Men’s Hockey

On August 11th, one of Colgate’s famed heroes returned to campus carrying only the most prestigious of trophies from the National Hockey League. That of course was Andy McDonald ’00, who won the Stanley Cup as part of the Anaheim Mighty Duckx last season. Perhaps his play will serve as a model for the Colgate men’s ice hockey team to replicate this coming season. Last year, the Raiders finished with a underwhelming 15-21-4 overall record.Now, even before the team takes the ice for the first time, expectations will be high as they seek to revert to their winning ways.

Senior Jesse Winchester will take on the role of team captain this season.He will lead a squad loaded with experienced seniors, including goalie Mark Dekanich, who recorded a personal best 993 saves last season and was named to the all East Coast Athletic Conference Hockey League’s second-team. Meanwhile, headlining the newcomers to the team is first-year Jak Knelman, who is among a class of recruits that has Head Coach Don Vaughan very impressed. The ECACHL will be especially tough this year as the Harvard Crimson, an NCAA tournament finalist, return the core of their talent. Another opponent that will surely give the Raiders competition is their long-time nemesis, Cornell. Colgate will take on the Big Red in consecutive games on February 1st and 2nd.

Women’s Hockey

The women’s hockey team is coming off a historic season, finishing with an overall record of 17-15-2 and 14-7-1 in East Coast Athletic Conference. Over a span of two months last year, the Raiders lost only one game, amassing an overall standing of 10-1-1 over that stretch, and resulting in a subsequent fifth-place finish in the ECAC. In the playoffs, they upset the fourth-seeded Princeton Tigers in the first round, but were eliminated by Dartmouth in the semifinals of the tournament in a hard fought series.

This year holds great expectations as the team has the experience of the many returning upperclassmen. Although Tara French ’07, a member of Canada’s under-22 national women’s hockey team, graduated last spring, junior Sam Hunt, also a member of Canada’s U-22 team returns and is prepared to carry the torch into this season. She has led the team in scoring for the past two seasons.

Although the ECAC is an increasingly competitive conference, look for the women’s hockey team to go deeper into the playoffs this season and compete for the conference championship.

Men’s Basketball

The Raiders can easily lay claim to being one of the most snake-bit teams in Division I men’s basketball last season. Poor officiating, injuries to key players, untimely offensive droughts and bad bounces led to a handful excruciating defeats, particularly during the Patriot League season. The unfortunate turn of events prevented Head Coach Emmett Davis’ squad from securing home-court advantage in the first round of the Conference Tournament. The Raiders finished 10-19 last season (5-9 in Patriot League play), which was only good enough for fifth place. A 59-44 loss in the Patriot League Tournament opener at American finished off a season that could have been better than it was.

This season however has the potential to be the most memorable one of Davis’ era. Patriot League powerhouses Holy Cross and Bucknell have lost many key starters that have helped them dominate the conference lately. Although Colgate lost four seniors, including top scorer Jon Simon and defensive standout Marc Daniels, the Raiders are in good shape because they are welcoming back senior Kyle Roemer, who sat out last season with a broken leg. Roemer led the team in scoring during the 2005-06 season. Colgate also returns senior twins Kyle and Kendall Chones, who helped replace the scoring void with Roemer out for the year.

“I’m really optimistic about the upcoming season,” Head Coach Emmett Davis said. “We have some good players coming in.”

New recruits include combo guard Mike Venezia, forward/center Alex English and point guard Joe Hoban.

The men’s basketball team has a promising opportunity to contend for the Patriot League title this season and make their first NCAA tournament since 1996 during the Adonal Foyle era. Come on out and watch them make their run back to March Madness!

Women’s Basketball

Last season was a disappointing one for Colgate. The Raiders finished with a 6-25 record and a 4-10 mark in Patriot League play, which left the team in last place. However, all was not for naught as Colgate defeated Bucknell 69-62 in the first round of the Patriot League tournament. It was the first time in Patriot League women’s basketball history that an eighth seed defeated a first seed in the conference tournament. Despite the team’s success, Head Coach Kristin Hughes resigned at the end of the season.

This year, new Head Coach Pam Bass hopes to lead a rejuvenated Raider squad back to basketball glory. The team is returning many key players from last season, including seniors Caitlin Gillard and Shevorne Martin and junior three-point specialist Gretchen Polinski.

“Everybody around the program is really excited right now,” Coach Bass said. “I’m very optimistic about the season.”

Colgate also welcomes in a talented first-year class that Coach Bass is thrilled to have come on board.

“They bring a whole new atmosphere and attitude around the game that’s going to be refreshing to the program,” Coach Bass said.

The Bass era begins November 10th at home against Niagara.

Tennis

Men’s tennis had an impressive season last year, finishing third in the Patriot League and reaching the semifinals in the Conference Tournament, where they fell to perennial favorite Army. First-year Head Coach Bobby Pennington guided the team to an 11-10 record despite a brutal early schedule that featured matches against 61st ranked Brown and 51st ranked Penn State. The team rebounded from a tough start and finished the season by winning seven out of their last eight matches, including four convincing wins over Patriot League rivals Bucknell, Lehigh, Lafayette and Holy Cross.

The team will sorely miss departed seniors Chris Innes and Marshall Wheeler, who were co-captains last year. Innes was named first team all-Patriot League while Wheeler, who posted an impressive 20-12 record, was named second team-all Patriot League. The loss of these two captains will not be easy to overcome. However, senior Tyler Deck and junior Martin MacIntyre certainly have the talent to fill the gaps left by their predecessors. They will lead a talented group of sophomores and first-year recruits who should make an immediate impact.

Women’s Tennis posted an 11-8 overall record and finished second in the Patriot League. The team was upset in the Patriot League Tournament semifinals by third-seeded Bucknell, losing the match 4-3. The team lost Jackie Couture ’07, who was named First Team All-Patriot League. However, sophomores Elise Derose and Samantha Inacker made immediate contributions last year, and both earned a place on the second-team. In addition to a stellar class of incoming first-years, these two will strive to lead the team to the top of the Patriot League.

Track and Field

Both the men’s and women’s track and field teams enjoyed very successful seasons last year, although not in similar fashion. Senior Mike Hanlon led a talented and well-rounded men’s team en route to an amazing season which ended at the NCAA Championships in Sacramento, where he competed in the 5000m run. The women’s team had a remarkable year as well, tallying up two first-year records, 14 school records and 13 ECAC qualifiers.

This track season, both teams will look to fill the spots of departed seniors and possibly move into different directions than prior years. The women’s team will feature a strong group of returning sprinters and throwers, along with a mix of talented veteran and rookie distance runners. Senior Curry Knox will be depended upon to score big for the team, as she is a threat to place in numerous events in almost any meet. The men’s track team will have to make the transition from distance to sprints this year, as the shorter distances, led by seniors Terrance and Thomas Dilworth and junior Mike Walden, will most likely be where the team grabs its most points. The men’s team also figures to grab many points in relays and middle distance races because of the talented middle distance recruits. Colgate will welcome new cross-country and track and field Assistant Coach Gabe Sanders, who will undoubtedly add to the team’s experience and chemistry.

“We are very fortunate to have had Gabe recommended to us and apply for the position of Assistant Coach,” Men’s Head Coach Art McKinnon said. “Gabe is a great fit and a great compliment to me as far as his skills and experience. So far he has been a great asset.”