The women's soccer team spent a few days in Greensboro, North Carolina, and actually enjoyed their stay quite immensely. Union dominated the Guilford Labor Day Classic, with wins over the host school Guilford (5-1 Saturday) and Greensboro (4-1 Sunday). The Dutchwomen outshot the two teams by a combined total of 53-2 for the weekend.
Senior forward Cassandra Mariani (Boonton, NJ / Morris Catholic) is one of eight seniors on this year's team. The four-year seniors are “3 for 3” in tournaments, with two NCAA playoff appearances and a 2004 ECAC Upstate New York Championship on their resumes. They also are 52-9-3 during that span. Mariani got the ball rolling in the 2005 season with a big weekend that brought her Liberty League Player of the Week honors. She scored three goals with an assist and had 11 shots, including six on goal, with a game-winner. Mariani scored two goals in the opening win vs. Guilford with an assist and added another goal in the victory over Greensboro.
“This is Cassandra's year,” said Speck. “This past weekend, she was dangerous every time she touched the ball.”
Meanwhile, a Union newcomer made quite a splash on the soccer pitch in Greensboro. Freshman midfielder Chelsea Hargis (East Lyme, CT/East Lyme) was named this week's Liberty League Rookie of the Week. She scored a goal in her first career game, the win over host Guilford, and scored again in the victory over Greensboro.
“Chelsea is a very technical player who also has the ability to shoot the ball from outside the 18-yard line,” Speck said. “She is a nice weapon to have and a great addition to our team.”
The Dutchwomen jump right back into another tournament this weekend. Union will compete in the William Smith Tournament with games against Elmira Saturday and Gettysburg Sunday.
The men's soccer team will host the Union Classic Saturday and Sunday at College Park. The Dutchmen take on New Paltz Saturday at 12 p.m., with Rensselaer facing Mt. St. Mary at 2:30 p.m. Sunday's schedule features Union and Mt. St. Mary at 12 p.m. and Rennselaer and New Paltz meeting at 2:30 p.m. The Dutchmen split in their opening weekend, bouncing back from a 1-0 loss to Southern Maine to defeat SUNYIT, 2-0 on Sunday. Goalkeeper Rob Kramer (Westport, CT/Staples) has made nine saves and allowed one goal in over 160 minutes of play in the early going.
What do Lacey French and Bailey Field have in common? Lacey was the interim coach of the women's lacrosse team that was the last Union squad to play on the old turf, when the Dutchwomen won the Liberty League title on the surface in May. On Labor Day this fall, she guided the field hockey team to a season opening 6-0 victory over Regis in the first Union athletic event on the new field turf surface. Senior forward Kristin Murphy (Branford, CT/Branford) scored twice in the win for the Dutchwomen, who play at Oswego Thursday before returning home September 13 to host Williams at 5:30 p.m.
Coach John Audino's Union football team kicks off the 2005 campaign with a tough test on the new Bailey Field turf. Saturday night, in the only night game of the season, the Dutchmen host Springfield College at 7 p.m. The contest features a halftime ceremony to honor the seven new inductees to the Union Athletics Hall of Fame. Union has 38 lettermen returning and 10 starters back on offense, while a new look defense will look to keep the famous Springfield ground game in check on opening night. Junior QB Anthony Marotti (River Edge, NJ/River Dell) comes off a big season that featured 2,319 yards and 20 TDs through the air.
First-year Coach Bill Brahler and the Union women's tennis team got their season off to a super start by defeating Clarkson 8-1 Saturday. Junior Jennie Werts (New York, NY/Fieldston School) set the tone in No. 1 singles with a 6-0, 6-3 victory. The Dutchwomen, 1-1, will face Vassar on the road Saturday before opening up the home season with a 12 p.m. match against Wheaton on Sunday.
The Union volleyball team faced some stiff competition in four matches last weekend at the Oneonta Invitational. The Dutchwomen will look to crack the victory column at the Vassar Invitational Friday and Saturday. Sophomore defensive specialist Danna DeBlasio (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) is averaging 3.24 digs per game for Coach Sandy Collins' squad.
Hamilton will host the men's and women's cross country teams this weekend, as the Dutchmen and Dutchwomen teams open their 2005 seasons. Chris Bory (Holtsville, MA/Beaver Country Day) is one of three seniors for the men's team, while Coach Dave Riggi's women's roster features just one senior on the roster, Jennifer Paludi (Delanson, NY/Duanesburg).