2007-08 WINTER SEASON RECAPS

VIEW WINTER SCORES, RECAPS AND BOX SCORES

NEWMAC ANNOUNCES WINTER ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS

NEWMAC NAMES WINTER ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS

RODERIGUE NAMED TO THE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL D3HOOPS.COM ALL-NORTHEAST TEAM

2008 SPRING SEASON RECAPS

VIEW SPRING SCORES, RECAPS AND BOX SCORES

NEWMAC ANNOUNCES SPRING ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

MEN'S LACROSSE PLAYERS NAMED TO ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

NEWMAC ANNOUNCES SPRING ALL-ACADEMIC HONORS

SIX LACROSSE PLAYERS EARN PILGRIM LEAGUE ALL-ACADEMIC HONORS

BLAKE NAMED TO NEISCA ALL-NEW ENGLAND SOFTBALL TEAM

ROSENAK NAMED LACROSSE SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICAN

PERRONE NAMED HEAD CROSS COUNTRY COACH

2007 WINTER SEASON RECAPS

Men's Basketball Recap

After claiming its best finish in the NEWMAC (7-5/2nd) since 2002-03, the Clark University men’s basketball team went on to post the most wins in a season in four years with a 12-13 overall mark.

The Cougars won five of their first seven conference games in dramatic fashion, earning three of the victories by a margin of three points or less, en route to being named the league’s runner-up. Clark had a chance to share the top spot in the NEWMAC, but fell to eventual regular-season champs WPI (87-74) with four conference games remaining. However, CU won its last two games of the regular season to secure the second seed in the conference tournament. After coming out on top in two tightly contested contests against Wheaton College (76-73 & 92-90) during the year, the Cougars fell to the Lyons (78-74) in the NEWMAC quarterfinal round.

Other season highlights included a pair of tournament title appearances with a season-opening championship game versus Roger Williams University in the Roger Williams Tournament and a winter break title match against Carroll College (Wi.) in the Cactus Jam Hoop Classic.

Sophomore Mark Alexander was named to the All-NEWMAC second team for the second straight season, while the team earned their first-ever conference Sportsmanship Award. Additionally, senior D.J. Brinn was presented with Clark’s Russ Granger award for academic excellence and athletic achievement by a male athlete.

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Women's Basketball

Although the 2007-08 Clark University women’s basketball campaign did not produce the results they had hoped for, the Cougars experienced many successful moments and revealed flashes of promise for next year. The 8-17 (4-9 NEWMAC) team captured its 11th Worcester City Tip-Off Title in the past 12 years and 18th total championship with a 57-47 victory over WPI. Junior Sarah Roderigue earned the Tournament’s Most Valuable Player honors, while sophomore Jillian Camilleri was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Clark also advanced to the University of Southern Maine Tournament championship game during winter break, where Camilleri earned her second All-Tournament team nod. Following the semester vacation, the Cougars posted victories in two of its first three conference games and won twice more in league play to earn the seventh seed in the tournament. However, Clark was knocked out in the first-round after a 56-43 loss to second-seeded Coast Guard Academy.

Individual highlights included Roderigue’s All-Conference first-team selection and her first D3hoops.com All-Northeast Region second-team appearance.

Earlier in the season, Clark hosted its first-ever Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s (WBCA) “Think Pink” campaign to raise awareness for breast cancer. The squad donated $150 to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.

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Men's Swimmming & Diving Recap

The Clark men’s swim and dive team staked its claim to three dual-meet victories despite a shortage in numbers during the first half of the season. With three veteran swimmers (Brian Walsh, Mike Smith, Tim O’Keefe) abroad first semester, the youthful Cougars posted victories over Gordon College, Elms College and Bridgewater State College on their way to a 3-8 overall mark.

Clark placed third with 228 points at the Worcester City Meet held at Holy Cross after semester break. Junior Drew Jackson led the way with a first place finish in the 200-yard backstroke. That would set the stage for Jackson’s two new Clark backstroke records at the NEWMAC Championship meet. He set a new mark in the 50-yard backstroke (25.67) on the lead-leg of the 200-yard medley relay and broke his old Clark record in the 100-yard backstroke (54.87). The team finished sixth overall (244 points) at NEWMAC’s for the third straight year.

Senior captain Shyamal Asher represented the men’s team on the NEWMAC All-Academic squad. Additionally, Asher was awarded the athletic department’s inaugural Senior Scholar Athlete Award, created to recognize the senior athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average over four years or one who will have completed their undergraduate requirements in three years. Asher completed his degree in biochemistry and molecular biology in three years with a 4.11 grade point average.

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Women's Swimming & Diving Recap

The Clark University women’s swim and dive team polished off the 2007-08 campaign with a 5-6 overall record and an 8th place finish (184 points) at the NEWMAC Championships. The Cougars fared well against a tough line-up of competition this season with the addition of strong first-year swimmers, Britney Wigley and Elizabeth Rosen leading the way. The team posted wins over UMass-Dartmouth and Gordon College; experienced success over conference foes Babson College, Mt. Holyoke College, and WPI; and defeated WPI and Assumption College en route to a second place finish at the Worcester City Meet at Holy Cross, where first-year Elizabeth Rosen won two events to earn the swimmer of the meet runner-up nod. She took first in the 1,650-yard freestyle with a new meet time of 18:18.22 and won the 400-individual medley.

Rosen also set new Clark records in the 200-yard freestyle (2:00.01), the 1,000-yard freestyle (10:47.70) and the 1,650-yard freestyle (17:53.52) at the NEWMAC Championships. Rosen, along with classmate Brittney Wigley were amongst the top-10 swimmers in the NEWMAC for the 500, 1,000, and 1,650 freestyle this season.

Six of the Cougar women made the NEWMAC All-Academic team, including seniors Kara Bochicchio, a three-time recipient, and Caitlin Hanson, and juniors Jessica Baker, Korin Danchise-Curtis and Kayleigh Lagasse and sophomore Corri Stewart.

By Sarah Hunsucker, Sports Information Intern

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NEWMAC ANNOUNCES WINTER HONORS

Men's Basketball
Clark University men's basketball player Mark Alexander was named to the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) All-Conference second-team for the second straight season, it was announced on Tuesday. The Cougars also took home the league's Sportsmanship Award.

Alexander, a sophomore forward from Providence, R.I., earned the honor after topping the team in scoring with 16.2 points per game and finishing second in rebounds (5.0). He ranked in the top-10 in two categories in the NEWMAC, including eighth in scoring (13.8 ppg) and 10th in three-point field goals made (1.50). The second-team all-star recorded 21 double-digit scoring games, including seven 20-plus point performances and career-highs in points (30 vs. Becker) and rebounds (10 vs. MIT), this winter.

Alexander garnered the team's only conference Player of the Week award after helping Clark to victories over MIT (58-56) and Wheaton College (92-90) to close the season.

Women's Basketball
Clark University's Sarah Roderigue was named to the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's basketball first-team, it was announced on Tuesday. It marks her first appearance on the All-NEWMAC first-team. Originally from Oakland, Me., Roderigue, a second-team selection last year, led Clark in scoring (17.5 ppg) and rebounds (8.0 rpg) and ranked atop the league in points per game with 18.5 this season. The junior forward made her mark in the conference finishing second in three-point field goals made (2.15), seventh in free-throw percentage (.602), ninth in three-point field goal percentage (3.48) and 12th in rebounds per game (7.1). She posted four double-doubles and racked up 22 double-figure scoring games this winter.

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NEWMAC NAMES WINTER ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS

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RODERIGUE NAMED TO THE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL D3HOOPS.COM ALL-NORTHEAST TEAM

Clark University's Sarah Roderigue was named to the D3hoops.com All-Northeast region second team, it was announced on Wednesday. It marks her first All-Northeast selection.

Originally from Oakland, Me., Roderigue led Clark in scoring (17.5 ppg) and rebounds (8.0 rpg) and ranked atop the league in points per game with 18.5 this season. The junior forward made her mark in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) finishing second in three-point field goals made (2.15), seventh in free-throw percentage (.602), ninth in three-point field goal percentage (3.48) and 12th in rebounds per game (7.1). She posted four double-doubles and racked up 22 double-figure scoring games this winter. Roderigue capped her year with an All-NEWMAC first-team nod.

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2008 SPRING SEASON RECAPS

Baseball

The Clark University baseball team finished with an 11-22 (4-8 NEWMAC) mark this spring. Dubbed the “comeback kids,” the Cougars won a pair of key games in dramatic come-from-behind fashion. They scored eight runs with two outs in the top of the ninth to rally past Springfield College (12-7) during the regular season and just five days later scored 10 runs in the top of the eighth inning to erase an 11-2 deficit and claim an incredible 12-11 upset victory over top-seeded Babson College in the NEWMAC Tournament opener. Clark, the sixth-seed, was ousted from the tournament with losses to number four Springfield (13-1) and number three MIT (9-4).

Significant accomplishments during the regular season included a 6-5 win over perennial power St. Joseph’s College of Maine and a 14-10 victory over nationally ranked Wheaton College, not to mention a new single season mark for triples in a season with 14.

Senior Joe Silva capped his career as a second team All-Conference selection. Freshman phenom Scott Hollingsworth, who signed a temporary contract with the prestigious Cape Cod summer league, tied the record for hits in a season (47), while sophomore Jon Merritt and senior Cole Osburn set new marks for fewest walks per 9 innings (1.75) and career fielding percentage (.995), respectively.

Senior Eric Dufour and graduate student Gunnar Hagstrom received NEWMAC All-Academic recognition.

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Men's Lacrosse

Even though the Pilgrim League Tournament eluded the 2008 Clark University men’s lacrosse team, that didn’t stop the 4-11, 2-5 squad from capturing its first-ever win over Lasell College in its regular-season finale. Senior Andrew Webber's goal with 41 seconds remaining in the first overtime lifted Clark to the thrilling 6-5 win on Senior Day. That marked their second conference win of the season as the Cougars had beaten Norwich University (15-4) earlier in the spring. The Cougars other two wins came against Misericordia University (Pa.) (13-2) and Nichols College (11-2).

Clark made significant strides in conference play this season. They fell to Babson College and MIT by four points with identical 9-5 losses, lost to Wheaton College by just two (9-7) and were edged by Mass. Maritime by one goal (10-9).

This season also saw some noteworthy individual milestones for the Cougars. Senior Dan Rosenak and junior Shawn Roche received second team All-Conference honors, marking the first time Clark players earned the accolade since 2002. Rosenak, Clark’s career groundball record holder, also earned the distinction of being named the team’s first-ever United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Scholar All-American this spring. Additionally, Rosenak, juniors Drew Silverman and Jeff Deluca, sophomore Alex Craven, and freshmen Kevin Schofield and Sam McAdam garnered Pilgrim League All-Academic honors.

Coach Davis also celebrated player accomplishments with team awards. Co-Most Valuable Player honors went to Dan Rosenak and Scott Wheeler, Most Improved Player was Mike Fuchs and Coach’s Award was given to Nate Sherman.

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Men's Rowing

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Women's Rowing

Clark University’s varsity eight boat finished sixth (7:27.68) at the 2008 NEWMAC Women’s Rowing Championships this spring, surpassing last year’s time by just over 25 seconds. Seniors Sarah Brooks and Kate Dorsey were named to the All-Conference varsity team. First-year Kayleigh Boothby earned an All-NEWMAC Novice team selection.

The Cougars’ varsity four posted their best time of the season in their heat at the New England Fours Championships with a third place finish of 7:59.97. They later placed third with a time of 8:00.38 in the petite final.

Brooks, a four-year rower and three-time captain, was recognized with the athletic department’s Alice Higgins Award for academic excellence and athletic achievement by a female athlete. She also joined her teammates Sarah Feinman, Sara Felhaber and Jessica Baker on the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Scholar-Athlete Team and NEWMAC All-Academic squad.

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Softball

Completing its season with a 21-12 overall record – the first 20-win season since 2002 – the Clark University softball team had its share of notable accomplishments this spring. Not only did the Cougars earn regional recognition (10th) by the New England Intercollegiate Softball Coaches Association (NEISCA) poll and saw first-year hurler Sarah Carter pitch the program’s first-ever perfect game, but they also set a new mark for homeruns in a season (26) and finished fourth (10-6) in conference play for the second straight season.

The Clark bats were the story of the season as the Cougars tied for first in the league in homeruns (26) and finished second in hitting (.312), slugging percentage (.462), and on-base percentage (.375). Season highlights included a 7-3 spring week trip, a victory over NCAA tournament participant Wellesley College (5-3) and a sweep over eventual NEWMAC Champs Springfield College (3-1 & 9-1). The Cougars also honored 30-years of softball with Clark’s first-ever sport-specific anniversary celebration in April.

Lauren Blake had a stellar sophomore season, garnering her 100th career hit and earning first-team All-NEWMAC, All-NFCA and All-NEISCA honors. Senior Heather Warren was also named a NEWMAC first-team all-star and received second-team NFCA recognition. Sophomore Melissa Traft took home NEWMAC second-team honors to round out the list of Cougar recipients.

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Men's Tennis

With the addition of first-year head coach Mickey Cahoon, the Clark men’s tennis program increased in numbers and in victories with a 4-10 overall mark. The Cougars’ wins came against non-conference opponents including, Wheelock College (8-1), Nichols College (5-4), Mitchell College (9-0) and Salem State College (5-4). The team still has its work cut out in the highly competitive NEWMAC as they were winless (0-5) in league play this season.

Junior Socheata Ly paced the Cougars with seven singles wins – five in the four slot – this spring, while junior Adam Bisceglia picked up six victories at No. 1 singles. Junior Ben Gross and freshman Matt Finley each earned five wins in doubles play, with three victories as a pair.

Clark earned the sixth-seed in the NEWMAC Tournament and concluded its season with a 6-0 loss to third-seed Babson College.

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NEWMAC ANNOUNCES SPRING ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS

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MEN'S LACROSSE PLAYERS NAMED TO ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

Clark University's Dan Rosenak and Shawn Roche have been named to the men's lacrosse Pilgrim League All-Conference second team, it was announced on Wednesday. Both players are making their first appearance on the All-Star squad. It also marks the first time Clark players have received All-Conference honors since 2002.

Rosenak, a senior defender from Montclair, N.J., led the league in groundballs with 72 and finished second in groundballs per game (4.80) at the end of the regular season. The four-year starter and two-time captain helped anchor a defense that allowed just an 8.77 goals against average. He also contributed offensively with three goals and an assist this season. Rosenak holds Clark's career groundball mark with 355, as well as the single season record of 106, set in 2005.

Originally from Centerport, N.Y., Roche led the team in assists (24) en route to a second place spot in the category in the Pilgrim League this spring. After notching 24 goals and 24 assists, the junior attackman was runner-up in points (48) and points per game (3.20) and seventh in goals in the conference. Roche recorded his 100th career point with an assist in a tough loss to MIT earlier this season. He also chipped in defensively with 44 groundballs.

Clark concluded the year with a 4-11 overall mark.

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NEWMAC ANNOUNCES SPRING ALL-ACADEMIC HONORS

Clark University spring teams were well-represented on the 2008 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Academic All-Conference teams, it was announced on Wednesday.

The women's rowing team paced all spring teams with four athletes on the All-Academic squad. Seniors Sarah Brooks (Gloucester, Mass.) and Sara Fealhaber (Manville, R.I.), both three-time recipients, earned the honor, and were joined by teammates Jessica Baker (Queensbury, N.Y.), a junior, and sophomore Sarah Feinman (Lexington, Mass.).

Senior Eric Dufour (Exeter, N.H.) and graduate student Gunnar Hagstrom (Yarmouth, Me.) received baseball All-Academic recognition, while senior Julie Parnell (Webster, Mass.) was a softball honoree. It marked Dufour's second appearance, Hagstrom's fourth nod, and Parnell's first.

Honorees must have met the following criteria: earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5/4.0 scale or 4.35/5.0 scale after the 2007 fall semester, achieved second year academic status at their institution, and been a member of the varsity team for the entire season.

The NEWMAC consists of 10 highly selective institutions committed to academic excellence: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

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SIX LACROSSE PLAYERS EARN PILGRIM LEAGUE ALL-ACADEMIC HONORS

Six Clark University lacrosse players were named to the 2008 Pilgrim League All-Academic team, it was announced on Friday.

Senior Dan Rosenak (Montclair, N.J.) and sophomore Alex Craven (Milton, Mass.) are two-time recipients of the honor, while juniors Drew Silverman (Nashua, N.H.) and Jeff Deluca (Ashland, Mass.) and freshmen Kevin Schofield (Concord, N.H.) and Sam McAdam (Portland, Me.) are making their inaugural appearance.

Honorees must have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.2.

The Pilgrim League consists of eight institutions committed to academic excellence: Babson College, Clark University, Lasell College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Norwich University, Springfield College, and Wheaton College.

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BLAKE NAMED TO NEISCA ALL-NEW ENGLAND SOFTBALL TEAM

Clark University's Lauren Blake can add another honor to her resume. The sophomore from Oakland, Me. was named to the New England Intercollegiate Softball Coaches Association (NEISCA) first-team, it was announced on Monday. Blake, a second-team All-NEISCA selection last season, topped the Cougars and the conference in hitting (.474) and on-base percentage (.523) and tied for first in the league in hits (55). She collected 17 multiple hit games this season, including a team-best 17-game hit streak, as well as a team-high 32 runs scored. Blake also shined defensively with 74 assists to go along with 78 putouts. Blake is a two-time All-NEWMAC and National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Star. Clark concluded the season with a 21-12 overall record.

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ROSENAK NAMED LACROSSE SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICAN

Clark University's Dan Rosenak earned the distinction of being named the Cougars first-ever United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Scholar All-American, it was announced on Tuesday.

In 1989, the USILA Scholar All-America Program was established to recognize student-athletes from USILA member institutions who have distinguished themselves academically, athletically and as citizens of their communities. The USILA Selection Committee selects an overall team representing Division I, II and III.

Rosenak, a senior defender from Montclair, N.J., excelled in the classroom and on the field during his four-year career. He was a two-time Pilgrim League All-Academic recipient and was named to the league's All-Conference second-team this spring - the first Clark selection in six years.

Rosenak led the league in groundballs (72) and finished second in groundballs per game (4.80) at the end of the regular season. The four-year starter and two-year captain helped anchor a defense that allowed just an 8.77 goals against average this spring. He also contributed offensively with three goals and an assist this season. Rosenak holds Clark's career groundball mark with 355, as well as the single season record of 106, set in 2005.

The Scholar All-Americas are recognized at the annual Lacrosse All-America Banquet.

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PERRONE NAMED HEAD CROSS COUNTRY COACH

Clark University Athletic Director Linda Moulton recenlty announced the hiring of Mark Perrone as the University's new head cross country coach.

Perrone, who officially begins his duties August 15, has spent the past 10 years as an assistant and/or head coach at the high school and collegiate level. Prior to Clark, the Worcester native directed the cross country and track and field teams at Assumption College (1997-2006), where he was awarded the Reverend Joseph Pelletier Memorial Award for Service to the Athletic Department in 2000. In fact, Perrone was led to Clark by one of his former student-athletes and the Cougars' current assistant cross country coach, Louis Cote.

"Louis is one of the main reasons why I'm here," said Perrone. "The more he told me about Clark and the program, the more interested I became."

"The team has a fire in their belly and there is a lot of support here," he added. "It feels like a new beginning. I am very glad to be on board."

A former marathon runner, Perrone also enjoyed stints as a part-time coach with the Central Mass. Striders Running club, assistant for the St. John's High School cross country program and associate head coach for St. Peter Marian's track and field team.

Additionally, Peronne served as president and co-founder of Athletic and Fitness Specialist International, which provided sport specific athletic and fitness services in the central and metro-west areas of Massachusetts.

In addition to coaching at Clark, Perrone will continue his work with the Central Mass. Striders group.

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The information in this newsletter is provided by
Dalya Qualls, Sports Information Director, 508-793-7164
Email: dqualls@clarku.edu