By Anthony Caruso III
Posted: November 23rd, 2014 at 1:44 PM EST
The College of New Jersey’s field hockey team are just one half from winning another National Championship. The Lions lead 2-0 at halftime.
If they can hold on in the second half, it would be their 11th National Championship in school history. The winningest field hockey program last won the National Championship in 2011.
The College of New Jersey
The first goal was originally credited to Erin Healy. Minutes later, the NCAA broadcast said the goal was by Jaclyn Douglas with an assist by Healy.
Healy would then add the second goal with an assist by Lexi Smith.
This is the first deficit that the Polar Bears have faced all weekend.
By Anthony Caruso III
Posted: November 22nd, 2014 at 3:48 PM EST
The College of New Jersey field hockey team will play for the national championship tomorrow at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. The Lions defeated the Middlebury Panthers, 2-0, in the Semi-Final Game #2.
The Lions are 2-0 against the Panthers in the past four years. Their other meeting came in the 2011 National Championship game, which TCNJ won 3-1 at Nichols College in Dudley, Mass.
Lindsey Hatch (Photo by Phil Wilgus)
The Lions will playing in their 15th national national game, and they are 10-5. They have not lost in a championship game since a 2-1 decision to SUNY Cortland in 1994.
The Bowdoin College Polar Bears will be the Lions opponent tomorrow at 1 pm. Bowdoin defeated Salisbury University Sea Gulls, 2-1, to advance to the championship game.
The Poar Bears are the reigning National Champions and also won the Championship in 2007, 2008, and 2010.
The Panthers had several opportunities late. They had a corner with less than 30 minutes, but they were denied the opportunity to score on TCNJ’s defense.
In addition, they mishandled a corner at the 3 minute mark. Also, Panthers forward Catherine Fowler was denied a close look on Lions goalie Kelly Schlupp at 10:55 left in the game.
Several minutes into the second half, Alicia Wagner added an insurance goal at the 39 minute mark.
The Lions lead 1-0 when Lindsey Hatch scored 9 minutes into the game.
Schlupp played all 70 minutes in the net and made 5 saves. Middlebury goalie Emily Knapp made 2 saves and allowed two goalie in 70 minutes.
By Anthony Caruso III
Posted: March 26th, 2014 at 12:38 am EST
In sports, rarely does an individual get to play their entire playing career in one state.
But, for Derrick Brooks, that was exactly the case, playing his entire career from high school to college to professional football in the State of Florida. Derrick Brooks (Getty Images)
The 40-year-old began his journey at Washington High School in Pensacola, Florida. He then moved on to Florida State, where he played from 1992 through 1994.
He began his career at Florida State as a safety as a freshman. After one season, he was switched to linebacker.
After three years, a National Championship in 1993 and being named a two-time All-American, he decided to declare for the NFL draft. In the first round of the 1995 NFL draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted him with the 28th overall pick.
In the 1995 draft, the Buccaneers also drafted Warren Sapp in the first round. He was drafted with the 12th pick, and Sapp and Brooks will be right next to each other in the Hall of Fame.
“To share my football career with Warren was tremendous,” said Brooks. “I’m very humbled that we’re both in the Hall of Fame right next to each other. He is No. 280 and I’m going to be No. 281, and I can’t wait for the induction ceremony this summer.
On August 2nd, Brooks will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He will be joined by Ray Guy, Claude Humphrey, Walter Jones, Andre Reed, Michael Strahan, and Aeneas Williams.
“I was ecstatic and emotional at the same time to be selected to football’s immorality,” said Brooks. “It’s very humbling to be a part of the NFL’s greatest players.”
Brooks said he will put his speech together closer to the event in August. He also said that when he reads his speech, he will be emotional and cry.
The following day, on August 3rd, he will be on the field at the NFL Hall of Fame game on Sunday, August 3rd, 2014 at 8 pm.
“No, I haven’t thought that far in advance,” said Brooks. “I know that attending the Hall of Fame game is a part of that weekend. I’m going to be excited to take it all in, not just the game, but interacting with the residents of Canton, Ohio, as they work very hard to plan the Hall of Fame weekend and be great hosts for fans and us, the Hall of Famers, all week long. I’m looking forward to all of the activities that I can participate in.”
Brooks will go in to the Hall of Fame as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he will join Sapp, who went into the Hall of Fame last year, and Lee Roy Selmon, who entered into the Hall of Fame in 1995.
“Having the ability to play for one team my entire football here in Florida is an another important factor,” said Brooks. “I thank God for the opportunity to do that, and I have used that to my advantage. Again, to be able to do that here in Tampa, Florida, is something that everyone will be proud of.”
Brooks said he was disappointed that former Buccaneers head coach Tony Dungy was not elected to the Hall of Fame this year. Dungy was a finalist for the Hall of Fame, before not being selected on the final vote.
“I hope Coach Dungy gets in,” said Brooks. “I think coach Dungy deserves it as everyone else. But people have told me that in due time Coach Dungy will be put in the Hall with us. At this particular time, I wish I could have shared it with him, but this year, this is my year, and I’m going to do the best I can to enjoy every minute of it.”
Anthony Caruso III, publisher of The Capital Sports Report, has revealed his NCAA picks just in time for the real start of the Big Dance this afternoon. And with that, there’s a chance that he could win a cool $1 billion from Warren Buffet.
Buffett has agreed to put up the cool $1 billion up for an individual that produces a perfect March Madness tournament bracket. Buffet, who has an estimated $53.5 billion, has the odds on his side.
2014 Final Four banner
A few eyebrows were raised when Caruso stuck by the North Carolina Tar Heels and picked them to advance to the Final Four. He has UNC knocking off Iowa State, Villanova and Michigan State before losing to his eventual champion, Florida, in the Final Four.
The Tar Heels have advanced to the Final Four 18 times in school history. In addition, the Tar Heels last appeared in the Final Four in 2009 when they would eventually win their 5th and last national championship.
Florida, who has been ranked No. 1 for the first time since the 2006-07 season, which was the last time they won the March Madness tournament, has not played North Carolina since 2000. North Carolina and Florida hasn’t played since the 2000 National Semifinal in which the Gators won 71-59 over the Tar Heels.
He also has Arizona slipping by Louisville in the other Final Four match-up. Louisville, who won the tournament last year, and Arizona has only played two previous times.
Louisville defeated Arizona in the 2009 regional semi-final, 103-94. And the two teams played for the first time in the 1994 regional semi-final, 82-70.
Among the other surprises projected by Caruso was a nice run by Baylor to the Elite 8 and 3 of the #12 seeds advancing. Oklahoma is the only #5 seed advancing in the Caruso bracket.
“If I have a perfect bracket going into the Final Four, I’ll let Mr. Buffet buy me out for a hundred million or so,” Caruso asserted. “Until then, I won’t quit my day job.”
The Big East Conference might not have the big names that it once had, however, the revamped conference was able to send four teams to this year’s Big Dance, including two of the conference’s three newcomers, with Villanova and Creighton receiving top 3 seeds in their regions.
Villanova
Not surprisingly, the Big East regular season champion Villanova Wildcats received a No. 2 seed in the East region, and they will face UW-Milwaukee in Buffalo, NY. If Villanova survives their opening game, they will be facing a familiar foe the following round. They will draw either former Big East rival Connecticut or add another chapter to the Holy War rivalry against fellow Big 5 member school St. Joe’s. Villanova would remain in New York to play, should they advance to the Sweet 16.
Creighton
Advancing to the Sweet 16 is something that the Creighton Blue Jays have never done and they have to feel good about their chances this time around. “Sure, one of our goals is to definitely advance beyond where we were last year and that means getting to the Sweet 16,” commented Creighton All American forward Doug McDermott shortly after the tough loss to Providence in the Big East Tournament Championship game. Creighton received the No. 3 seed in the West region, and will face Louisiana Lafayette in San Antonio.
The Blue Jays were in question to receive such a high seed after losing the Big East Tournament – especially with National Championship favorites Michigan State and Louisville receiving #4 seeds. If Creighton advances past Louisiana Lafayette, they will face the winner of Baylor and in-state rival Nebraska.
Providence
The Providence Friars, led by senior guard Bryce Cotton’s 23 points, a stingy defense, and timely free throw shooting down the stretch, jumped off the proverbial bubble and into the NCAA field. Providence held off a late Creighton rally at Madison Square Garden Saturday night to upset the Blue Jays and claim the Big East Tournament Championship for the second time in school history.
Winning the Big East tournament meant the Friars earned the automatic berth into the Big Dance and avoided a possible play-in game this Tuesday night. The Friars played four of their starters for the entire game, and played only six players as they dispatched the favored Blue Jays.
“It means a lot,” said Providence head coach Ed Cooley as he celebrated the school’s first Big East Tournament Championship since the 1993-94 season. “We have faced a lot of adversity this year … I’ve got to pinch myself as I sit here right now because I can’t believe (it), this is the first time as a head coach I’m going to the NCAA Tournament. It is been eight long years … I feel gratitude to the school that gave me the opportunity to come home and coach their organization. I’m kind of speechless, but I’m very, very appreciative.”
Providence captured the #11 seed in the East and has earned a first round match-up with perennial powerhouse North Carolina. If the Friars can match their defensive effort from the Big East Final, they have a chance to pull the upset. North Carolina has shown inconsistency all year, and depending on which team shows up, the Tar Heels are no lock to advance.
Xavier
While Providence was able to avoid a play in game, Xavier was not. The Musketeers earned an opportunity to play for the #12 seed in the Midwest and must play Tuesday night against an improved North Carolina State team to advance to the field of 64. St. Louis, a #5 seed that has stumbled into March, will await the winner Xavier vs. NC State.
(Editor’s Note: Keep in mind that technically, the four play-in games on Tuesday officially constitute the first round of the NCAA Tournament, with the 32 games this Thursday and Friday being the second round.)
The Capital Sports Report 