Media about our Athletes
Morris County boys basketball season in review, 2010-11; Tore Vicarisi named Morris County Player of the Year
Published: Sunday, April 03, 2011, 4:30 AM
Tore Vicarisi of Mendham is The Star-Ledger's Morris County boys basketball Player of the Year for 2010-11.The senior, a starter the past three years and a reserve as a freshman, was a part of Mendham teams that went 16-0 in Morris County Tournament games throughout his career.
It’s the best four-year MCT record of any player since the tournament began in 1970.
Mendham became the first school to capture three straight MCT titles in 2010, when the 6-4, 225-pounder was named tournament MVP after hitting the game-winning basket with 1.2 seconds left in overtime in a 58-56 victory over Delbarton.
Vicarisi this year became the third player in the history of the tournament to be named MVP for a second straight season after scoring a game-high 17 points as Mendham downed Roxbury, 34-27, for its fourth consecutive county championship.
He averaged 19.3 points and 8.7 rebounds overall for Mendham (20-8). He also closed out his career with 1,444 points, which ranks No. 21 all-time in Morris County and third at Mendham.
“All I ever wanted was to help bring success to the program,” said Vicarisi, who hopes to play next year at Emory University in Atlanta. “To be a part of a team that did so well in the county tournament means so much.”
Vicarisi used his height and wide frame — as well as a strong will — to become a dominant player. After sparking Mendham to the NJSIAA Group 3 state title as a junior, he averaged 28 points in four state tournament games this year, capped by a career-high 41 point performance in an 87-81 double-overtime loss to Plainfield, this year’s Group 3 winner and the Tournament of Champions runner-up, in the North Jersey, Section 2 final before a jam-packed gym in Mendham.
“Plainfield was painful,” he said. “But it was an unbelievable game and a great way to end my career, fighting hard for the championship in front of the town that was always there for me.”
Team of the year: Mendham (20-8), which last year became the first school to win three consecutive Morris County Tournament titles, added to its legacy this winter by capturing a fourth consecutive MCT championship that was also its ninth overall, which moves it past Morristown for most all-time in the 42-year history of the event.
Coach Jim Baglin’s team had a solid starting five that included senior twins Tore and Alex Vicarisi, senior Kyle Dennis and Colin O’Donnell and junior Andrew Jacobs. This was Mendham’s 21st season with at least 20 victories under Baglin (664-187 in 32 years) and marked the 30th consecutive year that the program reached at least the MCT quarterfinals.
Coach of the year: Jon Deeb, a standout player for Sparta in the 1980s, has established himself as a respected coach as well. This was his ninth year at Roxbury, and he’s already the school’s all-time winningest coach with a 101-114 record.
This year’s Roxbury team, which was seeded eighth in the Morris County Tournament, was the first in school history to reach the final round, where it lost to Mendham, 34-27. Roxbury finished 19-8, which set a school record for season victories.
Roxbury makes history: Aside from winning a school-record 19 games and reaching the Morris County Tournament final for the first time, a memorable season at Roxbury included state tournament victories over North Bergen and Union City. Roxbury had not won a state tournament game since 1961.
Senior center Angelo Mangiro, the two-time All-State offensive lineman who’ll play football at Penn State, made a solid case to be considered the finest athlete in school history by closing out his four-year basketball career at Roxbury with a school-record 1,074 points. He also finished with 1,029 rebounds. Guard Michael Giordano also set a school standard with 94 career 3-point baskets.
NJAC champions: Morris County teams won several championships in Year Two of the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference. Delbarton was the National Division champ, Mount Olive captured the American Division, Pequannock won the Independence Division and Morristown-Beard seized the Liberty Division.
Most improved player: As a sophomore in 2009-10, Brian Bartner of Morristown-Beard totaled 49 points for the entire season. This year, he surpassed that total in three games.
The swingman ended with averages of 15.7 points, four rebounds and 2.5 steals and always had the defensive assignment on the opposing team’s best perimeter player.
“He had to expand his whole game this year,” Morristown-Beard coach Ed Franz said. “I had doubts about his ability to take on a bigger role because it looked like he had doubts last year. By mid-summer, those doubts were gone when he started to play with fearlessness. That’s when I knew I might have a special young player.”
Most improved team: One year ago, Mount Olive finished 4-21. This year, under first-year coach Kevin Moore, it improved to 17-7 and won the NJAC-American Division, the first conference title in the history of the program.
Mount Olive had a balanced lineup that included seniors Max Werner and Elvis Hodzic and juniors Jimmy Pastena and Justin Palanchi.
A winning season at Morris Knolls: The formation of the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference has helped many teams, most notably Morris Knolls, which ended 16-8.
It was the program’s winningest season in more than 20 years. A talented lineup for coach Ken Ferrare included Esaun Mobley, Jordan Harvey and Niko Kotoulas, who averaged 16.1 points and 12 rebounds. A highlight was a 53-50 triumph at Mendham on Jan. 20 that included 22 points from Mobley.
He’s no lightweight: The honor of best pound-for-pound player in the county goes to James D’Angelo, the 5-9, 155-pound point guard from West Morris (18-9). He averaged 19.9 points and 4.7 assists. Aside from leaving a lasting impression for his strong work habits, he’s also the school’s No. 6 all-time scorer with 1,078 points.
Top scorer: The leading scorer in the area was Dean Brierley of Delbarton, who averaged 24 points and 10.5 rebounds. The senior forward scored 30 points or more in five games.
Boyhan sparked Mountain Lakes: After a junior season marred by ankle problems, a healthy Jimmy Boyhan averaged 13 points for Mountain Lakes (18-7). His play at point guard and on defense were essential in the team’s success.
“Last year was frustrating, but taking time off allowed me to work on my all-around game,” he said.
More good times at Pequannock: A year after reaching the Group 2 state final, Pequannock ended 21-5. Its NJAC-Independence Division title was the first conference crown for the program since it won the Skyline Conference in 1969. This year’s team, featuring seniors Stephen Boyd, Kenny Brunda, Ben Kohle, Joe Vedovino and Tommy Sackmann, returned to the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2 final, where it lost to Pascack Hills.
Morris minutia: Junior guard James Spadaccini averaged 20.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.4 steals and 3.3 assists for Butler (8-16). ... Stephen Boyd scored at a 14 point-per-game clip for Pequannock. ... West Morris’ Tom Cabarle, who was The Star-Ledger Morris County Player of the Year in football last fall, carried his success over to basketball. He had averages of 14.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists. ... Senior guard Aaron Fant averaged 10 points for Madison (17-7). More importantly, the program was 58-40 during his four-year career, including a 38-11 mark the past two years. ... Junior forward Ethan Lubowitz averaged 15.2 points and 8.1 rebounds for Mountain Lakes (18-7). ... Junior swingman Ranell Bell had averages of 14.8 points and 5.1 rebounds for Morris Hills (16-9). ... James Pisciotto, who hit 25 3-pointers and averaged seven points as a junior, hit 75 3-pointers and averaged 15 points this year for Morristown (7-18). He scored 18 points when 17th-seeded Morristown defeated top-seeded Pequannock, 73-57, in the first round of the Morris County Tournament on Feb. 5. It was the first time in MCT history that the No. 1 seed lost a first-round game to a 16 or 17 seed.
Everybody's All-American
December 9, 2010
Daily Record Article
by Jane Havsy
A pair of Morris County seventh graders have been selected to play in the 2011 Eastbay Youth All-American Bowl in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on Jan. 9.
Defensive back Zach Hawkins from Brookside and quarterback Sonny Abramson of Chester have both been named to the seventh-grade East squad.
They will receive their jerseys at the New York Jets training facility in Florham Park on Friday afternoon.
November 24, 2010
Observer Tribune Article
MENDHAM - Mendham High School graduate Megan Lynch, a sophomore at Holy Cross College in Worceter, Mass., has been named to the inaugural Patriot League volleyball All-Academic team. Lynch also earned second team All-Patriot League for the second straight season on Nov. 16.
Lynch has a 3.58 cumulative grade point average and is a psychology major. She is one of only seven members of the All-Academic team.
Lynch was named to the 2009 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll last year as a freshman.
Lynch concluded the 2010 season with a school record 442 kills, while her 388 digs were fourth all-time. She is the first Crusader in program history to record over 400 kills in a season. She led the Patriot League in kills and was third with 3.59 kills per set and ninth with 3.15 digs per set.
Her 3.59 kills per set are ranked 95th nationally. She recorded double-digit kills in 26 of the 33 matches this season as she either led or tied for the team-lead in kills in 30 matches. Lynch had 20 double-doubles this season and 27 for her career. For the season she averaged 3.59 kills per set and 3.15 digs per set.
She also earned all-tournament accolades at the Bryant Invitational and at the Brown Invitational this season.
In only two seasons her 813 career kills are fifth all-time at Holy Cross. She also has 621 career digs. For her career she has recorded double-digit kills in 46 of the 62 matches as she has either led or tied for the team-lead in kills in 55 of the 62 matches.
As a freshman in 2009, her 371 kills were the second most all-time at Holy Cross at the time and are the most ever by a freshman. She was the first Crusader freshman to ever earn All-Patriot League honors. Lynch was named the Patriot League Rookie of the Week twice as she was only the second Crusader to ever win that award.
The Crusaders concluded the 2010 season with a 12-21 overall record (4-10 Patriot League).
Mendham Father, Son Bond on Kilimanjaro
August 13, 2010
Observer Tribune Article
(Gerry Lichtenberger ,left, and son Jason)
MENDHAM – Gerry Lichtenberger wanted to do something dramatic to bond with his son, Jason.
So what better idea than for the 65-year-old Heatherhill Way, retired investor and his 34-year-old son to climb the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, the fabled Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
“It was the hardest thing I’ve every done by a factor of 10,: Gerry Lichtenberger said. “It was not a comfortable, leisurely trip.”
Lichtenberger and his son, an ear, nose and throat specialist, persevered through persistent headaches caused by the high altitude, subfreezing temperatures and other potential dangers to complete an experience of a lifetime.
Lichtenberger said he came home knowing his son much better than before. Jason was known as “Dr. Jay” on the trip and fellow hikers went to him for medical advice. Gerry Lichtenberger said he had never seen his son in that way before.
“I learned how great he was with people,” Gerry Lichtenberger said. “I’ve never really seen him in a doctor-patient relationship before. He was so patient. I was really proud.”
As far as his own accomplishment, Gerry Lichtenberger said he was gratified that he could finish the climb.
“I wanted to know I could hold off the aging process for a few more years,” he said.
Years Planning
Their trek was from July 12-23 and Lichtenberger said he first mentioned to his son in 2007 that they do something physically challenging together. It was soon after Gerry Lichtenberger and his wife, Susan, had returned from a trip to the Chilean Andes.
Lichtenberger had hiked the Appalachian Trail and traveled around the world. His son, an Eagle Scout, also had camped and hiked while completing his medical residency in Burlington, Vt.
The father and son decided on Kilimanjaro because of its grandeur and because while it is so tall, it can be climbed without great technical knowledge in using ropes or pitons.
“This mountain is doable by a 65-year-old guy, as I proved,” Lichtenberger said.
Kilimanjaro is composed of three distinct volcanic cones and is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, with Uhuru Peak rising to an altitude of 19,341 feet.
It is an extremely challenging hike with only 40 percent of climbers reaching the Uhuru summit, with most turning back 300 meters short of the top, according to an Internet report.
The Lichtenbergers planned to make their mark in history, as the latest to reach the summit since German geographer Hans Meyer was the first European to reach the top in 1889.
Timing the trip was difficult because of Jason’s medical practice schedule. They were able to plan the July trip just before Jason relocated his practice to Bellingham, Wash.
The Lichtenbergers, including Gerry, Susan, Jason and son, Stefan, 31, and daughter, Brandy, 36, visited southern Africa in 2002. The senior Lichtenbergers, Gerry and Susan, have traveled throughout Europe and Asia. Lichtenberger said his favorite destination was the nation of Butan, “like Shangri La, a very magical place.”
But the trip to Kilimanjaro would be different; it would be the first major trip for the father and son, alone.
Gerry Lichtenberger researched Kilimanjaro trips on the Internet and found Thomson Safaris, Inc. of Watertown, Mass. He checked the company’s references and found their guides and porters were top notch, the keys to a successful high mountain trek.
Gerry Lichtenberger prepared for the expedition with four months of training with Rob Mason, owner of Firm Body Fitness in Mendham. The training paid off and Lichtenberger said he used a satellite phone to call Mason from the summit to thank him.
The night before the first day of the trip, Lichtenberger said he and his son agreed that they would make the summit together or not all. If either had to quit because of altitude sickness or other reasons, they would both give up.
Altitude sickness is the greatest danger. Guides carry oxygen tanks for afflicted hikers and have pressurized, “gamow” tents where stricken hikers can recover. In emergencies, injured hikers can be taken down the mountain on special stretchers on wheels, called the “Kilimanjaro Express.”
Guides told Lichtenberger that last year, a 400-pound woman made it to the summit but had to be brought back on the Kilimanjaro Express.
There were eight members in the Lichtenbergers’ group; three women and five men, including four Canadians, one graduate student from Philadelphia, a geologist from Arizona and the Lichtenbergers. They ranged in age from 22 to Lichtenberger who was the oldest.
After the second day, two of the women developed serious altitude sickness and had to be evacuated down the mountain. The 22-year-old made it to the base camp at 15,000 feet but had to be helped back to 13,000 feet because of altitude sickness.
The total nine-day journey followed the western approach of Kilimanjaro and covered a total of 55 miles of up and down trails. The group included a head guide, cook and 35 porters along with the hikers. They trekked from four to five hours a day and as long as nine hours a day.
They traveled first through the rain forest area to about 4,000 feet, then up through the low, heather growth area at 10,000 feet. After 13,000 feet, the alpine desert terrain turned to arctic conditions with sprawling glaciers.
The greatest danger was in trying to cover too much ground too quickly. The sherpas constantly reminded the hikers to proceed, “pole, pole” or “slowly, slowly” in Swahili.
To battle the threat of potentially deadly altitude sickness, the Lichtenbergers took Diamox pills and drank four to five liters of water a day.
The nights were extremely challenging, with temperatures on the rocky mountain approach dropping to 10 degrees. There was no vegetation above 10,000 feet and no wood for fires. The hikers slept two to a tent, bundled up in sleeping bags and three layers of clothing.
At the end of each day, before retreating to the tents, the hikers got together for food and to chat about the day. During the days, there was little conversation as each hiker concentrated on the hiker in front of him. At night, the hikers talked and formed a bond that Lichtenberger said he will never forget.
The food was provided and prepared in a cooking tent by Thomson workers. It was tasty and heavy on carbohydrates because protein is difficult to digest.
After a fitful sleep because of the altitude, they got up around 5:30 a.m. for a sunrise breakfast before resuming the trip. They carried day packs with 20 pounds of supplies, from water and clothing to snacks.
The porters, paid a few dollars a day, hauled the heavy equipment, including the tents, and frequently ran up and down the mountain for new supplies.
The days were easier, with temperatures in the 40s. The views were spectacular and for much of the trip, they hiked above the clouds. At one point, they could see a commercial jetliner flying below them.
They reached the summit and took it in for about an hour and a half before beginning the hike down the mountain. The down trek was hazardous because of the often slippery conditions.
They reached the end of the journey where they met with several park rangers who provided them beer for their first taste back in civilization. Then it was back to the lodge for the longest shower Lichtenberger said he had ever had.
For their efforts, each hiker was awarded a certificate from the Tanzania National Park Service.
“Not a day has gone by that I haven’t thought about the trek,” Lichtenberger said.
August 12, 2010
Observer Tribune Article
Mason wins, the natural way
(Robert Mason is a Mendham resident and owner of Firm Body Fitness in Mendham. He won first place at a major bodybuilding event in April.)
MENDHAM – In these times of steroid-induced musclemen, Robert Mason has gone the natural route and it has paid off.
It took seven years of persistence, sweat and training but Mason, 44, achieved his goal to win a major bodybuilding event, where performance enhancing drugs are forbidden.
Mason and his wife, both residents, opened their personal fitness center, Firm Body Fitness, on Cold Hill Road South, in 2001.
He was named the overall over 40 winner in the International Natural Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation (INBF) Northeast America Bodybuilding & Figure Championship Pro-Qualifier held in Aberdeen in April.
The five-foot-10, 155 pound Mason competed against 20 bodybuilders who were judged according to definition, size and symmetry of muscle and lack of fat while performing mandatory poses as well as several other criteria.
The INBF is the amateur affiliate of the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation (WNBF). Both organizations require athletes to be drug-free for a minimum of seven years and to be tested prior to every competition and after winning a class.
Mason said he passed a polygraph test and went a step further.
“I am drug free for life,” he said.
New York Native
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Mason grew up in Harding and said he struggled in school with learning disabilities at a time when there weren’t supportive services. As an outlet for his own frustration, he said he sought success in physical activities.
His father John, a bank analyst, was “very cerebral, very inactive.” Mason’s father died at age 52 of a stroke.
“Unfortunately I couldn’t help my father. Had he worked out he might be alive,” Mason said.
Mason said his mother, Karen, is in “OK shape” but that his real hero was his grandfather.
“My Irish grandfather was a fisherman who rowed out to sea every day and had huge arms. This and the Schwarzenegger “Pumping Iron” movie inspired me as a kid to start working out,” he said.
Mason worked as a personal trainer in a number of fitness centers in Morris County for years, but did not start competing until 1994.
By winning the recent competition, Mason also earned a “Pro Card “ which entitles him to compete for prize money at future WNBF events.
“To transform your body, you need to be consistent in your routine and diet,” he said. “For an April event, I start a routine in January that includes no bread and only water to drink. It’s not easy and not everyone can make that type of commitment.”
He said water and salt can limit muscle definition and that in the week before competition, he limits drinking water, takes no salt in his diet and cuts carbohydrates to a minimum.
”The bodybuilder’s enemy is water and salt,” Mason said.
His training increases in intensity in the months, weeks and days leading to a competition. He lifts weights three days a week, focusing on different muscles each day and does cardiovascular training on weekends and off days.
“You don’t want to be just bulky,” he said. “You want proportioned muscles like Steve Reeves. Your calves and forearms should match each other, your shoulders should be wider than the waste and you should show the separate abdominal muscles.”
He said he began lifting weights when he was 12 and started serious bodybuilding in 1991.
“It’s about goal setting,” Mason said. “I’m a longevity nut. One of my biggest idols is Jack LaLane and he’s 95.””
Mason has two brothers, James, 39, and Dominick, 43, He and his wife have two children, Sean, 9, and Emma, 11.
In addition to more than 20 years experience with personal training, Mason has been certified in Active Release Therapy (ART) and practices the “Stretch to Win” system of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation as well as sports conditioning for youth athletes to enhance their ability to recover from overuse of muscles, he said.
He is also an advanced physical fitness specialist from The Institute for Aerobic Research; ACE Gold certified; Cooper Institute Master and Advanced Physical Fitness Specialist; Level II Certified Flexibility Therapist; and a Certified Massage Therapist.
June 20, 2010
Mendham Girls Lacrosse
All Daily Record Girls Lacrosse Team of the Year
......"While the Minutemen fell 7-6, in the Tournament of Champions title game, the most impressive part of their run was the fact they did it with such young talent, something that head coach Jess Shoulberg thinks might have helped them.".......
......."For bigger games, it kind of helped because the kids didn't realize the importance," Shoulberg said."Their younger and they don't feel the pressure of losing. They went out and played."......
CONGRATULATIONS MENDHAM GIRLS LACROSSE
Harrison Wardle Receives
1st Team All Daily Record
"Wardle was a versatile standout for the Minutemen in their surprising rise to the Group II title. He spent most of the year as a defenseman, putting his 6-foot-1, 195-pound size to good use. Wardle is strong and quick, makes great checks and is very good at picking up ground balls and pushing the offense. Going into state play, Mendham switched to a zone defense and moved Wardle to midfield. He scored nine goals during the state tourney, including two in the Tournament of Champions quarterfinal against Montclair."
Honorable Mention All Daily Record:
Tyler Purdue
Anthony Lombardo
May 26, 2010
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Mendham Boys & Girls Lacrosse
State Sectional Champions!
Mendham Girls Lacrosse defeats Morris Knolls 17-15 in OT
Taylor Harrington sank the decisive goal in overtime as Mendham, No.5 in the Star-Ledger Top 20, slipped past No. 13 Knolls, 17-15, in the NJSIAA/New Balance New Jersey, Group 3 final in Mendham.
Mendham Boys Lacrosse defeats Princeton 7-6
Entrenched in a see-saw battle for three quarters, Mendham got hit in the face and prevailed when it mattered the most.
Senior attacker Brendan McAdams scored his second goal of the game with 7:09 remaining and sophomore goalie Tyler Avallone recorded a save with his face with :05 left to lift unranked Mendham to a thrilling 7-6 victory over Princeton, No. 18 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, in the NJSIAA/New Balance Group 2 final yesterday at Ridge's Lee Field in Basking Ridge.
Mendham (9-10), which captured its first state title since 1994, has won four straight and six of its last eight games. Princeton (17-5) saw its four-game victory streak snapped and suffered only its second loss in its last 16 contests.
Last season, Mendham edged Princeton, 12-10, in the Group 2 quarterfinals, before falling to the eventual Tournament of Champions winner, Summit, 6-3, in the semifinals.
Yesterday, with five seconds remaining, senior attacker Doug Bryant, who scored earlier in the third quarter to give Princeton a 6-5 lead, went down the right side and fired a 15-foot shot that hit Avallone in the face. The ball bounced away and Mendham's bench flooded the field.
"Our defense played well. We had great all-around defense the whole game," said an exhausted Avallone, who made eight saves in the second half after taking over for junior goalie John Haumerson (four saves).
The winning goal in the fourth period by McAdams snapped a 6-6 tie, which was the score after three periods. The game was tied at 4-4 at the half.
Drayer VanOrden had two goals and Harrison Wardle and Liam MacAdams each added a goal for Mendham, which was outshot, 34-32.
"We knew they were a high-powered team and when we were down 3-0 early, I said, guys play your game, keep your head up and we will find a way," Mendham coach Charlie Schoulberg said. "We have used this two goalie system throughout the playoffs and its worked very well for us. They're both very good and Tyler was huge in that last quarter."
May 12, 2010
Successful season for Lauren Dykstra
Lehigh Women's Lacrosse
Lauren Dykstra who was honored as the Patriot League’s Defensive Player of the Year. She became the first student-athlete in league history to earn the Rookie of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards. Also joining Dykstra, her freshman teammate, Kenzie Dambach.
April 30, 2010
Mendham Wins Poole Trophy
With 6-5 Victory Over West Morris
Harrison Wardle #3 (right)
West Morris attackman Sam Morrisey, left, is covered by Mendham defenseman Harrison Wardle during the high school boys lacrosse game between West Morris and Mendham. Mendham won 6-5 on a goal in the final 10 seconds of the game to take possession of the Pooley Trophy for the next year. The trophy is given to the winner of the game between the rival schools.
April 17, 2010
2010 I.N.B.F. Northeast America
Rob Mason wins 1st Place in Masters 40+ Lightweight
Rob 40+ Masters 1st Place! (left)
Rich Carolan
April 17, 2010
Wesleyan Men's Lacrosse
Loses to Williams in OT (5-6)
Graham Gnall (bottom left) #24
Recovering from a 4-1 deficit in the third period with a pair of goals from Graham Gnall, the second goal of the game from Conor Malangone '11 and the eventual tying goal by DJ Bernatavitz '12, Wesleyan forced its opening Little Three contest at Williams into overtime.
Bernatavitz snapped off his unassisted tally with 2:08 remaining in the fourth quarter to get the Cardinals even with the Ephs, 5-5. Wesleyan never led in the contest despite enjoying a 46-29 edge in total shots and a 24-12 margin in shots on goal.
While Cardinal keeper Mark Simmons '13 stopped half the shot on goal, Williams counterpart Stephen Vrla had a career day with 19 saves including a big one on a point-blank shot by Wesleyan's Jon Killeen '10 in overtime. Killeen had a team-high 11 ground balls on the contest while Malangone, with an assist to go along with his two goals for a three-point game, fired 11 shots at the Eph net.
Williams won the game with just :07.7 left in the extra frame as the Cardinal defense appeared to do its job as time was winding down in overtime, sealing off the middle to prevent a Williams centering pass from finding its intended target, but the Ephs got to the loose ball first and put it home for the game-winner.
April 12, 2010
Lehigh Women's Lacrosse
Lauren Dykstra Named
Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week
Lauren Dykstra
For the second time this season Lauren Dykstra has been named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week, it was announced on Monday. Dykstra totaled four caused turnovers, seven draw controls, three ground balls, and five goals in two games for the Mountain Hawks last week. For Dykstra this is the 11th time in her career she has received a weekly award from the Patriot League.
Dykstra began the week with a team-high four draw controls and one ground ball as well as two goals in the Mountain Hawks 14-13 loss to No. 18 Penn State on April 7 at home. The New Jersey native scored both of her goals in the second half to help lead Lehigh back from a two-goal deficit versus the Nittany Lions.
Dykstra then registered a season best four caused turnovers, to go along with two ground balls and three draw controls in Lehigh’s 14-7 victory over Holy Cross on April 10. The captain also scored three goals as she moved into sole possession of second place on Lehigh’s all-time goals scored list. Dykstra’s second goal of the game, which came on a free position shot, pushed her past former Lehigh standout Carla Juliani who scored 167 goals from 1985-88.
On the season Dykstra has registered multiple goals in every game but one and she leads the Mountain Hawks with 38 goals and 45 points. She has also caused ten turnovers, scooped up 33 ground balls and won 27 draw controls.
April 2, 2010
Kenzie Dambach Lauren Dykstra Meg Kelly
LEHIGH WOMEN'S LACROSSE
Lehigh: 16 Canisius: 5
Lehigh snapped its two game losing streak with a convincing 16-5 win over Canisius on Saturday afternoon as eight different Mountain Hawks scored. Senior Inneke Carmola and sophomore Kelly Draper led the way with four scores apiece as Lehigh improves to 9-2 overall. The Golden Griffins got two goals from Ashley Curtis and Megan Oosting but it was enough as they fall to 5-5 following the setback.
Lehigh out shot Canisius 36-19 on the afternoon and caused 19 Golden Griffin turnovers. Freshman Kenzi Dambach led the Brown and White with four ground balls, while junior Lauren Dykstra and sophomore Leigh Ann Torcivia registered three each. Junior Allison Thomas and freshman Anna Patterson were the team leaders with two assists each and freshman ML DiNisco stopped five shots in goal.
Allison Daley made 11 saves in goal and scooped up five ground balls for Canisius, while Marissa Brown caused a team high two turnovers. The Golden Griffins scooped up 13 ground balls as a team led by Jackie Loson with two.
Curtis put the home team in front less than three minutes into the game, but Thomas tied things at one with a score at the 23:47 mark. Carmola then put the Mountain Hawks in front with her goal at the 22:42 mark and the senior added another score, this one coming on a free position shot with 17:29 to play before halftime. A free position goal by Draper with 16:10 on the clock made it a 4-1 game, but Megan Oosting answered for Canisius with a goal at the 12:42 mark to bring the home team within two.
Dykstra got in on the scoring with her free position score with only 1:46 to play and that proved to be the final goal of the half as Lehigh took a 5-2 advantage into intermission.
Curtis opened the second half the same way she began the first to bring Canisius within two at 5-3 but freshman Kenzie Dambach answered for the Mountain Hawks with a score at the 26:56 mark to put the Brown and White up by three. Meg Kelly then took a feed from classmate Anna Patterson and found the back of the net with 25:59 on the clock as the Mountain Hawks opened up a 7-3 lead.
Back-to-back scores by Draper within a one minute span gave Lehigh its largest lead of the day up to that point at 9-3, but Oosting brought the home team within five at 9-4 with 20:57 to play. The Mountain Hawks kept the pressure on though, as Dykstra scored with 20:08 to go and Carmola found the back of the net off a feed from Thomas as Lehigh went on top 11-4. Lauren Murray’s score with 17:02 to go made it a 12-4 game, but Meghan McGunigle’s score with 14:39 remaining made it a seven-goal affair.
Kindall Healy’s free position score at the 11:29 mark put Lehigh on top 13-5, while Kelly’s score with 5:46 remaining made the margin nine at 14-5. The Mountain Hawks tacked on two more goals with Carmola scoring one and Draper adding another to account for the final margin.
March 27, 2010
Graham Gnall, Wesleyan University Lacrosse
vs. Bates College
Wesleyan: 7 Bates: 6
March 24, 2010
Villanova Men's Lacrosse
Nick Doherty T.J. O'Donnell
Villanova: 10 Drexel: 8
Senior Paul Webber (Manhasset, N.Y.) had four goals while six other players netted scores to raise the Wildcats over Drexel, 10-8, at Villanova Stadium on Wednesday night. The win marks the second consecutive game Villanova has defeated a former CAA conference rival and top-20 team in the national rankings.
Head coach Mike Corrado states, "It was a great win for our program to beat the No. 11 team in the country in addition to Drexel being a former CAA and Philadelphia rival. Paul Webber's four goals were huge - he really stepped up and scored at crucial times in the game for us."
Although Drexel got on the board first to begin the game, Villanova rebounded with four unanswered goals from junior Mike Brenne (Manhasset, N.Y.), freshman Nick Doherty (Bernardsville, N.J.), senior Mark Scioscia (East Hampton, N.Y.) and Webber to give the Wildcats a 5-3 advantage to end the first half. Drexel senior Colin Ambler scored two of his four goals of the game in the first thirty minutes in addition to a goal from Robert Church to give the Dragons their points for the half.
To begin the third period, Villanova found two goals from freshman Will Casertano (Millbrook, N.Y.) and classmate Jack Rice (Baltimore, Md.) off assists from sophomore Kevin Cunningham (Garden City, N.Y.) to further their lead within the first seven minutes of the quarter. Webber then netted his third score off an unassisted play with 3:55 remaining while sophomore Michael Vigilante (Massapequa, N.Y.) followed suit just two minutes later to give the `Cats their biggest lead of the game, 9-4, going into the final quarter.
Drexel quickly rebounded in the fourth stanza with two goals each from Church and Ambler to get the Dragons within two points of Villanova, but Webber netted the final VU goal of the game off a Brennan assist to give the Wildcats what they needed for the victory.
Defensively, junior Brian Karalunas (Dewitt, N.Y.) led the Wildcats with five caused turnovers and six ground balls while junior T.J. O'Donnell (Randolph, N.J), senior Bryan McCartney (Doylestown, Pa.) and junior Chris Ficke (Madison, N.J.) each contributed with two ground balls each.
March 17, 2010
MENDHAM BOYS BASKETBALL
GROUP III STATE CHAMPIONS!
West Morris Mendham wins a back and forth game vs. Kingsway, 44-41. West Morris Mendham jumped out to a big lead before Kingsway worked its way back into the game in the second half. It came down to a three-point shot by Kingsway, but it didn't drop with .02 second left. Tore Viscarisi of West Morris Mendham was named game MVP.
FEBRUARY 27, 2010
MENDHAM VS. DELBARTON
,
By Sean Reilly
Mendham made Morris County Tournament history, but not without a supreme challenge from Delbarton.
Sophomore Andrew Jacobs, who played by far the best game of his career, threaded a bounce pass from the right baseline to junior Tore Vicarisi, whose basket with 1.2 seconds left in overtime gave top-seeded Mendham a 58-56 victory over second-seeded Delbarton for the championship of the Morris County Tournament before a capacity crowd of 1,800 last night at County College of Morris in Randolph.
Mendham became the first team in the 41-year history of the tournament to capture three straight MCT titles. It was also its eighth, which ties it with Morristown for most overall.
``This was by far the most intense game that we've played,'' Vicarisi, who finished with 19 points, said. ``But our team thrives on pressure.''
The final sequence began after Delbarton turned the ball over while working for a final shot with 12.1 seconds left in the overtime. Caleb DeMoss brought the ball up court for Mendham and then passed to Jacobs in the right corner. Jacobs passed to Vicarisi, who was fouled while scoring the go-ahead bucket.
Vicarisi missed the foul shot, and Delbarton collected the rebound and called time out with 0.8 seconds on the clock. A desperation baseball pass was intercepted by Kyle Dennis of Mendham at the opposite foul line to end the game.
``Delbarton played great defense all game on us,'' Vicarisi said. ``Jacobs threw the pass into me and I was able to score.''
DeMoss had 13 points and Jacobs scored a career-high 12 while also playing an active role off the boards and on defense for Mendham. Matt Crimmins added 10 points for coach Jim Baglin's team, which split two games with Delbarton early in the season.
Jacobs, who entered midway through the first quarter, was Mendham's only substitute in the game.
``I went through a rough patch this year where I lost some confidence,'' Jacobs said. ``The coaches backed me and I was able to come around. I knew we would all have to step up our games to beat them. I was excited, but I wasn't nervous.''
``He played a huge role for us with the way he played,'' Vicarisi said. ``It was a key to our victory.''
Mendham maintained a slim advantage from the start until Delbarton opened a 40-39 lead on a Mitch Lawrence basket with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter. There were five lead changes and two ties through the remainder of regulation, capped by Thomas Killian's clutch 3-pointer from the right side of the key that gave Delbarton a 51-51 tie with 44 seconds left.
Mendham won the overtime tip and scored seconds later on a basket by Vicarisi. But Delbarton countered with another Killian 3-pointer for a 54-53 lead with 3:20 remaining. Mendham regained the lead when Crimmins fed Jacobs for a basket underneath, but Mick Moran scored to give Delbarton a 56-55 advantage at the 2:14 mark.
Vicarisi then missed a 3-pointer, but Jacobs grabbed an offensive rebound that led to a foul that sent Dennis to the line for a one-and-one. His first attempt spun around the rim before falling in, but he missed the second for a 56-56 tie with 1:39 to play.
Delbarton turned the ball over with 1:22 remaining, but Mendham missed a 3-pointer with Delbarton taking the rebound and calling time out with 24.5 seconds on the board. it turned the ball over 12 seconds later to set up Mendham's game-winning possession.
Killian finished with 21 points for Delbarton, which is now 0-4 in championship games against Mendham and 5-2 in the title game against all others.
``This is such a hard tournament to win,'' Baglin said. ``There have been a lot of great performances over the years in this game and Killian's certainly belongs with them. That's why I'm really proud of our kids. We graduated some really good players from last year, but were still able to come through. They're a great group.''
Delbarton 56
Name 2-pt. 3-pt. FT Total
Dean Breirley 6 0 3 15
Scott Curran 1 0 0 2
Matt DeRenzi 1 0 0 2
Thomas Killian 6 3 0 21
Mitch Lawrence 3 0 0 6
Mick Moran 2 0 0 4
Wade Morgan 2 0 0 4
Kenny Nyameke 1 0 0 2
Totals: 22 3 3
Mendham 58
Name 2-pt. 3-pt. FT Total
Matt Crimmins 2 2 0 10
Caleb DeMoss 4 1 2 13
Kyle Dennis 1 0 2 4
Eric Gohlser 0 0 0 0
Andrew Jacobs 6 0 0 12
Tore Vicarisi 5 3 0 19
Totals: 18 6 4
Mendham (20-3) 14 14 11 12 7 58
Delbarton (19-6) 8 18 12 13 5 56
