Clark University - Clark News winter 2006
Sports Briefs (winter 2006)
Men's and women's soccer reach ECAC championships
The men's and women's soccer teams reached the ECAC Championship games, concluding outstanding seasons for both programs. The men's team compiled an impressive 15-4-2 overall record—the second best record in the program's 85-year history—and reached the ECAC Championship for the first time since 1984. The Cougars reached the finals with convincing wins over Wentworth (4-1) and Norwich (4-1). Clark has recorded three consecutive winning seasons for the first time since the 1985-1987 seasons and finished the year ranked 10th in the NSCAA New England poll. Clark was ranked in the top 10 for seven consecutive weeks.
The women's team finished the season 12-8-1 and reached the ECAC finals for the first time in the program's history. The Cougars lost to Keene State 2-1 in an exciting final game of the season. Trailing 2-0 at halftime, Jess Blatt '06 scored with 18 minutes remaining but Keene State's goalkeeper made sure it was the last of the game. Clark defeated Wentworth 1-0 in the quarterfinals and avenged a 3-0 loss to Brandeis University early in the season with a 3-2 win in the ECAC semifinals to reach the championship game. The 12 wins are the most since 1999, and Clark's third-place finish in the conference is the best since 1999. The Cougars reached the NEWMAC semifinals for the second straight year and fell 2-0 to second seed and eventual NEWMAC Champion Springfield College.
Post-Season Athletics Honors
Men's soccer
Forward David Blum '08 had a record-breaking year and was named to the NEWMAC All-Conference First Team, and the NSCAA All-America Second Team and All-New England West First Team. Blum earned new school records for goals in a season (23) and points in a season (50) and led the conference in goals and points. He finished sixth in the nation in points per game (2.38) and third in goals per game (1.11). Goalkeeper Matt Talbot '07 was also named to the NEWMAC All-Conference First Team. Talbot recorded an impressive .78 goals against average and recorded eight shutouts including four straight. He was ranked fourth in the conference in goals against average and fourth in save percentage (.844). Midfielder Lino Goncalves '08 was named to the all-conference second team. Goncavles had four goals and a conference-leading seven assists. He also ranked seventh in the league in points (15), and had three game-winning goals.
Former Yale University captain and professional player David Kulik was named the NEWMAC Coach of the Year. He led the Cougars to a 15-4-2 record—the second most wins in the 85-year history of the program—and to the ECAC championship game. In his sixth season at Clark, he helped guide the squad to its third consecutive winning record since 1985-1987.
Women's soccer
Midfielder Lindsay Sylvester '07 was named to the NEWMAC All-Conference First Team, and the NSCAA and NEWISA All-New England Third teams. Sylvester was second on the team with three goals and led the team with five assists. She ranked ninth in the league in assists. Forward Liz Adamcik '08 was named to the all-conference second team for the second consecutive year. Adamcik led the team with 11 goals including a team-high three game-winning goals. She was fourth in the league in goals and sixth in points.
Field hockey
Goalkeeper Kaitlin Kelley '07 was named to the NEWMAC All-Conference First Team and the 2005 Dartfish/NFHCA Division III All-Region New England East Second Team. Kelley compiled 2.43 goals against average and recorded 243 saves and three shutouts. She led the conference in save percentage (.856). The Cougars, the seventh seed in the NEWMAC tournament, fell to second seed and eventual NEWMAC Champion Springfield College 1-0 in the NEWMAC quarterfinals. Clark finished the season 3-14 overall.
Volleyball
Captain Kara Scimeca '06 played in the New England Women's Volleyball Association Senior All-Star Game at the end of the season. She was recognized as one of the top 35 seniors in New England and is only the fourth Clark volleyball player in the last 10 years to receive this honor.
Men's and women's cross country
The men's cross country team finished 25th out 43 teams at the NCAA Division III Regional Championship. Mitchell Paulin '07 led the Cougars, placing 144th out of 303 in 28:44. Dan Roberts '07 paced Clark's top -five runners to fifth place at the NEWMAC Championship, which was the team's best finish in the conference championship. Thomas McCarthy '08 won the Worcester City Meet on Clark's home course and also finished as the top runner at the Roger Williams Invitational, which Clark won for the second straight year. The women's cross country team placed 14th out 29 teams at the ECAC Championship. Emily Tremaine '07, Clark's top runner, placed 69th out of 227. The women's team also had a top-three finish at three meets.
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