Kobe Bryant, Daughter Die in Helicopter Crash, World Loses a Role Model 

By Tom Griffin (tgriffin2@umassd.edu), Sports Editor    Kobe Bryant, the recently retired 20-year veteran of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, was tragically killed in a Helicopter Accident over the Californian city of Calabasas.  En route to coaching his 13-year-old daughter Gianna’s basketball game, Bryant, his daughter, two of her teammates, three parents of the teammates and an assistant coach passed away as the pilot lost the Californian hills in heavy … Continue reading Kobe Bryant, Daughter Die in Helicopter Crash, World Loses a Role Model 

 

Growing Defense Key in Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV Win 

By Tom Griffin (tgriffin2@umassd.edu), Sports Editor    To put it simply: The Kansas City Chiefs instigated a 10-point fourth quarter comeback over the San Francisco 49ers to win their first Super Bowl in exactly fifty years. What this doesn’t explain is the growth in both team and coach that made their win a reality.  Historically, the Chiefs had been a team to always make it … Continue reading Growing Defense Key in Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV Win 

 

Head coach reaches career record as Corsairs steady the ship

 By Sports Editor Tom Griffin  Minimizing mistakes led head coach Brian Baptiste and the Corsair men’s basketball team to a week of breaking even and a new record set for victories.  With the Corsairs’ dismantling of the Southern Maine Huskies this past Saturday, Baptiste earned his 650th victory at the head coaching position.  To start the week’s events, UMassD faced off against Tufts in a … Continue reading Head coach reaches career record as Corsairs steady the ship

 

Corsairs trade wins, develop MASCAC niche 

By Sports Editor Tom Griffin  Having previously thrived through their season opener, the waning Corsairs exchanged in-conference wins and losses with Salem State and Plymouth State, settling in between both teams in MASCAC standings.  Having stumbled to 1-3, the Corsairs sought to rebound off of the struggling, winless Salem State Vikings. Rebound they did, suffocating the Vikings to the tune of seven unanswered goals and a … Continue reading Corsairs trade wins, develop MASCAC niche 

 

Confident Corsair crew takes Lafrance Tournament title 

By Sports Editor Tom Griffin   A pair of wins and some late-game grand finals heroics carried the Corsairs to a first–place finish and back-to-back titles at the Lafrance Hospitality basketball tournament.  The first match, a semifinal against Husson, was dominated handily by the Corsairs, who maintained at least a 20-point lead over their Eagle adversaries through two halves.   Leading the charge for UMass Dartmouth was Jake … Continue reading Confident Corsair crew takes Lafrance Tournament title 

 

Unexpected stars bring unprecedented success over Westfield State in closer 

By Sports Editor Tom Griffin An unexpected lineup and some defensive playmaking carried the Corsairs over their MASCAC rival Westfield State Owls to a final score of 19-13 on Saturday afternoon. UMassD’s final outing of the regular season saw a new face under center. Having previously provided key depth to the Corsair ground game, UMassD junior Jacob Francis took snaps at quarterback in their victory … Continue reading Unexpected stars bring unprecedented success over Westfield State in closer 

 

After messy dress rehearsal, Hockey looks to ransack MASCAC 

by Sports Editor Tom Griffin Following an overtime loss to the out-of-conference Stonehill Skyhawks, the Corsairs began a hopeful sweeping of MASCAC with an 8-1 lashing of Framingham State Rams.  The first matchup, while not as important to future postseason hopes, was fought for spiritedly by the blue and gold, with the two teams meeting each other pound-for-pound from start to finish. A power play … Continue reading After messy dress rehearsal, Hockey looks to ransack MASCAC 

 

Torn sails leave ‘Sairs adrift in Maritime 

By Sports Editor Tom Griffin The crippled Corsairs found themselves on the losing end of an offensive shootout against Massachusetts Maritime.  Spotting the Buccaneers three touchdowns by the start of the third quarter, the UMassD offense did well to crawl out of a 21-point deficit. Freshman quarterback Ryan Qualey, in his first start as a Corsair, made quick work of the Mass Maritime secondary.   Under … Continue reading Torn sails leave ‘Sairs adrift in Maritime 

 

Men’s Soccer outlasts season-enders to finish 8-7-2, secure playoff birth 

By Sports Editor Tom Griffin The Corsair men’s soccer team endured a double–overtime scoreless tie against Coast Guard and earned a playoff appearance after defeating Castleton to end their regular season.  For everything that UMassD’s long bout against Coast Guard lacked in scoring, it made up for it with a rock solid defense and a will to endure whatever the Bears sent their way. Wading through … Continue reading Men’s Soccer outlasts season-enders to finish 8-7-2, secure playoff birth 

 

Corsair running game overruns Colonial roadblock 

By Sports Editor Tom Griffin  A bumpy start and some late adjustments throttled the Corsair football team past Western Connecticut’s Colonials in a late-game rout.  The offense started slow, culminating in starting quarterback Stephen Gacioch departing after a drive and a half. In his stead, freshman backup Ryan Qualey completed Gacioch’s drive with a series of rushing plays, capitalized by a 23-yard touchdown reception from … Continue reading Corsair running game overruns Colonial roadblock