The
men's and women's basketball teams made solid progress this winter, with the men receiving
their first postseason invitation in the past five years.
The men's team finished 15-11 and came within a few minutes of earning an automatic
NCAA berth, awarded to the top team in the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association (UCAA).
Union succumbed to a second-half rally and lost to eventual league champion Hamilton,
84-79, and later dropped a 71-70 game to St. Lawrence.
The team was invited to the ECAC Upstate New York playoffs, but, despite a second-half
rally, was eliminated by top-seeded New Paltz, 99-93.
Coach Bob Montana's team graduates just one senior, Rob Groelz, who led the team in
rebounding (seven a game) and was third in scoring (15.2 per game). The scoring was led by
freshman Dave Musella, who had 429 points; he was selected rookie of the year by both the
UCAA and ECAC Upstate New York coaching staffs. As a team, Union finished first in the
country in Division III in three-point field goal percentage (45.5) and was sixth in the
country in three-point field goals per game (9.3).
The women's team finished 9-15 and closed the “competitive” gap; the average
score this year, for example, was 65.3 for opponents to 64.7 for Union, compared to last
year's 73 to 65, and Union had a small advantage in rebounding (43.2 to 42.5).
Coach Mary Ellen Burt was pleased with the depth of this year's team. Every one of last
year's starters saw her average minutes reduced this year because of a much stronger
bench. And, happily, Union will not lose a player to graduation.
The men's hockey team had a disappointing year, finishing 3-26-3 and in last place in
the Eastern College Athletic Conference's Division I. The biggest factor was Union's
inability to score, with only 52 goals in 32 games. The women's hockey team, which is in
the middle of moving from club to varsity status, finished 2-18.
In swimming, the men's team wound up third in the New York State meet after winning the
title the previous four years. Seniors Jeff Hoerle and Dave Searles had outstanding
seasons, and both went on to the NCAA Division III meet for the fourth time. The women's
team placed fourth in the state meet.
Senior Peter Flynn won the three-kilometer championship at the state indoor track meet
with a time of 8:48.10; he was fourth in the 5K.