Kevin Boino and the University of Massachusetts men’s soccer team completed a rare Atlantic 10 double last weekend and will look to extend their season on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Division I Championship.
The Minutemen defeated Virginia Commonwealth to win the A10 tournament, becoming the first team to win the regular season outright and the conference tournament in the league since 1991.
Thursday at 1 p.m., UMass will host Colgate in a rematch from the teams’ Sept. 16 meeting in Amherst. Boino had a shot on goal in that 2-1 UMass win.
On the season, Boino has a goal and an assist in 19 starts for the Minutemen (15-3-3).
He is not the only area alum competing in NCAA tournament play this fall.
Down I-91 from Amherst, the Springfield College football team is getting ready for its NCAA DIII tournament opener against Husson at home on Saturday afternoon.
The Pride (10-0) recently completed the third undefeated season in school history with a 43-7 win over MIT. In that win, Pittsfield’s Dominic Traversa had three tackles, including 1.5 tackles for a loss.
On the season, Traversa is second on the team with 54 tackles and has two interceptions. PHS grad Chad Shade, a sophomore for the Pride, is fourth on the team in rushing with 364 yards in seven games and has completed four of five passing attempts for 48 yards and a touchdown.
Springfield’s roster also includes junior offensive lineman Zach Wright and freshman O-lineman Jameson Coughlan, both of Hoosac Valley.
Closer to home, Pittsfield High alumna Ilana Albert and the Williams College women’s soccer team will continue their NCAA DIII tournament run at Cole Field on Saturday when the Ephs (18-1-1) host Cal Lutheran in the Round of 16. The winner of that game moves on to Sunday’s sectional final in Williamstown with a trip to the Final Four on the line.
Albert this fall has a goal and an assist in 13 starts and has appeared in 19 of Williams’ 20 games.
Westfield State’s women’s soccer team, which won the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference tournament, fell in the first round of the NCAA DIII tournament to Messiah College. The Owls featured three Wahconah alumnae this fall: sophomore Gianna Moncecchi and freshmen Ashley Zink and Amelia Dougherty. Dougherty scored a goal, Moncecchi started all 20 games and Zink appeared in 19 games (17 starts) for the Owls.
Amanda Wright (Pittsfield) and the Springfield women’s soccer team lost in the championship game of the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference tournament, but the Pride is still alive in the ECAC Division III tourney, where it will host Albright on Saturday in the semi-finals. Wright is fourth on her team in scoring with seven goals and an assist this fall.
In the Commonwealth Coast Conference, a pair of Hoosac Valley alumna helped their soccer teams to the conference quarter-finals. Freshman Madison Vigna appeared in six games for Curry College (8-9-3); freshman Carah Cote had two goals and two assists in 19 games for Salve Regina (5-11-3).
Another former Hurricane, Lily Kronick, had one assist in 10 appearances at Elmira (1-14-1) this fall.
And Hoosac Valley graduate Megan Richardson finished her junior season at MCLA by being named first-team All-MASCAC for the second straight year. Richardson led the league in saves with 139 this fall and had the MASCAC’s fifth-highest save percentage, .790.
The Providence women’s soccer team saw its post-season run in end earlier this month in the Big East semi-finals. The Friars (10-8-2) got a goal and an assist from Lenox’s Alessandra Arace this season.
As the fall season winds down, the winter season cranks up, and that means a pair of area alums are getting their first taste of NCAA Division I play.
At Brown, Mount Greylock graduate Jenna Benzinger played a minute in the Bruins’ season opener but made the most of it, hitting one of two field goal attempts and grabbing a rebound in a an 85-62 win over Bryant College.
At the University of Vermont, Lenox’s Bailey Patella (Vermont Academy) did not see the floor in the Catamounts’ near upset at the University of Kentucky. But in an exhibition game against Concordia College, he was 2-for-2 from the field with five rebounds. He saw 15 minutes of action in an exhibition against crosstown rival St. Michael’s, scoring six points on 3-of-5 shooting.
If you know a student-athlete who should be included in an upcoming edition of College Collage, email sports@iBerkshires.com.
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Hinsdale OKs Police Department Audit After Fatal Shooting
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
HINSDALE, Mass. — The town has approved $25,000 for an administrative review of the police department, more than two months after police fatally shot 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil during a mental health crisis.
Town Administrator Robert Graves said the shooting on Jan. 7 is not the only focus of the audit, and it will be several months before the Select Board receives a final report.
During a special town meeting on March 11, an article appropriating $25,000 from free cash for an independent consultant to conduct a professional evaluation and audit of the Town's Police Department was approved. The audit includes a review of the department's policies, protocols, operations, and procedures, and concludes with a written report.
"The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office and Massachusetts State Police are investigating the shooting, and we await their conclusions. As we look to move forward, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, our insurance company (MIIA/Cabot Risk), and our legal counsel have recommended that the town hire an independent law enforcement consultant or firm to conduct a comprehensive administrative review of our police operation," Graves wrote in an email to iBerkshires on Friday.
"This event is not their focus; they will assess the overall operation. We want a written assessment of our police operation's strengths and weaknesses to help Hinsdale make future changes and improvements."
He said after completing the procurement process and signing a contract with a reputable consultant or business, it will most likely be several months before the Select Board receives the final report.
"Still, it will help the town and police department move forward," Graves wrote.
Last weekend, family and friends of Kauvil stood in Park Square asking for justice. A flier for the standout reads "Biagio was killed by police while experiencing a mental health crisis. Now, over seven weeks later, authorities have not yet provided any updates.
Qwanell Bradley scored 33 points, and Adan Wicks added 29 as the Hoosac Valley boys basketball team won a Division 5 State Championship on Sunday. click for more
Adan Wicks scored 38 points, and the eighth-seeded Hoosac Valley basketball team Saturday rallied from a nine-point first-half deficit to earn a 76-67 win over top-seeded Drury in the Division 5 State Quarter-Finals. click for more
Caprese Conyers scored 22 points, and Kyana Summers had a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds to go with eight assists as Pittsfield got back to the state semi-finals for the second year in a row. click for more