Purple Knights News

May 8, 2006

This Week In Saint Michael's College Athletics


COLCHESTER, Vt. - The 2005-06 sports season came to a close, as softball ended with three wins in its final four games, men's lacrosse fell in the Northeast-10 Conference Semifinals, and baseball finished with a pair of one-run losses.

The men's lacrosse team (9-6) completed one of the finest seasons in program history with an 11-3 loss at top-ranked and undefeated Le Moyne in the NE-10 Semifinals on Wednesday. The Purple Knights, seeded fourth in the league playoffs and coming off of the program's first postseason victory in the quarterfinals, received goals from senior Brandon Kobelt (Rye, N.Y./Fordham Prep), junior Ryan Tracy (Marblehead, Mass./Brewster Academy) and freshman Bryan Zaremba (Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset), and an assist from senior Eric Libby (Cohasset, Mass./Cohasset). Sophomore Jeff Hannon (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug Regional) stopped 14 shots in net. With nine wins, Saint Michael's finished just one victory shy of the program record of 10 set in 2002. Kobelt, meanwhile, ended his illustrous four-year career with 143 points, tied with Jonathan Curley '02 for third in program history.

The softball team (18-24, 12-16 NE-10) completed its season by sweeping a doubleheader versus Bentley College on May 1, and splitting a twinbill against Merrimack College on Tuesday at Doc Jacobs Field. Against the Falcons, the Purple Knights won the opener, 3-0, as freshman Megan O'Connor (Georgetown, Mass./Georgetown) threw a five-hitter while fanning eight batters. In game two, Saint Michael's prevailed in 11 innings, 3-2, as junior Meggan Roberge (Sheldon Springs, Vt./Missisquoi Valley Union) pitched all 11 innings and struck out 10 to pick up the victory. Versus the Warriors, Saint Michael's again went extra innings before earning the win in game one, 8-7. Roberge pitched all eight innings to earn the victory, while classmate Meg Currier (Greenfield, Mass./Stoneleigh-Burnham School) singled twice and drove in two runs. The Purple Knights fell in the nightcap, 9-0, despite two more hits from Currier.

The baseball team (9-12) closed its season with a pair of one-run losses in New York. On May 1, the Purple Knights were edged for the third straight time by Plattsburgh State University, 3-2. Senior Dan O'Connor (Worcester, Mass./Worcester Academy) threw his sixth complete game of the season in his final college appearance, allowing just five hits and two earned runs. At the plate, Saint Michael's scored twice in the eighth inning to cut its deficit to one run, but left the bases loaded in that frame, and the tying run on third base in the ninth inning. On Wednesday, the Purple Knights ended the year with a 7-6 setback at Saint Lawrence University. Senior Aaron Ciullo (Pittsfield, Mass./Pittsfield) allowed just one earned run in 5.1 innings pitched for the Purple Knights, who led, 4-2, before allowing five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Senior Kevin Foley (Reading, Mass./Reading Memorial) went 3-for-4 at the plate in his final collegiate contest.

Several Purple Knights received All-Conference accolades from the NE-10. In women's lacrosse, senior Noel Smith (Somers, Conn./Somers) received First Team honors, while classmate Kristen Palazzo (Armonk, N.Y./Byram Hills) and sophomore Amanda Soule (Hartland, Vt./Woodstock Union) picked up Second Team honors. In men's lacrosse, sophomore Kevin Simmons (Ridgewood, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) was a Second Team recipient, and in softball, junior Casey Brooks (Colchester, Vt./Colchester) earned First Team accolades and sophomore Maggie Russell (Wellesley, Mass./Wellesley) received Third Team honors.

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