Dec. 5, 2002
Fantastic Fútbol
After Winning First-Ever Atlantic 10 Title, Colonials
Fall to American University in First Round of NCAA Tourney
A penalty kick with less than two minutes remaining in the first half
of the opening round of the NCAA Championship Nov. 23 against crosstown
rival American University (13–7–1) spelled the end of the
Colonials’ (13–9–0) Cinderella season.
After struggling to a 4–6 start, the Colonials went on to post
seven wins in their final nine matches, including five straight. Next
they defeated UMass and Duquesne in the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament
to bring home the team’s first-ever A-10 title and the fifth trip
to the NCAA Tournament in school history, the first since 1989.
The penalty kick, one of the toughest plays to defend in any sport,
came as the result of a clipping penalty inside the scoring box —
a ruling many in the estimated 1,900 largely GW-partisan fans in attendance
disputed. The Colonials battled the Eagles to a stalemate for much of
the contest, and even out shot AU, 14–10, with seven shots on goal.
However, Eagles’ midfielder Shawn Kurkendall’s conversion
of the penalty kick past Colonials’ keeper Eric Lund, was all the
scoring AU needed to hold off the Colonials.
In facing AU on its home turf at Reeves Field, the Colonials were attempting
to pull off a sweep of their intercity Division I competition, having
beaten Georgetown and Howard in the DC Classic to start the season.
The Colonials won the first Atlantic 10 Conference Championship in the
program’s history with a 3–2 victory over Duquesne Nov. 17
to capture the crown and an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.
The match was played on a sloppy field in Richmond, VA, with GW topping
the Dukes in the closing moments of the match.
Junior forward Arnar Johannsson was named the Most Valuable Player in
the tournament. Senior midfielder Michael Goldman, freshman midfielder
Steve Brown, and junior goalkeeper Eric Lund also were named to the
All-Tournament Team.
Women’s Volleyball Wins First Game
But Loses Conference Championship
The third-seeded Colonials volleyball team could not fight off an overpowering
Temple Owls squad in the championship match of the Atlantic 10 Tournament.
The Owls relied on the power of Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Xu Yun.
Temple’s outside hitter led the Owls with 23 kills and 25 digs.
GW jumped out to a quick start, winning the first game 30–20, but
after a 30–23 loss in game two, the Colonials chance for an automatic
NCAA bid hung in the balance. Despite battling back from a 23–27
deficit, the Colonials could not close out game three and the Owls snatched
up three quick points to secure a 31–29 win.
GW’s Sarah Hokom and Ruth Lazzari were named to the All-Tournament
Team as they combined for 40 kills in the championship match.
Volleyball’s Lindsey Vernand Voted A-10 Rookie of the Year
Freshman Lindsey Vernand has been named the A-10 Conference Rookie of
the Year, on voting by the league’s eight head coaches. Also selected
for postseason honors were juniors Sarah Hokom and Ruth Lazzari, both
named to the 12-member All-Conference Team and freshman Shannon Parks
who joins Vernand on the six-member All-Rookie Team.
Vernand becomes just GW’s second A-10 Rookie of the Year for volleyball
joining former Colonial Megan Korver in 1995. Vernand is a four-time
A-10 Rookie of the Week earning the honor on Oct. 7, Oct. 21, Nov. 5,
and Nov. 18.
Six Selected for 2003 Athletic Hall of
Fame Class
Six former GW athletes and one former coach will be inducted into the
GW Athletic Hall of Fame on Feb. 14. The honorees include:
• Dr. Jim Goss, ’79, Baseball
• Sonni Holland, ’93, Men’s Basketball
• Wade Hughes, ’85, Wrestling
• Lisa Shafran, ’95, Women’s Tennis
• Dr. Karin Vadelund, ’90, Women’s Basketball
• Svetlana Vtyurina, ’96, Volleyball
• Shannon Higgins-Cirovski, Coach, Women’s Soccer ’91-’97
This year’s hall of fame dinner and induction ceremonies will be
held at the Marvin Center Grand Ballroom. Reservations are being accepted
(through Feb. 11) by Ed McKee at 994-5778 or via E-mail at: edmckee@gwu.edu.
Tickets cost $40 per person. The inductees also will be recognized at
halftime of the GW-Richmond men’s basketball game Feb. 16.
Moss Named A-10 Co-Rookie of the Week
Freshman swimmer Maggie Moss received Co-Rookie of the Week honors for
the week of Nov. 11. Moss, who has emerged as one of the Colonials’
top swimmers this year, set a pool record at the James Madison University
dual meet on Oct. 25.
Women’s Basketball Ranked
Following the first week of competition, during which the Colonials
defeated Howard 96–45 in the season opener, the Associated Press
Coaches Poll ranked the women’s basketball team 21st in the nation.
In the Nov. 22 contest, Coach Joe McKeown won his 294th game at GW —
the most in history among A-10 women’s coaches.
Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu
