November 16, 2009

Saxons thump Utica, earn NCAA bid

Football (8-1, 4-1 Empire 8): The football team beat visiting Utica, 56-30, Saturday afternoon, earning the Saxons a share of the Empire 8 title and a bid to the NCAA Division III championship tournament.

Senior wide receiver/free safety Jared Manzer (Johnson City, NY/Johnson City) caught three touchdown passes and scored a fourth on an interception return, and sophomore quarterback Tom Secky (Bemus Point, NY/Maple Grove) threw for 369 yards and a school record-tying six touchdowns.

Alfred scored on its first three possessions. On the Saxons’ second play from scrimmage Secky connected with Manzer on a 74-yard scoring play to put Alfred up 7-0. The pair connected again on Alfred’s next possession, this time from seven yards, to cap 13-play 80-yard drive with 5:30 left in the first. The Saxons, who finished the day with 527 yards in offense, made it 21-0 with 2:09 left in the opening frame when sophomore linebacker Nick Clark (Canisteo, NY/Canisteo-Greenwood) bulled in from two yards out to end a five-play, 35-yard drive.

After Utica got on the board with 50 seconds left in the first, the Saxons took a 42-7 halftime lead by scoring three times in a six-minute span of the second. Secky capped a six-play, 56-yard drive with a five-yard TD pass to junior tight end D.J. Loughlin-Pope (Corning, NY/Corning East) with 7:14 left in the half. On Utica’s next possession, Manzer returned an interception 52 yards for a score with 6:46 left. AU took a 42-7 halftime lead, courtesy of an 84-yard bomb from Secky to Manzer with 1:22 left before intermission. Secky completed 16 of 26 passes for 369 yards and six touchdowns, tying the single-game record set by Paul Keeley in 2007. Manzer had a monster day, hauling in seven passes for 186 yards and three scores. He finished the day with 326 all-purpose yards and on defense had a tackle, two interceptions and a pass breakup.

Utica scored the first 10 points of the second half to make it 42-17. AU answered with a pair of touchdowns, the first coming on a 56-yard catch-and-run from Secky to senior tailback Vinson Hendrix (Rochester, NY/East). The Saxons made it 56-17 early in the fourth when Secky hit junior wideout Ryan Thon (Victor, NY/Victor) with an eight-yard TD pass to cap a 10-play, 81-yard drive.

Hendrix ran for 99 yards on 26 carries. Senior wide receiver Milton Harding (Binghamton, NY/Johnson City) caught five passes for 104 yards and Thon finished with three catches for 45 yards. Junior linebacker Chad Pieri (LeRoy, NY/Caledonia-Mumford) led the Saxon defense with five solo tackles, including a half-sack, while senior linebacker Marc Mangovski (Kirkville, NY/East Syracuse-Minoa) had five tackles, including two for loss and a sack. Sophomore cornerback Roland O’Brien (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls) and senior strong safety Nick Barton (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) each had six tackles, with O’Brien adding a pair of pass breakups.

Last Week: W, 56-30, vs. Utica (11/14)
This Week: vs. Albright in the first round of the NCAA championship (11/21, 12 p.m.)


Men’s swimming and diving team defeats SUNY Fredonia

Swimming and Diving (4-0, 2-0 Empire 8): The men’s swimming and diving team competed in a dual meet at SUNY Fredonia Friday evening. The AU men won, 120-87, to remain unbeaten in dual meets.

Junior Tyler Olsen (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga) won two races and swam on two winning relays. Olsen won the 200-yard free (1:51.67) and 500-yard free (5:01.92). Other individual winners for AU were: freshman Nate Chapman (Hornell, NY/Hornell) in the 1,000-yard free (10:31.52); senior Greg Pilgrim (Almond, NY/Alfred-Almond) in the 100-yard fly (54.67); sophomore Andrew Moragne (Cleveland, OH/University) in the 50-yard free (22.59 seconds); senior Andrew Brisson (Greenwich, CT/Greenwich) in the 100-yard free (49.74 seconds); and sophomore Warren Dolben (Rye, NH/Berwick Academy) in the 100-yard breast (1:03.17). AU swept the relays, with Brisson, Dolben, Moragne and Olsen taking the 200-yard medley relay (1:41.53), and Moragne, junior Zach Mix (Mt. Morris, NY/Mt. Morris), Olsen and Brisson winning the 200-yard free relay (1:31.22). Other top performers for the Alfred men were: senior Kameron Chambliss (Alfred Station, NY/Alfred-Almond), second in 1-meter and 3-meter diving; Chapman, second in the 500-yard free (5:03.18); junior Matt Lobban (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon), second in the 1,000-yard free (10:35.13); Pilgrim, second in the 200 free (1:52.88); Mix, second in the 50 free (23.82) and 100 fly (55.57); and sophomore Richard Guarniero (New York Mills, NY/Thomas R. Proctor), second in the 100-yard back (57.68 seconds).

This Week: W, 120-87, at SUNY Fredonia (11/13)
Next Week: Idle


Women’s swimming and diving falls to SUNY Fredonia and William Smith

Swimming and Diving (1-4, 0-2 Empire 8): The women’s swimming and diving teams lost two meets on the road this week, falling 131-62 at Fredonia and 139-98 at William Smith.

Junior Sarah Blair (Auburn, NY/Auburn) was the Alfred lone individual winner at Fredonia. She won the 50-yard freestyle (25.63 seconds) and placed second in the 100-yard free (57.16). Other top swimmers for AU were: freshman Shelby Remington (Gainesville, NY/Letchworth), third in the 1,000-yard freestyle (12:02.93) and 100-yard backstroke (1:12.20); junior Calista Merritt (Conesus, NY/Livonia), second in the 500-yard free (5:42.75) and third in the 200-yard freestyle (2:10.53); and sophomore Maggie Callesano (Gansevoort, NY/Saratoga), second in the 100-yard back (1:09.89).

AU took the top two spots in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Junior Cailin Asmo (Johnson City, NY/Johnson City) and freshmen Nicole Ramos (Freeville, NY/Dryden), Julie Dzikowski (Dansville, NY/Dansville) and Tracy Miller (Auburn, NY/Auburn) came in first (1:52.73), while Callesano, freshmen Eda Pellumbi (Windham, ME/Cheverus) and Kylie Smith (Abington, PA/Abington) and sophomore Julie Dalbey (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady) took second (2:10.69).

Smith swept the diving events to lead AU at William Smith, scoring 217.10 points to take the 1-meter event and 211.20 points to win on the 3-meter board. Blair earned Alfred’s other individual win, taking the 100-yard freestyle in 56.43 seconds. The team of senior Meghan Jones (Beaver Falls, NY/Beaver River), Remington and Ramos and Blair won the 400-yard free relay (4:01.27).

Other top performers for the Lady Saxons were: Merritt, second in the 1,000-yard freestyle (11:48.22) and 500-yard free (5:46.05); freshman Eryn Matich (Johnson City, NY/Johnson City), second in the 200-yard individual medley (2:26.04) and third in the 200-yard backstroke (2:30.07); Asmo, second in the 200-yard butterfly (2:34.22) and third in the 200-yard free (2:15.10); and freshman Katie Ganley (Syracuse, NY/Westhill), third in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:47.40).  The team of Miller, Ganley, Matich and freshman Julie Dzikowski (Dansville, NY/Dansville) placed second in the 400-yard medley relay (4:40.56).

This Week: L, 131-62, at SUNY Fredonia (11/13); L, 139-98, at William Smith (11/14)
Next Week: Idle


AU cross country teams end season at NCAA regionals

Cross Country: The men's and women's cross country teams wrapped up their seasons Saturday at the NCAA Atlantic Regional championship meet at Letchworth State Park.

The AU men finished 32nd of 38 teams competing on the eight-kilometer course, while the Alfred women took 21st of 33 teams competing on the six-kilometer course.

Senior Corey Smith (Albion, NY/Albion) was the top AU men's runner, finishing 136th in 28:07.70. Sophomore Ken Noll (Valatie, NY/Ichabod Crane) was 170th in 28:44.20 and senior Jesse Schuster (Tonawanda, NY/Tonawanda) was 175th in 28:51.60.

Junior Melissa Haahr (Owego, NY/Tioga) paced the AU women, placing 114th in 25:03.70. Senior Megan Crimmins (Big Flats, NY/Horseheads) was 142nd in 25:36.30 and senior Rachel Gaylord (Elmira, NY/Horseheads) was 137th in 25:40.70.

Last Week: Men, 32nd of 38, Women 21st of 33, at NCAA Atlantic Regional meet (11/14)
This Week: Season Over.


AU women’s basketball team tops Penn State-Dubois in season opener

Women’s Basketball (1-0, 0-0 Empire 8): The women’s basketball team won its 2009-10 season opener Sunday afternoon, beating visiting Penn State-Dubois, 81-42 at the McLane Center.

AU led 42-15 at the half and cruised to victory behind 11 points and seven rebounds from senior forward Hannah Meier (Rochester, NY/Greece Odyssey) and 10 points and six boards from senior forward Danielle Cooper (Reading, PA/Reading).

Senior forward Libby Meier (Rochester, NY/Greece Odyssey) added nine points and junior point guard Lyndsay Murphy (Almond, NY/Hornell) added six points and a game-high five assists. Senior guard Lisa Button (Troupsburg, NY/Jasper-Troupsburg) and sophomore guards Christina Jordan (Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, NY/Cornwall) and Kacey Kwiecien (Perry, NY/Perry) each netted eight points for the Lady Saxons.

This Week: W, 81-42, vs. Penn State-Dubois (11/15)
Next Week: vs. Keuka (11/17, 6 p.m.); vs. Hartwick at Buffalo State Tournament (11/20, 1 p.m.); TBD (championship or consolation) at Buffalo State Tournament (11/21, TBA)


Saxons drop season opener to Penn State-Dubois

Basketball (0-1, 0-0 Empire 8): The men’s basketball team lost its 2009-10 season opener Sunday afternoon, falling to visiting Penn State-Dubois, 69-66 at the McLane Center.

AU led 37-29 at the half, but Penn State-Dubois outscored the Saxons 40-29 in the second half. Junior guard Mike Stopera (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) scored a team-high 24 points, for AU. Junior guard Gary Kwiecien (Perry, NY/Perry) added 10 points and three assists and senior forward Jared Patt (Nelson, PA/Elkland Area) had a game-high four steals and a team-high six rebounds.

This Week: L, 69-66, vs. Penn State-Dubois (11/15)
Next Week: vs. Keuka (11/17, 8 p.m.); vs. Penn State-York, First Round, Dickinson College Tournament, (11/20, 6 p.m.); TBD (championship or consolation) at Dickinson Tournament (11/21, TBA)


Olsen, Meier Saxons’ Athletes of the Week

Tyler Olsen: The junior from Saratoga Springs, NY, won two individual races and swam on two winning relays in the men’s swimming and diving team’s win at Fredonia. Olsen won the 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle and swam on the winning 200-yard medley and 200-yard free relays.

Hannah Meier: The senior forward from Rochester, NY, netted a team-high 11 points to go with seven rebounds and three steals as the women’s basketball team opened the season with an 81-42 victory over visiting Penn State-Dubois.