April 5, 2009
| Friday, April 3 |
Another big weekend on tap for UMass teams. The baseball squad opens its open schedule with a three-game set against Temple starting Friday at 3 p.m. Also today at 3 p.m., the women's lax team hosts Richmond at McGuirk Stadium. Tonight the hockey teams hosts its Pond Club Reverse Raffle at 6:30 p.m. On Saturday action moves to Garber Field as the No. 14 men's lax team hosts St. John's in an ECAC battle. The baseball team continues with Temple at 1 p.m. The track teams compete down at UConn. The softball team returns to action at Sunday as Saint Louis comes to Amherst for a twinbill.
Brandice Balschmiter's 1000th career strikeout is the focus of the recaps on the softball team's sweep of Vermont in the Daily Hampshire Gazette and the Springfield Republican.
The announcement of the discontinuation of the UMass skiing teams is covered nationally in USA Today and regionally in the Springfield Republican, Daily Hampshire Gazette, Boston Herald Boston Globe and WWLP.
More on John Calipari's hire at Kentucky with his connections to his time at UMass. The Lexington Herald-Leader has a feature on his ties to UMass alum Rick Pitino.
Here is the feature on UMass' Cory Quirk in the Schenectady Daily Gazette that focuses on his relationship with assistant coach Red Gendron and their ties to the Albany River Rats.
The Schenectady Daily Gazette has a sports blog that mentions Cory Quirk, who is playing for the Albany River Rats and former Rats head and assistant coach Red Gendron, now an assistant at UMass, where Quirk played the last four years. In fact, Quirk and Gendron arrived on campus together in the fall of 2005. Rats assistant Geordie Kinnear, who both played and coached under Red in Albany, talked to his old boss before the team signed Quirk.
Inside Lacrosse has its weekly league notebook with several mentions of UMass in the ECAC.
UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: The Watch & Listen link features all your info and links to the broadcasts for the games this weekend as far as watching and listening .
Don't miss this: The hockey team hosts two events starting with Friday's Reverse Raffle at 6:30 p.m. On Saturday, the team has its Team Banquet at 12 Noon.
| Thursday, April 2 |
April showers bring May flowers. That was the story yesterday as the softball team's 5-0 win over Dartmouth was rain-shortened. Today the team looks to continue its winning ways with a doubleheader against Vermont starting at 2 p.m. There are also plenty of stories that mention UMass as former Minuteman coach John Calipari was named the head coach at Kentucky. JTAM has stories on this including ones on Derek Kellogg's reaction to the hiring.
The softball win and Brandice Balschmiter's 1-hitter over Dartmouth is covered in the Springfield Republican and th Daily Collegian.
Check out the preview of the UMass-St. John's lacrosse game set for Saturday at 1 p.m., in the Daily Collegian.
The Daily Collegian has a nice feature on UMass goalie Doc Schneider and Penn State netminder Drew Adams and how they have a special rivalry.
In the Berkshire Eagle, Howard Herman writes that UMass fans can relate to what Memphis fans will be going through with John Calipari departing.
From Kentucky, the Lexington Herald-Leader has an interesting story about when Calipari was hired at UMass in 1988. It has great information from Glenn Wong, UMass' Faculty Athletic Representative.
ESPN.com has an interesting story about when Calipari left UMass to coach the NBA's New Jersey Nets.
UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: The UMass hockey reverse raffle will be held on Friday, April 3 at 6:30 p.m. Information can be found here.
Don't miss this: The red-hot softball teams hosts a doubleheader with Vermont on Thursday at the Softball Complex, action gets underway at 2 p.m.
| Wednesday, April 1 |
Happy April Fool's Day! Beware of the tricks and jokes! Nothing to joke about at the UMass Sports Luncheon as the winter scholar-athletes will be honored at 12 Noon at the Campus Center. Hockey's Martin Nolet and diver Karen Upperco will be recognized and will speak at the luncheon. Also, women's lacrosse associate head coach Acacia Walker will speak about playing for the U.S. National Team. Thursday also features a softball home game against Dartmouth at 4 p.m. Check out JTAM for news on the new NBA D-League team in Springfield where Derek Kellogg was a featured speaker at the press conference. Also former UMass coach John Calipari is set to take over at Kentucky.
In the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Matt Vautour has a look back at Derek Kellogg's first season as head coach at UMass.
Kellogg was one of the dignataries on hand to welcome the new NBA D-League team to his native Springfield on Tuesday. Here is the Springfield Republican's story on the relocation of the Anaheim team to Basketball City USA. Here is the official release from the D-League.
Here is the Associated Press story on John Calipari's expected hiring at Kentucky. It mentions his time at UMass from 1988-1996.
Inside Lacrosse's Quint Kessenich has an early look at potential draft picks for the 2009 Major League Lacrosse Draft. He mentions UMass' Jimmy Connolly and Doc Schneider among his Top 20 picks.
Penn State's student newspaper, also known as the Daily Collegian, printed its recap of the UMass-PSU lacrosse game today.
The softball team is now ranked No. 23 in the NFCA Coaches Poll. In the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25, UMass holds steady at No. 18.
Cory Quirk scored his first professional goal in the Albany River Rats' 5-3 loss to Bridgeport on Tuesday evening. He already has a goal and assist only four games into his professional career.
UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: The UMass football spring roster has been posted. It features some of the new players on the team for 2009.
Don't miss this: The sports luncheon is a special one as we honor winter scholar-athletes Martin Nolet and Karen Upperco. Also athletes of the week lacrosse players Meghan Reddy and Jimmy Connolly will be recognized. Join us in Room 1009 of the Campus Center at 12 Noon.
| Tuesday, Mar. 31 |
Last day of March, can you believe it? The only team in action today is baseball, who plays for the second straight day after falling to UConn, 8-1 on Monday. Congratulations to two laxers, Jim Connolly and Meghan Reddy, who were named UMass/Dinn Bros. Co-Athlete of the Week. It's springtime, but this JTAM has an update on Mass Attack alums who are vying for AHL playoff berths.
Despite the scintillating 9-8 win over Penn State on Saturday, the men's lacrosse team stayed at #14 in the polls. The Minutemen remain the highest ranked ECAC team followed by Loyola (15), Fairfield (20), and Georgetown (RV).
Inside Lacrosse's Quint Kessenich has UMass No. 10 in his weekly poll. He states:
The Minutemen may be the nation's best three-loss team. They won a squeaker over Penn State this week to keep their ECAC title hopes alive. Doc Schneider and Jim Connolly continue to do the heavy lifting for Coach Greg Cannella.
Baseball's 8-1 loss at UConn was chronicled in the Springfield Republican's daily roundup. The UConn official athletic website also had a recap along with the Daily Collegian.
Looking at UMass baseball in the pros, Chad Paronto was unfortunately reassigned to Houston Astros minor league camp on Sunday.
Check out this interesting article on AHL linesman Jim Briggs, who is hoping to get his chance in the NHL. He actually attended UMass, although he never played for the Mass Attack.
Cory Quirk is mentioned in the Schenectady Gazette as he may see added time playing time for the AHL's Albany River Rats.
With the hockey season winding down, many UMass alums in the professional ranks are in the heat of playoff chases. One player, P.J. Fenton will be in action down the road in Springfield on Wednesday night to lead his Worcester Sharks, who are one point ahead of Manchester for the fourth and final Atlantic Division Playoff spot. The Sharks are trailing Mike Kostka and his Portland Pirates by two points for third place in the division. Meanwhile, in the East Division, the Binghamton Senators (Greg Mauldin) are in the final playoff position. Alex Berry's new team, the Toronto Marlies, are currently tied with Syracuse for the final playoff spot in the North Division of the Western Conference. In the West Division, two UMass alums (Mark Matheson and Stephen Werner) are leading the Milwaukee Admirals who stand comfortably in first. Matt Anderson and the Chicago Wolves are three points out of the final playoff spot. For the complete standings, please click here.
Gary Forbes continues to impress for the NBDL's Tulsa 66'ers. On Sunday, he scored a team-high 19 points with nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals. For his complete season statistics, please click here.
The Collegian also has stories on rowing, A-10 softball, and A-10 baseball.
UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out:The second annual Softball FanFest will take place on May 3. Click here for more information and to order tickers.
Don't miss this: Softball polls are released today. Check back to see if UMass moved up after wins over Saint Bonaventure last weekend.
| Monday, Mar. 30 |
Lots of wins for the UMass squads this weekend! The nationally-ranked lacrosse and softball teams picked up wins at home over Penn State and St. Bonaventure, respectively. The women's lacrosse team is tied for first in the A-10 after a weekend sweep of Philly schools La Salle and Saint Joseph's. The rowing team recaptured the Yankee Cup in Kingston, R.I. On Monday, the baseball team plays UConn for the 152nd time in history, in Storrs.
Take a look back at the No. 14 UMass men's lacrosse narrow 9-8 win over Penn State in the Springfield Republican, Daily Hampshire Gazette, Inside Lacrosse, Daily Collegian and WWLP TV.
If you are a lacrosse fan or even just a sports fan, one of the most amazing games took place in lacrosse over the weekend as No. 1 Virginia topped No. 9 Maryland, 10-9, SEVEN overtimes on Saturday. Yes SEVEN OTs, which set a new Division I college lacrosse record, breaking the mark of six between Navy and North Carolina in 2002. Inside Lacrosse has a weekend roundup of men's lacrosse which mentions a pair of 5OT games that have connections to UMass. In 1988, UMass beat Cornell, 8-7 in five overtimes.
The softball team sweep of St. Bonaventure, is recapped in The Republican leading its round-up with this story on Saturday's 10-2 win. The Daily Hampshire Gazette has a recap of Friday's 4-0 win. The Daily Collegian has this look back at the wins.
Looking back at women's lacrosse's pair of wins at La Salle and Saint Joseph's, here are stories from the Daily Collegian and Inside Lacrosse.
The Berkshire Eagle has a feature on former UMass hockey star Cory Quirk, who has hooked on with the AHL's Albany River Rats.
The Frozen Four is set and three UMass opponents will compete for the NCAA title as No. 1 overall seed Boston University is taking on Vermont while Bemidji State will face Miami, Ohio. The Minutemen went 1-2 against the Terriers, 0-1-2 vs. UVM and 0-1 against Bemidji.
The baseball team was swept at Fordham this weekend. The Daily Collegian has a recap of the trio of narrow defeats.
The Daily Collegian has a story on the tennis team falling at Old Dominion and Richmond.
UMass runner and South Hadley native Andrew Mulvaney captured the Holyoke St. Patrick's Race. He is profiled in the Springfield Republican.
UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: The lacrosse team will host defending national champion Syracuse on April 25 at McGuirk Stadium as UMass looks to BREAK THE RECORD in men's lacrosse home attendance. The mark of 12,143 was set in 1989 also against Syracuse.
Don't miss this: Monday will bring the announcement of the UMass/Dinn Brothers Athlete of the Week and weekly players of the week for the conferences. Also check back to see if the men's lacrosse team rises in the polls released today.
Look Back To The Week Of: March 23-27 | March 16-20 | March 9-13 | Mar. 2-6 | Feb. 23-27 | Feb. 16-20 | Feb. 9-13 | Feb. 2-6 | Jan. 26-30 | Jan. 19-23 | Jan. 12-16 | Jan. 5-9 | Dec. 29, 2008-Jan. 2, 2009 | Dec. 22-26 | Dec. 15-19 | Dec. 8-12 | Dec. 1-5 | Nov. 24-28 | Nov. 17-21 | Nov. 10-14 | Nov. 3-7 | Oct. 27-31 | Oct. 20-24, 2008 |
Oct. 13-17, 2008 | Oct. 6-10, 2008 | Sept. 29-Oct. 3, 2008 | Sept. 22-26, 2008 | Sept. 15-19, 2008 | Sept. 8-12, 2008 | Sept. 1-5, 2008 | Aug. 25-29, 2008 | Aug. 18-22, 2008
