNYACs.”
Geneseo was only able to win three of the eight games, however, of which Sylvester spoke. Two of the wins came on the road at the Rochester Institute of Technology. The Knights then dropped two games to the Buffalo State College Bengals.
The team then sought two easy wins against low ranked SUNY Fredonia, but only managed to take the first of two games. Following the upsetting performance, the Knights then faced the Alfred University Saxons on the road; their struggles continued when the Knights lost both of those games.
This set of losses was certainly a frustrating one for the Knights, as their conference record dropped to 6-8. Despite currently having a losing record, Geneseo is still on the hunt for a playoff spot. The current setup of the SUNYACs demonstrates the possibility for the Knights to snap a six—or even a five—seed in the playoffs, but the Knights need two things: wins and luck.
The top six teams with the best conference record are granted a playoff spot in the SUNYACs. The Knights are currently sitting in seventh place, right ahead of SUNY Brockport, Fredonia and SUNY Potsdam in that order. Potsdam and Fredonia have both been eliminated from the playoffs, but are still a major threat—especially seeing as Fredonia served the Knights a loss on Sunday April 23. Buffalo holds the six seed, making the Knights’ two losses to the Bengals even more detrimental to their playoff hopes.
Looking ahead, the Knights do not have a particularly easy schedule. They host the SUNY Oswego Lakers on Friday April 28 at 3 p.m. and at 5 p.m. and then the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons on Saturday April 29.
All four games are must-wins, none of which will be easy. The Lakers are in a tie for fourth place with a 9-5 record and the Red Dragons are comfortably at the top of the conference standings, only raking up one conference loss in their past 15 games.
So what needs to happen? The Knights need to drive runners in. They are leaving too many players on base in crucial situations, which is causing them to win close ball games. The Knights have been shut out twice in conference play the entire season, showing that they are swinging the bats well, but ultimately failing to come up successful in clutch situations.
Seven of the 22 players on the team are batting above a .300 average. Geneseo’s pitching, too, has been top notch.
Not only is it important, however, that the Knights win—the other teams need to lose, too. The Bengals are the team the Knights are chasing; they will face SUNY Plattsburgh on Friday April 28 to wrap up their season. Realistically, the Bengals will rack up at least one win, making it that much more important for the Knights to secure victories.
Geneseo’s chances of going to the SUNYACs, which begin on Thursday May 4, are not completely farfetched, but they are nowhere near secure.
Men’s lacrosse comes up short to SUNY Brockport
Sophomore defender Jack Crowley takes a hit from a SUNY Cortland forward during their game on Wednesday April 12. The men look to fight for a playoff spot against SUNY Oneonta on Saturday April 29. (Ash Dean/Photo Editor)
Geneseo men’s lacrosse suffered a pair of setbacks in their pursuit of making the playoffs this season, with a 13-6 loss to SUNY Plattsburgh on Saturday April 22 and a 7-6 loss to SUNY Brockport on Wednesday April 26.
The Knights pulled ahead early in the game against Plattsburgh, leading 4-2 at the end of the first quarter. They were held to just two more goals over the remaining three quarters, however, as Plattsburgh took the lead halfway through the second and never looked back.
“They’re a good team,” head coach Nick Fiorentino said. “There were definitely some opportunities that we had that we didn’t execute on. It’s a great opportunity for us to reflect on our mistakes and take a step forward to get better.”
Junior forward Joshua Merkel led the Knights on the score sheet with two goals, both of which came in the first quarter. Fiorentino thinks the difference came down to possession and an inability to flow into an attack from defense.
“A lot of offense stems from defense,” he said. “There were times where we missed a few clears, missed a few ground balls, dropped a few passes and that kind of deflated us a little bit. [Plattsburgh] did a good job possessing and taking a lot more shots, so they were able to get into a better routine.”
With the loss to Plattsburgh, the Knights fell to 2-2 in the conference, they are tied with Brockport and SUNY Oswego for the final two spots in the SUNYAC Tournament. With Geneseo’s loss to Brockport and Oswego’s 10-11 loss to SUNY Cortland on Wednesday April 26, Brockport pulled ahead into third place at 3-2.
Geneseo now must beat last-place SUNY Oneonta at home on Saturday April 29 for a chance to get into the tournament. In a win-or-go-home situation, the team has had to regroup and reflect on the situation as part of their preparation.
“We had to take a deep breath and take into perspective what’s needed of us over this last week,” junior defender Ryan Cates said. “It’s been a lot of focus, effort and energy. It’s all we can control. The other things will come as long as we control those things and really put our best effort forward.”
Among other things, the Knights will have to rely on their defense. The defensive unit has been strong throughout the season, despite the relatively young players. Sophomore defenders Jack Crowley and Jake Okun have started every game this season, even though they are underclassmen.
“Our defense has done a good job [this year],” Fiorentino said. “We came into the year installing new systems, so I feel it’s kind of a benefit that they’re younger guys. They’ve done a good job.”
Despite not knowing what to expect out of their defense coming into the season with a new head coach, Cates believes that they have done an adequate job.
“It was a little bit of a question mark coming into the year,” Cates said. “But I think our defense has really been the cornerstone of our team.”
The Knights have faith in their abilities and have confidence that they can get the job done against Oneonta.
Beyond that, their belief is that the sky is the limit.
“We know if we get in, we can be a dangerous team, so we’re really confident,” Cates said.
With their season on the line, Geneseo men’s lacrosse will face off against Oneonta on Saturday April 29 at 12 p.m.
Former NFL player commits suicide in prison
Former New England Patriot and University of Florida Gator tight end Aaron Hernandez was found dead, hanging by a bed sheet in his jail cell in Massachusetts on April 19.
He was a member of the University of Florida Bowl Championship Series National Championship team and was drafted in the fourth round by the Patriots in 2010, where he played until he was released after his arrest for the murder of Odin Lloyd in 2013. He was convicted later that year for murder in the first degree and was sentenced to serve life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The story of Aaron Hernandez is becoming increasingly complex by the day as far as the details are concerned. Reporters are speculating whether Herndandez had a lover in prison, held “Illuminati” beliefs and left suicide notes. This story at its core, however, is essentially a fall from grace. Hernandez was, in his prime, one of the best at what he did.
He was an agile, skilled tight end that could make plays up the field as well as block. Unfortunately, he never found his escape from drugs, guns and the gang lifestyle. Teammates often described him as somewhat disturbed and violent before his arrest in 2013.
Several sources have pointed to his contract with the Patriots as the reason for his suicide. The details are not yet available; several sources have said that due to his death, the team still owes him money from his previous contract, which will go to his daughter and the rest of his family.
Suicide, in any case, is incredibly difficult to handle and to understand, especially when in the public realm. Hernandez’s motives for the 2013 murder seem to be gang related, but others speculate alternative motives.
Hernandez’s family has decided to donate his brain to Boston University, where it will be determined whether Hernandez had been suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. CTE is the result of repeated hits to the head and has been found in the brains of dozens of National Football League players upon their deaths.
If the team of medical experts can determine that Hernandez did in fact suffer from CTE, it will be easier to understand the motives behind both his crimes and his suicide.
Recently, it was discovered that suicide notes were left behind from Hernandez before his death. Two of the notes were left for his family and one was left for his alleged lover at the correctional facility. There were no speculations about his sexuality until these notes were released.
A fall from grace of this stature is always difficult to watch. It brings up memories of the OJ Simpson trial of the past, seeing a superstar of this stature spiral in the way that he did.
Professional athletes are often only seen for their skills on the field. It is a difficult life to live, being defined by your statistics and how much money you make. People often overlook the fact that these athletes have personal lives and are often in the spotlight.
Arrests and suicides are, unfortunately, a brutal reality of our society. What we can do is use this as a learning opportunity. These athletes are in the public realm. The country sees these stories unfold in their entirety. That is yet another important aspect of professional sports.
We as a society, however, can use this tragedy and grow.
This year in Geneseo sports: spring
Senior distance runner Morgan Meaney leads the pack during the meet hosted at Geneseo. Both the men’s and women’s track and field teams are hoping to earn another SUNYAC title this year. (Ash Dean/Photo Editor)
Though not yet complete, the spring season for Geneseo athletics is shaping up for an exciting finish. Men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse and softball are all in contention for the playoffs, while men’s and women’s track and field have already won the SUNYAC Indoor Championship and will have a chance to challenge for a SUNYAC title in outdoor track as well.
Men’s lacrosse has been the surprise success story this season, as they have a chance to clinch their first SUNYAC Tournament appearance since 2012. First-year head coach Nick Fiorentino has the team at 8-5 overall, but 2-3 in the conference. The Knights need to win their final regular season game at home against last-place SUNY Oneonta on Saturday April 29 to get into the playoffs.
Women’s lacrosse is on their way to the playoffs, despite having a bit of an off year by their standards. With a 7-7 record overall and 4-3 in the SUNYAC, they sit in fourth place, with just two conference games remaining against St. John Fisher College on Friday April 28 and against SUNY Potsdam on Saturday April 29.
In her 14th year with Geneseo, head coach Carly Ritchlin is one of the coaches with the most wins in the NCAA; her streak of winning seasons and of playoff appearances will live on for at least one more year.
Both the men’s and women’s track and field teams have seen several record-breaking performances from their athletes this season. After securing two individual national championships in indoor events, senior jumper/sprinter Alexa Wandy has set school records in the triple jump and 400-meter dash so far in outdoor events.
Senior distance runner Sara Rosenzweig ran the fastest 3,000-meter steeplechase time in Division III this season at the Princeton Larry Ellis Invitational on Friday April 21.
On the men’s side, junior distance runner Isaac Garcia-Cassani holds the school record in the 1,500-meter run. Additionally, the men’s 4 x 800-meter relay team set school records at the Bucknell Bison Classic on April 15, with the men finishing in 7:40.43.
The women are currently ranked fourth in NCAA Division III by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, while the men rank third in the Atlantic region. They will compete at the SUNYAC championships on May 5 and May 6 in Cortland.
Geneseo softball is facing possible elimination from playoff contention, however, with only two doubleheaders remaining, as they sit in seventh place with a 6-8 record in the SUNYAC. The Knights have not been able to gain momentum in the conference, despite a 12-6 record against non-conference opponents.
The softball team currently sits two games behind Buffalo State for the final playoff spot. With just four games remaining against fourth-place SUNY Oswego and first-place SUNY Cortland, closing the gap will be difficult.
This year in Geneseo sports: winter
The Knights look to win back the ball during a game against SUNY New Paltz. After another emotional year, the women finished the season with an impressive record. (Elizabeth Jacobs/Staff Photographer)
In a spectacular season for Geneseo, all seven winter programs made playoff appearances, with four claiming SUNYAC championships. By maintaining a powerful performance from every program of the winter season, Geneseo looks poised to win the prestigious SUNYAC Commissioner’s Cup for the third year in a row and the fourth in the college’s history.
Both the men’s and women’s indoor track teams went far into the post season, securing NCAA Tournament appearances by claiming SUNYAC championships. The men’s squad placed 10th overall, spear-headed by junior runner Isaac Garcia-Cassani, who claimed a national championship title in the men’s mile with a time of 4:07.77.
The women’s squad took eighth overall, with senior jumper Alexa Wandy claiming national championship titles in both the triple jump and the long jump with a 12.64-meter mark and a 5.95-meter mark respectively. Head coach Chris Popovici was also named the SUNYAC Coach of the Year for both squads’ performances.
The Ice Knights fell short this year, however, unlike their Frozen Four appearance in their 2015-2016 season—as the highly offensive team was held to two goals by the SUNY Plattsburgh Cardinals in the SUNYAC semifinals.
First-year forward Conlan Keenan merited the SUNYAC Rookie of the Year award, while senior forward Stephen Collins was named the SUNYAC Herb Hammond Men’s Ice Hockey Player of the Year, the United States College Hockey Online Division III Player of the Year, first-team All-American and runner up for the Sid Watson Award for best player overall in Division III.
The Ice Knights look to continue a strong surge in the program’s history and look forward to an improved Ira S. Wilson arena, with $25,000 community contest prize from Kraft Hockeyville USA.
Both the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams claimed a SUNYAC championship, which marks the 24th and 25th win for the men’s and women’s programs respectively.
For the men, junior diver Samuel Randall returned to nationals to defend his 1-meter dive title, but fell just short with a second-place finish. The women also found success at nationals, as sophomore swimmer Nancy Nasky set a SUNYAC and Geneseo program record in the 1650 free, finishing ninth overall with a time of 17:04.51.
Head swimming coach Paul Dotterweich was named the Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year, while head diving coach Shawn Austin was also merited the Women’s SUNYAC Diving Coach of the Year.
For basketball, the men’s program fell to SUNY Oneonta in the SUNYAC quarterfinals, but put up two SUNYAC All-Conference Honors with senior guards John Decker and Justin Ringen, who were named second and third team by the SUNYAC respectively.
The women’s squad once again met hardships this season, but pulled out a spectacular run from start to finish with an overall record of 28-2. Their losses only came in the SUNYAC finals and the third round of the NCAA National Tournament.
The Knights dominated most of the season, and found themselves the highest rated team in the national standings, with 13 in Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association and 14 in D3hoops.com in program history, ending their winter season even stronger.
This year in Geneseo sports: fall
Senior midfielder Matt D’Amico looks to send the ball up the field during a game against SUNY Oswego. Despite having a younger roster, the men finished off strong with a record of 9-7-2. (Ash Dean/Photo Editor)
The first few weeks of the fall semester are difficult, as students adjust to new weather, a new place to live and new classes. The campus should be excited for the fall 2017 sports, however, as revealed by the successes of Geneseo’s fall 2016 athletes.
A staple of accolades during the fall season for years has been the Geneseo cross country team. 2016 was no different; the Knights finished in the top 10 in every meet they participated in apart from the Rochester Invitational in September.
The men’s and women’s teams had runners accept All-SUNYAC and national honors. In addition, both teams won the SUNYAC Championship and advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship in Kentucky, where the men finished second and the women third in an impressive fashion—solidifying themselves as one of best programs in the country.
The fan favorite soccer program, too, had another promising season on the men’s and women’s side. The men finished the season above .500. The men’s highlight of the season may have been when senior defender Brad Campion was named SUNYAC Men’s Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year. The women’s team had a successful season, too, although they ultimately lost in the SUNYAC finals.
The volleyball team had another extremely successful season as well, advancing to the SUNYAC Tournament. There, they proceeded past SUNY Fredonia in the quarterfinals, eventually losing in the semis to SUNY Brockport, 3-1.
The Geneseo equestrian team also had a very positive season, the highlight of which was when senior Anna Brogan and junior Samantha Childs both took third place at the regional championships.
Maybe the most impressive turnaround of the season, however, belongs to the Geneseo field hockey team. To say they had a rough start to the season would be an understatement, as they lost eight of their first nine games.
Following their loss to St. John Fisher College in September, they were able to go on an eight-game winning streak and ultimately defeated SUNY Oneonta 3-2 to become SUNYAC champions.
Fall sports at Geneseo are fostering a tradition of success and excellence, which the students and faculty can look forward to. It is a point of consistency that always marks the beginning of any semester to help the campus find their stride.
SAAC hosts One Love Foundation event
The Student Athlete Advisory Committee hosted the first “Yards for Yeardley” event as a means to spread awareness for relationship violence. Students, faculty and community members participated and successfully exceeded the 1 million yard goal. (Ash Dean/Photo Editor)
The Student Athlete Advisory Committee at Geneseo hosted the event, “One Million Yards for Yeardley” on the college green on Wednesday April 26. Community members were encouraged to walk, run or even roll laps around the green to reach 1 million yards total in an attempt to raise awareness for relationship violence.
In 2010, senior lacrosse player Yeardley Love was beaten to death by her ex-boyfriend, senior lacrosse player George Wesley Huguely. The two student athletes attended the University of Virginia and they were both just three weeks away from their graduation.
To raise awareness for relationship violence, Love’s mother, Sharon Love, began the One Love Foundation. This foundation is introduced to universities all over the nation; it educates students on what comprises relationship violence, how to raise awareness for it and what its consequences are.
SUNY schools are no stranger to relationship violence and its costs, with some of the most detrimental cases taking place at both Geneseo in 2016 and SUNY Brockport in 2012.
The goal of this event was to increase awareness in the community—there was no money raised.
“It’s all about just raising awareness. There aren’t that many people who are perpetuating this violence, it just keeps happening over and over again,” biology and psychology double major sophomore Jenn Buckhout said. Buckhout is a member of the Geneseo tennis team and a future member of SAAC.
“We just want to make bystanders more aware so that they will help,” Buckhout said.
The event has been taking place throughout 10 of the SUNY campuses in order to reach a combined total of 10 million yards. SUNY Fredonia and Brockport held their events on Wednesday April 26, as well. SUNYAC commissioner Tom DiCamillo travelled between the three campuses so that he could participate in each of the events.
“Brockport had 400,000 yards only two hours into the event. This group [Geneseo] had about 300,000, and Fredonia was well on its way, too,” DiCamillo said.
The campuses fully embraced the event and have so far been successful in spreading awareness. It was initially intended to be a one-time event; SAAC representatives, however, are planning otherwise.
“The way this started was trying to build up the SUNYAC SAAC and having a rally around it,” DiCamillo said. “So they used the dating violence, the Yeardley Love story and their own experiences to do this. They would like to do this annually.”
Geneseo reached the 1-million-yard mark with approximately two hours left in the event. The campus really grasped the idea and either made it a point to go and walk or to just simply contribute one lap between their walks to class. Students, faculty members, coaches and community members all partook in the event.
“I think from a Geneseo specific perspective, this is just a way for us to raise awareness regarding relationship and domestic violence,” associate athletic director Liam Welsh said. “It is a passive way for the community to rally against that type of behavior, especially after our experiences.”
Throughout the day, Geneseo athletes could be seen running their warm up laps around the green to gain yards. While all the teams participated in the event, the women’s basketball and men’s ice hockey teams were perhaps the most supportive.
“It’s a big deal for our team, women’s basketball, because it hits close to home,” sophomore guard Kelsey Poplawski said. “We’re trying to get as many people as we can to walk this.”
This walk is an attempt to not only raise awareness, but to also encourage students to participate in other One Love programs, such as their “Escalation” workshop.
“During this 90-minute workshop, students will watch a 45-minute film about relationship violence and use the remaining 45 minutes to discuss it and how they can prevent such violence,” Buckhout said.
Though the Geneseo One Love Foundation consists mainly of athletes, they are looking to change that, as it is open for all students to join. SAAC hopes to make this foundation more popular around campus, and this walk is just the beginning.
Track strives for another SUNYAC title
The Geneseo men’s and women’s track and field teams divided their athletes on Friday April 14 and Saturday April 15 to compete at the Bucknell Bison Classic in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania and the Brockport Invitational.
Geneseo once again put up top-notch performances, grabbing a total of six 1st place finishes, three school records, two SUNYAC Program records and a large grouping of national qualifying times and results as they stand.
The men’s squad found good marks at the Brockport Invitational, with six top-five finishes and junior runner Kyle Chesterman taking first place in the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 10:05.68.
At the Bucknell Bison Classic, a 4x800 relay squad of senior runner Nate Lo Parco, sophomore runner Gillan Faulkner, sophomore runner Ethan Bellante and junior runner Isaac Garcia-Cassani took 2nd place with a school record time of 7:40.43. Garcia-Cassani continued to put up strong numbers and took first place in the men’s 1500-meter with a time of 3:44.72—a SUNYAC program record and the best time to be put up this year in Division III.
Garcia-Cassani’s time garnered him an invite for the Olympic development mile at the Penn Relays on Thursday April 27.
“It is a tremendous achievement to participate considering the event is invitation only and boasts a field of professional runners and some of the best athletes in Division I,” head coach Christopher Popovici said.
The women’s squad also found success at Bucknell, with a 4x800 relay team of senior runner Marissa Cossaro, sophomore runner Allison Fernandez, sophomore runner Elise Ramirez and senior runner Mackenzie Ross grabbing 1st place and a school record with a time of 9:09.56.
The highlight for the women’s team, however, was a dominating performance at the Brockport Invitational, where the Knights took 10 top-five finishes. This included three 1st place results. Junior jumper and sprinter Camille Wutz took the 100-meter with a 12.24-second finish, senior jumper/sprinter Alexa Wandy ran a 57.84 in the 400-meter for first place and a school record and Wutz took another 1st place mark with a 6.13-meter in the long jump—a SUNYAC program record and the 5th all-time jump in Division III history.
“Right now, both the top marks in the women’s two horizontal jumps are held by us,” Popovici said. “Wutz holds the long jump after this weekend and Wandy continues to impress with the triple jump. With the pair joined by Garcia-Cassani in the 1500-meter, it’s a great time for the program and it feels pretty good to have three of the national leaders in DIII for their events with us. We’re pretty close in putting a few more athletes up there with them with some of the individual breakthroughs we’ve been having in practices.”
With the regular season halfway finished, the amount of meets to make national qualifications are dwindling. For many teams its crunch time, but the Knights have shown no signs of pressure considering a healthy number of athletes have already guaranteed their attendance, including Garcia-Cassani, Wutz, Wandy and Cossaro.
“It takes a lot of stress off the athletes who’ve reached that mark,” Popovici said. “It allows them to zero in and focus for the meet that’s five to six weeks away. From the coaches prospective, it allows us to not worry each week about getting our athletes to hit these marks, and lets us focus on the little things that can help to improve their mark that we otherwise wouldn’t focus on.”
Knight of the Week: Hannah Millich
Junior forward Hannah Millich brings both skill and positivity to the Geneseo women’s lacrosse program. After she graduates, Millich hopes to bring her positive attitude into the classroom as a special education teacher. (Ash Dean/Photo Editor)
Every team has that player who is not only loved by everyone for their personality, but is also a key part of the teams’ success. For the Geneseo women’s lacrosse team, that player is junior forward Hannah Millich.
Millich hails from Black River, New York, which is located near Syracuse. She is currently a childhood with special education major with a concentration in Spanish.
Prior to her attendance at Geneseo, Millich attended Carthage High School, where she played three sports and took a few college level courses; there, she was also a member of the National Honor Society. When she was not busy with sports or schoolwork, Millich volunteered her spare time to work in a special education classroom. It was this volunteer opportunity that made Millich realize that being a special education teacher was the path that she wanted to take with her life.
Millich’s lacrosse career began in the sixth grade when, after seeing her friends pick up the sport, she decided to try it for herself. She immediately fell in love with the game and has been playing lacrosse ever since.
Her passion for the sport is contagious, as she brings a positive attitude to every team that she has played for. The Knights are fortunate enough to be able to experience this positivity now, as Millich comes into every practice and game with the motivation to get better and be successful.
Selflessness is a vital quality for an athlete to have, especially when playing a team sport. Millich has this quality, which she made clear when talking about her own achievements.
“I honestly give all my teammates the credit. We all help each other be successful and set each other up for success,” Millich said in an email interview. “I wouldn’t [score] goals if it weren’t for them making plays happen or getting the pass off for me to be able to score. We all have an amazing chemistry and it has truly shown.”
Despite all of her accomplishments, Millich maintains this noble attitude, which is something that not all athletes possess.
Some of Millich’s fondest memories from her experience as a Knight come from the team’s spring break trips to Florida. She loves having the opportunity to switch things up after playing in the cold Geneseo weather.
“Spring break trips have always been one of the best memories with the team, as everyone gets really close and it is your 26 best friends in a warm place playing the game you love,” she said.
Outside of her busy lacrosse schedule, Millich has made time to tutor for the Learning Independence, Vocational and Educational Skills program here on campus. She loves to help others, and this experience will certainly help her in her future with teaching.
Millich chose Geneseo because of its academic reputation and lacrosse program. Geneseo allows her to pursue her dreams of becoming a special education teacher while also letting her to play on a renowned lacrosse team.
“I feel confident in getting a job right out of school with a degree from Geneseo,” Millich said. “I have had the best years of my life with a school that gave me a great education and allowed me to play on the women’s lacrosse team.”
Women’s lacrosse excels on home turf
As late April approaches, student athletes begin to see the increased pressure both on the field and in the classroom. The women’s lacrosse program is familiar with this final push before the end of the semester and the end of regular season games.
“We remind them that the hard work is done now—we just have to continue to push forward and raise the standard,” head coach Carly Ritchlin said. “We’re not going to cruise through the last few games, but we’ve already faced tough competition and we know our strengths and weaknesses.”
The attitude now is to put everything together, building upon the lessons learned earlier in the season. The team dynamic is at a high point; the players are working together on the field better than ever. There are two solid weeks of lacrosse left in the regular season to show what they have.
The Knights’ record is slightly below .500, yet they still have a fighting chance for a high seed in the NCAA Tournament, which is the ultimate goal for any SUNYAC team’s season. The team has not given up any hope; instead, they are using their position for motivation. Even after a 13-10 loss to No. 15 SUNY Cortland on Saturday April 15, the team took many positives from the game.
“We came out and played one of our best games [against Cortland],” Ritchlin said. “We went head to head for the entire 60 minutes, and even though they scored two quick goals at the end, I’m very proud of the team and where we’re at.”
After playing Cortland, the team found success against SUNY Oswego on Tuesday April 18. The 13-4 win was a crucial one for the Knights. Now 6-7, the Knights are hoping to make the most of the last few games of the season to gain advantage in the seeding in the SUNYAC Tournament.
Tuesday April 18’s game against Oswego was one of the first women’s lacrosse games that they’ve played this season on home turf. This season, they have played on the road quite a bit. The team has been traveling every weekend, which begins to take a toll on the players.
“That can get to you a bit—having to get on a bus and having to travel to the extent we have this season. That’s why it’s nice to have a home game,” Ritchlin said.
Additionally, playing here at Geneseo allows fans to watch the players, as well as any family members that live close by.
This is yet another example of how lacrosse interacts with other aspects of college life. Because of the home games, the athletes don’t have to worry about missing classes and rescheduling assignment due dates.
The team plays again on Tuesday April 25 at SUNY Fredonia. Without a game before then, players will get to enjoy a day or two off during the week—giving them the chance to catch up on school work before practicing hard the days preceding next Tuesday.
As the season winds to an end, these games—mostly against conference opponents—become “must win” games for the Knights. The team is committed to giving 100 percent of their efforts to furthering their success.
Stanley Cup makes for unique playoff season
Edmonton Oilers’ forward Connor McDavid fights off San Jose Sharks defender Justin Braun during the second period of game two of a NHL hockey first-round playoff game in the Stanley Cup on Friday April 14. Hockey fans from all over the country look forward to the Stanley Cup, as it provides some of the best competition of the year. (Sergio Garcia/AP Photo)
The beginning of spring is perhaps the most exciting time of year in the sports world. The Masters is played, National Basketball Association playoffs begin, Major League Baseball exits spring training and begins regular season play and, of course, the National Hockey League Stanley Cup Playoffs commence.
The playoffs in the NHL are unlike any other professional sport, which the fans and players recognize. Ask any fan and they will tell you that watching a playoff game in the NHL is completely different from the regular season. The hits are harder, the pace is faster and every inch of ice and loose puck is contested. These differences are facilitated by how the NHL has set up their system.
It is no secret that of the major sports in the United States, hockey is not the most popular nationwide. Until expansions in the 90s and early 2000s, the game has been centered upon the northeast in the U.S. and Canada. It simply does not have a range like football and baseball. When the playoffs start, however, it is clear that the NHL has done something right.
First, it is hard to make the playoffs in the NHL, which makes every season an exciting one. To make the Cup Playoffs, it takes a full talented roster and a winning record. This is contrary to the NBA where, some years, teams below or at .500 make the postseason, causing some boring first round matchups.
In the NHL, every series seems to be exciting. The top seeded Washington Capitals are down two games to one to the No. 8 seed Toronto Maple Leafs with every game so far going into at least one overtime, as of Wednesday April 19.
Another aspect of the Stanley Cup playoffs that sets it apart is the length. Hockey fans get to look forward to almost two months of playoff hockey with games just about every night. The four best of seven series allows the playoffs to run longer and ensures that the best team usually comes out victorious. This is contrary to the NFL, where it is win or go home and games are only played once a week.
NHL playoff games are accessible, which is more than what can be said about some professional sport playoffs. The Super Bowl seems to have morphed into more of a celebrity red carpet event than a sporting event and the game is not played at either teams’ home field.
At the Stanley Cup Playoffs, however, home ice advantage is a tangible thing that teams work toward; it allows local fans the opportunity to attend the game. This seemingly small detail has a huge effect on the atmosphere of the games.
The postseason in the NHL is the most exciting two months in the hockey world, whether your team is in it or not. Even the name of the postseason, “the Stanley Cup Playoffs,” separates itself from the pack. It reminds fans and players alike what they are playing for. What they are working toward and what, if the stars align, they will be hoisting at the end of May.
Softball faces tough competition on the road
The Geneseo women’s softball team will look ahead to brighter days after struggling during away games.
The Knights had high hopes this past weekend as they took on New Paltz on Friday April 14 and the SUNY Oneonta Red Dragons on Saturday April 15. Their goals were not quite reached, however, as they managed to only come out of the weekend with one win.
There were quite a few factors that may have played a role in the Knights’ 1-3 weekend. For starters, fatigue is a prime culprit for not producing the desired outcome. Geneseo traveled over four hours on a bus to New Paltz to start a weekend where they would be playing two double headers for a total of four games. That alone can take a toll on an individual.
If that wasn’t enough, the Knights then traveled two and a half hours to Oneonta, only to have to be up by 8 a.m. to gear up to face the Red Dragons.
“Whenever you travel that far, the bus can take a little out of you,” head coach David Sylvester said.
It would be inaccurate to place all the blame on fatigue, tho≠≠ugh. The women simply didn’t produce the way they have been accustomed to this entire season.
“Our biggest issue was the lack of offense. As a team, we hit the ball all weekend, but left a number of runners on base,” Sylvester said.
The team gathered many hits over the weekend, but weren’t able to capitalize on them. Leaving runners on base seemed to be the motif, as the Knights left a total of 26 runners on base over the course of the four games.
Going forward, the Knights will have to put up some wins in order to make the playoffs, as they currently sit at sixth place in the SUNYACs with a 5-5 in conference record. It will be vital for the women to have success starting on Friday April 21, as they are scheduled to play four conference games.
The Knights will head to Fredonia to take on the SUNY Fredonia Blue Devils for a double header starting at 3 p.m. on Friday April 21. Fredonia is having a season to forget, only tallying one win in conference play. The next day the Knights travel to Buffalo to take on the Buffalo State Tigers. That matchup will be a little more eventful, as the Tigers and Knights are neck and neck in the SUNYAC standings.
The Knights will need to drive in more runs and to keep the bats popping to come out successful. The team has recalibrated their offense since the losses to Oneonta, according to Sylvester.
“We will be concentrating this upcoming week on preparing to hit the ball harder and more consistently,” Sylvester said.
Although the Knights are in need of a few wins, Sylvester has remained optimistic and enthusiastic about his team.
“We are a young team who is learning how to play together as the season has gone on. The communication has been something we have worked on and are getting better at doing,” Sylvester said. “We have an uphill battle left to make the playoffs, but I believe if we can win five games in the next eight games we will make it to the SUNYACs.”
Men’s lacrosse confident in journey to SUNYACs
Sophomore foward/defensive-midfielder Jack Brunner runs up the field in search of an open teammate. This season seems promising for the Knights; they are more successful than recent years and hope to continue building off of this momentum. (Ash Dean/Photo Editor)
Geneseo men’s lacrosse earned an 11-8 away victory over SUNY Potsdam on Saturday April 15, improving to 8-3 overall and 2-1 in the SUNYAC conference.
Sophomore forwards Zachary DeBottis and Kyle Wanamaker led the offensive charge for the Knights, scoring three goals apiece. Junior midfielder Alex Leuze also added four points on one goal and three assists.
Geneseo found themselves up 10-4 early in the third quarter, but Potsdam cut the deficit to two with four straight goals. The hosts’ momentum and hopes to complete a comeback were quelled with a goal from Wanamaker to improve their lead to three with 1:02 remaining in the game.
“We knew coming in we needed to play well, and the guys definitely came out and executed,” head coach Nick Fiorentino said. “It was one of those games where we knew we had to focus on us and what we had to do to be successful. I was really proud of the guys and anytime you can get a win in the conference it’s huge.”
The Knights performed on the defensive side as well, with junior defender Ryan Cates finishing with six ground balls. Junior goalkeeper Michael Yehl had 17 saves in the contest, tying his highest save total of the season.
“We gave up a lot of shots, but I was able to see a bunch of them so it definitely helped the team out,” Yehl said. “Coming up with big saves and clearing the ball definitely gave us some transition game as well as some offensive momentum.”
Yehl has started every game in net this season and has recorded at least 10 saves in five of his last six games. Fiorentino recognizes the importance of having a solid presence in the cage.
“Mike [Yehl] comes with a year and a half of experience, and you can’t teach experience,” he said. “He’s playing well and he’s a leader out there for us, so we’re excited that we have that facet of our game going for us right now.”
Yehl has been the starter since he won the job during his freshman season, so it would take a lot for him to lose his spot. With four other goaltenders on the roster, however, he has a few extra reasons to stay at the top of his game.
“I have four goalies behind me, which is a completely new experience for me,” Yehl said. “I’ve always been the only goalie or one of two goalies, so just having four guys behind me pushing me every day has made me a lot better of a player.”
The Knights now have eight wins on the season, the most the program has achieved since 2010 when the team won 10 games. With three games remaining to decide their playoff fate, Fiorentino said that the team is feeling good about their chances.
“When you win ball games, you’re going to feel good,” he said. “We’re excited. One of the team goals was to get into the conference tournament and we’re close to capturing that goal.”
The Knights will need at least one more win over their final three games to be in contention for a spot in the SUNYAC Tournament. The team’s morale is high, but they know there is still more work to be done.
“We’re not a stagnant team—we strive every day to get better,” Yehl said. “So far this season, coming out with eight wins and two in the SUNYAC is giving us a lot of confidence going into our last three games.”
Geneseo men’s lacrosse will travel north to face SUNY Plattsburgh on Saturday April 22 at 1 p.m. They will then finish out the regular season with two home games against SUNY Brockport on Wednesday April 26 and SUNY Oneonta on April 29.
Knightline emphasizes talent, school spirit
Senior chemistry major Jess Bataglia leads the way for her fellow dancers during their performance at Relay for Life. The Knightline crew has been asked to perform at a wide variety of campus events, allowing them to become more well-known among the students. (Annalee Bainnson/Assoc. Photo Editor)
The semester might be winding down, but the Geneseo Knightline crew is in full swing.
Geneseo Knightline is a high-powered, energetic dance team that consists of approximately 28 women.
The dance team does several performances on campus, including basketball games, hockey games and occasionally lacrosse games. The women generally perform during halftime at the varsity games, maintaining the crowd’s excitement. The team also performs at non-athletic events, such as Relay for Life, admission events and other events around campus.
“We do jazz routines, fast upbeat fun stuff and a kick line … we’re basically the Rockettes,” junior co-captain Taylor Gerner said jokingly.
The team is a selected group of girls who must audition before joining.
“We have tryouts at the beginning of every year,” junior co-captain Renee Katafiaz said. “Knightline is something that you need previous experience for.”
Geneseo does not fund the team, so when it comes to uniforms and studio time, it is all on their own dime. Due to the lack of funds, the team rarely participates in tournaments or competitions. Since most of the competitions are out of state or far away, it is difficult for the team to get the funds to compete and participate in them.
“We pay for everything,” Katafiaz said. “Uniforms are all us, and we have to book our own studio time.”
But that does not stop the team from being dedicated and hard-working. They have practice twice a week on Sundays and Tuesdays, for which attendance is mandatory. Knightline is a selective group of girls; to have all 28 on the same page, they must practice together.
The dedication to the program has helped it grow in popularity over the past few years.
“My freshmen year was the first time we performed at hockey games,” Katafiaz said. “Before, it was always doing the basketball games and sometimes lacrosse games if the weather worked out and then that was it.”
Not only have they grown in popularity in terms of the amount of events they perform, but more people on campus seem to recognize them.
“How well we’re known on campus has grown,” Katafiaz said. “The amount of events we get invited to perform at has definitely increased a lot.”
What is unique about the team is that they create all of their own choreography, with no help from an instructor. Not only do they do their own choreography, the captains also do pretty much everything—analogous to being a quarterback for the team.
“Captains pretty much do everything,” Katafiaz said. “All the administrative stuff, booking studio time, choreography, running practices and running the performances.”
“We have a faculty advisor,” Gerner said, “but they’re just there just so that we can be an organization.”
Because of the close-knit group, both captains said that the hardest part about the whole thing is staying focused while practicing with their best friends, where being authoritative can be a challenge.
Nevertheless, their hard work has shown to pay off, as the Knightline performances are something that students look forward to at any event. The women provide an extra sense of school spirit and positivity at all of the events they perform at.
Geneseo nominated for best hockey community in nation
The Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena is one of the most loved aspects of both the Geneseo campus and the community. The rink has been nominated for the chance to win $150,000 for rink renovations in the Kraft-Heinz Hockeyville USA 2017 contest. (Jake Wade/Lamron Archives)
The Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena—home to the Geneseo Ice Knights and Livingston County youth hockey—advanced to the semifinal round of Kraft Hockeyville USA 2017.
The contest’s top four finalists were voted on from Tuesday April 18-Wednesday April 19, and the two finalists will be announced on Saturday April 22.
Geneseo was voted one of four finalists for the distinction of being named the best hockey community in the nation in the first round of voting that ran from April 11-13. The grand prize for the contest includes $150,000 in arena renovations and a chance to host an NHL preseason game televised live on NBC Sports Network in the fall.
The contest is sponsored by a partnership consisting of Kraft-Heinz, the National Hockey League, the NHL Player’s Association, NBC Sports Group and USA Hockey. Of almost 1300 arenas that were nominated across the country, “The Ira” was announced as a top 10 finalist for the contest on April 8.
As a semifinalist, Geneseo is guaranteed at least $25,000 in prize money for arena upgrades. Should they move on to the final round, they will be in contention for either the grand prize or $75,000 as the runner-up.
The community around Geneseo has certainly proved its appreciation for hockey. In each of the past four years, the Ice Knights have been able to draw an average attendance that ranked in the top five nationally for NCAA Division III men’s ice hockey. The team is appreciative of the support they get from the community and they emphasize that this contest and the awards won from it are for the fans more so than for the team or the college itself.
“The community and the hockey team go hand and hand,” head coach Chris Schultz said. “We rely on the community, and it’s really important to me to have the community benefit from a contest like this because they deserve it.”
The Ira received several nominations to be entered in the contest, according to Schultz. The one that was ultimately accepted was from a member of the community who had grown up through the youth hockey programs that also calls the facility home.
“The youth hockey organization here is so involved with us and such big supporters of us,” senior goaltender Bradley Hawayek said. “They’re the ones who started it all. The support that we’ve gotten from all of them so far has been huge in getting us to this point.”
Potential upgrades to the arena may involve the bleachers and lighting, but many other things can be addressed in a building that has seen a lot of use over the years.
“This building sees more foot traffic from the community than any other building on campus,” Schultz said. “Over the course of 50 years, there’s a lot of wear and tear, so we can put that money to good use.”
Schultz expects to see many people involved in the decision-making to be sure everyone impacted has a voice.
“It’s my hope that we put together a committee that represents everyone that needs to be represented, and I would hope that the community would be involved in that as well,” he said.
Students and fans have been voting both online at www.krafthockeyville.com and by texting “IraNY” to 35350. Up to 50 votes can be submitted per day through both methods, as well as once per day on twitter using the hashtag #IraNY. The top two finalists will be announced on Saturday April 22 for a final round of voting that will run from Monday April 24 at 12 a.m. to Tuesday April 25 at 11:59 p.m.
Tennis prepares for NCAA Tournament
Though the school year may be coming to an end, the tennis team has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success this season on their way to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Tournament, which is set to take place from May 22-27.
With an overall record of 11-7, the team looks to continue their success by beating their last opponents of the regular season, St Lawrence University, on Saturday April 15 and taking that momentum into the NCAA Tournament.
After conquering rival SUNY New Paltz to claim the title of SUNYAC Tournament Champion in the fall, the team appeared outmatched in several of its matches during the spring season. The team has split their last two, with an 8-1 defeat of Union College and a 9-0 loss to the University of Rochester. Despite the 1-4 record in April, there is still a sense of optimism for this team to do remarkable things in the NCAAs.
“During the fall, we competed against teams like SUNY New Paltz and SUNY Cortland in our effort to win the SUNYAC Tournament in October,” junior captain Rachel Ollis said. “During the spring semester—after we were victorious in the SUNYAC Tournament—we played against private schools in preparation for the NCAAs in early May.”
During the season, it is a grind on a week-to-week basis.
“Practices are two hours, but we usually get a day off during the week. However, during practice, we warm up, practice shots, participate in many drills, work on the net game, work on doubles and compete against each other,” Ollis said. “My typical day as a Geneseo athlete is class, then immediately practice.”
When accounting for the team’s success this season, it is difficult not to concentrate on head coach Jason Stephens, but there are several other additional factors that contribute to a team’s overall success on the court.
“We are lucky to have a tennis coach who teaches tennis as a profession,” Ollis said. “As a result, practices run more effectively because he knows what he is doing. He works on the players individually with what they need to work on.”
The team’s relationship has been another factor in their success.
“We never let anyone stand out on the courts by themselves—supporting each other is a huge thing,” Ollis said. “We always do everything together—get along, live together—and we have grown into a family.”
The women hope to finish the season strong and to do well in the NCAA Tournament. Their goal is to focus on training over the summer so that they can come back swinging during their main season in the fall.