June 13, 2011
Garden City, N.Y. -
Adelphi, in just it's second year in the Northeast-10 captured fourth in the President's Cup standings with 154.5 points thanks in part to five conference championships. Golf defended their 2010 title, while baseball, men's basketball and men's lacrosse all won NE-10 tournament championships. Women's lacrosse was the only Adelphi program to earn a regular season and tournament crown, doing so for the second straight year.
In total the Panthers placed 18 teams among the top-10 during regular season play, while eight of those 18 teams landed among the top-five. In addition to Adelphi's conference champion's volleyball, baseball and men's lacrosse finished second in the regular season, while women's tennis was third in the NE-10.
Volleyball (20-12, 12-4 NE-10, NCAA East Regional Semifinals)
The Panthers returned to the NCAA East Regional for the fourth consecutive season in 2010. After entering the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament as the third seed and falling in the semifinals to second-seeded Pace University, Adelphi was looking at cross-town rival C.W. Post in the first round of the Regionals.
With a 3-2 victory over the Pioneers, the Panthers advanced to the Regional Semifinals for the first time in the program's history but fell to top-seeded Dowling, 3-0.
Seniors Hilary Pavels (First-Team All-Conference) and Heather Mau (Second-Team All-Conference) finished their careers with NE-10 Postseason Honors for the second straight season. Freshman Katie Bryson landed a spot on the All-Rookie squad. Pavels and Mau also garnered recognition from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) as All-Region selections. This was the second All-Region honor for Pavels and third from Mau.
Pavels continued her success in the classroom as well as she was named to the 2010 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Women's Volleyball Third-Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSida). The North Woodmere, N.Y. native was also named to the NE-10 Fall Academic Team and was also nominated as a 2010-2011 NE-10 Institutional Scholar-Athlete Honoree.
Field Hockey (13-9, 6-4 NE-10, NE-10 Tournament Semifinals)
After finding success in their first year in the Northeast-10 Conference, the Panthers came back in 2010 with another strong campaign. Adelphi posted a 6-4 mark in the league and entered the conference tournament as the fifth seed.
The Panthers would travel to fourth-seeded Southern Connecticut State University in the quarterfinals of the tournament. Adelphi picked up a 2-1 victory, their first NE-10 Tournament win in program history, only to fall to the eventual National Champs UMass Lowell, 4-2, in the semifinals, becoming the only team in the country to score two goals on the Riverhawks in the process.
Junior Julianne Gerbino was named to the All-NE-10 First-Team for the second consecutive season, while classmate Jeanette Heimerle joined her on the First-Team. Freshman Jamie Ackerman represented the Panthers on the All-Rookie team. Gerbino received 2010 Longstreth / NFHCA Division II Second-Team All-American honors, and also, for the second straight season, Heimerle found herself on the All-American First-Team.
Heimerle also finished her junior season as the nation's leader in assists per game (0.77). Senior teammate Lindsay Williams was selected to play on the North Squad in the 2010 NFHCA Division II North/South Senior Game on December 3 at the University of Louisville.
Off the field, junior Crystal Gray found herself on the NE-10 Fall Academic All-Conference team for the second season in a row. For the third straight season the team as a whole received national recognition by posting a grade point average higher than 3.0, and 12 members of the team were named to the National Academic Squad.
Cross Country (NE-10 Championship; M-7th, W-12th / NCAA East Regional; M-6th, W-10th)
Both the men's and women's cross country teams kicked off the 2010 campaign in impressive fashion at the Hofstra, Brick Stone Run, taking home the meet titles for the third consecutive year. The men continued to run strong throughout the year, never finishing lower than ninth place while the women relied on young talent to carry them through the season.
At the Northeast-10 Championships, sophomore Andrew Coelho led the men to a seventh place showing on the strength of a fifth place individual finish. They then went on to improve one spot at the NCAA East Regional, finishing in sixth with Coelho leading the way yet again with a fourth place showing, earning a trip to the NCAA Championships. He, along with senior Adam Clark, were named to the All-Region Teams for their performances.
At the NCAA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, Coelho battled unfavorable weather conditions and finished in 88th among the country's top runners.
On the women's side, they finished 12th at the conference championship and then jumped two spots at the NCAA East Regional to finish 10th. In each meet, they were paced behind a quartet of runners featuring newcomers Elizabeth Eickelberg and Emily Campbell and veterans Catherine Connors and Danielle Lyons.
Both squads received post season honors in the form of USTFCCCA Team All-Academic status while Lyons, Campbell, Clark, Jeffrey Perez and Ryan Pezzulo earned Individual All-Academic honors.
Women's Soccer (8-8-1, 8-7 NE-10 Tournament)
The women's soccer team finished the regular season with an 8-7 mark in conference play and made the conference tournament for the second straight season. In the quarterfinals of the NE-10 Tournament, the sixth-seeded Panthers fell to the third-seeded Penmen of Southern New Hampshire University, 3-1.
Seniors Brianne McDonnell (second straight year on NE-10 All-Conference team), Kim Volinski, and Kristin Dexter were all named to the All-NE-10 Second-Team, while classmate Emily Dunne was named to the Third-Team. Rounding out the NE-10 Postseason honors was freshman Aimee Goldstein who made the All-Rookie team.
Aside from being All-NE-10, McDonnell was also named to the 2010 NSCAA/Performance Subaru NCAA Division II Women's All-East Region Second-Team. In the classroom, McDonnell landed a spot on the NE-10 Fall Academic All-Conference team for the second consecutive season.
Continuing their academic success, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) recognized the women for their team academic excellence for the ninth straight year and the 13th time in 14 years.
Men's Soccer (11-6-2, 2-0-2 ASC, ASC Tournament Champions)
The Panthers turned in another successful 2010 season this fall. Adelphi finished undefeated in conference play with a 2-0-2 record and continued their dominance on Motamed Field with a 4-2-1 mark this season.
Adephi entered the conference tournament as the second seed and faced off against first-seeded Houston Baptist University in the final and defeated HBU 2-1 to defend their ASC Tournament crown. Senior Alexander Kouznetsov was named Offensive MVP and the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, while classmate Thorne Holder and junior Mauricio Mora were named Defensive Co-MVP's.
The Panthers placed seven on the All-Conference teams. Kouznetsov, Mora, Holder, junior Dan Larenius, and sophomore Issa Tall were all named All-ASC First-Team, while senior Michael Aquino and sophomore Brandon Stoneham were named to the Second-Team. Tall, Holder, and Mora also received First Team North Atlantic All-Region honors, while Kouznetsov was named to the Third-Team. Kouznetsov was also picked as a Soccer News Net Player of The Year Finalist. The National Soccer Coaches Association of American (NSCAA) recognized the men for their team academic excellence for the ninth straight year and the 13th time in 14 years.
Holder inked a professional contract with the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer back in March after a month long try-out with the club, traveling to Orlando in January for the Union's preseason camp.
Men's Basketball (20-10, 12-10 NE-10, NE-10 Tournament Champions, NCAA East Regional)
The men's basketball team posted another 20-win season and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2006-07 season after capturing the program's first Northeast-10 Conference Tournament title. Adelphi would fall in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Stonehill College, 73-64.
The Panthers entered the NE-10 Tournament as the seventh seed and after defeating 10th-seeded Southern Connecticut State University at home, went on to win three straight road games including the title game against first-seeded Bentley on their home floor. Senior Richard Byrd was named Tournament MVP, while classmate David Akinyooye was named to the All-Tournament team.
Byrd was named to the All-NE-10 Second-Team for the second straight season, while Akinyooye received his first NE-10 honor with Third-Team status. Byrd and Akinyooye were recognized by the ECAC as Division II All-Stars and earned First-Team Division II All-MET Honors. Byrd was also awarded NABC Second-Team All-Region status.
Byrd ends his career as the program's all-time leading scorer. On February 23 against New Haven, the Central Islip, N.Y. native broke Malcolm Dowdy's previous record of 1,897 points with a three-pointer 89 seconds into the game. He finished his career with 2,013 points.
Women's Basketball (8-18, 5-17 NE-10)
Adelphi improved greatly in the 2010-11 season as they jumped from just one conference win a year ago to five. Adelphi also posted a 5-7 record on their home floor with four of the five wins coming against NE-10 opponents.
Senior Ashley Caiafa turned in another strong season for Adelphi leading the Panthers in scoring (14.5 ppg), free throws made (63), three-pointers made (40), and field goals made (108). Two freshmen also turned in solid seasons as well. Jessica Kitrys led the Panthers with 6.1 rebounds per game and finished second on the team with 11.8 points per game, while Sade Jackson led Adelphi with 80 assists and 56 steals.
Adelphi also had two players receive postseason honors for their efforts this season. Kitrys was named to the NE-10 All-Rookie team, while Caiafa was named to the All-MET Division II Women's Second-Team.
Caiafa continued her success off the court as well, being named to the NE-10 Winter Academic All-Conference team for the second straight season. She also found herself on the 2010-11 Capital One Academic All-District Third-Team.
Bowling (81-58, NEC Runners-Up, 3rd place at USBC Intercollegiate Championships)
The bowling team put together another strong season in 2010-11. They finished the year with 81 wins and placed second in the Northeast Conference Tournament, the highest finish in the program's history. Senior Cristina Reale and junior Danielle Merino were named to the All-Championship team.
The Panthers concluded their season by participating in the USBC Intercollegiate Championships. Adelphi placed third overall, also a program best, while Merino represented the Panthers on the All-Tournament team.
Continuing their academic success, the bowling team placed eight members on the NEC Winter Academic All-Conference team: Kim Berit, Elizabeth Herbert, Gina Lella, Danielle Locurto, Merino, Samantha Morlack, Reale, and Nicole Scher. Also, Merino was a Third-Team Academic All-American, while Berit, senior Kristin Hayes, Herbert, Lella, Locurto, sophomore Samantha Morlack, and Reale all received Academic All-American honors.
Locurto closed her Adelphi career by competing in the USBC Intercollegiate Singles Championship which featured a field of 24 men and 16 women from around the country who are competing to be crowned individual college bowling champions. Locurto advanced to the third round and averaged a 192.42 in the qualifying rounds.
Swimming (NE-10 - M-6th, W-8th, ECAC - M-10th, W-10th)
The women's swim team placed 10th at the ECAC Open Championships, eighth at the NE-10 Conference Championships and rounded out the season with a 12th place showing at the Metropolitan Conference Championships. The men finished 10th at ECAC's, sixth at NE-10's and 11th at MET's while breaking two school records; the 400 yard medley relay and the 200 yard freestyle relay (Thomas Eickelberg, Steven Gromling, Tory Cozzi,and Corey McKee).
On January 11, against the United States Merchant Marine Academy, freshman Gabrielle Terzano broke the school record in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:24.55. Academically, McKee was selected to the NE-10 Winter Academic All-Conference team for the second straight season.
Baseball (36-14-2, 19-6-1 NE-10, NE-10 Tournament Champions, NCAA East Regionals)
The Panthers are coming off an outstanding 2011 season where they posted a program best 36 wins. Adelphi also captured the NE-10 Tournament Crown and was one win shy of winning the East Regional Tournament and heading to the College World Series.
Adelphi entered the conference tournament as the second seed and took down first-seeded Southern Connecticut State University and third-seeded Franklin Pierce University en route to the program's first NE-10 Tournament Championship. Graduate student Omar Velazquez was named Tournament MVP, while senior Mike Scudero and sophomore Anthony Zarrella were named to the All-Tournament team.
Entering the NCAA East Regionals as the number one seed, the Panthers were playing their best baseball of the season. They posted a 9-3 record against the other five teams in the Regional Tournament and won 15 out of 20 games prior to the tournament. Senior Robert Nixon and junior Lucas Romeo were selected to the All-Tournament team.
The Panthers also had six players named to the All-Conference teams for the NE-10 as well as Head Coach Dom Scala claimed Coach of the Year honors. Velazquez and Nixon (Second-Team in 2010) were named to the All-NE-10 First-Team, while senior Richard McCarren (First-Team in 2010) and Scudero were selected as Second-Team members. Senior Jonathan Gonzalez and freshman Stephen Bove received Third-Team and All-Rookie honors, respectively.
Coach Scala collected his 200th win of his career at Adelphi on March 26, while Nixon became the school's all-time strikeout leader with 256. Nixon also holds single season records with 113.1 innings pitched 104 strikeouts, and 10 complete games, with Velazquez holding the single season stolen base record with 42.
Softball (29-25, 19-11 NE-10, NE-10 Tournament)
The Panthers closed the regular season on a hot streak, winning nine of their last 12 games including seven in a row. They also posted a 19-11 mark against their NE-10 opponents and entered the conference tournament as the sixth seed.
In the double elimination tournament, Adelphi started off with a 1-0 win over Le Moyne. After a 4-1 loss to Merrimack, the Panthers bounced back with a 4-0 upset over first-seeded Assumption before falling to Southern Connecticut, 4-2, and ending their season.
The Panthers placed five players on the NE-10 All-Conference Teams. Senior Shay Craig earned a spot on the All-NE-10 Second-Team, while classmate Leighann Bell, sophomores Emily Dorko and Jeanine Leo, and freshman Katie Andrews were all named to the All-NE-10 Third-Team.
Women's Tennis (18-5, 9-2 NE-10, NE-10 Tournament, NCAA East Regionals)
The women's tennis team had another strong showing this season. The Panthers posted 18 wins overall with a 9-2 mark in NE-10 action. Adelphi ended the regular season with four straight conference match wins and entered the NE-10 Tournament as the third seed.
After handling Merrimack College, 5-1, in the quarterfinals, Adelphi fell to second-seeded Stonehill College in heartbreak fashion, 5-4. After the Panthers semifinal loss, they found themselves in the NCAA East Regional Tournament for the second straight season.
The Panthers were paired up with Southern New Hampshire University in the first round of the Regionals for the second straight season. The Penmen handled Adelphi, 5-0, ending their season.
Five members of the team were also recognized by the NE-10. Sophomore Maria Toft was a Second-Team member at top-flight singles and a Third-Team member at top-flight doubles, senior Alda Ribeiro joined Toft on Third-Team doubles and was a Second-Team selection at #2 singles, freshman Gaby Adia was named to the All-Rookie team, and junior Carolyn Smith and senior Megan Margino were named to the All-NE-10 Third-Team at #3 doubles.
Men's Tennis (10-10, 8-2 NE-10)
The Panthers hit a rough spot midway through their season but bounced back extremely strong, closing out the regular season on a seven-match winning streak. Adelphi also posted an 8-2 record in league matches.
Adelphi's seven-match win streak earned them the fourth seed in the NE-10 Tournament and a home match in the quarterfinal round. The Panthers were bested by fifth-seeded Stonehill College, 5-2.
Graduate student Sebastian Nieves was named to the All-NE-10 Third-Team at top-flight singles, while senior Anton Voynov received Second-Team honors at #2 singles.
Golf (NE-10 Champions, NCAA Super Regional)
The Panthers took the Northeast-10 Title this season for their second championship in as many seasons. Stuart Pulkinen earned First Team All-conference honors while Matt Demeo, Christopher Lyons and Jonathan Singer earned Second Team honors. Additionally, first-year Head Coach Jantzen Varags was awarded NE-10 Coach of the Year.
They also placed first at the Charger Challenge Invitational and third at the Long Island Intercollegiate Championships. The team also participated in the NCAA Super Regional where they finished in 18th place and had a hole in one by sophomore Jonathan Singer.
Men's Lacrosse (16-3, 9-1 NE-10, NE-10 Champions, National Runners-Up)
The men's lacrosse team had a record breaking and memorable 2011 season. Adelphi's 16 wins were the most in the program's history and their Northeast-10 Conference Championship came in only the second year the Panthers were in the conference.
After receiving a first-round bye in the NE-10 Tournament, Adelphi won both home playoff games over Saint Michael's College and Merrimack College (Championship) to earn a spot in the NCAA Division II Men's Lacrosse Championship for the first time in 10 years. Junior goalkeeper Eric Janssen was named Tournament MVP for his 20-save performance in the title game. Graduate student Tommy Susko and senior Daniel Gill joined Janssen on the All-Tournament team.
Adelphi would draw Limestone College in their semifinal match-up in Gaffney, South Carolina. Down 5-3 at the half, the Panthers scored 11 second half goals to punch their ticket to Baltimore for the National Championship.
The Panthers would face Mercyhurst College in the title game, which was coming off a 14-4 victory over two-time defending champs C.W. Post. The game was back-and-forth throughout but the Lakers of Mercyhurst held on in the final seconds for the one-goal victory, 9-8.
Aside from being named to the All-NE-10 First-Team, Janssen was named the Conference Goalkeeper of the Year. Joining him on the All-NE-10 First-Team was Gill, and juniors Joe Vitale and Danny Blau. Receiving Second-Team honors were Susko and junior Shane Wynn, while freshman Ken Fundus landed a spot on the All-Rookie team.
For the first time since 2008, the men's lacrosse had garnered All-American selections. Vitale was named to the First-Team, while Janssen, Gill, and Blau were named Second-Team selection. Wynn was the final Panther to receive recognition as he was named Honorable Mention.
Women's Lacrosse (20-0, 12-0 NE-10, NE-10 Regular Season and Tournament Champions, National Champions)
The women's lacrosse team turned in another dominating campaign in 2011. The Panthers' 20-0 season was their second undefeated season in three years. Adelphi is also the first team in Women's Division II Lacrosse history to win three consecutive National Championships. This year's National Championship is also Adelphi's fifth title in the last seven years.
The Panthers were flawless once again during league play, posting a 12-0 record. Adelphi scored 20 goals or more against their NE-10 opponents in 11 of their 12 wins. Headed into the NE-10 Tournament as the top seed, Adelphi handled Merrimack, 24-10, for a trip to the finals against Le Moyne. After defeating the Dolphins 11-9 earlier in the season in a snow storm, the Panthers upended Le Moyne in the NE-10 Finals, 17-11. Junior Erica Devito claimed the Tournament MVP honors with junior Claire Petersen and senior Elizabeth Fey joining her on the All-Tournament team.
Entering the NCAA Tournament as the overall top seed, Adelphi would be matched-up with Le Moyne for the third time. With the Panthers home on Motamed Field, Adelphi defeated Le Moyne once again, this time 18-13, and returned to the title game for the third straight season. Adelphi took on Limestone College for the National Title and proved to be way too much for the Saints to handle, defeating them 17-4. The 13-goal victory was also the largest margin of victory in a National Championship game in Division II Women's Lacrosse history. Petersen was named Tournament MVP, while Fey, sophomore Demmianne Cook, freshman Frankie Caridi, and junior Marissa Mills were all named to the All-Tournament team.
The Panthers were well represented on the NE-10 All-Conference teams this year. Petersen won her second straight Player of the Year Award, sophomore Katelynn Ciaci was named Defensive Player of the Year, freshman Frankie Caridi was awarded Goalkeeper of the Year, and Head Coach Joe Spallina was named Coach of the Year. Devito and Fey received First-Team honors, Mills and senior Kristin Jones garnered Second-Team honors and freshmen Devan Crimi and Jacqueline Williams found themselves on the All-Rookie squad.
Caridi, Ciaci, Cook, Petersen, Fey, and Devito were named IWLCA First-Team All-Americans as well as Synapse Sports All-Americans. Crimi and Williams joined these six as an Synapse Sports All-American as well. Fey was selected to participate in the IWLCA North/South senior all-star game on June 11 at the Champion's Cup at the United Sports Training Center in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Petersen, Caridi, and Cook were named Attack, Goalkeeper, and Midfielder of the Year by the IWLCA, respectively. Jones also received the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. Petersen, for the second straight year was one of 11 women selected as a nominee for the 2010-2011 Collegiate Women Sports Awards Division II Athlete of the Year. Also, Petersen's 182 points and 125 assists are both NCAA and Adelphi single season records.
Indoor Track and Field (Northeast-10 Championships; M-7th, W-7th)
During the men's and women's indoor season, they competed in meets that featured schools from across all three collegiate divisions including some top Division I schools at the BU Terrier and Valentine meets, and the Armory Collegiate and New Balance meets.
Junior Mychael Fabio and sophomore Andrew Coelho set the tone from the start with Fabio taking first place at the season opener at the Metro Coaches Invitational in the 500m dash in a blazing 1:02.52, automatically qualifying him for the IC4A Championships, while Coelho broke the 3k school record with a time of 8:38.31.
Senior Adam Clark went on to break his teammate's newly set 3k record and went on to lowered it again, clocking in with a time of 8:30.33. Coelho had a breakout year, specifically in the 5k where he set a personal best, new school record, and an NCAA Provisional time of 14:34. Fabio continued to prove why he is one of the best 400m runners in the nation by stopping the clock at 48.49 to make the NCAA Provisional List cut.
At the NE-10 Championships, the men finished in seventh place behind a first place finish from Fabio in the 500 and a first place showing by the Distance Medley Relay team that set a new NE-10 Championship record. Overall, they finished in seventh place with 30 points.
For the women, it was the freshman class that performed exceptional throughout the season, holding the team's top times in eight events. Cassandra Jean accounted for the Panther's fastest times in the 60m, 200m and 400m dashes while Emily Campbell owned the top 500m and 800m times and Elizabeth Eickelberg claimed top marks in the mile, 3k and 5k.
The trio led the way at the NE-10 Championships with Eickelberg placing third in the 5k with an 18:41 personal best while Campbell placed fourth in the 800 with a PR of 2:17.80 and Jean rounding out the contingent with a mark of 59.71 over 400m to earn fourth.
Additionally, Monica Martinez, Rosie Vassilatos, Danielle Lyons and Jessica Mulhern joined the freshman to place fourth in both the 4x400m and Distance Medley Relay teams. As a team they collected 20 points to finish in ninth.
Post season honors came in the form of All-Region honors for Clark, Coelho and Campbell.
Outdoor Track and Field (Northeast-10 Championships; M-7th, W-9th)
During outdoor, Coelho wasted no time and set a personal best, school record, and provisional mark of 30:26 in the 10k at the Sam Howell meet. Fabio posted yet another provisional time in the 400 with a mark of 47.58 and then lowered it by one thousandth of a second at the ICA4A Championships where he would go on to place seventh.
At the Outdoor NE-10 Championships, Fabio accounted for three of the four top-five finishes while the 4x4 and 4x8 relays consisting of a combination of Kwesi Peters, David Campmier, Ted Bellear, Fabio, DeSalvo, Green and Coelho, each placed fourth. Overall, they tallied 53 points to put them in seventh place.
On the women's end, like the indoor season, the freshman trio combined for most of the Panther's top marks. Highlights included Jean, Vassilatos, Campbell and Martinez teaming up in the 4x400 to set a new school record with a time of 4:01.21 at the PENN Relays. Martinez broke her own school record in the 200, turning in a time of 26.50 at the conference championships while Jean broke the 100m dash record, breaking the tape at 12.96 seconds.
At the Outdoor NE-10 Championships, Campbell notched the highest finish with a fourth place showing in the 800, clocking in with a season best of 2:18.43. Vassilatos was fifth in the 400H while Eickelberg, Jean and Martinez all finished in the top-10 in their respective events. Additionally, they joined with Lyons, Papandrew and Mulhern to notch a pair of sixth place finishes in the 4x4 and 4x8. The women wound up in ninth place
