Local Roundup: Orszulak sets new goal scoring mark for AIC hockey

Date: 2/20/2015

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Springfield native Austin Orszulak netted a pair of goals to become the first player in the Division I era of the American International College men’s hockey program to record a 20-goal season, but it was not enough as American International College dropped a 9-3 decision to Air Force on Feb. 13.

On a break out of their own end, Orszulak lifted the puck to center where teammate Johno May gloved it down and skated over the blue line. May then dished a drop pass to Orszulak who skated into the left slot and went bar down over the glove to beat Air Force goalie Chris Truehl for his first at 15:16 of the second period.

The duo struck again just 24 seconds into the final period as freshman Andrew DeBrincat found May along the right side boards and he fed Orszulak over the blue line and the sophomore skated up the slot and fired blocker side for his second marker of the game.

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – Krista Ferrentino of East Longmeadow scored a game-high 25 points, including a shot with a runner in the lane to close the American International College women’s basketball to within 68-66 with just under two minutes to go, but the Yellow Jackets ultimately fell short to the eighth-ranked Adelphi 76-70 on Feb. 10.

WESTFIELD – Senior guard Andre King of Springfield scored 23 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out five assists to lead Westfield State to a 101-81 win over Worcester State University.

The Owls scored 100 points in a game for the first time since a 118-70 win over Paul Smith’s (NY) College on Nov. 15, 2008.

Jesus Sanchez, also of Springfield, added 12 points and six assists for Westfield State.

Marquez McKreith-Collins of Springfield netted 11 points for Worcester State.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Ashley Monahan of Springfield nabbed a first place spot in the 1,000 meter run (3:11.04) for the Westfield State University women’s indoor track team at the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) indoor track and field championships, as the Owls finished third as a team in the MASCAC, and fifth at the concurrent New England Alliance championships.

CHICOPEE – Springfield native Jordan Monts tied for the game high with 17 points and pulled down eight rebounds for Regis College as the Pride men’s basketball team topped Elms College 71-55 on Feb. 14.

SOUTH KINGSTON, R.I. – James Grippo of Longmeadow placed 10th in the 200-meter backstroke at the 2015 New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association (NEISDA) Championships. Misha Kuyuzov of Chicopee took 14th in the 200 meter individual medley (2:14.67), and 15th in the 50 meter breaststroke (31.97).

CHICOPEE – Aaliyah Gordon of Springfield led the Bay Path University women’s basketball team with 15 points and five rebounds and Dallas Jackson, also of Springfield, was not far behind with 14 points, four assists and four rebounds, but Elms College defeated the Wildcats 85-55 on Feb. 12.

SPRINGFIELD – Alex Garstka of Westfield netted 10 points off the bench, aiding the Springfield College men's basketball team in a 70-57 road victory over Emerson College on Feb. 14.

SPRINGFIELD – Collin Ritter of Feeding Hills moved into third place on the Wentworth College men’s volleyball team’s all-time assist list, as the Leopards defeated Hunter 3-0 (25-21, 25-13, 25-22) before upsetting defending national champion and No. 5 Springfield 3-1 (25-15, 29-27, 18-25, 25-16).

Against Hunter, Ritter had 38 assists and seven digs. Against Springfield, he recorded 42 helpers, two aces, three blocks and eight digs.

Springfield College’s Ryan Malone of Chicopee tallied 10 kills while hitting .389 in the Pride’s 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-16) sweep of Hunter and also recorded 10 kills in the loss to Wentworth.