Today Magazine Summer 2019 | Page 16

Baseball The Griffins captured the inaugural Atlantic East Conference Championship, defeating Cabrini University in the best- of-three series. After winning game one, 20-5, the Griffins fell behind early in game two. The team rallied from a five- run deficit behind senior Dave Tatoian’s grand slam in the fourth inning. The teams were tied 8-8 in the sixth when senior Ryan Keen doubled in Tatoian with two outs. After the game, which was held the same day as GMercyU’s Commencement, the team’s graduating seniors received their diplomas from head coach Paul Murphy (see full story). Tatoian capped his outstanding season by being named All American by D3baseball.com and All-Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association. Men’s Basketball The Griffins are the inaugural Atlantic East Conference Champions after defeating Marymount University, 75-69, in the final. This was the sixth conference championship overall and the first title in the AEC. Senior Courtney Cubbage earned Championship MVP honors after scoring a game-high 30 points. The team was selected to the NCAA Division III Tournament where they advanced to 14 TODAY wrap - up the second round for the fourth time in program history. Their historic season came to an end with a 90-56 loss to Williams College. Junior Rich Dunham was selected the AEC First Team while Cubbage was selected to the Second Team. Cubbage also earned a place on the All-ECAC Division III Men’s Basketball Team. Women’s Basketball The team battled to earn the final playoff berth but fell in the first round of the Atlantic East Tournament to Marywood University, finishing with a record of 10-16.The squad said goodbye to five seniors, Susan Bossler, Monet McGorda, Lyndsay Micucci, Olivia Roseman and Marisa Sullivan. During their tenure, they amassed a 65-44 overall record as well as a Colonial States Athletic Conference Championship in 2017. Bossler was named to the Atlantic East Conference Second Team, as well as the Eastern College Athletic Conference All-ECAC Team and a spot on the Philadelphia Inquirer All-Area Academic Team. Men’s Lacrosse The team had a successful season, going 10-6 with a 4-2 conference record, and reaching the Atlantic East Championships. After their 17-1 victory over Wesley College in the regular season finale, the Griffins secured a first-round bye and went into the AEC Tournament as the #2 seed. They advanced to the finals with a 10-8 victory over Marymount University in the semifinals but fell to Cabrini University in the final. Freshman Jacob Dzierzgowski was selected as the AEC Men’s Lacrosse Rookie of the Year. The team earned the 2019 AEC Academic Team Award, given to the program that had the top GPA in its respective sport through the semester(s) it played in. As a team, the Griffins earned a 3.27 average GPA with 26 of its players earning a 3.20 GPA or better in the 2019 spring semester. Senior Shawn Ryan was named to the Philadelphia Inquirer All- Area Academic Team. Women’s Lacrosse The Griffins punched their ticket to the AEC Tournament with a 25-21 victory over Wesley College in the season finale, needing a win to secure the sixth and final seed. The team lost in the first