By: Draven Dabrowski
Sports Columnist
As October came to an end, the university faced challenges in competition, while the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams delivered several standout performances.
The women’s soccer team saw its NE10 Conference tournament run come to an early end on Sunday, November 1, after falling 5-3 in a penalty shootout against Bentley University following a 1-1 tie through double overtime.
Forward Frida Norret, a sophomore, wasted little time putting the Owls ahead, scoring just 36 seconds into the match. The unassisted goal was her seventh of the season and first of her postseason career.
Despite surrendering the equalizer less than two minutes later, the Owls defense held firm throughout the remainder of regulation and both overtime periods.
Goalkeeper Makenzi Pastreck, a sophomore, recorded four saves, including three in the second half, to keep her team in contention.
Norret, defense Saga Möttönen, a freshman, and defense Ryleigh Phillips, a sophomore, converted their penalty attempts, but the team was eliminated after Bentley converted all five of its attempts. The Owls finished the match with a 7-5-6 record.
Back in New Haven, the Owl’s field hockey team suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against Southern New Hampshire University at Jess Dow Field.
Goalkeeper Lyndsay Troisi, a junior, made eight saves, while defender Sofia Frassinelli, a junior, contributed a crucial defensive save during the opening quarter to prevent an additional goal.
Despite facing consistent offensive pressure, the defense improved as the game progressed, allowing just four shots in the second half after facing 10 in the opening two quarters.
The Owls generated three shots on goal but were able to come away with the win. The loss dropped the university to 7-10 overall and 3-5 in conference play.
The university’s football team also struggled at Jess Dow Field, falling 48-14 to Franklin Pierce University in an NE10 conference game.
The Owls opened the game with an impressive 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, capped by a one-yard rushing score from quarterback Mike Kinik, a senior.
However, the Owls were unable to maintain their early momentum, allowing 48 unanswered points before finding the end zone again in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Brandon Jorgensen, a graduate, completed 15 of 23 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown, connecting with tight end Isaac Lynch, a freshman, on a one-yard scoring pass.
Lynch finished with five receptions for 34 yards, while wide receiver AJ Robinson, a senior, added four catches for 44 yards.
Defensively, linebacker Jeremiah Covington-Griggs, a senior, and defensive lineman Peter Dempsey, a senior, led the team with seven tackles apiece. The Owls dropped to 4-4 overall and 2-3 in conference play.
Meanwhile, the university’s swimming and diving programs provided several bright spots during a tri-meet at Hutchinson Natatorium on Friday, October 30.
The men’s swimming and diving team closed its competition with a victory in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
The quartet of Daniel Lazar, a sophomore, Richie Hall, a junior, Travis Scott, a senior, and Alexander Kim, a junior, finished first with a time of 3:13.93.
Luke Newcomb, a freshman, added two runner-up finishes in the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke events. Christian Garcia, a freshman, also placed second in the 200-yard butterfly.
On the women’s side, the Owls finished third overall against two Division I programs, highlighted by two individual victories.
Ellyn Baker, a sophomore, captured first place in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:25.68. She also finished second in the 100-yard breaststroke.
Molly Kennedy, a senior, won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:55.44 while adding a second-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle and third in the 100-yard butterfly.
While the week did not end the way the Owls had hoped, the university will look ahead to another busy week of athletics. Football will stay home to face Pace University on senior day, while volleyball, field hockey and both men’s and women’s cross country prepare for their upcoming competitions.
