Patriot League in the Pros
Last night, former Bucknell standout Matt Daley earned his first major league victory for the Colorado Rockies. Daley pitched 1.1 innings and retired four of the five batters he faced, and got the win when Seth Smith hit a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the ninth to lift Colorado past Cincinnati, 4-3. Daley is just the second Patriot League alum to play in the majors, along with former Bison Eric Junge. It is the first win for a former Patriot Leaguer since Junge won a pair of games in 2002 with the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Rockies also moved to a four-game lead in the wildcard race and just 2.5 behind the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, so Patriot League followers have a good chance to be able to support one of their own in this year’s MLB playoffs.
While the baseball season winds down, the NFL campaign kicks off tonight. And again, League followers will have a chance to root for a former PL star. Blake Costanzo, a standout linebacker at Lafayette who earned All-Patriot League honors in 2004 and 2005, enters his third season on an active roster and first with the Cleveland Browns. Costanzo played the past two seasons with the Buffalo Bills, including all 16games in 2008. He has 21 tackles in 19 career contests. The Browns open at home against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. The Bills could still provide an opportunity to another Patriot League graduate, as former Colgate offensive lineman Nick Hennessey starts the year on the team’s practice squad. Hennessey received consensus All-America recognition while helping the Raiders to the 2008 Patriot League title.
No Patriot League sport produces more pro athletes than lacrosse, and that remains true this year. Kevin Colleluori and Brandon Corp, who both ended their careers at Colgate this past season, were each selected in the 2009 National Lacrosse League Entry on Wednesday. Colleluori was picked in the fourth round by the Minnesota Swarm, while Corp went in the sixth round to the Rochester Knighthawks. The NLL begins its 2010 season on January 8. Corp, Chris Eck (Colgate) and Adam Fullerton (Army) all competed in this summer’s Major Lacrosse League season, with Eck named the Most Improved Player of the Year in the league.
Follow all of the former Patriot Leaguers in the pros. And as you watch Patriot League games, remember it can be “Today’s Patriot League stars, tomorrow’s pro stars” for any of the student-athletes.
Patriot League Football: Saturday Night Update
Earlier in the day, Holy Cross beat Georgetown, 20-7, in the Patriot League opener. Lehigh lost at home against Central Connecticut State, 28-21, while Fordham fell at Rhode Island, 41-28.
Colgate used a familiar formula to win its ninth-consecutive regular-season contest. Sophomore running back Nate Eachus carried 20 times for 139 yards and three touchdowns, and has already passed the 1,000-yard mark in his young career (so how long will former teammate Jordan Scott hold the PL all-time rushing mark?). Greg Sullivan and Pat Simonds also hooked up for a pair of touchdown strikes, and the Raiders put together their trademark strong second half. For a team that has started slow even in successful seasons under Head Coach Dick Biddle, this was a quality win and a good performance against a solid program.
Bucknell never led in its game at Duquesne, though the Bison stayed in touch most of the way. They trailed just 17-13 at the half, and cut it to 24-19 in the final minute before an unsuccessful onside kick essentially ended things. The Bison got a strong game on the ground from sophomore C.J. Hopson, who rushed for a career-high 136 yards.
For more on all of Saturday’s action, visit www.patriotleague.org for a full recap and updated standings tonight, and the first set of cumulative statistics later in the weekend.
Patriot League Football: Saturday Afternoon Update
Lehigh and Fordham each fell in non-League action, with the Mountain Hawks losing at home to Central Connecticut State, 28-21, and the Rams dropping a 41-28 contest at Rhode Island.
Holy Cross trailed, 7-6, entering the fourth quarter, but Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year Dominic Randolph led the Crusaders back. He threw an 18-yard TD pass to Paul Niesen just 39 seconds into the fourth quarter, and gave Holy Cross some breathing room with a seven-yard TD strike to Bill Edger later in the period.
Randolph broke or tied five Patriot League career records, and now has the lead in eight different categories in the League career record book. He went 36-for-56 for 414 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Randolph took over as the Patriot League all-time leader in passing yardage (10,093), becoming the first Patriot Leaguer to crack the 10,000-yard barrier. He also became the all-time PL leader in total offense (10,415). He tied the mark for most career 400-yard passing games (6), and now holds sole possession of the record for most games with 400 yards or more of total offense (7). He also tied the record for most touchdowns responsible for (94). Randolph extended his League records for completions, passing touchdowns and 300-yard passing games.
Great game by Randolph, and a big win by Holy Cross. But also a very encouraging performance by the Hoyas. Georgetown held a team that averaged 34 ppg a season ago to just two field goals through the first three quarters, and was in it all the way against the League favorite and top 25 opponent. Could be a sign of good things to come in D.C.
Unfortunately, the early non-League results did not go as hoped. Lehigh allowed more than 40 minutes in time of possession to Central Connecticut State, and could not get on the board in the fourth quarter to answer in a back-and-forth game. The Mountain Hawks never led, but never trailed by more than a touchdown as they answered the first three CCSU scores. Lehigh QB J.B. Clark had a tough day, going 7-for-29 for 122 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Fordham scored the final three touchdowns against Rhode Island, but it was too late after giving up the first 34 points of the contest and trailing, 41-7, early in the second half. John Skelton threw for a touchdown and ran for two more, but it came too late as the Rams opened the season with a loss.
Two more games are on tap tonight, with Colgate hosting Monmouth and Bucknell at Duquesne. Both contests kick off at 6 p.m.
Soccer Kick-Off
Navy has already won four games (in four tries). Lehigh has knocked off a Big XII team (Nebraska) and almost upset an ACC foe (Virginia Tech). Holy Cross is undefeated after easily handling UMass. After just one full weekend of play, only two teams are winless, and one of those (Lafayette) has yet to play a game thanks to that pesky Tropical Depression Danny.
The Leopards will get their first crack at victory tonight, when they host LaSalle. Lafayette is the only women’s team in action tonight, but there is a full slate of men’s games on the schedule. It is the first day of action for Patriot League men’s squads.
Like their female counterparts, the Lehigh men’s squad will open the season against a major-conference power. The Mountain Hawks will host Stanford tonight at the Ulrich Sports Complex. Also at home today are Colgate (4:00 vs. Long Island), Army (7:00 vs. NJIT), and Bucknell (7:00 vs. LaSalle).
The only Patriot League men’s soccer squad on the road this evening will be Lafayette. The Leopards will make the short drive to Philadelphia to battle LaSalle, so whether you are in Easton or Philadelphia, you have a chance to see a Leopards/Explorers match-up on the soccer pitch.
It is a big night for Patriot League soccer, but hopefully it is just the start of big things for PL teams this season.
AC Milan – A Club Currently in Crisis !
If last night’s results and performances in the Audi Cup ( which they lost 4-1 to Bayern Munich ) is anything to go by , then AC Milan will surely find the going ahead of them even tougher when the new Italian Serie A Season kicks off end of next month . Following their latest defeat last night , this is already the club’s fourth straight defeat in their Pre – Season Friendly Matches after earlier defeats to EPL powerhouse Chelsea , Milan city rival – Inter Milan and Club America in the US .
Together with their 4 -1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Audi Cup Semi Final Match last night , and earlier losses to Chelsea ( 2 -1 ) , Inter Milan ( 2 – 0 ) and Club America ( 2 -1 ) in their Pre – Season Tour of the US in the World Football Challenge Tournament , it seems that the depatures of Brazillian striker Kaka ( to Real Madrid ) , coach Carlos Ancoletti ( to Chelsea ) & David Beckham ( to LA Galaxy ) after his loan spell with the club ended last Season has certainly hit the club really hard !
Relying very much on the two Brazillians – Ronaldinho and even Pato to fill the void left by the mega stars , it seems that all the goings of the club has put a very deep impact on the club and it seems that the club is already facing a ‘ mini crisis ‘ even before the New Italian Serie A Season has even started ! The performances of the club in their Pre – Season Friendlies has certainly got everyone in the club – from the manager to the players as well as the fans worrying indeed !
Now with their latest defeat to Bayern Munich last night where they conceded two late goals in very quick succession in the last two minutes of play , resulting in an eventual embarrassing 4 -1 defeat to the hosts , the only consolation for the club now , perhaps at this moment , where the morale of the players and the team is at a real low is to win Tonight’s Third Place Playoff Match against Argentine club Boca Juniors ! But it is easier said than done .
A victory Tonight , may not necessary have landed themselves the prestigious Audi Cup Throphy for their efforts , but will surely be a welcome consolation for the whole team as a postive result after a series of setbacks , losses and defeats will definitely go a very long way to lifting the sprits of the whole team and the players’ morale . Hopefully , this will prove to be indeed a real turning point for the better in the club’s fortunes as the club enters the most crucial period of Pre – Season preparations with the new Italian Serie A League Season just exactly a month away . Another defeat however , and the consequences will be seriously unthinkable and would surely bring about really dire repercussions to the club as a whole !
* Catch AC Milan vs Boca Juniors in the Audi Cup 2009 Third Placing Playoff Match TONIGHT LIVE & EXCLUSIVE On Indonesian RCTI Channel at 12.30am ( Singapore Time ) . *
