by Jake Mastbaum 2 hours ago
by tim.weisberg 2 days ago
Two plays on the Red’s opening drive and two penalties later set the tone for a pattern of inconsistency, as the Red failed to climb the Ivy League standings in a 28-10 loss to Dartmouth at Schoellkopf Field Saturday afternoon.
The Red (2-6, 1-4 Ivy League) appeared destined to go on the board first midway through the first quarter, inside the Big Green (5-3, 2-3) red zone. However, freshman quarterback Jeff Mathews was hit from behind, fumbling the ball and turning it over to the Big Green.
According to the Roger J. Weiss ’61 head coach of football Kent Austin, the Red had chances to score early, but mistakes offensively have cost the Red to capitalize on drives throughout the season.
“We had our opportunities in the first half to score more points,” Austin said. “[But] that’s kind of been our identity so far this year. I mean we move the ball, we get a penalty, move the ball and get a holding call.”
The Red are currently 114th out of 117 FCS teams in points per game, averaging a measly 12.5 points a game, which to Austin has been the Red’s major inhibitor to their 2-6 season.
“We need to do better on offense to control the football and that’s our biggest issue,” said Austin. “We’ve got to score more points to help our defense.”
The Red had 188 yards of total offense, compared to the 347 yards put up by the Big Green, and the offensive line allowed ten sacks.
According to Austin, this puts Mathews in a very difficult position leading the offense, where sacks by the Big Green often put the Red in third-and-long situations.
“We’ve been a pretty good third-down conversion team, but [if] we can’t protect the quarterback, it’s going to be a long day,” said Austin.
The Red was trailing 7-0 early in the second quarter, but an Emani Fenton interception gave the Red the ball inside the red zone.
One play later, the Red had tied the game up at seven. The Red actually led 10-7 at halftime, ending on a positive note when Red kicker Brad Greenway nailed a 49-yard yarder to give the Red the lead just before halftime.
But the Red allowed the Big Green to score on the opening possession of the second half, which featured five punts, an interception and a turnover on downs on 44 yards of total offense.
Red tight end Ryan Houska could not help but praise the Big Green’s performance in the second half.
“I mean we came out [in the second half] and they answered and they had a nice [opening] drive,” Houska said. “I give [Dartmouth] all the credit in the world. They deserved it.”
The Red travel to New York City next week to take on the 3-5 Columbia Lions, before finishing their season at home against first-place and No. 19-ranked Penn.
According to Austin, the offense must improve if the Red is to have a chance against the Lions and an upset against the Quakers.
“Right now, we’ve got to…be creative enough on offense to put our players in a position to be successful…and help our defense,” said Austin. “It’s hard to win a game when you score 10 points.”
by tim.weisberg 3 days ago
Patience is a virtue in sports, and sometimes the gratuitous nature of the opposing team is what you need to come out on top.
The No. 2-ranked Red took advantage of No. 10-ranked Harvard’s gratuity in the penalty department in a 3-0 shutout at Lynah Rink Friday night.
The Red (5-1-0, 3-0-0 ECAC Hockey) came out flat to start the game, but eight Harvard penalties and 16 minutes of a one-man advantage allowed the Red to put on the offensive for the majority of the game.
The Red capitalized on a Crimson (1-1-1, 1-1-1) interference call and scored their first goal less than eight minutes into the first period, never looking back.
According to Red head coach Doug Derraugh ‘91, it comes down to the team’s mental toughness and mentality when you play stiff competition like the Crimson.
“Some games you go into and you know they’re already pretty high emotionally, so you try and keep them calmer,” Derraugh said. “There’s other days when maybe they’re not and you feel like you have to boost them up.”
According to Derraugh, the Red came out pretty flat the first 10 to 15 minutes, and felt he needed to boost the team up emotionally.
The Red got that boost from Harvard penalties, and was able to get a few scores on the power plays.
The Red also played without key forwards Brianne Jenner and Rebecca Johnston, who left the team to play for the Canadian Senior National Team.
However, the Red saw three different players score in the absence of Johnston and Jenner.
According to Derraugh, the currently established precedence of the program has allowed for other players to step up when role players are absent.
“I think one of the things that’s kind of changed in the last few years is the whole culture of the program,” said Derraugh.
“I think now you’re coming in here and the expectations are different, and if you’re a young player and you’re not willing to do the work older players are doing then you figure it out in a hurry.”
The Red were the 2010 National Runner-ups, and earned their first Ivy League title since the 1995-96 season, and continued their storied run when they won their first ECAC Hockey regular-season championship.
For Derraugh, his tenure as coach has been less about finding the talent and more about finding players that will fit into the program and matriculate in the process.
“When I first came here, recruiting was a lot about finding talent, and I think in the years since it’s been a lot more about finding character, and I think that’s a big focus of ours,” said Derraugh.
The Red’s victory over Harvard gave them their first win over a ranked opponent this season.
The Red’s journey to another storied season does not get any easier when they take on an undefeated Dartmouth team tomorrow night at Lynah Rink.
According to Derraugh, the Red will need to play consistently from start to finish against the much-improved Big Green.
“Each game you go into is about playing a complete game and being ready to play every shift,” said Derraugh.
“You can’t take some shifts off and play hard on other shifts and hope to be a champion. It just doesn’t happen.”
by marc.rosenberg 3 days ago
by tim.weisberg 4 days ago
You know its a sign when the Raiders win back-to-back games. This is something they have not done since 2008. With no professional team in Los Angeles, the Raiders have been my team growing up.
Let’s just say it has not been easy to be a Raiders fan. Still amazes me that the second largest city in the United States is still without a professional football team, yet a town with 100,000 people (ahem Green Bay) sports a football franchise.
In any case, there was some promise with Bill Callahan when the Raiders made it to the 2003 Super Bowl, only to get embarrassed. Rich Gannon threw four interceptions, and the Raiders were blown out. You know it’s bad when the Super Bowl MVP is a defensive player (that year it was Dexter Jackson).
The Raiders were at the top of the mountain, but the Buccaneers pushed them down the mountain, injured and unable to climb back up.
Are the Raiders back? Of course not. But it is extremely gratifying to hear that not only have the Raiders won back-to-back games over Denver and Seattle, but that they have outscored their opponents 92-17 during their winning streak, committed no turnovers, and had over a 1,000 total yards.
I can finally hold my head up high and say that this Sunday’s game in the Black Hole against the Chiefs actually means something. The Chiefs are off to a surprising 5-2 start and atop the AFC West, and the Raiders have an opportunity to get that much closer to the concept of a postseason.
It’s been seven miserable years. Lane Kiffin was a disastrous hire, and JaMarcus Russell was the biggest bust at QB since Ryan Leaf.
The Raiders brought in Jason Campbell, who has not been what Raider fans expected, but Gradkowski has shown signs of life, but how about Darren McFadden?
276 rushing yards and three touchdowns the last two games? McFadden is finally proving his worth since being drafted by the Raiders in 2008 from Arkansas. It almost appeared that the Raiders would be given a hard lesson on “Bust 101,” with two first-round draft picks that failed to live up to the hype.
But McFadden’s matriculation is long overdue. He has the quickness, speed and size to be a prominent back in a league stocked with talent.
And so the major success for both the Chiefs and Raiders has been just that: the running game. The Chiefs have Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones, and the Raiders have seen the much-needed production from McFadden.
The ground game plays such a vital role in football, especially in the NFL because it takes pressure off the quarterback and allows teams to incorporate the play-action pass, creating a balance in the offense that makes it efficient and effective.
I am looking for McFadden to have a break out game, and the Raiders to use their dominant defense, productive offense as far as rushing and ball control and the offense to score points!
Russell was bid his farewell, and it has paid off for the Raiders. They say patience is a virtue, and it really is possible to witness a Raiders team that is above .500 after Sunday, and in the thick of the AFC West race.
To put it in perspective, if the Raiders win, this will be the first time since 1994 that both the Chiefs and Raiders simultaneously had winning records.
Told you this game means something. To all the Raiders fans out there, we have something to talk about and be proud about.
Better yet, the Cowboys are 1-6. What now?!
by Jake Mastbaum 4 days ago
by tim.weisberg 4 days ago
by Olivia Boyd 5 days ago
The Cornell Big Red field hockey team met the Villanova Wildcats (7-10) on Marsha Dodson Field on Sunday for its "Stick it to Cancer" game, raising money for the National Foundation for Cancer Research.
For the second time in the weekend, the Red was unable match its opponent on the scoreboard, losing 2-1.
The Red outshot (18-10) and outcornered (12-6) the Wildcats, but was unable to capitalize in time to take the lead. Villanova protected the net, with goalkeeper Meagan Goelz making 8 saves, and Jordan Lynn making a defensive save.
The Wildcats scored in the 48th minute (48:10) when Meredith Sabatini scored off of a reverse hit. The Red had possession throughout the second half, but failed to finish before Lauren Wuzzardo scored, giving Villanova its second goal with less than 7 minutes remaining in the contest (63:31).
Cornell finally put the ball in the cage with less than 4 minutes left in the game (66:16). On a corner, Hannah Balleza inserted the ball to Kate Thompson who shot to the center of the circle, where Catie De Stio received it and drilled it behind Goelz. However, despite the late rally, time ran out and Villanova took the win.
The field hockey team is approaching its last weekend of the 2010 season on Saturday, and looking to end with a "W".
Senior Liz Schovee explained, "The hard part of last weekend was we were so close. We played so great against these top ranked teams so we have a huge desire to go out on a win."
Schovee also touched on what Saturday's game will mean for her as a senior.
"It will definitely be an emotional game because it's all coming to an end. But it's also really exciting because it's such a great accomplishment to know that we've made it through all four years. It's been one of the most challenging things I've gone through to date, but the one I'll be most proud of."
The Red will celebrate the careers of its six seniors in their final home game against Dartmouth on Saturday, November 6th at noon.
by Olivia Boyd 5 days ago
Cornell gave Princeton its closest Ivy League match of the season this past Saturday, keeping the Tigers to a 1 goal difference. Although the Red was unable to pull off the win, a strong boost in the last five minutes brought what would have been a 3-0 game, to a 3-2 final.
The Red started off the game taking control of the ball, but in the 16th minute (16:31) Princeton capitalized on a chance of possession as the nation's leading scorere, Katherine Sharkey scored off of a penalty corner. Sharkey scored again off of another corner at 27:19, making it a 2-0 game at halftime.
The Tigers tallied their third goal 9 minutes into the second half (44:20), when Allison Behringer fired a reverse chip shot to the left side far post. Cornell was unable to match the Tigers' goals for the majority of the second half, until Catie De Stio flipped the ball past Princeton goalkeeper, Jennifer King, with less than five minutes remaining in the half (65:25).
The Red added to the rally when Kate Thompson ripped a shot through King's legs with a little over a minute to go in regulation (68:48). Unable to tie the game before the final whistle, the Cornell team still took away positives from the game.
"I felt constant support on and off of the field," commented junior goalkeeper Alex Botte. "It was support unlike any other I've ever felt and i think it will carry over into next season." Botte and the rest of the Cornell backfield had a strong defensive effort, holding Princeton below its season average of 4.2 goals per game and making 5 saves; 4 by Botte and 1 defensive save by Liz Schovee.
by tim.weisberg 6 days ago
They say revenge is best served as a cold dish. The No. 4-ranked Mercyhurst Lakers served up their dish on ice, handing the No. 2-ranked Red their first loss of the season in a 4-3 overtime win Tuesday night at Lynah Rink.
The game was a rematch of the 2010 NCAA semifinal, in which 3-2 overtime win landed the Red in the national championship game.
The Lakers (7-1-0) got their revenge, winning on a short-handed goal in the first minute of overtime to stun the Red (4-1-0).
According to Red head coach Doug Derraugh, the loss to the Lakers was a tough one to swallow.
“It’s obviously a tough way to lose,” Derraugh said.
The Red struck first on a goal by Brianne Jenner 15 minutes into the first period.
But every time the Red took the lead, the Lakers seemed to match the Red with a goal of their own.
The Red had a chance to pull away in the third period when Jenner added her second goal of the night midway through the final period , but less than a minute later, the Lakers tied the game at three.
In overtime, the Red had a power play advantage, but the puck slipped passed the blue line and Lakers senior defenseman Cassea Schols took control of the puck before dishing it to senior forward Jesse Scanzano for the game-winner.
Despite the loss, Derraugh enjoys playing against the Lakers.
“I like playing this team because it’s always a challenge,” said Derraugh. “I think it’s turning into a really good rivalry.”
The Lakers lead the all-time series with a 12-1-1 record, but their lone loss to the Red came earlier this year in the Frozen Four.
The Red ended the Lakers’ 09-10 season, but revenge was served on the cold Lynah Rink ice.
The Red’s disappointing loss also comes with some tough news; Jenner and junior Rebecca Johnston will be gone for two weeks when they leave to play for the Canadian national team.
However, according to Jenner, the Red will be deep enough to be able to win without her presence on the ice.
“I think everybody matters on this team, and we have the depth,” Jenner said. “[I am] going to miss playing with them and will be excited to get back.”
The Red face another tough match-up this weekend, when they host Ivy League opponents Harvard and Dartmouth.
But despite the expected absence of key players at the center and right wing position, Johnston and her fellow teammates have one particular goal in mind: a national championship.
“That’s something I definitely want to accomplish before I leave Cornell,” Johnston said. “I think our team is worthy of that goal."
The Red hopes to stay undefeated in conference play when they take on Harvard on Friday, Nov. 5 and Dartmouth on Saturday, Nov. 6 at Lynah Rink.