SMC Athletics PR -

                THIS WEEK IN SAINT MICHAEL’S COLLEGE ATHLETICS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                               FOR MORE INFORMATION
September 6, 2005                                                                             Contact: Seth Cole
                                                                                                         Phone: (802) 654-2537

COLCHESTER, Vt. – The women’s soccer team opened play on the College’s new artificial turf field, while the men’s soccer and field hockey squads began Northeast-10 Conference action.

The women’s soccer team (1-2, 0-1 NE-10) played the College’s first-ever contest on Christopher Duffy Artificial Turf Field at Doc Jacobs Complex on Wednesday, falling to league-rival Pace University, 2-1. Senior co-captain Judy Cronin (Norfolk, Mass./King Philip Regional) scored on a penalty kick in the 58th minute, while sophomores Gillian Goldman (Stratham, N.H./Exeter) and Molly Cole (Dover, N.H./Dover) each played one half in goal. Over the weekend, the Purple Knights hosted the Doubletree Kick Off Classic, Sponsored by Sodexho Services. Saint Michael’s won on Sunday versus Caldwell College, 3-0, but suffered a 2-1 loss to East Stroudsburg University on Saturday. Saint Michael’s head coach Marcel Choquette earned his program-record 53rd career victory versus Caldwell, while Cole stopped four shots for her first collegiate shutout. Freshman Kelley Ruch (Woodstock, Vt./Woodstock) opened the scoring off of an assist from classmate Kelley Boyden (Jericho, Vt./Mount Mansfield Union) in the 15th minute with her second goal in as many games, which proved to be the game-winner. She also assisted on classmate Meagan Pokorny’s (Agawam, Mass./Cathedral) first career goal in the 72nd minute to complete the scoring. Ruch and junior Rachel Gallien (Addison, Vt./Vergennes Union) were the Purple Knights’ representatives on the All-Tournament Team.

The men’s soccer team (1-2, 0-1 NE-10) opened conference play with a 1-0 loss to Bryant University on Saturday at Doc Jacobs Field. The scoreless tie was broken with just under nine minutes to play when sophomore goaltender Tim Williamson (Wakefield, R.I./Barrington) took down a Bryant player to set up a penalty kick, and the only goal of the game. Williamson finished with four saves for Saint Michael’s. In a game with very few scoring opportunities, Saint Michael's had the first golden opportunity, coming with 16:32 left in the second half. Senior tri-captain Jerrod Hall (Bennington, Vt./Mount Anthony Union) was able to pass the ball through traffic to a wide-open Vasili Kostakis (Andover, Mass./Andover) who was unable to locate the net, sending a shot wide to the left.

The field hockey team (0-3, 0-1 NE-10) also began its conference schedule with a loss, 3-0, at Southern Connecticut State University on Saturday. Junior Tina Nardi (West Pawlet, Vt./Salem Central) finished with six saves for the Purple Knights, who were outshot 14-10. Southern Connecticut’s goals came in the 24th, 43rd and 67th minutes.

Dan O’Reilly (West Roxbury, Mass.), a 2005 graduate of Merrimack College, was named Saint Michael’s first full-time sports information intern on Thursday. O’Reilly will assist with all public and media relations facets of the College’s 21 NCAA Division II intercollegiate varsity sports programs, and will work primarily with men’s and women’s ice hockey during the winter season.

Looking ahead, the season kicks off for cross country, golf and volleyball this weekend. The cross country squads, with fifth-year head coaches Joe Connelly and Larry Kimball leading the men and women, respectively, take part in Saturday’s Cardinal Classic hosted by Plattsburgh State University. The golf team, led by second-year head coach Chris Davidson, play at Vermont Technical College on Sunday, while second-year head coach Emily Verbridge and the volleyball team open on Saturday with a 1 p.m. match versus Le Moyne College at the Ross Sports Center.

This Week’s Schedule:

Tues.	Field Hockey at Assumption*	4 p.m.
Tues.	Men's Soccer vs. Castleton State	4 p.m.
Wed.	Women's Soccer vs. Franklin Pierce*	4 p.m.
Sat.	Cross Country at Plattsburgh Invitational	TBA
Sat.	Field Hockey vs. Stonehill*	1 p.m.
Sat.	Volleyball vs. Le Moyne*	1 p.m.
Sat.	Men's Soccer at Southern Connecticut*	4 p.m.
Sun.	Women's Soccer at Merrimack*	1 p.m.
Sun.	Golf at Vermont Technical	TBA
	###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

For more information please contact the SMC Sports Information Office at (802) 654-2537
Last Revised: October 25, 2002