HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (March 15, 2010) – Three Centenary student-athletes received Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Weekly Awards, the league announced Monday. Softball junior Kristin Durborow (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional) was named Pitcher of the Week while women’s lacrosse senior Megan Mars (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) and men’s lacrosse freshman Conor Nolan (Hillsborough, N.J./Immaculata) were each named to the Honor Roll.

Nolan finished with a team-high six points on two goals and four assists to lead Centenary to a 10-9 win over Mt. St. Vincent on March 11. The freshman leads the team with 20 points on 10 goals and 10 assists as the Cyclones are 3-0, the best start in program history.

The men’s lacrosse team next plays on Wednesday, March 17, at Whittier in Whittier, Calif., as part of their Spring Break.

March 15 CSAC Weekly Awards

YONKERS, N.Y. (March 11, 2010) – The Centenary men’s lacrosse team continued its best-start in program history, improving to 3-0 with a 10-9 win over Mount Saint Vincent, Thursday in Yonkers, N.Y. The game marked the first loss of the 2010 campaign for MSVC, which dropped to 2-1.

Six Cyclones tallied points for Centenary, led by freshman Conor Nolan’s (Hillsborough, N.J./Immaculata) six points on two goals and a game-high four assists. Senior Jason Rieg (Chester, N.J./West Morris Central) and junior Joe Swantkoski (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) scored three goals apiece while freshman Robert Nuzzolese (Woodbury, N.Y./Syosset) found the back of the net twice while recording one assist. Sophomore Peter Florucci (Barre, Vt./Spaulding) and freshman Chris White (Middle Twp., N.J./Middle Twp.) each contributed an assist.

Defensively, sophomore goalie Kyle McVay (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick Twp.) stopped 11 shots to earn the victory. Freshman Sean Lowe (Westminster, Md./Westminster) led the team with six groundballs while Nolan, White and senior Eddie Montalvo (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) each recorded five apiece.

Centenary returns to action on Wednesday, March 17, with a road game at Whittier in Whittier, Calif., at 9:00 p.m.

Boxscore

AMBLER, Pa. (March 6, 2010) – Freshman Conor Nolan (Hillsborough, N.J./Immaculata) recorded career-highs in goals (six), assists (four), points (10) and groundballs (nine) to lead the Centenary men’s lacrosse team (2-0) to a 16-0 defeat of PSU-Abington (0-2), Saturday in Ambler, Pa. The victory marks the first shutout for the Cyclones in more than five seasons.

Nolan also led Centenary with 12 faceoffs won. Another freshman set personal-bests as Robert Nuzzolese (Woodbury, N.Y./Syosset) scored the first four goals of his career and also grabbed five groundballs. Senior Jason Rieg (Chester, N.J./West Morris Central) led the team with five assists and tallied one goal and junior Joe Swantkoski (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) recorded three scores.

Freshman goalie Kyle Burgess (Glen Gardner, N.J./Voorhees) recorded a career-high three saves as he and sophomore Kyle McVay (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick Twp.) combined to pitch the shutout. For the game, CC outshot PSU, 51-5, and grabbed 41 groundballs to the Lions’ 23.

Nuzzolese tallied three of Centenary’s first four goals, the first coming 20 seconds into the game. Freshman Chris White (Middle Twp., N.J./Middle Twp.) also found the back of the net for the first time as a Cyclone as the road team took a 12-0 lead into the half. Nolan and Rieg collaborated for two scores in the third and fourth quarters as Centenary was content to grind out the 16-0 win.

CC returns to action on Thursday, March 11, with a road contest at Mount Saint Vincent at 7:00 p.m.

Boxscore

AMBLER, Pa. (March 5, 2010) – The Centenary men’s lacrosse team (1-0) returns to action with a road contest against Penn State-Abington, Saturday at 9:00 a.m., at Spark Field in Ambler, Pa. The Cyclones opened their season with an 11-9 come-from-behind win at Alvernia on Feb. 24.

In their season-opener, junior Joe Swantkoski (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) scored a game-high five goals, taking 11 shots, including 10 on goal. He also recorded two groundballs and won all five of his faceoffs. Senior Jason Rieg (Chester, N.J./West Morris Central) finished with five points on two goals and three assists and fellow classmate Eddie Montalvo (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) tallied one goal, eight groundballs and four caused turnovers.

Freshmen Conor Nolan (Hillsborough, N.J./Immaculata) and Sean Lowe (Westminster, Md./Westminster) played well in their first collegiate contest. Nolan recorded two goals, two assists and one groundball and Lowe tied for the team lead with eight groundballs. Sophomore goalie Kyle McVay (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick Twp.) finished one save shy of his career-high, stopping 14 shots, while setting a personal-best with eight groundballs. 

Penn State-Abington opened its season with a 20-0 loss at Hood on March 3. Last season, CC defeated PSU 11-8 behind six points from Rieg, on three goals and three assists.

Due to field conditions at PSU, the game will be played at nearby Spark Field, which is located at 725 Susquehanna Road, Ambler, PA 19002.

READING, Pa. (February 24, 2010) – Junior Joe Swantkoski (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) scored a game-high five goals as the Centenary men’s lacrosse team (1-0) opened its season with an 11-9, come-from-behind victory over Alvernia (0-1), Wednesday in Reading, Pa. The Cyclones found themselves down 4-0 after the first quarter and 7-4 entering the fourth before outscoring the Crusaders 7-2 in the final period to win by two.

Swantkoski took 11 shots, including 10 on goal. He also recorded two groundballs and won all five of his faceoffs. Senior Jason Rieg (Chester, N.J./West Morris Central) finished with five points on two goals and three assists and fellow classmate Eddie Montalvo (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) tallied one goal, eight groundballs and four caused turnovers.

A pair of freshmen acquitted themselves very well in their first collegiate game, as Conor Nolan (Hillsborough, N.J./Immaculata) recorded two goals, two assists and one groundball and Sean Lowe (Westminster, Md./Westminster) tied for the team lead with eight groundballs. Sophomore goalie Kyle McVay (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick Twp.) finished one save shy of his career-high, stopping 14 shots, while setting a personal-best with eight groundballs. 

Trailing 4-0 after the first quarter, Centenary scored three consecutive goals, including two by Swantkoski, to open the second period. Nolan scored his first goal as a Cyclone during that stretch. But Alvernia tallied twice to end the stanza and went into the locker room with a 6-3 halftime lead.

Both teams’ defenses stiffened in the third quarter, as only two goals were scored, one by each squad. In the fourth quarter, however, Centenary found its scoring touch, scoring six straight goals at one point to take an 11-8 advantage. Alvernia cut the lead to 11-9 with 35 seconds remaining but CC was able to hold on for the victory.

The Cyclones return to action on Saturday, March 6, with a road game against Penn State-Abington. Last season CC defeated PSU 11-8 behind six points from Rieg, on three goals and three assists.

Boxscore

Centenary opened its 2009 season by dropping six of its first seven games, when injuries crippled the team. But the Cyclones rebounded nicely, as head coach Matt Klank guided them to a 5-2 record in their final seven regular-season games, including a 5-0 mark in CSAC action, to reach the conference tournament. Although CC was bounced in the first round of the playoffs with a hard-fought loss at Marywood, 12-8, the Cyclones’ push down the stretch is an indication of the direction the team is headed.

“I think we overachieved last year,” said Klank. “We lost a lot of talent from 2008. We only played with 16 guys last season and they did a great job. I give all the credit to the players, certainly Jason Rieg and Eddie Montalvo kept the team together. When you have only 16 active players on your roster it doesn’t give you many substitutes, so our guys definitely overachieved.”

Rieg and Montalvo have been key figures on the team since they arrived on campus. Rieg, an attacker, was the only player not from Cabrini to be named to the CSAC First Team last season after earning Second Team All-Conference honors the previous year. Montalvo is the team’s best defender and is a two-time Second Team All-Conference selection. They were each named team captains for the second straight season.

“Rieg and Montalvo lead by example and they are our hardest workers,” said Klank. “They know what we need to do, what we expect from the players. They do everything they are supposed to do as captains, which is really an extension of the coach. I am comfortable with them leading the team and they have done a great job with it the past two years.”

Offensively in 2009, Rieg led the team in goals (43), assists (28) and points (71). He ranked 10th in points, 22nd in goals and 29th in assists in the final NCAA statistics, and was second in assists, second in points and third in goals in the final CSAC standings. He was a two-time CSAC Player of the Week and earned ECAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors once.

“Rieg certainly has the opportunity to repeat as a First Team performer,” said Klank. “He will be counted on to do what he did last year but he will have some help, so he will be able to play within himself some more. Robert Nuzzolese is a freshman attack from Syosset who has played attack his whole life and will be counted on to put the ball in the back of the net for us.”

Centenary has depth at the attack position, as sophomore Jeff Prudente and freshman Anthony Ciaston are both in the mix to serve as the third attacker. The Cyclones could also move a midfielder to the third attack spot if need be.

At midfield, Centenary returns junior Joe Swantkoski, who was named Second Team All-CSAC last season after recording 34 goals, three assists, 49 groundballs and five caused turnovers. He will certainly be a factor at that position, as will Conor Nolan, a top recruit from Immaculata High School. The other midfielder will be Chris White, a left-handed player from Middle Township.

“Joe has definitely upgraded his game this year, but I would like him to see the field a little bit more,” said Klank. “Conor is probably the best recruit that has ever come through here along with Sean Lowe, who will play defense. Conor will play for us at midfield and he is going to be special. I think he has the opportunity to be All-Conference this year, Rookie of the Year and eventually be an All-American. Players like White, left-handed midfielders, don’t grow on trees. He is raw in terms of his knowledge of the game but he gives us some versatility up top and is very aggressive towards the goal.”

The second midfield unit includes three players who can spell any and all of the other midfielders. Matt Trengrove is a sophomore who was recruited but did not play his freshman year; he could play attack if needed. Freshman Dan Webster will take some faceoffs and play some defensive midfield as well.

The coaches also expect to play a defensive midfield group. Sophomore Peter Florucci appeared in 13 games in 2009 and returns to join a group that includes sophomore Sean Stanton and freshman James Reed. Stanton comes to Centenary from Eastern University in St. Davids, Pa., after playing one season on its men’s lacrosse team. Reed is another transfer, from N.J.I.T., and played scholastically at Egg Harbor Township High School.

“Florucci will play at short stick defensive midfield,” said Klank. “He is athletic, has a good understanding of the game and continues to get better. Stanton has a really good game IQ and a decent stick so he will be able to help us get the ball up the field on clears. Reed has a lot of athletic ability and he is working very hard to improve his skills. He will be used on faceoffs and has the opportunity to shut down opponents once he gets a better grasp on what we are doing defensively.”

Centenary has three freshmen in the mix for the pole position in Mike Stephenson, CJ Walter and Steven Sosa. Stephenson can play both down low and up top and is expected to start.

Defense is where Klank expects the team to excel. Montalvo is a shut-down defender who will be counted on to guide this group. Last season he ranked 68th nationally and second in the CSAC with 70 groundballs and he recorded 10 caused turnovers. The coaches feel Lowe has the chance to be a special player and possibly an All-American. Centenary also returns Tom Monks, Jr., who played in 11 games in 2009 and is very good in the slide packages. He has improved his ball handling skills and the team will look to him to help them on clears.

In goal, the team will have to replace three-year starter Brian Troilio, who graduated. Sophomore Kyle McVay played in eight games for the Cyclones in 2009, recording 39 saves. The coaches believe he is ready to step up and be a leader at the position.

“Kyle has solid skills and good positioning and he has the potential to be a top goalie in this conference,” said Klank. “It just has to come together for him and I think that will happen through a lot of playing and this year. Backing him up will be Kyle Burgess, a freshman from Voorhees, we need him to practice and be ready if we need him to go for any reason.”

Centenary only has seven returning players and 14 newcomers, but Klank is excited about what the new class will bring to the team.

“This group is probably from top to bottom the best freshmen class we have had here,” he said. “The class is deep, especially if you add the transfers. The guys love the game and they are always together, so they are building a bond off the field which then correlates to being team players and wanting to work together on the field. Besides Nolan and Lowe, you have depth with Stevenson, Nuzzolese, White and Webster, so we have some guys that are going to see the field right away as freshmen.”

Centenary opens its 2010 campaign with five consecutive road games, starting with Alvernia on Feb. 24. The season-opening road trip includes a match against Whittier in Los Angeles, Calif., on March 17. CC will return home to open its CSAC slate against Shenandoah on March 27 and then travels to take on defending league champion and preseason favorite Cabrini on March 31. The Cyclones have four home games in April, including conference contests against Neumann and Marywood, and closes out their CSAC schedule with a road game at Gwynedd-Mercy on April 29.

“We know we have to take care of business with our first four games because the schedule at the end of March gets significantly harder,” said Klank. “Kean (March 24) is a tough team from last year, Shenandoah will be a battle and then Cabrini is obviously the class of the CSAC. So we need to start well to deal with that tougher schedule in March. Stockton (April 3) will be a tough contest, and then our final two conference games will decide whether we make the playoffs or not.”

The conference tournament is always a goal for Centenary men’s lacrosse. The Cyclones were picked to finish fourth in the CSAC, but Klank believes they can do even better. The team’s motto is to play hard, smart and together, and if the squad can do all three of those things while staying healthy, they have a chance to be very successful in 2010.

“We have more depth this year than last season so there aren’t any outs for us,” said Klank. “We don’t talk about wins and losses. Our philosophy is to play hard, smart and together every single day. That’s our philosophy. If we play hard, smart and together, I think we will be happy with the results no matter what happens, but I think doing those three things will lead to a successful year for us. Our goals are to finish with a winning record, earn a conference playoff berth and reach the championship game, and I think they are all attainable goals.”

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (February 23, 2010) – The Centenary men’s lacrosse team was selected to place fourth in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) preseason poll, the league announced Tuesday. Defending league champion Cabrini was chosen as the favorite.

On the men’s side, Centenary tallied 25 points, trailing Cabrini (49), Marywood (42) and Gwynedd-Mercy (29). The Cavaliers received all seven first-place votes from the league coaches. Last season the Cyclones finished 4-2 in conference action to take the third-seed in the CSAC Tournament, where they lost at Marywood, 12-8.

Centenary opens its season on Wednesday, Feb. 24, with a road game at Alvernia at 3:30 p.m.

2010 CSAC Preseason Poll

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ August 12, 2009 - The men's lacrosse team will be competing in an all day round robin charity event hosted by Susquehanna University on Sunday, October 11. This event will be in benefit of the Selinsgrove Area Youth Foundation. All admissions to event as well individual or team donations will go directly to the foundation. Also competing in the event will be Marymount University and Neumann College. 

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (April 29, 2009) – Four Centenary men’s lacrosse players earned Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) All-Conference awards, the league announced Wednesday. Junior Jason Rieg (Chester, N.J./West Morris Central) was named to the First Team as an attacker, while defender Eddie Montalvo (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip), midfielder Joe Swantkoski (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) and goalkeeper Brian Troilo (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) each earned Second Team accolades. Senior Richard Brady (Morristown, N.J./Morristown) was the recipient of a CSAC Sportsmanship Award.

The award for Rieg is his second All-Conference honor, as he was named to the Second Team in 2008. He is the only member of the 2009 CSAC First Team not from Cabrini. The junior led Centenary with 39 goals, 26 assists and 65 points. He also recorded 30 groundballs. In the latest national rankings, Rieg is 13th in points per game, 30th in goals per game and 29th in assists per game. Within the CSAC, he ranks fourth in goals, second in assists, second in points, tied for fourth in game-winning goals, first in shots and tied for third in man-down goals per game. He was named CSAC Player of the Week twice and received Honor Roll accolades twice.

Montalvo led the team with 66 groundballs, while also recording two goals and one assist from his defense position. He ranked 65th nationally in groundballs and second in the CSAC. Swantkoski finished the season second on the team in goals (32) and points (35). He tallied three assists, 41 groundballs, five caused turnovers and 42 face-offs won.  He tied for second in the CSAC with three game-winning goals and he was named to the conference weekly Honor Roll on April 6.

Troilo is among the conference leaders in saves, with 144. He finished tied for fourth on the team with 32 groundballs. Brady played in all 14 games, finishing with six goals, two assists, 50 groundballs and three caused turnovers.

Centenary finished as the third seed in the CSAC and faces second-seed Marywood today at 4:00 p.m. in Scranton, Pa.

2009 CSAC Men's Lacrosse Regular Season Awards

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (April 28, 2009) - Two Centenary athletes received CSAC weekly awards, the league announced Monday. Sophomore pitcher Sarah Olsen (Lake Hopatcong, N.J./Pope John XXIII) was announced as the Pitcher of the Week, while junior attacker Jason Rieg (Chester, N.J./West Morris) was selected to the weekly Honor Roll. For Olsen, this was the second time this season she was awarded the Pitcher of the Week, while her third time overall appearing on the weekly awards. Rieg has now appeared in the weekly awards for the third straight week and has been awarded four times in total this season.

Coming off two straight weeks of being named the CSAC Player of the Week, Rieg was selected to the weekly Honor Roll this week. Rieg totaled ten points on eight goals and two assists, including a game-high five goals in the Cyclones’ overtime win over Shenandoah on April 25. Rieg who has led the No. 3 seeded Cyclones all season, now has totals of 39 goals and 26 assists for 65 points. The men’s lacrosse team will be on the road, Wednesday, April 29 for the first round of the CSAC playoffs as they face No. 2 seeded Marywood. The game is to start at 4:00 pm.

WINCHESTER, Va. (April 25, 2009) - The men’s lacrosse team clinched third place in dramatic fashion with an overtime win over Shenandoah University earlier Saturday afternoon. The Cyclones gave up the tying goal as time expired in the fourth quarter but were able to score the sudden death goal in overtime to get the win. Centenary finished out their regular season play going 6-8 and 4-2 in the conference.

The Cyclones held a slight advantage at halftime being up 10-7. Shenandoah took a brief lead early in the fourth quarter and Centenary needed goals from Travis Roy (Whippany, N.J./Whippany Park) to tie the score and re-gain their lead with one minute left in the quarter. Shenandoah, however, forced the overtime by scoring with no time remaining. Early into the overtime period though Joe Swantkoski (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) got loose for the Cyclones and scored the winning goal.

For the game Centenary was led by Jason Rieg (Chester, N.J./West Morris) who scored five goals and assisted on two others. Roy finished the day with four tallies, while Swantkoski netted three. Freshman Jonathan Agudo (Voorhees, N.J./Voorhees) scored twice for the Cyclones. For Shenandoah they were led by James Gonzalez and Stephen Mayor who each netted four goals.




Boxscore

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (April 22, 2009) - The men’s lacrosse team went on the road to face Farmingdale State College in non conference action earlier Wednesday afternoon. The Cyclones battled but fell to the Rams by a score of 19-8. For Centenary the loss puts them at 5-8 overall while the win moves the Rams up to 5-9.

The Cyclones dug themselves an early hole by falling behind 5-0 in the first quarter and then 12-2 in the first half. The Rams opened up the fourth quarter by scoring the first two goals and it wasn’t until the end of the fourth quarter when the Cyclones offense finally started clicking by scoring five goals; however, it was too late to get back into the game as the host Farmingdale State took the game by a score of 19-8.

Centenary was led on this day by junior Jason Rieg (Chester, N.J./West Morris) and senior Travis Roy (Whippany, N.J./Whippany Park) who each scored three goals apiece. Matt Biringer (Brick, NJ/Brick) and Joe Swantkoski (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) each scored a goal to round out the scoring for the Cyclones. In the net, senior Brian Troilo (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) and freshman Kyle McVay (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) combined to make eight saves on the day. The Rams were led by Sean Maxwell who scored four goals and had two assists on the day and Erick Thomson who had three goals and four assists.

Centenary will be back in action on Saturday, April 25, to complete their regular season schedule as they travel south to Shenandoah. The Cyclones are looking to secure the third spot in the CSAC standings with a win.


Boxscore

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (April 18, 2009) - The men’s lacrosse team picked up its third conference victory of the season holding off a late comeback from Immaculata to secure the win 15-11 earlier Saturday afternoon. The Cyclones are now 3-2 in the CSAC and 5-7 overall. Immaculata dropped to 3-9, 1-5 in the conference.

Prior to the game the Cyclones honored its four seniors and after starting off the game opening up a three goal lead, it seemed they were poised to have a special afternoon. Joe Swantkoski (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) and Jason Rieg (Chester, N.J./West Morris) did most of the early damage for Centenary splitting four goals and two assists between them as Centenary held a 5-0 lead over the Macs. After a goal from senior, Richard Brady (Morristown, N.J./Morristown) the Cyclones seemed to be cruising and led at the half 9-3.

Things changed in the third quarter though for Immaculata as it outscored Centenary six goals to two and climbed right back into the game as the score was 11-9. The Macs brought themselves within one goal midway through the fourth quarter when the score was 12-11, but it was from there that senior Travis Roy (Whippany, N.J./Whippany Park) found his scoring touch. Roy scored his team’s and the game’s final three goals, sealing the win for his team. Rieg assisted on two of those scores.

For the game, Centenary was led by Rieg who tallied eight points with five goals and three assists and Swantkoski who scored four and assisted on two. Goalie Brian Troilo (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) picked up the victory and made seven saves on the day. For the Macs it was John Cacchio and Dante Tuscai who led the way with each picking up a hat-trick.

Boxscore

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (April 20, 2009) – Four Centenary student-athletes earned Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) weekly awards, the league announced Monday. Men’s lacrosse junior attacker Jason Rieg (Chester, N.J./West Morris Central) was named his sport’s Player of the Week for the second consecutive week, while baseball’s Lou Penna (East Haven, Conn./Notre Dame) and Andrew Koncen (Elizabeth, N.J./Union Catholic) and softball’s Angelica Ruiz (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) earned Honor Roll recognition.

Rieg led Centenary to a 1-1 week, 1-0 in conference, by recording 17 points on seven goals and 10 assists in the two games. The Cyclones clinched a berth in the CSAC Tournament by way of a 15-11 win over Immaculata on April 18, a game in which Rieg totaled game-highs in both goals (five) and assists (three). The junior leads the team with 55 points on 31 goals and 24 assists.

The Cyclones (5-7, 3-2 CSAC) return to action on Wednesday, April 22, with a road game against Farmingdale State at 4:00p.m., before closing out the 2009 regular season on the road against Shenandoah on Saturday, April 25, at 2:00 p.m.

April 20 CSAC Awards

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (April 16, 2009) - The men’s lacrosse team lost in heartbreaking fashion earlier today in their non-conference contest against Alvernia College. Centenary was down a goal with a minute left to play and was able to tie the game and force overtime with 23 seconds remaining in regulation. Alvernia, however, scored the sudden death goal with a 1:44 left in the overtime period.

This game was played evenly throughout as neither team took a lead of more than three goals. The Cyclones got on the board first when sophomore Joe Swantkoski (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) scored off a give and go pass from Jason Rieg (Chester, N.J./West Morris). Alvernia came right back and took scored the next two goals to take a 2-1 lead. Rieg scored his first goal of the game 30 seconds later to even the score up at two for the first quarter. In the second quarter both teams traded a pair of goals as the first half ended even at four.

In the second half the offenses and scoring began to open up a bit. Alvernia, playing down a man, got a spark from Chris Baker who scored the fifth goal for his Crusaders, then on the ensuing faceoff picked up a groundball and ran in uncontested to score the Crusaders sixth goal nine seconds later. Alvernia scored one more time to open its biggest lead of 7-4 with six minutes to play in the third. The Cyclones were not phased and after goals from Matt Biringer (Brick, N.J./Brick), Rieg and Travis Roy (Whippany, N.J./Whippany Park) the score was back even, this time at seven. Right before the quarter was up, however, Alvernia regained the lead when Tom Casper found the net giving his team the slight advantage of 8-7.

In an already exciting game the fourth quarter did not disappoint. Alvernia kicked off the scoring when Benjamin Stidham scored pushing his team ahead by two, 9-7. The Crusaders again could not put Centenary away when Swantkoski scored his second of the game, followed by a goal from Jonathan Agudo (Voorhees, N.J./Voorhees), his second of the game, tying the score again at nine. Alvernia broke the tie with a minute remaining and needed one last defensive stand for the win. The Cyclones in what could have been their final possession moved the ball around the perimeter before Rieg was able to thread the needle to Roy on the crease who found the back of the net and forced overtime. In the overtime period both teams played conservatively, but it was Alvernia’s Drew Giberson who was able to get the game winner with 1:44 remaining in the game.

For the game the Cyclones were again led by Rieg who scored two goals but was playing the role of play maker today recording six assists as well as three groundballs. Swantkoski, Roy and Agudo each scored a pair of goals. Alvernia was led by Chris Baker who finished with three goals and goalie Kevin Shupp made 12 saves in the win.


Boxscore

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (April 13, 2009) – Five Cyclones received Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) weekly awards for four different sports, the league announced Monday. Men’s lacrosse player Jason Rieg (Chester, N.J./West Morris Central) earned Player of the Week recognition, while baseball’s Jordan Wright (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin East), golf’s Sean Kelley (Roxbury, N.J./Roxbury) and softball’s Angelica Ruiz (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) and Sarah Olsen (Lake Hopatcong, N.J./Pope John XXIII) all were named to their sports’ Honor Roll.

Rieg recorded 13 points on eight goals and five assists in two victories, including three goals and three assists in a win over Gwynedd-Mercy and five goals and two assists in a 21-4 victory over Wells, leading the Cyclones to a 2-0 (1-0 CSAC) week.

The Chester, NJ native is enjoying a successful junior season, as he is leading the team in both goals (24) and assists (13) as well as picking up 19 groundballs. This is the second time this season that Rieg has been honored by the league as he was named to the Honor Roll on March 16.

The Cyclones as a team are keeping an eye on the post season. The top four finishers in the CSAC qualify for the playoffs, and Centenary currently sits in that fourth position with a 2-2 CSAC record. A win over conference foe Immaculata University on April 18 would clinch their spot as well as leave them with a chance to move up in the standings. The Cyclones will next be in action on April 16 as they take on Alvernia College. The game is set to start at 4:00 pm.

April 13 CSAC Awards

AURORA, N.Y. (April 12, 2009) - The men’s lacrosse team scored a season-high 21 goals on their way to a 21-4 victory of Wells College. Centenary jumped out to a six goal lead in the first quarter and never looked back from there. Centenary has now moved to 4-6 on the season and have won three games in the row. Wells has dropped to 0-7 with the loss.

The Cyclones put up six goals in the first quarter and eight in the second quarter and didn’t give up their first goal until the 13th minute of the second quarter. Centenary had big individual games from Jason Rieg (Chester, N.J./West Morris), Joe Swantkoski (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) and Jonathan Agudo (Glen Gardner, N.J./Voorhees). Rieg finished with five goals and two assists, Swantkoski tallied six goals and Agudo recorded four goals and two assists. In the net, Brian Troilo (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) and Michael Vilivong (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) combined for five saves. Wells college was led by Adam Neider who scored two goals in the game.

Centenary will be in action next on April 16 against non-conference opponent Alvernia. 


Boxscore

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (April 8, 2009) - In what was a competitive and physical game it was the Cyclones who came away with the 10-7 victory over Gwynedd-Mercy College on a crisp Wednesday afternoon. The win for the Cyclones was their second conference win in a row and now gives them a CSAC record of 2-2. The loss for the Griffins keeps them at one win in the CSAC at 1-4.

Gwynedd-Mercy took control of the game in the early going jumping out to a three goal lead in the quarter’s first five minutes. The Cyclones got on the board when Jonathan Agudo (Glen Gardner, N.J./Voorhees) scored to make the score 3-1 Gwynedd-Mercy. Four minutes later, sophomore, Joe Swantkoski (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) got his first of the game and just minutes after that Agudo scored again to even the score at three. In the second quarter again it was the Griffins who struck first, this time Jon-Eric Lane found the net and gave his team a 4-3 lead. Centenary rolled off the next three goals, however, and regained the lead at 6-4. Both teams traded goals before the half was over and Centenary held a two goal advantage at 7-5.

In the second half both teams tightened up their defenses and goals were hard to come by. Centenary extended their lead on a goal by Swantkoski but Gwynedd-Mercy kept it right there when Nicholas Hummel scored his third goal of the game. Senior, Jason Rieg (Chester, N.J./West Morris) iced the game for Cyclones by scorng his team’s final two goals and secured the victory at 10-7.

Centenary was led by Rieg who finished with six total points, three goals and three assist. Agudo also scored a hat trick and recorded one assist. Swantkoski finished with two goals and one assist. Beside the offense the Cyclones were led on defense by junior, Eddie Montalvo (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) and in the net Brian Troilo (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) came up with several key saves on his way to 11 total. For Gwynedd-Mercy they were led by Hummel who finished with three goals, Kevin Hens who made seven total saves for the Griffins.


Boxscore