Forward Tia Lewis led the Lady Monarchs with 16 points and nine rebounds, while guard Jasmine Parker added 14 points. Michelle Kirk paced the Eagles with 21 points, while Lisa Strack chipped in 17, which matches her career high.

AU came out of halftime trailing by 11, but kept fighting in the second half and cut the Old Dominion lead to six on three separate occasions. In the end, the Monarchs were too strong inside, as they scored 44 of their 63 points in the paint.

“After a slow start, I was pleased with the way we came out and competed in the second half,” AU Head Coach Matt Corkery told AU athletics. “In the end, ODU’s points in the paint were too much for us to overcome.”

The Monarchs grabbed a 10-4 lead five minutes into the game after a layup by Shadasia Green and a jumper by Lewis. Old Dominion took an 18-9 lead after Mairi Buchan converted a conventional three-point play.

AU came storming back, as the Eagles scored the next eight points to cut the lead to one. A Raven Harris jumper sandwiched between two Kirk triples made it 18-17 Monarchs.

Over the next seven minutes, Old Dominion outscored AU 15-2 to take a 14-point lead, late in the first half. Over that stretch, AU missed six shots from the field and committed five turnovers.

Lewis netted six of her 16 points during the 15-2 spurt, which saw the Old Dominion lead expand to 33-19. AU scored five of the next seven points, as the Monarchs held a 35-24 halftime advantage.

A three-point play by Kirk and a triple by Strack early in the second half saw the Old Dominion lead shrink to 37-30. With the Monarchs leading 39-31 with 17:59 remaining in the second half, the two teams traded baskets for the next seven minutes.

Old Dominion continued to hold its eight-point lead until two Kirk free throws pulled AU to within six. After a Parker three-pointer put the Monarchs up 50-41 with 7:30 remaining, Strack answered with a three to again cut the deficit to six.

The Eagles trailed 54-47 with 4:24 left in the second half and were unable to mount a comeback the stretch. AU did not record a point until two Strack free throws with less than a minute remaining, but by that time ODU had already locked up the victory. The Lady Monarchs hit their free throws late and came away with the 63-55 victory.

The win improves Old Dominion to 19-13 and advances them to the second round of the WNIT. The loss puts AU’s final record at 22-10. The 22 victories are the second-most victories in a season in school history.

AU will have high expectations for next year’s team, as they will return both Kirk and Liz Leer, two players who were first-team all-Patriot League selections this season. Seven of the eight players who played in Wednesday’s contest will return, with the only exception being Ohemaa Nyanin.

You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.

Colgate controlled the play early and jumped out to a lead. Colgate’s Colleen Bubnack scored the game’s first goal just over two minutes into the game. Her teammate Alex Knutz capitalized on a free position shot just 37 seconds later to make it 2-0.

Neither team was able to establish any clear control over the next five minutes. Both teams traded three fouls and possession of the ball until AU’s Paige Lin scored with 19:28 to go in the first half. The Eagles’ Samantha Marshall followed up Lin’s score with one of her own, to tie it up at two just over a minute and a half later.

The teams traded two more goals and with just under eight minutes to play, Colgate’s Bubnack found the back of the net again to make it 5-4. On the same play, AU’s Lin was issued a yellow card, which put Colgate a man up. The Red Raiders were able to capitalize on the advantage with a goal by Greer Goebels.

Neither team was able to control the ball for much of the last six minutes of the half. With the man-up however, AU’s Lisa Schaaf was able to score, cutting the Colgate lead to one at halftime.

The second half was much like the first, with neither team able to sustain any consistent pressure. A foul on Colgate’s Hallie Snyder changed that, as Lin was able to knot the score up at six with a free position shot. AU would keep the pressure up and a goal by Schaaf gave the Eagles their first lead of the game, just under four minutes later.

AU’s lead was short lived, as Colgate went on to score five unanswered goals in the next 10 minutes. Colgate’s run was made up of Bubnack’s fourth goal of the game, two goals from Courtney Miller and goals from Kate Bergstrom and Quincey Spagnoletti.

There would be a 12-minute span of time between AU scores. Amanda Makoid was able to end the drought when she capitalized on a free position shot with 8:22 left in the game. AU would score one more time a minute later but would be unable to finish the comeback attempt.

AU’s Schoengerger, Schaaf and Lin would all finish with two goals on the day. Six Eagles found the back of the net and goaltender Kaska Komosinski recorded 10 saves. Colgate’s Bubnack led all scorers with four goals. Red Raider goaltender Christina Roa made six saves and was given the win.

The loss drops AU to 2-5 overall and 0-1 in conference play. AU’s next game is Saturday at Bucknell University. It is their second conference matchup of the season. There are eight games left in the season, of which five are conference games.

You can reach this staff writer at atomlinson@theeagleonline.com.

Eight days after winning the JBWere Masters in Kingston, Australia, the world’s most iconic athlete’s life spun out of control following an early morning call to 9-1-1. The floodgates opened and reports of affairs with several women made the front cover of several major magazines. Then, as if that was not enough, Woods checked himself into a sex-rehab clinic in Mississippi.

Since then, there have been multiple rumors about where and when Woods would make his return to golf. In reality, that night should be left in the past.

Once Woods steps onto the tee at the Masters, golf’s first major on April 8, these questions should no longer matter. The world’s attention should be focused on Woods’ golf game not on his private life.

Woods is known for having every aspect of his life planned and under his control. As a result, it is no coincidence that he picked the Masters as his first tournament back at the tee. The tournament’s organizers pride themselves on smooth planning and execution. They will be able to control what media members receive credentials, limit the number of photographers that are allowed in the ropes and will control who will be paired with Woods.

The tournament organizers and the PGA have taken precautions for the possibility of hecklers and other spectators who may wish to distract Woods from playing golf. It seems they will be doing everything in their power to make it tough for any outside source to distract Woods from his game.

There is no doubt that Woods will have plenty of motivation to play well. Woods has been praised for his ability to focus and clear his mind. This skill will be tested and questioned more than ever. This time, to focus himself, Woods will be on a mission to prove everyone wrong, just like he has done for his entire career.

Several members of the golf community believe his game may not be at its best, but they clearly don’t know Woods. He is not stupid, nor is he in a position to go out to embarrass himself any further than he already has. He would not be returning if he wasn’t ready and if he didn’t believe he could win.

Woods’ drought at the Masters is another source of motivation. He is undoubtedly ready to slip on another green jacket after his longest Masters losing streak. Some believe Woods can achieve this honor because the venues for the next three majors are all courses where Woods has previously dominated. They include the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, the British Open at St. Andrews and the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

When the collective sports world turns its head to the greatest golfer in history, expect nothing less than four days of sheer excellence. When the weekend comes to an end, the saga that is the Tiger Woods scandal will end with it.

You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.

AU Head Coach Steve Jennings announced the signing of seven athletes to the 2010 field hockey squad on Monday.

The signings include Jaclyn Anspatch, Keelin Bannon, Jaclyn Beasley, Stephanie Burry, Gina Hofmann, Shelly Montgomery and Costanza Palma.

Beasley and Bannon were teammates on the 2008 USA Junior Olympic team. Both of them also won State Championships with their respective high schools, Beasley’s in New Jersey and Bannon’s in Massachusetts. The only other recruits to compete internationally are Hofmann, who played for the German U-16 and U-18 teams, and Palma, who was part of the Chilean National Team in the 2009 Junior World Cup.

—ANDREW TOMLINSON

Men’s soccer releases spring schedule

AU men’s soccer team released their spring schedule on Monday and will play two games in the D.C. area.

AU will play James Madison University, Towson University and the University of Maryland-Baltimore County on the road. Their second game of the season will be against Loyola University Maryland at Richmond Montgomery High School. AU’s only two games at Reeves Field will be against Duke University and Georgetown University on April 17.

In 2009, the Eagles reached the Patriot League championship game but fell to Bucknell University. They finished the season with a 9-7-3 record. AU’s next game will be against Loyola University Maryland on March 27.

—A.T.

Invitational performance earns Brown student-athlete of the week

Track and Field sophomore Craig Brown was named the AU Student-Athlete of the Week for the week of March 15.

Brown won the men’s 3,000-meter run at the Coastal Carolina Invitational last weekend. He posted a time of 8:29.39 — one second better than teammate Jeff Brannigan. His time was the sixth fastest in school history.

AU’s next meet is this Saturday. They will be participating in the Maryland Invitational in College Park, Md.

—A.T.

The sports staff’s NCAA bracket was designed by taking a vote on each game in each round. Every pick was decided by a majority vote. We welcome all critiques and commentary at sports@theeagleonline.com.

Alex Ross, who was named the Patriot League Tournament Most Valuable Player, led Lehigh with 13 points, while Erica Prosser added 11. Michelle Kirk, Liz Leer and Lisa Strack scored eight points apiece for the Eagles.

A key to Lehigh’s success was their ability to contain Kirk and Leer. Kirk struggled all night, as she went just 2-16 from the field and misfired on seven of her eight three-point attempts. Leer had trouble finding her rhythm on offense and was in foul trouble late in the first half.

Another important factor in Lehigh’s win was their quick start. The Mountain Hawks jumped out to a 10-point lead in the game’s first five minutes and never looked back. Lehigh remained in control throughout the game, as they led by double digits for most of the contest.

“You have to give a lot of credit to Lehigh,” AU Head Coach Matt Corkery told AU Athletics. “They came out firing on all cylinders and really got off to a good start.”

Lehigh scored 13 of the game’s first 16 points, as the Eagles were plagued with turnovers and missed shots. The Mountain Hawks led 18-5 before a Raven Harris layup cut the deficit to 11 midway through the first half.

After the lead ballooned to 22-7, AU used an 8-2 spurt to inch closer. Kirk and Ohemaa Nyanin tallied four points apiece and the Lehigh lead was 24-15 with five minutes left in the opening half.

Following an official timeout, Ross responded with a triple to put the Mountain Hawks back up twelve. Each team netted five points over the final minutes and Lehigh held a 32-20 halftime advantage.

AU scored six of the first eight points in the second half, as they tried to keep their NCAA tournament hopes alive. Two free throws by Strack, followed by two from Leer, cut the Lehigh lead to eight with 14:08 to play.

Holding a 34-26 lead, Lehigh pulled away from AU over the next two minutes. Ross nailed a jumper, Tricia Smith and Kristen Dalton hit three-pointers and Courtney Dentler made a jumper, as the Mountain Hawks rattled off 10 consecutive points to lead 44-26. From there, the Mountain Hawks coasted to the 58-42 victory.

For the game, Lehigh shot 39 percent from the field and 38 percent from beyond the arc. The Eagles struggled offensively, as they shot 22 percent from the field and were only 2-21 from three.

The win improves the Mountain Hawks to 29-3 and gives them an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament, which is set to begin Saturday, March 20. The loss drops AU to 22-9. It does not necessarily mean their season is over however, as they still have a chance to make the women’s NIT tournament. The field for the WNIT will be announced Monday night.

UPDATE: AU will play the first round of the WNIT this Wednesday, March 17, at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va.

You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.

Lehigh defeated the Eagles 79-57 on Sunday. It was the third time Lehigh defeated AU this season. Much like the other two games, the Mountain Hawks maintained control of the basketball and never allowed AU to get an offensive rhythm.

Lehigh took control of the game early, jumping out to an 11-3 lead in the first half. Not only did AU find themselves down early, but one of their best players, Vlad Moldoveanu, got into early foul trouble. AU trimmed Lehigh’s lead to just six points at the midway point of the first half, but Lehigh would finish strong ending the half with a 39-21 lead.

It didn’t take long for Lehigh to all but put away AU in the second half. After four minutes of play, Lehigh had extended their lead to 23. AU would not threaten the Lehigh lead in the second half, as the Mountain Hawks coasted to the win.

AU sophomore Stephen Lumpkins scored a team high 15 points and had nine rebounds. Moldoveanu, who had been one of AU’s major scoring threats during the season, had two points on 1-4 shooting. Lehigh’s CJ McCollum led all players with 22 total points on the day.

Lehigh will go on to face Lafayette College in the Patriot League Championship game. The winner will advance to the NCAA tournament.

You can reach this writer at atomlinson@theeagleonline.com.

Four players scored double figures in the team’s 72-47 win over Navy in the semifinals on Sunday.

Liz Leer led AU with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Raven Harris added 15 points. Lisa Strack and Michelle Kirk were also in double figures, as they added 14 and 11 points, respectively. Cassie Consedine scored in a game-high 20 points for Navy.

The game was competitive in the first half, as AU held a five-point lead after the opening 20 minutes. However, the Eagles buckled down on the defensive end and shot well from the field and ran away with the game in the second half.

“We put a string of positive possessions together offensively … and at the same time we were getting stops,” AU Head Coach Matt Corkery told AU Athletics about the second half.

AU opened up a 13-point lead, as they went on a 12-4 run in the first five minutes of the second half. A jumper by Leer halfway through the second half pushed the AU lead to 50-35 as Navy struggled on offense.

A Strack layup pushed the AU lead to 20 points, and Leer’s fourth triple of the afternoon put the Eagles in front 66-41. Each team scored six points over the final four minutes for the 72-47 win.

AU jumped out to an early double-digit lead over the Lafayette Leopards on Saturday and never looked back, as they cruised to a 77-49 win.

Kirk netted a game-high 18 points, while Leer chipped in 15 points and seven rebounds for the Eagles. Strack and Harris were also in double figures in the victory, as they added 14 and 12 points, respectively. Guard Lauren Jackson scored a team-high 10 points for the Leopards.

“We had a great energy level to begin the game,” Corkery told AU Athletics.

That energy level led to a 6-0 run to start the game and forced Lafayette Head Coach Tammy Smith to call an early 30-second timeout. With AU leading 8-4, Kirk nailed three straight three-pointers and Harris added one of her own to give the Eagles a 20-8 lead.

AU would keep the pressure up and go in to halftime with a 42-22 advantage.

Holding a 53-34 advantage with 11:16 remaining in the second half, AU went on an 11-2 run to extend the margin to 28 points. A conventional three-point play by Harris gave the Eagles a 70-41 advantage as they coasted to their 77-49 victory.

For the game, AU shot 49 percent from the field and 38 percent from beyond the arc while going 16-23 from the foul line. Lafayette shot 39 percent from the field and 42 percent from three, but turned the ball over 22 times in the loss.

AU’s victories set up a matchup between the Eagles and the top-seeded Lehigh Mountain Hawks in the PL Championship game. The two teams have breezed through the first two rounds of the tournament.

The championship game is Saturday, March 13, at Lehigh’s Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pa.  The winner of the game will receive an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.

You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.

On the surface, Washington’s acquisitions of Scott Walker, Joe Corvo, Eric Belanger and Milan Jurcina will make the team better. Those acquisitions may have upset what was a very close knit locker room, however. When new players enter the picture, others must exit. In Washington’s case it was Matt Bradley, David Steckel and John Erskine who drew the short straws.

It was clear from looking at Steckel and Bradley in the press box during Thursday’s 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning that they were not happy with having to sit out. Nor should they be, as they have been two of the team’s most consistent players throughout the year. Fans should not be happy either, as the team clearly looked off.

Players looked lost out on the ice and were out of sync. Passes were inaccurate, shots were taken when they shouldn’t have been and there were fancy moves when there should have been straight slap shots. One might blame it on just a bad night, but after the team looked so determined against Ryan Miller and the Buffalo Sabres the night before, it is hard to believe anything other than the new lineup was to blame.

Sitting Erskine is acceptable, because, in all reality, he has had quite a poor year. He often fails to clear the crease and makes too many stupid plays.

That said, breaking up perhaps the team’s most important energy line by sitting Steckel and Bradley is inexcusable.

Time after time, it was the Steckel-Bradley-Boyd-Gordon line that would fire up the team if it was not playing well. During last year’s playoff run, it was Bradley who scored two goals in a game that would have knocked Washington out of the first round if they had lost. Later in the second round, it was Steckel who scored the overtime winner to send the series to a Game 7 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Not only does Steckel come up big with goals when Washington needs them most, but he is second in the league in faceoff percentage. Meanwhile, Washington’s second line center Brendan Morrison is 47th in the league in faceoff percentage. If Belanger was brought in to be a second line center, shouldn’t he be be playing on the second line replacing Morrison, not Steckel? Not only is Belanger significantly better in the faceoff circle then Morrison, he is eighth in the league, but he has the same number of offensive points as Morrison.

It just doesn’t make sense to bench someone who clearly helps the team win night in and night out, like Steckel does. Last night for instance, Morrison went, 3-13 in the faceoff circle, a team low. If Steckel had been in, perhaps the Caps would have won more defensive faceoffs and the Lightning wouldn’t have had the opportunity to score four goals.

While it is easy to make the argument for why Steckel should have played, it is harder to justify playing Bradley over Walker. For the first 50 minutes of the game, it seemed as if Walker was going to contribute almost nothing. It all changed in the final 10 minutes however, as he went ahead and scored two goals, including the game winner. That said, Bradley has turned sloppy efforts around early on, something Walker was unable to do in his first game as a Cap. If Bradley was playing on his energy line, Washington may have played a tighter game then the one they did.

In reality, it is hard to make a judgement on a trade after just one game. The team has time to bond and create chemistry together, but no matter what it will be at the expense of other players. There is never anything wrong with depth, but sometimes the best players may not be the ones who should be in the game. In sports, especially hockey, you can’t teach skill, but then again you also can’t pay for chemistry. Washington’s front office should remember that as they begin to make decisions about who will and will not play down the stretch.

You can reach this columnist at atomlinson@theeagleonline.com.

Lumpkins finished with a career-high 29 points and tied his career high of 15 rebounds en route to his eighth double-double of the season. Junior Nick Hendra also came up huge with 12 points and seven boards. In his last game with Navy, Chris Harris led the Midshipmen with 20 points in 39 minutes. The Eagles improved to 9-0 in the Patriot League Quarterfinals with the win. 

“I told the guys that winning ugly is still winning,” Head Coach Jeff Jones said. “Obviously we kind of limped down the stretch, but we were able to make enough free throws and get enough stops [to win].”

The atmosphere inside Bender Arena was as electric as ever, but play on the court was sloppy early on. Both teams shot less than 30 percent from the field in the first 10 minutes, and only 15 total points were scored in that span. Given the poor shooting, AU’s six offensive rebounds in the first half were pivotal.

“The big key to our success tonight was that we played outstanding defense,” Jones said. “Then we finished those defensive possessions by owning the defensive boards.”

Both teams attacked the rim in the first half, as Danny Munoz had a pair of athletic layups, and Navy junior O.J. Avworo had a nice reverse layup of his own. The momentum shifting play in the first half came with 12:37 remaining, as Lumpkins and Vlad Moldoveanu tipped the ball at least three times in a row before Lumpkins finally finished. The sophomore from California later made a beautiful touch pass to senior Matthew Wilson, who laid it in to give AU a 13-7 lead.

Junior Steve Luptak took a charge on Harris with 6:14 remaining in the half, but Navy returned the favor by immediately drawing a charge on Moldoveanu. Blocks and jump balls were prevalent and those who came to see tournament basketball were not disappointed by the energy in the first half. A late Harris three put a small dent in the AU lead, but the Eagles still went to the locker room up 26-21.

The second half started off with a bang—or, a Lumpkins dunk to be more precise. Navy’s Romeo Garcia and Avworo kept it close with a pair of layups before Hendra took the ball coast to coast and finished with an acrobatic lay in. Harris and sophomore Jordan Sugars each drained a three pointer and things began to heat up.

“It was a great game, [Navy] is a very good team,” Moldoveanu said. “They score a lot of points and their role players are very good also, so it was a tough game for us.”

The story of the game continued to be Lumpkins, who scored 20 points and eight rebounds in the second half alone. Lumpkins had multiple emphatic dunks in the period and a strong put back off his own miss which gave the Eagles a 44-40 lead. AU regained the momentum and Bender Arena went into a frenzy.

Chants of “Steve-en Lump-kins” echoed throughout the arena as another tip in gave the sophomore a new career-high. Four free throws with five minutes remaining extended the AU lead to double-digits, and a trip to the semifinals seemed all but secure.

Slowly but surely, the Midshipmen pulled themselves back into the game. AU had a 59-51 lead with 1:11 left in the game, but a combination of missed free throws and Navy threes cut the lead to one with nine seconds left. Danny Munoz hit one free throw to double the AU lead and Garcia missed a half-court shot.

“It was pretty nerve-wracking,” Lumpkins said after the game. “But we defended well even though we were missing free throws. A win is a win, and at this time of year you just have to do anything you can to win and move on.”

The Eagles held Navy to 37 percent shooting on the night and held the rebounding advantage 41-28. They also tripled Navy’s second chance points and scored twice as many points in the paint. However, Moldoveanu only made two layups in the game and finished with eight points.

Lehigh, Holy Cross and Lafayette also won Wednesday night to qualify for the semi-finals. Next up for American is a tough road game at top-seeded Lehigh Sunday night.

You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.

Let’s take a look at a few of the many reasons the Eagles could soar through the Patriot League tournament and why AU should pay attention.

10: The Eagles earned an A+ in chemistry this season

Both on and off the court, the Eagles have fun together. Although this might appear to be a trivial strength compared to statistical achievements, Assistant Coach Latonya Watson sees a change in team dynamics between last season and this one. She said it has helped generate wins this season.

The team’s bond will play a large factor in tournament games at the College of Holy Cross, because there will be a lack of red, white and blue in the stands. Watson said the team will persevere because of its unity, and the fact that they are each others’ biggest supporters.

9: Everything gets better with age

The thriving AU women’s basketball program effectively hides the fact that all five coaching staff members have only been together for two seasons.

Watson said the coaching staff is trying to build a strong foundation for the program and that it is a major reason for their success this year.

The benefits of growing together last season have been enormous. One notable achievements is Head Coach Matt Corkery earning the title of Patriot League Coach of the Year after leading his team to a 13-1 conference record, tied for best in the league.

Along side their coaches, Watson said the players learned and matured because of last year’s fresh start.

“We are more veteran than we are young because our juniors and sophomores got a lot of playing experience last year,” Watson said. “They understand the system a lot more this year.”

One can only envision the future strength of the team after seeing the results of two seasons together.

8: The best offense is a good defense

Despite the phrase being cliché, Corkery cannot stress enough that defense wins games. Luckily, his team has the one of the best defenses in the conference.

This season the Eagles led the Patriot League in blocked shots per game and ranked second in defensive rebounds per game, steals and a host of other statistics.

Corkery said defensive strength should never be overlooked and will play a dominant role in the tournament.

“We take pride in our defense,” Corkery said. “Late in the year if you can defend and if you can rebound I think you can win games.”

7: Stepping up to the line

One thing often overlooked is the fact that free throws decide ball games.

Hanging on to win close games is not a problem for AU. The women are ranked 24th in the nation and lead the conference in free throw percentage with 75.1 percent.

When AU players get to the line, Corkery said they are confident and comfortable.

Stand out free throw shooters include junior Liz Leer, with a career 82.5 percent and Kirk with 79.4 percent.

6: Nobody has swagger like AU

A winning conference record transformed the women’s team in one way that Corkery says cannot be taught: it has given his players confidence.

“I think we have a confident team, and when we step on the floor, we expect to do well,” Corkery said. “I don’t think you can place too high of value on that.”

Kirk believes the team’s confidence should not be confused with arrogance. Rather, the women are prepared for their opponents.

“We are not overconfident,” Kirk said. “We are just ready to play.”

5: The deeper down the bench you go, the better it gets

The Eagles unanimously agree that their depth sets them apart from competition.

“I think we have a number of people that can step up and be that third option,” Corkery said. “If we can get three players in double figures on any night, then I think we are tough to guard.”

Watson said players who come off the bench contribute at both ends of the court.

As starters pick up fouls in heated tournament contests, the team is confident that its bench will deliver its share of support.

4: Return of the masters

Showing their teammates the ropes this season are seniors Ohema Nyanin and Nicole Ryan. The two athletes faced unique situations this season, with Nyanin returning from gap year and Ryan sitting out most of the season because of a torn Achilles tendon during non-conference play. 

However, Corkery is quick to point to the leadership of the seniors both on and off the court.

Corkery said Nyanin acts as “kind of a mother goose for the team.” Despite taking a year off, Corkery said she returned strong.

Ryan has also exceeded expectations. Corkery and Watson have been impressed by her wisdom as a leader and her ability to relay information to teammates.

Although they play different roles on the team, Nyanin and Ryan’s contributions have not gone unnoticed on the scoreboard and in the hearts of their teammates. With one last shot at the Patriot League title, it is unlikely these two seniors will lose speed now.

3: AU’s personal Wonder Woman

Standing tall at 6-foot-2, junior Liz Leer has proven to be double the trouble for AU opponents. On both the offensive and defensive ends, Leer has established herself as a threat.

Leer leads the Patriot League in blocked shots per game, and she holds the most blocked shots in AU history at 164. Leer’s teammates can count on her to deliver at the line and she is less than 100 buckets away from joining teammate Michelle Kirk in the 1000-point club.

Along with Kirk, Leer was named to the All-Patriot League First Team. The honors mark the first time in program history that two student-athletes have been named to the Patriot League First Team.

2: She grabs nothing but net

Junior Michelle Kirk is the driving force behind her team’s offense.

She was named the Patriot League Player of the Year and is part of AU’s elite list of female players who have scored over 1000 career points. On top of that, she leads the Patriot League with an average of 18.1 points per game.

Bouncing back from a self-professed disappointing freshman season, Kirk spent this year breaking school and Patriot League records. She is now the most sought-after guard in the league and is sure to face extra defensive pressure during the tournament. Even with all of that, fans should still expect to see her name leading the team in points per game.

1: The great protectors

The team only plays better as time goes on, especially when it is steadily ticking away in the second half.

AU is 15-1 when leading at halftime and has won all its games when they lead with five minutes left in the contest.

However, Corkery and Watson are quick to caution that tournament play is like starting a new season.

“It is more physical; it is more competitive, and there is a lot more on the line,” Corkery said. “It’s a whole different ball game.”

Season statistics reveal that the Eagles are effective at protecting their lead, and it is unlikely that the women will let their guard down in the tournament.

You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.

After a double overtime thriller in Annapolis, Md., the Midshipmen and AU met just seven days later. It was no regular season tilt this time, as it was a win-or-go-home situation. In the end, AU ran into the night victorious, while Navy snuck away, anxiously anticipating their next shot at AU.

Watching the game, it was clear that both teams were not fond of each other. Elbows were thrown on almost every play, and players were often on the floor. Physicality is never a bad thing, but often it is an indicator of the extra emotion a game has.

Navy Head Coach Billy Lange best described history of the teams’ relationship when he said, “last years games literally came down to who had the ball last.”

AU Head Coach Jeff Jones did not necessarily agree with the statement, but he did say it has been a hard-fought rivalry. His team has won six straight over its conference rival and, as a result, he may see things differently than Lange. When a coach is looking at a situation from the winning end, it often looks like the rivalry is not as close as it actually is.

Perhaps more important than the rivalry itself, is what it means for the athletic community. Since AU made their miracle run to the NCAA Tournament two season ago, the attendance at games has slowly increased. Still, there has never been a game in Bender that is standing room only, but a solid rivalry could change that.

There are few things fans enjoy more in sports than hating another team and fan base. Currently at AU, there is really no feeling of hatred towards another school. That is, until now.

Last night’s game featured its fair share of Navy fans trying to drown out AU students, and the Navy band trying to outplay the AU band. Moments like that are what make college sports fun and can make a basketball game a can’t-miss event. Not only does it often provide spirited play on the court, but also it provides an atmosphere that cannot be recreated.

Earlier in the year, AU Athletic Director Keith Gill said one of his goals was to create more spirit and a better sense of camaraderie among students. One of the ways he said that can happen is through the building of rivalries between schools. After last night’s game, Gill thinks the department is moving in the right direction.

“I think we have got proximity [to Navy],” Gill said about the rivalry between AU and Navy. “I think that there is certainly a rivalry and I think it is good and positive and brings out the best in both teams and institutions.”

Gill said that last night’s atmosphere was important to AU’s play.

“I think the crowd gave us good energy,” Gill said. “I think they clearly were the sixth man and probably the seventh and eighth man as well.”

That’s what rivalries and fan bases come down to: helping their team win. A loud and intimidating fan base can sometimes push a home team over the edge and discourage a visiting one.

After AU’s game against Navy, it looks as if the school could be headed in the direction of having a solid fan base. Creating one of those happens when fans band together against a dreaded rival.

You can reach this writer at atomlinson@theeagleonline.com.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The Angels are still the team to beat in the AL West this season, but that’s not to say there aren’t some cracks in the armor of the reigning division champs. For the Angels, it looks as though the losses heavily outweigh the gains this offseason. The most notable names to come off the Angels’ payroll are starting pitcher John Lackey, infielder Chone Figgins and Designated Hitter Vlad Guerrero.

The Angels still have a fairly solid lineup based around Kendry Morales, who had a breakout season last year bashing 34 homers and driving in over 100 RBIs. Along with Morales, the team will bring back outfielders Juan Rivera and Torii Hunter. Both of them provide most of the team’s power along with newly-signed designated hitter, Hideki Matsui.

Los Angeles’ starting staff remains solid despite losing Lackey. They still have a capable top three in Jered Weaver, Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana. The bullpen is led by closer Brian Fuentes, who racked up a ton of saves last season, but blew a fair number of games. It will be interesting to see if the team can continue to be on top despite losing their key players.

Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers have made big strides in becoming a more complete team. In other words, they seem to have wised up to the fact that they can’t just hit their way to the top. The team is looking younger, and there is more of a focus on young starters that should help the team compete. Texas’ staff is made up of pitchers who are all under 30 years old. This is a good sign for the Rangers, who have spent years avoiding what separates playoff contenders from World Series contenders.

The calling card for the Rangers the last decade has been their offense. This year is no different, as they will field one of the most potent lineups in the AL. There is no shortage of power on the team since they have Ian Kinsler, Michael Young, Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz making up the heart of their lineup. Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and first baseman Chris Davis have shown some power but have had problems staying healthy and consistent.

Another bright spot in their lineup comes from the person who has almost no power, Elvis Andrus. The young shortstop finished second to A’s pitcher Andrew Bailey in the Rookie of the Year voting, as he displayed great defensive skills and a knack for stealing bases. Andrus should be a mainstay at shortstop for years to come. The Rangers have also bolstered their bench with the signing of veteran Guerrero, who should provide some right-handed power off the bench. Texas’ success hinges on young starters, which may not bode well for this season.

Seattle Mariners

The Mariners are the most improved team in the West, and one of the most improved teams in baseball thanks to Cliff Lee. The former Cy Young winner came over to the Mariners in the same blockbuster deal that sent Roy Halladay to the Phillies. Lee gives Seattle a rotation to be feared in a short playoff series. Their top two pitchers are Lee and Felix Hernandez, one of the best young pitchers in baseball. It’s hard to believe Hernandez is still only 23-years-old.

Seattle’s back end of the rotation will not be as strong, with pitchers like Ian Snell. Those top starters better be as great as they have been in the past, because the lineup is very light on power. This is a team that is more focused on speed and defense. The top of the order is stilled manned by Ichiro Suzuki, one of the most complete players in the game. Chone Figgins, who came over from the Angels, will likely follow him in the lineup. The two need to get on base in order for the Mariners to have a chance to score many runs, because the likes of Jose Lopez and an old Ken Griffey Jr. may not be enough to get it done. Regardless of how many home runs the Mariners are hitting this year, they should be an interesting team to watch, since they can make a run at the division.

Oakland Athletics

Remember when everyone bought into “Billy-ball‚“ and the A’s were going to win the division with a miniscule payroll? Well, those days seem long gone. In typical Billy Beane fashion, the team is based around a young core of players who take their walks and have some power. But this year’s lineup looks particularly barren. The team will look to outfielder Jack Cust and Kurt Suzuki to provide the bulk of the club’s power. Keep in mind, both Suzuki and Cust hit under 30 home runs last season and drove in under 100 RBIs. This wouldn’t be such a problem if they had the staff to back it up, but they are simply too young and inexperienced to be able to shoulder the burden that is the A’s offense.

The team will look to Justin Duchscherer to be their ace, even though he did not pitch at all last season. Behind Duchscherer, the team will rely on young arms like lefties Dallas Braden and Brett Anderson. To give an idea of how far away from winning the division the A’s will be, the team leader in wins last season had just 11. The team’s main bright spot is their closer, Andrew Bailey, who took home Rookie of the Year honors. In order for him to do his job, they need to get him a lead and that may be difficult this season.

Prediction: Mariners in an upset. It’s scary to imagine how good that Hernandez-Lee combo could be.

You can reach this staff writer at slindauer@theeagleonline.com

With a little help from Colgate University, the AU men’s basketball team secured the fourth seed in the Patriot League tournament with a 78-60 win over Lafayette College.

Vlad Moldoveanu led all scorers with 26 points and gave AU the intensity it needed to win. He scored the Eagles’ first eight points of the game, and AU never looked back from there.

“Tonight was big; I wanted to get out there and go play hard,” Moldoveanu said.

Sixth man Steve Luptak entered the game and made an immediate impact, quickly hitting back-to-back three pointers. His six points gave AU a double-digit lead they would never relinquish.

Stephen Lumpkins and Moldoveanu took over the remainder of the game. They had a knack for finding each other all day. Whether in the paint or on the outside, both were able to create and execute solid plays throughout the game.

Lumpkins sent Bender Arena in to a frenzy just before half time. With AU cruising, Lumpkins took the ball down low and slammed it home for two points, hitting another layup just over 30 seconds later.

Moldoveanu hit one more big shot before the end of the half. As time expired Moldoveanu drained a three from the corner to give AU a 45-26 lead going into halftime.

Coming out of the intermission, Lafayette stepped up their defensive intensity. AU continued to find scoring easy despite the Leopards’ improved defense. Lumpkins yet again exploited them down low, as he pushed the lead to 21 with another dunk just 20 seconds into the second half.

AU has not had many large leads this season, and they seemed uneasy in the new territory. With six and a half minutes left in the game Lafayette pushed the score to 65-54.

“We haven’t been in that situation much this season, playing with a big lead,” AU Head Coach Jeff Jones said. “We just need to know to keep playing smart.”

Lafayette took advantage of sloppy AU passes and ill-advised shots. A run of good outside shooting allowed them to close the gap to eleven, but Lafayette never got any closer.

AU pulled it together down the stretch and pulled away as the final seconds ticked away. Lumpkins led all players with 12 rebounds, to go along with his 24 points for the only double-double of the game.

With the win, the Eagles continue their run of never finishing below .500 in the Patriot League. The last time AU finished below .500 in conference play was in the 2000-01 season, when they finished 3-13 in the Colonial Athletic Association.

AU will face rival Navy in the opening round of the Patriot League Tournament, Wednesday in Bender Arena. The Eagles won both of their meetings this season. The last time the two teams met on Feb. 24, the game went into double overtime.

You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.

A strong second half propelled AU to the win. Not only did they out-shoot Stony Brook 18-10 in the second half, but they also out-scored them 11-3. AU’s Emily Stankiewicz and Lauren Schoenberger had hat tricks in the game, with all three of Stankiewicz’s goals coming in the second half.

Stony Brook jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first period. AU was able to get on the board in the first half, but was outplayed. Stony Brook outshot them 11-8 and only had seven fouls in the first half, compared to AU’s 12.

The game looked all but over nine minutes into the second half, as Stony Brook took a 10-5 lead. Back-to-back goals by AU’s Chiara Speziale, however, got AU back in the game. Her two goals started a 9-0 AU run to finish the last 20 minutes of the game.

Three Eagles, including Samantha Marshall, Schoenberger and Stankiewicz each recorded four points on the day. Kaska Komosinski relieved starter Frankie Solomon in net after she had let in four goals in the first 10 minutes of the game. Komosinski would finish the match with seven saves, six goals against and the victory.

Earlier in the week, AU had dropped their third straight match 12-11 in overtime against George Washington University.

AU scored three goals in the final 10 minutes of the second half against GWU to send it to overtime. The Eagles controlled the play for much of OT, as they won one draw and had one shot. A free position shot from GWU with only nine seconds left led to the game-winning goal only five seconds later.

Amanda Makoid, Lisa Schaaf, Maeve Koch and Speziale had two goals on the day. Makoid also totaled 10 shots in the game, more than twice as many as anyone else on the team. Despite starting the game in net, Komosinski replaced Solomon, who would eventually be credited with the overtime loss.

With the victory over Stony Brook and the loss to GWU, AU moves to 1-3 on the season. There are only two games remaining before AU opens their conference schedule at home against Colgate University on March 13. AU’s next game will be their home opener against the University of Richmond.

You can reach this staff writer at atomlinson@theeagleonline.com.

The university rallying around a sport other than the basketball team is unusual. It is no secret that AU students are gluttons for political debate, discourse and discussion and that sports are probably about item 50 on the list of importance. It was hard to tell that sports were largely unimportant Sunday night.

Perhaps the most shocking part of Sunday’s quasi-watch party in the Tavern was that it was because of hockey. While it’s the favorite sport in Canada, hockey is a sport Americans largely ignore. Television ratings have dropped significantly since the mid-‘90s and so has attendance to games. Hockey’s small status in American society is also evident at AU, as it is hard to find a true hockey fan.

“It’s awesome and communal,” sophomore Lauren Reddington of the School of Communication said about hockey. “No one really likes watching hockey and as [a girl] it’s weird to find others watching hockey.”

It was not safe for Reddington and the other Team USA fans in the Tavern though, as the enemy was amongst them. David Grant, a sophomore in SOC, is from Canada and was not afraid to show it. While now living in Montana, Grant is originally from Vancouver and has followed hockey his entire life.

“I am so stoked,” Grant said about Sunday’s game. “[I came to the Tavern] because of the big screen, I wanted to be in the zone.”

Grant has been skating on ice his entire life and has a comprehensive knowledge of the sport. Thanks to his advanced hockey knowledge and heritage, the game was especially important to him. His intensity did not stop his friends from teasing and poking fun at him.

“[My friends] all give me flak for [being Canadian], everybody does” Grant said.

However, not all of the students watching were like Grant and Reddington. School of Public Affairs sophomore Graham Sallinger openly admitted that he does not know much about hockey. For him, Sunday was more of a patriotic event, not necessarily a sports one.

“I am not really following much of the Olympics,” Sallinger said. “I am not following the hockey either, but its America vs. Canada and I [came] to see America win.”

Sallinger may have seen a good game while he was in the Tavern, but he did not see the victory he was hoping for. Just minutes after Grant was surrounded by Americans celebrating Parise’s goal, he was the one celebrating and cheering because Sidney Crosby scored the overtime goal that gave Canada a 3-2 win.

Even with the loss, the Team USA fans were treated to an event and atmosphere that is foreign to the AU campus. While not as full as it was on Election Night 2008, there were enough people in the Tavern to feel a strong sense of camaraderie. Sunday was not only a once-in-a-lifetime hockey game, but it was a once-in-a-lifetime gathering at AU.

You can reach this staff writer at atomlinson@theeagleonline.com.

With the win, AU also gets a share of the Patriot League regular season title with Lehigh University.

Harris went 4-5 from the field, but did most of her damage from the free throw line. She netted 12 of her 21 points from the foul line. Ebony Edwards and Lisa Strack chipped in 13 points apiece in the victory. LaKeisha Wright paced Lafayette with 15 points.

“Our sophomore class stepped up big with Raven, Ebony and Lisa all scoring in double figures,” AU Head Coach Matt Corkery told AU Athletics.

With the score tied 8-8 five minutes into the game, the Leopards used a 7-0 run capped by a Melissa Downey three-pointer to take an early 15-8 lead. The Lafayette lead was 19-14 midway through the first half, after a layup from Leopards’ forward Elizabeth Virgin.

After a Wright jumper put the Leopards ahead 25-20 with 2:55 remaining in the first half, the Eagles began to find their rhythm on offense. Harris scored five points, Edwards nailed a three-pointer and Strack made two free throws as the sophomores led a critical 10-4 AU run. The spurt gave the Eagles a 30-29 lead and wrapped up a competitive first half.

A jumper by Lafayette guard Alicia Manning early in the second half knotted the game at 34 and marked the last time the two teams would be tied. A triple from AU’s Michelle Kirk finished off an 11-2 AU run that saw the Eagles take a 45-36 lead with 10:21 remaining.

Lafayette trailed by five with nine minutes to play before AU squashed any upset hopes. Over the next four and a half minutes, the Eagles turned up the defensive intensity as the Leopards went 0-3 from the field and committed two turnovers.

Over that same time period, AU scored seven straight points to take a comfortable 54-42 lead with 4:34 left. The final margin of victory was 21 points, as AU outscored Lafayette 38-18 in the second half. “We made some nice adjustments coming out of the half and picked up our defensive energy,” Corkery told AU Athletics.

For the game, AU shot 42 percent from the field and 37 percent from beyond the arc. Lafayette shot 41 percent from the field and 28 percent from three, but attempted 22 less free throws than the Eagles. With the win, the Eagles finish the regular season at 20-8 overall and 13-1 in the Patriot League, giving AU their best conference record in program history. The loss drops Lafayette to 6-22 on the season and 4-10 in the league.

Lehigh owns the first seed in the torment because it is higher in the ratings percentage index standings than AU. The Mountain Hawks own the tiebreaker and the Eagles will enter the Patriot League Tournament as the No. 2 seed. This sets up a first-round matchup with seventh-slotted Lafayette on Saturday, March 6, at the College of Holy Cross. The winner of the PL Tournament will earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.

Back in 2006, Miller was supposed to be America’s golden boy. He arrived at the games brandishing two silver medals from the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and as the defending world champion. Miller’s face and the expectations were equally well known thanks to ubiquitous advertising campaigns and magazine covers. Like over-involved Little League parents, Uncle Sam demanded excellence: five medals, preferably all gold.

The skier responded like a rebellious boy. Miller skied five uninspired races and came up empty-handed in each one.

By the end of the games the running joke had become, “how will Bode screw this one up?” Despite the joking, Americans scratched their heads and pointed their fingers, not always the index finger, at what was supposed to be our national icon.

Everyone in the world was looking for an answer. Brainstorming turned into fire storming as the speculation about his performance spiraled out of control. Most notably, reports surfaced that Miller had been spotted out at bars prior to races in Turin. By then everyone knew that he skied drunk. The often outspoken skier admitted—in a highly publicized 60 Minutes interview—that his escapades had sometimes interfered with competition.

Bode Miller was like Bob Dylan on skis. Like the musician, he refused to be the poster boy, preferring to be the party boy instead. He blew off the media, hopping the out of bounds ropes and skiing alone to his RV in order to avoid the swarms of rabid reporters. Worst of all, he said he didn’t care about success or winning medals. Such a treasonous comment made him unworthy to wear the stars and stripes that he was supposed to be representing.

Not only that though, he showed no remorse. Bode skied the way Bode wanted to ski.

“Part of me didn’t even want to go to the Olympics in ‘06. Part of me wanted to go because I knew the possibilities of going,” Bode wrote on his Universal Sports blog. “But part of me didn’t want to because I didn’t like where the whole thing was pointed. I didn’t like being the poster boy, and I didn’t like a lot of the stuff that was surrounding it.”

Picking up the pieces—and the beer cans they tossed at their TV sets—Americans asked, “should we blame ourselves?” Maybe we had unrealistic expectations for the young star, as parents living vicariously through children sometimes do. Perhaps all those flash bulbs and spotlights burnt out budding Bode. By the conclusion of the 2006 games, the Olympic torch was extinguished and the general consensus was that Miller’s Olympic potential had too.

Four years later in Vancouver, the hype and hope rested on another American skier, Lindsey Vonn, and her ailing shin. Miller’s appearance on the hill was expected to be nothing more than an unpleasant reminder of what could have been four years earlier.

Miller had a modicum of success after Turin, winning the 2008 World Cup overall title. But there was more disappointment too. Leading up to the Olympics, Miller had the worst season of his career in 2009. Not only that, but he had a couple of injuries as well as a knee surgery. With all of the problems, Miller was expected to leave the sport.

Four years older, a little wiser and hopefully more responsible with a 2-year-old daughter at home, Miller returned to his prime. True to his unpredictable nature, the maverick Miller emerged to capture three medals, tying him for a United States record among Alpine skiers. He collected silver in the Super-G, bronze in the downhill and Olympic gold in the combined.

Miller rekindled the Olympic spirit and renewed the nation’s love affair with the misunderstood star.

“The energy I felt during that race,” Miller wrote on his Universal Sports blog “that’s what the Olympics are about.”

Let confetti flow, holler in the streets and slaughter the fatted calf. The prodigal son has returned and it’s time to celebrate.

Congratulations Miller, you have completed the transformation from goat to hero. You now stand on top of the podium and in our hearts, as a decorated American Olympian.

So go ahead Bode, you can now have a beer. You deserve one.

You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.

“I think it’s a great accomplishment,” AU Head Coach Matt Corkery said. “It’s something that we hope to extend on Saturday with one more win.”

Kirk totaled 21 points and eight rebounds, while Leer added 14 points and nine rebounds. The duo combined for 53 percent of the team’s offense. Junior center Cassie Consedine paced Navy with nine points.

“We both did play really well,” Leer said. “[Kirk] hit some really nice shots and had some nice assists. [Kirk] and I have been playing together for three years now and I think that’s been a key factor.”

Navy scored the first four points of the game and led 7-5 on an early K.C. Gordon three-pointer. The Eagles would then go on a 14-0 run to take a 19-7 lead halfway through the first half. Kirk had eight points during the early run and Leer added five.

AU’s lead was 21-10 with 5:57 to play in the first half before Navy used an 8-2 run to cut the margin to five. With the Eagles holding a six-point lead, Ashley Yencho nailed a triple to give AU a 29-20 halftime lead.

Within the first five minutes of the second half, AU raced to a 44-26 lead to take full control of the contest. A Lisa Strack layup followed by Kirk’s fourth and final three-pointer of the night capped the run.

The Eagles extended their lead to 25 points twice in the second half — first when they led 55-30 with 7:24 remaining, and again when they were up 61-36 with 2:24 to play. The final margin of victory was 28 points as an Ebony Edwards layup capped a second half in which AU outscored Navy 37-18.

For the game, AU shot 45 percent from the field and 42 percent from beyond the arc. The Eagles also outrebounded the Midshipmen 39-24. Navy shot 32 percent from the field and 28 percent from the three-point line.

Seniors Ohemaa Nyanin and Nicole Ryan were honored in a ceremony prior to the game. Nyanin has started all but one game this season and is second on the team with 5.9 rebounds per game. Ryan, who is third all-time in career three-pointers made, has not played since Dec. 2 at Drexel.

The win improves the Eagles to 19-8 on the season and 12-1 in Patriot League play. With both AU and Lehigh University notching victories on Wednesday night, the two teams remain tied atop the PL with one conference game remaining for both squads. The loss drops the Midshipmen to 15-13 on the year and 7-6 in conference play.

AU will wrap up the regular season with a trip to Easton, Pa., to take on the Lafayette Leopards on Saturday, Feb. 27. In the first contest between the two teams, the Eagles defeated the Leopards 53-31.

You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.