| Friday, Apr. 10 |
We have hit the end of another week in UMass Athletics as we look forward to an action-packed weekend. Action on campus gets underway with an A-10 tennis clash between UMass and Temple at 1 p.m. On Saturday, UMass hosts men's and women's track meets at the Track & Field Complex with action starting at 11:30 a.m. The first-place women's lacrosse squad hosts Temple at McGuirk Stadium at 1 p.m. On the road, No. 22/17 softball is in Philadelphia for four games vs. Saint Joseph's and Temple. The baseball team has a three-game series at Saint Louis starting today. The No. 14 men's lacrosse team is at Hobart in an ECAC battle on Saturday at 1 p.m. JTAM has news on the Portsmouth NBA Predraft Camp meeting between UMass' Tony Gaffney and Chris Lowe.
At the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, Tony Gaffney's team K&D Round's Landscaping beat Chris Lowe's Tidewater Sealants, 70-68 on Friday afternoon in Virginia. Lowe had a strong game with six points, nine assists, three rebounds and two steals in 31 minutes. Gaffney also started, played 29 minutes with four points, four rebounds and two blocks. Gaffney's team plays Saturday at 2 p.m. while Lowe will precede, playing at 12 Noon. Here is the entire bracket.
UMass basketball NLI signee Raphiael Putney has been selected to play in the Reebok All-American Game on April 18 in Washington, D.C. With Woodbridge H.S., Putney averaged 16.6 points and 10.7 rebounds per game for the Vikings this year while shooting 53 percent from the floor and 73 percent at the foul line. He scored a career-high 30 points against Forest Park in a 66-57 win Jan. 23 and was named to the All-Northwest Region second team as well as being an All-Cardinal District first teamer. Putney also collected a career-high 24 rebounds against Hylton in the district tournament semifinals.
Dime Magazine has a feature on the Top 10 players in the NBA D-League which mentions UMass' Gary Forbes as the No. 6 player in the league. Here's his excerpt:
6. Gary Forbes - Forbes is in elite company in UMass history. He and Julius Erving are the only two players to record 1,000 points in two season or less. Now the 6-7 forward is the picture of consistency. He's good for 18 points and 8 boards pretty much every time he's on the court. Forbes is the kind of player who gets his no matter what's going on around him - on the road this year, he's shooting 50.4% from the floor and a sky-high 47.6% from three.
Speaking of Forbes, his team the Tulsa 66ers finish their season this weekend with a pair of games at Albuquerque. Despite Forbes' 18-point average, the 66ers stand in last place of the Southwest Division with a 14-34 record.
Inside Lacrosse has its weekly league notebook with a lot of info on UMass lacrosse in the ECAC section. It states: UMass moved into sole possession of first place in the ECAC and the only remaining undefeated team in conference games with a 12-6 win over St. John's was combined with Fairfield's loss to Georgetown. That final score might be slightly deceiving, as the Minutemen led 12-2 lead midway through the fourth quarter. UMass will play struggling Hobart this weekend. The Statesmen have lost four straight after at one point being one of three undefeated teams in Division I lacrosse.
The Daily Collegian has this preview of the men's lacrosse game at Hobart on Saturday. Its another matchup of top goalies in the nation with Doc Schneider and Max Silberlicht.
UMass Aquatics has announced the dates and events for their annual Alumni Weekend, which will be held May 1-3 and include the Team Banquet, the Golf Outing, the Alumni Cookout, and the Annual Auction. Men's Swimming Head Coach Russ Yarworth will also be honored during the festivities of the weekend for his dedication to the UMass swimming program over the last 30 years.
UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: Check out information on the UMAA Golf Outing on June 1 This page has info on upcoming golf events for UMass teams and programs.
Don't miss this: Saturday is the big day for action on campus as UMass hosts men's and women's track meets at the Complex starting at 11:30 a.m. Head over to McGuirk Stadium for a 1 p.m. women's lacrosse game vs. Temple.
| Thursday, Apr. 9 |
The UMass men's basketball team held its annual banquet last night as a number of postseason awards were handed out. While the team was celebrating the season, two seniors, Tony Gaffney and Chris Lowe were busy at the Portsmouth Invitational. Meanwhile, the baseball and softball teams both found themselves in close affairs with the Minutewomen topping BC 4-3 in extras and the Minutemen dropping a heartbreaker to UConn. Thursday features the Senior Day tennis match as the Minutewomen host Rhode Island at 3 p.m. If you can't make it out to Mullins Courts, be sure to tune into the videocast through UMass All-Access.
Both Tony Gaffney and Chris Lowe were in action at the Portsmouth Invitational on Wednesday. Gaffney's stat line read: four points, eight rebounds, two assists, one steal in his team's 70-63 loss. Lowe had 10 points in a 90-80 loss. Gaffney and Lowe face each other on Thursday at 3:15 p.m.
Proud grandpa Don Zimmer was on hand for granddaughter Whitney Mollica's win with UMass over BC before heading to Fenway where he employer the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox, 7-2. The Boston Herald's Steve Buckley has this story about Zimmer's doubleplay.
Stories on softball's 4-3 win over Boston College were found in the following media outlets: Springfield Republican and Eagles Insider.
Check out this story on the 21st annual Allyson Rioux Memorial Golf Tournament which is on May 14 at 1 p.m. Rioux is a former UMass softball player who died of a brain tumor in 1989 at the age of 27.
Boston University's student newspaper, the Daily Free Press, had a recap of last weekend's spring season women's soccer Beanpot, which featured UMass.
Wednesday is a busy day for American Hockey League action. Many Mass Attack alums enjoyed continued success on Wednesday: Cory Quirk kept his red-hot professional start going with a crucial game-tying goal late in the third period, helping Albany to a 4-3 shootout win over Philadelphia. Greg Mauldin scored Binghamton's first goal in the team's 4-3 overtime win over Syracuse. Meanwhile, Matt Anderson assisted on three goals in Chicago's 5-0 win over Lake Erie. Mark Matheson was credited with an assist in Milwaukee's 2-1 shootout win over Peoria. Also of note, P.J. Fenton's Worcester Sharks' squad clinched a playoff berth with a win over Mike Kostka and the Portland Pirates.
UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: UMassAthletics.com caught up with head football coach Kevin Morris as spring practice is underway.
Don't miss this: Tennis is the only team in action on Thursday. It's a big match against A-10 and New England rival Rhode Island. It's Senior Day as well, so don't miss it! If you can't make it out to cheer on the Minutewomen, be sure to watch live.
| Wednesday, Apr. 8 |
Tonight is the UMass Basketball Banquet at the Campus Center. Click here for information and to order tickets. Earlier in the day at 12 Noon, the Campus Center's Cape Cod Lounge is home to the UMass Sports Luncheon. The baseball team picked up its second win a row with a huge 5-2 win over Boston College in the Beanpot First Round in Brockton, Mass. The Minutemen advance to the Benapot Final, played at Fenway Park next week. Today they host UConn in a make-up game from Monday's rainout. Also on Wednesday, the softball makes its way to Chestnut Hill to face the Eagles as well.
The baseball team's win over BC in the Beanpot is covered in the Springfield Republican. UMass will take on Northeastern, a 16-5 winner over Harvard, in the Beanpot championship game Monday night at 5:05.
More coverage on the Beanpot can be found in the Daily Collegian, Daily Hampshire Gazette and Eagles Insider
The Daily Collegian has a preview of the softball game vs. Boston College tonight.
Tony Gaffney and Chris Lowe's invitation to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament is covered in the Boston Globe near the end. Gaffney will play for the K&D Rounds Landscaping and Lowe will play for Tidewater Sealants starting today (Gaffney at 7 p.m. and Lowe at 9 p.m.).
The UMass.edu website has a small feature on the UMass Hall of History in the Mullins Center.
The Boston Herald has a wonderful historical profile of the Boston University hockey program which has several references to UMass hockey coach Toot Cahoon, a former star Terrier in the 70s. In the newspaper, there is a big photo of Cahoon in his No. 21 jersey circa 1971.
UMass lacrosse's Diogo Godoi was named to the Inside Lacrosse Team of the Week for the second time in three weeks. IL says: Godoi is just forcing coaches to consider him for a first-team AA spot. Forced four turnovers and locked down St. John's offense in UMass's 12-6 victory.
Former UMass soccer star Chris Brown is mentioned in Garry Brown's weekly Hitting To All Fields as he will be playing with the Western Mass Pioneers at Lusitano Stadium.
Pro Football Weekly has this write up about Liam Coen and his draft prospects: Has a good feel for the game and enough arm strength. Nice tough, timing and anticipation. Smart and studies the game. Sound decision maker. Throws a catchable ball. Will stand and deliver in the face of pressure. Plays through pain. Solid character. Good career production. An ideal No. 3 quarterback who could be thrust into action with minimal reps and still now where to go with the ball. Coen has the mental makeup to fill in during a pinch and carry an offense through the game. Could stick on a roster carrying a clipboard.
UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: With baseball's big Beanpot win, check out this video on the Diamond Fund which benefits the baseball program.
Don't miss this: Join us at the Campus Center for the Basketball Team Banquet. Also the UMass Sports Luncheon will take place at 12 Noon in the Campus Center Cape Cod Lounge.
| Tuesday, Apr. 7 |
Congrats to North Carolina on its NCAA men's hoops title. Tonight, the UMass baseball team is back on the diamond to face Boston College in the Baseball Beanpot at Brockton. WMUA 91.1 FM will carry the game and gametracker will be available. Today's JTAM has news on UMass senior basketball players Tony Gaffney and Chris Lowe, who have been invited to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, NBA Pre-draft camp. Also check a feature on baseball's Jim Cassidy and a behind the scenes look at the Minuteman hockey squad.
Here are stories on the PIT invites for Gaffney and Lowe. In the Herald News on the Southcoast of Boston. Gaffney says: "I'm hoping to come back with a few floor burns," he said. "And I hope some GM falls in love with that." In the Springfield Republican, Ron Chimelis files this story.
The UMass men's lacrosse team remains at No. 14 in the USILA Coaches Poll and stands 14th in the Inside Lacrosse Media Poll. ESPN lacrosse expert Quint Kessenich has UMass at No. 9 in his poll .
In the LaxPower.com Power Poll, UMass is No. 9 with the No. 8 Strength of Schedule.
Wicked Local in Boston has a nice feature on baseball's Jim Cassidy, who plays outfield and pitches for the Minutemen.
The Brockton Enterprise has a piece on baseball's Adam Tempesta who is off to a great senior season.
The Berkshire Eagle has an update on UMass alum baseball players Matt Torra and Chad Paronto as baseball opening day came on Monday. Torra and Paronto are still with Arizona and Houston, respectively. Torra, who made the jump from Class AA to AAA last year, will start 2009 in Reno, Nev., where the Diamondbacks moved their Pacific Coast League team. For Paronto, in spring training, he gave up three earned runs in 10 innings (seven games), walked one and struck out 10. He'll start the year for Houston's AAA team in Round Rock, Texas.
UMass alum Andrew Merritt has a behind the scenes look ay UMass hockey that is now available on HockeyJournal.com. Merritt writes about his trip with the team to Vermont.
The Daily Collegian has a recap of the rowing team's win over Holy Cross last weekend.
The Collegian has a story on the tennis team's victory over Quinnipiac on Sunday.
UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: Check out the photo gallery page for all the greatest shots of UMass players and teams. You can purchase the pictures here.
Don't miss this: Weather permitting, the UMass baseball team takes part in Day 1 of the Baseball Beanpot in Brockton, Mass. The Minutemen will take on Boston College at 7 p.m. Get your Beanpot Tickets.
| Monday, Apr. 6 |
Great weekend all around for UMass Athletics! Both the men's and women's laxers stayed undefeated in conference play while softball swept a doubleheader against Saint Louis and baseball topped Temple in Game 2 on Sunday. This JTAM has a number of stories on all the games from over the weekend along with some news on a former UMass hockey player impressing early in his professional career.
Check out the Springfield Republican's Daily Roundup from Monday which had blurbs on four UMass teams in action on Sunday: softball, baseball, women's lacrosse, and tennis.
Meanwhile, Saturday night's Daily Roundup included a blurb about baseball's 11-9 loss to Temple.
Check out this great feature on Jim Cassidy from baseball.
The Daily Collegian has this recap and sidebar of softball's doubleheader sweep over Saint Louis on Sunday.
The Boston Globe mentions the NBDL's Springfield expansion team and how it looks to draw local stars to the team such as former UMass swingman Gary Forbes.
UMass women's track competed at the UConn Invitational on Saturday. The UConn official athletic website has a story on the invite.
The following sources ran stories on men's lax and its 12-6 win over St. John's on Saturday: Lax Power, Daily Collegian. The Collegian also has this sidebar focusing on Art Kell and the attack unit.
Women's lacrosse had two big wins over the weekend. Here are some stories: Daily Collegian | SUNDAY (vs. George Washington): Inside Lacrosse | FRIDAY (vs. Richmond): Inside Lacrosse.
Jeff Thomas of the Springfield Republican has this spring football update.
Congratulations to former UMass gymnastics coaches Rene Cook and David Kuzara who led the Arkansas Razorbacks to the NCAA Regional Championships on Saturday.
Former Mass Attack defenseman and current Portland Pirate Mike Kostka was quoted in the Republican's recap of the Springfield Falcons' loss at the hands of Portland on Sunday.
Speaking of the AHL, how about the start Cory Quirk has had to his professional career? On Sunday, he scored two goals for the Albany River Rats and was named the game's third star in a 6-3 loss to Bridgeport. He is already up to six points (4g, 2a) through only eight games.
Also on the hockey front, check out this story from WWLP NBC22 where Brett Watson is interviewed during the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Bowl-A-Thon. Watson and several other Minutemen volunteer as Big Brothers for the Amherst program.
UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: The men's basketball is hosting its banquet on Wednesday. Click here for information and to order tickets!
Don't miss this: A ton going on today! Check back to see where men's lacrosse moves in the polls. Also see if any UMass athletes win weekly awards, including the UMass Athlete of the Week. Finally, baseball is back in action for the third straight day, hosting rival UConn at 3 p.m. Don't miss it!
Look Back To The Week Of: March 30-Apr. 3 | March 23-27 | March 16-20 | March 9-13 | Mar. 2-6 | Feb. 23-27 | Feb. 16-20 | Feb. 9-13 | Feb. 2-6 | Jan. 26-30 | Jan. 19-23 | Jan. 12-16 | Jan. 5-9 | Dec. 29, 2008-Jan. 2, 2009 | Dec. 22-26 | Dec. 15-19 | Dec. 8-12 | Dec. 1-5 | Nov. 24-28 | Nov. 17-21 | Nov. 10-14 | Nov. 3-7 | Oct. 27-31 | Oct. 20-24, 2008 |
Oct. 13-17, 2008 | Oct. 6-10, 2008 | Sept. 29-Oct. 3, 2008 | Sept. 22-26, 2008 | Sept. 15-19, 2008 | Sept. 8-12, 2008 | Sept. 1-5, 2008 | Aug. 25-29, 2008 | Aug. 18-22, 2008
