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The Time Is Now for Women's Soccer; Season Preview
8/30/2010 4:36:27 PM
Philadelphia, PA – (8/30/2010) – The Chestnut Hill College women’s soccer program was resurrected in many ways with the success of the 2009 season. But Head Coach Seamus O’Connor and the Griffins are not satisfied with just achieving. The Griffins now aspire to excel. Returning ten starters, including Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Player of the Year, junior forward Lauren Riiff (Clementon, N.J.), Coach O’Connor expects a more consistent and commanding style of play.
O’Connor is confident in his team capability, stating, “Many of our sophomores come into this season with experience thanks to starting last year. I am looking for the team to perform more consistently throughout the season. We want to excel in every facet of play and start dictating the game’s course.” Riiff and fellow All-CACC selection, junior defender Lauren Brown (Dover, DE) have been selected to lead the 2010 campaign as team captains. Riff totaled 26 points last year; with 12 goals and two assists she directed the Griffins to a four-seed in the CACC Championship Tournament and earned herself Daktronics Inc. All-East Region status. Brown and senior midfielder Tara Morey (Pittsgrove, N.J.) earned All-CACC Second Team selections. Morey has totaled 13 goals and seven assists in two seasons at Chestnut Hill College while Brown partnered with sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Veazey (Middletown, DE) to anchor the defense.
Including Veazey, the Griffins welcome back seven sophomores who saw significant playing time last season. Veazey finished among the CACC’s top five keepers in goals-against-average (1.51, 5th), saves (105, 5th), and shutouts (3, 5th). She is joined by midfielder Mary Veach (Rocky Point, N.Y.), defender Shannon Catts (Elmer, N.J.) and defender Joan Quinn (Trenton, N.J.), who each played regularly in the Griffin backfield. Three other sophomores were important contributors to the offense. Forward Alyssa Radetich (Sewell, N.J.) ranked second on the team in goals (7) and tied for second in point (15), midfielder Amanda Botbyl (Mays Landing, N.J.) recorded three goals and three assists, while fellow midfielder Maggie Faselt (Newtown, N.J.) came on strong at season’s end to total four goals.
On top of the returning talent the roster will also carry a host of gifted newcomers, all of whom will be required to contribute if the Griffins are to meet O’Connor’s expectations. The Griffins are determined on a return to CACC postseason play and they aim to improve on last year’s result. O’Connor believes this year’s collection of talent can surpass the achievements of the program’s past. In closing, O’Connor challenges his team, “Last year we started out very well but we faded as towards the end. Consistency alone will win us more games, but more than that, we need to take control of our future. Allowing fewer goals, scoring more, possessing the ball, and evolving along with the season are all ways in which this team can take their game to that next level”
The women’s soccer team will have their first opportunity to make an impression on their coach and upcoming opponents when they open the 2010 season with a 3:00 p.m. contest at West Chester University on Thursday, September 2.
11.01.11
Women's Soccer
Chestnut Hill 1
Georgian Court University 5
10.27.11
Women's Soccer
Chestnut Hill 0
Bloomsburg University 1
10.25.11
Women's Soccer
Chestnut Hill 3
Wilmington University (Del.)* 1
10.23.11
Women's Soccer
Chestnut Hill 5
Concordia College - New York* 0
10.22.11
Women's Soccer
Chestnut Hill 0
Dominican College* 1
10.19.11
Women's Soccer
Chestnut Hill 3
Holy Family University* 2
10.12.11
Women's Soccer
Chestnut Hill 0
Dowling College 2
Athletes of the Week
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Men's Basketball
DiRugeris Earns Second CACC Honorable Mention
New Haven, CT – (1/30/2012) – Including a career performance at Felician College on Saturday, January 28, Chestnut Hill College junior guard Mark DiRugeris Jr. (Woodbury, NJ) averaged 21.5 points-per-game (PPG) while leading the Griffins to two Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) wins last week. For his efforts, DiRugeris was recognized with his second honorable mention for the CACC Player of the Week award.
After providing eight points, a rebound, and an assist in a 72-57 win over Dominican College on January 24, DiRugeris offered a career night in a 15-point triumph, 78-63, at Felician College on January 28. He hit all four of his first-half three-point attempts (4-of-4, 100.0%) to total 18 points in the opening period and carry Chestnut Hill College (12-6, 7-2) to a 15-point halftime advantage. DiRugeris kept the pedal down in the second half, depositing another 17 points and leading the Griffins to victory over Felician College with 35 points, four rebounds, and two assists. For the week, he was 11-of-21 (.524) from the floor, 6-of-8 (.750) from three-point range, and 15-of-16 (.938) from the throw line.
This year, DiRugeris is leading the Griffins in scoring (15.9 PPG), while also contributing 3.2 rebounds-per-game (RPG), 34 assists, four blocks, and 26 steals. He is carrying a .468 (102-of-218) field goal percentage, a .494 (40-of-81) three-point percentage, and a .891 (90-of-101) free throw percentage. DiRugeris earned his first CACC weekly honorable mention for his efforts during the week ending December 11, 2011; 22.0 PPG and 4.7 RPG while totaling 10 assists and six steals in conference wins over Holy Family University (12/6), Wilmington University (12/8), and Caldwell College (12/10).
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Men's Basketball
Saintilus Serves as Honorable Mention
For CACC Rookie of the Week
New Haven, CT – (1/23/2012) – Freshman forward Alssene Saintilus (Irvington, NJ) recorded his first collegiate double-double to lead Chestnut Hill College against Philadelphia University on January 16 and earn himself an honorable mention for this week’s Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Rookie of the Week. Saintilus provided 15 points and ten rebounds in the Griffins 56-42 loss to Philadelphia University, in addition to two blocks and one steal on defense.
Saintilus was 6-of-9 (66.7%) from the field, 1-of-2 (50.0%) from three-point range, and 2-of-4 (50.0%) from the free throw line as the leading performer in last week’s lone contest. Headlining a miserable team shooting performance (14-of-52, 26.9%), Saintilus was a steady performer against the Rams. His consistency helped Chestnut Hill College (12-7, 5-2) keep within range of the Rams, as he offered seven points, six rebounds, a block, and a steal in a 26-9 run that placed the home team one point ahead of their opponents, 38-37, with seven minutes left to play (6:57). Unfortunately, the Griffins struggled to generate offense down the stretch, leaving the Rams to a 19-4 closing run and eventual victory.
Saintilus has recorded double figures in six games this season, while grabbing double digit rebounds twice as a freshman. For the season, he is averaging 8.1 points-per-game (PPG) and 4.1 rebounds-per-game (RPG), while also contributing a team-high 27 blocks, 11 steals, and four assists.
The men’s basketball team returns to action on Tuesday, January 24, when they host Dominican College in a 7:00 p.m. CACC contest.
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