Club Sports Game Summaries
April 17th-19th
Elon shows competitive spirit as season’s end draws near
Men’s Rugby-
Elon vs. Wingate, 21-10 (W)
Elon vs. UNC Wilmington, 34-7 (L)
The Men’s Rugby team took to the pitch this weekend playing against Wingate and UNC Wilmington. Against Wilmington they were outplayed and not ready for the game in the first half and went down early 20-0. In the second half they kept it closer trailing only 14-7 but came up short losing 34-7 with the one try scored by Britton Brown and the conversion by Michael Gallagher.
In the second game against Wingate they were down early 3-0 on a penalty kick by Wingate, but responded with the next three tries by Dan Miller, Zach Greenwald, and Michael Gallagher, to take a 21-3 lead, with the conversion by Gallagher on all three, and Wingate scored a last minute try to make it the final of 21-10.
Triathalon
Belews Lake Triathlon
The Triathlon competed this past weekend in the Belews Lake Triathlon. This year, the triathlon saw a huge increase in elite athletes competing, since it was the first year this particular triathlon was part of the NC triathlon series with set-up events. Having said that, the triathlon club had tough competition but also had a very strong showing. Lead the way was Leah Darkes and Laura Brentrup who placed 1st and 2nd respectively in their age group. The race included a 750m swim, 14.5 mile bike, and 5k run. Below are the results for all club members.
Stephen Rusterholz – 75th overall male – 1:21:27
David Gagne – 196th overall male – 1:34:28
There were a total of 286 males competing
Leah Darkes – 26th overall female – 1:28:18
Laura Brentrup – 34th overall female – 1:31:10
Haley Pope – decided upon getting to the race she would not compete. But gave great encouragement along with the club advisor to the other members.
There were a total of 125 females.
The triathlon club had a very successful year.
“I am very impressed with the progress we have made over the past year as a club. More members are placing in the top 3 of their respective age group and we are getting more competitive at races. I can’t wait until next year to see where we will be able to go next.” – Club President Stephen Rusterholz
Men’s Soccer
Elon vs. Johnson and Wales University, 4-0 (W)
Elon played a great game versus a competitive Johnson and Wales team with the final score 4-0. Elon had a good turnout for a Saturday mid-afternoon in terms of home fan support and used that to its advantage having four different players score. The first goal was scored on a breakaway by Senior James Bailey beating the keeper one on one. The second goal was scored on a four man one-touch set up being put away by Freshman Jordan Barbour. The third goal was scored by Senior James Bailey when he dribbled through three defenders and took on the keeper to take away his second goal of the day while the fourth and final goal was scored by Sophomore Mark Piegore on a penalty kick after being fouled inside the 18-yard box. Overall the team is very happy with the performance and hopes to carry their spectacular play into their next game.
Tennis
Elon vs. UNC Greensboro, 16-0 (W)
The Elon Club Tennis team played some of its best tennis this past weekend putting up a huge victory against UNC Greensboro 16-0. Some huge wins came from Kaylyn Smialek, winning not only her singles match 6-0, 6-1 but also her doubles match playing with Lauren Warr and winning 8-1 as well as Corey Cooper winning his singles match 6-4, 6-3 and playing with Ross Andrews winning their doubles match 8-4. The team looks to keep this performance up for their next big game on April 29th versus NC State and High Point University.
Women’s Soccer
Elon vs. College of William and Mary, 3-4 (L)
Elon vs. Georgetown, 0-5 (L)
Elon vs. University of Virginia, 1-7 (L)
Elon vs. NC State, 0-6 (L)
The Elon Women’s Soccer team had a rough weekend playing in a 7v7 tournament at UNC-Chapel Hill. They started the weekend versus a talented NC State losing a hard fought battle having most of NC States goals coming in the second half. The next game was against a talented Georgetown team with the final score ending in a loss 0-5. After coming off of two hard fought losses, the team really brought it together in their third game versus the College of William and Mary. Elon got fired up after being down by two goals. Felicia Maffucci scored off of a corner kick from Amanda Keller to make the score 1-2. Unfortunately, the opponents ripped a shot from midfield and got a goal. Relentless, Elon’s Amanda Keller scored off of a wicked throw in that the goalie failed at saving. Mabry placed a beautiful goal, to tie it up, in to the right lower corner of the goal, but in the last few minutes William & Mary scored the game winning goal. After having played hard all day the Elon Women’s Club Soccer had a rough game against University of Virginia. Only down by two goals at the end of the first half, UVA came ripping shots at the second half. At the hottest time of the day, Elon was not about to give up. The girls played like a team and kept a good tempo going, still making UVA have to work for their win. Persistent, Elon’s Amanda Keller snuck in a last goal before the whistle blew.
Baseball
Elon vs. East Carolina University, 6-15 (L) 0-2 (L) 1-8 (L)
Elon Club Baseball had a tough weekend against a formidable conference opponent, East Carolina University. ECU entered the weekend as the #2 ranked team in the country, sporting a phenomenal 22-1 record on the season.
Game 1 starter Ryan Swanzey (Sr.) started strong with a 1-2-3 first that closed with back-to-back strikeouts, but poor defense and some skilled hitting led to four runs in each of the next two innings. The Pirates knocked Swanzey out in the 5th having scored 8 runs (2 earned), but Elon didn’t quit. Back-to-back one-out singles by 2B Frank Hurd (Jr.) and 1B Jamie Hawkins (Sr.) in the sixth set up a three-run blast from CF Derek DeAndrade (Sr.), a shot to the deepest part of Firehouse Field in right-center field to cut the lead to 9-4. However, more untimely defense gave East Carolina extra opportunities at the plate, and they took advantage, plating six more insurance runs in the top of the 7th and eventually leading to the final score of 6-15.
Coming off seven shutout innings against Wake Forest in his previous start, lefty Aaron Moger (So.) was the story of the game for Elon in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, holding one of the most potent offenses in the country to just a pair of runs. Unfortunately, Moger was opposed by an equally impressive pitcher who shutout Elon and held the team to just four hits. Two-out seventh inning pinch-hitting appearances by Derrick Burnett (So.) and Colin Havey (Sr.) extended the game and brought the winning run to the plate, but Elon came up short in their comeback bid, losing a heartbreaker 2-0.
1B Kevin Dudiak (Sr.) had an RBI double to right, and Havey went 1-2 with a walk as the team’s right fielder, but the rest of the Elon lineup was held to just a single hit as East Carolina cruised to an 8-1 victory to complete the series sweep. Elon (9-7) looks to rebound this weekend for its last home series of the year against UNC.
Ultimate
2010 UPA Carolina College Open Sectionals
Men: Elon came out hard losing to sectional rival Davidson, another competitive small school from North Carolina in a close game 10-11. The second game also ended up in a loss to UNC in a tough match losing 4-13. After losing their previous two, Elon turned it around versus Appalachian State beating them handily with a score of 13-5. NC State proved to be another very tough team and won a good game with the final 4-13. The next day they opened with duke who won another good game with the score 8-15. After this tough loss they rallied back beating Wake fairly easily, proving that they are a better team comparing them to the start of the season where they lost a preseason scrimmage against Wake.
Women: The women’s team fought hard against all of its opponents, keeping their number 7 seed. The first day was a little rough only winning one out of the four games they played but it really was the work of some of the top teams in the nation having to hold their rep against the women. The second day Elon beat UNCG again and the App state girl’s team to face ECU again for a chance at regional’s but came out with a tough loss.
Based on these results both teams have a very good chance to qualify for the division three nationals and hope that the season lives on.
Men’s Lacrosse
Elon vs. Southern Virginia University 17-5 (W)
Elon beat SVU this past Saturday to close out North Division play undefeated. This win clinches the #2 seed for Elon heading into the SELC tournament the weekend of April 23rd. The team hopes to continue their winning tradition in the conference tournament and secure a spot to the national tournament in Denver.
Written by Will Dzugan and Katie Whittaker, Club Sport Staff Members