2014 Sochi Olympic Games come to an end
Sochi 2014 came to an end on Sunday, February 23. With security threats in Sochi and a tense Russian political climate, uncertainty surrounded this Olympics. Nevertheless, the Sochi Games delivered all the expected spectacles, from the “oddities” of the Winter Games, like Jamaica’s bobsled team, to a healthy dose of Olympic spirit and sportsmanship, like Swiss Dario Cologna’s 30 minute wait at the 15km cross-country finish line to greet the injured last-place finisher.
SPORTS SHORT
Benjamin Lin ‘17 and Giulio R. Gueltrini ‘16 were selected for the NFC Men’s All-Star Team this year, while Cordelia G. Avery ‘17 and Jessica Li ‘17 were tabbed as All-Stars for the women’s team. Lin and Avery were both placed on the Sabre First Team, while Gueltrini and Li received second team honors in Epee and Foil, respectively. Lin completed two NFC competitions with the best record in the league, compiling 27 wins against 3 losses, while Gueltrini finished with a mark of 17-6. On the women’s side, Avery has a 26-5 record this season, with a 17-1 performance in NFC competition, while Li earned a 29-5 record on the year. The selection is a first for all four fencers, and they hope to see their success continue as MIT attempts to reach the postseason at the New England Championship on February 22nd.
MIT men’s, women’s track and field teams move up rankings
Already in its fourth week, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) poll released on Wednesday afternoon revealed that both the MIT men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams have moved up in the rankings. Tech’s men, who were ninth last week, are now fourth, while the women’s squad moved up from third to second.
Women’s basketball team wins in tight match
Clark University generated 10 unanswered points during the final two minutes of regulation to claim a one-point lead, but a three-point play by MIT’s Mari R. Kordell ‘15 with 24.3 seconds on the clock and another free throw by the point guard with 0.7 ticks left helped the Engineers capture a 61-58 NEWMAC women’s basketball victory on Saturday, February 15. Kordell led all players with 21 points and added two steals for MIT, which improved to 10-13 on the year and 7-11 in conference play. Ashleigh Condon paced the Cougars (9-14, 6-12 NEWMAC) with 15 points to go along with a game-high five steals and three assists.
Men’s volleyball wins in weekend matches at WIT
In a back-and-forth battle, the nationally-ranked No. 11 MIT men’s volleyball team emerged with a 22-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-21, 15-10 victory over host Wentworth Institute of Technology on Saturday, February 15. Later on in the tri-match, the Engineers (9-2) swept City College of New York, 25-8, 25-14, 25-20.
MIT women’s basketball team works with Athletes Unlimited
It was not a typical Wednesday night for the MIT women’s basketball team, who participated in an event complete with dance parties on the sidelines with opposing players. The team took advantage of its bye from NEWMAC action to train with the Pointsetters of Athletes Unlimited in neighboring Newton.
Women’s basketball loses match to Smith College
MIT held leads early in the second half, but Smith College edged back ahead midway through the final 20 minutes and went on to take a 65-54 decision in a New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women’s basketball game on Feb. 8. Sabrina M. Drammis ‘16 led the Engineers with 16 points and nine rebounds.
Men’s basketball snaps two-game losing streak
MIT snapped a two-game losing streak on Feb. 8 as the Engineers took a defensive-minded game at the U.S Coast Guard Academy, 45-37, in a New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men’s basketball contest. In a game that saw the two teams combine to shoot 28 percent, MIT saw three of its players score 10 points each, including Matthew M. Redfield ‘15 who also added five blocked shots for the Engineers.
Men’s volleyball ends weekend on a winning note
Serving as host for the first United Volleyball Conference (UVC) Crossover Tournament of the season, the MIT men’s volleyball team emerged with a 2-1 ledger at the conclusion of the two-day affair. The nationally-ranked No. 13 Engineers (6-2, 3-1 UVC) opened up action with a 19-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 15-13 victory over No. 7 Elmira College but then fell to No. 6 Nazareth College, 25-23, 25-22, 25-13. MIT bounced back by blanking D’Youville College, 25-17, 25-12, 25-9, on Sunday afternoon.
Manchester United and Chelsea both favorites
Tuesday’s issue covered the first half of the Last 16 matchups. This time, we will focus on the remaining four matchups. These matchups will have their first games on either February 25 or 26 and the second leg matches on either March 18 or 19.
Champions League soccer returns in February
After a long winter break, Champions League soccer is set to return on February 18. The group stage has concluded and 16 teams have been eliminated, leaving the last 16 teams in the race for Europe’s top trophy. The remaining teams include the usual suspects like Real Madrid and Barcelona, as well as a couple of upsets such as Galatasaray, who beat Juventus in a dramatic match in the last round of the group stages to see them through to the next round, and Olympiacos. With that said, let’s take a look at the first four of the Last 16 matchups.
2013 US Sports in Review
The 2013 Super Bowl between the Ravens and the 49ers began with Baltimore taking early control of the game. Momentum changed completely, however, when an electrical failure caused the stadium to lose power, and allowed the 49ers to mount a furious comeback. San Francisco fell just short on the final drive of the game as Colin Kaepernick attempted a pass to Michael Crabtree in the endzone that fell incomplete. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was the MVP.
SPORTS IN REVIEW
2013 was a year full of athletic achievement for the Boston region as a whole, with the upstart Red Sox winning the World Series and the Bruins winning the NHL Eastern Conference championship.
2013 MIT Sports in Review
After making it to the NEWMAC finals and barely falling to Wheaton College, the MIT Men’s Soccer Team earned a spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament for the second year in a row. Although the Engineers fell to Western New England University in the first round, they ended their spectacular season with a 13-5-2 record.