Autumn Accolades

Teams, individuals, wrap up unprecedented season of success

December 4, 2007

Linebacker Eric Dube is one of 10 finalists for Division III Player of the Year.

It's been a banner—and in some cases historic—year for Dickinson fall sports.

The men's and women's cross country teams advanced to the NCAA Division III championship at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. The women, led by three-time All American Cait Bradley '08, placed 13th out of 32 teams in the title race on Nov. 17, marking the ninth time in 11 seasons the team competed at nationals. And while individual runners from the men's team qualified for nationals in past seasons, this year marked the first time in history that the men advanced as a team. The men, led by Evan Sparling '08, placed 24th out of 32 teams at nationals.

On the same day the runners were competing in Minnesota, the football team, guided by all-star linebacker Eric Dube '08, ended the season with a 9-2 record and its third Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) playoff victory in 20 years—and the first at Biddle Field—by defeating Waynesburg College 16-10 in overtime. The win in the ECAC Southeastern championship game marked the fifth time since the Dickinson football program began in 1885 that the Red Devils amassed nine or more wins.

For the first time, the men's soccer team advanced to the NCAA championship, losing to York College 3-1 at the Stevens Institute of Technology. The team finished the season with a 13-3-3 record. The women's soccer team finished at 9-8-1, led by forward Lisa Nichols '08, who was named Centennial Conference (CC) player of the year.

Another first—the Red Devils defeated Franklin & Marshall College in regular season football, cross country, field hockey, women's volleyball and men's and women's soccer.

"It's been one of the most successful fall sports seasons we've ever had," said Director of Athletics Les Poolman. "Anytime you beat one of your prime rivals, you're ahead of the game."

Cross Country Feat

The women's cross country team was in dynasty mode even before nationals. The team, recently honored for a decade of excellence during the college's Sports Hall of Fame ceremony, shows no signs of slowing as a new decade begins. In 11 years, the team captured 10 CC titles, including eight consecutive championships since 2000, and won six Mideast Regional championships, including the last three.

Cait Bradley was named CC Runner of the Year for the second consecutive year, and at Homecoming & Family Weekend she received the McAndrews Award as the Dickinson College Athlete of the Year. She is the first cross country runner in Dickinson history to attain All-American status for three consecutive years.

Bradley placed fifth at nationals, covering the 6,000-meter course in 21:32. She was followed by teammates Caitlin Strahota '08 (72 in 12:01), Mary Hamilton '10 (93rd in 23:13), Layla Naficy '08 (95th in 23:14), Anna Lovett '10 (120th in 23:25), Kristina Pfeifer '10 (137th in 23:32) and Laura Straw '08 (141st in 23:33).

For the men, Sparling placed 48th overall, running the 8,000-meter course in 25:23. He was followed by Brian Krusell '11 (59th in 25:44), Nick Karwoski '10 (120th in 26:07), Andy Gregor '10 (152nd in 26:21), Greg Leak '10 (168th in 26:30), Tom Morgan '08 (183rd in 26:45) and Kent Pecora '11 (204th in 27:42).

"All seven runners [for the men] were new to the national scene, making it even more gratifying," said Don Nichter, coach for the men's and women's teams. "They trained well all season and really came together to perform very well at the CC and Mideast Regional Championship meets when it counted the most."

Hot on the gridiron

For the football team, the ECAC Southeastern victory "was a tremendous way for our senior class to go out," said Head Coach Darwin Breaux. "It was a heck of a season. We had several close games, and the players really showed character in all of them."

For Eric Dube, the honors continue. The co-captain set Dickinson career and season records for tackles and was named Defensive Player of the Year in the CC for the second consecutive year. Dube, of Voorhees, N.J., was named the Division III Player of the Year (in Southern New Jersey) by the Brooks-Irvine Memorial Club of South Jersey, and he is one of the 10 finalists for overall Division III Player of the Year.

On Dec. 8, Dube will become the fourth player in Dickinson College history to play in the Division III All-star game in the Aztec Bowl in Mexico.