The fall sports season was one with a nice balance of team and individual accomplishments.
On the team side, football and women's soccer won Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association championships, women's soccer captured its second-straight New York State championship, and both squads hosted NCAA playoff games. The women's volleyball was invited to the New York State tournament for the first time since 1996, and the eight intercollegiate teams enjoyed an overall record of 59-45-2 (.566).
On the individual side, soccer forward Melissa “Missy” Matusewicz '01 and football quarterback Ben Gilbert '02 were named most valuable players in their sports by the coaches in the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association. Matusewicz, who led the UCAA in scoring, was one of four Union players named to the All-Conference team, and Gilbert was one of 15 Dutchmen voted to the league's All-Conference team. Other league honors went to junior defensewoman Yvonne Turchetti (first team field hockey), freshman tennis player Lauren Stellato (“Rookie of the Year”), and sophomore Corinn Jordan and junior Audrey Brennan (All-Conference in volleyball).
Outside the conference, Matusewicz, the most valuable player of the New York State championship tournament, and teammate Tonia Delligiannis were named to the All-State and Northeast Regional All-American teams.
While the football team's 33-26 loss to Widener University in the first round of the NCAA Division III championship tournament was disappointing, the defeat could not dampen the season's accomplishments.
The Dutchmen, who finished 9-2, earned a share of their first Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association championship since 1996 and qualified for the Division III playoffs for the first time since 1995. The Dutchmen were ranked number 20 in the final regular-season American Football Coaches Association poll and second in the Upstate New York poll. Union's rushing offense and total offense were both number 25 nationally (222.6 yards and 413.5 yards a game, respectively), and the team was among the top 35 with its scoring average of 32.5. Defensively, Union was number six in total defense (allowing 218.6 yards a game) and number 25 in scoring defense (13.8).
While there were numerous team and individual accomplishments (sophomore George Beebe just missed the national top 30 with his rushing average of 117 yards a game, for example), among those that stand out is the season put together by Gilbert. The junior from Brattleboro, Vt., was named the UCAA “Offensive Player of the Year” as he completed 168 of 298 passes for 2,212 yards and a Union record of 24 touchdowns. He tied the College record for touchdowns in a game when he threw four against both St. Lawrence and Springfield. He will enter his final year with 5,871 yards (second to Brett Russ's 7,452) and 48 touchdown passes (third behind Dan Stewart's 55 and Russ's 52).
The women's soccer team successfully defended its New York State championship in thrilling fashion. After defeating Vassar, 1-0, and Hamilton, 3-0, the Garnet played 150 minutes of soccer with St. Lawrence before finally winning its on penalty kicks, 4-3. A few days later, the team's trip to NCAA Division III tournament ended with another long game as Western Connecticut State University scored in the third overtime to defeat the Dutchwomen, 1-0 — even though Union dominated with a 16-2 shot advantage and a 14-2 margin in cornerkicks.
“Right now we are very disappointed,” said Head Coach Brian Speck after the game. “But when the disappointment clears we can look back and be proud of our accomplishments. I feel badly for our seniors because they deserve to still be playing. They have been the foundation of a team that has put together a record of 56-11-5 over the last four years with two state titles, two league titles, and two NCAA invitations. They should be very proud of their accomplishments. I know I am.”
Under Speck the Dutchwomen are 72-23-8 in six years and have participated in postseason tournaments four times. Matusewicz will graduate with Union records for single-game, single-season, and career scoring (69 goals and 23 assists in 72 games).
The winter season
A couple of fast starts marked the winter sports season.
The men's hockey team, celebrating its 10th anniversary as a member of the Eastern College Athletic Conference's Division I league, earned its first national ranking — number 11 in the country. The women's basketball team got off to its fastest start in the Dutchwomen's 26-year history with a 5-0 record.
The men's basketball team got itself in position for January by winning the last two games of the 2000 portion of its schedule. Both the men's and women's swim teams finished third in the UCAA Championship Meet, and the women's hockey team, in just its second year as a varsity sport, has been more competitive so far.