Today Magazine Winter 2019 | Page 12

SPORTS w Field Hockey GMercyU fell in a tough 2-1 decision to Wesley College in the inaugural Atlantic East Conference Championship. This marked the ninth-straight season the field hockey team made the conference championship game, winning six. Despite the loss, the Griffins were selected for the NCAA Division III Tournament, where they lost 2-0 at Franklin & Marshall College. GMercyU claimed three of the marquee awards while getting seven student-athletes honored on the inaugural Atlantic East Conference Field Hockey Year-End Awards. Sophomore Kathryn Lehman was selected the Atlantic East Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Freshman Lauren Jani took home the Atlantic East Rookie of the Year while head coach Laura- Ann Lane was voted the Atlantic East Coach of the Year. The team also posted a 3.60 GPA, earning them the highest Team GPA of their respective sport in the Atlantic East Conference. Women’s Cross Country Men's Cross Country Junior Armani Rivera ran his way to a first-team all- conference selection, placing fifth overall at the inaugural Atlantic East Men’s Cross Country Championship. GMercyU placed fifth of seven scoring teams. The men’s cross-country team finished the season at the NCAA Division III Mideast Regionals with Senior Lance Joseph, Junior Chris Laskowski, and Rivera competing in the 8K race. Rivera was the top GMercyU finisher with a time of 29:42:8, while Laskowski hit a personal best, clocking in a time of 37:16:7. 10 TODAY Senior Elizabeth Rosario captured the inaugural Atlantic East Women’s Cross Country Championship, placing first out of 46 runners to help lead the Griffins to a second-place team finish with 75 points. Joining Rosario on the first- team all-conference was Sophomore Caitlin Bowe, who was seventh overall. The women’s cross- county team wrapped up the season at the NCAA Division III Mideast Regionals with three competitors, Rosario, Bowe, and Junior Dana Rose, who ran her second- fastest time of the season.