Posted on Aug 19, 2003

Look out Europe, here they come!

The Union College women's soccer team will be in the Eastern Hemisphere from August 16th to August 26th, starting in France and making its way to Italy. There they will play a series of games as a tune-up for their upcoming season.

Head Coach Brian Speck, who has guided the Dutchwomen to an eight-year record of 101-31-11 and into the last four NCAA championship tournaments, feels that a trip like this gives the women a sense of unity. “This gets the team away from campus and distractions,” he explained. “It's a social trip; it gives the players a chance to bond. It also gives them the opportunity to travel and the chance to play together in preseason.”

However, team unity will not start in Europe. This process has been underway since the 2002 season came to a close last November. To earn money for their European Adventure, the women were involved in a wide range of fundraising activities, including working at various Union College athletic events, selling Union T-shirts, and even selling Union snowmen at holiday time. They even parked cars during events like the Scottish Games and Altamont Fair Grounds.

This is not the first time Coach Speck has taken his team for a trip like this. Speck's Dutchwomen, who have qualified for six playoff tournaments, (winning the New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association title in 1999 and 2000), traveled to England for preseason in 2000. “That was one of the best seasons we've had in terms of wins to losses,” said Speck, whose Dutchwomen finished
2000 with a record of 15-2-2 and won the second of their three Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association titles with a conference record of 6-1 (Union won its first UCAA crown in 1999 and captured its third conference title last year).

The upcoming season may present new obstacles for the team as the Dutchwomen have suffered some unexpected player losses. Junior forward/midfielder Molly Flanagan, a two-year starter, suffered a knee injury while competing for Union's lacrosse team last spring and is still undergoing rehabilitation that will cause her to miss the entire 2003 campaign. Senior defender Victoria Vincent, a three-year starter who was voted to the All-Conference, All-State, and All-Region team, will not play this season for personal reasons.

Flanagan earned All-Conference, All-State and All-Regional recognition the last two years. As a freshman, she, along with her twin sister Elizabeth, won the Terri Lynch-Jackie Havercamp Cuttita Memorial Award as Union's “Freshmen Female Athletes of the Year.” It marked the first time in the award's 23-year history that two players shared the honor. It is hopeful that Flanagan will be back in uniform next season for her senior year. However, this season, the team will have to compensate.

“People will have to step up and fill positions,” said Speck.

Despite the loss of Flanagan and Vincent, and the graduation of midfielder Abbie West and goaltender Carolyn Stead (both of whom were starters throughout their careers), Coach Speck feels confident that a fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament bid is possible. “We have a lot of returning players who have been through it all,” he said. “These women have experience and have been battle tested in past tournaments.”

The Dutchwomen ended the 2002 campaign with an overall record of 14-5-1. Union finished with a goal scoring average of 1.97 while averaging 13.2 shots per game. The Garnet outscored the opposition 40-12 and produced 24 assists. The team won the UCAA regular season title with a record of 6-1and captured the UCAA Championship Tournament trophy with a 3-0 shutout over Hamilton and a 1-0 win over William Smith. Their bid for an NCAA title ended in the first game against New York University when the Violets advanced on
penalty kicks, 4-1, after the teams battled to a 2-2 double overtime tie. It marked the second consecutive year that penalty kicks ended the Dutchwomen's national championship hopes. The 2001 squad, which defeated Nazareth, 3-2, in the opening game, lost to host William Smith 4-3 in penalty kicks. Union led 1-0 until the hosts tied the game with 49 seconds remaining in regulation. The teams went to the penalty kick after four scoreless overtime periods.

Coach Speck feels that because he has a large number of returning veterans who played a lot last year before their season ended in disappointment. Motivation will not be any problem with this team. “We lost in the NCAA tournament the past two years in shootouts,” he explained. “These players have a lot of bitter determination and will go the extra step to make sure that it doesn't happen again.”

But first, the Dutchwomen will have to do a lot of preparation in terms of practice and workouts to get past a very difficult regular-season schedule. Four of the Garnet's seven UCAA games will be played on the road, including the annual battle with perennial NCAA participant William Smith (Union has never won in Geneva). Coach Speck is confident that the members of his team were dedicated to their off-season workouts and that the trip to Europe will help to eliminate any remaining rust. “My goal is to get them prepared for their season,” said Speck. “In terms of training, I will see where their fitness level is while we are on the trip. Their performances in Europe will determine what kind of workouts they are going to need when we return to campus.”

Click Here for the Dutchwomen's Home Page, 2003 Schedule, Statistics and More

As a whole, Coach Speck looks forward to a positive season for Dutchwomen. “The goal is always to do better than the year before,” he said. “I feel confident that our goals for 2003, though high, are very realistic.”

The Dutchwomen open the season with a five-game homestand that begins on September 6 as hosts of the Union Classic. The Garnet will take on Rhode Island at 10 a.m.

The Dutchwomen's Europe Itinerary

August 16-Arrive in Nice, the capital city of the French Riviera, Tour the Russian Orthodox Cathedral, built by Czar Nicolas, Sightseeing & Shopping, Attend Pro- fessional Soccer Game in Monaco

August-17-Team Departs for the Riviera, Visit Monaco and the church where Princess Grace was married and interred, Visit the Royal Palace of Prince Ranier, Sightsee and shop at the streets of Monaco, Visit Eze, a medieval village on the top of the hill overlooking the Riviera, Visit Fraganard Perfume Factory for a guided tour

Play Game 1 against E.S. Lorgues

August 18-Explore Nice with the opportunity to head for the beach, Spend the evening on the Conte d'Azur

August 19-Team Departs for Montecatini, Italy, along the Italian Riviera, Explore shops near Genoa, Italy, Training with the local area football (soccer) club

August 20-Explore Montecatini, Guided Tour of Florence, Shopping at area bazaar (known for its leather, jewelry and silk)

August 21-Two hour training session, Depart for PISA for tour of the pavilion and the Leaning Tower, Guided Tours of the city and grounds, Shopping in Montecatini

August 22-Team Departs for Cervia on the Adriatic Coast, Visit the beaches of Cervia, Shopping,

Prepare for Game 2 against Cervia
(an A-2 women's team)
After match, depart for Venice

August 23-Team Departs for San Marco Square, Visit Murano Island, home of the Factories of Venetian Glass

Prepare for Game 3 against Venezia
Depart for Lake Como and check in at the Grand Hotel Lake Como

August 24-Tour Lake Como, Visit the medieval wall surrounding the southern section of Lake Como, Shopping

Prepare for Game 4 against Valassinese A1

August 25-Team Departs for Milan, Visit San Siro Stadium and the Hall of Fame, Shopping at Domo, central shopping area featuring Prada, Gucci and other brand names, Visit Sandini, a famous Milano fashion center that offers big discounts for Italian clothing from the Mills of Northern Italy.

Prepare for Game 5 against Como 2000

August 26-Team Departs for Malpensa International Airport for return flight home.

August 27-Dutchwomen participate in their first preseason workout on campus

Posted on Aug 19, 2003

Tickets to the Second Annual Union College Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner are now on sale. Union will introduce the 2003 inductees at a dinner on Thursday, October 16. The evening will begin with a one hour reception at 6:30 followed by the induction ceremony.

Union, which last year opened its Hall of Fame by inducting Sigmund “Sig” Makofski (Class of 1926), Ken Whalen ('49), Tim Tedisco ('72), Rich Romer ('88), and Robin Romer-Chudy ('92), will induct six members this year, three posthumous and three living.

Greg Olson ('67), Bob Moffat ('78) and Julie Benker ('93) will be inducted along with posthumous members George Daley (1892), Ralph Semerad ('35) and Sam Hammerstrom ('40).

Cost for the event will be $60.00 per person. For more information or to order your tickets, please contact the Union College Department of Athletics at 518-388-6134.

Please click HERE for information on the 2002 Hall of Fame
dinner and induction ceremonies.

Posted on Aug 19, 2003

Union College alumni, Chris Hartnett, Class of 2003, was recently signed as a free agent by the Anaheim Angels and is now pitching with the minor league team, the Mesa Angels. Though a talented and dedicated asset to the Union College baseball team throughout his remarkable four-year career, the left-handed pitcher had to overcome a number of obstacles before he was able to realize his dream of signing a professional baseball contract.

Hartnett's long-term goal of playing professional baseball got its start while he was attending high school at the Albany Academy, where he was a four-year starter for the Cadets.

“I realized that I had talent and that if I worked hard, I could make it,” said Harnett.

He continued to play throughout high school, and after a very successful career, started his search for the right college. He looked at several schools including Boston College, American University, and University of Albany before selecting Union.

“I felt that Union offered the best education, as well as giving me the chance to play baseball,” Harnett said.

Gary Reynolds, Union's head baseball coach and the Dutchmen's all-time leader in coaching victories, knew he had recruited a real gem in the 6'2 Hartnett.

“Chris was a prize recruit from day one,” says Reynolds, who has led Union to 217 victories and two ECAC Upstate New York
championships during his 18-year career. “He was an All-State pitcher in high school, and in college had become one of the best pitchers in New York State, regardless of division.”

Reynolds points to Hartnett's Union College degree in history as one of the reasons that the pitcher has the mindset and confidence to pursue his dream.

“Chris knows he has the education to go through life without baseball,” Reynolds explained. “Chris knows that if he falls short of his dream of playing pro baseball that he has the educational tools necessary to make it in the world outside of athletics.”

Hartnett's freshman year at Union saw him finish with a fantastic earned run average (ERA) of 2.80. By the end of his senior season, Harnett lowered his career ERA to an outstanding 2.61, which
included an earned run averages of 1.91 and 1.94 during his junior and senior seasons, respectively. His fastball, which had topped out at 81mph during his senior year in high school, was clocked at 92 mph during his senior year in a garnet uniform. This improvement was the result of a lot of hard work and dedication on Hartnett's part.

“I ran, ran, ran,” said Hartnett of his intense workout routine. “I tried to run at least three miles a day and to get in a good bike workout. I also lifted more, especially the legs, and built up more strength. I did tons of arm strengthening exercises that were aimed at increasing my strength and flexibility in the elbow and shoulder.”

In addition to his dedication to his daily workouts Hartnett continued to be a strong contributor during practices and in games. Besides his athletic talent, Hartnett played a major leadership role throughout his Dutchman career.

“After his freshman year, Chris became the leader of our pitching staff, both physically and spiritually,” explained Reynolds. “He was captain his senior year and took to the responsibility easily.” Along with talent, Chris Hartnett had drive, and it didn't take long for people to notice.”

Hartnett had a workout with the Pittsburgh Pirates during his junior year. The spring of his senior year, he tried out with Georgia's independent minor league team, the Macon Bulldogs. Hartnett said that he had also made contact with Tampa Bay and San Diego.

“He set his sights on giving a lot of scouts a product to look at,” said Reynolds. “He made himself into a prospect. He was unflappable on the mound. Whether he was supported by 10 runs or one run, no errors or five errors, whether he had great stuff or battled through a game when he had average pitches and location, you could only see a determined, focused player.”

Despite an impressive college career, Hartnett was not able to secure a contract offer by the time he graduated in June. Instead of
becoming discouraged, he continued to work extremely hard while pursuing his dream.

“Playing professional baseball has always been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember,” recalled Hartnett. “I was determined to work hard and not stop until I reached that goal. It was tough at times because I knew I could play. I just kept on believing in myself and believing that something was going to happen.”

Hartnett went to Reynolds and let him know that he was willing to do anything in order to get a scout to look at him, even if it meant going to the scouts instead of asking them to come to him. With that, Hartnett asked Reynolds to see what he could do.

“Chris understood that an offer to a Division III player is rare,” said Reynolds. “His intelligence and maturity enabled him to realize he may need to go the extra mile to potentially live the 'dream.' I have always been proud of his mindset.”

Click HERE for Chris Harnett's stats
with the Mesa Angels, farm team of
the World Champion
Anaheim Angels.

The history major, with aspirations of attending business school, toyed with the idea of starting a business with his brother in which they would conduct background checks. Though his main goal was baseball, Hartnett engaged in a number of activities during his years at Union. He was a member of Theta Delta Chi fraternity, the Student Affairs Council board, and worked in Chet's, one of the student eateries on campus. He was also the Interfraternity Council president during his junior and senior years. Hartnett felt that having a degree under his belt helped his confidence in his pursuit of a professional baseball career. “It makes me feel more comfortable knowing that I can focus all my time and energy into baseball and not have to worry about finishing school later,” he states.

Hartnett's big break finally came during the first week in August when he traveled to Camden Yards in Baltimore, to try out for the World Champion Anaheim Angels. There he had the opportunity to meet manager Mike Scioscia, who led the Angels to their first-ever World Series championship last year, bench coach Joe Maddon, and pitching coach Bud Black, and speak to right fielders Jeff DaVanon and Tim Salmon. More importantly, Hartnett had the chance to show them what he could do on the mound. “Strangely, given the circumstance, I wasn't very nervous,” says Hartnett. “I figured this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I'm going to enjoy it with no regrets. I was so pumped with adrenaline that I knew I was going to succeed.”

After his tryout, Hartnett returned home and went back to work. A few days later, he spoke to Coach Reynolds who told him that Tom Burns, a scout from Anaheim had called. “I called him back and chatted briefly,” Hartnett recalls. “During the conversation, I never discussed signing or anything like that. It was more along the lines of getting him the information about when I was going to pitch next so he could come out and watch me play.” Later that night after returning home, Hartnett received a call from that same scout. This time, the scout offered him a contract. “I can't describe the overwhelming feeling of pride and accomplishment I had at that moment,” he states, “knowing that all the hard work paid off.”

Now, thanks to a lot of hard work and unstoppable determination, Hartnett is in Arizona living his dream. Reynolds feels that Hartnett, who pitched and played on the East Coast his whole life, may turn out to benefit him. “Chris has pitched less innings, which means that there has been less where and tear on his arm and legs, which will give him more staying power,” Reynolds explained. “His maturity, his willingness to work hard, his determination, his college experience, and the fact that he is a left-handed pitcher with control, gives him a good shot at realizing his dream.”

Chris Hartnett's Union College Dutchman Career:

In ‘Toga, with Union’s help, the play’s the thing

Posted on Aug 19, 2003

The College
was well represented in Saratoga Shakespeare's production of “Taming of
the Shrew” in July. About 1,000 people attended each of the 10 evening
performances in Congress Park, according to William Finlay,
artistic director of the company and professor of theater at Union.

In the
production were Carly Hirschberg, an intern and sophomore theatre major; Sara
Friedman '98, stage manager, who works professionally as an equity stage
manager; actor Spencer Christie '01, a professional actor; Patricia Culbert, actress,
guest artist in residence at Union; and Elizabeth Halakan '02, a Union theatre
alumna who worked as development director for the company.

Finlay
founded Saratoga Shakespeare in 2000. The plays, which feature professional
actors, have been well received by critics and youngsters alike.

The company's website is at: http://www.saratogashakespeare.com.

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