Sports News
Both of Albright’s women’s and men’s club rugby teams played at the top of their games this season.
Competing in the Small College-Division III league, the women’s rugby team rode the wave of a stellar 2018 season into a spectacular 2019 season. Led by captains Anika Blackman ’20 (biology), Naadirah Moore ’20 (digital video arts) and Dionna Stockton ’21 (business/Spanish) — the team ended the season ranked as one of the top 16 teams in the country. A decisive 42-0 win against Gettysburg College set the Lions on path to tackle #2 Catholic University as part of the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union Championship Regionals. But the weekend didn’t go as planned for the Lions, with the team falling by one point to Catholic University and losing a second game against York College.
The men’s rugby club — led by captains Baboucarr Manneh ’20 (communications), Quentin Menefee ’21 (fashion) and Anthony Woodlock ’20 (business) — earned an undefeated 5-0 record for fall 2019, securing the Mid Atlantic Rugby Conference Silver Championship.
Albright’s basketball teams are roaring through the season! At the time of printing, the women’s team boasted an overall record of 22-4, and was set to take on Messiah for the MAC Commonwealth Championship. Named Conference Player of the Week eight times, sophomore Dejah Terrell twice earned ECAC Division III South Player of the Month, was named DIII News Player of the Month and USBWA National Player of the Week. The men’s team finished its MAC conference run with a heartbreaking 93-89 semifinal loss to Arcadia, ending the season 15-11. Junior Samuel Majekodunmi took center stage as a member of the MAC’s All-Conference, first team.
Read all about the Lions at albrightathletics.com.
Jared Rappoport ’19 scores in Arcadia vs. Albright, 77-73, in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament Semifinals.
Although the Albright women’s soccer team has qualified for the MAC Commonwealth tournament six seasons in a row (and eight times in the last nine years), 2019 marks the first time the Lions have won a MAC post season game — shutting out Hood College 3-0.
Led by head coach, Pat Stanco, and bolstered by two All-MAC Commonwealth selections, Autumn Bieber and Lauren Haley, the team was anchored by sophomore Olivia Donkus in goal. Starting 18 games, Donkus held a 1.39 goals against average for the season with 11 wins.
Falling to Messiah in this year’s MAC Commonwealth championship tournament, the Lions were immediately invited to host their fourth straight Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Tournament, falling in a heartbreaking quarterfinal shootout — also a first in the team’s history. The Lions finished the 2019 season 13-8-1.
Jason Brader, Albright’s director of sports performance, comes to the college following positions with Louisiana Tech and the University of Alabama, having trained draft picks for the Cleveland Indians, Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys. Inventor of his own strength training software brand, he recently published his memoir, “Why Not Me?” — a self-help guide to overcoming loss in pursuit of true potential.