Army West Point Athletics
This Week In Army Athletics
October 30, 2013 | General
Oct. 30, 2013
Dear Friends,
We were able to add our first piece of hardware to the trophy case this past week. The sprint football not only earned it second straight conference title, but also capped its second consecutive undefeated season by defeating Navy, 17-7, last Saturday at Shea Stadium.
Firstie Dylan Doty shared the Army Athletic Association Athlete of the Week honor after contributing six tackles and three sacks in his final game.
The victory over the Mids improved our record to 4-1 versus Navy this fall and 6-1 against service academies. The women’s soccer team will get the next chance to improve on that mark, hosting the Mids on Friday night. The team clinched a spot in the Patriot League Tournament this week with two road wins. A victory on Friday would put the team in position to potentially host a Patriot League Tournament game.
Joey Molacek and Jessica Cassalia were named the Patriot League Offensive Player and Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week, respectively. Joey scored three of the team’s five goals, including a double-overtime game-winner with just five seconds left. She also joined Doty as the AAA Co-Athlete of the Week. Jessica gave up just two goals in nearly 200 minutes of play and made nine saves.
The men’s soccer team also clinches its spot in the Patriot League Tournament with a 1-0 home win against Lehigh. It was the program’s seventh straight win and assured its spot in the postseason for the first time since 1996. Plebe Nick Williams scored the game-winner and was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week, while goalkeeper Winston Boldt extended his Academy record with 11 shutouts.
While the volleyball team had its seven-match winning streak come to an end on Saturday, one streak stayed alive when Olivia Fairfield earned her fourth consecutive Patriot League Rookie of the Week honor. She averaged 2.0 kills per set and totaled eight blocks in the team’s two matches.
In addition to the women’s soccer team’s chance at a gold star, the football team will start its quest for the Commander In Chief’s Trophy on Saturday at Air Force. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. EDT, and the game will be televised live by ESPNU.
The football team is also hoping for some good news on the academic side. Firstie Holt Zalneraitis is a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation’s William V. Campbell Trophy which is awarded to the top football playing scholar-athlete in the nation. The finalists for the prestigious honor, which our own Andrew Rodriguez won in 2011, will be announced on Thursday.
Thank you again for all of your support of Army Athletics. To find out more about the Army A Club and how you can enhance the cadet-athlete experience, click the following link: http://www.goarmysports.com/boosters/army-a-club.html, call (845)938-2322, or email armyaclub@usma.edu.
We appreciate all of your contributions to our success. Be well.
Go Army!
Boo
For all current information regarding Army Athletics and its 25 varsity programs, please visit www.goARMYsports.com.
Cross Country
- Army had the week off. The Black Knights will compete next at the Patriot League Championships, slated for Nov. 2 at Lafayette.
Football (3-5)
- Army had its first bye week of the season. The Black Knights travel to Air Force on Nov. 2 to begin their quest for the CIC Trophy. Kickoff is set for noon EDT and will be broadcast live by ESPNU.
Golf
- Army did not compete this week. The Black Knights wrap up the fall portion of their schedule as they travel to the Pacific Invitational in Stockton, Calif., starting Oct. 31.
Hockey (0-2-0, 0-0-0 AHA)
- Playing for the first time in two weeks, the Army hockey team dropped to 0-2-0 despite a solid effort in a 4-2 non-league loss at Merrimack last Saturday night in North Andover, Mass.
- Army held leads of 1-0 and 2-1, but gave up three third-period goals in the loss.
- Goaltender Rob Tadazak made a season-best 39 saves, 31 of which came in the opening two periods. He gave up three goals, as the Warriors’ final tally came on an empty net.
- Plebe forward C.J. Reuschlein scored his first collegiate goal, getting Army on the board late in the first period. Sophomore defenseman Luke Jenkins got the assist on Reuschlein’s ice-breaker.
- Yearling forward Willie Faust netted his first goal of the season in the second period, taking assists from juniors Zak Zaremba and Maurice Alvarez.
- The Warriors held a 43-16 advantage in shots on goal, while each team cashed in on a power play goal. Merrimack was 1-of-7 on the power play for the night, while Army scored once in four chances.
- For the second game in a row, Army played in front of a sold-out crowd.
- Army returns to the ice next Friday, Nov. 1, in its Atlantic Hockey Association opener at Connecticut. The Black Knights continue AHA play the following night, opening the home portion of their schedule against AHA foe Bentley on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 7:05 p.m.
Rifle (2-2, 1-2 GARC)
- Army posted season highs in air rifle (2344), smallbore (2325) and aggregate score (4669) in a 4695-4669 loss to defending NCAA champion West Virginia in a Great America Rifle Conference match.
- The Black Knights shattered their previous highs by 21 and eight points, in smallbore and air rile respectively, while besting their aggregate score by 29 points.
- Team captain Joseph Todaro turned in Army’s highest individual performance as he garnered runner-up honors in smallbore, tying his career high (585).
- The Black Knights jumped from No. 12 to No. 4 in the latest national rankings.
- The Black Knights travel to Annapolis, Md., Saturday to participate in the President’s Trophy Match, joining host Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. Army is looking to reclaim the title after having its three-year reign snapped by Air Force last year.
Men’s Soccer (12-1-1, 6-0 Patriot League)
- The Army men’s soccer team clinched a spot in the Patriot League Championship for the first time since 1996, earning a 1-0 conference victory over Lehigh on Saturday evening’s Senior Day at Clinton Field.
- With the win, the Black Knights, who are ranked sixth in the current National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Mid-Atlantic Region poll, improved to 12-1-1 overall and 6-0-0 in the league.
- Plebe forward Nick Williams scored for the second game in a row, while cow Tommy Jaeger and plebe Alex Jaroscak added assists.
- Goalkeeper Winston Boldt made five saves without surrendering a goal to extend his Academy record to 11 shutouts for the season. Boldt entered the game with the nation’s third-best save percentage (.908) and fourth-best goals against average mark (.442).
- The Black Knights lead the nation with an .892 win-loss-tie percentage.
- Williams was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week.
Women’s Soccer (7-7-3, 3-3-2 Patriot League)
- Army clinched a berth to the Patriot League Tournament behind a pair of conference road wins last week for its first bid since 2011 and 18th overall.
- Joey Molacek was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week and plebe Jessica Cassalia was named Goalkeeper of the Week. It is the second league citation for Cassalia this season and the first for Molacek.
- Molacek was also named the Co-AAA Athlete of the week and College Sports Madness Women’s Soccer Patriot League Player of the Week. She scored three of Army’s five goals and added an assist, rallying the Black Knights after they fell behind 1-0 in both games. She tallied a pair of goals in a 2-1 double overtime win over Holy Cross. The first came in the 81st minute and the game-winner came with just five seconds remaining in overtime. On Saturday, Molacek scored the equalizer and assisted on the final goal in a 3-1 win over Lafayette that clinched a spot in the tournament.
- Cassalia allowed just two goals in 199:55, compiling a 0.90 GAA with nine saves for the week. She made four saves against Holy Cross, including one in overtime with just over a minute left. Cassalia recorded five saves in the Lafayette win.
- Kimberly An scored a pair of second-half goals in the Lafayette, earning her second game winner of the season. She ranks among the league leaders in scoring with seven goals and four assists for 18 points.
- Army hosts Navy Friday evening in the final home game for seven seniors. It is the 25th meeting in the series that began at West Point in 1994. With a win, the Black Knights have a chance to host a quarterfinal round of the Patriot League Tournament.
Sprint Football (7-0, 7-0 CSFL)
- Army topped service-academy rival Navy, 17-7, to grab its second consecutive Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) title last Saturday afternoon at Shea Stadium. The Black Knights finished a perfect 7-0 overall for the second year in a row.
- Quarterback James Wartski threw for 240 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for a season-best 78 yards on 14 carries.
- Plebe Marqus Burrell ran 16 times for 25 yards and a touchdown, and yearling wide out Tucker Van Dyke caught six passes for 71 yards and a score.
- Yearling receiver Kevin O'Brien paced the Black Knights with 76 receiving yards, while cow Zachary Woods totaled 55 receiving yards.
- Yearling linebacker Ryan Gallagher made 10 stops for the Army defense, while firstie Dylan Doty contributed six tackles and three sacks. Firstie defensive end Thomas White and yearling defensive back Kalaukoa Labonta each added an interception.
- Doty shared Army Athletic Association Athlete of the Week honors for his efforts.
Men’s Swimming & Diving (2-1, 1-0 Patriot League)
- Army suffered a loss in a non-conference dual meet at Connecticut, 192-107.
- The Black Knights collected three first-place wins and was runner-up in four events .
- Yearling Chris Szekely led the team, earning points in the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle. Szekely earned first-place honors in the 200 free touching the wall at 1:42.18.
- Firstie Sam Mo added another gold with a first-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly.
- Diver Josh Urnezis rounded out the men’s effort with a first-place victory off the 1-meter board, scoring 264.52 points.
- The Black Knights are off until Nov. 17 when they travel to Columbia.
Women’s Swimming & Diving (2-2, 0-1 Patriot League)
- The Black Knights suffered a 188-112 setback at Connecticut.
- Plebe long distance swimmer Danielle Nuszkowski set the pace, collecting two first-place wins. Nuzskowski clocked a 10:30.83 and captured the gold in the 1000-yard freestyle. She also captured the 500 free touching the wall at 5:08.04.
- Ariana Bullard added two additional first-place victories, breaking the pool record in the 100 fly. She also took the 200 butterfly.
- Megan Grier touched first in the 200 free (1:55.29).
- Army is off until Nov. 22-24 when it travels to the Frank Elm Invitational at Rutgers.
Men’s Tennis
- Army participated in the Patriot League Kickoff at Lehigh, facing Colgate, Lehigh and Lafayette in a non-scoring event.
- Roman Cacha and Cameron Voigt each won two singles matches for the Black Knights.
- The team of Kyle Barns and Austin McCasin each won a pair of doubles matches.
- The Black Knights are back in action Nov. 1-3 at the Harvard Halloween Invite.
Women’s Tennis
- The Army women’s tennis team competed in its final fall tournament hosted by Lehigh University this weekend collecting 35 wins in 36 matches.
- The Black Knights went up against conference rivals Lehigh, Lafayette and Colgate in both singles and doubles in the Patriot League 2013 Kickoff.
- Army will return to action on Jan. 24-Jan. 26 at the Cornell Winter Invitational in Ithaca N.Y., before kicking off its spring season.
Volleyball (12-9, 9-2 Patriot League)
- Army split two matches in Pennsylvania versus Patriot League competitors Bucknell and Lehigh. Each match went five sets as the Black Knights defeated the Bison, 3-2, and fell to the Mountain Hawks by the same score. Saturday’s loss ended Army’s seven-match losing streak.
- Firstie middle blocker Megan Wilton and yearling outside hitter Nicole Perri led all players each with 15 kills in the five-set win over Bucknell. Margaux Jarka and plebe middle blocker Olivia Fairfield also came through on the attack with 14 and 12 kills, respectively.
- showed led all players with 23 kills and a hitting percentage of .367 against Lehigh. Jarka added 15 kills while firstie right side hitter Kerry Horan and Fairfield each added 8.
- Fairfield earned her fourth straight Patriot League Rookie of the Week certificate.
