By Kat Castner
(Ithaca. NY – April 8, 2014) Colgate got back into the win column with a huge 7-6 victory over nearby rival Cornell in 10 innings on Tuesday afternoon.
In a very back and forth game, both teams took their turns holding the lead. Colgate opened the scoring in the second inning with a solo home run by senior Tera Vaughn but Cornell answered with a run in the bottom half to knot the score. The Big Red took the go-ahead run in the fourth before Colgate pulled even in the sixth with a homer by Mariel Schlaefer.
Both teams recorded a run in the eighth and ninth pushing the game into double-figure innings. The Raiders registered three big runs in the top of the 10th thanks to a single by Alex Wilson and a two-run blast by Kate Zucker, giving them the 7-4 lead. Cornell would not go away as they notched two runs in the bottom of the inning to make it a one-run game. Strong defense by Colgate, however, ended any final Big Red attempts at tying the game.
“I was really happy to see us battle and fight for a win today,” Colgate head coach Melissa Finley said. “We made it challenging for ourselves with some defensive miscues but at the end of the day our bats came through to give us some support.
“Brigit (Ieuter) threw a fantastic game. It was nice to see us swinging hard and hitting some home runs today as well. We also did a good job base running and getting some bunts down when we needed to in order to produce runs in the extra innings. Every single person contributed in a positive way today and it was refreshing to see.”
Colgate (6-18) received a game-high performance from Schlaefer, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Katie Bushee added two hits, while Vaughn and Zucker earned home runs on the day.
Brigit Ieuter registered her fourth win of the season after pitching a complete game, allowing six runs with only two being earned.
Cornell (12-16) saw Jessica Bigbie go 4-for-4 on the day. Sophie Giaquinto added three hits on six at bats, with Jenny Edwards and Christina Villalon recorded two hits on six plate appearances as well.
Alyson Onyon dropped to 5-6 on the season in the circle for the Big Red after giving up seven hits and seven runs with five of them being earned.
After a scoreless opening inning, Vaughn led off the top of the second with a solo home run to left center. The hit was her first homer of the season and ties her for 10th all-time in career RBIs with 76.
The Big Red pulled even at 1-all in the bottom half of the inning.
Cornell found itself with bases loaded in the third but Ieuter was able to pitch her way out of the jam to keep the game tied at 1-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Big Red took the one-run edge after Meg Parker touched home.
Then with two outs in the top of the sixth, Schlaefer knocked in her second home run of the year hitting one over the center field fence to tie the score at 2-all.
Neither team tallied the game-winning run forcing the contest into extra innings.
Due to international rules both teams are awarded a runner on second base to start the inning.
Both teams notched a run in the eighth and ninth, making for an exciting final inning.
In the top of the 10th, Tara Grennan, who started the inning on second, advanced to third on a wild pitch. Wilson followed that up with a single to reel in Grennan for the go-ahead run. On the ensuing play, Zucker blasted one over the center field fence to score two more Raider runs. Zucker’s timely hit was just the second of her career.
Despite two runs from the Big Red in the bottom half, Colgate was able to stay strong defensively to hold on for the extra innings victory.
Colgate’s solid play while out in the field forced Cornell to strand 18 base runners throughout the game.
Colgate’s Tera Vaughn was 4-for-8 with three RBI and three runs scored against Siena Wednesday afternoon. (Photo by Bob Cornell)
Colgate Splits With Siena in Home Opener
Vaughn, Grennan Go 4-for-8 in Doubleheader
By Kat Castner
(Hamilton, NY – April 9, 2014) Colgate was finally back on home soil Wednesday when it welcomed Siena for a doubleheader. The two teams split the games with the Raiders taking game one, 10-2 in six innings and the Saints stealing the nightcap, 5-3.
The Raiders started the day hammering out hits, recording 14 in the opening game. They easily held a comfortable lead throughout the entire game with both Tera Vaughn and Tara Grennan leading the way. Game two was a little more competitive with both teams taking their turn holding the advantage. Unfortunately for Colgate, a late rally by the Saints in the top of the seventh proved to be the difference in the game.
“It was nice to see us put it all together in the first game,” Colgate head coach Melissa Finley said. “We had great defense, solid pitching and strong hitting. Every single person in the order produced for us, which is always a positive thing to see.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t complete the sweep in the second game. At the end of the day we left way to many runners on base. We were hitting the ball hard, it just happened to go right to people at times when we really needed it to fall in. They played better late in the game than we did and that was the difference in the ball game.”
Colgate (7-19) saw both Vaughn and Grennan go 4-for-8 in the two games with each recording three RBIs. Vaughn added three runs, while Grennan was a triple shy of achieving the cycle. Three other Raiders tallied two hits on the day in Katie Bushee, Gillian Murray and Mariel Schlaefer.
Both Raider pitchers threw over 100 pitches on the day. Rookie Murray shifted her season record to 2-2 after allowing just five hits and two runs in her six innings of work. Sophomore Megan Carnase gave up seven hits and five runs with three being earned in her seven complete innings in game two.
Siena (15-16) was led by Paige Lloyd, who went 4-for-5 on the day with two runs and two RBIs. Stephanie Viggiano added three hits, three runs and one RBI on seven at bats, while Alyssa Lancaster went 2-for-6 with three RBIs.
In game one, Colgate started its hitting spree in the bottom of the first after Bushee lead off with a single to center field. She advanced to second on an error by the pitcher when Haley Fleming hit into a fielder’s choice. On the next at bat Schlaefer reached base thanks to another fielder’s choice to place runners on the corners after Fleming was tagged out at second. The sophomore then stole second to get two baserunners in scoring position. Vaughn brought them home on the ensuing play with a double to center field, giving the Raiders the 2-0 edge. Colgate was then able to increase its lead to 4-0 when Grennan placed one over the left field fence for her first career home run.
The Raiders were again on the offensive attack in the bottom of the second when Alyssa Chaulklin led off the inning doubling the center field. Bushee followed that up by reaching base thanks to an error, ultimately scoring Chaulklin creating a five-run margin between the teams. Bushee utilized her speed on that play as well and found herself on third base. The Saints were able to record two outs on the next two batters but a single from Vaughn scored Bushee for the 6-0 Raider advantage.
Siena cut into Colgate’s lead in the top of the third after four-straight singles. The Raiders answered with two more runs in the fourth and sixth, however, to ultimately secure the eight-run victory in six innings.
The Saints jumped out to the early lead in game two after Viggiano lead off with a double in the top of the first. Melanie Kalesse grounded out shifting the baserunner to third before a Lancaster single brought her home.
The Raiders wasted little time trailing, however, as they tallied three big runs in the bottom half of the inning. Bushee walked to leadoff, placing a Colgate runner on base. Fleming followed that up with a single, advancing Bushee to second. Marisa Dowling hit a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position before Schlaefer’s double to left center put the Raiders on top 2-1. On the ensuing play Grennan matched the previous double with one of her own, scoring Schlaefer from second.
Colgate held the two-run lead for three innings before the Saints knotted the score in the top of the fifth.
The Raiders were knocking on the door over the course of the next two innings after placing two runners on base in each outing. Unfortunately they were unable to convert on the opportunity and headed into the seventh still tied at 3-all.
The Saints started a one-out rally in the final inning and registered two runs, which ultimately secured them the win.
Colgate has a big weekend ahead as it travels to Lafayette for a three-game Patriot League series with the Leopards. The two teams faceoff in a doubleheader on Saturday before playing the final game on Sunday. Both days the games begin at 12 p.m.
Ark, Raiders Knock Off Boston University
Junior Midfielder’s Six Points Push Raiders Over BU, 11-7
By Matt Faulkner
(Hamilton, NY – April 9, 2014) Colgate saved its best performance of the year for its last regular-season home game.
The Raiders (5-7, 3-3 PL) got back into the mix to host a home playoff game in the upcoming Patriot League Tournament with its 11-7 win over Boston University on Wednesday. The Raiders jumped into a tie with Holy Cross at 3-3 for fifth in the league after allowing a season-low seven goals, while the Terriers lost their second-straight game in league play.
Megan Ark was spectacular in the win with four goals and two assists for a game-high six points. She was unstoppable on the offensive side with 10 total shots and also picked up two ground balls. Alison Flood played a consistent game with three points. Sarah Bowles tallied two goals, four draw controls, two ground balls and a caused turnover.
Kallan Murray was another consistent player for the Raiders with two goals on two shots. Lauren Gorajek was a force on draw controls, which became very important once Colgate moved ahead. She took down six of them.
In goal, Jennie Berglin stopped five shots with four coming in the second half. She had a couple of huge stops towards the end of the game, when it looked like Boston University was trying to rally.
The Terriers (6-7, 4-2 PL) were coming off anovertime loss to Lehigh last weekend and the hangover seemed to continue into Wednesday. Boston University was whistled for four yellow cards, two of which resulted in Colgate goals.
The visitors got two goals from Elizabeth Morse and Lindsay Weiner, while Ally Adams had a goal and an assist in the loss. Christina Sheridan earned the start and made five stops with three coming in the first half.
The Raiders started off on a torrid pace with three of the first four goals to jump out to a 3-1 lead with 18:47 left in the opening half. Ark scored and assisted on two of the three goals, while Flood and Bowles were the other two scorers.
The Terriers mounted a comeback and tied the game at 4-4 with 4:47 remaining until halftime. Morse and Jill Horka had two of the goals, while Weiner tallied her second of the day. Flood put the Raiders back on top just over a minute later to respond and gave Colgate a 5-4 lead into the half.
Unlike its matchup against Loyola last time out, the Raiders attacked Boston University in the second half and outscored them 6-3 to earn the 11-7 win. Monica White gave Colgate a 6-4 lead to begin the second frame and then the Terriers got it back to within one at 6-5 with Becca Church scoring with 15:38 left. That was the closest Boston University would get.
On the ensuing draw, Flood plucked it out of the sky and raced down the field with Ark. The senior spotted the junior on the rush and Ark put it past Sheridan for the 7-5 and gave Ark her seventh hat trick of the season.
That goal took a lot wind out of the sails of the Terriers.
Ark added another to make it four on the day and Murray put the game out of reach with back-to-back tallies as the Raiders took home the conference win.
Colgate was great on draw controls, which became important in the second half as the Raiders had a 12-6 advantage. Colgate’s clear game was impressive with 15 out of 16 successful clears and outshot the Terriers, 21-20.
Colgate is back on the road for its final three games of the season and the trip startsSaturday against Lafayette in another huge Patriot League game with tournament implications.
Raiders Name Lukabu Assistant Coach
Team Captain for 2003 National Championship Runner-Up Team Returns to Alma Mater
By John Painter
(Hamilton, NY – April 8, 2014) Colgate head coach Dan Hunt continued molding his 2014 football staff with the naming of Tem Lukabu ’04 as assistant coach.
Lukabu played on Colgate’s 2003 team that went 15-1 and advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA national championship game. He served as team captain and was an Associated Press All-America third team performer at linebacker.
Since graduation, Lukabu has coached in the Big East Conference, Colonial Athletic Association, Patriot League and, most recently, the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was a defensive assistant for the Bucs since February 2012, working with the defensive line coach in 2012 and the linebackers coach in 2013 and assisting with practice and game day coaching responsibilities.
“I am very excited to have Tem working with us,” Hunt said. “He comes to us from the NFL level and brings a wealth of experience. Both he and his wife are Colgate alums, so it is great to keep the Colgate family strong.
“He was captain of the 2003 national runner-up team, and our players know that. He was a strong leader then and he will be a strong leader now.”
Lukabu was hired by Tampa Bay from Fordham, cutting short a two-month offseason stint as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Before that, Lukabu spent the 2011 and 2012 seasons at Rutgers as outside linebackers coach, and the 2008 and 2009 seasons at Rhode Island as linebackers coach. He served as player development coach and graduate assistant at Rutgers in 2006 and 2007.
“I have been blessed with great opportunities to work with excellent coaches, and work with great players and people,” Lukabu said. “I am honored and excited to be a part of Colgate Football again.”
Defensive Player of the Year
Lukabu was a four-year letterman and three-year starter at linebacker who helped the Raiders to a 31-7 overall record and 18-2 Patriot League mark during that incredible stretch. The team won back-to-back Patriot League titles as Lukabu was named the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year in both 2002 and 2003 – becoming the first player to claim that honor twice. He was an All-Patriot League first team selection and All-Atlantic Region first team (Don Hanson Football Gazette) both seasons, and was named All-ECAC first team in 2003.
Colgate advanced to the NCAA playoffs that season, winning three times to advance to the Division I-AA National Championship Game in Chattanooga, Tenn.
“It was a privilege to be part of a special group of young men,” Lukabu said. “We came together and achieved amazing football accomplishments.”
Lukabu was born in Kinshasa, capital and largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in central Africa. He majored in history with a political science minor.
Lukabu is married to the former Kate Barrett ‘04 of Troy, N.Y. Kate was team captain for Colgate women’s soccer, a two-time All-Patriot League performer and the Patriot League’s 2003 Offensive Player of the Year. Tem and Kate are the parents of daughters Zaida and Kamryn.
Colgate 2014 Spring Practice Remaining Dates
(Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays)
Week 3 – April 10 and 12
Week 4 – April 15, 17 and 19
Week 5 – April 22, 24 and 26*
* Potential spring game date.