Friday, October 14, 2011

Men's Soccer Drops 4th Straight, 2-1 at Brandeis

BOSTON -- Kyle Feather's goal early in the second half proved to be the difference as host Brandeis University defeated the University of Chicago 2-1 in University Athletic Association men's soccer action Friday afternoon.

With their fourth straight loss, the Maroons fell to 5-5-2 overall, 0-3 in UAA play. Brandeis improved to 8-3-1 overall, 1-1-1 in league action.

With the match even at 1-1 in the 57th minute, Brandeis' Ben Applefield dribbled along the left side and centered the ball to Feather, who found the back of the net for his fifth goal of the year.

Sam Ocel gave the Judges the lead just 3:32 into the contest on a shot into the far left corner. Steve Keuchkarian was credited with the assist.

Chicago got on the board in the 21st minute when freshman midfielder Nick Codispoti (Rockville Centre, N.Y./ Chaminade) (pictured) sent a cross to senior midfielder Alan Pikna (Wauwatosa, Wis./ West), who finished for his fourth goal of the season.

The Maroons outshot Brandeis 14-8, including an 8-2 margin in the second half. Blake Minchoff collected four saves for the Judges, while Chicago freshman Elek Lane (Eau Claire, Wis./ Memorial) stopped three shots.

Chicago plays the second half of its UAA weekend doubleheader Sunday at New York University. Sunday's match will mark the Maroons' final road appearance of the year.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Maroons Recognized for Academic Accomplishments

CHICAGO -- Six members of the 2011 University of Chicago softball team have been named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American Scholar Athlete Team.

Representing the Maroons were class of 2011 infielder Natalie Povilonis (Naperville, Ill./ Waubonsie Valley); class of 2012 first baseman Liz Payonk (Palos Heights, Ill./ Stagg); class of 2013 pitcher Melissa Collins (Green Bay, Wis./ Ashwaubenon) and outfielder Stazi Tangherlini (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y./ The Masters School); and class of 2014 outfielders Kaitlyn Carpenter (Des Moines, Iowa/ East) and Julia Covello (Mill Creek, Wash./ Jackson).

All-America Scholar Athlete designation is awarded to players who achieved a 3.50 grade point average or higher during the 2010-11 academic year.

In addition to the individual accolades, Chicago garnered All-Academic Team honors as the Maroons' 15 players compiled a composite grade point average of 3.38 -- the 28th-highest GPA among 398 NCAA Division III squads.

With a 23-11 record last spring, Chicago notched its eighth 20-victory campaign in 12 years under Head Coach Ruth Kmak.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Jeff Sauer Named to D3football.com Team of the Week

CHICAGO -- University of Chicago junior punter Jeff Sauer (Saddle River, N.J./ Northern Highlands) has been named to this week's D3football.com Team of the Week.

In the Maroons' 38-23 victory over Denison University this past Saturday, Sauer averaged 50.2 yards on four punts which he placed at the Denison 1-, 2-, 7-, and 10-yard lines.

Sauer ranks 11th in the NCAA Division III with a 41.4-yard punting average through six games this season.

Sauer made his first career appearance on the D3football.com Team of the Week, which recognizes the top Division III performers at each position during the previous week's action.

Taylor Simpson Named Preseason Player of the Year; Maroons Ranked #2 Nationally

Oct. 11, 2011 - Women's Basketball
Taylor Simpson Named Preseason Player of the Year;
Maroons Ranked #2 Nationally



CHICAGO -- Women's Division III News has tabbed University of Chicago senior forward Taylor Simpson (Lee's Summit, Mo./ Lee's Summit) as its Preseason Player of the Year and ranked the Maroons #2 in its 2011-12 NCAA Division III preview edition.

Last season, Simpson earned inclusion on three All-America Teams -- Women's Basketball Coaches Association (first team), Women's Division III News (second team), and D3hoops.com (third team) -- as she helped lead the Maroons to the University Athletic Association championship and their first trip to the Division III Elite Eight.

The 2010-11 UAA Player of the Year, Simpson averaged 14.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game while shooting 55.6% from the field and 78.6% from the free throw line. She scored double figures in 23 of 29 contests, grabbed double digit rebounds on 16 occasions, and notched 13 double-doubles.

Senior guard Meghan Herrick (Cedarburg, Wis./ Cedarburg) joined Simpson on the preseason All-America Team as an honorable mention pick.

Herrick was a Women's Division III News honorable mention All-American last winter after she averaged 14.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game with a school-record 146 free throws made. She was the Maroons' leading scorer in NCAA tournament play with 19.5 points per contest.

Chicago captured the #2 spot in the Women's Division III News preseason poll, finishing behind defending national champion, Amherst College.

Head Coach Aaron Roussell's team returns all five starters from last year's national quarterfinalist squad, which won its final 18 regular season games and finished the campaign with a 25-4 record.

Chicago tips off its 2011-12 season at home Nov. 18 against Fontbonne University.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Three Maroons Earn UAA Weekly Honors

CHICAGO -- University of Chicago junior volleyball player Caroline Brander (River Forest, Ill./ Trinity) and junior football players Dee Brizzolara (Aurora, Ohio/ Aurora) and Jeff Sauer (Saddle River, N.J./ Northern Highlands) have been selected as this week's University Athletic Association Athletes of the Week.

Brander (pictured) hit at a .571 clip as the Maroons defeated Concordia University Chicago and Wheaton (Ill.) College on the road. She collected 22 kills in 35 attempts with just two errors in addition to recording five blocks in six sets.

A first-time UAA Athlete of the Week honoree, Brander leads the 20-2 Maroons with a .345 attack percentage and ranks second on the team with 59 blocks.

Brizzolara scored three touchdowns on five touches in Chicago’s 38-23 win over Denison University. He scored on a 53-yard completion on the first play from scrimmage, a 39-yard punt return midway through the second quarter, and a 24-yard catch later in the second quarter.

Brizzolara's second touchdown reception was the 31st of his career -- the most during Chicago's modern football era (since 1969). It also tied him for the most career total touchdowns (35) in school modern era history.

Brizzolara, who leads the 4-2 Maroons with 920 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns, claimed his second UAA weekly citation of the season and the seventh of his career.

En route to earning his first UAA award of the year and fourth of his career, Sauer averaged 50.2 yards on four punts, which he placed at the Denison 1-, 2-, 7-, and 10-yard lines. He was also successful on all five extra-point attempts and his lone field try of 39 yards.

On the season, Sauer sports a 41.4-yard punting average and an 18-for-19 success rate on PAT attempts.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Women's Soccer Falls 1-0 at Carnegie Mellon

PITTSBURGH -- Carnegie Mellon University's Savina Reid scored the game's only goal late in the first half as the host Tartans defeated the 19th-ranked University of Chicago women's soccer team 1-0 in University Athletic Association play Sunday.

In the 30th minute, Jordy Greenberg played the ball to Reid, whose shot from 10 yards away found the near corner of the Chicago net. The goal was Reid's third of the year.

Carnegie Mellon (7-4 overall, 1-1 UAA) outshot the Maroons 14-11 on the day. Five of Chicago's 11 shots came in the game's final six minutes.

Tartan netminder Anna Albi made six saves, while senior goalkeeper Emma Gormley (Carmel, Ind./ Carmel) stopped five shots.

The Maroons (6-4-1, 0-1-1) travel to Boston Friday to take on UAA rival Brandeis University.

Men's Soccer Falls to Carnegie Mellon in Double O.T.

PITTSBURGH -- Scott Gerfen's goal 10 seconds into the second overtime period lifted host Carnegie Mellon University to a 3-2 win over the University of Chicago Sunday in University Athletic Association men's soccer action.

After collecting a ball that was played back to the outside at the onset of the fourth period, Gerfen moved up the right side and fired a shot inside the far post for the game-winner.

Chicago (5-4-2 overall, 0-2 UAA) held a 2-1 lead until the 87th minute when Chris Wysocki headed in a ball off a corner kick to force overtime.

Carnegie Mellon (5-4-1, 1-1) scored the game's first goal in the 59th minute. Following a deflected free kick, Mike Ferraco propelled a ball off his chest into the Chicago net from six yards away.

The Maroons scored twice during a five-minute stretch late in the second half, first on an own goal in the 71st minute.

In the 76th minute, sophomore Sawyer Kisken's (Fairbanks, Alaska/ West Valley) (pictured) shot was deflected by a Tartan defender and rolled to senior Stanton Coville (Powell, Ohio/ Olentangy Liberty), who sent the ball into the open net for his fifth goal of the season.

Chicago, which was outshot 15-8, suffered its third straight loss, all one-goal decisions.

The Maroons travel to Boston Friday to take on UAA rival Brandeis University.