Conference

SAINT FRANCIS (PA), BRYANT KICK OFF 2012-13 SWIMMING & DIVING SEASON WITH DUAL MEET WINS
The 2012 women’s soccer swimming season kicked off last week with four teams beginning competition.
 
- Conference Matchup: Saint Francis (PA) and Mount Saint Mary’s met on Saturday for the first conference dual meet of the year, and the seventh meeting between the two teams. Alicia Ford (Whitney Point, N.Y./Whitney Point), Danyel Johsnon (Dansville, N.Y./Dansville) and Haley Fournier (Ave Maria, Fla./Palmetto Ridge) picked up two individual wins apiece, and the Red Flash clinched the team victory in the 11th event. Erin Regan (Fort Washington, PA/Upper Dublin), the 2012 NEC Rookie of the Year, picked up two individual wins for the Mount in the 200 butterfly and 500 freestyle.
 
- Complete Domination: Bryant took on Atlantic Coast Conference Oppenent Boston College, and completed dominated the competition, winning all swimming events. The Bulldogs had seven different swimmers pick up first place finishes, including three from NEC Swimmer of the Year Casey Ostrander (Yarmouthport, MA/Barnstable)and Taylor DeBever (Denver/ Regis Jesuit. Bryant won by a score of 188.5-111.5.
-The Bulldogs also had a freshman break a school record in her first collegiate meet. Jamie Schaefer (Durham, NC/CE Jordan) set a new mark in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:10.76, over a second faster than the previous record.
 
- Testing the Waters: Wagner has already had two dual meets this season, and Seahawk freshman are already making an impact. Amanda Lucia (Easthampton, MA/ Easthampton) won both butterfly events in a loss to Vermont, while Erica Curry(Fountain Valley, CA/ Fountain Valley) took home first on the three-meter. Erin Malone (Sewell, NJ/ Washington Township) also earned her first first-place finish, in the 100 backstroke. In the squad’s first meet against LIU post, Kara Lacoste (Chicopee, MA/ Chicopee Comprehensive) won the 200 IM.
 
- Preseason Poll: The 202-13 NEC Preseason poll was released last week and the Red Flash were picked by the league’s head coaches in the preseason poll to win the championship once again.
The defending champions received five first-place votes in the preseason poll, while Bryant and Wagner tied for the second spot with one first-place vote each. Central Connecticut was fourth and Mount St. Mary’s was fifth, followed by St. Francis (NY) and Sacred Heart in the sixth and seventh spots.
 
- Up Next: Bryant heads to Wagner in another NEC matchup on Oct. 20, while Central Connecticut hosts its diving invitational the same day . Sacred Heart, Central Connecticut and St. Francis (NY) will open the season on Oct. 27.
 
- Women’s Swimming & Diving HQ: For the latest on the goings on in the NEC and all things women’s swimming and diving visit www.northeastconference.org. You can also follow the league on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube (@NECsports) as well as the NEC Overtime! blog (necsports.posterous.com).
 
Top Performers of Week
 
-  Alicia Ford (SFPA)
After aiding the 200 medley relay, the senior picked up individual victories in the 50 yard free (24.74) as well as the 200 backstroke (2:11.01) against Mount St. Mary’s.
 
- Amanda Lucia (Wagner)
Lucia captured the first two event wins of her collegiate career during Saturday’s meet at Vermont. The freshman won the 100 and 200 butterfly for the Seahawks.
 
-  Taylor DeBever (Bryant)
Debever claimed the claimed the 100, 200 and 500 free in the Bulldogs’ win over Boston College.
 
- Erin Regan (Mount St. Mary’s)
Regan, the 2012 NEC Rookie of the Year, picked up two individual wins for the Mount in the 200 butterfly and 500 freestyle vs. Saint Francis PA.
 
Milestone Watch
 
- Jamie Schaefer (Bryant)
Schaefer broke the program record in the 200 fly with a time of 2:10.76. She was racing in her first collegiate meet.
 
Quotable
 
- Wagner
“ We feel honored to be voted that high by our fellow coaches in the conference. It’s a long road to the NEC Championships in March but we are very excited about the possibilities. We were picked fourth last year and finished third, so we hope with a second place pick this season we have a chance to go for it all.” - Head coach Colin Shannahan on the Seahawks’ preseason ranking
 
- Saint Francis (PA)
“I am very happy with the results today. This team has been working very hard this week and to come out here and race the way they did is a credit to them.” - Red Flash head coach Patrick Gallagher on the win against the Mount