Athletics & Recreation

NEW HAVEN, CT - Kim Galvin (right), a recent graduate of Georgian Court University, has been honored as the 2008-09 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Woman of the Year in an announcement made by Commissioner Dan Mara. Galvin, who competed in cross country for the Lions, is now eligible for the NCAA Woman of the Year award. The award honors senior student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.

Georgian Court University Head Cross Country Coach, Kerwin Lanz, and Head Track & Field Coach, Brett Harvey, are proud to announce the Lions' recruiting class of 2009-10. GCU will have 24 student-athletes joining the squad(s) this year, headlined by Lacey Township High School standouts, Lauren Calorel and Justine Elardo, Middletown North’s Justine Berger, Monmouth University transfer and former Howell Township High School standout, Lauren Rome.

The Georgian Court University staff of head coach Jeff Franquet (right), assistant coach Carl Taylor and graduate assistant Heather Walker has been selected as the NCAA Division II East Region Coaching Staff of the Year, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced on Wednesday. The Lions enjoyed its most successful campaign in program history, a year in which the CACC champions reached 40 victories (40-17) for the first time and came within one win of advancing to the NCAA Division II College World Series.

NEW HAVEN, CT- The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) announced its All-Academic team for the 2009 spring athletic season today. Three Georgian Court University student-athletes earned a spot on this elite list, including junior softball player Chelsea Long (left) (Exercise Science-3.51 GPA) and lacrosse players, junior Alley Abbate (center) Business Administration-3.71 GPA) andsophomore Jilian Pennington (right) (Biology-3.58 GPA).

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) has ranked the Georgian Court University softball squad 13th in its final Top-25 national poll of the 2009 season after the Lions enjoyed its most successful campaign in program history, a year in which the CACC champions reached 40 victories (40-17) for the first time and came within one win of advancing to the NCAA Division II College World Series.

The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) announced its 2009 Division II Softball All-Star team today. Lions' ace Diana Sansevera (Manalapan, NJ/St. John Vianney) was named ECAC Pitcher of the Year and earned a spot on the ECAC First-Team while freshman Rachel Ruch (2B, Edison, NJ/Edison) earned ECAC Rookie of the Year honors while also garnering a place on the First-Team roster. Other First-Team selections include sophomore Courtney Cuevas (3B, Fords, NJ/Woodbridge) and senior Mallory Kirchner (OF, South Amboy, NJ/Cardinal McCarrick).

The Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) has honored 64 Division II student-athletes with a selection on one of its 2009 All-Regional teams, one of which includes Georgian Court University's Natalie Bermudez (Jr.-Toms River, NJ/Monsignor Donovan).

Courtney Cuevas (So.-Fords, NJ/Woodbridge), Mallory Kirchner (Sr.-South Amboy, NJ/Cardinal McCarrick) and Diana Sansevera (So.-Manalapan, NJ/St. John Vianney), members of the Daktronics East All-Region First Team, have received Honorable Mention on the 2009 Daktronics All-America Softball team, the organization announced today.

SALEM, VA-For the second consecutive season, Georgian Court University has earned national recognition as senior Mallory Kirchner (South Amboy, NJ/Cardinal McCarrick) and CACC Rookie of the Year Rachel Ruch (Fr.-Edison, NJ/Edison) have earned selection to the 2009 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II First-Team All-American squad. The duo joins Heather Walker (2008) as the only Division II First-Team All-Americans in the program's history. Daktronics East Region Pitcher of the Year, CACC Pitcher of the Year and CACC Tournament MVP, Diana Sansevera (So.-Manalapan, NJ/St. John Vianney), represents the Lions on the Second Team.

SYRACUSE, NY-The clock struck midnight for Georgian Court University softball Sunday as the Lions fell, 4-0, to top-ranked Le Moyne College (45-11) in the deciding Game Three of the NCAA Super Regionals, ending GCU's Cinderella season.

SYRACUSE, NY-The Georgian Court University softball team after winning Game One, 4-1, on Friday, dropped Game Two, 2-0, against top-ranked LeMoyne College (44-11), Saturday afternoon in Syracuse, NY, evening the best-of-three NCAA East Super Regionals at one win apiece.

SYRACUSE, NY- The #3-seed Georgian Court University Softball Squad now stands one victory away from any their ultimate goal and dream, a spot in the NCAA Division II World Series, as the Lions defeated top-ranked Le Moyne College, 4-1, in Game One of the best-of-three NCAA East Super Regionals, Friday afternoon in Syracuse, NY. Diana Sansevera (So.-Manalapan, NJ/St. John Vianney) improved to 27-8 on the campaign and 8-0 in the postseason as she allowed one run on four hits and a walk, while striking out seven, in the complete game effort. Courtney Cuevas (So.-Fords, NJ/Woodbridge) provided the big offensive blow for the Lions with a two-run home run in the third inning. The victory, GCU's eighth straight and 40th of the year (40-15), snapped Le Moyne's (43-11) 12-game winning streak.

The 2009 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II All-Region Teams were announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association on Thursday. Each of the eight NFCA Division II Regions presents a 13-member first-team and 13-member second-team comprised of one player per team representing the positions of catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, designated player, utility/pitcher and utility/non-pitcher, plus two pitchers and three outfielders per teams.

The East Region first team is dominated by the two programs that will face off in super-regional play this weekend. Third-seeded Georgian Court leads the way with three firs-team selections including pitcher Diana Sansevera (So.-Manalapan, NJ/St. John Vianney), outfielder Mallory Kirchner (Sr.-South Amboy, NJ/Cardinal McCarrick) and Utility/Non-Pitcher Rachel Ruch (Fr.-Edison, NJ/Edison). Top-seeded Le Moyne’s two first teamers, pitcher Jenna Venacore and DP Kelcie Cashel, will lead the Dolphins as they play host to Georgian Court this weekend for the best-of-three series. Click here for the official release.

Brookville, NY- Diana Sansevera (right) (So.-Manalapan, NJ/St. John Vianney) has been named the 2009 Daktronics East Region Pitcher of the Year, which was released this afternoon following a vote by the region's Sports Information Directors. Also a member of the All-Region first team, Sansevera posted a 26-8 overall record with 330 strikeouts, a .191 BAA and 1.54 ERA in 241.1 innings pitched. The CACC Pitcher of the Year and CACC Tournament MVP also owns a record of 7-0 with seven complete games this postseason. Joining Sansevera on the All-Region First Team are teammates, 3B Courtney Cuevas (So.-Fords, NJ/Woodbridge) and LF Mallory Kirchner (Sr.-South Amboy/Cardinal McCarrick). CACC Rookie of the Year, 2B Rachel Ruch (Fr.-Edison, NJ/Edison), was selected to the All-Region Second Team (Click here for the official release.)