June 8, 2010
Garden City, N.Y. -
Adelphi finished third in the 2009-2010 Northeast-10's Presidents Cup with 165.5 total points. The Panthers had 14 programs finish in the top-five, with women's lacrosse and golf winning NE-10 Championships. The men's soccer team also captured a conference title in the Atlantic Soccer Conference.
The Panthers had 21 teams qualify for postseason play, including the women's lacrosse team, which won the program's fourth National Championship and became the only team in NCAA D-II Women's Lacrosse history to win back-to-back National Titles. The Panthers also placed 60 student-athletes on All-Conference teams, 21 on All-Region teams, and nine on All-American teams.
Volleyball (27-10, 14-1 NE-10, NCAA East Regional)
For the third consecutive season the Panthers collected a program-best 27 wins and reached the NCAA East Regional. Adelphi got hot at the right time in the middle of the season going on an 11-game winning streak, with nine of the wins in conference play.
The Panthers, who finished the regular season in second-place with a 14-1 mark in the Northeast-10, made it all the way to the conference finals before falling to UMass Lowell, 3-2. In the East Regional, Adelphi came up short against league-rival Bentley University, 3-2.
Three Panthers garnered All-NE-10 honors for their efforts this season. Junior Hilary Pavels was a first-team selection, while classmate Heather Mau received second-team honors. Bree Popham was named to the All-Rookie Team. Pavels, Mau, and senior Amy Williams were tabbed as AVCA Division II All-Region selections as well.
Aside from the accomplishments on the court, Pavels and Williams were named to the NE-10 Fall Academic All-Conference Team. Williams was also recognized by the NE-10 for being nominated for the 2010 Northeast-10 Woman of the Year Award.
Field Hockey (12-8, 7-3 NE-10, NE-10 Tournament)
After their first season as a varsity sport in 25 years in 2008, the field hockey team made impressive strides in the Northeast-10 in 2009. The Panthers finished the season with a 12-8 record and 7-3 in the conference.
Adelphi picked up two big wins over Assumption and UMass Lowell to close out the season and secure a spot in the conference tournament. The Panthers played a strong game only to fall to eighth-ranked Merrimack College, 2-1.
Sophomore Julianne Gerbino was named First-Team All-NE-10, while classmate Lucia Vigliotti received second-team honors. Danielle Demola rounded out the conference awards as she was named to the All-Rookie and All-Championship Teams. The trio also garnered ECAC All-Star honors, while Gerbino and Vigliotti were named Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively. Womenfieldhockey.com named Gerbino a Second-Team All-American, and also selected Demola to the All-Rookie Squad. Gerbino would find herself on another All-American Second-Team, this time from the NHFCA.
With her 3.86 grade point average, sophomore Crystal Gray landed a spot on the NE-10 Fall Academic All-Conference Team. The team also received the 2009 Gladiator by SGI / NFHCA Division II National Academic Team Award (3.35 gpa), while also having 11 members of the team named to the National Academic Squad.
Cross-Country (M - Fourth at NE-10; Fourth at NCAA Regional; W- Fourth at NE-10; Third at NCAA Regional)
The Adelphi cross-country team posted identical finishes at the Northeast-10 Conference Championship meet, as both the men and women placed fourth overall. Freshman Gina Cristaldi and senior Danielle Matteo netted all-conference honors for the women, placing seventh and 16th respectively, while junior Ryan Pezzulo and freshman Andrew Coelho earned all-conference honors for the men with finishes of 17th and 19th.
At the NCAA Division II East Regional the women took home third overall, missing out by one spot a berth in the NCAA National Championship meet for the third straight season. Matteo was the lone member of the team to earn All-Region honors with a sixth place finish. The men placed fourth overall, just a point out of third as Coelho was an all-region selection with a 14th place finish.
The Panthers also had nine athletes earn USTFCCCA Division II All-Academic status as Adam Clark, Thomas Clark and Ryan Pezzulo along with Matteo, Cassie Papandrew, Catherine Connors, Jenilee Fuertes, Kristin Eberhardt and Heather Troutman were all honored. To qualify for All-Academic honors, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.25 cumulative grade point average and have placed in the top 30% at the NCAA Division II Regional.
Women's Soccer (10-5-3, 8-5-2 NE-10, NE-10 Tournament)
In their first season in the Northeast-10, the Panthers finished the season with an 8-5-2 mark in the league and a 10-5-3 record overall. The Panthers were especially good at home, winning seven of their 10 games.
Adelphi entered the NE-10 Tournament as the fifth-seed and traveled to take on fourth-seeded Merrimack College. After taking a 1-0 lead at the half on junior Brianne McDonnell's score, the Panthers fell in dramatic fashion, 5-4 in penalty kicks.
For their efforts this season, three Panthers were awarded NE-10 All-Conference honors. Seniors Caitlin Morrison and Brittany Hess, and McDonnell were all selected as second-team members.
The 2009 squad was also awarded the NSCAA Team Academic Award for posting a 3.38 team grade point average. The Panthers have been honored by the NSCAA every year since 1995. Morrison and McDonnell also found themselves on the NE-10 Fall Academic All-Conference Team.
Men's Soccer (13-2-4, 2-1-1 ASC, ASC Regular Season and Tournament Champions)
The men's soccer team had an outstanding 2009 campaign. The Panthers finished with a 13-2-4 record and a 2-1-1 mark in the ASC. A big part of Adelphi's success was their 7-0-2 record on Competition Field (back-to-back undefeated seasons at home).
The Panthers went on to win the ASC Regular Season and Tournament Championships. Adelphi defeated Longwood, 2-1, to claim the tournament title.
AU was well represented with ASC postseason honors. Head Coach Carlo Acquista won his second straight ASC Coach of the Year Award, while freshman Issa Tall was named ASC Player of the Year, as well as receiving first-team honors. Juniors Alexander Kouznetsov, Dan Larenius, and Thorne Holder were all named First-Team All-ASC, while junior Michael Aquino and senior Kevin Gluchowski were named Second-Tteam All-ASC. Aquino, Gluchowski, and Larenius were also named ASC All-Academic. The men's team posted a grade point average of 3.16, earning them the NSCAA Team Academic Award.
Tall would highlight the four Panthers who received NSCA North Atlantic All-Region honors with his first-team recognition. Gluchowski, Holder, and Kouznetsov were all named to the third-team. Aside from the ASC and All-Region honors, Tall would add four more postseason honors which were highlighted by being selected to the 2009 Soccer America Men's All-Freshman First-Team.
Men's Basketball (22-11, 12-10, NE-10, NE-10 Tournament Runners-Up)
The men's basketball team started the 2009-10 season red-hot, winners of 14 of their first 15 contests. The Panthers then cooled off but ended the season with an 8-4 record. Overall, Adelphi finished 22-11 and 12-10 in the league.
Entering the conference tournament as the ninth-seed, the Panthers made it to the conference finals winning every game in the tournament on the road only to fall short against UMass Lowell, 73-58. In the quarterfinals against top-seeded Stonehill, junior Richard Byrd hit two free throws with two seconds left to give Adelphi the 59-58 win.
In a 60-57 loss to Southern Connecticut State on December 2, Bryd became the 32nd Panther to reach the 1,000 career-point plateau. Byrd was named Second-Team All-NE-10 as well as being selected to the NE-10 All-Tournament Team. Senior Casey Cosgrove joined Byrd on the All-Met Division II Men's College Basketball First-Team, rounding out the postseason honors for the squad.
Former Assistant Coach Dominik Savino will replace former Head Coach James Cosgrove for the 2010-11 season.
Women's Basketball (4-23, 1-21 NE-10)
The women's basketball team finished out the season with a 4-23 overall record and a 1-21 mark in the Northeast-10. The Panthers put together back-to-back wins over Queens and Caldwell on December 10 and 12.
Junior Ashley Caiafa had a strong season for Adelphi, leading the Panthers in several categories. She led AU in points (339), points per game (13), field goals made (120), 3-point field goals made (46), free throws made (53), free throw percentage (.803), and steals (55). The junior was also named to the NE-10 Fall Academic All-Conference Team.
The Panthers will be led in 2010-11 by first-year Head Coach Heather Jacobs who comes to Adelphi after serving as the Head Coach at Daniel Webster College (N.H.).
Indoor Track and Field (M- Fifth at NE-10; W - Sixth; NCAA Participants)
The Panthers had three athletes qualify for the 2010 Division II National Championship meet as Mychael Fabio, Kevin Durant and Danielle Lyons all posted qualifying times. The men's 4x400 relay also posted the 17th fastest time in the country and the women's distance medley relay also hit an NCAA provisional mark. However, only Fabio and Durant were selected and each athlete earned All-American status as Fabio placed eighth in the 400 meter run and Durant sixth in the 60 meter dash. This marks the first time in over 20 years that Adelphi has had a track and field All-American.
At the Northeast-10 Indoor Championship meet the men placed fifth overall with 63 points, while the women captured sixth place with 48 points. The men were led by Mychael Fabio, who captured the conference crown in the 400 meter dash in a meet record time of 48.96, while teammate Kevin Durant claimed the individual title in the 55 meter dash in 6.42 seconds. The women also captured two first place finishes as Danielle Matteo won an individual title in the 5,000 meter run with a time of 18:25.68. The distance medley relay of Elise Maniguet, Kathleen Matusewicz, Emily Moore and Danielle Lyons, also came from behind to post a meet record, winning in a time of 12:47.77.
Bowling (85-53, T-3rd NEC Tournament)
The bowling team capped off the most successful season in the history of the program. The Panthers ended the season with an 85-53 record, which set the single-season record for wins and win percentage. The Panthers captured the Capital City Class in Dover, Delaware on March 1 with a 9-1 weekend.
Senior Danielle Molenko and freshman Catherine Rawsthorne represented the Panthers on the NEC All-Conference Teams. Molenko garnered second-team recognition, while Rawsthorne was named to the All-Rookie Team. All 12 members of the team were named to the Northeast Conference Winter Scholar Athlete Honor Roll, along with five on the Commissioner's Honor Roll (3.75 gpa). The five student-athletes on the Commissioner's Honor Roll were: Molenko, junior Gina Lella, sophomore Danielle Merino, sophomore Elizabeth Herbert, and freshman Samantha Morlack. The team was also awarded the NEC Presidents Academic Award.
The squad's 11th ranking in the final NTCA poll was the highest ranking in the program's history, as well as their 25th ranking in the final IBC final poll. The Panthers' 85 wins were also the most regular season wins in the NCAA among D-II institutions.
Head Coach Robert Cincotta was a finalist for the NTCA D-II Coach of the Year Award.
Swimming (METS - M-4th, W-12th, ECAC Participant)
The men's swim team captured the Division I/II section of the Metropolitan Championship for the first time in the program's history. Junior Zachary Terzano and sophomore Corey McKee each had two NCAA "B" cuts each. Terzano in the 200 IM and freestyle, and McKee in the 100 backstroke and 200 butterfly.
At the ECAC's, the men placed 13th as a team. Terzano placed seventh in the 200 IM and broke his own school record by almost two seconds in the process with a time of 1:53.38. Senior Brad Meaney placed 13th in the 400 IM, closing out his collegiate career in style with a personal best 4:18.85. Terzano, junior Tory Cozzi, sophomore Steven Gromling, and McKee, finished the 200 medley with a time of 1:37.74, breaking their previous school record. In the 400 medley relay, Terzano, McKee and Gromling combined with junior Thomas Eickelberg to place 13th. Cozzi and McKee were also named to the 2009-2010 Winter All-Academic Swimming & Diving Team.
At the Metropolitan Championships on the women's side, sophomore Charlotte Davies finished fourth in the 1650 freestyle, while setting the 1000 record en route to the 1650, which was the second fastest in school history. Davies also led the women to an eighth-place finish at the NE-10 Championships. She finished eighth in the 1650 freestyle.
Baseball (29-19, 15-11 NE-10, NE-10 Tournament)
The Panthers ended the 2010 season with a 29-19 overall record and a 15-11 record in the Northeast-10. Adelphi qualified for the NE-10 Conference Tournament, but suffered two one-run losses to the top two seeds, ending their season.
Adelphi got out to a great start, winning 11 of their first 14 games, including six out of seven on their spring break trip down to Florida. After winning three straight games from April 22-24, the Panthers ended the season on a seven-game skid, ending their hopes of landing a spot in the NCAA East Regional Tournament.
The Panthers placed five players on the NE-10 All-Conference Teams for their efforts this season. Juniors Keith Couch and Richard McCarren, along with senior Justin Ciamillo were named to the first-team, while junior Robert Nixon garnered second-team honors. Senior Anthony Anzalone rounded out the NE-10 honors with a spot on the third-team.
There were more postseason honors to follow for Couch, McCarren, and Ciamillo. Couch would go on to receive Daktronics All-Region Second-Team and NCBWA All-East Region Second-Team honors, while McCarren landed spots on the 2010 ABCA & Rawlings NCAA Division II EAST All-Region Second-Team and the All-ECAC First-Team. Ciamillo was named to the 2010 ABCA & Rawlings NCAA Division II EAST All-Region Second-Team as well as the NCBWA All-East Region Second-Team.
Softball (32-24, 18-12 NE-10, NE-10 Tournament)
In their first season in the Northeast-10, the Panthers posted an 18-12 record, while going 32-24 overall. Adelphi made it to the semifinals of the conference tournament after an impressive 2-1 win over #10 and first-seeded New Haven. The Panthers' season came to an end with a 4-3 loss in nine innings to American International.
Adelphi played their best ball at the end of the season. From April 25 to the end of the regular season, the Panthers won seven out of eight games, earning them the fourth seed in the NE-10 Tournament. They also posted two five-game winning streaks during the season (4/3-4/7, 4/25-5/1).
The Panthers would place three players on the NE-10 All-Conference Teams. Seniors Rochelle Noren and Katie Brophy were selected to the first-team and second-team, respectively, while junior Leighann Bell was named to the third-team.
Noren (first-team) and Brophy (second-team) were also both named to the 2010 Louisville Slugger/NFCA NCAA Division II All-Region Team as well. Noren added an academic honor as she was selected to the CoSida/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District Second-Team.
Women's Tennis (15-5, 11-2 NE-10, NCAA East Regional)
The women's tennis team posted an impressive 15-5 overall record as well as an 11-2 record during NE-10 matches. The Panthers were selected to the NCAA D-II Women's Tennis Championships for the first time as a team in the program's history.
Adelphi started the season on an 11-game winning streak before losing to Southern New Hampshire on March 28. After blanking Le Moyne, 5-0, in the NE-10 quarterfinals, Adelphi saw their hopes at a conference title come to an end with a 5-2 loss against Stonehill. In the NCAA Tournament, the Panthers were matched up against NE-10 Champs Southern New Hampshire. The Penmen bested the Panthers, 5-2, ending their season.
Five players represented Adelphi on the NE-10 All-Conference Teams. Junior Alda Ribeiro was named to the second-team at #2 singles, while freshman Michelle Gurda was named to the second-team at #3 singles. Ribeiro and freshman Maria Toft rounded out the second-team honors at #1 singles. Graduate student Amanda Aniboli was selected to the third-team at #5 singles, while junior Nicole Byrnes and Gurda received third-team honors at #2 doubles. Toft and Gurda rounded out the conference honors with All-Rookie honors.
Ribeiro and Toft were also ranked third in the East Region by ITA in doubles play, while Toft ranked ninth in singles and Ribeiro 14th in singles.
Men's Tennis (9-8, 7-4 NE-10, NCAA East Regional)
For the third consecutive season, the men's tennis team was back in the NCAA D-II Championships. The Panthers finished the season with a 9-8 record and a 7-4 mark in the Northeast-10.
Adelphi made it to the semifinals of the NE-10 after a 5-1 quarterfinal victory over fourth-seeded Le Moyne on the road. The Panthers then came up short at Bentley in the semifinals, 5-0. The Panthers then traveled to the campus of Queens College to take on top-seeded Concordia College in the NCAA Championships. The Clippers were too much for Adelphi, blanking the Panthers, 5-0.
Senior Bandar Kayali was named to the NE-10 All-Championship team. Kayali and #1 singles partner junior Anton Voynov were ranked 10th in the East Region in doubles play by ITA.
Outdoor Track and Field (M;W - Seventh at NE-10; NCAA Participant)
Adelphi had three athletes qualify for the 2010 Division II Outdoor National Championship meet as Mychael Fabio and Danielle Lyons duplicated the feat from indoors and Danielle Matteo posted her first ever NCAA mark in the 10,000 meter run. Fabio was selected to compete at his first outdoor national championship, after clocking a 47.09 400 meter time at the IC4A Championship meet, he would go on to place 15th overall in the 400 meter dash at the national meet.
At the Northeast-10 Outdoor Championship meet the Panthers captured three individual conference titles, as both teams placed seventh overall. Kevin Durant and Mychael Fabio both captured individual conference titles as Durant won the men's 100 meter dash in a time of 10.77, Fabio earned the title of 400 meter champion as he posted an NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 47.11. Danielle Matteo led the way for the women, defending her indoor title at 5,000 meters in a time of 18:45.65. She was followed closely by teammate Gina Cristaldi in second with a time of 18:48.44 as Adelphi swept first and second in the 5,000 meter run.
Golf (NCAA East/Atlantic Region Super Regional)
The golf team is coming off another successful season with 14 top-10 finishes. The Panthers won the Northeast-10 Championship in their first season in the conference. Adelphi also won the Assumption Shootout title back in September.
The Panthers finished second at the Goldey-Beacom Invitational and finished third at the Northeast Intercollegiate Championship. The team traveled down to Daniels, West Virginia to compete in the NCAA Division II East/Atlantic Region Super Regional, where they placed 18.
Matt Demeo was the high finisher for Adelphi at the Super Regional, shooting a three-day total of 232 (74-79-79) to secure a tie for 27th as he was 16 over par. Stuart Pulkinen was the second finisher for Adelphi, earning a tie for 57th with a total score of 240, 24 over par thanks to consistent scores of 81, 78 and 81.
Pulkinen also earned First-Team All-NE-10 honors, while Demeo was named to the second-team. Demeo also landed a spot on the Division II PING All-Region Team for the second consecutive season.
Men's Lacrosse (10-5, 7-3 NE-10, NE-10 Tournament)
The 2010 season for the Panther men turned out to be a very successful campaign. Adelphi finished 7-3 in the NE-10 and 10-5 overall, while making it to the conference semifinals.
After a 10-8 loss to St. Michael's on April 10 the Panthers stood at 3-4. The Brown and Gold would then close the regular season on a six-game winning streak, giving them the home field in a quarterfinal match-up with St. Anselm. Adelphi went on to defeat the Hawks, 11-8, sending them to the semifinals against Merrimack. The Panthers were bested by the eventual conference champs, 14-3.
Four Panthers were named to the NE-10's All-Conference Teams. Senior Kevin Kemp and sophomore Danny Blau were named to the first-team, while junior Daniel Gill was named to the second-team. Freshman Jeff Melsopp played his way on to the All-Rookie Team.
Kemp would receive two more postseason honors for his play in his final year with Adelphi. He would garner ECAC Division II Men's Lacrosse All-Star First-Team honors, while being named to the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association/LaxWorld North-South All-Star Game, which features to the top seniors from Division I and II.
Women's Lacrosse (19-1, 11-0 NE-10, NCAA National Champion)
In 2010, the Panthers did what no other DII women's lacrosse team has ever accomplished by winning a consecutive NCAA Championship. They also have the most titles, with four (2004, 2006, 2009, 2010).
Coming into the season as the Northeast-10 regular season favorite, Adelphi did not disappoint, capturing the regular season Northeast-10 title with a perfect 11-0 record. The Panthers carried a 32-game win streak, dating back to 2008, into their regular season finale against cross-town foe, C.W. Post. Unfortunately the Pioneers topped the Panthers, snapping the streak, but Adelphi got its revenge. After qualifying for the NCAA Final Four by defeating Stonehill College in the first round, Adelphi met Post again in the semi-finals in Gettysburg, Pa. The Panthers topped the Pioneers, 14-9, to advance to the title game against West Chester University.
This was the third meeting for both teams in the NCAA finals, with Adelphi victorious in the previous two encounters. This year was no exception, as the Panthers cruised to a 17-7 win over WCU for the title. Junior midfielder Elizabeth Fey was selected as Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. Joining her on the NCAA All-Tournament Team were senior goalkeeper Caitlin Fitzpatrick, senior defender Holly Burke, junior midfielder Kaitlyn Carter and sophomore attacker Erica Devito.
Adelphi dominated the conference post-season awards with sophomore Claire Petersen earning Player of the Year honors. Freshman Demmianne Cook was named Rookie of the Year, junior Kristin Jones was Defensive Player of the Year and senior Caitlin Fitzpatrick was named Goalkeeper of the Year. Head Coach Joe Spallina was voted Coach of the Year.
That was just the beginning, as those same players, along with junior Elizabeth Fey and sophomore Erica Devito were selected as IWLCA First-Team All-Region picks. Next up, the ECAC honored Petersen as Player of the Year and Cook as Rookie of the Year. They were joined on the first team by Devito, Fey and Jones. Sophomore Marissa Mills made the second-team, along with Fitzpatrick.
The IWLCA honored Petersen, Cook, Fey, Fitzpatrick and Jones with First-Team All-America selection, the most for Adelphi in any one year. Devito was selected to the second-team.
The Panthers swept the positional awards at the IWLCA banquet with Fitzpatrick repeating as the C. Markland Kelly Goalie of the Year. Cook earned national Midfielder of the Year honors, while Petersen and Jones won Attacker of the Year and Defender of the Year, respectively.
The Adelphi University women's lacrosse team finished the season as the NCAA Division II statistical champion for scoring offense, scoring margin, ground balls per game, caused turnovers and winning percentage. Attacker Claire Petersen took the title as the nation's leader in points per game and assists per game.
On the academic front, the Panthers proved that they could excel in the classroom as well. Graduate student defender Jackie Bogensberger was selected to the CoSida First-Team Academic All-District. Devito was named to the second-team. Bogensberger went on to the national ballot and was selected as a first-team Academic All-American, the first in the program's history.
