Clark Basketball Squads Tip-Off 2006-07 Season
The Clark University men’s and women’s basketball teams will tip-off their respective 2006-07 seasons at road tournaments this weekend.
The Cougar men’s squad will travel to the annual Coles Classic at Buffalo State College to face the host school on Friday (8 p.m.). Fisher College (Mass.) and Point Park University (Pa.) will square off in the other first-round game at 6 p.m. The consolation game is slated for 1 p.m., while the championship match will start at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
The Clark women’s season will get underway at the Worcester City Tournament, featuring host Nichols College, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), and Worcester State College (WSC). Clark will open against Nichols on Friday (8 p.m.). WPI will face WSC in the other opening round game (6 p.m.). The consolation and championship games are at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively, on Saturday.
A new regime begins for the Clark men’s team as head coach Paul W. Phillips takes over the reigns for his ninth season and second stint. Phillips is optimistic about the team’s success despite adjustments to a new coach and a revamped system. “At this point of the season, everything is new,” said Phillips, who directed the Cougars for eight years (1996-2004) during his first term. “We’re very young, not only because we have just one senior, but because we have a brand new coach. If we come out of the tournament with a split, I’ll be happy.”
Eager to turn around the Cougars disappointing 11-15 campaign, Phillips will look for leadership from the nine returning letter-winners and immediate contributions from a few first-year players.
Clark will be led by freshmen Matt McLaughlin (Rochester, Mass.) and Reed Powell (Worcester, Mass.) from the point position. Junior guard D.J. Brinn and junior forwards Dominique Beck (9.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and Pat Ochoa lead the list of returnees. Pat Landers and Peter Normandin should also make an impact in the middle.
Buffalo State, who owns a 2-0 series advantage over the Cougars, is coming off a 13-13 season. An NAIA member of the Sunrise Conference, Fisher College posted an 11-12 mark and claimed its second straight conference title, while Point Park, from the American Mideast Conference, concluded its 2005 season at 17-8.
The Cougar women’s squad will be looking to capture their 11th straight Worcester City Tip-Off title. Last season, Clark defeated Nichols (79-58) and WPI (62-49) on the way to the crown.
Also stocked with a young squad, long-time head coach Pat Glispin feels the best way to incorporate new players into the system is trial by fire. “We don’t have a wealth of experience,” said Glispin, whose team returns to the court following a 17-9 season. “However, the only way you get experience is to get out there and play. It’s time for the younger players to take a major step forward.”
Clark returns 11 players and three starters from last year’s 17-9 team. Out with a minor injury, senior tri-captain Aushley Auclair (14.3 ppg, 8.3 rpb) will miss the opening tournament. Sophomore forward Sarah Roderigue (10.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg) is the top returning player for the Cougars, who are expected to have freshmen Jillian Camillari (Lancaster, Mass.), Ruthie Briggs (Sanford, Me.), and Shinikwa James (Bronx, N.Y.) in their line-up.
Clark will be facing a tough Nichols squad, who posted a 20-8 mark last season and return three of their four leading scorers. Worcester State, a Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) affiliate, went 15-11 last season, while NEWMAC foe WPI finished 16-10.
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Field Hockey's Kelley Named to NFHCA All-Region Team
 The accolades keep coming for Clark University’s Kaitlin Kelley. The senior goalkeeper has been named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) New England East All-Region Team. She received first-team recognition.
Kelley, a native of Guilford, Conn., is a two-time NFHCA All-Region  team selection. She also added the NFHCA senior all-star game and conference first-team honors to her resume this fall. The four-year starter finished her career ranked first in saves per game (12.38) and second in save percentage (.835) in league play. Kelley stopped 198 shots this season, including a season-high 29 saves against conference foe Wheaton College. She capped off her career with a .835 save percentage.
The Clark field hockey team concluded its season 4-12 overall and 1-7 in conference play.
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Fall Athletes Earn NEWMAC Academic All-Conference Honors
Seventeen Clark University fall athletes have been named to the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Academic All-Conference teams, it was announced on Friday.
Honorees must have met the following criteria: earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5/4.0 scale or 4.35/5.0 scale after the 2006 spring semester, achieved second-year academic status at their institution, and been a member of the varsity team for the entire season.
The Cougar men’s and women’s cross country teams combined for 10 academic all-conference selections. Allison Camp ’09 (3.79), Rebecca Dash ’09 (3.76), Emily Lescak ‘07 (3.80), Kaitlyn Sephton ’09 (3.64), and Elizabeth Waste ’07 (3.71) made up the women’s cross-country recipients, while John Frederickson ’09 (3.80), Stephen Karger ‘07 (4.11), Thomas McCarthy ’08 (3.50), Daniel Roberts ’07 (3.82), and Lee Stone ’09 (3.57) represented the cross-country men.
Clark’s women’s soccer, field hockey, and volleyball squads each earned a pair of NEWMAC academic all-conference nods. Women’s soccer players Sheri Brick ’07 and Kari Mruz ‘09 received 3.65 and 3.85 gpa’s, respectively; Kelly Sinko ’08 (3.66) and Kim Whittington ’07 (3.81) represented field hockey, while Regat Gebrebrehan (3.50) and Larissa Christenson (3.79) were named academic all-conference honorees for volleyball.
Rebecca Good ’09 (3.50) was the lone beneficiary of the academic all-conference award for women’s tennis.
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The highlights for this newsletter are provided by the
Sports Information Office
Dalya Qualls, Sports Information Director, 508-793-7164
Email: dqualls@clarku.edu
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Clark Basketball Squads Tip-Off 2006-07 Season
