CLARK MEN’S SOCCER RETURNS TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
The wait is finally over. After 21 years on the sidelines, the Clark University men’s soccer team is back in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
“I’m thrilled for the program,” said ninth-year coach David Kulik. “Obviously the hope is that we are not content with just making the tournament, but making a mark in the tournament.”
Making their first appearance in the “big dance” since 1987, the Cougars earned an at-large bid after falling in the quarterfinals of the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament.
Clark (11-4-2) will face Norwich University (17-2-1) in a first-round game that will be played on Saturday afternoon (1:30 p.m.) at host Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vt. Norwich clinched a spot in the tournament by capturing the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championship.
Clark and Norwich last met during the 2006 regular season, where the Cougars defeated the Cadets, 1-0, in overtime.
“Norwich was a relatively young team last time we played them,” Kulik said. “But, they have a lot of those players back that are now matured and ready to make a mark themselves.”
“I expect a competitive game that will most likely be determined on a couple of key plays along the way,” added Kulik, the 2008 NEWMAC Coach of the Year. “Hopefully we make more of those key plays.”
Clark is not the only NEWMAC team in the NCAA Tournament. Rival Babson College was awarded the conference’s automatic bid, while MIT received an at-large offer. Both teams will also be in action on Saturday.
“It’s great for the NEWMAC,” said Kulik. “The good part about playing in a competitive conference like ours is that it prepares and hardens you for the types of games that we are going to play this weekend. Hopefully, all of us can do a good job in the tournament.”
The defending Division III champs, Middlebury (13-2-2) will go up against Framingham State (16-3-1) in the earlier match-up on Saturday (11 a.m.). The two first-round winners will play on Sunday (1 p.m.).
Ticket prices are $6 for adults and $3 for students.
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CLARK ATHLETES EARN NEWMAC ALL-ACADEMIC HONORS
A total of seventeen Clark University spring athletes were named to the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Academic All-Conference team.
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 2008 spring semester, achieved second year academic status at his/her institution, and been member of the varsity team for the entire season.
The Cougar women’s cross country team took the lead for Clark with five placers. Senior Kaitlyn Sephton (Waterboro, ME), junior Emma Siemasko (Beverly, MA), and two sophomores Brooke Badon (Middlefield, CT) and Heather Goodale (Middletown, CT) earned the honor.
For the women’s soccer squad, senior Julia Rizzo (Westboro, MA), juniors Lauren King (Piscataway, NJ) and Kerri Moy (Newton, MA) and sophomore Kristine Murrone (Middletown, CT) were placed on the All-Academic team.
As for Clark’s men’s cross country, two seniors, Caleb Evanter (Marblehead, MA) and Lee Stone (Centerport, NY) won the honor.
Almost the same results for the Cougar men’s soccer team, as two juniors Soeren Hilck (Hamburg, Germany) and Andrew Ninnemann (Menlo Park, CA) received academic recognition.
Clark’s women’s tennis team were represented on the All-Academic squad by senior Rebecca Good (Durham, CT) and junior Emily Schweitzer (Northampton, MA).
Finally, for the women’s volleyball team and field hockey team, there were two single recipients. Sophomore Emily Visone (West Hempstead, NY) of the women’s volleyball team and another sophomore Lauren DeMetro (Summit, NJ) of the field hockey squad gained the awards.
By: Bry’onna Mention, Sports Information Staff
MEN'S SOCCER PLACES THREE ON ALL-NEWMAC; KULIK EARNS COACH OF THE YEAR
Clark University placed three players on the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men's soccer All-Conference teams, it was announced on Tuesday. Senior Peter Wise was the top vote getter for the All-Conference goalkeeper award earning him NEWMAC first-team honors, while junior Preben Gietz and sophomore Baran Doenmez garnered their first All-Conference recognition with second-team nods. Head Coach David Kulik was named the conference coach of the year for the second time in four years.
Wise, from Providence, R.I., backstopped the team to a first place finish in goals allowed (.62), goals against average (.60) and shared the top spot in shutouts (.62) in the conference. Individually, the senior captain tied for first in shutouts and finished top three in three other categories in the NEWMAC, including goals against average (2nd/.62), save percentage (2nd/.857) and saves (3rd/3.75). He had a career-high eight shutouts and held half of the league scoreless. Last year, Wise was named to the All-NEWMAC second team.
A native of Waterloo, Belgium, Gietz was Clark's most experienced defender this season. The junior center back dominated balls in the air and helped limit the oppositions' chances on net en route to 10 shutouts this fall. Gietz also chipped in offensively with three points on one goal and an assist.
Doenmez, a sophomore transfer from Dublin, N.H., has been a welcomed addition to Clark's attack this year. He led the team in scoring with eight goals, four of which were game-winners, and finished second on the squad in assists (4). Doenmez is tied for sixth in the NEWMAC in both goals (8) and points (20).
Kulik, in his ninth year coaching the Cougars, has led Clark to six consecutive winning seasons, continual regional acclaim, and its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 21 years.
Clark (11-4-2) will face Norwich University at host Middlebury College in an NCAA Regional Tournament game on Saturday (1:30 p.m.).
RIZZO AND CLARK EARN WOMEN'S SOCCER NEWMAC ANNUAL HONORS
For the second consecutive year, Clark University's Julia Rizzo and Joanna Clark were named to the women's soccer New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) All-Conference second teams, it was announced by the conference office on Tuesday.
Rizzo has anchored Clark's backfield this season, helping the team to seven victories - all by shutout - which tied them for third in the conference in the category. The senior co-captain has proven to be one of the team's most versatile players, as she has helped in both the forward and midfield positions this fall. Rizzo, a native of Westboro, Mass., leads the team in assists (4) and is ranked in the top-10 in helpers in the NEWMAC.
In just her second season as the team's starting goalie, Clark led the Cougars to a career-high eight shutouts and tied for third in the conference in scoreless games. In overall statistics in the NEWMAC, the Windham, Me. product finished second in shutouts and is ranked in the top-five in goals against average (1.35) and top-six in save percentage (.780). Clark has posted shutouts in four of the nine NEWMAC teams she's faced, and stopped a career-high 12 shots in the Cougars' penalty kick advantage (4-3) over Babson College in the quarterfinals of the NEWMAC Tournament.
Clark advanced to the conference tournament semifinals for the first time in three years and concluded the season at 7-10-1.
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DAWSEY NAMED TO THE NEWMAC ALL-CONFERENCE FIELD HOCKEY TEAM
Senior Kathryn Dawsey represented Clark University on the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) field hockey All-Star second team. Clark also won the NEWMAC Sportsmanship award for the second time.
Originally from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Dawsey emerged as one of the conferences top goalies and was one of Clark's most consistent performers this season. In the NEWMAC, she topped the field in individual saves (11.83) and saves per game (11.83) and finished third in save percentage (.845), to go along with a top-six ranking in goals against average (1.91). Dawsey led the conference in overall statistics in saves (10.13) and save percentage (.822), and tied for fourth in shutouts (4). She recorded nine double-digit save performances this year, including a season-high 22 saves - one stop shy of her career high - against Springfield. Dawsey's prowess in the cage helped keep Clark in games against some of the toughest offensive teams in the region. This is her first appearance on the All-NEWMAC squad.
Clark ended the 2008 campaign with a 5-11 campaign.
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MEN’S BASKETBALL TIPS-OFF AT FITCHBURG STATE COLLEGE
“This is the year of ‘Change’,” said head men’s basketball coach Paul W. Phillips.
Hopefully, that change will come when the Clark University men’s basketball team travels to Fitchburg State College this Saturday (1 p.m.) to tip-off the 2008-09 campaign.
“We have to change things this year,” he said. “We had a good recruiting class of freshman, but they are still freshman. It’s not going to be overnight; it’s a work in progress.”
The Cougars return to the court after a 12-13 campaign and second place finish in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC). “Last season was a nice improvement, but there is still a lot of work to be done,” Phillips said. “Every first game of the year is always important, but Fitchburg State becomes a little more important because they beat us at home pretty handily last season.”
Clark hopes for a reversal of fortune from last year’s 106-96 loss to the Falcons. Challenged with blending four new players with experienced veterans, Phillips said he is pleased with what he’s seen in practice so far.
Top players returning for the Cougars include, junior Mark Alexander (16.2 ppg) and senior Peter Normandin (13.5 ppg).
In addition to the top two scorers coming back, Clark will look for freshmen Marko Radovic (Belgrade, Serbia), Brian Vayda (Sturbridge, Mass.), Mitch Renshaw (Rutland, Mass.), and Tom Desautels (Manchester, Conn.) to make a major impact.
Last season, Fitchburg advanced to the ECAC Tournament, concluding the year at 16-10 overall.
“It would be nice if we could start off on the winning track,” said Phillips.
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The highlights for this newsletter are provided by
Dalya Qualls, Sports Information Director, 508-793-7164.
Email: dqualls@clarku.edu
Newsletter designed by Joe Brady
(Head Women's Soccer Coach/Athletic Web Site Administrator)
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CLARK MEN’S SOCCER RETURNS TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
