Medaille Sports

The Medaille College women’s soccer team took to the road to open the 2010 season as they headed West on I-90 to take on Fredonia State.  The Blue Devils would prove to have too much firepower as they bested the Lady Mavs (4-1).  A trio of freshmen made the biggest impact for Medaille as goalkeeper Denay O’Connor (Rochester, NY/West Irondequoit) made ten saves in her collegiate debut between the pipes and Caitlyn Donohue (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore West) tallied her first career goal in the 73rd minute off a cross from fellow rookie Breanna Hyman (Newark, NY/Newark) to put the Lady Mavs on the board.  The loss starts the Lady Mavs out at (0-1-0) and they will look to even their record on Saturday (9/4) against Rutgers-Newark at 11:00am in the Flower City Classic hosted by the University of Rochester.

The 2010-2011 Medaille College Athletic season will kickoff today with a pair of non-conference soccer matches.  The Lady Mavs will take to the road as they will face Fredonia State at 7:00pm.  The Lady Mavs are coming off a 2009 season that saw them finish third in the AMCC standings and they advanced to the championship game of the ECAC Upstate Tournament.  The Blue Devils finished second in the SUNYAC in 2009.  The Medaille College men’s soccer team will begin their season at home this evening as they host SUNYAC power Cortland State at 6:00pm.  The Mavs are coming off a stellar season in which they went (18-3-2) and won their fifth straight undefeated AMCC Regular Season title.  They also recorded their first NCAA Tournament victory, a (3-0) blanking of Denison University.  The Red Dragons fell in the 2009 SUNYAC quarterfinals in penalty kicks against Oneonta State.  Click here for Live Stats of the men’s game.

The Empire State Games came to Buffalo, NY in 2010 and several current and former Maverick athlete’s had strong showings.  A pair of seniors led their respective teams to gold medals as Ryan Maxwell (Amherst, NY/Sweet Home)(pictured) was the starting setter on the Western Region men’s volleyball squad that defended their gold from the 2008 games.  While Gina Pera (Clarence, NY/Clarence) was strong for the Western women’s soccer team that claimed gold as well.  Sophomore transfer Kara Donner (Springville, NY/Springville-Griffith) was a member of that team as well.  Two former Lady Maverick women’s basketball players had critical roles on the silver medal winning Western team as Marisa Clark (Hilton, NY/Hilton)(’08) and Carissa Ferrucci (Hamburg, NY/Immaculata)(’09) provided a strong backcourt during the tournament en route to their runner-up finish.  Sophomore Kevin Au (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) and incoming freshman Gregory Hoffman (North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda) each played for the Western region in the men’s soccer tournament, with Au registering an assist in their win over New York City.  The Western region continued their dominance of the games as they won the medal count again with (242) including a remarkable (104) golds.

Alexander Rouse (So. – Marcellus, NY)(Soccer)

Alex scored the game winner in the Mavs first ever NCAA Tournament win as he tallied in the fourth minute of a (3-0) win over Denison University. The Mavs finished the 2009 season with an (18-3-2) mark as they captured their fifth straight AMCC Regular Season title and their fourth AMCC Tournament crown.

Mary Smialek (Jr. – Girard, PA)(Soccer)

Mary tallied one goal and one assist in a (1-1-0) week for the Lady Mavs. She netted the game winner on a penalty kick to give Medaille its first ever ECAC Tournament win, (2-0) over Sage College and she assisted on the Lady Mavs lone goal in a tough (3-1) loss in the ECAC Upstate Championship game.

Senior Laura Freeman (Kenmore, NY/Kenmore West) (pictured)  tallied her (19th) goal of the season; however, it was not enough as the Lady Mavericks (10-9-2) fell (3-1) to Brockport (12-4-3, 5-2-2) in the ECAC Upstate Championship game Sunday at A. Huntley Parker Jr. Field in Brockport. Senior Junior Jess Bush (Dryden, NY/Dryden) scored in the second minute of play for the Golden Eagles, as Brockport would take a (1-0) lead early. Brockport would add another goal from senior Michelle Gibaud (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia), who was named tournament most valuable player,  just after halftime. Medaille would cut the lead in half as Freeman buried home a free kick of the foot of junior Mary Smialek (Girard, PA/Girard) in the 67th minute. However, that would be as close as Medaille would get as one minute later Courtney Belding (Rochester, NY/Gates-Chili) would ice it for Brockport. The Lady Mavs seemed to cut the lead down to one again in the 78th minute; however, the goal was nullified by an offsides call, and that would end the Medaille comeback just short. Junior Alexa Wisel (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville North) made (11) saves in the loss as Medaille was outshot (25-6) by the Lady Golden Eagles.

It was a great day for Medaille College soccer.  The men’s team won its first ever NCAA Tournament game and then the Lady Mavs went out and got their first every ECAC Tournament win as they bested Sage College (2-0) at Brockport State.  The Lady Mavs got on the board in the 33rd minute when Mary Smialek (Girard, PA/Girard)(pictured) drove home a penalty kick.  Then senior Laura Freeman (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore West) registered her (18th) goal of the year early in the second half as she rocketed a shot from 15 yards out into the top right corner of the goal.  From that point on the Lady Mavs locked Sage College down.  Junior goalkeepers Brittany DeBole (Rochester, NY/Northstar Academy) and Alexa Wisel (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville North) split the shutout, with Wisel stopping both of the Sage College shots on net.  The win gets Medaille into double digits in the win column as they are now (10-8-2) overall.  They will face Brockport State tomorrow (11/15) at noon in the ECAC Upstate Championship game.

The Medaille College women’s soccer team (9-8-2) will take on Sage College (9-8-1) in the opening round of the ECAC Upstate Tournament tomorrow (11/14) at Brockport State at 1:30pm.  The Lady Mavs are making their fourth appearance in the ECAC Tournament.  This will be the first match-up between these two programs.  The winner of this game will face the Brockport State vs. SUNY-IT winner in the championship game on Sunday (11/15) at noon in Brockport.

The AMCC announced its fall awards and the Mavericks were very well represented.  The men’s soccer team racked up ten honors, women’s volleyball five and women’s soccer two.  The NCAA Tournament bound Mavericks flourished under Coach of the Year Dan Krzyzanowicz who garnered that honor for the third time.  Senior Gary Boughton (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster)(pictured) earned Player of the Year honors for the second time in his illustrious career.  (more…)

Two more postseason bids were handed out to Medaille College teams as the Lady Mavs soccer team received the #2 seed in the ECAC Upstate Tournament and the women’s volleyball squad is seeded #7 in their bracket.  The volleyball team will compete first as they head to #2 seeded St. John Fisher College on Wednesday (11/11) at 8:00pm.  This is the first ECAC appearance in program history as their record setting (19-11) record garnered them that honor.  The women’s soccer team is making their fourth appearance in the ECAC’s as they will take on #3 seed Sage College at 1:30pm Saturday (11/14) at Brockport State.  The Lady Mavs are (9-8-2) on the 2009 season.

Male: Mike Antkowiak (Sr. – Clarence, NY)(Soccer)

Mike continued his strong play in the back for the Mavs as they finished AMCC play with a (9-0) blanking of Pitt-Bradford. Mike has been a crucial part of a defense allowed only five goals all season and posted fourteen shutouts.

Female: Chelsea Buzyniski (Jr. – Appleton, NY)(Soccer)

Chelsea netted a pair of goals in the Lady Mavs (4-0) regular season finale victory over Pitt-Bradford. She also played well in a tough (1-0) loss in the first round of the AMCC playoffs.