CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR MARCH 15, 2017
Swimming and Diving Teams Start National Meet Off With Strong First Day in the Pool;
Emma Hall Latest Subject of Sports Information Office Q & A Feature;
Hockey Rolls to Second Victory at ACHA Division III National Tournament
WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING
SHENANDOAH, Texas - The Knights posted a record-breaking day at the NCAA Division III Women's Swimming & Diving Championships. Calvin had two individuals score points on Wednesday. Calvin is in 13th place with 21 points. Emory leads with 137 points.
"We had a really good start today," said head coach Dan Gelderloos. "We came out really sharp with some good top end speed which is exciting. Abby goes top-eight in the 50 and that was great for her; she keeps finding a way to go lower which is impressive. Sarah had the best finish on any board with a 10th-place finish."
Junior Abby Van Harn (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) shattered the school record in the 50-yard freestyle in the prelims. Van Harn clocked in a fourth-place finish at 23.15. The previous school record was set in 2006, by Becky Weima at 23.30. Van Harn had the second-fastest time in Calvin program history at 23.43. Van Harn took fifth place in the finals at 23.30.
Junior Sarah Bradley (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) recorded a 10th-place finish on the 3-meter boards. Bradley was in 13th place after prelims at 404.25. She jumped three spots in the finals to finish at 430.60 points.
"Sarah was strong and courageous today," said diving coach Aaron Paskvan. "I am very happy that she finished strong. At this meet, you have to manage your emotional level as much as you manage the technique side. I am very proud and am looking forward to Friday."
The Calvin women finished in 22nd place in the 200-yard medley relay on Wednesday. The team of sophomore Madelyn Smith (Allegan, Mich./Allegan), freshman Anna Kutschke (Manistee, Mich./Manistee) , sophomore Anna Serino (Pinckney, Mich./Pinckney) and freshman Emily Gunderson (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) clocked in a time of 1:47.40.
The Knights return to the pool on Thursday for the second day of the four-day championships.
MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING
SHENANDOAH, Texas - The Calvin men's swimming & diving had a strong start at the NCAA Division III Men's Swimming & Diving Championships on Wednesday. Calvin is in 17th place with 12 points. Emory leads with 135 points.
"Today was a really good start," said head coach Dan Gelderloos. "Jared was the third-fastest 50 free split coming home in the entire meet. Things are looking good for tomorrow."
The Knights advanced to the 200-yard medley relay consolation finals. The Knights finished in 11th place with a time of 1:30.46. The team of sophomore Ben Holstege (Keswick, Va./Covenant), senior Eli Holstege (Keswick, Va./Covenant), senior Brett Stoughton (Centerville, Ind./Centerville), and sophomore Jared Britton (Falls Church, Va./George Mason) clocked in a season-best time.
Joining Calvin in the 200-yard medley relay was MIAA-rival Albion in 13th place at 1:31.18.
The Knights return to the pool on Thursday for the second day of the four-day championships.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE
Calvin junior Emma Hall is the latest subject of the Q & A feature segment produced by Calvin Sports Information student assistant Brianna Potter.
The feature on Hall can be found online at: http://www.calvinknights.com/sports/wlax/2016-17/releases/20170315y4h0q5
HOCKEY
Calvin 5, Colorado State 0
By Gina de Haan
COLUMBUS, Ohio - On Wednesday night, the Calvin men's hockey team took on the Colorado State Rams in its second pool play game of the 2017 ACHA Division III National Championships.
In the first pool play game on Tuesday night, the top-seeded Knights claimed a decisive 10-1 win over University of South Florida, while CSU defeated Farmingdale State College 4-2.
"The boys played great," said head men's hockey coach Mike Petrusma. "We had another disciplined effort. Colorado State struggled against our forecheck, and we were efficient with our breakouts tonight."
Calvin got on the board less than a minute into the game and never let up, rolling to a 5-0 victory over the Rams.
The Knights were buzzing early in the first period and took a quick lead when freshman Austin Huizenga (Grand Rapids, Mich./ Listowel Cyclones GOJHL) scored 56 seconds in. Sophomore Keegan Weckesser (East Lansing, Mich./Lansing Capitals NAPHL) picked up the assist on Huizenga's goal.
As the midpoint of the first period approached, CSU's offense began to pressure, but Calvin goaltender Alex Gross (Fort Worth, Texas/Northern Cyclones EHL) came up with back-to-back saves to ward off a tying goal.
With 8:08 left in first period, senior Ryan Betts (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) found the back of the net on a second-chance opportunity created by Jordan Duncan (Oshawa, Ont./Oshawa Generals ETAHL), giving the Knights a 2-0 advantage heading into the first intermission. Duncan leads the Knights with five assists in the national tournament.
The Knights continued to roll in the second period. 4:38 in, Weckesser won a faceoff in the Rams' zone, setting up senior Frank Moreschi (Malden, Mass./St. Thomas More School) who capitalized on the opportunity, scoring his third goal of the tournament.
With just under seven minutes left in the second period, the Knights capitalized on a 5-on-3 powerplay opportunity as freshman Nick Hirst (Waterloo, Ont./Waterloo Siskins GOJHL) fed senior Austin Kath (Milwaukee, Wis./Milwaukee Jr Admirals T1EHL) for the one-timer goal.
Despite hitting the crossbar twice in the second period, the Rams couldn't put the puck past Gross. Calvin held a comfortable 4-0 lead heading into the final period.
With just under ten minutes remaining, the Knights playing a man down, senior Ryan Racanelli (Brampton, Ont./Brampton 45's TCMHL) broke away and beat CSU goaltender Cody Christofferson top-shelf, glove side for his second goal of the national tournament, sealing the victory for the Knights.
Late in the third period, Calvin killed off a 5-3 CSU powerplay advantage, and then another minor penalty, to maintain Gross' shutout.
Gross stopped all 48 saves he faced.
Calvin was 6-6 on penalty kills.
The Knights will face off against Farmingdale State (0-2 ACHA National Championships) tomorrow night in their final pool play game for a spot in the tournament semifinals. Puck drop is set for 7:45 p.m.
Received on Wed Mar 15 23:54:33 2017
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