This week in Suffolk University sports: volleyball swept in playoffs, men’s soccer wins CNE title, men’s and women’s hockey split two game weekend and both basketball programs start undefeated.
Volleyball’s season ends with playoff sweep
In their last road game of the regular season against Curry College Nov. 6, volleyball breezed past the Colonels with a 3-0 win to improve to 23-5 overall.
Suffolk won by set scores of 25-9, 25-19 and 25-17 to win their fifth straight against Curry. All time, the Rams are 9-3 against the Colonels.
The Rams took on the Endicott College Gulls Nov. 9 for their regular season finale, ending the season 23-6 with a 3-0 loss to the Gulls. The match also served as the Rams’ senior day, with the careers of Morgan Kelsey, Jayla Martinez, McKenna Keowen, Tatum Kalt, Isabelle Huzar and Sophie Palmer being recognized.
Locked into the fourth seed in the Conference of New England tournament, the Rams hosted the Western New England University Golden Bears in the first round Nov. 12.
Set one was a back and forth battle that extended far beyond 25 points, with the Golden Bears prevailing 31-29. After that, the Golden Bears slowly wore down the Rams with a 25-22 win in set two and a 25-19 win in set three to end Suffolk’s season early.
Men’s soccer captures CNE title with thrilling win
Facing Western New England in the CNE semifinals Nov. 6, men’s soccer punched their ticket to the CNE championship game with a 1-0 victory over the Golden Bears.
Edward Abouzeid scored the lone goal of the game in the 67th minute for the Rams, while goalkeeper Nathan Harlow produced his seventh shutout of the season with a 10 save game.
The Rams took on Roger Williams University in the CNE championship game Nov. 9, with Suffolk taking down the Hawks in penalty kicks to win their first CNE championship.
Roger Williams took a 1-0 lead with a goal in the 51st minute, at which point starting goalkeeper Hogan Cain came out of the game and backup Eliot Panaccione entered. It was just the fourth game of the season for Panaccione, with only one being a start.
Brady Sorensen forced overtime for the Rams in the 76th minute as he headed in a throw-in from Tommy Handelsman. After both overtime periods went without a goal, it was on to penalty kicks. In the fourth round, Dan Colbert scored to give the Rams a 3-2 advantage in penalties. Mateu Farre-Torres, replacing Harlow in goal for the penalties, denied Roger Williams’ Will Schiffer in round five to seal the championship win.
The Rams have a matchup on deck against the Connecticut College Camels in the first round of the NCAA tournament Nov. 16. The Camels won the New England Small College Athletic Conference championship to earn an automatic qualification to the tournament.
Men’s hockey splits two game weekend
Facing the Wentworth Institute of Technology Nov. 8, men’s hockey came out on the wrong side of a 1-0 overtime loss. George Kolovos’ overtime goal was the difference as the Leopards emerged with a win. Goaltender CJ Hapward had 22 saves on the night as the Rams went 0-for-6 on power play opportunities.
Suffolk rebounded the next day, beating the Leopards 2-0 to improve to 2-1 on the season. Scott McManus scored on a breakaway in the second period with the Rams shorthanded to give Suffolk a 1-0 lead, and Ralph Berry sealed the win in the third period with an empty net goal. Hapward produced a 22 save shutout while Leopards goalie Jack McGovern made 27 saves.
Women’s hockey picks up first win of season
Facing Endicott Nov. 8, women’s hockey was trampled by the Gulls with a 6-2 loss to drop to 0-3 to begin the season. Alexia Hill scored both goals for the Rams and at one point, Suffolk trailed Endicott by just one goal. The Gulls then poured in three unanswered goals to make it a 6-2 game. Katelyn Michals made 46 saves in goal for the Rams.
The Rams bounced back the next day, beating the Gulls 3-2 in overtime to get their first win of the season. Shayna Deutsch and Kate Pohl had the regulation goals for the Rams, with Pohl’s goal late in the second period tying the game 2-2. Sam Molind skated in on Endicott goalie Casey Moritz on a breakaway in overtime and scored the game winning goal to send the Rams home happy. Michals had a 26 save performance in the win.
Men’s basketball sweeps first two games
Facing the University of Maine Farmington Nov. 9, men’s basketball defeated the Beavers 78-75 to open the season with a win.
The Rams took a 42-36 lead into halftime and, despite being outscored by three points in the second half, took care of business to get the win. Keenan Robertson led Suffolk with 22 points, while Danny Yardemian chipped in 16 points and Nick Verdile added 19.
Against Salem State University Nov. 12, the Rams picked up their second win of the season with a 74-60 win. Robertson was the star of the show for the Rams, producing a 30 point and 14 rebound double double. Matt Draheim was the second highest scorer for the Rams, adding 18 points off the bench.
Women’s basketball starts 3-0
Taking on New England College to begin the season Nov. 9, women’s basketball cruised past the Pilgrims with a 68-48 win. Colby Guinta led the Rams in points with 17, while Amanda DeAngelis added a 15 point, 10 rebound double double and Allison Bono produced 10 points.
Against Saint Joseph’s College the next day, the Rams improved to 2-0 with a 54-47 win. Guinta paced the Rams in points once again with 19 while securing a double double thanks to a 13 rebound game. DeAngelis and Bono once again joined Guinta with double figures in points.
Taking on Salem State Nov. 12, the Rams picked up a close 77-74 win in overtime to stay perfect at 3-0 to begin the season. DeAngelis, Guinta and Jordan Moreau got into double figures for the Rams, with DeAngelis grabbing 10 rebounds to secure her second double double of the season.
