MU Commissioner Cup streak reaches four/ This and more at the MU web site
MONMOUTH CLAIMS FOURTH STRAIGHT NEC COMMISSIONER'S CUP FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For the fourth consecutive year and the sixth time in the award’s history, Monmouth University has won the Northeast Conference Commissioner’s Cup as the premier overall athletic program in the league, league commissioner Brenda Weare recently announced. The Hawks also claimed the men’s Cup for the sixth straight year. MU’s outstanding year included championships in men’s soccer, football, men’s indoor track and field, men’s golf and men’s and women’s outdoor track and field. Also, the women’s lacrosse team and the baseball teams won their respective NEC Tournament Championships. "Every year, we make it a department goal to aim for the Commissioner's Cup. Attaining it takes a total team effort from our 400 student-athletes and each of our 19 sports," said Monmouth Director of Athletics Dr. Marilyn McNeil. "This verifies our program-wide commitment and passison for excellence, and I am very proud of all our student-athletes, coaches and the Athletics Department as a whole."
MU baseball Arizona bound/from the MU web site/also NEC NCAA and play-in results/NEC
MONMOUTH BASEBALL TO PLAY #5 ARIZONA STATE IN 2007 NCAA DIVISION I BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS The Monmouth University baseball team, the 2007 Northeast Conference Champions, will travel to Tempe, Arizona to compete in one of 16 Regional sites that comprises the 64-team NCAA Division I Baseball Championship. The Hawks will face the number-one seed in the region and the fifth-ranked team in the nation in Arizona State (43-13) in their first game on Friday, June 1, at 7 p.m., at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark on the ASU campus. “We are going to go out and play baseball and try not to get caught up in everything,” said head coach Dean Ehehalt. “We are playing a program with a storied history and we are in a real strong region. This is going to be a great experience for our kids.” Monmouth (36-22-1), which set a school-record for wins this season, earned the NEC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Regional by virtue of its 7-1 win over Central Connecticut State on Saturday afternoon. Monmouth is making its third NCAA appearance in its program history (1998, 1999). The other match-up in Tempe will pit No. 2 seed UC-Riverside and No. 3 seed Nebraska. Arizona State won the 2007 Pac-10 Championship, finishing the season with a 43-13 overall record and a 19-5 conference record.Monmouth will practice at home on Tuesday, May 29th at 11 a.m. NCAA Tournament Results (from NEC web site) NEC teams are 0-22. Can MU pitching pull one off here?? 1994 Miami def. Rider, 17-4, West Virginia def. Rider, 19-7 1997 Florida State def. Marist, 4-2, Western Carolina def. Marist, 8-3 1998 Florida def. Monmouth, 12-8, Illinois def. Monmouth, 12-2 1999 Texas A&M def. Monmouth, 6-0 Mississippi def. Monmouth, 12-3 2000 Miami def. Wagner, 19-5 Florida International def. Wagner, 10-1 2001 East Carolina def. UMBC, 7-0 Winthrop def. UMBC, 6-0 2002 Texas def. Central Connecticut State, 7-2 Lamar def. Central Connecticut State, 9-4 2003 Arizona State def. Central Connecticut State, 14-2 UNLV def. Central Connecticut State, 22-3 2004 Florida def. Central Connecticut State, 12-1 Oklahoma def. Central Connecticut State, 6-12005 Texas 20, Quinnipiac 2 Miami (OH) 35, Quinnipiac 82006 Georgia 11, Sacred Heart 0 Jacksonville 4, Sacred Heart 32006 Georgia 11, Sacred Heart 0 Jacksonville 4, Sacred Heart 3NCAA Play-In Results 1994 Yale 5, Rider 3 Rider 3, Yale 1 Rider 6, Yale 2 1995 Penn 13, Rider 3 Rider 6, Penn 1 Penn 2, Rider 1 (10 inn.) 1996 Princeton 9, Rider 6 Princeton 7, Rider 6 1997 Marist 7, Siena 6 Marist 9, Siena 7 1998 Monmouth 5, Navy 1 Navy 11, Monmouth 4 Monmouth 8, Navy 4
MU to host Baseball Selection show - from the MU website
MU BASEBALL TO HOST ROAD TO OMAHA SELECTION SHOW MONDAY ON CAMPUS WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The 2007 Northeast Conference Tournament Champion Monmouth University baseball team will host a gathering for the Road to Omaha Selection Show on Monday, May 28 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. in the Rebecca Stafford Student Center on campus, where the Hawks will learn of their destination in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Coach Dean Ehehalt and his coaching staff and players welcome alumni, family and friends to the gathering. The third-seeded Hawks defeated fourth-seeded Central Connecticut State 7-1 on Saturday to claim their third Northeast Conference baseball championship. MU (36-22-1) dropped the first game of the day to the Blue Devils, 4-2, but rebounded to claim their first conference title since 1999. Matt Coulson (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Boro) was named the Tournament MVP, while Andy Meyers (Stratford, N.J./Sterling), Kyle Messineo (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) and Brad Brach (Freehold, N.J./Freehold) were named to the All-Tournament Team.
MU coach Dean Ehehalt on MU baseball wins 2007 NECs
Of course this is already old news to many..and all the details s are on the MU and NEC web sites.. Sooo if you would like to comment on it, this would be the place.... I also talked with Dean late this afternoon and here is what he said... Monmouth coach Dean Ehehalt praised the pitching which helped carry the Hawks throughout the season and in the NEC Tournament. ""Once again Brad Brach (who won the NEC Tournament opener Thursday) set the tone as he's done all season,'' said Ehehalt. ""Ryan Buch was solid (in winning Game Two Friday) and everybody else that pitched this weekend was solid. ""Matt Coulson really, really stepped up and pitched a big game,'' said Ehehalt of the former Brookdale Community College and Freehold Boro standout. ""I knew he could,''said Ehehalt. ""He pitched in junior college in big games and he had so much energy. It was a great way for us to start the last game of the tournament with him on the mound.'' I asked him if the team felt it had something to prove after its 2006 s late season swoon.... ""No,'' said Ehehalt. ""It wasn't any factor at all. We didn't talk about last year. We talked last year about last year and moved on. ""This is a different group of kids. A much different team. A very goal oriented team and they bought into each other and had a great season. ""They put their stamp on one of the best teams to ever play here. The 36 wins (a new school r record) is quite a significant accomplishment when you consider the non-conference schedule we played.'' I asked Ehehalt if opening the season winning two of three games at Central Fla., something MU had never done before, was a tone setter. ""We really came together on tha trip as a team,'' said Ehehalt. ""We made a lot of errors on that trip and did alot of things that could have gotten us real frustrated. ""But we wound up getting out of there taking two of three and that was something I think our guys fed off of and I think gave us a lot of confidence for the rest of the year.'' I just checked the UCF web site because I was curious. They finished 27-32, 7-17 in Conf. USA and were just eliminated from their tournament. None the less a quality feather in MU's cap to take a series from a Florida Conf USA team on the road to open the season. If I added it up right..give or take a game..MU went 16-11-1 in non-conf. games..split with Seton Hall and lost to Big East champion Rutgers. Any one have any thoughts on the MU baseball season???? Certainly a big key to MU success was the 1-2 punch of Bad Brach and Ryan Buch each going 9-2 and were Nos. 2 and 3 in the NEC in ERA - Buch 2.17 ERA and Brach 2.72 ERA. MU also led the NEC in batting (.306) and was No.2 in runs scored (376, one less than the Mount).
MU baseball one win away from NCAA Regionals
This from the MU web site... (MU baseball SID Chris Tobin thinks freshman Brett Brach will get the start in tomorrow's potential title clincher) NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – Monmouth University advanced to its seventh Northeast Conference Championship round, with its 7-1 victory over Central Connecticut State on Friday afternoon at New Britain Stadium. Monmouth advances to the 2007 NEC Championship game on Saturday at noon. Monmouth (35-21-1) scored twice in the first inning, as the Hawks loaded the bases with no outs, before designated hitter Rick Niederhaus (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) grounded into a double play, which plated Kyle Higgins (Green Brook, N.J./Watchung Hills). Kyle Messineo (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) then scored on a wild pitch charged to CCSU starter Ken Kerski (Waterbury, Conn./Crosby) for the 2-0 lead. The Hawks loaded the bases once again in the fourth, knocking out Kerski, before Higgins delivered a two-run double to right center off reliever John Tesseyman (High Falls, N.Y.), followed by Messineo’s two-run triple to right centerfield, making the score 6-0. CCSU (24-25) trimmed the lead to 6-1 in the top of the sixth inning, as Jay Schillaci (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport Area) led off the frame with a walk and later scored on Casey Walko’s (Freehold, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) two-out, ground rule double to leftfield off starting pitcher, Ryan Buch (Yardley, Pa./Conwell Egan). Monmouth claimed the run back in the bottom of the seventh, when Chris Collazo (Wall, N.J./Wall) collected a two-out double and scored on Mike Casale’s (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) RBI single to left, for the 7-1 edge. Buch, the 2007 NEC Rookie of the Year, worked six innings, scattering five hits, while allowing one run, en route to his ninth win on the season. Freshman Kyle Breese (Monmouth Junction, N.J./South Brunswick) worked three innings, allowing one single, to pick up his first save of the year. Messineo went 4-for-4 in the game for the Hawks, with two singles, a double and a triple, while scoring a run and driving in two more. Andy Meyers (Stratford, N.J./Sterling) and Collazo each added two hits for MU, while Higgins drove in two and added two scores. Monmouth, which scored seven runs with two outs yesterday, added two more two-out scores against the Blue Devils. Kerski was (7-2) was saddled with the loss, working 3.1 innings, allowing five runs on five hits, while Tesseyman tossed the final 4.2 frames, allowing two runs on six hits.
MU football- Greatest Hawk gridiron moments
Got this just now from MU football SID Greg Viscomi - "As part of our celebration of the 15th season of Monmouth football we will be releasing the 15 Greatest victories in Monmouth football, one each Friday starting tomorrow (May 25) and leading up to the start of football season (15 weeks from now). ""We are going to put up a highlight video free of charge on the website along with a game story and quotes from players that participated in the game- we are going to try to get the radio calls of those games too if we can and put them up. My take - Very cool idea in my opinion - check out the MU web site for first one tomorrow. I think the all-timer (for drama anyway) has to be the tipped catch for the game-winning TD at Robert Morris in 2004. It's hard to believe MU football is a mere 15 weeks away......(gotta get my Maine maps out)
Re the MAC - Now all they have to do is build it!
Well - I thought there might be a little bit more of a reaction to this news... Just spoke again (Tuesday morning, May 22) with Monmouth U Vice President and General Counsel (school lawyer) Grey Dimenna. ""Here it May 22nd and the deadline was May 14th so if someone was going to appeal I think I would have heard about it now,'' Dimenna said. ""Baically there's a bunch of administrative steps that have to be taken and the Board of Trustees is meeting on Thursday to formally approve the project. '""I dont' see the possibility of an appeal as a roadblock any more.'' MU AD Marilyn McNeil told me last week ground breaking is hoped for by mid summer at the latest...with opening planned for spring-summer 2009 and thus for beginning of the 2009-2010 hoops season. My observation: well..it's been a mere 13 years or so since the first sketches of the building were made and the plans rolled out. About four senior classes have graduated since but it would appear last year's hoops freshmen will open their senior years in the new arena. Here is some background from most recent Press news story from Carol Gorga Williams: The scaled-down multi-purpose activity center would have 720 fewer seats - down to 4,122 - and would host 12 "'capacity"' events a year instead of the 25 originally planned. Capacity events are expected to attract 4,000 or more people. There also would be fewer parking spaces.The $34 million arena would host basketball games and feature an indoor track, the university bookstore, athletic department offices, the Varsity Club, classrooms and a fitness center Also (from me) ..there are no plans for any additional varsity sports at Monmouth now or at least in the immediate future. There is some club wrestling starting up, and someone asked about men's lacrosse. Apparently not much in the varsity future at MU for either sport.
MU baseball heads for NEC Tournament this weekend
Your thoughts?? Brad Brach has to win that first game vs. MSM and they go from there. Brach went 9 innings in a 7-4 win at the Mount April 5. Freshman Ryan Buch won MU's only game vs. Q Pac, 6-3. Mount St. Mary's.... 21 7 0 .750 35 20 Quinnipiac.......... 21 7 0 .750 28 16 1 Monmouth............ 17 10 0 .630 33 21 1 Central Conn. St.... 14 14 0 .500 23 24 Dates/LocationThe 2007 NEC Baseball Championships will be held on May 24-26 at New Britain Stadium in New Britain, CT. The raindate is May 27.Participating SchoolsThe championship will consist of a four-team, double-elimination tournament comprised of six or seven games over three days. The top four teams based on regular season conference winning percentage qualify for the NEC Tournament. Defending Champion Sacred Heart Game Schedule May 24 Game 1: #1 Quinnipiac vs. #4 CCSU, 12:00 pm Game 2: #2 Mount St. Mary's vs. #3 Monmouth Friday, May 25 Game 3: Winner Game #1 vs. Winner Game #2 12:30 p.m. Game 4: Loser Game #1 vs. Loser Game #2 3:30 p.m. Game 5: Loser Game #3 vs. Winner Game #4 7 p.m. Saturday, May 26Game 6: Winner Game #3 vs. Winner Game #5 12 p.m. Game 7: Rematch of Game 6 (if necessary), 30 minutes later MU vs. the field Vs. Q Pac 1-3 Vs. MSM 2-2 Vs. CCSU 3-1 Below from the NEC web site...for more on the teams and the NEC Tournament please go to the NEC web site.. Monmouth (33-21-1, 17-10 NEC), which set a single-season school record with 33 wins, has become synonymous with NEC Tournament play over the last decade, qualifying nine times and winning two conference titles in that span. Along with a league record 11 tourney appearances, the program’s consistency under 14th year skipper Dean Ehehalt can be measured by 12 straight winning seasons in league play and 12 consecutive 20+ win seasons. This year’s version of the Blue & White features the terrific one-two starting combination of junior righty Brad Brach (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Township) and scintillating freshman righthander Ryan Buch (Yardley, PA/Conwell Egan Catholic). In just three years, Brach has already equaled the school record with 20 career victories and enters the postseason with an 8-2 record, 3.01 ERA (fifth in NEC) and 76 strikeouts (third in NEC). On April 13, he tossed a no-hitter against Long Island and was named NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week for his performance. Buch has been nearly unhittable in his first year as a collegian, matching Brach’s 8-2 record while ranking second in the conference with a 2.23 ERA and striking out nearly a batter per inning (66 in 68.2 innings). Though a balanced Monmouth lineup features eight players with at least 25 RBI on the year, one competitor - junior first baseman Andy Meyers (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) - has stepped into the spotlight with a career season. Meyers ranks in the NEC top-ten in ten categories, including RBI (61, first), average (.389, second), slugging percentage (.606, second), on-base percentage (.473, third). Batting one-two in the lineup, junior infielder Kyle Higgins (Green Brook, NJ/Watchung Hills) and senior outfielder Kyle Messineo (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) jump start the Monmouth offense and have combined to score 116 runs on the year. Higgins is batting .356 with an NEC-best 79 hits, while Messineo, who has compiled a .341 average, paces the conference and ranks among national leaders with 63 runs and 39 stolen bases.
New MU 2007-2008 hoops and general comments
Since we got to 40 comments on the last blog on this topic and it was getting a little long, let's pick up this and other subjects here... As you look ahead to next year's MU team (with three returning players)....what would be minimum acceptable to you as a fan...??? 1. Just hustling and playing hard whatever the record. 2. At least qualifying for the NEC Tournament 3. Qualifying for the NECs and winning a game. 4. All of the above plus a winning season in the NEC. 5. A winning season overall
Monday MAC update
Dimena not in the office today (Monday) ..unless I hear from him today I should be in touch with him (I hope) Tuesday for final word.... Maybe MU will have some sort of statement ..don't know. Below from last Thursday - I just spoke with Monmouth U Vice President and General Counsel (school lawyer) Greg Dimena. He said, ""As far as I know there was no appeal. The time limit to appeal I believe expired on Monday. We checked with the (WLB) clerk's office Tuesday. It's now Thursday and nothing has been served on the University so my assumption is there has been no appeal."" Dimena would not declare it a "done deal" yet preferring to wait a few more days. '''I'm being a little overly cautious before I say it's over,'' Dimena told me. ""But I think it's looking real good.'' Earlier Thursday MU AD Marilyn McNeil said, ""-" the instititution has not been notified of any formal appeal.'' So that's where we are as of Thursday afternoon. It seems to me - you can - almost - break out the shovels.!!!! .. If all goes well McNeil said ground breaking is hoped for by mid summer at the latest...with opening planned fo spring-summer 2009 and thus for beginningof the 2009-2010 hoops season... Here is some background from most recent Press news story.... The scaled-down multi-purpose activity center would have 720 fewer seats - down to 4,122 - and would host 12 "'capacity"' events a year instead of the 25 originally planned. Capacity events are expected to attract 4,000 or more people. There also would be fewer parking spaces.The $34 million arena would host basketball games and feature an indoor track, the university bookstore, athletic department offices, the Varsity Club, classrooms and a fitness center. Also (from me) ..there are no plans for any additional varsity sports at Monmouth now or at least in the immediate future. There is some club wrestling starting up, and someone asked about men's lacrosse. Apparently not much going on for either on the varsity level.
Re: the MAC
As I understand it Monday is the final day for any legal roadblocks to be thrown up by WLB citizenry against construction of the MAC.....if nothing detrimental happens Monday.. the MAC should be good to go....I hope to have word Tuesday (one way or the other).....
MU hoops 2007-2008
Let's try this... I know it's not even June, but as you look ahead to next year's MU team (with three returning players)....what would be minimum acceptable to you as a fan...??? 1. Just hustling and playing hard whatever the record. 2. At least qualifying for the NEC Tournament 3. Qualifying for the NECs and winning a game. 4. All of the above plus a winning season in the NEC 5. A winning season overall
MU golf/Steve Edelson's column today on MU golf team
As golfer Dave Marshall stood on the 12th hole at Sea Trail Resort in Sunset Beach, N.C., the Monmouth University senior co-captain encountered head coach Dennis Shea Sr. All anyone knew was that the Hawks were in the hunt for their first Northeast Conference championship as the final round was winding down last Sunday afternoon, but precisely where they stood was anyone's guess. "I was grinding as hard as I could, trying to hang in there because I knew it was going to be close," said Marshall. "(Shea) told me Anthony (Campanile) was playing well, and the other guys were doing well, so I knew we had a shot." Later, as he stood in the 18th fairway, Marshall watched Campanile sink a putt just ahead of him, and from the reactions around the final green he got the feeling something special was about to take place. When they tallied up the scores, the Hawks' 54-hole total of 902 was good enough for a one-shot victory over defending champion St. Francis, Pa., and a ticket to the NCAA West Regional next week in Tempe, Ariz. "Guys just went crazy when the scores were announced," said Shea. "It was pretty exciting. I'm especially happy for our seniors captains (Marshall and Andrew Beittel). They worked so hard. Every day, every tournament." Arizona State hosts the West Regional May 15-17 at the ASU Karsten Creek Golf Course, where the Hawks will tee off against powerhouse programs like Arizona, Wake Forest, UNLV, USC, Stanford and UCLA. In all, 10 of the 27 teams in Tempe, along with two individuals not on teams advancing, will qualify for the NCAA Finals at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Course in Williamsburg, Va., from May 30-June 2. "We're going to miss graduation, which is during the NCAAs," said Marshall."So, while we won't get to walk down the aisle, if you're going to miss the ceremony this is the best reason I can think of." Early in the conference tournament, it was Marshall anchoring the lineup, posting a team-low 71 in the opening round, as the Hawks grabbed the lead after the first day. He then backed it up with a second-round 74. But on the final day it was Campanile who took charge. In windy conditions, the junior from the Manahawkin section of Stafford Township posted a 68 that was the best round of the day by five shots. He finished second overall, one shot back at 2-over-par, while Sacred Heart's Pat Fillian from Tinton Falls was tied for third. "I had other coaches coming up to me and saying what an unbelievable score that was," noted Shea. "No one else could even break par." Marshall ended up tied for sixth, while sophomore Ryan Beck placed 14th, freshman Michael McComb was 28th and Beittel ended up 43rd. Not bad for a team that was picked to finish fifth in the NEC. It's a program that has been building momentum for the past few years, beginning with Campanile winning the individual crown and the Hawks taking the team title at the 2004 ECAC Championships. Campanile won the NEC individual title in 2005. "I knew it was possible because we have a really strong group of guys," noted Marshall. "We struggled in fall, then we started playing better as the spring came along. We went out there in the NECs with a game plan that we all had to play well. It had to be a total team effort. And we hadn't played that well all spring. "Now, going to the NCAAs is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, especially since I'm a senior."
MU SOFTBALL NEC ADVANCE (THIS AND MORE AT MU WEB SITE)
Can Monmouth win this? I don't think it has enough pitching, in my opinion. WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Monmouth University softball team has enjoyed one of their finest seasons in recent memory after going 30-16 and 13-5 in Northeast Conference play in 2007. Monmouth advanced to the NEC Tournament last Saturday evening after Central Connecticut State lost to Wagner, and the Hawks solidified the third seed in the tournament after defeating Sacred Heart in game one of a doubleheader this past Sunday. Monmouth advances to the league tournament for the first time since 2004, and the Hawks’ 30 wins are their most in a season since 2000. The 2007 NEC Softball Championships will be held on May 11-12 at Fairleigh Dickinson in Teaneck, N.J., and Long Island, the high seed, will serve as the host. The championship consists of a four-team, double-elimination tournament comprised of six or seven games over two days. The top four teams based on regular season conference winning percentage qualify for the NEC Tournament and they were, in seed order, Long Island, Wagner, Monmouth and Quinnipiac. First round tournament pairings on Friday morning pit NEC regular season champions and #1 seed Long Island against the #4 seed Quinnipiac at 10:00 am, followed by the second game featuring the #2 seed Wagner and the #3 seed Monmouth at 12:30 pm. The loser of each game will then face each other in an elimination game at 3:00 pm (game three). The winners of the first two games will then go head-to-head at 5:30 pm with the victorious team advancing to the championship game. Play on Saturday will open with the final elimination game at 10:00 am with the championship game following at 12:30 pm. The conference champion will go on to NCAA regionals on the weekend of May 18-20.
James Hett news/via e-mail via Staten island Advandce
Farrell's Hett wins Jaques Guard, first Lion winner since 1991, recognized for season-long consistency and leadership Thursday, March 22, 2007 By TOM DOWD STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- For three seasons, James Hett's basketball accomplishments have best been defined in a team setting. As a freshman, he led Monsignor Farrell's junior varsity to the SIHSL Tournament and CHSAA city class A championships. As a sophomore and junior, the point guard held the reins for a pair of SIHSL varsity champions, providing ball control, creative passing, defense and, increasingly from year to year, scoring. Now he can add Staten Island's highest individual honor to his achievements. The Lion senior has been selected as the winner of the 59th annual Warren Jaques Award, presented to the outstanding high school boys' basketball player on Staten Island. Hett, who was an Advance All Star in 2005-06 and will play Division I ball at Monmouth University next season, is the seventh Farrell player to win the award and the first since Chris Berntsen in 1991. "A leader," said selection committee member Bill Sheridan. "Kids looked up to him. They let him do his thing and he rewarded his teammates by finding the open man to get points." Hett always excelled in setting up his teammates and that didn't change this season, as his floor vision and aggressiveness keyed the Lion offense. What did change was an added responsibility to score more, and Hett delivered as Farrell recorded a 19-8 record and won the CHSAA Staten Island division crown, earning a spot in the class AA playoffs. The 6-foot-1 point guard was third among SIHSL players in overall scoring with 18.3 points per game and second in SIHSL games only with 21.0 points per game. Hett's versatility made him dangerous. He made 34 three-pointers in 27 games, but his offensive strength was driving to the basket and distributing the ball. "If they gave him the lane, he drove on them," said selection committee member Lou Anarumo. "If they collapsed on him, he dished. I liked the way he created off the dribble and his strength taking the ball to the basket. He made the right decisions. He never forced things when he went to the basket." Hett had a season-high 29 points in Farrell's December win over St. Peter's and he continued to play his best in Farrell's biggest games. He followed up the St. Peter's game, which he seized control of with his defense in the fourth quarter, with more clutch performances. There were 28 points against Port Richmond and 24 against Curtis. In the SIHSL Tournament, he scored 21 points against Moore, 20 against Curtis and 21 against St. Peter's in the championship-game loss. He was a repeat selection for the All-Tournament team, having been named MVP the season before. "Consistency," said Anarumo. "You almost knew what was going to happen when you went to the game because he's so consistent." "Against Curtis, he dominated the end of the game," said selection committee member Jay Zieris of the 62-61 SIHSL semifinal win. "He was the reason they won." Hett continued his standout play in the postseason. He scored 23 points in a CHSAA Intersectional win against Archbishop Molloy that advanced the Lions to the quarterfinals. "He made everybody on the floor better," said Zieris. "In a lot of games he put his team on his shoulders." NOTES: The Jaques Dinner, honoring Hett and girls' winner Megan Mahoney of St. Peter's, will be held at the Staaten on April 20 at 7:30 p.m. Contact Marty Doherty at 718-720-5739 or Bill Magnuski at 718-447-2868 for tickets. Jaques Award winners 1949 - Bob (Sonny) Bosley (Curtis) 1950 - Bob Mahala Sr. (St. Peter's) 1951 - Charles Harreaus (New Dorp) 1952 - Fred Scallan (St. Peter's) 1953 - Fred Hornbuckle (New Dorp) 1954 - Tom Walsh (Augustinian Academy) 1955 - Ron Dreher (New Dorp) 1956 - Joe Kelly (St. Peter's) Bob Larsen (Port Richmond) 1957 - Nick Bruno (Port Richmond) 1958 - Jim Albus (New Dorp) 1959 - Ray Ratkowski (Curtis) 1960 - Jack Tracy (Curtis) 1961 - Bill Murtha (St. Peter's) 1962 - Dan McDermott (Curtis) 1963 - Bobby Fisher (Curtis) 1964 - Tim Jones (Curtis) 1965 - George Allen (McKee) 1966 - Jim Cronin (St. Peter's) 1967 - Jack Donovan (St. Peter's) 1968 - Bill Grimes (Tottenville) 1969 - Barry McCombs (Curtis) 1970 - Brien O'Neill (Farrell) 1971 - John Engles (St. Peter's) 1972 - John Engles (St. Peter's) 1973 - Larry Cubas (Curtis) 1974 - Kevin Tucker (Curtis) 1975 - John Semerad (Farrell) 1976 - Ken Page (McKee) 1977 - Ken Page (McKee) 1978 - Bob Mahala Jr. (Farrell) 1979 - Steve Rossiter (Farrell) 1980 - Mike Ahearn (Susan Wagner) 1981 - Ron Chase (Curtis) 1982 - Tim Malson (St. Peter's) 1983 - Greg Pedro (St. Peter's) 1984 - Mike Dunn (St. Peter's) 1985 - Lamont Harris (McKee) 1986 - Mickey Holbert (McKee) 1987 - Neil Smith (New Dorp) 1988 - Ken White (Farrell) 1989 - Joe Castronovo (St. Peter's) 1990 - Rommel Santos (Moore) 1991 - Chris Berntsen (Farrell) 1992 - John Burke (St. Peter's) 1993 - Erik Sorensen (Curtis) 1994 - Herb Lewis (Curtis) 1995 - Sandy Brock (Curtis) 1996 - Gregg Testaverde (St. Joseph Sea) 1997 - Tim Hyland (Curtis) 1998 - Cliff Wilford (Moore) 1999 - Andrew Wisniewski (St. Peter's) 2000 - Nigel Wyatte (Curtis) 2001 - Jahquan Hines (Susan Wagner) 2002 - John Baiano (St. Peter's) 2003 - Lawrence Borha (MSIT) 2004 - Kyle McAlarney (Moore) 2005 - Kyle McAlarney (Moore) 2006 - Monte Cumberbatch (Pt. Richmond) 2007 - James Hett (Farrell) © 2007 Staten Island Advance © 2007 SILive.com All Rights Reserved.
This from the web NEC site...via Halifax Nova Scotia local paper in Canada I believe
Corey Hallett finished school at Monmouth University last Friday, signed a contract on Wednesday, flew home on Thursday and will board a plane this morning bound for New Zealand. Welcome to the whirlwind life of a professional basketball player. "I couldn’t be any happier right now," said the six-foot-10 Shelburne native. "Getting paid to play basketball, that’s the greatest job in the world." Hallett will kick off his pro hoops career next week with the Auckland Stars of New Zealand’s National Basketball League. It was a lightning turn of events for Hallett, who had just finished his career with the Monmouth Hawks and was planning to try his luck in Europe in the fall. But his agent called and said the league-leading Auckland squad had just lost their American import players and was looking for someone with Hallett’s size and skills. Hallett inked a deal on Wednesday, flew home Thursday to update his passport and is on a plane to Auckland via Los Angeles today. "Everything was just perfect timing, and I’m going into a winning situation," he said. "It’s something every kid dreams of, to be a pro athlete. Wednesday when I signed my contract was a pretty exciting day." Hallett played three seasons in New Jersey at Monmouth, transferring after his freshman year at Central Michigan. He averaged 21.5 minutes, 3.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in his senior year at the NCAA Division I school. The Hawks had a disappointing year, finishing 12-18 and missing the Northeastern Conference playoffs a year after winning the conference. But Hallett said he’ll carry plenty of fond memories from a college career that included two trips to the NCAA tournament. "Overall it was a fantastic experience I don’t regret at all," he said. "It was sad leaving school. It just happened so quick I haven’t even had time to think about it. I’m sure when I’m on a plane from Los Angeles to New Zealand I’ll have time to think about it." Hallett will spend two months in the New Zealand league, which ends its regular season on June 15. He’s still hoping to play in Europe or possibly Australia in the fall, but he’ll see where his stint with Auckland takes him. "A lot can depend on how I play in New Zealand," he said. ( http://thechronicleherald.ca/Sports/
MU golfers go west/this and more at the MU web site
MONMOUTH MEN'S GOLF SET TO COMPETE IN WEST REGIONAL IN TEMPE, ARIZONAWEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. Coming off its first-ever Northeast Conference Championship, the Monmouth University men’s golf team is headed to Tempe, Arizona as part of the West Regional, to compete in the 2007 NCAA Tournament on May 17-19. Arizona State University will serve as the host at the ASU Karsten Creek Golf Course.Three regional tournaments, encompassing the current nine sub-regions, will be conducted May 17-19. A total of 27 teams and six individuals not on selected teams were assigned to each regional site. Ten teams and two individuals not on advancing teams will move on from each regional to the championship finals. The championships will be conducted May 30-June 2 at the Gold Course at Golden Horseshoe Golf Club in Williamsburg, Virginia. Virginia Commonwealth University is the host institution for this year’s championships. In Tempe, the Hawks, who captured their first NEC Men’s Golf Championship on Sunday with a one-stroke victory over St. Francis (Pa), will face the likes of Stanford, UCLA, UNLV, Arizona, Arizona State, Southern Cal and Wake Forest. Monmouth junior Anthony Campanile (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional) fired a third round, three-under par, 68 to earn his third All-NEC accolade, on Sunday, while leading the Hawks to the team title with a three-day score of 902.
Move over Tiger Woods - here come the Hawks!
Below from NEC web site Sunset Beach, NC -- The Sea Trail resort in Sunset Beach, NC provided the setting for a down-to-the-wire finish that saw Monmouth capture its first NEC Men's Golf Championship on Sunday with a one-stroke victory over 2006 champion Saint Francis (PA). Long Island senior Patrick Kelly (Brisbane, Australia/Jackson State) took home individual honors in another tight finish, shooting a one-over par 217 for the tournament to hold off Monmouth junior Anthony Campanile (Manahawkin, NJ/Southern Regional) by one stroke. Both Monmouth and Saint Francis (PA) tied for low-round honors on Sunday, shooting 301 in breezy conditions to match the tightest finish in league history. In 1995, Robert Morris beat out Fairleigh Dickinson by one stroke. The Hawks finished with a three-day score of 902, followed by the Red Flash's 903 and Central Connecticut State in third place six strokes off the pace at 908. Long Island took fourth (911) ahead of Sacred Heart (fifth, 913), Robert Morris (sixth, 918), Mount St. Mary's (seventh, 922), Quinnipiac (eighth, 935), Fairleigh Dickinson (ninth, 936), Wagner (tenth, 970) and St. Francis (NY) (eleventh, 1107). LIU's Kelly had to sweat out a rally by 2005 champion Campanile, who entered the round in 11th place, seven strokes off the pace, but fired a tournament-low and four-under par 68 on Sunday. Kelly held a two-shot edge to begin the day and shot a two-over 74, but was able to walk away with the first individual crown in Long Island history. Besides Campanile, Monmouth received a strong performance from senior Dave Marshall (Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro), who finished tied for sixth with a nine-over par 225. Ryan Beck (Maple Glen, PA/Hatboro-Hordham), a sophomore, tied for 14th for the Hawks with a 228. Saint Francis (PA)'s top finisher was senior Nick Wheeler (Ingersoll, Ontario/Ingersoll), who carded a one-over 73 on Sunday - the second-best round of the afternoon - to tie for sixth with a 225. Junior Steve Foisy (Repentigny, Quebec/Academie), who was the reigning NEC indivudual champion and led after the first round, ended the event tied for 11th at 227. The top-ten finishers were awarded NEC All-Conference honors. After LIU's Kelly and Monmouth's Campanile, third place went to Sacred Heart junior Patrick Fillian (Tinton Falls, NJ/Purdue) and CCSU junior Matt McClure (Orangeville, Ontario/Westside Secondary) with a six-over 222. Sacred Heart junior Tommy Campbell (Wall, NJ/Wall) earned a fiffth place finish, firing an eight-over 224. Saint Francis (PA)'s Wheeler and Monmouth's Marshall tied for sixth, followed by CCSU senior Brendon Ray (Norfolk, MA/Rollins College), Mount St. Mary's junior Kevin Farrell (Lemoyne, PA/Trinity) and LIU sophomore Greg Nicolson (Edinburgh, Scotland/George Watson's), who tied for eighth each with 10-over par scores of 226. NEC Coach of the Year honors went to Steve Keating of Sacred Heart. The Pioneers, who were picked sixth in the NEC Preseason Poll, held a five-stroke lead going into the final round before settling for a fifth place finish in a tightly packed field. The conference championship was contested in a three-day, 54-hole event for the first time in NEC annals. Previous championships were all two-round affairs. Team scores were calculated by adding the team’s four lowest scores from each day. 2007 NEC All-Conference Team Fin. Top 20 Players School Scores 1 Patrick Kelly LIU 72 71 74 217 +1 2 Anthony Campanile Monmouth 74 76 68 218 +2 3 Patrick Fillian Sac. Heart 74 73 75 222 +6 Matt McClure CCSU 74 74 74 222 +6 5 Tommy Campbell Sac. Heart 72 75 77 224 +8 6 Nick Wheeler St Fran PA 76 76 73 225 +9 Dave Marshall Monmouth 71 74 80 225 +9 8 Brendon Ray CCSU 80 73 73 226 +10 Kevin Farrell The Mount 76 75 75 226 +10 Greg Nicolson LIU 75 75 76 226 +10 NEC Coach of the Year: Steve Keating, Sacred Heart
Georgian Court softball to NCAAs
Since this blog is open to ALL local colleges I thought I would place this on here....a milestone for GCU athletics .... Lakewood, NJ – Georgian Court University Softball claimed their first Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Championship this afternoon (Saturday) with a 7-3 victory over Caldwell College. The Lions will now advance on to the NCAA Division II Northeast Regional Tournament at a site to be determined. (more on this at GCU web site).
Season ends for MU lacrosse/full story at MU web site
Monmouth University’s women’s lacrosse team finished the season with a 19-12 loss at LeMoyne College on Saturday afternoon in the NCAA Play In Game. Monmouth was in the game for much of the second half but could not contain LeMoyne’s leading scorer, Amanda Keegan, who finished the game with 11 points on six goals and five assists. Megan Nutter led the Hawks with four goals, while Ashley Waldman had three points on a goal and two assists. Carolyn Raveia, who left early in the first half with a serious knee injury, rendered Monmouth without their second leading scorer. The Hawks, who set program records for wins, goals, assists and points in a season, finish the season with a 15-5 mark.
Local recruting expert Steve Keller of Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Service on MU Class - he has seen 3 of the players, not Barbour
Steve on the class..... ""What they got was a couple of kids who can help them well out offensively on the permiter. Hett is crafty point guard and Rutledge is a wing who can put it on the floor and shoot. DelTufo has to help them more inside. He may need, a year, I think, to develop and get used to the level and the systems that Calloway runs, and after that, than he could be good inside for them. Keller on Barbour - ""I've heard he's good. ""I thought Jermaine Smith ( who verbaled to MU after MU accepted the commitment from Barbour and thus was unable to take Smith with the last available scholarship) had the possibilities of being an expolsove athlete and a good player in the NEC. "" If in the Russian Roulette game of recruiting they're right on the California kid, they've got themselves a good one. This from a recent prior blog - 2007 Fullcourt Press Senior Showcase Report: Part I By Dinos Trigonis(April 2, 2007) The 2007 Fullcourt Press Senior Showcase was held on Friday March 23rd at Cerritos College (Cerritos CA) and there was plenty of unsigned senior talent present. On hand were several NCAA Division II, III, NAIA and JC coaches as well as scouts like Dinos Trigonis (Fullcourt Press), Gerry Freitas (Hoop Review), Etop Udo-Ema (Fullcourt Press & Hoopmasters), Jorge Calienes (C-Sports) and Dave Keefer and Dave Rogahn (California Preps). Here in Part I of a two part report, we focus on several players who stood out: George Barbour 6’7” Sr. Torrance (Torrance CA) ""Intriguing power-forward runs floor well and is active on the glass." I personally asked Trigonis about Barbour. Trigonis: ""He's an agile forward, athletic. He was hurt a large part of the season which limited a lot people from seeing him. But he's a nice prospect.He's got a nice body, his Dad is real big. He could be 6-7, 235. He's the kind of a guy who can face up and post inside. He's very mobile. For the mid-major level or below he's a good player.''
Dave Calloway on MU recruiting class/plus notes/MAC NEWS/ more than will appear in Sunday Press story
2007-2008 MU men's hoop recruits James Hett, 6-1 point guard (Monsignor Farrell, N.Y.) 18 ppg., 6 apg. Nick DelTufo, 6-7 forward (Mendham ) 15 ppg., 8 rpg. R.J. Rutledge 6-5 guard forward (Nortfield Mount Hermon, Mass.) 15 ppg., 40% from 3 George Barbour 6-7 forward (Torrance, Calif. High School) 12 ppg., 7 rpg. By TONY GRAHAM STAFF WRITER Signed. Sealed. Delivered. Now Dave Calloway, Monmouth University men's basketball coach, is counting on his 2007-2008 incoming class of four freshman to deliver for the Hawks, and rather quickly. Calloway said Monmouth has received signed national letters of intent from its spring recruits, guard/forward R.J. Rutledge, and forward George Barbour, who join point guard James Hett and forward Nick DelTufo who signed with Monmouth in the fall. ""We have four freshman where probably for the first time we will not red shirt anybody,'' said Calloway. ""All four could see immediate action and extended action. ""That will be very unique in itself.'' Calloway said Hett and DelTufo remind him of former Monmouth players Tyler Azzarelli and Russ Anderson, each of whom played on two Monmouth NCAA Tournament teams. ""James reminds me of Tyler in so many ways,'' said Calloway. ""The leadership spot out of point guard. ""His offensive game is similar but in particular James really has the same mentality Tyler did on the defensive end, really does a great job of keeping guys in front of him. I think he'll do a great job at the point in the match up (zone).'' Calloway said DelTufo is a little bigger than the 6-7 Anderson. "'But the same heady, type player, very smart, can step out and make shots. ""He didn't have a ton of Division I scholarship offers just like Russ but all Russ did was play about 25-30 minutes a game right from the beginning and went to the NCAA Tournament twice.'' Rutledge, said Calloway, is similar some ways to former Hawk Gerry Crosby who teamed with Rahsaan Johnson when Monmouth went to the NCAAs in 2001. ""He's (Rutledge) silky, athletic, smooth, can really step out and shoot it,'' said Calloway. Rutledge's father, Ron, was an assistant coach at St. John's coach in the 1980's. ""R. J. knows how to play and had a year to develop at the prep school level, too,'' said Calloway. Barbour, said Calloway, was the last piece to the puzzle. ""But he might have been the biggest piece,'' said Calloway. Monmouth's has no experienced front court players returning this fall. ""I think he (Barbour) gives us someone who's going to be able to come in (and contribute right away),'' said Calloway who said Barber reminds him of former NEC Player of the Year Blake Hamilton. "'He (Barbour) has lightness on his feet, he's actually maybe an inch biggertand even a little more solid than Blake coming out of high school,'' said Calloway. ""I think he has a chance to have a very good career.'' Calloway said all four players, either on their recruiting visits or shortly thereafter, decided on Monmouth right away. ""The fact that all four guys made their minds up in a fairly short amount of time is a little intruiging to me,'' said Calloway. ""I think it's going to be a special class.'' NOTES Calloway said Monmouth's preseason game will be Nov. 4 vs. Division III William Paterson and that the Hawks will also play Lafayette in a ""closed scrimmage" prior to the season. Calloway said there is nothing official on rumors Monmouth could open its season as Seton Hall's first opponent at the new athletic facility in Newark. Calloway on Rickie Crews, ""Final grades will come out in another week or so, so we'll see where he stands. So far he seems Ok.'' Calloway said Mike Shipman and Whitney Coleman may be playing in the Jersey Shore Basketball League this summer where they have played previously. Other MU players? ""That might be it, actually,'' he said. Re: The MAC. The big day is May 14th, circle it on your calendars! If there are no objections from the WLB community (in other words - private law suits, etc.), then the MAC is a GO. I am told if all is well - ground greaking might the take place near the end of June!! Then, last I heard, building might be ready by mid 2008-2009 season and definitely by 2009-2010 season. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
MU women's lacrosse heads for Lemoyne looking for NCAA berth
Below from MU web site where full version is available.. WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- Monmouth University’s women’s lacrosse team will play LeMoyne on Saturday afternoon in the NCAA Division I Play In Game. The Hawks will face the Dolphins at 1 p.m. for the right to advance to the 2007 NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Tournament. Saturday’s match is the second time in history the two teams have played each other, with the Hawks defeating LeMoyne in West Long Branch earlier this season by a score of 15-10. “I'm proud of the team for all they've accomplished so far this season,” said head coach Kelly McCardell. “The team has worked extremely hard to attain our goals; we've accomplished one to win NEC's and now we're focusing to achieve another and make NCAA's.” “LeMoyne is a talented team and I'm expecting a competitive game. Saturday will be a true test as both teams will be gunning for the opportunity to represent their conference in the NCAA Tournament.” The Dolphins and Hawks have identical 15-4 overall records, with the Blue & White going 7-1 in conference play and LeMoyne going a perfect 7-0 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. LeMoyne reached the Play In Game with a 14-13 overtime win over Marist in the MAAC Championship. Last weekend, Monmouth won its second straight Northeast Conference Championship by upsetting top-seeded Mount St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, Md., 9-8.
Monmouth University women's hoops receives commitment for 2008-2009
Heather Reynolds from Corning-Painted Post West N.Y. High School has accepted a women's basketball scholarship to Monmouth University for the 2008-2009 season her high school coach, Bill Pierce, said Friday. Pierce said Reynolds, a 5-7 combo guard, averaged 13.5 points, four assists, and shot 41.2 percent from 3-point range (43 3s) for the 18-4 Vikings who won the STAC (Southern Tier Athletic Conference championship) last season. Pierce said Reynolds was also recruited by LaSalle, Sacred Heart, Central Connecticut State, and Canisius, among others. He said the campus, the coaches, and the prospect of playing in Monmouth's planned new athletic facility, helped influence Reynolds to play for the Hawks. ""She thought the campus was beautiflul, the area was appealing, and she and the coaching staff clicked very well,'' Pierce said. ""That's (new arena) very appealing to a kid being recuited,'' said Pierce. Reynolds is expected to be part of a rather large Monmouth incoming class in 2008-2009 with the team expected to lose at least four seniors after this coming season.
Two former CBA players now D 1 assists in the NEC
Moon Township, Pa. - May 3, 2007 - New Robert Morris University head men’s basketball coach Mike Rice has announced that Andrew Toole is joining the men’s basketball staff as an assistant coach for the Colonials. Toole, a native of Red Bank, N.J., is the first of three assistant coaching hires for Rice. Toole played at CBA and at Elon and Penn. Chris Kenny, of course, is an assistant at MU.
MU football/from Greg Viscomi and the MU web site
MONMOUTH FOOTBALL NAMES 2007 TEAM CAPTAINS Cerezo, Dunn, Falae and San Miguel tabbed to lead Hawks WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- Monmouth University head football coach Kevin Callahan announced the 2007 team captains on Wednesday afternoon. For the defense, seniors Ayo Falae (Newark, N.J./Barringer) and T.J. Cerezo (Stanhope, N.J./Lenape Valley Regional) were chosen while fifth-year seniors Jonathan Dunn (Blackwood, N.J./Washington Twp.) and Adam San Miguel (North Bergen, N.J./St. Peter’s Prep) will serve as captains for the offense. Members of the team voted for the captains. “We will be a relatively young team in 2007, and the leadership provided by our captains will be one of the keys to our success,” said head coach Kevin Callahan. “These four players have worked very hard for the honor of leading our team, and I am confident that they will do well.” Falae and Cerezo are the only two returning starters from one of the nation’s most dominant defenses of a year ago. Falae is slated to start for the second straight year at cornerback, where he recorded 48 tackles, a pass break up, an interception and a blocked kick. Cerezo, an outside linebacker, started in all 12 games last season for Monmouth, recording 32 tackles and a fumble recovery. The two players have a combined 42 games of playing experience, with 24 starts between them. San Miguel returns as one of the conference’s top receivers, one year after earning First Team All-NEC honors. The First Team All-League selection led the league in receptions (setting a new MU record) and receiving yards, while also tying the school record for punt return yardage in a season. Dunn, who returns for a fifth-year, will anchor an offensive line that lost just two starters from last year’s NEC Championship squad. Dunn has 20 starts under his belt and 30 total games played for the Blue & White. The fifth year senior earned Football Gazette First Team All-Offense and First Team All-NEC after the Hawks allowed just 13 sacks in 12 games last season. The Hawks recently wrapped up 15 days of spring practice which culminated in the annual Blue/White Spring Game. Monmouth will travel to Orono, Maine, to take on the University of Maine in the 2007 season opener on Sept. 1st.
MU track/from MU web site
NICK WILLIAMS & TISIFENEE TAYLOR WIN FINAL WEEKLY NEC AWARDS Seniors pick up weekly awards for second consecutive week WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- For the second straight week Monmouth University seniors Nick Williams (Adamstown, Md./Urbana) and Tisifenee Taylor (Woodbury, N.J./Woodbury) took home Northeast Conference weekly honors, league officials announced on Tuesday. Williams did not let a two hour rain delay deter him on the second day of the relays as he threw a personal best 56’ 3 ¾” to win the Eastern College Division of the prestigious Penn Relays. The senior also broke the school record in the discus, taking second in the College men’s Discus with his throw of 172' 8". The senior broke former MU All-American Jon Kalnas' record set in 2002, improving his mark for the NCAA Regional meet in the process. This marks the second straight week in which he has been named NEC Field Athlete of the Week. On Thursday at Penn Relays, Taylor won the Eastern Division long jump. Her jump of 20’ 4 ¼” was first in her event and one of the top distances of any competitor at the meet, which featured athletes from hundreds of college across the country. Last week Taylor was named NEC Track Athlete of the Week. Williams, Taylor and the rest of the Hawks will now turn their attention to this weekend’s Northeast Conference Championships, which is being hosted on the campus of Monmouth University.
MU tennis from MU web site
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University men's tennis team, who advanced all the way to the final match in the Northeast Conference Tournament, was recognized by the league with multiple All-Conference honorees, the NEC league office released Tuesday. Tom Corrie (Herfordshire, England./Roundwood Park) was named All-NEC first team at second singles, while teammate Corey Forrest (Ocala, Fla./Trinty Catholic) earned first team status at fourth singles. Benjamin Evenden (Cresco, Pa./Ridgewood (N.J.)) was tabbed All-NEC second team at first singles and Pedro Bruno (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Sante Marcelina) was honored on the second-team at third singles. Monmouth took two of the three second team's doubles awards as the team of Evenden/Corrie was named second team at first doubles, and the duo of Bruno/Forrest was named second team at third doubles. Corrie was tabbed the NEC’s top player at #2 singles his first year with the program, He won his last five matches of the season to finish the year 11-9. He was 5-1 against NEC competition and was named Prince/NEC Player of the Week on March 27. Forrest made a dazzling debut at #4 singles for the NEC runner-up Hawks, ending the year with a 20-2 record. He finished second in the NEC in both victories and winning percentage (.909). Forrest went 6-1 within the conference, including a pair of NEC Tournament victories. Evenden won nine of his last 11 matches to close out the season with a 13-8 mark. He went 6-1 in league play. Bruno was another key figure in Monmouth’s ascension this past season, ending the year with a 10-9 record, including a 5-1 conference slate. The team of Eveden and Corrie ended the season with five straight victories to punctuate an 11-7 campaign at #1 doubles. The pairing did not lose a match in conference play, finishing 5-0. At #3 doubles, the duo of Bruno and Forrest had a terrific year, ranking second in the NEC in wins (13) and winning percentage (.765). The pairing was unbeatable in the NEC, compiling a 6-0 record. The Hawks defeated sixth-seeded St. Francis (Pa.) 4-0 in the quarterfinal round of the NEC Tournament and second-seeded Quinnipiac 4-2 in the semifinals before falling to Fairleigh Dickinson in the title match. Monmouth's win over Quinnipiac put an end to the Bobcats’ three-year NEC reign and put the Hawks in the championship match for the first time since the league switched to a team-flighted format in 1999.
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