The month of May is only a few days away, which means the end of another chapter in Connecticut College athletics is upon us. Many particularly noteworthy accomplishments took place this year by Camel athletics, starting in the fall with the women’s volleyball team. Although not exactly one of the most glamorous sports our school has to offer, the volleyball team continues to churn out winning seasons year after year and should be considered one of the most consistently successful teams at Connecticut College.
This year was no different, as the Camels vaulted their way to a 22-6 record and an 8-2 NESCAC record which also included a trip to the NESCAC semi-finals. Freshman Rachel Schroff ’13 led the league in hitting percentage while Marissa DeMais ’11 was second and third in the conference in service aces and assists, respectively. Schroff was also named NESCAC Player of the Week during the season for her outstanding play. Things look promising next year for the Camel volleyball team as both Schroff and DeMais will be returning, and only two seniors are graduating this year.
The men’s soccer team and women’s field hockey team both made the NESCAC playoffs. The men’s soccer team finished with an 8-6-1 record under first year head coach Kenny Murphy which included a 4-1 stunning upset of Amherst College on September 26; the Lord Jeffs were ranked #2 in the country at the time. The women’s field hockey team slipped into the NESCAC playoffs as the eight seed and squared off against the one seed Trinity, who was ranked #4 in the nation at the time. The Camels jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead but were unable to hold on as Trinity bounced back with two goals of their own to win 2-1. While this was a tough loss, the Camels were able to compete with one of the best teams in the nation, an encouraging sign for next season.
A shift to winter sports saw action on the court, the rink and in the pool. While the men’s basketball team might not have had a fantastic year in terms of their record, there were bright spots on the team. Most notable, senior Shavar Bernier ’10 set the school record for most career three-pointers made (203) during his final game against Bowdoin. Bernier was named second team All-NESCAC and was also selected to participate in the NEBCA Senior All-Star Game on April 18.
The women’s hockey team was able to repeat their playoff appearance from the last two years as they returned to postseason play by finishing seventh in the conference. While falling to Trinity in the first round, the season certainly had its share of success. Most notably, junior Brigid O’Gorman was a finalist for the 2010 Hockey Humanitarian Award; she is the first person ever from Connecticut College to be recognized in this manner. This award is given to “hockey’s finest citizen” who gives back to his or her community in true humanitarian spirit. While we often get caught up in wins/losses, statistics and records in sports, it is also important that we remember to recognize the altruistic achievements of our student athletes.
Moving to the pool, the Camel Swimming and Diving team had three individuals qualify for the NCAA Division III National Championships. Pat Troy ’10, Sarah Murphy ’11, and Tim Walsh ’12 traveled to Minneapolis, MN to compete from March 17-20. There, Murphy achieved Honorable Mention All-American in the 200 yard butterfly with a 14th place finish and Troy earned All-American honors in the 100 yard butterfly with a 6th place finish. In addition, a combined eight male and female swimmers achieved All-NESCAC honors during the 2010 NESCAC Championships.
The men’s lacrosse team has arguably been Conn’s most successful team this year. As of April 25, the Camels have lost only one game (at the hands of Colby this past weekend). They have sprinted to a very impressive 13-1 overall record that includes a 7-1 conference record. This looks even more impressive when one remembers the Camels’ record from last year; they finished last in the conference with a 1-8 NESCAC record and did not even finish above .500 overall.
The Camels currently sit right behind Cortland St. as the #2 team in the Division III North Regional Rankings and were recently ranked as high as sixth in the overall rankings. The team is led by senior captain Steve Dachille ’10, who recently netted his 100th goal as a Camel and currently leads the conference in goals scored within NESCAC play with a total of 19. The Camels will finish the regular season with their season finale at home on April 30 against Wesleyan. The Camels have also secured themselves a sport in the playoffs that will begin on May 2 with a home match against an opponent that is still yet to be determined.
The athletes here at Conn have all performed admirably this year, and their efforts should make us all proud to call ourselves Camels.
