Mighty Oaks Weekly Sports Recap

10/17/2016

The ESF bass fishing team traveled to Lake Champlain for the New York State Bass Fishing Federation Collegiate Cup Oct. 9 and came home with a big win.

The team hadn't fished in Lake Champlain previously and with the lake almost four feet lower than usual because of a lack of rain, nobody knew what to expect. The squad consisting of anglers Ethan Hall and Ray Bentz overcame a couple of boat issues to reel in a first-place finish for ESF, hauling in a combined 14.65 pounds of bass. The win automatically qualifies Bentz and Ray for an all-expense paid trip to the Cabela's U.S. Collegiate Cup Championship in Pickwick Lake, Alabama, May 25-26, 2017. The other half of the Mighty Oaks team, anglers Caleb Konrad and Lukas Matt finished in fourth place overall with a combined haul of 11.55 pounds. The tournament featured 16 teams from eight colleges.

Men's golf
The men's golf team finished in eighth place at the USCAA Golf National Championships held on the Penn State Blue course Oct. 9-11. The top 10 finish (out of 18 teams) for the Mighty Oaks was a school record for best overall finish. Bluefield State College of West Virginia won the national championship.

Junior Sean Barron was the Mighty Oaks' top individual finisher with a seventh-place overall finish and a two-day combined score of 154 (79, 75). Barron's two-day total of 154 is the lowest combined score total at the USCAA nationals by any ESF player, surpassing the previous low by one stroke (155 in 2010 by Brendan Beeke).

Barron's seventh-place finish automatically qualified him for the USCAA All-American First Team. Other top finishers for the Mighty Oaks were sophomore William Hoffman (39th, 81, 86), senior Brian Walsh (43rd, 85, 83) and freshman Colin Sabitus (57th, 86, 87). More than 100 golfers played in the tournament.

Three Mighty Oaks were named to the USCAA All-Academic Team— senior Greg Manzoni, sophomore Kory Whittum and sophomore Connor McCormack.

"I am proud of this team. We were competitive at every invitational and tournament we participated in this year. It was fun coaching such a talented group of golfers," said Head Coach John Turbeville.

Women's soccer
The ESF women's soccer team went 2-0 this week but needed overtime in both games to secure the wins. In the first game, the women traveled to Alfred, New York, to face the Pioneers of Alfred State. The game went scoreless in regulation. A goal by junior Anna Bishop off a cross from senior Heather Carl at the 96th minute, duirng overtime, claimed the win for ESF. Keeper Kiki Hilmer made six saves for the Mighty Oaks as they outshot the Pioneers 23-13.

The following day, the Mighty Oaks faced off against the Bobcats of Bryant and Stratton - Syracuse. The Bobcats are a much-improved team, coming into the game with an 8-3-1 overall record. Both teams went scoreless in the first half of play. Junior Lauren Archer opened up scoring for the Mighty Oaks in the 49th minute, during of the second half. The Bobcats equalized the score with a goal by sophomore Portia Davis at the 76th minute. In overtime, junior Shannon Gordinier found the back of the net at the 98th minute winning the game for ESF.

The win gives the women a 10-2-1 overall record as they finish up the regular season. They travel next to Albany, where they will face the King's College in the opening round of the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament Oct. 22-23.

Men's soccer
The ESF men's soccer team went 1-1 in its final week of regular season play. The team went on the road and came away with a hard-fought 3-0 win over Alfred State. Senior Joe Marino scored first for ESF with a shot to the top right corner at the 14th minute of the first half. Senior Zack Reda was credited with the assist. Senior Jorge Guarin put ESF up 2-0 with a goal six minutes later.

In the second half, Junior Geoff Golick put ESF up 3-0 with a goal at the 78th minute. Sophomore keeper Matt Hoppe had six saves in the shutout.

The following day, the Mighty Oaks faced number three-ranked USCAA power house Bryant and Stratton - Syracuse. The Bobcats got to business right away when freshman forward Alex Pompo scored only three minutes into the game. ESF senior Owen Hennigan tied up the game with a goal at the ninth minute. The Bobcats continued to score in spurts, netting goals in the 14th, 15th, 29th, 35th and 36th minutes of the first half. At half time, the Bobcats led 6-1. The Mighty Oaks held the Bobcats scoreless in the second half but fell 6-1.

The men's soccer team finishes its regular season with a 8-4-1 overall record, 5-3 in HVIAC conference play. The men's squad will travel to Albany for the HVIAC conference tournament Oct. 22-23.