It’s hard to believe, but already it’s time to start keeping tabs on local Newtown athletes who have taken their games to the collegiate level …

 

Marcus Tracy (Wake Forest men’s soccer) – The third-ranked Wake Forest men’s soccer team defeated Furman 2-0 in the opening scrimmage August 20 in Greenville, South Carolina. The Demon Deacons held the Paladins scoreless and limited the Furman offense to four shots per 45-minute half. Junior Marcus Tracy and freshman Corben Bone notched both of WFU’s goals and assists. Tracy landed a header in the 47th minute to get the Deacons on the board and Bone followed with a rocket in the 81st minute to complete the Wake Forest win.

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Casey Frobey (Fairfield University women’s soccer) – The Fairfield University women’s soccer team was selected to finish third in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) preseason coaches poll. The Stags earned 86 points in the poll. The Lady Stags will open the 2007 campaign at the Denver Invitational on August 31, playing Air Force. Last year as a freshman, Frobey had a team-high 12 goals with three assists for 27 points.

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Nicole Sieber (Western Connecticut State University women’s soccer) – The WCSU women’s soccer team is ranked among the nation’s best in two pre-season Division III polls. The Colonials, 20-2-1 and NCAA Tournament second round participants in 2006, are ranked 18th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division III Women’s pre-season poll. The Lady Colonials, the defending Little East Conference regular-season and tournament champions, are also ranked 19th in the D3Kicks.com national poll. The Colonials open the 2007 season at home against Clark University (MA) on Saturday, September 1. Last year as a freshman, Sieber had six goals and nine assists for 21 points.

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Alex Konneker (Manhattan College women’s soccer) – In the MAAC Women’s soccer preseason poll, Manhattan College was predicted to finish fifth in the conference. The Lady Jaspers finished the 2006 season with a 12-5-2 record (6-1-1 at home) and 4-3-2 in their MAAC Conference games. They are set to kick off their 2007 season against American University on Friday, August 31. As a freshman last year, Konneker scored five goals and assisted on four others.

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Brian Miles (Montclair State men’s soccer) – The Montclair State men’s soccer team was chosen No. 1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Preseason Men’s Soccer Coaches Poll. The Red Hawks are coming off the best season in school history as they went 20-1-1 and won the conference for the seventh time since 1961. Montclair, which also advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division III Tournament received seven of the 10 first-place votes. Last year as a sophomore defender, Miles appeared in 21 games with 19 starts and registered four assists.

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Diana Grimaldi (Emmanuel College women’s volleyball team) – Will open the campaign on September 1 at the Bridgewater pre-season jamboree. The regular season opens on September 7 at the Endicott College tournament.

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Tara Gaston (Gettysburg College women’s soccer) – For the first time since 1990, the Gettysburg College women’s soccer team enters its season under the direction of a new head coach, but that shouldn’t pose too much of a problem for the two-time defending ECAC Division III South champions as 17 letterwinners and seven starters return to first-year head coach Matt Garrett’s squad. As a freshman last year, Gaston appeared in 21 games – starting 18 – and notched a goal. The 2007 season opens September 1 against Ithaca.

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Josh Rouse (University of Michigan football) – As a second-year player, he will bid for playing time at MIKE linebacker. As a freshman, Rouse appeared in nine games, primarily on special teams. He was a two-way starter (tight end and linebacker) and captain for coach Dennis Orlando at Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Peensylvania, recording 96 tackles, including 35 for losses with five sacks, while helping Valley Forge to an 8-0 record in 2005 – its first undefeated season in 16 years. The Spartans open the 2007 season on September 1 against the University of Alabama.

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Stephanie Logan (Quinnipiac University volleyball) – The Quinnipiac University women’s volleyball team was picked to finish eighth in the 2007 Northeast Conference Women’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll as announced by the NEC office. The Bobcats finished last season at 1-30 overall and 1-7 in the NEC. Last year as a junior, Logan notched 125 kills (1.37 per game) while appearing in 28 matches and 91 games.

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Kristi Nowak (Virginia Tech women’s soccer) – Saw a couple of minutes of action as the Lady Hokies pounded Miami of Ohio, 5-0, in pre-season action last week. Then saw considerable second half action as the Lady Hokies slipped past Vanderbilt, 2-0. Tech opens the season this Friday against Radford.

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Erin Clark (Colgate University field hockey) – The Colgate University field hockey team was picked fifth in the Patriot League preseason poll. The Lady Raiders open their season on Saturday, Aug. 25, when they host Syracuse at 12:00 p.m., at Tyler’s Field. Last year, Clark appeared in two games and had a shot on the cage.

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Abby Atkinson (Bucknell University swimming and diving), Chelsea Morin (Ursinus College women’s soccer), Kim Allen (Castleton State University women’s soccer), Chris Hoagland (Castleton State University men’s soccer), Mike Klein (Roger Williams University men’s soccer), Joe DeVellis (Ithaca College football), Chris Potter (Ithaca College football), Charlie Baldour (Keene State College cross country), Eric MacKnight (Keene State College cross country), Tony Magliocco (West Point men’s soccer), Max Reed (Pitzer College football), Mike Vontobel (Montclair State University men’s soccer), CJ Maurer (St. Bonaventure swimming & diving), Mary Ober (University of Connecticut rowing), Nick Mentessana (University of Missouri at Rolla men’s soccer), Joshua Tenenbaum (Bentley College football), Alex Meisel (Bucknell University men’s soccer), Matt Taylor (Franciscan University men’s soccer), Ryan Keogler (Franciscan University men’s soccer), Chris DeRoo (Colby College cross country), Dan Cascone (University of Wisconsin football), Brennan Coakley (Penn State football).

 

*If there is a local athlete not listed here, please email us at sports@thebee.com