Abad carries Springfield College lacrosse to NEWMAC title

Date: 5/8/2014

SPRINGFIELD – Led by Most Outstanding Player Devin Abad of East Longmeadow, the Springfield College men’s lacrosse team defeated Babson College, 12-6, to win the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championship on Stagg Field May 3.

Abad netted a game-high four goals and added an assist.

With the win, Springfield improved to 14-3 and earned an automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Championship.

The victory marks Springfield’s 56th-straight win over league opponents as the Pride is headed to the NCAA Championship for the seventh-straight season. After winning the last six Pilgrim Lacrosse League titles, the Pride won the NEWMAC’s first men’s lacrosse title since it last offered the sport in 2004.

For Babson, Kyle Barsalou of Longmeadow posted two assists and a goal.

Dudeck paces WNE to CCC title, earns weekly honors

SPRINGFIELD – Western New England University (WNE) men’s lacrosse player Keegan Dudeck of Longmeadow earned both Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Offensive Player and Rookie of the Week honors on May 6.

Dudeck, a midfielder, had a breakout week by leading the Golden Bears’ offensively to the program’s third consecutive conference title with six assists and 11 points, plus he had six ground balls. He set career highs with three goals, four assists, and seven points to lead all scorers in WNE’s 16-12 win over Roger Williams University in the CCC Semifinals. Dudeck then posted four points on two goals and two assists in the CCC championship victory over No. 1 seed Endicott College, as WNE claimed a 13-8 win for the CCC crown.

Weldon, Forrest named to All-NECC team

NORTH ATTLEBORO – Elms College baseball’s sophomore pitcher Tom Weldon of Springfield was named First Team New England Collegiate Conference (NECC), while junior center fielder Brady Forrest of Hampden named Second Team All-NECC as five Blazers were honored by the league on May 5.

Weldon was 2-1 in 31 innings pitched. He notched a 2.90 ERA and struck out a team-high 26 batters in four games started. He allowed a total of 15 runs – 10 earned – on 24 hits.

Forrest was second on the team in batting average (.314) with 22 hits including five doubles and a pair of triples, while driving in a team-high 13 runs.

Pirog earns All-NECC Honorable Mention

NORTH ATTLEBORO – Elms College sophomore attacker Jillian Pirog of Ludlow was named Honorable Mention All-NECC on May 5.

Pirog scored 26 goals during the season, picked up 24 groundballs, and won seven draws during the 2014 campaign. She ranked third on the team in goals in conference with nine.

AIC women’s track places fifth at NE-10 Championships

NORTH EASTON – Jeptui Cherutich of Springfield took second in the 10,000 meter run with a time of 37:12.05 and claimed fifth in the 5,000 meter run, pacing out an 18:27.45 as the American International College women’s track and field team placed fifth at the Northeast 10 Championships on May 2 and 3.

Calabrese socks homer, but Pride swept by Williams

WILLAIMSTOWN – The Springfield College baseball team received strong hitting from Frank Calabrese of East Longmeadow, who launched a two-run home run in game one, but the Pride dropped both games of the doubleheader at host Williams College on May 3 8-6 and 10-9 in extra innings.

In addition to the home run, Calabrese knocked in a run in game two.