Athletics: Winter 2002-2003 Wrap-up
Men’s Basketball
Fitchburg State men’s basketball may not have won as many
games as they hoped this season but they provided their fans with
many memories and exciting moments. The Falcon men finished the
season with an 8-17 record including a 5-7 mark in MASCAC play.
FSC played several close league contests perhaps highlighted by
a trip to Framingham during the final week of the regular season.
The Falcons overcame a 17 point deficit with eight minutes remaining
then survived a five point play in overtime to pull a heart stopping
77-75 conference road win. They looked to make a run at the MASCAC
postseason title but fell short in their quest when then dropped
a tough 82-78 decision to host Bridgewater State in the first round.
The Green and Gold sported two first-team All-MASCAC selections
in seniors Joe Howell (Norwalk, CT/McMahon) and
Tahir Core (Dorchester/Burke). Howell, a conference
MVP candidate, dominated the inside all season long. He led the
conference in rebounding with an averaged of 10.4 rpg. At one point
this season, Howell was one of only three men’s basketball
players nationwide in all divisions (Division I, II and III) to
be ranked in the top 30 of their respective division in rebounding
and steals. Howell was also in the top five in the conference and
led the Falcons in scoring (15.9 ppg), field goal shooting percentage
(55.1%) and steals (2.6 spg). Howell was at his best at of the end
of the season when he posted double-doubles (10 or more points and
rebounds) during 12 of the last 16 games including his final six
contests. Core also earned first team All-MASCAC honors after joining
the team in early January to use his final semester of eligibility.
Core became a force in the paint and on the perimeter as he averaged
13.3 points and 7.3 rebounds to go along with an impressive 54.8%
shooting percentage from behind the three-point arc.
The Falcons received other strong performances this season from
several different players. Senior Hakim Johnson
(Boston/South Boston) averaged 11.9 points while connecting on a
total of 41 three-pointers. A hard working junior class was highlighted
by Rashad Cope (Boston/Snowden) and Ja’Quaine
Coe (Holden/Wachusett Regional) who both averaged over
six points per game and center Matthew Costello (Rockport,
MA) whose muscle helped provide the squad 5.0 rebounds
per game.
Women’s Basketball
For the fourth season in a row under head coach Walter Paschal,
the Fitchburg State women’s basketball team improved upon
its record from the season before. The 2002-03 Falcons finished
12-13 and narrowly missed earning a home game in the MASCAC tournament
for the first time in a nearly a decade. FSC planted upsets on second
seeded Westfield State, third seeded Framingham State and eventual
conference tournament finalist Worcester State en route to an impressive
5-7 mark in the always rugged MASCAC. The Green and Gold continued
to be stingy on defense as they allowed less than 62 points per
game and were second in the MASCAC in field goal percentage defense
(39.0%).
Youth and balance were two words used often during the season to
describe the Falcons. Without the services of a single senior player,
four Falcons averaged between 9.7 and 11.6 points per game. Two
freshmen wasted no time in making an impact. Classmates Jen Fontaine
(Dracut, MA) and Katie Redican (Meriden, CT) both averaged 11.6
ppg to tie for the team lead in scoring. Fontaine was arguably the
most complete player in an outstanding rookie class of MASCAC players.
She led the entire conference in free throw shooting percentage
(79.0%), finished second in steals (2.8 spg), third in field goal
shooting percentage (46.7%) and tied with Redican for seventh in
scoring. Sophomore Samantha Sweeney (Haverhill, MA) and junior Meredith
Cipriani (Wilmington, MA) provided the Falcons with talent down
low in the paint. Sweeney averaged 10.3 points and team-high 7.3
boards on her way to being named second team All-MASCAC. Cipriani
continued to be a force both offensively and defensively. The center
averaged 9.7 points to go along with 6.2 rpg and 46 blocks.
Perhaps the most entertaining player to watch was sophomore Cortney
Kelly (Hanson/Whitman-Hanson). The versatile 5’3 guard dished
out a team-best 87 assists, collected 52 steals and averaged 7.4
points. Kelly was named to the All-Tournament team at Eastern Connecticut
where she scored a season high 15 points as the Falcons put a scare
into the eventual NCAA finalist Warriors, leading by as many as
nine late in the first half. The bench was solid all season for
the Falcons as sophomore Jenn Kirkland (Somerville, MA) provided
scoring, junior Ashley Mussig (Rye, NH/Portsmouth) provided a perimeter
threat and sophomore Liz Phaneuf (Kennebunk, ME) added defense and
shot blocking.
Ice Hockey
The Fitchburg State hockey team posted their 17th winning season
in 18 years under head coach Dean Fuller. FSC bounced back from
an uncharacteristic down season in 2000-01 to registered a 15-9-2
mark on their way to a return towards the top of the ECAC-Northeast.
The Falcons qualified for the postseason for an amazing 18th consecutive
year, but were derailed by Wentworth, dropping a hard-fought 2-1
decision in a quarterfinal game played at Northeastern’s Matthews
Arena.
Excellent goaltending, balanced scoring and great special teams
was the recipe that head coach Dean Fuller cooked up for his 2002-03
hockey team. The squad followed the recipe to a tee and was treated
to another outstanding year as the Falcons posted their 18th winning
season in 19 years under Fuller. This year’s squad posted
a 16-8-2 overall record and a 12-3-1 mark in ECAC Northeast play.
The Green and Gold earned a home playoff game for the first time
since 2000 and rewarded their fans with an exciting 4-3 victory
over a tough Johnson & Wales squad before dropping a 5-1 decision
to eventual champion and nemesis Wentworth in the semifinals Coach
Fuller was rewarded for his fine efforts as he hit the trifecta
of coaching awards by being named the MASCAC, ECAC Northeast and
New England College Hockey Writers Coach of the Year.
Between the pipes, the Falcons were strong as senior Jason
Holt (Fitchburg/St. Bernard’s) registered 15 victories
while posting a 2.95 goals against average. The three-year starter
will not only be remember as one of the finest goaltenders in the
history of the storied program, but also as the school’s first
male recipient of the prestigious Howard C. Smith award presented
by the MASCAC to the conference’s top scholar-athlete. Holt
had a strong core of blueliners playing ahead of him. Seniors Brian
Geever (Hanson/Whitman-Hanson), who played 103 career games
for the Green and Gold, and Dan Cetrone (Billerica/Billerica
Memorial) and junior John Gambale (Billerica/Billerica
Memorial) played solid defense while junior Mike Savastano
(Plymouth/Coyle and Cassidy) added scoring punched as he collected
nine goals and 13 assists from the blueline.
Fuller had many different offensive weapons at his arsenal in
2002-03. Four different skaters averaged more then one point per
game. Sophomores led the scoring parade as Sebastien Corbeil
(Montreal, Qc/St. Bernard’s) and Chad Fletcher (Whitinsville/St.
John’s - S) each collected 17 goals and 15 assists for a total
of 32 points. Right behind them were classmates Bill Burns
(East Boston, MA) who had a break-through season by potting
16 goals to go along with 15 assists and Robert Zaph
(Woodbridge, VA) who amassed 11 goals and 17 assists. Dan
Goulet (Blackstone/Saint Rapheal’s) recorded 9 goals
and 14 assists for a total of 23 points while fellow senior Greg
Horan (Hyde Park/Catholic Memorial) found it was better
to give then to receive as he dished out 11 assists to go along
with three goals.
Indoor Track and Field
The Falcons men’s and women’s track and field teams
had several outstanding performances as they at the MASCAC championships
as both teams placed third at the meet held April 27th at Rhode
Island College in conjunction with the New England Alliance meet.
Sophomore sprinter Cortney Kelly (Hanson/Whitman-Hanson)
had a day to remember as she set the MASCAC record while winning
the 100 meter dash in a time of 12.52. Her incredible day did not
stop there as she finished second in the 200 meter dash in a time
of 25.82. That result topped any time prior to the 2003 championships.
Freshman Dominique Smallwood (Boston/Concord-Carlisle)
joined Kelly as a MASCAC champion as she took home first place in
the triple jump with a leap of 32’07.50. Other top performers
on the women’s side included Jen Kurtinitis
(Pittsfield, MA) who placed second in the hammer throw and fourth
in the triple jump and the shot put. Rachael Norman (Springfield/Science
and Tech) finished second in the 10,000 meter run while Megan
Hamel (New Boston, NH/Goffstown Area) placed third in the
shot put and fifth in the discus and Andrea Keith (Latham, MA/Shaker)
finished fourth in the javelin and fifth in the shot put.
The men’s team sported three conference champions and several
other strong efforts. Matt Germain (Haverhill,
MA) captured the 1,500 meter title with a time of 4:05 and was nipped
at the finish line by teammate Chris Keegan (Uxbridge,
MA/Blackstone-Millville) in the 800 meter who won in a time of 2:00.67.
Dan Savukoski (Fitchburg, MA) captured the 10,000
meter crown with a time o f 34:13.69 and finished fourth in the
5,000 meters. Other top men’s performers included
Craig Martin (Westminster, MA/Gardner) who placed third
in the 200 meter dash and fifth in the triple jump, Ryan Miller
(Natick, MA) who finished fifth in both the 1,500 and 5,000 meter
races and Ed Lynch (Norwell, MA) who placed third
in the hammer throw. Dan Navoroli (Leominster, MA) finished third
in the 10,000 meter run and Keith Kantor (Winchendon/Murdoch
Regional) took home fifth place in the 3000 meter steeplechase.
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