University of Massachusets Athletics

Just Take A Minute: May 17-21, 2010

May 24, 2010 | General

 

Boomer bytes

  

Friday, May 21, 2010

After a week of preparation, the Amherst NCAA Softball Regional begins tonight! At 5 p.m., No. 13 seed Arizona State takes on Boston University and at 7:30 p.m., UMass hosts Long island. The baseball team will look to even the series with La Salle with an early 1 p.m., contest. JTAM has news on these teams and more.

SOFTBALL

  • Here are the previews on the Amherst Regional from various outlets: Springfield Republican, Pac 10 Website.

    FOOTBALL

  • UMass alum Vladimir Ducasse is currently starting at left guard for the Jets in their OTAs. Here are two stories that mentions the Minuteman product and his progress: New York Times and Newark Star-Ledger.

    Vladimir Ducasse has been starting at left guard for the Jets in OTAs.

  • The Hartford Courant has a tidbit on UMass as part of a Question & Answer session: Q: Does Umass playing at Gillette Stadium this year mean they might begin the process to move up to FBS and possibly join the Big East?

    HOCKEY

  • The Wisconsin Badgers announced their 2010-11 hockey schedule which includes a two-day series on Dec. 30-31 against UMass.

    BASEBALL

  • The Arizona Republic has a great update on UMass alum Matt Torra, who could be nearing a recall to the Diamondbacks with his great showing in Reno. Torra has been a consistent starting pitcher and strike-thrower for the Aces. He has pitched at least six innings in every start, walking only batter in each of his six starts. He has 19 strikeouts in 41 1/3 innings with a 2.83 ERA.

    LACROSSE

  • UMass alums will be in action this Saturday as all six MLL teams are in action. The Toronto Nationals with goalie Doc Schneider will play host to the Chesapeake Bayhawks, who are hopeful of having Jeff Zywicki in action for the first time. The game will air live on ESPN2 on Saturday at 2 p.m. The 2005 All-American won the NLL Championship last weekend with the Washington Stealth.

  • The Boston Cannons with Jack Reid play the Chicago Machine featuring alums Brett Garber and Kevin Leveille. Tim Balise is also listed on the Machine roster, but didn't play last week.

  • The Long Island Lizards and 2003 grad Chris Fiore play at the Denver Outlaws on Saturday at 9 p.m.

    SOCCER

  • The Springfield Republican has a look at the New England Mutiny with mentions of several UMass products including Vanessa Patry. The Mutiny, who play host to the Maine Tide Saturday at 7 p.m. at Enrico Fermi High School in Enfield, Conn., lost their opener last Saturday, 2-0 to division rival Boston Aztec23.

    No student-athlete birthdays today.

  • Check This Out On UMassAthletics.com: Everything you need to know about the Amherst Regional can be found on the Tournament Central Page.

  • Don't Miss This: Three games on campus. Baseball hosts La Salle at 1 p.m., then softball takes center stage as Arizona State battles BU at 5 p.m., and UMass hosts LIU at 7:30 p.m. For tickets to the softball games, call 1-866-UMASS-TIX.

      

    Thursday, May 20, 2010

    The action returns to campus today as the baseball team hosts its final regular-season series this afternoon. Nick Serino will pitch against La Salle starting at 3 p.m. Also this afternoon, the four softball teams in the Amherst Regional will practices and hold press conferences, which you can watch here on UMassAthletics.com.

    SOFTBALL

  • In the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Matt Vautour has a feature story on outfielder Carly Normandin. Check out the piece on the diving sensation!

  • Norm, as she is known, is also mentioned in the Worcester Telegram.

    BASEBALL

  • The Daily Collegian has its final regular-season preview -- as UMass hosts La Salle in a three-game set starting today at 3 p.m.

    FOOTBALL

  • The UMass vs. UNH football game at Gillette Stadium was made official yesterday. Here are various reports on the game set for Oct. 23: ESPN.com, Boston Globe, Daily Hampshire Gazette, Laconia Citizen, Attelboro Sun, Boston Herald, NECN.

  • UMass alum and former Northampton coach Frank Tudryn has passed away at age 62 after a bout with cancer. The Springfield Republican has an obit.

    LACROSSE

  • The Boston Globe has a great feature on former UMass player and current North Andover coach Steve Connolly.

  • Great season for former UMass assistant coach Jake Coon, who led RIT to the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals before losing to defending national champion Cortland, 15-7 yesterday. In his first season at the helm of the Tigers, Coon led RIT to a 14-6 record.

    BASKETBALL

  • In men's basketball news Bruiser Flint continues to be fond of his UMass connections. He has hired UMass alum and former manager Matt Collier. Read about it in the _assistant.html">Philadelphia Daily News. "We always like to keep it in the family," Flint said of Collier, who was the head manager at UMass when Flint coached there. Collier, who served as an assistant at Howard for the last five seasons.

  • Former women's player Monique Govan was named the Director of Basketball Operations at Georgia Tech.

  • The auburn_men.html">Birmingham News has a feature story on UMass alum and new Auburn head coach Tony Barbee.

    No student-athlete birthdays today.

  • Check This Out On UMassAthletics.com:Want to travel to the UMass at Michigan football game on Sept. 18, 2010? .resrunner.com/_events/652/package.html">Get Your Travel Package Today! Charter planes leave from New York City and Worcester.

  • Don't Miss This: Baseball takes center stage at 3 p.m., as the Minutemen fight for an A-10 Tournament berth, playing against La Salle at Earl Lorden Field.

      

    Wednesday, May 19, 2010

    The final UMass Sports Luncheon for the 2009-10 season takes place this afternoon at the Campus Center Room 1009. Join us at 12:15 p.m., for a trio of guest speakers: softball coach Elaine Sortino, baseball coach Mike Stone and new women's soccer coach Ed Matz. Lots of softball news in Just Take A Minute as we are just two days away from the start of the NCAA Regional on Friday.

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY - MAY 19:
    Will Ortiz (Hockey),
    Eileen Seffron (Field Hockey)

    SOFTBALL

  • In the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Matt Vautour reflects on last season's epic 15-inning loss to eventual national champion Washington.

  • The Bristol Press has a feature on UMass and its local stars leading them into the NCAA Tournament. A Bristol Eastern graduate, sophomore Sara Plourde is the top pitcher for UMass, with a 40-6 record, 1.17 ERA and an NCAA-leading 545 strikeouts in 305 innings. Also on the UMass squad is fellow Bristol Eastern graduate Audrey Boutin, a junior. She has played in 30 games for the Minutemen, starting 15 as the designated player. She has 13 hits, including a double and eight RBI in 55 at-bats.

  • The Brooklyn Daily Eagle has a look at UMass' first-round opponent Long Island.

    BASEBALL

  • 2009 UMass alum Mitchell Clegg moved to 4-0 with the Hagerstown Suns with a 4-1 win in the first game of a doubleheader sweep. Clegg went five innings, allowing just one run and striking out two.

    FOOTBALL

  • UMass' Vladimir Ducasse is mentioned in this story on Bleacher Report about the New York Jets ever-changing roster.

    BASKETBALL

  • The Albany Legends of the International Basketball League welcome UMass great Rashaun Freeman to the roster for this weekend's games vs. the Holland Blast.

  • Check This Out On UMassAthletics.com: The UMass Spring Jersey Auction is underway. Bid on game-worn jerseys from various sports!

  • Don't Miss This: The final UMass Sports Luncheon takes place this afternoon. Come out at 12:15 p.m., for great food and fun with friends at the Campus Center Room 1009.

      

    Tuesday, May 18, 2010

    Its Tuesday and here in Amherst we are getting ready to host the NCAA Softball Regional. The Minutewomen are one of the hottest teams in the country and are prepping to take on Long Island on Friday. JTAM has several stories on Elaine Sortino's team. Also some tidbits on track and field hockey.

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY - MAY 18:
    Noreen McDonnell (Rowing)

    SOFTBALL

    In the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Matt Vautour has a story on the installation of temporary lights for the NCAA Regional here in Amherst. Its the second year in a row UMass has brought in the lights.

  • UMass is mentioned for being tough to beat at home in this story in the The Daily of the University of Washington as the Huskies had all they could handle last season, before beating UMass in an epic 15-inning affair.

  • In the Springfield Republican Dick Baker has a look at UMass' regional for the NCAA Tournament.

    TRACK & FIELD

  • The Daily Collegian has a look back at the weekend of action for UMass' women's team in the Eastern College Athletic Association (ECAC) Championships while the men made a stand in the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America (IC4A) Championships. The women finished 43rd of 51 teams with four points, while the men ended the weekend in 31st place with 11 points.

    FIELD HOCKEY

  • Vermont announced its field hockey schedule for 2010 which includes UMass again.

  • Check This Out On UMassAthletics.com: The UMass Spring Jersey Auction is underway. Bid on game-worn jerseys from various sports!

  • Don't Miss This: Classes are done and graduates have been awarded, but softball and baseball continue practice with big games this weekend on campus.

      

    Monday, May 17, 2010

    A ton of softball news as the Minutewomen captured the Atlantic 10 Championship and will be hosting an NCAA Regional starting on Friday. No. 13 seed Arizona State will be joined by Boston University and Long Island here in Amherst. News on UMass alums in lacrosse as Jeff Zywicki won the NLL title and the MLL season started up with plenty of Minutemen in action. Check in on baseball alums as well

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY - MAY 17:
    Brian Keane (Hockey),
    Alexander Merkulov (Swimming),
    Dennis Torres (Baseball)

    SOFTBALL

  • On ESPN.com, Graham Hays says UMass is a team that will "stir up the first two weekends." He writes: The Amherst Regional is fast becoming as much a spring tradition in Massachusetts as Patriots Day and David Ortiz's abysmal starts. Four years ago, it sent the home team to a super regional. A year ago, Lawrie and UMass' Brandice Balschmiter dueled deep into the night in an elimination game. And with sophomore Sara Plourde taking over for Balschmiter, and leading the nation in strikeouts, perhaps drama is again in order.

  • The Minutewomen won their 22nd A-10 crown this weekend, downing Fordham twice on Saturday for the win. Here are recaps: Springfield Republican, minutewomen-own-atlantic-10-again">Daily Hampshire Gazette, Daily Collegian, ABC40, Boston Herald, The Examiner.

  • Here is a sidebar from the Daily Hampshire Gazette on Sara Plourde's great pitching performance.

    MEN'S LACROSSE

  • First off, did you see two-time defending national champion Syracuse was upset by Army in double-overtime, winning 9-8 at the Carrier Dome last night? Next season, UMass is slated to open the season against the Black Knights. UMass' CAA rivals Hofstra and Delaware, both battled and lost their NCAA Tourney games to Maryland and North Carolina, respectively.

  • Former All-American Jeff Zywicki was part of the Washington Stealth's 15-11 National Lacrosse League championship win over the Toronto Rock on Saturday night. Zywicki scored a goal and had two assists as he won his second pro title in less than a year.

    Watch live streaming video from nll at livestream.com

  • 1990s All-American Tim Soudan was honored by the Frontier Field Walk of Fame with a brick in his honor. Soudan played 14 seasons of professional lacrosse in Rochester during his indoor and outdoor career. The Fairport High School star and two-time All-American at UMass began his professional career in 1991 with the New England Blazers of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League. He would play three more seasons with the Boston Blazers, before coming home to play for the expansion Knighthawks in 1995.

    Doc Schneider tries to stop Brett Garber in MLL action.
  • With the start of Major League Lacrosse action this weekend, here's a look at UMass alums in the MLL: The Boston Canons beat the Denver Outlaws 16-13. UMass' Jack Reid had three groundballs for the Cannons. Alums squared off as the Chicago Machine beat the defending champion Toronto Nationals 16-9. In goal for the Nationals Doc Schneider started and made four saves, while allowing goals to fellow Minuteman All-Americans Brett Garber (two) and Kevin Leveille (who finished with a pair).

    BASEBALL

  • The diamond nine were swept at Xavier, but their A-10 Tournament hopes are still alive. Here are recaps of the weekend: Daily Hampshire Gazette, Springfield Republican, Daily Collegian, Cincinnati Sports Zone.

  • Alum Chad Paronto picked up the victory for the Pawtucket Red Sox on Friday, in a 4-2 win over Syracuse at McCoy Stadium.

  • The Providence Journal had a nice feature on Chad Paronto over the weekend.

  • Matt Torra pitched over the weekend as his Reno Aces lost 10-7. Matt Torra logged his sixth straight quality start, allowing three runs and striking out a season-best seven in 6 1/3 innings.

    BASKETBALL

  • News on Rashaun Freeman as the former UMass star has signed with the Albany Legends for summer pro-am hoops. He has been playing overseas in Germany and France.

  • Check This Out On UMassAthletics.com: Sign up for wireless updates on all UMass teams with Mobile Headlines & Scores Update. When the games end you will get the instant updates.

  • Don't Miss This: Check back for the announcement of the UMass Athlete of the Week on Monday and more info on the NCAA Softball Championship Regional here in Amherst.

  • Look Back To The Week Of: May 10-14 | May 3-7 | April 26-30 | April 19-23 | April 12-16 | April 5-9 |March 29-April 2 | March 22-26 | March 15-19 | March 8-12 | March 1-5 | Feb. 22-26 | Feb. 15-19 | Feb. 8-12 | Feb. 1-4, 2009 | Jan. 25-29, 2010 | Jan. 18-22, 2010 | Jan. 11-15, 2010 | Jan. 3-8, 2010 | Dec. 28, 2009-Jan. 1, 2010 | Dec. 21-24 | Dec. 14-18 | Dec. 7-11 | Nov. 30-Dec. 4 | Nov. 23-24 | Nov. 16-20 | Nov. 9-13 | Nov. 2-6 | Oct. 26-30 | Oct. 19-23 | Oct. 12-16 | Oct. 5-9 | Sept. 28-Oct. 2 | Sept. 21-25 | Sept. 14-18 | Sept. 7-11 | Aug. 31-Sept. 4 | Aug. 24-28 | Aug. 17-21 | Aug. 10-14 | Aug. 3-8 | July 27-31 | July 20-24 | July 13-17 | July 6-10 | June 29-July 3 | June 22-26 | June 15-19 | June 8-12 | June 1-5 | May 25-29 | May 18-22 | May 11-15 | May 4-8 | April 27-May 1 | April 20-24 | April 13-17 | April 6-10 | March 30-Apr. 3 | 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

     

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