College Roundup: Bulldogs on the move, PC soccer advances in NCAA’s
Friday, November 18, 2011
A season of expectation is underway at Bryant University.
Now, just what that expectation might be, is subject to change.
After struggling through the growing pains of transforming a Division II power into an eventual Division I contender, head basketball coach Tim O’Shea is shepherding his team this year through one final go-round of “transition” play in the Northeast Conference, before becoming a full-fledged member in 2012-13. And once total membership is achieved, the hope is that the basketball team will be ready to compete for a championship – and a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"We just want to continue to make progress within the league," O'Shea said, prior to the start of the season. "We want to hopefully set the stage to be considered as a contender at the top of the conference in Year Five [2012-13], our first year of eligibility."
Through their first three games of 2011-12, the Bulldogs have experienced mixed results with a 1-2 record out of the gate. A challenging early-season road slate has seen Bryant win at California-Davis 70-63 on November 12th, sandwiched in between road losses to San Diego State 75-63 (ranked as high as 6th nationally last season) and Southern Utah 95-78. The season-opening six game road swing continues this weekend when the Bulldogs travel to Hanover, NH to take on Dartmouth…followed by games at West Point, NY against Army and a trip to South Bend, IN to meet Notre Dame before the home opener on December 1 against Central Connecticut.
Sophomore Alex Francis, the reigning NEC Rookie of the Year, is off to a great start scoring, averaging almost 22 points per game through the first three games, and junior point guard Frankie Dobbs averages 18 per game (Rumford, RI), adding 24 in the loss to Southern Utah. The roster boasts an interesting mix of players, with Dobbs and freshman Troy Robinson (Roslindale, MA) from nearby, while freshman center Ben Altit is from Israel, junior forward Vlad Kondratyev is from the Ukraine, freshman Patrick Matthews is from Hawaii, and Corey Maynard and Clay McMath are both from Australia.
"My main concern with the program is to position us for Year Five," O'Shea explains. "I'm happy that I have no seniors. I think we're going to have a young team that will have some great moments and some not-so-great moments, but it will be a team that returns everyone next year, and I think we will be positioned to be right where we want to be in 2012-13."
In the meantime, Year Four should prove to be interesting, to say the least. After the home opener on December 1st, the Bulldogs go back out on the road for five more games consecutively, including playing at the Dunkin Donuts Center against Providence on December 10th, and traveling to Boston College and Arizona before coming back to Smithfield.
Daunting? Yes. But are the Bulldogs undaunted? Apparently. Perhaps these are questions better answered by the time January rolls around…
Bryant:
Saturday could be a big day in the history of Bryant athletics – and in particular, in the history of the football program. At 7-3 overall, and 5-2 in the NEC, the Bulldogs host Central Connecticut in the final game of the season at 12 Noon. At stake with a win, is a possible share of their first-ever Division I NEC championship. The Bulldogs trail Albany and Duquesne by one game in the league standings, and if both should lose with a Bryant win…the Bulldogs grab a piece of the title. Bryant blew by Saint Francis (PA) last weekend 45-34, behind a season high 564 yards of total offense. Junior running back Jordan Brown continues to lead the nation’s FCS schools in rushing yards, after a 33 carry, 243 yard day against the Red Flash. Brown has 1706 rushing yards on the season, and was named the NEC co-offensive player of the week, and defensive back Jeremy Woodson was named the NEC special teams player of the week, returning five kicks for 163 yards. Brown can set the single-season NEC record for rushing yards with 147 more against Central Connecticut Saturday…women’s basketball is off to a 1-1 start, after a 66-53 loss to Iona Tuesday. Next up is a trip to Maine to face the Black Bears Saturday…After registering five first-place finishes on the week, junior Casey Ostrander was named the Northeast Conference Swimmer of the Week on Tuesday. It is the second time this season that Ostrander has won the award…
Providence:
After earning an at-large spot in the NCAA Tournament, the Providence men’s soccer team hosted Dartmouth at Glay Field on campus in the first round Thursday…and came up big, beating the Big Green 1-0. Senior John Raley scored his second goal of the season in the 11th minute for the lone goal, and senior goalkeeper Jhojan Obando completed the shut out. The Friars (11-7-1) will advance to the second round, traveling to face UC-Santa Barbara at 8:00 pm Sunday…men’s hockey completes its’ run of five straight home games Friday night with a match-up against Northeastern. The Friars are also looking for their first five-game home winning streak since 2005-06. Overall, PC is 6-1-1 at home this season…men’s basketball opens the South Padre Island Invitational with a game against Florida A&M at the Dunkin Donuts Center Saturday afternoon at 4:00 pm. The Friars are off to a 2-0 start, after winning on the road at Fairfield 80-72 Monday night…
University of Rhode Island:
The men’s basketball team traveled to Austin, TX this week to take on the Texas Longhorns, and played well in defeat – losing 100-90. Both Jamal Wilson and Nikola Malesevic broke the 20-point barrier in the loss (Wilson 24, Malesevic 22 points), and freshman Mike Powell showed some outside prowess with three three-pointers. Free thrown shooting certainly didn’t help, however, as the Rams hit just 6 of 15 from the line in the first half. URI is averaging almost 29 fouls committed per game, allowing their opponents to get plenty of chances at the line in the first two games of the season – both losses. Rhody travels to Nebraska to face the Cornhuskers Sunday afternoon at 2:00 pm…women’s basketball beat Providence 52-43 Wednesday at the Ryan Center. Emilie Cloutier led the scoring with 14 points, as the Rams got their first win of the season (1-2), and their first home win over the Friars since 1998. Next up, a visit to play Siena on Saturday…women’s swimming also enjoyed a dual meet win over Providence this week, and the women’s rowing team finished the fall portion of its competition with its strongest performance of the season, as the Rams had two boats finish among the top 10 out of 43 boats at the Foot of the Charles in Boston Saturday…football closes out its’ season with Senior Day this Saturday in a 12:30 pm kickoff against Towson at Meade Stadium…
CCRI:
Men’s basketball has opened the season with four straight wins, including an 82-45 victory over Springfield Tech on Saturday. Freshman Anthony Henry led the Knights with 17 points, and freshman Isaac Medeiros (Johnston, RI) added 10…men’s soccer finished their season at 6-8 overall, but 5-3 in region play, and placed several players on the all-region team. On the 1st team - midfielder Manuel Alves (Pawtucket, RI), defender Chris Lopes (Pawtucket, RI) and midfielder Jerson Gomes (Pawtucket, RI) and Honorable Mention: goalkeeper Zach Caron (Seekonk, MA) and Michael Keegan (East Greenwich, RI)…
Rhode Island College:
A solid start for the men’s basketball team, as the Anchormen defeated Clark University 70-52 in the season opener Tuesday night at the Murray Center. Senior Mike Akinrola (Woonsocker, RI) scored 21 points to lead the way, while forward Mason Choice (Newport, RI) added 16. Junior guard Tahrike Carter almost had a triple-double, with 11 points, eight assists and six rebounds…the men’s and women’s basketball teams were both selected to win the Little East Conference this year in pre-season polling…freshman wrestler Shawn Giblin (Cranston, RI) was selected as the Pilgrim Wrestling League rookie of the week for his performance at the Roger Williams Invitational. Giblin went 5-0 at the meet, improving to 6-1 overall, and won his first collegiate tournament title…
Roger Williams:
Men’s basketball dropped its season opener 74-71 to Johnson & Wales Tuesday. Senior Pat Flanagan led the Hawks with a career high 41 points, which was also a school record performance. Mike Engemann added 10 rebounds, and the Hawks will host Fisher on Saturday…women’s hoops defeated Wheaton 64-45, getting their first win of the season. Sophomore Kaitlyn Bovee scored 17 points to lead the team, and the team will play at Johnson & Wales next Tuesday…the sailing team captured the largest regatta of the fall season, winning the Atlantic Coast Championship this week on the Charles River Basin. Finishing their regular schedule ranked #4 nationally, the sailing team will compete in the ICSA Sloop National Championships in San Francisco, CA this weekend…
Salve Regina:
After finishing their season with a 7-3 record, the Seahawks’ football team earned an ECAC North-West Bowl selection for the first time since 1999, and will play Worcester State at Gaudet Field Saturday at 12 Noon. Salve ended the season on a five game winning streak, following a 37-27 win over Nichols in the finale. The Seahawks defense finished the regular season second in the NEFC in scoring defense, and forced 32 turnovers on the year. A win on Saturday would be the first ECAC playoff win for Salve since 1998…men’s and women’s basketball dropped their season openers, with the men falling 84-65 to Wheaton on Tuesday night, and the women losing a tight one to UMass-Dartmouth 65-61, also on Tuesday…
Johnson & Wales:
Men’s hockey is off to a strong 4-1 start this season, following an 11-1 romp over Suffolk on Wednesday. Junior Danny Kaufmann, and freshmen Jason Goshen and Alex Porrier each scored two goals for the Wildcats. JWU will next face Wentworth on the road Sunday at 2:00 pm…with their 74-71 season-opening win over Roger Williams this week, senior guard Lamonte Thomas scored 33 points to lead the Wildcats to the win…and also surpassed 2000 points for his collegiate career in the process. JWU is back in action on November 26th and 27th when they travel to Western Connecticut State for the WCSU Invitational…women’s basketball also had a successful start to their season, defeating Mount Holyoke 48-41 Tuesday at the Harborside Recreation Center. Sophomore Jenna Juron led the scoring with 17 points…and the Wildcats travel to the Coast Guard Academy Saturday for their next opponent…
