John Cagianello (Wethersfield, CT/Loomis Chaffee) had a big week in leading Union to two victories in three games. He averaged 29 points, shot 56% from the floor, 92% from the line (23-25) and had 15 rebounds and six steals on the week. He scored 30 points in a season-opening 86-69 win at NYC Tech, and had 24 in an 82-71 home win over Utica. Cagianello scored 33 at Middlebury Saturday.
On Tuesday at Williams, he led the Dutchmen with 20 points and six rebounds, as he became the fourth player in Union history to break the 1500-point plateau. Cagianello was named the Liberty League Guard of the Week and also the ECAC Division III Upstate Player of the Week.
“John's play this week is a fine example of his continued growth as a player,” stated head coach Bob Montana. “Not only did he provide us with consistent scoring from his position, his floor game gave us an opportunity to win in each game.”
Union, 3-1, returns home to the Viniar Saturday for a date with Carnegie Mellon, a team that enters Friday's game at Skidmore with a 7-0 record. The contest vs. the Tartans Saturday afternoon (3 p.m.) will be a unique match-up featuring two of this week's ECAC players of the week, Cagianello and Nate Maurer (the ECAC Southern Player of the Week).
The Union women's basketball team, like their male counterparts, have had a solid pre-conference schedule. The Dutchwomen, after playing three straight road games to open the season, have the home opener Friday night at the Viniar, with a 6 p.m. contest against 6-1 Rochester. Through three games, sophomore guard Devon Ciliberto (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz) has a team-high 8.3 rebounding average and senior guard Erika Eisenhut (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) is averaging a team leading 13.0 points per game and has 11 assists. Another home contest is on tap next week, as Springfield comes to Union for a 7 p.m. game on Tuesday night, December 13.
Head Coach Scott Felix had high expectations entering the Liberty League Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Championships last weekend. His teams did not disappoint, as the Dutchwomen and Dutchmen heated up the water as much as Cagianello warmed up the gym. The Dutchwomen won the Liberty League Championship at RPI, earning 710 points to win their first title since 1997, ending Hamilton's reign as the seven-time consecutive league champions dating back to 1998. Union won the 400 medley relay with a time of 4:06.7, led by Amy Nestlerode (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott), Brianne Phillips (West Hartford, CT/Conard), Sydnie Wells (Bolton Landing, NY/Bolton Central) and Christa White (Washington, DC/Choate Rosemary Hall). Union also won the 200 medley relay, with Nestlerode, Phillips and White joined by Mary Larkin (Conklin, NY/Susquehanna Valley) with a meet record time of 1:52.79. Larkin won the 100 fly at 59.96, and Phillips took the 100 breast at 1:09.90 and 200 breast at 2:32.65.
Felix was impressed.
“Breaking the 200 IM mark really excited me, with the new meet record,” said Felix. “It was the first swim on Saturday morning, and we got on a roll from there. That time was four seconds faster then a year ago. Our divers stepped up too. The final swim that really helped us was the 200 fly, where we were 1-2-3 and had four of the top seven in that event. This was a team effort all the way.”
On the men's side, Union's Kevin Kewin (Brockport, NY/Brockport) was named Co-Rookie of the Meet. Kewin finished third in the 200 IM with a time of 1:69.59, and helped Union to a second place finish in the 400 medley relay. He was joined by D.J. Hogenkamp (East Aurora, NY/East Aurora), Pat Caniff (Latham, NY/Shaker), and Adam Bisogni (Ithaca, NY/Ithaca) for a time of 3:43.18. Hogenkamp was second in the 100 fly at 53.29 and Kewin was third at 54.42. Union had 732 points for a second place finish in the men's meet.
“Kevin swam four events for us and he was in the top five of virtually every swim,” said Felix. “He played a pretty big roll in the team score.”
The teams are idle until January 7 when Union hosts Hartwick and Springfield.