Awards and accolades continue to pour in for AIC's Fitzsimmons

Jan. 10, 2013

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – American International College (AIC) women's soccer junior back Alie Fitzsimmons of West Springfield, Mass. was a first-team selection on the 2012 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) College Division Scholar All-East Region Team, it was announced by the NSCAA on Jan. 4.

A first-team all-region pick, Fitzsimmons also led a defense that recorded ten shutouts in a span of 11 games, just one shy of the school record for shutouts in a season. The Yellow Jackets recorded a school-record streak of six consecutive shutouts to close out the regular season.

To be nominated, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) throughout her career; start more than 50 percent of all games and be a significant contributor to the team; be nominated by an institution that is a current NSCAA College Services member; be a junior or above in academic standing at the current institution; and be in his or her second year at the current school if he or she is a transfer student.

AIC posted an overall record of 13-4-2, won the Northeast-10 regular season title with a conference record of 12-1-2, and finished the regular season ranked tenth in the NSCAA Coaches' Poll. The Yellow Jackets also qualified for the NCAA Championship Tournament for the second time in three years.

The AIC women's soccer team was also one of 514 women's soccer programs to receive the Team Academic Award from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America for the 2011-12 academic year.

The Yellow Jackets posted a team grade point average of 3.44 for the 2011-12 academic year; placing them at the top of the list among the seven Northeast-10 programs to receive the award. The minimum GPA for the award is 3.00.

Pride wins rematch of last year's conference finals

SPRINGFIELD – In a rematch of last season's New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference championship, the Springfield College men's basketball team clamped down on MIT to pick up a 56-53 win on Jan. 8.

Springfield native Alex Berthiaume was terrific in the victory, pouring in a game-high 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting to go along with four assists and four rebounds.

That performance was preceeded by a 14 point effort in a 62-50 win over visiting Coast Guard on Jan. 5.

Owls drop heartbreaker after winning MASCAC opener

WESTFIELD – Forward Tania Ortiz of Holyoke scored all 10 of her points in the first half to spark the Owls and Springfield's Gabby Felix had a team-high nine rebounds and scored eight points, but Worcester State University's Julie Frankian made a free throw with 3/10th of a second remaining as Worcester State stole a 49-48 victory over the Westfield State University women's basketball team on Jan. 8.

Three days earlier, Felix led the way with 14 points and 8 rebounds as the Owls jumped out to a huge early lead and cruised to an easy 64-53 victory at Salem State University on Jan. 5.

Elsir helps WNE to victory

SPRINGFIELD – Sophomore Musa Elsir had 10 points and six rebounds as the Western New England University men's basketball team secured a 67-63 Commonwealth Coast Conference men's basketball victory over Wentworth on Jan. 8.

Medina leads WNE to win

SPRINGFIELD – Senior tri-captain Anthony Medina of Springfield won a 13-3 major decision at 149 pounds as the Western New England University wrestling team made its home debut in the New Year a memorable one by winning five of six bouts to overpower visiting Bridgewater State 48-3 on Jan. 6.

Elsir helps WNE grind past Western Connecticut

DANBURY, Conn. – The Western New England University men's basketball team's sophomore forward Musa Elsir of Springfield tallied 20 as the Golden Bears outlasted host Western Connecticut State in double overtime 93-85 on Jan. 2.

WSU falls to Smith College

WESTFIELD – Sophomore center Gabby Felix led the Owls with 14 points and nine rebounds, but Smith College took an 82-60 victory over Westfield State University in non-conference action on Jan. 2.

She also led the way with 14 points and 8 rebounds for the Owls as the team jumped out to a huge early lead and cruised to an easy 64-53 victory at Salem State University on Jan. 5.

Pride tops Hartwick, Union

ONEONTA, N.Y. – Westfield's Kelsey Poole was part of a 400-yard medley relay that posted a winning time of 4:09.70 as the Springfield College women's swimming and diving team cruised past both Union and Hartwick in a tri-meet on Saturday. The Pride eased past Hartwick, 153-83 and handled Union, 141-87.

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