Spring Sports Seasons in Review

With only a week left in the spring semester, finals looming next week, followed by the sweet release of summer, it’s time to take a look back at the UMW spring sports and see how each team fared in their 2010 season.

The Mary Washington men’s lacrosse team had a decent year. The team went 8-9 overall and 4-5 in conference play en route to a fifth place finish in the Capital Athletic Conference. The season was filled with streaks for the Eagles, as they began the season poorly with an 0-3 start, then they went on a four-game winning streak, followed that up with a four-game losing streak, and then another winning streak, this time a  three-game stretch of wins. UMW was outshot on the season (497-535) and outscored as well(142-155), though they did record more saves then their opponent (187-155). Sophomore Harry Snyder and junior Mark Bowler tied for the team lead in points as they each tallied 37 points (Snyder had 26 goals and 11 assists while Bowler had 25 goals and 12 assists). The hot-and-cold nature of the team was their M.O. and unfortunately they couldn’t end hot as they fell to Salisbury in the semifinals of the CAC tournament by a score of 18-7.

While the men’s lacrosse team was middle of the pack, the women’s lacrosse team surged to a second place finish in the CAC regular season with an 11-4 overall record and a 6-1 conference mark. The Lady Eagles only trailed rival Salisbury in the standings and a mid-April loss to the Sea Gulls was the only blemish on UMW’s CAC record. The Eagles drastically outshot their opponent on the year (541-374) and outscored them as well (236-171). Catherine Kennedy was an offensive force as she led the team in goals (66) and points (82). Allie Kimmelman was second on the team in points (70) and led the team with an astonishing 43 assists while still recording a solid 27 goals as well. Leigh Ann Redefer was the team’s primary goalie and recorded 94 saves on the season while tallying a save percentage just under 41 percent. UMW will get a shot to avenge their earlier loss against Salisbury earlier this year tomorrow, as the Eagles will square off against the Sea Gulls in the in the CAC championship game.

The UMW baseball squad was 18-10 overall and 10-8 in conference play before the CAC Tournament started last week. Then the Eagles went on an impressive run through the CAC Tournament in which they won four games, including victories over the three teams that finished ahead of them in the conference regular season standings (Salisbury, York, and Wesley) on their way to their first CAC title since 2005. Senior Will Wright led the team offensively, as he currently is tops on the team in batting average (.460), home runs (6), and RBI (47). Junior Eric Rehbein was a good supporting actor to Wright’s lead role, as Rehbein was second on the team in most of the hitting categories. Rehbein wasn’t just one of the team’s best hitters, but he was their best pitcher as well. Rehbein started eight games and pitched 55.2 innings, finishing with a 4-1 record and a 3.23 ERA. The baseball team’s record now stands at 23-10 and they still have at least five games remaining in their season. Regardless of what happens from here on out, a CAC championship is enough to make this season a smashing success.

The softball team had a rebuilding year in 2010, as they finished 9-26-1 with a 6-6 conference record to finish fourth in the CAC. After beginning the season 0-8, the Lady Eagles responded to go 4-0 in their next four games, but then went on to drop 11 of their next 12. Elizabeth Crowe was the team’s biggest threat at the plate, as she led the team in batting average (.412), runs (24), home runs (8), and RBI (33). While Crowe led the team batting, Annie Blaine led the pitching staff. Blaine had a team best 3.86 ERA, four wins and 10 complete games. Despite a less than stellar season, the softball team did win a game in the CAC tournament and they return all but two players to next year’s team.

The men’s tennis team has a 12-11 record and currently leads the Capital Athletic Conference with a 6-0 mark against CAC opponents. Their overall record is a bit deceiving, as the Eagles took on very difficult out of conference competition to help prepare themselves for conference play. The tennis team recovered from a slow start out of the gate, as they began the season 0-3 and went on to have another strong season. Will Apperson was the team’s No. 1 for much of the season and his record currently sits at a very impressive 21-7 to lead the men’s team. Senior Evan Goff (14-8) and freshman Brian Hope (12-9) both currently stand with a record over the .500 mark. Despite their struggles outside of CAC play, they continued to display their dominance within a conference they have ruled for years now. The men’s tennis team will look to capture yet another CAC title and will square off against Salisbury tomorrow at home at 3:30 p.m.

The women’s tennis team has had just as impressive a season as the men’s team has had. The women have gone 14-7 on the year and once again have an impeccable record in conference play at 6-0. The women’s tennis team has been consistent all season long, but they did have a lull in the middle of the year as they lost four out of five games during a week long stretch in March. But the team was not deterred and went on to have another great season. Freshman Cassie Bowman (15-12), junior Courtney Goimarac (17-11), sophomore Michelle Meadow’s (19-10), sophomore Katie Schafer (18-9) and junior Danielle Velardi (16-11) all finished over .500 for the year. Also like the men’s squad, the women’s team will square off against Salisbury University in the CAC Tournament to determine conference supremacy, with their match taking place today at 4:30 p.m.

The men’s and women’s track and field teams were both extremely successful once again. Both teams finished second in the CAC Championships as both ended up behind Salisbury University in the championship meet. The second place finish was disappointing to both, who each thought they had a chance to capture the CAC crown, but it was especially hard on the women’s team as their failure to claim the top spot in the conference was the first time in the last 17 years that they did not finish the season as the conference’s best team. Junior Lynette Humphries was a staple on the women’s team throughout the year and senior Matt Cash was one of the lead runners for the men’s side. Even though injuries riddled the team late in the year and they were unable to accomplish their goal of winning the CAC, both teams were once again strong and had very impressive seasons with their second place finishes in the conference.

With spring sports all but wrapped up, another year is in the books for Mary Washington athletics. All the sports teams look to improve upon their 2009-2010 campaigns and to come back stronger when their next seasons begin.