UConn's Olt named to the 2009 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year list

The College Baseball Foundation announced today that University of Connecticut sophomore Mike Olt (Branford, Conn.) has been named to baseball’s 2009 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Pre-Season Watch List.

The Wallace Award is presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate baseball player in conjunction with the College Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.

The 2009 awards banquet will be at 7 p.m. (CST) on Thursday, July 2 in the United Spirit Arena on the campus of Texas Tech University.

Olt is one of nine BIG EAST players to make the list.

The Wallace Award is dedicated to the memory of former Texas Tech player and assistant coach Brooks Wallace, who played for the Red Raiders from 1977-1980. He played two years in the Texas Rangers organization then returned to Texas Tech to serve as a graduate assistant and later, an assistant coach. In 1984, he was diagnosed with cancer and fought the disease until March 24, 1985, when he passed away at the age of 27.

Posted Dec. 5, 2008

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UConn's Men's Hockey falls to UMass, 5 to 1

Freshman Marcello Ranallo’s assist was the ninth of the season and boosted him into first place on the team for points scored.

Two early goals put the University of Massachusetts up in the first period and would be enough to hang on for the win as the University of Connecticut fell to the Minutemen 5-1 at the Mullins Center on Dec. 5.

UConn’s lone goal this the night was scored by junior Chris Ochoa in his sixth of the season, but it would not be enough for the Huskies (4-11) as they fell to the Minutemen for the fourth time since the 2005-06 season.

Junior Beau Erickson made 38 saves for the Huskies, just one shy of his season high – which came against Army on Oct. 24 – but Minutemen’s 43 shots were too much for the netminder. UMass outshot UConn by 22.

UMass got out to a 1-0 lead in the first when, after a flurry in front of the goal, T.J. Syner tapped in the first goal of his career at 5:03.

Later, Alex Berry would tack on a shorthanded goal with just one second remaining in the power play, to put the Minutemen up by two with six minutes remaining in the first half.

UConn cut into the lead at the end of the first, when Ochoa took advantage of a UConn power play opportunity and flicked the puck into the net for the Huskies’ first and only goal in the game.

Ochoa had some help from sophomore Matt Pedemonti and freshman Marcello Ranallo.

Pedemonti tacked on an assist for the fourth time in the last five games. Ranallo’s assist was the ninth of the season and boosted him into first place on the team for points scored.

During the second period, UConn had a chance to tie the game when freshman Pat McAuley sent a rocket shot at the goal that bounced off of the inside of the pipe and ricocheted back into play.

The shot could have tied the game up at two-all. Instead UMass responded with three unanswered goals in the third period, including one with just 23 seconds remaining.

The Huskies will break for finals and are back in action during the Toyota UConn Classic on Dec. 29 at 7:05 p.m.

Posted Dec. 5, 2008

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UConn power play lifts Women's Ice Hockey past Boston College

Michelle Binning continues to lead the team in power play goals, adding to her team-best total (7) tonight against Boston College.

A pair of power-play goals from the University of Connecticut women’s ice hockey team was enough to win a 2-1 decision over Boston College on Friday night (Dec. 5) at Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum.

The Eagles, who had claimed the last two regular season games between the two teams, suffered only their third Hockey East loss of the season.

Michelle Binning added to her team-best power-play goal total with nine minutes remaining in the third period for the win. Binning has scored four game-winning goals this season.

Cristin Allen sent the puck in front of the BC net from the blue line, and Dominique Thibault fed it to Binning, also waiting in front of Molly Schaus for the right opportunity.

Binning’s third period mark was the deciding factor, as the Huskies denied the Eagles a goal in the final 1:22, despite facing an extra attacker.

In the first period, UConn capitalized on the power play with Jody Sydor shooting one from just inside the blue line to give UConn a 1-0 lead at 11:05. It was Amy Hollstein and Binning with the assists.

As the Husky power play expired in the second period, Brianna Uliasz fired one high and the puck ricocheted off the cross bar.

UConn was unable to repeat its early power play success despite registering six shots in three power-play opportunities in the second period.

The Huskies out shot the Eagles 13-4 during the second period, holding their Hockey East opponent without a shot in two power plays.

For the game, UConn had the edge in shots, 29-24.

The Eagles regained possession on the UConn power play in the third period, down one goal (2-1). Boston College’s Kelli Stack and Allie Thunstrom had a pair of significant short-handed opportunities denied by UConn’s Brittany Wilson – who finished the game with 23 saves to earn her sixth win of the year.

UConn’s 2-1 victory over Boston College snaps a five-game skid against the Eagles. The Huskies are 12-9-5 against BC in the all-time series.

Following the 10-day break for final examinations, UConn hosts Harvard on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m.

Game Notes

• UConn scored two power-play goals in two consecutive games for the second time this season. The Huskies had a pair of power play goals against Yale in the Nutmeg Classic Championship game on Nov. 29. Women’s ice hockey scored twice on the power play against Sacred Heart (Sept. 27) and at Minnesota State-Mankato (Oct. 3).
• The Huskies have scored at least once with the man advantage in the last four games.
• With an assist tonight, Dominique Thibault needs one more point to hit the century mark in her career. Thibault has scored 54 goals and dished out 45 assists for 99 points in 84 career games.
• Michelle Binning continues to lead the team in power play goals adding to her team-best total (7) tonight against Boston College.

Posted Dec. 5, 2008

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uconn_womens_ice_hockey_beats_boston_college_dec_5_2008.html