Mule Weekly Recap October 3, 2022

Field Hockey Stuns #3 Tufts

The Field Hockey team traveled to Medford, Mass. to take on the third-ranked team in the country in the Tufts Jumbos. The last time Colby had topped Tufts was during the 2003 season. Behind timely scores, gritty defense, and a NESCAC Player of the Week performance in the cage, the Mules came away with a 2-1 victory.

Tufts rang the cage first, scoring in the 11th minute of the first quarter. Colby was able to answer back in the second frame when Hig Sevigny scored, assisted by Lillian Kistner. After a scoreless third quarter, Pernilla Shaw tallied the eventual game-winner with eight minutes to play.

Posting a season-high nine saves, Emily Loeb protected the cage against 18 total shots and seven corner attempts, including a barrage of five consecutive shots in the third quarter moments after the Mules tied the game. For her efforts, she was named NESCAC Player of the Week.

Colby is now 4-4, ranked 9th in the NESCAC.

Behind 31 Unanswered Points, Mules Down Bobcats

Hosting the Bobcats Saturday night in the first-ever Colby-Bates night game on Mayflower Hill, quarterback Matt Hersch got the scoring started when he connected with Brendan Sawyer on a 24-yard pass midway through the first quarter. Bates was able to tick the scoreboard three consecutive times to follow, building a 17-7 lead halfway through the second quarter. The Mules found the end zone once more before half, this time by the legs of Hersch on a risky 3rd and goal play with eight seconds remaining in the quarter and no time outs. Hersch's score was set up by a Bates fumble forced by Julian Young and scooped up by Marc Dougherty.

The second half was full of big plays for the Mules, as Colby forced the Bates signal caller into four interceptions. Dougherty collected his first of the season, and teammates Nick Donatio, Javon Williams, and Luke D'Aloia each notched a turnover through the air. Hersch connected for his second passing score (50-yard strike to Jack Sawyer), and also landed his second score of the game on the ground to give him eight total touchdowns on the year. Running back Keon Smart added a score late to push the score to 38-17.

Lowell Carr continued his impressive season for the Mules, hitting all five extra points as well as his lone field goal attempt. He leads the NESCAC averaging over 44 yards per punt. Young paced Colby with 12 tackles defensively, and is currently the leading tackler in the conference.

Colby is now 2-1, tied for 3rd in the NESCAC.

Cross Country Hits Podium at Maine State Meet, Morris State Champion

The Men's and Women's Cross Country teams traveled to Husson University Saturday to compete in the Maine State Championships. The Men's team finished 2nd out of 11 competing schools, and the Women's team was just as quick, placing 3rd.

Tyler Morris won the 8000m for his third State Championship crown in as many tries, and was named NESCAC Performer of the Week. Ben Mellor (6th) and James Boyle (7th) were close behind, posting top-7 finishes and earning All-State recognition, as seven Mules finished in the top-17 (115 competitors).

• 1st Tyler Morris
• 6th Ben Mellor
• 7th James Boyle
• 9th Liam Carcich
• 13th Nick Peterson
• 14th Gordon Doore
• 17th Henry Weisman

In the women's 5000m race, seven Mules finished in the top-25 (118 competitors), led by Claire Beebe in 13th.

• 13th Claire Beebe
• 14th Abby Steffler
• 16th Meghan Garrett
• 17th Penny King
• 21st Jenna Denaver
• 23rd Margo Kenyon
• 25th Maria DiBari

The Mules are back in action in two weeks (October 15) at the Conn. College Invitational.

Men's Soccer Records Sixth Straight Tie

Taking on the Jumbos of Tufts University in their only match of the week, the Men's Soccer team strung together their sixth straight tie, matching the Jumbos 1-1 and leaving Medford with a valuable point in the conference standings. Ethan Franco scored his fourth goal of the year halfway through the first half, putting the Mules ahead of the Jumbos 1-0. The 2021 NESCAC Rookie of the Year (Franco) is now tied for 3rd in the conference in goals.

Tufts was able to score once in the second half to tie the match, but Brendan McCarthy (five saves) and the Colby defense kept the Jumbos at bay the rest of the way to secure the tie.

Colby is now 2-1-6, good for 8th in the NESCAC.

Volleyball Drops First NESCAC Match to #14 Wesleyan

After an amazing start to the season where the Mules posted an 8-1 record, Colby faced off Friday night against the 14th-ranked team in the country when they hosted Wesleyan University. After dropping the first set, Colby bounced back to take the second frame and knot the score at one apiece. The Cardinals took control in the third set and finished out the fourth to take the match 3-1. On Saturday, Colby tried to rebound against the Trinity Bantams, but the visitors edged the Mules in three straight sets to take the victory (25-23, 25-23, 25-20).

Natalie Bumpus led the Mules at the net against Wesleyan and Trinity. She recorded six kills in each match, and averaged 3.5 blocks across the two contests.

Colby is now 8-3 on the year, slipping to 5th in the NESCAC.

Women's Soccer Battles Tufts in Medford

The Women's Soccer team traveled to Tufts Saturday for their lone match of the week. Sophie Webb provided a spark early in the second half with her second goal of the season, but the early lead built by Tufts proved too much. The Mules fell 3-1. Emily McMaster posted five saves in net for Colby.

The Mules are now 3-5, ranking 11th in the NESCAC.

Golf Stays Busy With Three-Match Week

The Colby Golf team played three matches in four days on the week. On Thursday, the Mules finished 2nd at the Mariner Invitational hosted by Maine Maritime Academy. Jacob Teszler finished 6th after shooting an 84, with Ryan Harper right behind posting an 85.

On Saturday the Mules traveled to Bates to compete in the annual CBB, finishing behind both the Bobcats and Polar Bears. Nick Stapleton was the top Mule in 10th. On Sunday, Colby hosted the Colby Classic, a best-ball pairing format. Harper teamed with Connor Gallagher to pace the Mules, tying for 8th on the day.

The Mules have now concluded their fall season and will look ahead to the NESCAC Championships in the spring.

Men's Tennis Takes on ITA at Bowdoin

The Men's Tennis team competed in the ITA Regional Championships this weekend, hosted by Bowdoin College. The Mules entered three individuals into the Singles A-Flight, five athletes into the Singles B-Flight, and had four pairs competing in the Doubles bracket.

Joey Barret (photo right) teamed with James Bogdanovic to advance to the Round of 16 in doubles action, defeating a duo from Brandeis after a first-round bye. Barret and Bogdanovic eventually fell to a pair from Williams. In singles action the longest run came from Ben Powis in the B-Flight, defeating athletes from Brandeis and Bowdoin before eventually falling in the Quarterfinals to Lachie MacIntosh of Tufts.