Lasers' Updates 11/18/2008

November 18, 2008

Cross Country

The Lasell College cross country team closed out the 2008 season at the NCAA Division III New England Qualifier, Saturday, November 15th, hosted by Williams College.   Forty Nine teams and 660 athletes competed in the qualifier, including some of the top nationally ranked teams in all of Division III. 

 

Zachary Lambert (Marlborough, Mass.) was the top finisher of the Lasers men's team, completing the 8K race in 30:10.7.  Lambert was followed by David Walsh (Springfield, Mass.), who completed in 31:14.5.  Kristopher McCabe (Kingston, NY) and Christopher Johnson (Gloucester, Mass.) were the third and fourth finishers for Lasell, ending the race at 31:26.4 and 31:55.4 respectively.  Rounding out the race for the men's team was Grant Vantine (Fitchburg, Mass.), who finished the race in 36:39.5. 

 

The women's team had six Lasers finish the 6000 meter race. Senior captain Kayla McKenna (Warwick, RI) completed in 27:38.0, making her the first Laser to cross the finish line.  At 28:13.9, Ariella Harrington (Woburn, Mass.) ended the race, followed shortly afterwards by freshman Meghan Missett (Lowell, Mass.), who finished in 28:50.0.  Amanda Driscoll (Roslindale, Mass.), Danielle Chiarella (Westborough, Mass.) and Lauren Darrah (Beverly, MA) were the final three Lasers to complete.  Driscoll ran a 29:13.4, Chiarella ran a 30:04.8, and Darrah ran a 30:37.5.

 

Women's Basketball

The Lasers opened up the 2008-2009 season this weekend at the Wheaton College Tip-Off Tournament. Lasell was led by senior Shauna Kelly (Quincy, Mass.), senior Katie Schumitz (Milford, Conn.) and junior Tricia Culver (N. Hampton, Mass.), as well as freshman JoAnna Bishop (So. Burlington, VT), who was impressive in her Lasell debut.

 

The Lasers faced some tough competition against Wheaton College, a team that made it to the NCAA tournament last season and returned 10 veteran players. The Lasers played well against the hosting Lyons, and kept the game within reach through the early parts of the second half, however, the Lyons, who shot 63.6% in the second half, ran away with the lead towards the end of the contest, and won 92-53.

 

Kelly, Culver, and Schumitz each posted double digits in scoring, combining for 37 points in the game, with Schumitz boasting a game-best 7 rebounds.  Bishop threw in an additional 8 points and 4 boards in her first game in the blue and white. 

 

In the second game of the weekend, the Lasers faced the Golden Knights of Clarkson University.  Though the Lasers held their own against Clarkson, and stayed within points the entire game, the Golden Knights stole the win at the end, 69-61. 

 

Culver (left) was chosen to the All-Tournament Team for her fine performances in both matches.  Culver had 17 points, 8 boards, 3 assists and four steals against Clarkson, and a total of 28 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists and four steals for the weekend.  Kelly also dropped in a team-high 20 points in the Clarkson game.

 

The Lasers return for their home opener on Wednesday, November 19th at 7:00 p.m. when they take on Eastern Nazarene College.

 

Men's Basketball

The Lasell College Men's basketball team will set out to defend their Great Northeast Athletic Conference title and look to earn another berth in the NCAA Tournament in the 2008-2009 season. Last year, the Lasers posted a 20 win season, culminating with an exciting 86-72 win over Emerson College, on their way to their first NCAA bid since 2004. They finished 14-4 in the conference and won 16 of their last 17 games before falling to Brandeis in the NCAA tournament.

This year, the Lasers will be led by first team All-Conference forward and GNAC Tournament MVP, Jose Guitian (Hialeah, FL) and fellow senior forward Brad Caravoulious (Dracut, MA). Combined, they averaged 31 points per game last year, with Guitian leading the team by pulling down nearly 12 boards a game. Three point sharp shooters Kevin Fallon (Roselle Park, NJ) and Junior Sainval (Miami, FL) will also return, along with post player Sean Joynes (Philadelphia, PA).

Also returning to the Lasers lineup is one of their best defenders Corey Godfrey (Cambridge, MA) in his second year at Lasell. Jarell Baxter (Lauderdale Lakes, FL) and Joey Vento (Weymouth, MA) will round out the returning players from last year.

The Lasers will be looking at a talented recruiting class on the court as well this season. Some new comers to look for will be Kevin Richard (New Orleans, LA) and Charles Horton (Worcester, MA) sharing duties at the point guard position, and Javon Williams (Mattapan, MA) who will be a threat down low.

Lasell will tackle a fiercely competitive schedule this season. In addition to the eighteen GNAC matchups, Lasell will face two DIII nationally ranked perennial powerhouses, Brandies University (9th) and Amherst College (15th), as well as five other top New England men's basketball programs.

The men's basketball team will look for retribution when they open the year up at home, tonight, November 18th, against the Judges of Brandeis University.

 

Upcoming Games:

 

Tuesday, November 18th-

  • Men's Basketball Home Opener

v. #9 Brandeis University

Wednesday, November 19th-

  • Women's Basketball Home Opener

v. Eastern Nazarene, 7:00 p.m.

Friday, November 21st-

  • Men's Basketball @ Roger Williams University Tournament,

v. Western Connecticut State University, 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 22nd-

  • Women's Basketball v. Roger Williams University, 2:00 p.m. @ Athletic Center
  • Men's Basketball @ Roger Williams University Tournament, TBA