With the weather warming up, Brown's spring sports have just begun to hit the fields. Between three straight wins from men's lacrosse and the men's tennis team's season-opening 11-2 record, many teams are already out to hot starts - and in a few weeks, the teams will begin their Ivy League play. Here are a few home games to mark on your calendar.
Softball, Saturday, March 31, 12 p.m. vs. PrincetonSoftball has been cruising through its non-conference schedule so far. After playing four games in California over spring break, the Bears will open their Ivy League season against Princeton.
The Tigers are the league's defending champions, but All-American pitcher Erin Snyder has graduated. As a result, the Bears look poised to climb the Ivy League standings behind the bats of first baseman Kelsey Wilson '09 and designated hitter and catcher Amy Baxter '08.
Men's and women's track and field, Saturday, April 14, Brown InvitationalAfter going on the road all winter for the indoor season, the track team will host numerous teams in its annual invitational. The sprint and jump squads from the University of Connecticut and the University of Rhode Island should pose a challenge, but Brown will counter with Paul Raymond '08 and Thelma Breezeatl '10, the Ivy's fastest sprinters in the 60-meter dash. In addition, distance runners such as Smita Gupta '08 and Naja Ferjan '07 should help the Bears to a good showing at one of its two home meets of the season.
Men's tennis, Friday, April 20, 3 p.m. vs. DartmouthMen's tennis will look to move toward its second straight Ivy League title when it meets Dartmouth in its last home match of the year. Dartmouth is currently at the top of the Ivy League in non-conference play with a 9-0 mark.
Captain Dan Hanegby '07 and Basu Ratnam '09, the team's first and second singles players, have experienced doubles success as well this winter, partnering with Chris Lee '09 and Eric Thomas '07. As a result, the team looks like a good bet to build on the team's 9-2 start to the season.
Women's lacrosse, Saturday, April 21, 1 p.m. vs. PennThe women's lacrosse team has played by far the toughest early-season schedule of any of the spring sports team. It squared off versus national No. 1 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Feb. 25 then played No. 3 Maryland last weekend. The Bears are banking on their experience coming in handy when they enter the heart of Ivy League play versus Penn. Brown will rely on tri-captain Mimi DeTolla '08 and Bethany Buzzell '09 to provide the scoring punch that should lead the team to a successful season.
Baseball, Saturday and Sunday, April 21 and 22, 12 p.m. vs. HarvardThe Bears play traditional nemesis Harvard right in the thick of Ivy League play this year, and the two straight home games against the Crimson will go a long way toward determining the outcome of the team's conference season.
The Bears' rotation is led by Jeff Dietz '08 - who was named the Collegiate Baseball Ivy League Preseason Pitcher of the Year - and Bryan Tews '07, who was named first team All-Ivy in 2006. The team also boasts the reigning co-Ivy League Rookie of the Year Steve Daniels '09. And after facing national powerhouses Georgia Southern University and USA Today/ESPN national No. 2 University of South Carolina in non-conference play, the Bears should have no problem matching up with Harvard.
Women's tennis, Sunday, April 22, 12 p.m.Harvard has won the Ivy League crown in women's tennis every year since 2003, so Brown's play against the Crimson will be pivotal. The match against Harvard will be Brown's last of the season, so Bruno will be battle-tested. The Bears hope to improve on their disappointing 1-6 mark in the league last season.
Daisy Ames '07 was Brown's lone all-league performer in 2006 and has continued to improve her game in 2007. Brown will need contributions from Michelle Pautler '07, Sara Mansur '09 and Brett Finkelstein '09 if it wants to have a chance at the league crown.
Men's lacrosse, Saturday, April 28, 1 p.m. vs. CornellWith wins in three of its first four games, No. 18 men's lacrosse is enjoying one of its best season starts in a long time. But as impressive as the Bears have looked, Cornell will undoubtedly come into the game as one of the top teams in the country. In fact, the Big Red earned the No.1 ranking in the national coaches and media polls on Tuesday.
Brown will try and counter with the scoring of Thomas Muldoon '10, Kyle Hollingsworth '09 and tri-captain David Madeira '07 and will rely on goalie Jordan Burke '09 to anchor the defense this season. Because the Bears travel to traditional power Princeton May 5 to close the Ivy League season, it will be crucial for Brown to secure Ivy wins early in the season and give the Big Red its best shot.
