Blazers Cap Innaugural Season with Playoff Loss
The Boston Blazers, an expansion team for the National Lacrosse League (NLL), finished their inaugural season with an 11-8 first-round playoff loss to the Buffalo Bandits on May 2. The Blazers had a fine first season, finishing third in the NLL East Division with a 10-6 record and earning a playoff berth. Forward Daryl Veltman was chosen for the All-Rookie team and star forward Dan Dawson won the NLL Most Valuable Player award.
Men’s Heavyweight Eight Beat Yale, G’town for 12th
On Sunday, May 10, both squads of the men’s crew team competed in the Eastern Sprints Regatta on windy Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester. Present were all 18 major East Coast rowing powers, including the eight Ivy League schools, as well as major state schools.
GAME OF THE WEEK Baseball Surges Past Fitchburg, Wins 5-4
Daniel E. Hyatt ’11 followed up a run-scoring double by Thomas M. Phillips ’09 in the eighth with an RBI single to right, as MIT completed a four-run rally en route to a 5-4 victory against Fitchburg State College. The victory capped a sensational season for the Engineers, who set a program record with 25 wins.
Sports Shorts
The New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference recently announced the 2009 NEWMAC Spring Academic All-Conference Team. Once again, MIT reigned supreme, collecting a league-best 48 honors, and finishing the year with a total of 124 awards.
Women’s Track Wins New England Championship
For the first time in program history, the MIT women’s track & field team captured the NCAA New England Division III Outdoor Championship at Springfield College over the weekend. The Engineers edged out nine-time defending champions, Williams College, with 152.50 team points. The outdoor title followed up Tech’s win at the New England Division III Indoor meet earlier this year.
Men’s Track Takes Second at New England Championship
The MIT men’s track and field team picked up a second-straight runner-up finish at the NCAA New England Division III Outdoor Championship over the weekend at Springfield College. Despite winning just two individual events, the Engineers were able to secure a comfortable second-place standing with 108 points, well ahead of third-place Springfield’s total of 56. Sophomore Stephen A. Morton ’10 eclipsed a 73-year old Institute record with his winning effort in the long jump.
Victory at Columbia Clinches ECTC Cup For Sport Taekwondo
After a tense season filled with painstakingly close matches and a narrow overall point difference, the MIT Sport Taekwondo team took first place at the last ECTC (Eastern Collegiate Taekwondo Conference) tournament of the year at Columbia University on Saturday, April 25th. For the team, coached by head instructor Master Dan Chuang and led by captains Corinna Hui ’09 and Christopher J. Han ’09, this victory was an accompaniment to a much greater achievement: the title of ECTC champions for the 2008–2009 season. This is the first time the team has taken home the cup since the 2005–2006 season. Hui was also named female MVP for the league, an honor given to a competitor who shows both excellence in competition and leadership.
Phillips Named NEWMAC Player of the Year; Barlow Selected Coach of the Year
MIT enjoyed unprecedented recognition as the NEWMAC announced its major award winners and all-conference teams for the 2009 baseball season. Senior Thomas M. Phillips ‘09 slugged his way to Player of the Year honors behind the best offensive season in team history, while Andy Barlow was named Coach of the Year after guiding the Engineers to an appearance in the NEWMAC Championship for the second time in three years.
MLB’s April Surprises: Mariners, Marlins Still Hold Division Leads
Two weeks ago, I made some comments and predictions about the young baseball season. Now, as teams wrap up their first month of play and we enter May, here’s the follow-up to that previous column, as promised…
The Tech’s Athlete of the Week: Samuel Harmatz ’12
The New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) announced its 2009 Men’s Tennis All-Conference Team on Tuesday, with MIT picking up six first-team plaudits. Elia S. Harmatz ’12 was voted Rookie of the Year, marking the Engineers’ second straight selection and fourth overall.
Women’s Tennis Falls Against Bowdoin and Trinity Over Weekend
This past weekend the MIT women’s tennis team played Bowdoin College and Trinity College, losing to both in tough matches.