Barely three months out of high school and already your number’s being called. The lights are cast down, the pressure is set on your shoulders and the beaming eyes of 80,000 spectators monitor your every move. Third and long…better hope coach draws up a play that will get the first down, if not there will be some hell to pay as a media frenzy ensues and immediately questions about talent level arise. What could possibly be the scenario?
With the fall athletic season more than halfway over, winter sports have begun practice and are gearing up for the upcoming season. This winter, the University will see the debuts of two new head basketball coaches for both the men’s and women’s team, in King Rice and Jenny Palmateer. Since there is no 6:00 am game this year, the University will be hosting “MAC Madness” on Friday October 21 at the Mac.
The Hawks lost their second home game in a row this week against Colgate, falling to 23 on the season.
The field hockey team added two more wins to their slate this past weekend. The Hawks had two road matchups against Bryant University and Siena College.
The Monmouth Hawks men’s soccer team has improved their overall record to 83 with a win over the Bryant Bulldogs this past weekend. Just like the men have been doing for most of the season, they once again dominated the field early on in the game.
The time and place are set, the plans are made, just need the finishing touches and soon your group of friends will be going out to watch a sporting event. The setting is a Saturday evening on a warm day in fall and the occasion calls for an intriguing football matchup.
I sat down with the Hawks’ sophomore wide receiver Mitchell Pollard before the team faced off against Colgate. The 5’9 175 lb. receiver has put together a great start to the 2011 season. Pollard recorded 10 catches for 88 yards in last week’s loss to Robert Morris, becoming the first Monmouth player to grab ten catches in a game since 2006. Pollard is currently ranked 14th in the NCAA in receptions per game, averaging 6.75.
Standing at 84 looking into October, head coach Carli Figlio and the field hockey team has plenty to be proud of, but have plenty of work to do as well.
The Hawks lost to the Robert Morris Colonials on Saturday 2320. The Hawks fall to 22 on the season, 11 in the Northeast Conference.
The Men’s soccer team battled in league opponents Long Island University and Central Connecticut State University to a draw this weekend.