In this Edition

• Former Tigers Inducted into Athletics Hall of Fame
• Women's Lacrosse Enjoys Historic Season
• Hockey Reaches NCAA Semifinals; Sertich Wins Hobey Baker
• Faro, McGinnis CC's Top Student-Athletes
• Abel, Stuart Earn IWLCA Honors
• Giaimo Earns Honorable Mention All-America Recognition
• Records Fall in Outdoor Track & Field

Former Tigers Inducted into Athletics Hall of Fame

by Rick Merriam

The Cheyenne Mountain Conference Resort served as a wonderful backdrop for the induction of the Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2005. About 130 guests, friends, alumni, and family members enjoyed hearing from Susan Spencer, wife of the late William Spencer ’39, Tom Pelican ’42, Tony Frasca ’52’s sons, Stephen Paul ’78, and Heather O’Brien ’99. Video and slide presentations about each inductee’s Colorado College athletic career highlighted each speech, and master of ceremonies Mike Moran provided humor, insight, and professionalism throughout the May event.

	Spencer, a former college trustee and an active reunion and fundraising volunteer, finished his CC hockey career as co-captain of the college’s first intercollegiate team; he also played football and baseball at CC.
	Pelican was a star in both football and basketball; he earned the Van Diest Award as the top male student-athlete and received second-team all-conference awards in both sports in 1941.
	Frasca was a two-time All-American hockey player and a member of the 1950 national champion-ship hockey team. He later coached the Tiger hockey and baseball teams, and served as CC’s director of intramural sports.
	Paul, while a freshman member of the men’s soccer team, formed the women’s soccer club at CC. During his four years at CC, the club gained varsity status and had a strong 46-15-3 record. He also created the national championship for women’s soccer.
	O’Brien won the Laura Golden Award, graduated Phi Beta Kappa, and was Colorado’s NCAA Woman of the Year in 1999. As a junior, she captured the NCAA heptathlon championship; she still holds 11 individual CC track and field records.

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Women’s Lacrosse Enjoys Historic Season

by Dave Reed

Midfielder Helen Sneath ’06 scored two goals as the Tigers ran past Union College, 17-12, in the first regional semifinal game of the NCAA Tournament ever played at CC’s Stewart Field.

Photo by Rick Gorham

Years from now, 2005 may well be remembered as the year in which Colorado College showed its influence on Division III women’s lacrosse as an innovator in striking the proper balance between academics and athletics. CC became the first school from the West Region to host a women’s lacrosse regional tournament, and the Tigers made an even bigger statement by becoming the first West team to advance to national semifinals.

Despite falling to Salisbury University 15-11 in its first appearance at the Division III national championship, CC completed the 2005 campaign with a 12-2 record. The women’s lacrosse squad became the second Division III program to represent the college at the national championship of its sport, joining the 1992 men’s soccer team as the only CC programs to achieve that distinction.

It was no surprise the Tigers earned a spot in the championship field. In each of the last four seasons, the women’s lacrosse team had advanced one step farther than the previous year. But the way in which the Tigers advanced will likely be remembered as one of the college’s most dramatic athletic accomplishments.

Playing for the right to advance to the national championship, CC had to face SUNY Cortland, a team motivated by the sudden loss of playing the regional on its home field and being forced to fly 2,000 miles to the shadows of Pikes Peak.

The Red Dragons held a 6-2 lead with 19:50 remaining in the second half, but three straight goals pulled CC to within one with 16 minutes to play. Cortland State scored twice to extend their lead to 8-5 with 7:02 to go, but Kate Fitzgerald ’08, Helen Sneath ’06, and Cassie Abel ’05 scored to tie the game with 2:04 left in regulation.

In the first overtime, the Red Dragons were within 1:21 of victory, but the Tigers answered just 17 seconds later on a goal by Hannah Murtaugh ’07 to force the game to a second overtime session. Cortland won the draw, but turned the ball over in the CC end. The Tigers would need just one scoring chance. Abel broke into the crease from behind the left post, took a feed from Jen Alpern ’05 who was high in the slot, and beat the Cortland goaltender with a high shot just inside the far post.

CC’s reward would be a date with Salisbury University, the top-ranked team in Division III. The Tigers gave the Sea Gulls all they could handle, but Salisbury scored four consecutive goals early in the second half to turn an 8-7 deficit into an 11-8 lead. Abel led CC with four goals and an assist, and finished her illustrious career tied with Mary Everett ’99 with a school-record 180 goals.

While the loss may have been disappointing, there is reason for optimism as the Tigers look forward to the 2006 campaign. CC has earned four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, the Tigers have improved their finish each of the last four years, and they return eight of their top 10 point producers as well as an experienced goaltender.

Watch for Colorado College to make history again next season.

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Hockey Reaches NCAA Semifinals; Sertich Wins Hobey Baker

by Dave Moross

Hobey Baker Award winner Marty Sertich ’06, left, and CC linemate Brett Sterling ’06 were the first players from the same team ever to emerge as Top Three finalists for the coveted trophy in the same season.

Photo by Jim Davidson

One of the greatest seasons ever for the Colorado College hockey team ended on an even higher note when center Marty Sertich ’06 was named the 2005 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner. Sertich, who led the nation in scoring with 64 points (27g, 37a) overall, became the second Tiger in three years to earn the distinction; Peter Sejna ’04 won in 2003.

Sertich also was one of a school-record four CC players to receive first-team All-America honors, joining linemate Brett Sterling ’06, defenseman Mark Stuart ’06, and goalie Curtis McElhinney ’05. He earlier was voted Player of the Year in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association; Stuart was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year and McElhinney won his second WCHA goaltending title.

As a team, the Tigers won 31 games overall, second most in the program’s history. While they dropped a 6-2 decision to archrival Denver in the NCAA semifinals, they finished a combined 9-6 for the season against the other three teams in the Frozen Four, including a 4-1 mark against the University of Minnesota.

Then, of course, there was the dramatic 4-3 victory over the University of Michigan at the Midwest Regional on March 26 that sent CC to Columbus for college hockey’s annual “Show” in early April. Trailing 3-0 early in the second period, the team rallied to stun the Wolverines and a partisan crowd at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich. The triumph, which came on the heels of a first-round 6-5 victory over Colgate University a day earlier, was the Tigers’ first over UM in the postseason since 1957.

While Sertich maintained his WCHA and national scoring lead, Sterling kept right on his heels after the team rose to a No. 1 ranking in mid-January. Sterling, who ultimately finished just one point behind his teammate with 63 for the season, struck for 34 goals to establish himself as the most dangerous offensive threat in the country. In June, Sterling was named an Academic All-American.

The Tigers clinched a share of the MacNaughton Trophy on March 3 with a memorable 3-0 triumph over DU, in front of a record crowd of 7,881 at the Colorado Springs World Arena. Not bad for a team that was picked by WCHA coaches to finish fourth in the conference and started the season ranked no higher than 14 th in the national polls!

Faro, McGinnis CC’s Top Student-Athletes

by Dave Reed

Heidi Faro ’05 and Patrick McGinnis ’05 received the annual Laura Golden and Van Diest Awards as Colorado College’s top female and male student-athletes for 2004-05. Faro, who majored in international political economy, finished her volleyball career ranked third in block assists (254), sixth in total blocks (315), 14th in block solos (61), and 16th in kills (628). McGinnis, who majored in philosophy and minored in physics and Spanish, led the nation in both goals and points per game this soccer season regardless of NCAA division.

Abel, Stuart Earn IWLCA Honors

by Dave Reed

Cassie Abel ’05 was named the Division III Attacker of the Year by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association, and for the second consecutive season was named a first-team All-American by the IWLCA, becoming CC’s only three-time All-American. Coach Susan Stuart was named the West Region Coach of the Year by the IWLCA for the third time.

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Giaimo Earns Honorable Mention All-America Recognition

by Dave Reed

Team captain Andrew Giaimo ’05, who led CC in ground balls and caused turnovers this season, has been named an honorable mention 2005 All-American by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association.

Records Fall in Outdoor Track & Field

by Dave Reed

The outdoor track team set four records: Jenny Jorgensen ’05 ran the 5K in 17:48.96, Allie Rowe ’08 posted 12:27.56 for the 3K steeplechase, and Eliza Bernard ’05 cleared 10’ in the pole vault. Megan Zaranek ’08, Cathlin Jones ’06, Jocelyn Jenks ’08, and Jorgensen ran the distance medley relay in 13:06.72.

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