The Union men's soccer team, now 3-1 on the year, opened up the home season in style, winning two games in the Union Classic at Garis Field. Saturday, Poey, a sophomore forward from Amherst, MA and Amherst Regional, scored four goals to lead the Dutchmen to a 5-1 victory over New Paltz. He scored on four of his five shots on the net. The last time this tremendous feat was accomplished was in 1976, when John Denio tweaked the twine four times. But it was Richard Steinbrenner who set the mark with four goals in 1958.
Poey wasn't done for his wonderful weekend. He scored a goal and assisted on another in a 7-0 triumph over Mount Saint Mary on Sunday. Thus, in two days, Poey finished with five goals on eight shots on goal and one assist for 11 points. He was this week's Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week, and was one of four Union student-athletes to receive league awards in this win-filled week of action.
“What a weekend, five goals and an assist,” commented an elated Union Head Coach Jeff Guinn. “Chris had a great game against New Paltz, a team that proved to be a quality team in Sunday's overtime loss to RPI. He always seems to be in the right spot at the right time, and the ball just seems to find him.
“Chris also played well Sunday, and had a goal and an assist while playing 45 minutes. He continues to work on his strength, fitness and technical abilities, which will only make him a better player throughout his career.”
Poey's 11 points and five goals lead the Dutchmen, while senior midfielder Wade Cheatham (Edwards, CO/Vail Mountain School) has four goals and nine points. In the nets, freshman goalkeeper Rob Shirley (Wrentham, MA/King Phillip) has not allowed a goal in over 67 minutes of play.
The field hockey team jumped out to an impressive 2-0 start, and it all “starts” with the goalkeeper. Freshman goaltender Elise Wakeland (Arundel, ME/Kennebunk) made four saves for the shutout in a defensive contest that saw a total of nine shots on goal in 98 minutes of play in a 1-0 double OT win at Oswego. Earlier in the week in her debut, she made one save in just over 62 minutes in the 6-0 win over Regis. Wakeland received the Liberty League's Rookie of the Week award.
“Elise played outstanding against Oswego last Thursday,” said Union coach Lacey French. “She faced a great deal of pressure inside the circle, pressure which did not necessarily lead to shots directly on her but she was moving really well and getting to balls that she needed to in order to clear the ball out of the circle.
Wakeland has made quite an impact on the Dutchwomen in her first season. She has a 2.87 GAA through three games, including a 19-save effort against Williams.
“She brings leadership to our defense, and is an excellent communicator,” said French. “She also has a composed presence in the goal, which is a great characteristic to have in a goalkeeper.”
The field hockey squad hosts Skidmore to open league play Friday night.
Another Liberty League award went to Union football sophomore Vito Pellerito. The linebacker from Pompano Beach, FL and St. Thomas Aquinas High put on a defensive show in the Dutchmen's 35-7 opening victory over Springfield. Union's defense, featuring many new faces in starting roles this fall, forced two key fumbles and made the big plays while the veteran explosive offense put up the numbers on the “home” side. Pellerito earned the Liberty League's Defensive Player of the Week award with 13 tackles, including 11 primary hits.
“Vito has worked very hard with his conditioning and is very athletic,” Head Coach John Audino commented. “He can be a great football player here at Union. He has very good speed and is always in a position to make plays. We are pleased with his efforts and he is very deserving of this honor. We look for some more great games from Vito.”
Junior running back Tom Arcidiacono (Castleton, NY/Columbia) rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns and junior quarterback Anthony Marotti (River Edge, NJ/Riv. Dell) tossed for 295 yards and three touchdowns in the win. The Dutchmen scored 21 fourth quarter points to put the game away against the Pride. Union had 458 yards of total offense in the victory. Junior wide receiver Steve Angiletta (Plantsville, CT/Southington) had 148 yards on 10 catches and touchdowns receptions of five and 10 yards for the Dutchmen. Marotti was 21 for 35 on the day for the Dutchmen. This week, Union heads to Allentown, PA, to face Muhlenberg, a team that has gone to the NCAA's three straight seasons.
Poey, Wakeland and Pellerito have company this week. Union women's soccer player Ashley Brown (Plainville, CT/Suffield Academy) was the Liberty League Rookie fo the Week as she scored two goals and added an assist to help Union improve to 4-0 following a pair of wins at the William Smith Heron Classic over the weekend. In the first game she capped off the scoring with the lone goal of the second half in Union's 6-1 win over Elmira. She followed that up with a goal and an assist against Gettysburg.
“We are slowly working Ashley into the rotation,” said Head Coach Brian Speck, who has his team ranked #8 nationally (up from 12 last week) in the latest NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division III national ranking. “She reminds me of Missy Matusewicz, our all-time leading scorer.”
Senior forward Cassandra Mariani (Boonton, NJ / Morris Catholic) has nine points to lead Union while goalkeeper Julie Gawronski (Dunkirk, NY/Dunkirk) has a 1.11 goals against mark through the 4-0 start. The Dutchwomen are in the midst of a four-game home stretch that will include the Liberty League opener against Rochester on Saturday at 12 p.m.
The men's and women's cross country teams opened up the season last week at Hamilton, and are idle this week. Freshman Patricio Guaiquil (Long Island City, NY/Brooklyn Tech) led the men in his first meet with an 18th place finish, and the women had sixth and seventh place finishes from Jane Wolkowicz (Medota Heights, MN) and Akousua Dwumfour (Shewsbury, NY/Shrewsbury).
The women's tennis team stood 1-3 entering the week, and has a hectic schedule with road matches at Skidmore Sunday and Oneonta Tuesday. Five players have posted one victory each in singles and four different doubles teams have one win each as Coach Bill Brahler mixes and matches his lineup in the early stages of the season.
The Dutchwomen volleyball team, coming off a weekend that featured the first win of the season, host the Union Invitational this weekend. Union will entertain Hartwick, Oswego, Potsdam, Russell Sage, Skidmore, Utica and Vassar. The Dutchwomen take on Hartwick Friday at 4 p.m. and Oswego at 8 p.m., and will face Vassar Saturday at 1 p.m. Pool play will continue through the day with the last two matches starting at 5 p.m. Saturday. Sophomore setter Suzan Barbaritz (Clarence, NY/Clarence) is averaging 6.7 assists per game entering the weekend.