Sports

Rifle Opens Season With Pair of Convincing VictoriesWomen’s Volleyball Tops Smith and UMass-Boston Nationally-Ranked No. 23 Women’s Cross Country Wins UMass-Dartmouth InvitationalMen’s Soccer Overpowers Newbury, 8-2

Rifle Opens Season With Pair of Convincing Victories

The MIT rifle team got off to a quick start in the 2008-09 season, sweeping both guns against the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. The Engineers registered match-high scores of 2138 in smallbore and 2192 in air rifle.

Emily F. Houston ’10 was the high shooter in both events, scoring a 568 in smallbore and 566 in air rifle. Teammate Joseph K. Lane ’11 placed second in both guns, finishing just three points behind Houston in air rifle and totaling 556 in smallbore. Nigel C. Kojimoto ’12 completed the MIT sweep of the top three places in the air event recording a score of 553.

The University of the Sciences co-ed team finished second in both guns, with scores of 2001 in smallbore and 2100 in air. The USP women’s team scored 1795 in smallbore and 1966 in air. Massachusetts Maritime rounded out the competitors with scores of 1790 in smallbore and 1916 in air rifle.

The Engineers compete next beginning Friday, October 11 when they travel to Annapolis, Md., to take on the Naval Academy in a three-day event.

—Greg McKeever, DAPER Staff

Women’s Volleyball Tops Smith and UMass-Boston

The MIT women’s volleyball team swept New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) foe Smith College, 25-14, 25-20, 25-11, before defeating UMass-Boston, 22-25, 25-15, 25-17, 25-20, on Saturday.

Katrina M. Ellison ’10 had a solid outing for MIT, tallying eight digs, five kills, four aces, and two blocks. Barden E. Cleeland ’10 posted 10 kills and two blocks as Kelly E. Schulte ’12 added six kills. Catherine Melnikow ’10, Jennifer Li ’11, and Lindsay E. Hunting ’09 each notched three aces while Melnikow dished out 28 assists. Hunting collected a match-high 10 digs as Alexandra T. May ’10 contributed seven digs.

Against UMass-Boston, May paced MIT with 18 kills and 11 digs Cleeland contributed 14 kills and two blocks. Li tallied eight kills, five aces, and four blocks as Schulte posted nine kills and two blocks. Melnikow amassed 39 assists and 10 digs while Hunting picked up nine digs and three aces. Ellison and Evelyn C. Cordner ’12 each dished out three assists as Ellison recorded a pair of aces and blocks.

MIT and Smith will continue NEWMAC play on the road on Tuesday, Sept. 23. MIT will travel to Springfield College while Smith will make the trip to Clark University.

—Mindy Brauer, DAPER Staff

Nationally-Ranked No. 23 Women’s Cross Country Wins UMass-Dartmouth Invitational

Jacqueline M. Wentz ’10 once again led the nationally-ranked No. 23 MIT women’s cross country team to an impressive victory at the UMass-Dartmouth Invitational over a field that included defending national champion and nationally-ranked No. 1 Amherst, as well as eight other NEWMAC schools.

The Engineers used consistency to capture the top spot in the meet, as seven Tech runners would finish in the top 30 overall. Wentz completed the five-kilometer course in 18:30, finishing fourth. Adrienne M. Bolger ’09 was the next best MIT runner, crossing the finish line in 18:44, good for 12th place. Anna M. Holt-Gosselin ’11 placed 15th with a time of 18:51 and Jennifer A. Doyle ’09 was four seconds behind coming in 18th. Three other MIT runners finished the race in under 20 minutes. Andrea E. Bradshaw ’09 came in 23rd at 18:57, Elizabeth M. Finn ’09 finished in 19:01 for 27th, and Katy Gordon ran 19:11 to finish 30th overall.

MIT’s 67 gave the team a convincing victory over second-place Amherst with 88. Springfield was the next best NEWMAC squad, finishing fifth with a score of 153. The Engineers will now travel to Williamstown, Mass. to take part in the Purple Valley Classic next Saturday, Sept. 27.

­—Greg McKeever, DAPER Staff

Men’s Soccer Overpowers Newbury, 8-2

In the inaugural meeting between both programs, the MIT men’s soccer team defeated visiting Newbury College 8-2 on Friday. Zachary E. Kabelac ’12 paced the Engineers with three goals and two assists as Christian W. Therkelsen ’11 registered his first hat-trick of the season.

MIT opened the scoring 3:18 into the contest when Neil S. Zimmerman’s ’09 throw-in from the far sideline crossed the box and was redirected by Therkelsen’s left foot. Almost nine minutes later, Max S. Stein-Golenbock ’12 sent a throughball which was chased down by Zimmerman, who outraced three Newbury defenders and tapped the ball into the left side of the net. Kabelac then set up Therkelsen at the 13:50 mark before registering a solo blast from 25 yards out 15 seconds later to give the Engineers a 4-0 lead.

The Nighthawks (0-6-0) ended the shutout in the 30th minute when John Mawson corralled a rebound and found Andy Osei for his second goal of the season. MIT extended its advantage on Kabelac’s shot that deflected off a Newbury defender and sailed into the right side of the goal. The Nighthawks quickly answered with a solo effort by Anthony Fannoh III, who converted a turnover by the Engineers outside their box. Therkelsen completed the hat-trick courtesy of a feed from Kabelac in the 36th minute and then returned the favor four minutes later to put the Engineers up 7-2 at the break.

MIT carried the momentum into the second stanza as Lance Wall registered an unassisted goal after 3:48 elapsed. The remainder of the match was a defensive battle with each side posting two shots on goal.

In net, Dylan S. Rankin ’12 collected four saves through 61 minutes while Javier M. Duarte ’10 closed out the game with one save for the Engineers.

MIT continues play at home on Monday, Sept. 22 when it hosts Emerson College.

—Mindy Brauer, DAPER Staff