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<strong>The</strong> RetrIever <strong>Weekly</strong> 04.29.08 SPORTS 25 Overshadowed, but not forgotten A look <strong>in</strong>to <strong>UMBC</strong>’s tennis program Zak Bratcher SENIOR STAFF WRITER In the midst of a groundbreak<strong>in</strong>g spr<strong>in</strong>g for <strong>UMBC</strong> athletics, it’s unsurpris<strong>in</strong>gly simple to overlook lesser-known, less publicized success stories. Everyone is familiar with Randy Monroe’s high-powered offense launch<strong>in</strong>g the men’s basketball team to uncharted NCAA Tournament heights <strong>in</strong> March. Similarly, most people recognize that Don Zimmerman’s impenetrable defense has the fi fth-ranked men’s lacrosse team– poised to make serious noise come tournament time this May. But is anybody aware of Keith Puryear’s men’s and women’s tennis teams? Despite fall<strong>in</strong>g just short <strong>in</strong> the America East Championships this past weekend, both tennis squads, and their coach<strong>in</strong>g staff, have garnered noteworthy accomplishments this season. <strong>The</strong> men, freshly removed from last season’s fi rst AEC title and an NCAA Tournament berth, earned conference runner-up this year. <strong>The</strong>y fi nished with a 15-5 record, rattl<strong>in</strong>g off eight consecutive w<strong>in</strong>s, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g their fi rst ever over neighbor Navy, before stumbl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the championship game aga<strong>in</strong>st B<strong>in</strong>ghamton. Not to be outdone, the women followed up their 2007 AEC runner-up campaign with a 13-4 record, complet<strong>in</strong>g a stretch <strong>in</strong> which they emerged victorious 12 straight times. <strong>The</strong>y were defeated <strong>in</strong> the conference semifi nals, also at the hands of the Bearcats. Guid<strong>in</strong>g these prom<strong>in</strong>ent programs has been head coach Puryear, no stranger to personal success himself. Puryear, who, along with assistant coach Ale Pedergnama, was recognized as America East Coach<strong>in</strong>g Staff of the Year last year, was named the 2007 Mid-Atlantic College Coach of the Year by the U.S. Professional Tennis Association earlier this year. Puryear admitted that the award was nice, especially consider<strong>in</strong>g coaches from bigger schools, such as those <strong>in</strong> the Atlantic Coast Conference, typically receive the honor. He, also, was quick to > Softball has lost seven of their last ten games. share his achievement. “It’s more a testament to the kids than to me,” said Puryear <strong>in</strong> an <strong>in</strong>terview at the <strong>Retriever</strong>s Activities Center last Wednesday. “To be recognized is always great, but I try to put it <strong>in</strong> perspective: It’s not so much about me; it’s about the team.” His women’s team embarked on their Spr<strong>in</strong>g season with a bit of uncerta<strong>in</strong>ty, secur<strong>in</strong>g only one w<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> their fi rst four contests while succumb<strong>in</strong>g to eventual AEC champion Boston University, Columbia, and Atlantic-10 champion Temple. However, Puryear calmed his <strong>Retriever</strong>s by preach<strong>in</strong>g the merits of play<strong>in</strong>g hard every po<strong>in</strong>t, maturation through adversity, and mental toughness. “Those (fi rst four matches) were the toughest matches we had,” said junior Cornelia Carapcea. “I th<strong>in</strong>k the team k<strong>in</strong>d of got scared and started to pick it up. We fi nally started to take care of the th<strong>in</strong>gs we could take care of.” F<strong>in</strong>ally settled, the women didn’t lose aga<strong>in</strong> until this past Saturday, an impressive span of 12 straight match victories. “<strong>The</strong> ladies fi rst started off a little rough, but we saw potential,” said Puryear. “<strong>The</strong>y needed to learn what to do to be successful.” With a youthful <strong>Retriever</strong> squad who stands to lose only two graduat<strong>in</strong>g seniors, who earned AEC runner-up a year ago, and who generated an impressive campaign this season, the women’s ship is navigat<strong>in</strong>g toward bountiful lands. “We’ve done the work this year, and we’ve had very good results,” Puryear said. “<strong>The</strong> ladies have taken a major step to become one of the top teams <strong>in</strong> the region.” On the men’s side, the season-long journey followed a different course. Despite an open<strong>in</strong>g loss at powerhouse Virg<strong>in</strong>ia Tech, the <strong>Retriever</strong>s emerged strong, <strong>in</strong>dicative of a more experienced, senior-loaded team. In the beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g of March, however, the <strong>Retriever</strong> voyage became turbulent, as the team lost three of six games. “(<strong>The</strong> men) had some challenges,” said Puryear. “We started off pretty quickly, but had a period <strong>in</strong> the middle of the season where we sort of needed to fi nd ourselves aga<strong>in</strong>.” Not surpris<strong>in</strong>gly, led by seniors David Jackson, Irfan Shamasd<strong>in</strong>, and Fernando Ferreira, the <strong>Retriever</strong>s steadied themselves and started str<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g together victories, culm<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g with an eight-game streak and a spot <strong>in</strong> the AEC fi nals. In the heart of their streak was a statement w<strong>in</strong>, a hard fought 4-3 triumph over the Naval Academy, the fi rst for <strong>UMBC</strong> tennis. Jackson helped will his team to succeed by ek<strong>in</strong>g out a gruel<strong>in</strong>g three-set s<strong>in</strong>gles victory. “I th<strong>in</strong>k especially the match aga<strong>in</strong>st Navy teaches you how to deal with situations,” said Jackson. “You learn how to deal better. We might not be play<strong>in</strong>g well, but we’ll be able to draw on past matches and be able to dig deep, know<strong>in</strong>g we’ve done it before.” Puryear said he stresses to his upperclassmen the importance of lead<strong>in</strong>g by example, even – especially – <strong>in</strong> defeat. He understands that this <strong>in</strong>fl uence on younger players sets a <strong>found</strong>ation for them to fall <strong>in</strong>to place with<strong>in</strong> the structure and the mentality of the team. “Anytime you lose a match and you don’t learn from it, you’ve lost twice,” Puryear said. “I th<strong>in</strong>k it’s all part of a journey – the w<strong>in</strong>s and losses themselves – and often you learn more about yourself when you lose than when you w<strong>in</strong>.” With effective senior leadership and younger players ready to make an impact, it’s no wonder Puryear has had such success. Furthermore, hopefully this spr<strong>in</strong>g’s trials and tribulations have provided both the men and women with lessons by which to mature and to prosper on the tennis court. Hopefully, their future success won’t be overlooked. Zak Bratcher is a Senior Staff Writer and the Advertisements Manager for <strong>The</strong> <strong>Retriever</strong> <strong>Weekly</strong> and can be reached for comment at zbratcher@retrieverweekly.com. FILE PHOTO — TRW FILE PHOTO — TRW > Both the men and women lost to B<strong>in</strong>ghamton University <strong>in</strong> the conference tournament. Softball <strong>in</strong> must-w<strong>in</strong> situation this weekend > from SOFTBALL [23] get away from them when Vermont got a double from Carol<strong>in</strong>e Goddard and two RBI s<strong>in</strong>gles from Haber and Connolly. Weigman gave up three runs, one of them unearned, <strong>in</strong> six <strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>gs pitched. In game two a seesaw battle took place as <strong>UMBC</strong> and Vermont exchanged the lead on multiple occasions. Gray got the <strong>Retriever</strong>s on the board <strong>in</strong> the fi rst with an RBI double giv<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>Retriever</strong>s a one run lead early. In the fourth Vermont took the lead at 2-1 off of a two run double by Kern. Sloppy play by the Catamounts allowed <strong>UMBC</strong> to reclaim the lead as Vermont committed three errors turn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to four black and gold runs. Gray drove two runs that <strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g after junior outfi elder Randi Wiley scored on a wild pitch. Gray had good performances both on the mound and at the plate. Gray had n<strong>in</strong>e strikeouts <strong>in</strong> seven <strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>gs and also went 3-4 with three RBI’s at the dish. Her three RBI’s alone outscored the entire Catamount offensive output as the <strong>Retriever</strong>s won 5-2 and split the double header. <strong>The</strong> series concluded on Sunday when both teams faced off <strong>in</strong> the rubber match at Archie Post Field. <strong>UMBC</strong> for the third straight time <strong>in</strong> the series jumped out to an early lead <strong>in</strong> the fi rst <strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Retriever</strong>s loaded the bases with one out and were <strong>in</strong> position to have a big <strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g. Shepherd, Gray and Shirk all reached base as Fefel drove <strong>in</strong> a run and junior catcher Allison Duff got Shirk to cross home plate off of a RBI s<strong>in</strong>gle. <strong>The</strong> runs scored <strong>in</strong> the fi rst would be the only of the game for the <strong>Retriever</strong>s as they would have their struggles at the plate. Catamount pitcher Kern retired the next 18 batters she faced and put a halt to <strong>UMBC</strong> scor<strong>in</strong>g efforts. Vermont chipped away at the lead <strong>in</strong> the second and then scored four runs <strong>in</strong> the third of Gray, who pitched 2.2 <strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>gs. Weigman came <strong>in</strong> relief <strong>in</strong> the second <strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g and closed out the game. <strong>The</strong> freshman allowed no runs and two hits but the damage was already done as <strong>UMBC</strong> fell to Vermont 5-2. <strong>The</strong> loss also had some extra st<strong>in</strong>g to it as Ma<strong>in</strong>e won their series over Hartford with a 11-1 w<strong>in</strong> on Sunday. <strong>The</strong> w<strong>in</strong> pushes the Black Bears conference record to 10-8 while <strong>UMBC</strong> sits at 9-9 <strong>in</strong> the AEC. This sets up a pivotal AEC three game series at the end of the regular season that carries a lot of weight. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Retriever</strong>s will play their fi nal AEC regular season series when they travel to Orono, Ma<strong>in</strong>e. This will determ<strong>in</strong>e if their season will cont<strong>in</strong>ue as they will play a double header on Saturday and fi nish up the series on Sunday with an early 11:00 a.m. start. Both teams are <strong>in</strong> a battle for the fourth spot and this series will hold its share of drama. If <strong>UMBC</strong> loses one game out of the series over the weekend they are out of the tournament, but if they sweep the Black Bears they are <strong>in</strong>. This is a tough order for the <strong>Retriever</strong>s and with the series be<strong>in</strong>g on the road it makes the task even more diffi cult. Before this, <strong>UMBC</strong> will play Delware away on Wednesday start<strong>in</strong>g at 2 p.m. Donald Daniels can be reached for comment at ddaniels@retrieverweekly.com.
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