UMass Athletics

Best Defender Trophy winner: Stephane Lasme, Panathinaikos Athens

By Brian Henry on May 2, 2013 11:07 AM

Former UMass star Stephane Lasme has had a successful career overseas and is reaping the benefits as he was recently named the Best Defender in the Euroleague by the head coaches.

From the official press release:

The forward from Gabon did plenty to deserve the distinction. His 1.76 blocks per game were second in the league and he was tied for fourth in rebounding, averaging 6.14 per contest. Moreover, Lasme was the final line of defense for a rebuilt Panathinaikos squad, which finished the Turkish Airlines Euroleague season with the second-fewest points allowed, 69.8 per game.

Click here to read the entire release.

Men's Lacrosse Heads To CAA Tournament

By Cody Lahl on April 29, 2013 1:37 PM

UMass men's lacrosse took care of business in the final two weeks and, with losses by Hofstra and Saint Joseph's on Saturday, will be headed to University Park, Pa., to take part in the CAA Tournament as the fourth and final seed. The Minutemen defeated Delaware, 16-8 during Senior Night on Friday to cap the regular season at 7-7 overall and 2-4 in CAA play. UMass will face No. 1 seed and host Penn State (11-3, 6-0) on Wednesday at 3 p.m. to begin the semifinal round. Here are a few news stories related to the upcoming event and how UMass made it into the postseason:

Cameron McDonough of MassLive.com covered the final game home game on Friday and had this follow-up after it became official that UMass was in the CAA Tournament.

Nick Canelas of the Daily Collegian checked in with the Minutemen after their berth was secured, recapping how UMass got to the CAA Tournament.

Recaps: UMass Wins Senior Night Contest With Delaware, 16-8

By Cody Lahl on April 27, 2013 7:47 AM

UMass men's lacrosse defended Garber Field with the Blue Hens of Delaware in town on Friday night, putting together a complete performance to double-up the visitors, 16-8 in front of 1,623 fans. Kyle Smith earned a career-high nine points (6 goals, 3 assists) while classmate and fellow starting attackmen Will Manny earned seven more (4 goals, 3 assists) to pace the offense. On the other end of the field, seniors Ryan Hollenbaugh and Jake Smith combined for six groundballs and five caused turnovers to lead an even-paced UMass defense that did not allow Delaware more than two goals in any individual quarter.

With the win, UMass remains in contention for the final seed in the CAA Tournament, needing Penn State to defeat Hofstra and Towson to claim victory over Saint Joseph's on Saturday in order to secure a postseason berth. Below are a few recaps of the contest from members of the media present for competition:

Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette highlighted the connection between Smith and Manny on the field during the contest during his review of play.

Brian Foley with Inside Lacrosse provided game blog to give play-by-play action throughout the contest and caught up with a few of the Minutemen after for postgame interviews.

Nick Canelas of the Daily Collegian highlighted the overall success of the offense against the Delaware defensive effort.

UMass doctor Pierre Rouzier at ground zero of attack

By Brian Henry on April 17, 2013 4:05 PM

Pierre Rouzier, a team physician for the UMass Athletic Department, has volunteered at the Boston Marathon five times and was at the finish line when the explosions occurred on Boylston Street Monday. Matt Vautour has his story of bravery and compassion.

When he heard the first blast, Rouzier thought it was a celebratory sound.

"My first thought was that it was one of those obnoxious touchdown cannons that you hear going off at a football game," he said. "I thought somebody's best friend finished the marathon and they brought in one of those little cannons. But it was way too loud for that. I was standing next to a tech guy who said, 'I wonder if one of our pieces of equipment just exploded.' "

But they saw the smoke billowing from the first blast and then heard the second.

Rouzier turned to fellow doctor Chad Beattie, and together they wondered whether they should stay put or head toward the blast. Not knowing if more explosions awaited them, the two ran toward the smoke. Rouzier texted his wife and sons: "I'm going to where the bomb went off. Say a prayer.

In a Gazette interview in Amherst Tuesday afternoon, Rouzier recalled Monday's dramatic events.

Read the entire story here, written by Matt Vautour

Will Manny uses injury as learning experience as UMass career winds down

By Cody Lahl on April 12, 2013 4:39 PM

The Daily Collegian's Nick Canelas caught up with senior attack Will Manny of UMass men's lacrosse recently to discuss the all-American's career and the road back from a broken thumb suffered in the 2013 season-opener.

Will Manny is as comfortable as ever when he steps onto Garber Field for the Massachusetts men's lacrosse team.

He's energized, but he's relaxed. He's excited, but he's focused. Everything is the same as it ever was.

He sports his usual white jersey with the No. 1 stitched in maroon and has the No. 7 sketched in eye black facing in toward his nose under each eye.

He knows he can rely on his skills. He knows he can rely on his teammates. And he knows he can rely on the preparation of his coaches. Above all, he knows he can rely on his durability.

Manny had never suffered a serious injury in his entire athletic career and had never been kept off the lacrosse field for more than a week. He was always a fixture on the top UMass attack unit, even in the fall.

But that all changed on Feb. 10.

Read the entire article through the Daily Collegian website here. The Minutemen continue their season with a home game on Saturday, April 13 at 1 p.m.

Jack Leaman's legacy in Louisville's championship

By Brian Henry on April 10, 2013 10:08 AM

Watching on her television in Amherst, Rita Leaman smiled as Louisville celebrated its national championship Monday.

Nine years after her husband, Jack Leaman, died and 24 years after he coached his final men's basketball game at the University of Massachusetts, his influence was still being felt.

The last two NCAA championships have his finger prints on them. Kentucky coach John Calipari, whom Leaman befriended and mentored, and Louisville coach Rick Pitino, who played for Leaman at UMass, have coached the last two title-wining squads.

Read the full story by Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette

Blogging With Bomben Update #18

By Cody Lahl on April 5, 2013 12:17 PM

Women's basketball redshirt-junior forward Kiara Bomben will continue her on-going blog throughout the summer months and off-season to keep Minutewomen fans updated on the squad. Bomben's first entry since the end of the season recaps how the team spent spring break and the start of off-season workouts as the team looks ahead to the 2013-14 campaign. Check out the full update, and all previous entries, here.

Longmeadow's Kyle Smith continuing family's lacrosse tradition at UMass

By Cody Lahl on March 29, 2013 6:45 PM

Cameron McDonough highlighted the family tradition being continued by UMass lacrosse senior attack Kyle Smith as the Longmeadow, Mass., native competes for the Minutemen on the Springfield Republican's MassLive.com.

AMHERST -- For generation after generation, lacrosse has been a family affair in the Smith family.

The Smith family's love of lacrosse began with Neville, a member of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, and continued on down to his son Norm. Now, that love has spread to Norm's son, Kyle, a senior attackman for the University of Massachusetts Amherst men's lacrosse team.

It was apparent from a young age that the family's lacrosse gene would not skip a generation. Kyle picked up a lacrosse stick and never let it go.

Continue reading the story on Kyle, his family ties to the sport and the Smith's history with UMass lacrosse here.

Inside Lacrosse Shows Off New UMass Helmets

By Cody Lahl on March 28, 2013 2:21 PM

Warrior provided Hydrographic TII helmets for men's lacrosse this year, with the new gear featured on Inside Lacrosse's ILGear.com on Thursday. The website previously showed off the new Minutemen Warrior MD4 gloves that debuted earlier this season. Casey Vock has a full look at the Hydrographic TII here.

UMass Minutemen Warrior Hydrographic TII

Former Men's Lacrosse Standout Tom Celentani Prepares To Join MLL's Boston Cannons

By Cody Lahl on March 27, 2013 10:16 AM

Former UMass men's lacrosse star Tom Celentani (2009-12) was featured on the Boston Cannon's website recently following his addition to the team's roster. Celentani was selected in the supplemental draft by Boston and will join the team beginning with training camp next month. A USILA All-American and three-year starter on defense for the Minutemen, check out the spotlight on Celentani here.