Room to run Running back Bobby Collins Jr. rumbles toward one of his five touchdowns this season in the Bears' recent 46-0 home win over the University of Rochester. Collins has rushed for 930 yards this year, shattering the University's rookie rushing record by more than 230 yards. The 7-2 Bears have won the University Athletic Association title and are hoping for a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs. For more, see Sports, Page 5. |
Football tops Chicago, gets conference title
The Bears wrapped up their second outright University Athletic Association (UAA) title in the last three years and kept alive their hopes for a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs with a 21-17 home win over the University of Chicago Oct. 27. The victory also earned WU the Founder's Cup, which commemorates the first football game played between UAA schools. On the final plays of the game, Chicago quarterback Josh Dunn tossed three incomple-tions --two in the end zone --as the Bears hung on to pull out the victory. WU quarterback Brian Tatom completed 15 of 24 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns. Bobby Collins Jr. carried 32 times for 111 yards and a score, and Jim Donley had seven catches for a career-high 122 yards and two touchdowns.
Volleyball takes 13th straight UAA title
The volleyball team, ranked sixth in NCAA Division III, won its 13th consecutive UAA title Oct. 28 in Chicago by beating Carnegie Mellon University in the championship match, 30-17, 30-23, 30-27. The victory gave WU its 14th conference title in 15 years of league play and wrapped up an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Sophomore Katie Quinn rolled up 18 kills and no errors for an .818 hitting percentage for the 29-5 Bears, and sophomore Amy Brand added 22 kills. Junior Rebecca Rotello added 41 assists and 12 digs. The Bears advanced to the championship match by defeating New York University, 30-8, 30-13, 30-20, in the semifinals. Brand and Rotello earned first-team all-UAA honors, and freshman Colleen Winter was tabbed with second-team honors.
Men's, women's tennis at ITA championships
Sophomore Brian Alvo placed seventh at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Small College Championships Oct. 18-20 in Plano, Texas. After dropping two matches, Alvo defeated Jordan Taillon of Trinity University, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-5, in the seventh-place contest. The women's tennis doubles tandem of Kat Copiozo and Rathi Mani came away from the championships with a sixth-place finish. The duo rebounded from a first-round loss with a 9-7 win over Lindsay Smith and Megan Suarez of Trinity before dropping the fifth-place match.
Men's cross country wins UAA; women 3rd
The men's cross country team put four runners in the top 11 and won its third straight UAA title Oct. 27 at Emory University. The women took third at the UAA championships. Senior Pat MacDonald finished in third place (25:35.70), senior Bryan Tilton was eighth (26:00.83), sophomore Matt Hoelle 10th (26:03.99) and senior Travis Deutman 11th (26:12.02) as the Bears posted 49 points to edge out second-place Chicago. On the women's side, sophomore Mindy Kuhl was third and sophomore Emily Lahowetz was fifth, but Emory took the title with 54 points to the Bears' 70.
Men's soccer loses to Chicago, 3-2
The men's soccer team played for the UAA championship Oct. 27 at Chicago and dropped a 3-2 decision. The Bears were down 2-0 at halftime but fought back to tie the score before Chicago scored the game-winner in the 87th minute. Sophomore Scott Siebers and freshman Matt Twardowski scored for the visitors. The Bears also posted a 4-0 home win against Illinois Wesleyan University Oct. 24.
Women's soccer notches upset in finale
The Bears wrapped up their season with a loss and a win to finish the year 7-7-3. After dropping a 1-0 decision Oct. 24 to Illinois Wesleyan, WU upset host Chicago Oct. 27 in the season finale, 1-0. The game was scoreless until the 60th minute when Kim Raess scored. Senior Stephanie Peters made 10 saves to pick up the shutout.