Recent Contributions from Yael Borofsky

M. Lax Skips Slope Day to Play Hobart

Yael Borofsky — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Far away from Libe Slope and the debauchery known as “Slope Day,” the men’s lacrosse team will be experiencing Hobart’s version of a college celebration spectacle. Tonight, the Red will sum up its regular season by participating in the first night game ever held at Boswell Field hosted by the Hobart Statesmen.

There is a lot on the line for both Cornell and Hobart. For the Red, this match-up could be the deciding factor in their bid to play in the postseason.

Winning this weekend will arguably be the most important step in the team’s quest to make it back to the Final Four at Gillette Stadium. In addition, head coach Jeff Tambroni will be returning to his alma mater and the setting where he played college lacrosse.

Myers Jumps From Bench to Goal

Yael Borofsky — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Like a younger brother who works hard to get an identity separate from that of his “perfect” older sibling, senior men’s lacrosse goaltender Jake Myers has worked hard this season to be a quality goalie in his own right and more than just a replacement for 2007 Ivy League Player of the Year Matt McMonagle ’07. After three years of diligently waiting in line, Myers got the nod at the start of the season and has never looked back.

“I probably started out a little slow, but I think I’ve been getting better and better,” Myers said.

Settling the Score: New Yorkers Play Dirty, Too

Yael Borofsky — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Finally, I have proof that New Yorkers have no class. Ok, so maybe that’s a bit of a generalization but I have good reason to be bitter. For as long as I can remember, New York and New Jersey hockey fans have taken great joy in accusing the Philadelphia Flyers of playing a “dirty” brand of hockey. Unwarranted and unsolicited, they repeatedly call the Flyers meatheads and no-talent bullies just because they have a (very) physical playing style. Much to my excitement, on Sunday night Rangers forward Sean Avery demonstrated what playing dirty really looks like.

M. Lax Tries to Bounce Back

Yael Borofsky — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Don’t be fooled by the combination of colors that will be streaking across Schoellkopf Field tomorrow — it’s not a Christmas performance of The Nutcracker. Actually, it will be the men’s lacrosse team facing off against the Dartmouth Green. The Red’s third match-up this week will be the first of three straight Ivy League contests.

“One aspect is that we have time to think about the mistakes we made in the Syracuse game and how we are going to improve and apply that to the Dartmouth game,” said senior Danny Nathan. “We made some mistakes this week, and we can grow and we can learn from them.”

Red Holds Off Crimson Run

Yael Borofsky — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

They came, they played, they conquered. This weekend, the men’s lacrosse team made a little mark on the pages of lacrosse history by playing and defeating the Harvard Crimson in the first lacrosse game ever played in Gillette Stadium, in Foxborough, Mass. The Red also secured its 10th consecutive victory over the Crimson.

“It means a lot so far to be the first team asked in there to play and to play an Ivy League opponent like Harvard,” said junior Matt Moyer. “Hopefully we can build from the victory and continue that in our next couple games coming up.”

Red, Crimson to Face Off at Gillette

Yael Borofsky — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

On Saturday morning you won’t see Tom Brady and the Patriots warming-up on the field at Gillette Stadium, but you will see the men’s lacrosse team gearing up to take on an important Ivy League rival, Harvard. The Red travels to Foxboro, Mass. today to compete in the Inaugural New England Lacrosse Classic and make history by playing in the first lacrosse game to ever be held at Gillette Stadium tomorrow afternoon. Despite the high-profile venue, the Red is prepared to handle the pressure.

“I don’t think it’s going to affect our nerves,” said senior Danny Nathan.

The Best Day of the Year

Yael Borofsky — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

In honor of the opening day of Major League Baseball, I decided to take a little time out to recall why a game that only requires a wooden bat, a small white and red-stitched ball, and a leather glove (not steroids) keeps fans coming back for more each April.

Opinions about baseball can generally be separated into two distinct, predictable camps. One dugout contains the loyal fans that maintain that baseball is and will always be “America’s favorite pastime.” However, the naysayers adamantly proclaim that baseball is the most painfully boring sport on earth and that they would rather watch professional bull riding than Major League Baseball.

Nathan Switches Sticks, Becomes Vocal Leader

Yael Borofsky — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0400

In the only sport where it’s possible to decide between a short stick and a long stick, senior co-captain Danny Nathan had to make the switch. In an impressive act of selflessness, Nathan agreed to undergo a metamorphosis from his former position on defense, which uses a long stick, to become a short-stick wielding defensive midfielder in his junior year so that then sophomore Nick Gradinger could gain a spot on defense. Lucky for Nathan, picking up a short stick was not quite so hard as it might have been since he had some experience with the position in high school. “Its been challenging at times trying to play a different position where you don’t have as much room for mistakes…” Nathan said. “I played short stick in high school so it’s good to get back to my roots. “

Seibald Hopes to Lead Red Back to Final Four

Yael Borofsky — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0400

It isn’t often that one of the top players on a Division I lacrosse team is willing to admit that his older sister used to fight his battles for him when he was in a pinch.

“She was always my protector,” Seibald said. “If anyone messed with me, she would beat them up”

And although he claims he’s capable of taking care of himself these days, he’s also willing to admit that he’s happy they live in the same apartment building on campus, just in case he needs a little backup.

“We actually live in the same apartment building so if I ever need some food she is only a couple steps away,” Seibald said.

Glynn Eyes Fourth Title

Yael Borofsky — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0400

When a partially torn ACL came back to haunt senior co-captain John Glynn in his sophomore campaign at Cornell, it was a huge disappointment to sit out an entire season. Down but not out, Glynn returned in his junior year with a vengeance, playing an important role as a midfielder and scoring the game-winning goal against Albany in the NCAA quarterfinals.

“Just not playing, I really kind of took a different view on the team,” Glynn said. “Last year, when I got the chance to come back and start playing the game, it was definitely more rewarding.”

M. Lax Aims to Reverse Penn Curse

Yael Borofsky — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Much to the Red’s chagrin, the Philadelphia curse of William Penn does not seem to be working in its favor. Usually it is the Philly teams, including college squads, that seem to have a pattern of losing.

Somehow, however, the Red has lost to the Quakers at Franklin Field, twice in the last five years. Tomorrow, the Red is intent on reversing this vicious cycle and clinching its second Ivy League victory.

M. Lax Bonds, Gets Two Wins Over Spring Break

Yael Borofsky — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0400

If you felt bad for the men’s lacrosse team, who played two games while most Cornell students laid out on the beach at a hodgepodge of sunny Spring Break destinations, don’t waste too much time on pity.

Not only did the Red spend six days in Dallas, Texas, but the time off from school helped the squad to two important victories over the Denver Pioneers and the Yale Bulldogs.

On its “vacation” in Dallas, the Red accomplished a lot more than just a splotchy suntan. Cornell earned a 20-7 win in its first ever contest against Denver, but the individual players who struggled to find each other back in Ithaca, succeeded in bonding and playing together as a unit for the first time this season.

Borofsky Discovers the True Meaning of Athletic Competition

Yael Borofsky — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0400

A little while ago Chris Berman of ESPN announced that the “Miracle on Ice” of Mike Eruzione’s game-winning, Russian-crushing goal in 1980 was voted the greatest highlight of all time. And I am not about to argue with that for two reasons: one, it’s a really bad idea to argue with hockey fans and two, I love that movie. Still, all this highlight hoopla got me thinking about what makes a great sports moment ESPN top-10 worthy. Then, two weekends ago, I’m pretty sure I was a part of one.

Red Fails to Capitalize On Power Play Chances

Yael Borofsky — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 02:00:00 -0400

While most college students were out partying on Friday night, the Dartmouth Big Green hockey team was doing its homework — on the Red. On Saturday night, when the teams faced off in Game 2 of the first round of the playoffs, the Red played from behind all night and succumbed to the Green’s relentless effort by a score of 5-3. Dartmouth’s hard work paid off and earned it a chance to play a third game in the quest for the ECAC hockey quarterfinals.

Red Hopes to Follow Up on Decisive Win

Yael Borofsky — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Any yearly event that allows a guy to shove his Gillette razor in the back of the drawer is probably cause for excitement, but the first round of ECAC playoff hockey means more than just a playoff beard to the men’s hockey team. Without a first-round bye and one less week to grow some facial fuzz, the Red will start off a best-of-three series against Dartmouth at Lynah Rink tonight.

“It’s playoff time, obviously its going to be fast and hard-nosed,” said sophomore alternate captain Colin Greening.

M. Lacrosse Must Step Up Play To Compete With Elite Foes

Yael Borofsky — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Tomorrow, the men’s lacrosse team will host their home opener, for real this time. After the scheduled home opener against Binghamton was canceled due to inclement weather, the Red will finally play a regular season game at home on Schoellkopf Field against the Army Black Knights.

“We need to get a win,” said senior John Glynn. “To start 1-1 this year is not a great way to start. We are definitely looking to this week and trying to get a win over a very good Army team.”

M. Icers drop second contest of weekend to Ivy-leader Princeton

Yael Borofsky — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

“Rollercoaster ride” doesn’t even begin to describe the ups and downs the men’s hockey team has experienced as the regular season reaches its end and the stakes get ever higher. Despite a thrilling over-time victory against Quinnipiac the night before, the Red (13-11-3, 11-8-1 ECAC Hockey) struggled to hit its stride on Saturday night against the Princeton Tigers (17-10-0, 14-6-0), suffering a 2-1 loss in Hobey Baker Rink.

Men's Hockey Seeks Bye Week in Playoffs

Yael Borofsky — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

For the Red this weekend, hockey is a numbers game. The difference between number four and five has never meant more than it will tonight and tomorrow night when the Red (12-10-3, 10-7-1 ECAC Hockey) go on the road for the last time this regular season to compete against Quinnipiac (17-9-4, 9-5-4 ECAC Hockey) and Princeton (15-10-0, 12-6-0 ECAC Hockey). The fourth place ECAC finish means a first-round playoff bye. Fifth means one more weekend of hockey.

M. Lax Scrimmages Hopkins

Yael Borofsky — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Though an ever-present wintry mix falls from the sky in Ithaca, some athletes already have spring on the mind. Regardless of weather or season, the men’s lacrosse team was ready to take the field on Saturday in its second scrimmage of the year. The Red faced the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays — the reigning NCAA champions.

Cornell surrenders two-goal cushion in

Yael Borofsky — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

What started as one bad weekend against Clarkson and St. Lawrence turned into a three-game losing streak Friday night, when Union (13-10-5, 8-5-4 ECAC) pulled off a come-from-behind 3-2 win against the Red (11-10-3, 9-7-1 ECAC Hockey) at Lynah Rink.

“It’s just one of those things where it’s been happening all year and we’ve talked about and talked about it,” said senior co-captain Topher Scott. “We talk about it all the time but it’s a fact of doing it. It’s time we start walking the walk and become a top-tier team in this league because we are. We’re just not playing like it. It’s not the whole game. It’s just for some reason or another we are letting up. It’s got to stop.”

Voting Polls or Kickball: Borofsky Decides

Yael Borofsky — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

I know that my job is to write a sports column (among other things) but like most college students/Americans, in general, I just can’t ignore all the presidential hullabaloo. So, like a good little fledgling citizen, I’ve been mulling over the issues, comparing and contrasting the candidates. With so much time to consider the “issues” until my very first voting experience (scrapbook, here I come), I decided two things: One, arguing about the issues is like talking about Barry Bonds…we all already know our opinions and two, there was definitely a better method of deciding who was “cool” in elementary school and it went by the name of kickball.

Men's Hockey Vies for Top Spot

Yael Borofsky — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Sitting in sole possession of second place in the ECAC Hockey standings, the Red is gearing up to close the gap between itself and its first place rival, the Clarkson Golden Knights tonight at Cheel Arena. Tomorrow night the Red will travel to Appleton Arena to take on the St. Lawrence Saints, ranked No. 9 in the conference.

Nash Provides Goal, Assist in Victory

Yael Borofsky — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

HAMILTON, N.Y. — Many spectators experienced déjà vu Saturday night when the game at Starr rink in Hamilton started off similarly to Friday night’s match-up against Colgate at Lynah. However, thanks to a late game-winner by freshman Riley Nash, who notched two points on the night, the Red defeated the Raiders by a score of 3-1 thereby completing a sweep in the home-on-home weekend.

M. Icers Host, Travel to Colgate

Yael Borofsky — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

After the men’s hockey team’s schedule ignored upstate rival Colgate for the first two thirds of the season, the Red (9-7-3, 7-4-1 ECAC) will get a double dose of the Raiders (10-10-4, 4-5-3) at Lynah Rink tonight and then at Starr Rink in Hamilton tomorrow night.

“Over the course, you get familiar with their style and what they want to do and they’re very familiar with what we want to do,” said head coach Mike Schafer ’86.

Life After ’Roids; What Constitutes an Unfair Advantage?

Yael Borofsky — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The naked Grecians that battled for Olympic glory competed not just for pride and validation in the mortal realm, but for the favor and approval of the gods. If those noble, laurel-bedecked athletes could witness (and comprehend) the state of the Olympics today their perfectly toned abs would ripple (among other things) as they scoffed in disgust at the controversies surrounding their sacred games.

While nudity (at least not in its most literal form) is not my prescribed solution for the steroid controversies tarnishing the reputations of Olympic athletes and the games themselves, perhaps a “bare” (ahem) essentials review of what the Olympics truly stands for might provide some useful perspective.

M. Icers Look to Fight Off Ivy Foes

Yael Borofsky — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

While the Red does not have a mascot nearly as intimidating as Yale or Brown (in fact, Touchdown the Bear is an unofficial mascot), the men’s hockey team knows that names can be deceiving. Having already defeated Yale (8-7-3, 4-4-3 ECAC Hockey) and Brown (1-12-4, 1-6-3 ECAC Hockey) earlier in the season, the squad aims to complete a season sweep of both teams this weekend at Lynah rink.

“We have to come out with the same intensity both nights,” said senior alternate captain Doug Krantz.

Early Goals Doom Men's Icers in Loss

Yael Borofsky — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Less than a month ago the Red held the Clarkson Golden Knights to a tie. Yesterday afternoon, the squad fell short of repeating history in a 4-2 loss at the hands of the Knights, surrendering precious ground in the hunt for first place in the league.

“It was a really frustrating game,” said head coach Mike Schafer ’86. "I am really disappointed in our players and they’re disappointed in themselves. Clarkson, you have to give them kudos. They came out and played with high intensity and we came out and didn’t do a very good job at all. We came out and stood around and watched and they played well.”

Mugford, Nash Complete Long Road Back

Yael Borofsky — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

With one game left to play before Winter Break, the men’s hockey team is already starting to show signs of the wear and tear of a long, rigorous season

Luckily, two players who have been solid contributing members for the Red in the past were healthy enough to replace a few holes in the ranks on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

Junior forward Tyler Mugford, who missed four games prior to Saturday’s contest, and sophomore defensemen Brendan Nash, who had not played a game all season due to a knee injury, are now ready to reassume their places on the team.

Hockey Fans Show Loyalty

Yael Borofsky — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Sprinting and ducking through the customary throngs of people in Times Square as I made my way from 47th street to MSG in a vain attempt to find two more tickets to the Cornell-B.U. game Saturday night, my head kept whirling around as I saw cafes and restaurants chock-full of red and white whirring past my ducking and dodging head. If you were at the game Saturday night, you already know there was no way I could have purchased two last-minute tickets. At the risk of exposing my “wild” side, I did ask a very shady looking scalper if he had two tickets. The interaction went something like this:

Me: Two tickets?

Shady Scalper: You want two?

Me: Yeah, how much?

S.S.: 100.

Me: 100? They are selling for 15.

S.S.: What? What show are you talking about?

Me: The hockey game.

M. Hockey Faces Crimson, Green

Yael Borofsky — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

People have said that crimson is a more elite and sophisticated shade of red. This weekend when the men’s hockey team hits the road to take on the Harvard Crimson (3-1, 3-1 ECAC Hockey) and the Dartmouth Green (3-2, 2-2), it’ll be out to prove that it doesn’t need elitism to win and that red is truly the superior color.

“It’s a pretty big weekend,” said senior co-captain Raymond Sawada. “It’s really a big rivalry with Harvard but we’re going to treat them the same way we treat every weekend. We’re going to come in and play our own game like we did this past weekend.”

Volleyball Challenges Dartmouth, Harvard

Yael Borofsky — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Challenging. That’s the word that senior captain Amy Gordon and senior Kara Zaragoza believe best describes their team’s experience this season. With only two more “challenges” left in the rest of their volleyball careers at Cornell, both girls stress that they still have something to prove this weekend when they hit the road one last time to take on the Dartmouth Green (13-9, 6-6 Ivy) and the Harvard Crimson (7-17, 2-10).

When Does Sports Technology Go Too Far?

Yael Borofsky — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Thanks to the Patriots, the World Series, and the never-ending Michael Vick saga, most people have probably already forgotten about Barry Bonds and his home run hitting debacle last summer. Still, just because we all lost interest in Bonds doesn’t mean anyone has lost interest in the role steroids play in the world of Major League Baseball or in the entire world of sports.

Devin Twins Come as Package Deal

Yael Borofsky — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

When freshman hockey players Mike and Joe Devin look at each other, it must be just like looking in a mirror. With a height difference of about an inch and a weight difference of a couple of pounds depending on whose eaten more recently, these fraternal twins from Scituate, Mass., are shockingly difficult to tell apart. With similar voices and the ability to complete each other’s sentences, it’s no wonder that when they were younger, they frequently fooled teachers, friends and teammates by pretending to be the other.

Red Welcomes Columbia to Newman Arena This Evening to Complete Home Schedule

Yael Borofsky — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

It’s been a long and challenging season for the women’s volleyball team, who has struggled to overcome the obstacle of inexperience throughout the last few months.

With a loss to Brown and a huge win over Yale this past weekend behind it, the Red will finish out this three-match marathon against Columbia at Newman Arena tonight.

“We’ll practice on Sunday and turn our focus to Columbia,” said head coach Deitre Collins-Parker. “This has been a good week as far as injuries go as most everyone is doing pretty well. They know it will be tough to have three games but it’s what everybody does in the country so we’ll just have to deal with it.”

Experienced Captains Lead Young Forwards

Yael Borofsky — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 00:13:17 -0400

With eight underclassmen making up the majority of the team’s 14 forwards, it seems that inexperience might be a concern throughout the season. However, with the two senior co-captains, Topher Scott and Raymond Sawada, and one alternate captain, sophomore Colin Greening, countering inexperience with leadership and knowledge, this unit shows promise as a lethal, goal-scoring force.

“We brought a lot of goal scorers in,” Greening said. “We have guys like [freshman] Riley Nash and [freshman] Tyler Roeszler, guys who can put the puck in the net. Not only that but we brought a lot of talent in. Not just the forwards but defense. When you look at us we have a lot of our scorers coming back from last year. So we may have lost a lot of guys but we have definitely brought a lot in.”

Sawada Leads Red Offense by Example

Yael Borofsky — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 00:11:50 -0400

For a player who has been in the spotlight since he arrived at Cornell three years ago, senior co-captain Ray Sawada has done an impressive job of staying strong under the pressure of high expectations. A second-round draft pick for the Dallas Stars in 2004, he showed that he could add aggression and skill to the Red offense. Even during the difficult season the Red suffered last year, Sawada emerged as one of the most physical and most successful offensive players.

Hockey wasn’t always been the sole focus for Sawada. Over the years, he also played basketball and participated in three events in track and field — the decathlon, the pole vault and the javelin. The Canada native even holds the pole vault record at Vancouver College High School.

Fan Favorite Scott Aims To Cap Stellar Career

Yael Borofsky — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 00:10:42 -0400

Dependable and consistent, senior co-captain Topher Scott has not missed a single game in his entire 102 game career playing for the Red. Heading into his final season as a Cornell hockey player, Scott is aiming to help his team come together as a force in the ECAC Hockey League.

The role of captainship is not new to this Illinois native. Scott also served as captain for his junior hockey team, the Chicago Steel in the USHL. While playing for the Steel, he was named team MVP and selected to the USHL all-star team. Last year, he helped the Red through a tough season as an alternate captain, which provided him with plenty of experience for the coming year.

Volleyball to Face Ivy Foes

Yael Borofsky — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0400

With losses to the Brown Bears (5-14, 3-6 Ivy) and Yale (13-5, 7-2) still fresh in the minds of the members of the volleyball team, taking on the same teams just two weekends later seems to be rehashing bad memories a little too quickly. However, Cornell is not stuck in the past and is anxious to show both teams that no one can come into Newman Arena without expecting a fight.

Men's Hockey Hosts Two Conference Foes

Yael Borofsky — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0400

While the disappointing season opener against RIT is in the past, the men’s hockey team knows better than to just forgive and forget their shortcomings last Saturday. After lengthy discussion about what went wrong, the Red are ready to focus its attention to this weekend’s games against Princeton (1-0) tonight and Quinnipiac (1-3) tomorrow night.

Sweeps End Volleyball’s Title Hopes

Yael Borofsky — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The volleyball team continued its Ivy League free-fall this weekend, with its fourth and fifth straight losses to Princeton (13-3, 5-0 Ivy) and Penn (12-7, 5-2), respectively. In spite of high hopes just two weeks ago when the Red (6-15 , 3-6) was tied for third in the Ivy League, the squad could not overcome the experience and skill of both teams and pull out a win.

“I think both teams just have more experience than we do and are really playing well together,” said head coach Deitre Collins-Parker. “In both matches, at times, it just felt like everything was moving too fast for us at this point.”

Men’s Hockey Opens With Loss

Yael Borofsky — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Maybe it was the daunting 11,000-seat arena half-filled with orange T-shirts, or maybe it was just that the rink was larger than trusty old Lynah Rink. Either way, the Red struggled on Saturday in its first regular season debut against the RIT Tigers, losing 4-1.

“RIT played very well,” said head coach Mike Schafer. “They did a good job and they came ready to play and play hard, and I thought they did that throughout the course of the night. We had a lot of scoring chances and they did a good job not giving us any second chances.”

There is Life After Sports

Yael Borofsky — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

It all starts with T-ball and Mites on Ice. Who doesn’t have those fond memories of Big League chew and endless orange-slice mouth guards? I, like so many others, can easily recount the leathery feel of my first baseball glove, the shininess of my first soccer ball and the stiffness of my first pair of skates.

Suddenly, the warm fuzziness disappears as the joy and excitement of sports vanishes, replaced by aggressive competitions fraught with the stress of performance and the critical stares of college scouts. When does playing Sunday morning soccer at the YMCA turn into a way of life and is the time spent becoming the ‘best of the best’ really worth it?

Volleyball Set for Key Weekend

Yael Borofsky — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

This time last week, the volleyball team might have lost hope of attaining a fourth Ivy League championship. But two huge wins against Harvard and Dartmouth last weekend turned the entire conference on its head and entered the Red (6-9, 3-2 Ivy) into a three-way tie for third place with Yale and Penn.

This weekend, the Red could be facing two of the most important matches of the season when it takes on the Yale Bulldogs (9-5, 3-2 Ivy) tonight and the Brown Bears (2-13, 0-5 Ivy) tomorrow.

Red, Green, Crimson, Pink to Fill Newman

Yael Borofsky — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

If the promise of some exciting competition is not enough to get you in the stands at Newman Arena tonight and tomorrow, then “Passionately Pink for the Cure” — a breast cancer prevention fundraiser — not to mention a banner dedication ceremony should definitely convince you to make the trip.

This weekend the Red (4-9, 1-2 Ivy) takes on two more Ivy League foes, Harvard (6-10, 1-3 Ivy) and Dartmouth (11-3, 4-0). It is the team’s first home match after 10 road contests.

Give the NHL Some Love Too, Sport Fans

Yael Borofsky — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

If you’ve been wandering around in a “Hunt for October” induced daze (I have), wondering why you feel like you’re forgetting something — scratch your confused head no more. What’s been nagging so persistently at your baseball-and-football-suffused conscious is exciting, especially for dejected Mets fans who have nothing to look forward to as far as October baseball is concerned (uh-oh). The best part is, you’re going to kick yourself when I tell you…

It’s hockey season … DUH.

That’s right, after about three weeks of preseason games that went unnoticed by many “hockey fans,” the season began yesterday, overshadowed by the thrilling quest for the postseason in the National League and the start of postseason as a whole.

Volleyball Braces for Ivy Foes

Yael Borofsky — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The long anticipated first Ivy League weekend is finally here. Tomorrow, the Red (4-6. 1-0 Ivy) will travel to Philadelphia to take on the Penn Quakers (6-6, 0-1 Ivy) then cross the Delaware River and go head-to-head (or set for set) with the Princeton Tigers (9-3, 1-0 Ivy) on Saturday afternoon. The squad is feeling more confident after its first Ivy League win against Columbia last weekend, but the girls know they will have to play even better this weekend against these two talented teams.

“We struggled a lot [in preseason], but we knew it wasn’t going to be easy coming in having such a young team,” said senior Kara Zaragoza. “But now it’s time to really buckle down and put everything we learned in preseason to use. Basically this is what we’ve been building up for.”

Volleyball Cruises Past Columbia in NYC

Yael Borofsky — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Now, the games really count.

In its first Ivy League matchup of the season, the Red (4-6, 1-0 Ivy) defeated the Columbia Lions (3-9, 0-1 Ivy) at Levien Gymnasium in New York City, 3-1. Despite a five-game losing streak, the team pulled together and has started off on its quest for a frouth consecutive Ancient Eight crown on the right foot.

“This is the real beginning of our season,” said head coach Deitre Collins-Parker. “From now on, the Ivy League is what matters the most.“

Volleyball Heads West for St. Mary’s, USF

Yael Borofsky — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

For six girls on the volleyball team — senior Kara Zaragoza, juniors Hillary Holland and Emily Borman, sophomores Stephanie Comon and Megan Mushovic and freshman Jen Keane — this weekend is an early fall break. Although the six women technically will not be going home, they will be traveling to their home state, California, with the rest of the volleyball squad (3-5), to compete against St. Mary’s College (6-4) tonight and the University of San Francisco (10-5) tomorrow.

“St. Mary’s is in Marago, California, and it’s where our assistant coach Sarah Bernson played volleyball,” said senior captain Amy Gordon.

Patriots and Belichick Cast Black Eye on Sports World

Yael Borofsky — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

“If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying.”

Should the Philadelphia Eagles be sporting Super Bowl XXXIX rings right now? (YES!) Sure, I’m biased, but it seems that after last week’s fiasco that revealed Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was using sideline video spying tactics in a game against the New York Jets, most of the NFL is asking the same question: did we deserve to win?

As much as I would love to go back to that fateful January day in 2005, unfortunately, the past is the past. However, that hasn’t stopped fans and players alike from looking back to a game where it seemed as though the Patriots knew every play at the snap. And now, I guess we know it didn’t just seem that way; they probably did.

Freshmen Learn About Themselves, Team

Yael Borofsky — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Due to countless hours of hard work, intense workouts and difficult sacrifices, six freshmen are proud to say they play volleyball for the Red. Of course, the difficult times have just begun because, as part of the team, they have been asked to make another “sacrifice.” That is, head coach Deitre Collins-Parker asked each member of the team to give up one thing that they truly enjoy and would find difficult to do without.