Thursday, August 27, 2009
Preseason UAA soccer rankings released
Men's and women's preseason rankings for the University Athletic Association were released today and both Brandeis teams are found near--or in the men's case--at the bottom of the list.
The head soccer coaches from all 8 UAA schools vote to determine these preseason rankings. The Lady Judges are ranked 6th out of 8 teams, while the men's squad is ranked last. The University of Chicago is favored to win the UAA on the women's side and the University of Rochester is the favorite for the men.
Women's rankings: Chicago, Washington, Rochester, Emory, NYU, BRANDEIS, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western Reserve
Men's rankings: Rochester, Carnegie Mellon, Emory, Washington, Case Western Reserve, NYU, Chicago, BRANDEIS
Here are the Brandeis "team capsules" included in the preseason rankings:
Women
The Brandeis women's soccer team is coming off back-to-back ECAC New England titles, and now the Judges are looking to take the next step. Head coach Denise Dallamora, in her 30th season on the sidelines, loses just two starters from a squad that finished 13-7-2 overall, 3-3-1 in the UAA, good for fourth-place. Brandeis will be led by senior forward Melissa Gorenkoff, a two-time second team All-Association selection. She led the UAA with nine assists, was third with 25 points, and tied for sixth with eight goals in 2008. Gorenkoff enters her senior campaign 10th on the University's all-time scoring list and third in career assists. Teammate and All-UAA honorable mention Tiffany Pacheco also landed on the 2008 UAA scoring leader-board with eight goals (tied for 6th) and 20 points (8th). Fourteen different players scored goals for the Judges last season, so the team expects more balanced scoring in 2009. The Brandeis defense, which recorded a shutout in 11 of its 22 contests, will be anchored by All-UAA honorable mentions Taryn Martiniello, a junior, and Francesca Shin, a sophomore. Senior goalkeeper Hillary Rosenzweig ranked third in the Association in saves and save percentage and tied for the UAA lead with nine shutouts. The Judges open the 2009 season on Sept. 1 against MIT at home at 7 p.m.
Men
The Brandeis men's soccer team is looking to have a breakout season in 2009 after two seasons that have found them just missing out on tournament play. There will be some big shoes to fill with the departure of talented seniors, Ben Premo, and Kevin Murphy. Premo, a two time All UAA and All-New England performer, left Brandeis as the fifth leading scorer in program history and Murphy was a solid 4 year starter. Mike Coven will look to a diverse blend of returning players and freshmen as he builds his team for the upcoming year. A very talented group of freshmen should push the eight returning starters and 19 returning letterwinners for playing time both in the starting lineup and minutes off the bench. The team will be led by senior captains Corey Bradley and Adam Guttman, who will add some much needed leadership to a team that will count 18 underclassmen on its roster.
information used in this post, including both team's "capsules" came directly from the men's and women's UAA preseason rankings press release
The head soccer coaches from all 8 UAA schools vote to determine these preseason rankings. The Lady Judges are ranked 6th out of 8 teams, while the men's squad is ranked last. The University of Chicago is favored to win the UAA on the women's side and the University of Rochester is the favorite for the men.
Women's rankings: Chicago, Washington, Rochester, Emory, NYU, BRANDEIS, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western Reserve
Men's rankings: Rochester, Carnegie Mellon, Emory, Washington, Case Western Reserve, NYU, Chicago, BRANDEIS
Here are the Brandeis "team capsules" included in the preseason rankings:
Women
The Brandeis women's soccer team is coming off back-to-back ECAC New England titles, and now the Judges are looking to take the next step. Head coach Denise Dallamora, in her 30th season on the sidelines, loses just two starters from a squad that finished 13-7-2 overall, 3-3-1 in the UAA, good for fourth-place. Brandeis will be led by senior forward Melissa Gorenkoff, a two-time second team All-Association selection. She led the UAA with nine assists, was third with 25 points, and tied for sixth with eight goals in 2008. Gorenkoff enters her senior campaign 10th on the University's all-time scoring list and third in career assists. Teammate and All-UAA honorable mention Tiffany Pacheco also landed on the 2008 UAA scoring leader-board with eight goals (tied for 6th) and 20 points (8th). Fourteen different players scored goals for the Judges last season, so the team expects more balanced scoring in 2009. The Brandeis defense, which recorded a shutout in 11 of its 22 contests, will be anchored by All-UAA honorable mentions Taryn Martiniello, a junior, and Francesca Shin, a sophomore. Senior goalkeeper Hillary Rosenzweig ranked third in the Association in saves and save percentage and tied for the UAA lead with nine shutouts. The Judges open the 2009 season on Sept. 1 against MIT at home at 7 p.m.
Men
The Brandeis men's soccer team is looking to have a breakout season in 2009 after two seasons that have found them just missing out on tournament play. There will be some big shoes to fill with the departure of talented seniors, Ben Premo, and Kevin Murphy. Premo, a two time All UAA and All-New England performer, left Brandeis as the fifth leading scorer in program history and Murphy was a solid 4 year starter. Mike Coven will look to a diverse blend of returning players and freshmen as he builds his team for the upcoming year. A very talented group of freshmen should push the eight returning starters and 19 returning letterwinners for playing time both in the starting lineup and minutes off the bench. The team will be led by senior captains Corey Bradley and Adam Guttman, who will add some much needed leadership to a team that will count 18 underclassmen on its roster.
information used in this post, including both team's "capsules" came directly from the men's and women's UAA preseason rankings press release
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Figueroa Makes Return to Big Leagues
Brandeis Alum and former WBRS DJ Nelson Figueroa was re-called from Triple-A Buffalo to make a spot start for the New York Mets on August 3 vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Before the game, WBRS' Adam Rosen caught up with Mets catcher Omir Santos, who caught Figueroa in his only other start (6 innings, 3 earned runs against the Milwaukee Brewers back on April 19) with the team this season:
Interview with Omir Santos
Though he struggled against Arizona in a game the Mets would lose by a 6-5 count, Figueroa, who has been resilient his entire baseball career, rebounded nicely. Just two days later, Figueroa was called upon out of the bullpen in the second inning to replace injured Mets pitcher Jon Niese. Figueroa tossed 4.1 scoreless innings against a powerful St. Louis Cardinals offense. He gave up 4 hits, walked none, and struck out 5, all while picking up his first victory of the 2009 season in a 9-0 Mets win. Not known for his bat, Figueroa also slugged a two-run triple against Cardinals' pitcher Kyle Lohse, the first triple of his Major League career.
Figueroa would later make a relief appearance on August 8, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings against the San Diego Padres while striking out 4 batters.
Prior to being called up by the Mets, Figueroa had been dominating in the minor leagues. Here are some of the highlights from his season at Triple-A Buffalo:
--> 2.25 ERA in 17 games started. 112 innings pitched, 92 hits allowed, 24 walks, 94 strikeouts
--> 7-1 with a 1.51 ERA in his last 10 starts for Buffalo
--> 2-time International League Pitcher of the Week
--> Threw a scoreless inning in AAA All-Star Game
Photograph courtesy of Drew Kleppe
Before the game, WBRS' Adam Rosen caught up with Mets catcher Omir Santos, who caught Figueroa in his only other start (6 innings, 3 earned runs against the Milwaukee Brewers back on April 19) with the team this season:
Interview with Omir Santos
Though he struggled against Arizona in a game the Mets would lose by a 6-5 count, Figueroa, who has been resilient his entire baseball career, rebounded nicely. Just two days later, Figueroa was called upon out of the bullpen in the second inning to replace injured Mets pitcher Jon Niese. Figueroa tossed 4.1 scoreless innings against a powerful St. Louis Cardinals offense. He gave up 4 hits, walked none, and struck out 5, all while picking up his first victory of the 2009 season in a 9-0 Mets win. Not known for his bat, Figueroa also slugged a two-run triple against Cardinals' pitcher Kyle Lohse, the first triple of his Major League career.
Figueroa would later make a relief appearance on August 8, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings against the San Diego Padres while striking out 4 batters.
Prior to being called up by the Mets, Figueroa had been dominating in the minor leagues. Here are some of the highlights from his season at Triple-A Buffalo:
--> 2.25 ERA in 17 games started. 112 innings pitched, 92 hits allowed, 24 walks, 94 strikeouts
--> 7-1 with a 1.51 ERA in his last 10 starts for Buffalo
--> 2-time International League Pitcher of the Week
--> Threw a scoreless inning in AAA All-Star Game
Photograph courtesy of Drew Kleppe
