51·çÁ÷

It was a fruitful weekend for 51·çÁ÷ athletics, as the men’s hockey team and women’s basketball team snagged regular season titles after securing big victories.

The hockey team bounced back from a tough 1-0 loss to Clarkson on Friday night to beat St. Lawrence 3-2 at Starr Rink on Saturday.

The victory gave the Raiders their first regular season title since 1990, the year they put together an incredible run to the NCAA tournament title game.

The Raiders, seeded No. 1, will have a bye in the first round of the upcoming ECAC tournament and will host the quarterfinals on March 12-14 at Starr Rink. They finished the regular season with an overall record of 19-10-5 and a 14-6-2 mark in league play.

Sophomore Jon Smyth scored two goals, including the game winner, to ensure the victory over St. Lawrence. Senior captain Rob Brown tied the school record for games played with his 138th contest, and 51·çÁ÷ honored its senior class of Brown, Kyle Doyle, David Cann, Paul Kelley and Matt Nicholson before the game.

Over at Cotterell Court, the women’s basketball team dribbled its way into the 51·çÁ÷ record books with a 75-66 win over Bucknell. The victory gave the team its first Patriot League regular season title. It also provided the Raiders with the No. 1 seed for the upcoming league tournament.

The Raiders will begin their quest for a Patriot League championship and the team’s first NCAA tournament berth at noon Friday, March 5, against Lafayette in the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Md.  Should the Raiders advance to the championship game, it will be played in Hamilton on Wednesday, March 10.

The Raiders finished their season with an overall record of 18-9 and a 10-4 mark in the Patriot League, its most conference wins ever.

Seniors Malissa Burke, Emily Damuth, and Vicky Briscoe were honored prior to the game in a senior day ceremony. 

On Friday night, the Raiders had maintained their position at the top of the conference rankings with a 76-65 victory over Lehigh.