IM Soccer Ceases, Basketball Begins

Soccer

The Intramural soccer season came to a close on Sunday with two dominant and thrilling performances by Theta Chi and Donkey Ranch.

In the Division-I Championship, third-seeded Theta Chi won its third game of the playoffs by stifling previously undefeated Phi Kappa Tau (Phi Tau), 1-0.

Despite a pre-game discrepancy between the two teams, the game was characterized by aggressive and strong play rather than dirty tactics.Much of the first half was highlighted by midfield play and tough defense, which allowed few shots on target.A Theta Chi goal near the end of the half gave the fraternity a small halftime edge.

Whatever hopes the Phi Tau team had going into the second half, however, were squashed by a strong Theta Chi defense.Senior goalkeeper Scott Dunberg controlled the tempo of the game in the second half and was aided by the strong right leg of senior sweeper Amer Tadmori.

Despite a number of offensive attacks by senior Phi Tau players Spencer Crandall and Ben Blake, Theta Chi’s patience and poise in the second-half proved to be the difference.

The Division-II Championship witnessed Donkey Ranch solidify itself as the strongest team in all of the intramural playoffs, knocking off second-seeded Phi Delta Theta (Phi Delt), 5-1. The team outscored its opponents by a margin of 14-1 throughout the playoffs.

Despite the final score, it was Phi Delt that came out as the dominant team in the first half.A mental breakdown in the back of the Donkey Ranch defense allowed Phi Delt to sneak the ball over the goal line to take a 1-0 lead going into the halftime break.

The second half was a different story, however.In a similar fashion to its semifinal win over the Diabeatings, Donkey Ranch exploded offensively in the second half.A combination of two Phi Delt fouls directly outside the penalty box, a hat trick by senior Brad Backenstose and a lively Donkey Ranch crowd spurred the second half rally that gave the squad its first-ever soccer championship in Colgate Intramurals.

Congratulations go out to Theta Chi and Donkey Ranch, as well as all the other intramural squads that made both the regular season and the playoffs exceptionally competitive this year.No team finished the season undefeated, and the playoffs proved exceedingly competitive as a third-seed (Theta Chi) and a fourth-seed (Donkey Ranch) won their respective tournaments.

Basketball

The end of one season usually ushers in the start of another and, fortunately for basketball fans, the end of Colgate’s intramural soccer season opened the door for intramural hoops to start on Tuesday.

League A looks to be as competitive as it has been in recent Colgate memory; no team has the talent or teamwork of last year’s Division-I Champion, Staff Infection. Two teams to watch for are those with “true” athletes: the Brothers, led at the point by former Colgate point guard and current assistant men’s basketball coach Jeremy Ballard ’03, and Just Four Fit, comprising some former Colgate football players.

While Donkey Ranch looks to capitalize on its recent intramural success in League B, intramural regulars Phi Delt and the LNA Pound R’s could make some noise in the league. However, the team to watch this season may be last year’s Division-II Champion, the Great Colgate Ballers, who have the experience of an intramural season under their belts this year.

League C is perhaps the biggest toss-up in intramural basketball; none of the teams have showed much of anything in previous basketball seasons.The first-year-laden $11.49 is coming off a Four-On-Four Flag Football Championship, but teams like the intramural-stronghold Diabeatings and a staff-led Old School squad could pull out the League C title.

The Yo Mets see themselves dropped down to League D this season, but even this decrease in competition level might not be enough for the Metropolitans to win the league over teams like Jason and the Spartans.

Club Basketball looks to have the best chance at winning the Women’s IM title, trying to avenge for a loss to the Women’s Soccer team last year.However, with the soccer season now complete, look for a late-entry Women’s Soccer team to take its second consecutive basketball crown.