BY CHAYIM TAUBER

The last time the Broncos were in the Super Bowl, the narrative was all about one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game leading the Broncos to victory, securing his second ring, and riding off into the sunset. Fifteen years later and little has changed in that narrative as Peyton Manning, the greatest quarterback of all-time in many (including this author’s) opinion has faced his doubters, both regarding his health and his “big-game ability.” Sunday at Super Bowl XLVIII, Peyton will be able to stare down his detractors, as he has so many opposing blitzes, when he competes in what is the paradigm of a “clash of styles” showdown.

The Super Bowl is taking place at Met Life Stadium, a first for the New York area. And the match up is looking to be a good one.

In the one corner you have the Broncos: the record setting, high-octane passing offense that has receiving weapons everywhere you look. They are the “unstoppable offense.” The engine that drives them is the ultra-cerebral, pocket passing, veteran quarterback Peyton Manning.

In the other corner: the Seahawks. Their team’s identity is formed by their brick wall defense. Their secondary is the best in the league by far (as is their defense in general) and they’ve built their reputation on shutting down opposing receivers. Richard “I’m not a thug” Sherman is the best cornerback in the league and he will most likely be tasked with removing Demayrius Thomas from the game.

At quarterback, the Seahawks are led by Manning’s foil, Russell Wilson, a young, mobile, quarterback in his second year in the league. He relies heavily on his scrambling game, not so much to gain yards via the rush, but to extend plays. He doesn’t have that many receiving weapons and is pretty much everything Manning isn’t. It’s the clash of styles, both in terms of teams and quarterbacks that make this such an intriguing championship bout.

Of course, there’s the X factor.

Unstoppable Force vs. The Immovable Object is how the Broncos Offense v. Seahawks defense is being billed, but perhaps the biggest factor in determining the outcome of this game will be the forum in which the game is played and mother nature herself. Both teams thrive at home and have decided advantages that their home arenas. The Broncos rode the mile-high altitude to a 9-1 home record this season (postseason included) while the Seahawks, backed by their mighty “12th man” were a dominant 9-1 as well (11-1 if you count the preseason). Both teams can handle cold and the elements but neither are used to the gusting winds, freezing cold, and possible snow that a Super Bowl in New Jersey offers. Should the weather affect the game, the Seahawks stand to take advantage as the Broncos offense is incredibly pass-reliant. A grind-it-out game best suits the defensive minded Seahawks and their “Beast Mode” running back Marshawn Lynch.

If Peyton can’t throw, the Broncos can’t win. It’s as simple as that.

There are other storylines involved here: the first foray into a Super Bowl for the Seattle franchise, Richard Sherman, Champ Bailey (the 15-year future Hall of Famer is logging his first Super Bowl action), the health of Seahawks wideout Percy Harvin, Peyton’s legacy, Russell Wilson’s Super Bowl debut, Ground n’ Pound v. High Octane Offense, Seattle’s deaf fullback Derrick Coleman, and of course – the outdoor Super Bowl/the weather.

What we can expect as an outcome should be a Super Bowl for the ages.

BY CHAYIM TAUBER

The highly anticipated match-up of the NFL’s best offense and defense went awry from the very first snap of the game (a case of “Manny being Manny”). That Tim Tebow was the most successful Broncos Quarterback at Super Bowl XLVIII ought to tell you something.

This game was the single worst Super Bowl in NFL history.

An opening snap that sailed three feet high and into the end-zone for a safety was immediately followed by a Steven Hauschka field goal. Then came a punt. Then consecutive interceptions, the former leading to a Marshawn Lynch touchdown, the latter coming in the form of a pick-six. When the dust settled and as the stage was being set for Bruno Mars’ halftime show, the score was 22-0. It was a hideous first half but there was still a glimmer of hope considering that arguably the greatest quarterback of all time had halftime to figure things out and set things right.

Bruno Mars (joined by the Red Hot Chili Peppers) stole the show at halftime, easily the best part of the game to that point. Bruno went through a short set-list: “Locked out of Heaven,” ”Treasure,” ”Runaway Baby” (in which he paid homage James Brown and the Isley Brothers), and finished with his signature “Just the Way You Are” after a brief, high-energy rendition of “Give it Away Now” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Then, it was all over and within the span of seconds – one kickoff to the oft-injured and always dangerous Percy Harvin brought everyone back to reality and back to the methodical slaughter that was occurring on the field. Harvin took the second half kickoff to the house to make the score 29-0. An exchange of punts followed by yet another Denver turnover (this time a fumble by star wideout Demayrius Thomas) led to yet another Seattle touchdown and essentially iced the game at 36-0.

If Peyton could have thrown in a towel at that point, he probably would have, but that undoubtedly would have been intercepted by the Seahawks as well.

The Broncos got a touchdown the next possession but it was the very definition of “too little, too late.” Peyton’s legacy took irreparable damage in the eyes of many as he looked utterly devastated and completely helpless to stop what was one of the top defensive showings in Super Bowl history (along with the ’85 Bears and 2000 Ravens).

This wasn’t an example of Peyton unraveling though. “Good defense beating good offense” can be further simplified to “whoever wins on the line will win the game.” Peyton’s offensive line was woeful. Seeing a Manning rushed into throwing interceptions behind a shoddy offensive line is nothing new for Metlife Stadium this year, but it was apparent early on, as in opening snap early on, just how badly the Broncos line could cost them. The special-teams was awful. The ball-security was terrible.

Never has a quarterback had to do less to win a Super Bowl than Russell Wilson. His only job was to hand the ball off and not turn the ball over. He did have a gorgeous floater to Doug Baldwin down the sideline and Jermaine Kearse turned an underneath pass into a dizzying, Tazmanian Devil-like touchdown. It was all elementary however as the Broncos offensive line and their inability to hold onto the ball damned them from the beginning.

Though Peyton can’t be granted a full pardon, he did not play well, I challenge those that are sliding Peyton further down their “All-Time Greatest Quarterbacks List” to pick another quarterback that could have won a Super Bowl against a top-ranked defense without an offensive line. On an O-line with several Pro Bowlers, Tom Brady’s mortality was highlighted twice by a superior Giants defensive front. Montana had time, Elway had time, Young had time, Favre had time…. Quarterbacks win games by throwing the ball and if they’re not allowed to do that…

This Super Bowl will go down as one of if not the worst Super Bowl of all time. The lack of competitiveness, the sloppiness, the execution of an iconic quarterback (and to many, his legacy), and even the commercials, cumulatively made this year’s Super Bowl the worst watch in the sport’s illustrious history.

Marc Maturo’s official sports column

Phil Tisi and Christopher St. Lawrence

Boxing digging its roots deeper in Hillburn           

            The storied New York Golden Gloves amateur boxing tournament staged another card at the Torne Valley Sports Complex in Hillburn, and it’s not too soon to already talk about next year and beyond.

Asked if the tournament, being held for the 87th time in halls throughout the metropolitan area, would return to Rockland next year, Town of Ramapo public affairs coordinator Phil Tisi responded unequivocally, “Absolutely.”

“We’re on the schedule now, we’ve built up a good relationship with Brian Adams, the Golden Gloves director,” Tisi continued.

“Let me tell you,” Tisi told the County Times exclusively, “one of these days you’re going to see pro bouts up here, or maybe mixing Chicago Golden Gloves champions with New York champions. We’ve talked to Brian about that … that would be something.”

Something, indeed, as the Intercity bouts featuring the Windy City and The Big Apple were once a staple in amateur boxing circles for nearly 40 years, featuring among others future world champions Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay) and Sugar Ray Robinson. (The Intercity rivalry was introduced in 1928 and lasted until the 1960’s.)

The card at Hillburn on February 1 proved to be another rousing success, with town supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence again handling the ring announcer assignment.

GG Director Brian Adams with Steve Bratter and Al Artola

“All the seats I ordered were taken,” offered Tisi, giving the number at 450. “And we had people standing, too.”

The Intercity concept might come to fruition sooner than later, as Adams, himself a four-time New York GG king, appears to be thinking outside the box. Last year, Adams moved the two-day finals from Madison Square Garden to the newly opened Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where they’ll be held again this year on April 16 and April 17.

“That would be great for the area,” noted veteran mentor Sal Corrente of the Yonkers PAL, regarding the possibility of the Intercity renewal.

Corrente, tutored by legendary amateur coach Charley Caserta — who developed 40 champions during his tenure at the Mount Carmel CYO in the Bronx and Cage Recreation Center in White Plains – also thinks that staging GG shows in Westchester and Rockland is a great benefit, and well-deserved for avid local boxing fans.

Yonkers PAL, located at 127 North Broadway and which will host a card on February 7 at 7:30 p.m., was the first area hall to host a GG card.

“It’s wonderful,” said Corrente, who has 28 GG champs under his belt including six-time kingpin Davey Villar, now an assistant coach at the PAL. “There are a lot of boxers in this area – why not? We travel way out on Long Island (for cards), so it’s good for us to stay at home once in a while.”

Corrente had good words, too, for the Ramapo PAL gym, across from the Torne Valley Sports Complex, having taken six boxers to a recent sparring session that also featured a group of well-conditioned West Point pugilists and several prospects from Ace’s Gym in Tenafly, N.J.

Steve Bratter of Orangeburg and Al Artola of West Nyack – “Historic West Nyack,” Al likes to offer – worked the Hillburn card, with novice boxer Mike “The Dog” Luciano of Monroe winning a three-round decision to advance in the 152-pound division.

Note: Another show for area boxing fans is scheduled April 2 at nearby Empire City Casino, 810 Yonkers Avenue, Yonkers.

ON THE RUN: The St. Thomas Aquinas College men’s track and field team, ranked 55th in the nation in Division II, features seventh-ranked sprinter Winslow Dorsainvil of Monsey, who has clocked 6.82 in the 60.  Dorsainvil, a graduate of Spring Valley HS, has been named East Coast Conference (ECC) athlete of the week three times this season. The Spartans, rated eighth in the East Region, also showcase George Erazo of North Babylon, ranked third in the East with a time of 49:67 in the 400 and fifth in the 200 with a clocking of 22.97. The women’s distance medley relay team is ranked fourth in the region, with a time of 13:09.36 behind Keeley Bateman of Pearl River, Gabriela Sloezen of Westwood, N.J., Allison Borriello of Montgomery and Meagan Jaskot of Blauvelt. The Spartans compete at the Collegiate Track Championships at the Bacon Field House in Middletown, Conn., on February 8.

IN THE SWIM: John Conway of Airmont and Katie Arnott of Suffern turned in outstanding efforts as the University of Massachusetts swimming and diving team won 12 events en route to a 176-103 victory over Fordham at the Joseph R. Rogers, Jr. Pool in Amherst, Mass. Conway, who was second in the 50-yard freestyle, anchored the victorious 200-yard medley relay. Arnott won the 100-yard breaststroke, and placed second at the 200-yard distance. The Minutemen are off until the four-day Atlantic 10 Championships, scheduled at the Spire Center in Geneva, Ohio, Feb. 19-22.

ON TARGET: Senior forward KC Jentzen of Pearl River led all scorers with 20 points (two above her average) and added a game-high 13 rebounds as the Dominican College women’s basketball team defeated Chestnut Hill College, 65-62, at Sorgenti Arena in Philadelphia. Jentzen threw in an assist and two blocked shots for the Lady Chargers, who host Wilmington University on February 8 at the Hennessey Center in Orangeburg at 1 p.m.

QUICK HITTERS: Steven Fejes of Stony Point is completing his freshman season on the men’s swimming ream at Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh. Fejes, an alum of North Rockland HS, competes in freestyle and backstroke for the Knights, who placed second at the Skyline Conference Championships hosted by Purchase College. … Coming off their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1985, the Pace University baseball team has been picked to finish third in the Southwest Division of the Northeast-10 Conference in the preseason coaches poll. The Setters, including freshman outfielder John Kukura of New City, open their season on March 1 at Bloomfield (N.J.) College. The Setters’ first home game is scheduled March 8 when they host Merrimack in a doubleheader at noon. … Samantha Pucci of Pearl River, a junior defenseman, had her third assist of the season as the Utica College women’s hockey team shaded visiting Cortland, 2-1. Samantha is the sister of Josephine Pucci, also a standout defenseman, who makes her Olympic debut on February 8 when Team USA challenges Finland. (The game will be televised live from 3-5:30 a.m. on NBCSN). Samantha’s Red Dragons meet SUNY Cortland for a home-and-home series on January 31 and February 1. … The Oneonta women’s basketball team is rolling along at 14-5, helped in part by senior guard Kelly Mulligan of Pearl River. … The nationally fifth-ranked Cortland wrestling team won nine of 10 matches, three by pin, in a 40-4 dual victory over visiting Nassau Community College. Paul Fields of New City won his match by forfeit at 125 pounds as the Red Dragons improved to 11-3 on the season. … Junior guard Zach Mager of New City, an alum of Clarkstown South HS, continues to spark the men’s basketball team at SUNY Oneonta, scoring 23 points with six rebounds in a 81-77 victory over SUNY Potsdam. The Red Dragons are home on February 7, meeting Fredonia State University at 8 p.m., and stay home on February 8 to meet Buffalo State at 4 p.m. … Sophomore Chris

Samantha Pucci, Utica College defenseman

Leary of Suffern helped the Cortland swimming team win the 200-yard freestyle relay in a 134-104 loss to host Oneonta. Leary teamed with Mathew Hasbrouck of New Paltz, Mark Hanifin of Fort Plain and Reeve Callen of Oswego to win the meet’s final event. … Joe Clinton of Pearl River had a team-high six assists as the Dominican College men’s basketball team defeated Chestnut Hill College, 92-79, in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) game at the Sorgenti Arena in Philadelphia. Justin Turner of Trumbull, Conn., led four Chargers in double figures, coming off the bench to score 22 points. The Chargers, 13-6 overall and 9-3 in conference play, welcome Wilmington University to the Hennessey Center in Orangeburg on February 8 at 3 p.m. … Fredonia Sate sophomore Kyle Collins of Suffern placed 19th in the mile with a time of 4:22 at the Spire Midwest Indoor Open in Geneva, Ohio. The Blue Devils compete on February 8 at the Brockport Golden Eagle Invitational. … North Rockland HS alumn Mike Caputo of Stony Point, a freshman breaking into the lineup on the Hofstra University wrestling team, has posted a 3-4 record at 157 pounds. The Pride host Binghamton University at the Mack Sports Complex in Hempstead at 7 p.m. on February 7, and then travel to Lawrenceville, N.J., on February 9 to challenge Rider University at 5 p.m.

THIS & THAT: Bob Baird, founder of Touching Bases, a baseball league for special-needs adults, will be honored on February 16 at the fifth St. Thomas Aquinas College preseason dinner for the Spartans’ baseball team, which is celebrating its 40th year. The dinner will be held at the Romano Student Alumni Center on the STAC campus in Sparkill. Meet the 2014 team, including pitchers Anthony Morris of New City and Greg Morano of Congers, and infielder Rich Baerga of Pomona. For information access: smuscat@stac.edu.

“Ralph Kiner was one of the most beloved people in Mets history — an original Met and extraordinary gentleman. After a Hall of Fame playing career, Ralph became a treasured broadcasting icon for more than half a century. His knowledge of the game, wit, and charm entertained generations of Mets fans. Like his stories, he was one of a kind. We send our deepest condolences to Ralph’s five children and 12 grandchildren. Our sport and society today lost one of the all-time greats.”

BY MARC MATURO

The passing of Hall of Fame player and broadcaster Ralph Kiner erases the last public voice to the original 1962 Mets, when Kiner joined Lindsey Nelson and Bob Murphy in both the radio and TV booths.

“Whaddaya say, Ralphie Boy,” was often my gracious, energetic greeting, and the big guy most often responded with a gracious smile and a greeting of his own.

I last had the pleasure of being around Kiner during the 1985 season, my last year of seven covering our beloved Metsies, at home and on the road.

Never, not once, did I ever see Kiner have an angry word for anyone, even when we traveled to Montreal and, just like the high-priced stars of the time, we had to lug our own luggage through customs (in every other city, the Mets’ equipment manager and his crew handled the luggage for our traveling party, including mine. On each road trip, you’d drop off your bag at Shea Stadium and would not see it again until you reached the hotel in whatever city the Mets were playing. So, it was quite entertaining to see such high-profile players as George Foster, Criag Swan,Tom Seaver and Lee Mazzilli, among others, pushing their own carts through the Montreal airport just like us commoners).

I was introduced to Kiner in my rookie season on the beat in 1979, at spring training in St. Petersburg, Fla., by the late Daily News scribe Jack Lang. During one spring trip, I savored an hour-long interview with Kiner on a bench at Miller-Huggins Field, the Mets’ spring training home at the time. Manger Casey Stengel was more celebrated as a raconteur, but Kiner had to be at least his equal as a storyteller.

Kiner was always able to connect any incident or player, manager or coach in the game to a related story. And he would always be able to dig out information from a player that might have been difficult to deal with, for whatever reason, from a writer’s point of view. But there was one player even Kiner had trouble in getting more than one word answers. Catcher Clarence “Choo Choo” Coleman (don’t ask him how he got the nickname, he didn’t know) was once asked by Kiner, “So, Choo Choo, what is your wife’s name?” To which Choo- Choo replied, “Mrs. Coleman.”

End of interview. End of a life well-lived. RIP Ralphie Boy.

Marc Maturo’s official sports column

Kivlehan keeps baseball close to his heart

Pat Kivlehan, ready for second pro season

        Valentine’s Day can mean many things to many people. Consider 24-year-old Pat Kivlehan of West Nyack.

“I’m leaving Valentine’s Day, going to Peoria, Arizona, for spring training,” the Rutgers University alum said on the cusp of his second full season playing professional baseball.

Kivlehan, who was a Big East selection in football and the Big East MVP in baseball in his senior year for the Scarlet Knights, will be joining 20 top-rated minor-league prospects in the Seattle Mariners organization at a special mini-camp that begins in early March.

The mini-camp is scheduled to run until April 1 when Kivlehan will receive his marching orders – perhaps a return to the High Desert Mavericks, a Class A – Advanced team in the California League, or possibly another promotion to Class AA.

Kivlehan batted a robust .320 in 68 games for the Mavericks last season, fourth-best on the team, after being elevated from the short-season Class A Everett (Wash.) AquaSox in the Northwest League. He also knocked in 59 runs, scored 48, belted 13 homers and 13 doubles, and stole 65 bases.

“They’ll tell me where I’m going, but wherever it is I definitely feel more comfortable now,” Kivlehan continued. “I’ve always been able to adjust, to let loose and just play. Double A would be awesome, but it’s not my call. I’ll just keep working hard and it will fall into place.”

Kivlehan played four years of football at Rutgers, and only added baseball in his senior season to complete a rare double, but football is no longer a career path. Not that he’s lost interest in the sport, being a dedicated Giants fan, and not that he didn’t have a rooting interest in the recent lopsided Super Bowl.

“I watched the Super Bowl, but it wasn’t much of a game unless you were a Seahawks fan,” said Kivlehan, who had a particular rooting interest.

“When I played my first year of pro ball last season my host family, they are huge Seahawks fans. This Christmas they sent me a Seahawks jersey, so I had to root for the Seahawks,” Kivlehan admitted.

Kivlehan, a steadily improving third baseman who had 12 errors with the Mavericks, does not see himself becoming a career minor-leaguer but has not placed a timetable on reaching the big leagues.

“No, definitely, I have no certain time limit. If I’m playing well and know I’m playing well, I’ll keep playing,” he said. “If not, I’ll quit … won’t hang on.”

Lorne Marcus, has STAC on the run

STILL RUNNING: Freshman Tiana Kirkland of New City helped produce a third-place showing in the 4×200 relay as the St. Thomas Aquinas College women’s track and field team had a program-best fifth-place finish at the CTC Championships in Middletown, Conn.  Freshman Katie O’Grady of Tomkins Cove sparked the Lady Spartans, as the North Rockland HS alumna opened the day by taking third in the 5,000 meters in a time of 20:09.11.   Allison Borriello of Montgomery won the 500 in a time of 1:20.19 while Tappan Zee HS graduate  Meagan Jaskot of Blauvelt led all milers with a time of 5:32.11 as well as being part of the DMR team of Meghan Ventarolla of Monroe, Keeley Bateman of Pearl River and Gina Funaro of Queens that took third in 13:36.90. The veteran senior Bateman also was runner-up in the 1,000 with a time of 3:11.44. Gabriela Sloezen of Westwood, N.J., hit a school record in the 400 with a time 1:00.42 in the 400 finishing third overall.  Kirland, who ran the second leg in the 4×200, was joined by Kaitlyn Mancini of Merrick, and Catherine Sandkuhl and Breanna Lyn, both of North Babylon. For the men, Spring Valley H?S graduate Winslow Dorsainvil of Monsey won the 60 in a time of 6.87 while Garvenchy Nicolas of Brooklyn won the 800 in 1:59.92.  The DMR team of Matt Buell of Staten Island, Sammy Abdallatif of Nanuet, Stephen McNiff of Middletown and Joe Chegwidden of Hamburg, N.J., took third in a time of 10:58.16.  The Spartans, ranked eighth in the East region under the direction of Coach Lorne Marcus, split up on February 14 to compete at the Molloy College Invitational at St. Anthony’s High School in South Huntington and the Lafayette/Rider Games at the New Balance Track & Field Center in Washington Heights.

IN THE CIRCLE: Seton Hall softball pitcher Danielle DeStaso of Congers, a junior out of Clarkstown North HS,  is already in action as the Pirates have opened a 26-game road trip to Florida, North Carolina, Arizona and Nevada. The Pirates, picked to finish sixth in the Big East in a preseason poll, are competing at the Campbell Stampede Tournament in Buies Creek, N.C., the UNC Charlotte First Pitch Classic in Charlotte, the Arizona State Diamond Devil Tournament in Tempe, Ariz., the UNLV Eller Stadium Classic in Las Vegas, the USF Showcase in Clearwater, Fla., and the City of Clearwater Spring Invitational. DeStaso posted a 4.13 ERA in 173 innings last season to earn second-team all-Big East recognition, batting .333 with 37 RBI and 16 runs. The Pirates are scheduled to open the home season on March 22 with a doubleheader against Providence College in South Orange, N.J.

Devona Paul, defensive standout at Plattsburgh State

QUICK HITTERS: Right-handed pitcher Michael Scarinci of Nanuet is preparing for his junior season on the Manhattan College baseball team. Scarinci, an alum of Pearl River HS, posted a third-best 3.77 ERA with a 2-3 record last season for the Jaspers, who went 24-28. Scarinci appeared in 17 games, with one start. Manhattan opens a 12-game trip on Feb. 21 at the Campbell Invitational in Buies Creek, N.C., and also travels to Florida and Arizona before returning east to meet NYIT on March 12 in Old Westbury, L.I. The Jaspers then play three games in South Orange, N.J., against Seton Hall University on March 14-15-16. … Taylor Corretjer of Thiells, an alumna of North Rockland HS, is a junior second baseman on the St. Peter’s College softball team, which opens a 17-game southern swing on March 1 with four games scheduled at the Coastal Carolina Invitational. … Jean Gibson of Ramapo is a sprinter on the St. Peter’s College men’s track and field team, which competes at the Manhattan Tri Meet on February 14-15. … Clarkstown North HS alum Paul Fields of New City pinned his opponent in five minutes, 44 seconds at 125 pounds to open the competition as the nationally fifth-ranked Cortland wrestling team overwhelmed host Oswego, 40-8. In the Red Dragons’ home finale, a 37-12 conquest of Wesleyan University, Fields moved up to 133 pounds, recorded a first-period takedown, a third-period reversal and posted a 4-2 victory.  The vanquished Cardinals will host the NCAA Division III Northeast Regional qualifiers March 1-2 in Middletown, Conn. The Red Dragons (12-3) visit Ithaca College at 7 p.m. on February 19 in a final tune-up. …Tappan Zee HS alumna Devona Paul, a sophomore forward, and Pearl River HS graduate Jessica Dolan are members of the formidable women’s basketball team at Plattsburgh State. Paul, who is averaging 10 points per game, is second on the Cardinals with six rebounds per game, and is leading the club with 28 blocks. Dolan, slowly breaking the lineup as a freshman forward, is averaging three points and three rebounds per game. The Cardinals, who posted an impressive 16-4 record through 20 games, host Cortland at 6 p.m. on February 14, and stay home on February 15 to meet Oswego State at 2 p.m. … Senior stalwart KC Jentzen of Pearl River led two Lady Chargers in double figures with 23 points and added eight rebounds as the Dominican College women’s basketball squad improved to 9-12 overall and 7-7 in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference with a 78-67 victory over the visiting Wildcats of Wilmington University. Dominican travels to Philadelphia on February 15 to challenge the University of the Sciences at 1 p.m. … Lisa Oakes of Suffern, a product of Galaxy Gymnastics in Orangeburg, is competing her senior season on the nationally well-regarded University of Bridgeport women’s gymnastics team. The Purple Knights, under veteran coach Byron Knox, have won five

Mike Cruz

USAG national titles, and in 2013 became only the second Division II program in history to make the NCAA’s. Bridgeport visits the University of Nebraska on February 23, along with Kentucky and University of Wisconsin-Stout, and will join Michigan and Yale at Penn State on February 28. … Junior guard Joe Clinton of Pearl River had a game leading eight assists with seven points and five rebounds as the Dominican College men’s basketball team defeated the visiting Wildcats of Wilmington University, 90-77, in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action. The Chargers, who improved to 14-7 overall and 10-4 in the conference, travel to the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia on February 15. …SUNY Cortland freshman Mike Cruz of West Haverstraw, an alum of North Rockland HS, placed sixth in the triple jump (41 feet 3 inches) at the Brockport Golden Eagle Invitational. Meanwhile, at the Boston University Valentine Invitational, sophomore Evan Greenberg of Suffern was a member of one of two 4×400-meter relay teams that met ECAC qualifying times. … Allison Haugh of New City, a standout on the Rockland Community College women’s basketball team, was named Mid-Hudson Conference athlete of the week after leading the Hawks to a 2-1 record. Haugh scored 14 points and recorded six assists in a 74-66 setback to Region-leading Sullivan, then scored 22 points with eight assists in a 70-55 win over LaGuardia.  In a 96-68 victory over bridge-rival Westchester CC, the Clarkstown South graduate poured in 33 points and dished out 10 assists.

Allison Haugh, RCC standout

THIS & THAT: The U.S. women’s ice hockey team breezed past Switzerland, 9-0, at the Sochi Olympic Games, with defenseman Josephine Pucci of Pearl River picking up an assist. The U.S. beat Finland, 3-1, in the opening round. Canada, considered the primary rival to the U.S. team, blanked Finland, 3-0, in its second qualifying-round game. … Clarkstown South HS lineman Eric Margolis Jr. has signed a letter of intent to play at Division I Rutgers University. Coached by Mike Scarpelli, the 6-4, 210-pound wide receiver/safety reportedly selected the Scarlet Knights over offers from Rhode Island and Maine.

Tappan Zee Senior Basketball player Kristen McLaughlin became only the third girl in TZ history to score her 1000th point. She did it on February 4 in the game against Nanuet at Tappan Zee.

The great Derek Jeter, Yankees shortstop for the past 19 seasons, announced that the 2014 season will be his last on Wednesday.

Jeter is a five-time World Series champion and the all-time Yankees leader in hits, currently at 3,316, stolen bases, with 348, and games played, with 2602. With 1,876 runs scored he is 12 behind Lou Gehrig for second in Yankees history and 83 behind Babe Ruth for first and with 525 doubles he is nine behind Gehrig for first in Yankee history.

He also is on the Yankees top-10 list for home runs, RBIs, and batting average. Jeter is the last of the great Yankees from the 1996 – 2000 championship run to retire. Preceding him in recent years have been outfielder Bernie Williams, catcher Jorge Posada and pitchers Andy Pettite and Mariano Rivera.

Marc Maturo’s official sports column

Jaspers turn the page, hope for better days

This year is next year for the Manhattan College women’s lacrosse team.

The Jaspers went 4-13 overall last season, going just 1-5 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). So, like the dedicated Brooklyn Dodgers fans of yore, Jaspers supporters could only cry “wait till next year.”

Next year is here, and first-year head coach Elizabeth Weber is hopeful of better things, despite a season-opening 6-3 setback in Piscataway, N.J., to Rutgers University. The Jaspers hope to improve on February 26 when they entertains the University at Albany at Gaelic Park in Riverdale at 3 p.m.

       Albany, coming off a 12-5 season, is anchored in goal by senior Anna Berman of Garnerville. The North Rockland HS graduate started every game for the Great Danes, who open their season on February 21 in Smithfield, R.I., against Bryant.

Weber’s hopes at Manhattan  begin with a crew of seasoned returnees, led by co-captain and high-scoring senior midfielder Carly Eskenazi of Kinnelon, N.J.  Eskenazi started all 17 games last year and tied for team-high in points with 25, while leading the squad in goals with 22.

Kelsey Rehain controls the ball (Stockton photo)

Other weapons include seniors Kelsey Rehain of Suffern , who plays attack and midfield, and Clare Kerrisk of Keansburg, N.J.

“They will be an integral part of the offensive game plan,” Weber was quoted as saying. “Clare has a very quick first step and Kelsey hustles all over the field.”

Casey Silvestri, Manhattan midfielder (Stockton photo)

Kaleigh Howe, Manhattan defender

On defense, the Jaspers also appear stronger with junior Kaleigh Howe of Pearl River and Albertus Magnus alumna Casey Silvestri of Pomona complementing Caitlyn Hynes of Mahopac and Alex Rousseau of Wantagh on the back line.

“Caitlyn is tough and she works very hard, Alex is great at reading what the other team is going to do on attack and Casey plays a very aggressive, in-your-face style and she’s not afraid to pressure out,” adds Weber.

Carly Cappello on attack (Stockton photo)

Carly Cappello of New City, another Albertus Magnus graduate, is expected to be a potent option on attack.

The Jaspers will play eight consecutive non-conference games to open the season.

“I think our non-conference schedule is a great way to prepare us for the conference games,” Weber was again quoted as saying. “We will focus on holding each other accountable on the field. Our goal is to make personal and team strides; with every game, we can’t take any steps backwards, only forwards.”

MIGHTY OWL: The Southern Connecticut State University men’s basketball team is enjoying its best season since 1999-2000, sparked in part by versatile junior guard Luke Houston of Pearl River.

Houston, a defensive ace with a team-leading (by far) 49 steals, is averaging 10 points and a second-best six rebounds per game. Houston’s 62 assists also rank second on the Owls, who are listed No. 11 in Division II with an overall mark of 20-2, including 14-2 in the Northeast-10 Conference.

The team’s tri-captain has recorded three double-doubles this season, and recently matched his career-high in points, scoring 20 against Le Moyne on February 8.
Houston, a former scholastic player of the year, ranks among the NCAA leaders in multiple stats.  His 2.23 steals per game are 23rd in the nation, with his total ranking 19th.

The Pearl River HS alum also excels in the classroom, having been named to the fall 2013 Northeast-10 Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll. 

VICTORY ROW: Featuring members representing the South Orangetown, Pearl River, Nanuet, Clarkstown South and North, Nyack and North Rockland school districts, the Nyack-based River Rowing Association (RRA) collected three first-place trophies at the St. Valentines Massacre Ergatta in Pelham (the ergatta is won by erging a specific distance –usually 2K– in the fastest time). Camryn McGrath, a Clarkstown South junior, earned first place in the Girls Lightweight 2K with a time of 7:55.5. Milo Fraddiani, a Nyack High junior, won the Boys Heavyweight 2K with a time of 6:29.9, and the Boys 500M with a time of 1:28.6. An estimated 50 RRA rowers competed, taking a first or second place in four out of nine events. The RRA has a fund-raising “Pull for Purpose” event scheduled March 15 at the Nyack Center, this year’s beneficiary. Visit the RRA web site at www.riverrowing.org.

RECORD-BREAKER: Junior Luke Gavigan, a track standout at Tappan Zee HS, recently was named the national high school athlete of the week by Running Times magazine. Additionally, Gavigan qualified for the Millrose Games by clocking 4:15 in the mile. But more was yet to come as Gavigan won the event at the Millrose Games with a Rockland County-record-clocking of 4:08.96 at the New Balance Track & Field Center in upper Manhattan. Brian Cook of Pearl River placed sixth and Liam Purdy of North Rockland was seventh. In the girls mile, another Rockland record was established as Kelly Hayes of Pearl River won in 4:54.1.

SET TO STAR: Midfielder Tara Monaghan of Stony Point is set for her sophomore season on the highly regarded women’s lacrosse team at SUNY Cortland.

Monaghan, a graduate of North Rockland HS, enjoyed a very fine freshman season, finishing sixth on the team with 37 points on 32 goals and five assists as the Red Dragons compiled a sparkling 21-2 record.

This season, scheduled to begin on March 3 at Union College in Schenectady, the Red Dragons are ranked fourth nationally in the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association’s (IWLCA) Division III preseason poll. Last spring, Cortland finished won its 15th straight State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) title, and tied a school record for wins in a season before being eliminated by Trinity College (Conn.) in the Final Four.

QUICK HITTERS: The Army men’s hockey team, struggling this season with three victories, travels to Storrs, Conn., on February 21 to meet the University of Connecticut before welcoming the Huskies to Tate Rink in West Point the following night.  Both games are set for 7:05 p.m. … Freshman Mike Cruz of West Haverstraw was one of three Red Dragons with ECAC-qualifying long jumps, leaping 22 feet, 2 ½ inches as the Cortland track and field team competed at the Ithaca Bomber Invitational. Sophomore Evan Greenberg of Suffern ran the third leg on the third-place 4x400-meter relay team. The Red Dragons will compete at the Cornell Deneault Invitational on February 22 at 10 a.m. … Spring Valley HS graduates Kervens Dorsainvil and Jah-Moul Gordon are members of the track and field team at Monroe College in New Rochelle. Gordon runs middle distances and Dorsainvil competes in sprints and jumps for the Mustangs, who compete on February 27 at the New Balance Track & Field Armory in upper Manhattan. This NYRR event will serve as a tune-up for the NJCAA National Tournament on March 7-8, also at the Armory. … Albertus Magnus HS graduate Ryan Brooksbank of New City is a forward on the men’s basketball team at Elmira College. The Soaring Eagles travel to Hoboken, N.J., on February 21 to meet Stevens Institute of Technology at 6 p.m., and then close the regular season on February 22 at Hartwick College in Oneonta. … Deidre McCluskey of Orangeburg is ready for her second season on the women’s lacrosse team at Elmira College, which hosts Buffalo State on March 1 at 1 p.m. McCluskey, at attack, had four points on three goals and one assist in nine games last season. … SUNY Geneseo swimmers Bryan Schaub, Yonghoon Jun and Caroline Russo, all of Blauvelt, are competing at the SUNYAC Championships that end on February 22 at Erie Community College. In their final tune-up, Schaub was a double winner in the 100 backstroke and 200 breaststroke while Jun doubled in the 100 and 200 butterfly at the Geneseo Swim Invitational. Russo placed fifth in the 100 freestyle. … The softball team at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, featuring Samantha McDonald of New City, last year’s East Coast Conference rookie of the year, is gearing up for a five-day trip to Clermont, Fla., that begins March 8 against Nyack College and Georgian Court University at the NTC Softball Complex. Brittany Mangan of Pomona, an alumna of Paramus Catholic HS, is a sophomore infielder/outfielder for the Lady Spartans while Lauren Navarro of New City plays the outfield and Katie Meyers of Pearl River is another infielder/outfielder.  McDonald, who hit .416 as a rookie for Coach Barbara Vano, with a team-high 13 doubles, also pitches. On the Nyack College roster, Meghan Richards of Nanuet is a junior infielder while Kim Yano of Blauvelt is a sophomore pitcher/infielder. … Nick Smith of Middletown scored 26 points and guard Joe Clinton of Pearl River contributed eight points and four assists as the Dominican College men’s basketball team improved to 15-7 overall and 11-4 in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference  after defeating University of the Sciences 82-69, at Bobby Morgan Arena in Philadelphia. In the women’s game, KC Jentzen of Pearl River led three Lady Chargers in double figures with 14 points and added nine rebounds but Dominican bowed to the host, 78-69. Dominican, which was to host a men’s/women’s doubleheader against Post University on February 20 beginning at 5:30 p.m., travels to Wilmington, Del., on February 22 with the men’s game set at 3 p.m. following the women’s game at 1 p.m. Senior night is set on February 25 at the Hennessy Center in Orangeburg, with the women opening up play at 5:30 p.m. followed by the men at 7:30 p.m. … East Coast Conference track athlete of the week Winslow Dorsainvil of Monsey raced to victory in the 60 in the college division as the St. Thomas Aquinas College track and field team competed in the Lafayette/Rider Winter Games at the New Balance Track & Field Center in upper Manhattan. Dorsainvil, an alum of Spring Valley HS, was clocked in 6.83, and also took 18th in the 200 with a time of 22.99.  George Erazo of North Babylon was third overall and second among college runners in the 400. For the women, Allison Borriello of Montgomery took third overall in the 800 in the College section with a time of 2:18.14 that established a school standard.  Meaghan Jaskot of Blauvelt clocked 10:44.31 in her debut in the 3,000 which placed her sixth overall while veteran Keeley Bateman of Pearl River placed fourth in the 1,000 in 3:08.69.

 THIS & THAT: Pearl River native Brian Gaine, who spent six years in the Miami Dolphins organization, rising as high as assistant general manager,  has been hired to be the new director of pro personnel for the Houston Texans. Gaine was fired by the Dolphins three days after they hired Dennis Hickey to replace Jeff Ireland as the general manager.  For the Texans, Gaines replaces Brian Gardner, who was fired after last season.

Knicks Raymond Felton facing felony weapons charges following a domestic altercation, WFAN reports.

Four NRHS and total of seven county wrestlers will compete in state championships this weekend

BY TONY PINCIARO

Coach B.J. Slapp

THIELLS, N.Y. – When Blaise Benderoth and many of his current North Rockland varsity wrestling teammates began with the North Rockland youth mat club, little did they know what the future would hold.

Benderoth, along with fellow 2014 Section 1 Large-School champions Matt Caputo, Nick Didio and Alex D’Angelo and placefinisher Derek DiMarsico, would eventually have a major impact on the varsity wrestling program. This nucleus would be instrumental in leading North Rockland to the head of Section 1’s wrestling class.

North Rockland recently won its second consecutive Section 1 Large School team title, outdistancing runner-up Fox Lane by 66 points (179.5-113.5 points). North Rockland also set a single-season program record with four sectional champs – D’Angelo (106 pounds), Caputo (138 pounds), Benderoth (152 pounds) and Didio (160 pounds). Overall, North Rockland had eight wrestlers place among the top six in the section.

The sectional champs qualified for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Wrestling Championships, Friday-Saturday, Feb. 28-March 1, at the Times-Union Center in Albany. They will be joined by fellow sectional champions John Muldoon of Pearl River and small-school winners Joe Dillon and Frankie Paratore of Nanuet.

Benderoth, who will be making his third trip to the state championships, credited North Rockland youth coach B.J. Slapp with instilling a hunger in the young wrestlers.

“Coach B.J. Slapp kept us in line and he made us little wrestling monsters so we would be ready for our varsity career,” Benderoth said. “He’s a big reason why North Rockland has become dominate in the county and section.”

North Rockland, which has monopolized the Rockland County team wrestling championship the past five years, wanted to repeat as sectional champs to reinforce a point.

“Repeating as section champs was a great feeling to know that all of the hard work the team put in during the offseason and in season has truly paid off,” Benderoth said. “It also lets everyone know that North Rockland wrestling is on the rise.”

Benderoth also cited North Rockland varsity assistant coach and former Red Raider standout, John Hoke, with impacting the program.

Winning the sectional team title gave North Rockland a wrestling hat trick as the Red Raiders also won the 2014 Rockland County championship and the Section 1 Dual-Meet Large School title.

“We feel we have the hardest practices in the section that push us mentally and physically to the fullest and JVH Performance has been a big part in making North Rockland wrestlers bigger, stronger and quicker on the mat,” said Benderoth of Hoke’s business.

North Rockland leads all large schools with four sectional champs competing in Albany. This accomplishment just adds to North Rockland’s status as Section 1’s elite team.

“We made history this year with four section champs,” Benderoth said. “This week we want to show the state what North Rockland’s best wrestlers can do.”

This will be Caputo’s fourth trip to Albany in his five-year varsity career. Caputo placed fifth in the state as an eighth-grader and has won consecutive 138-pound sectional titles. Didio and D’Angelo are first-time state participants.

Muldoon (138 pounds), who placed fourth in the state last year at 120 pounds, is a two-time sectional champ. Dillon (120 pounds) is returning for a second time to the state championships and Paratore (152 pounds) is making his first appearance.

Marc Maturo’s official sports column

In dead of winter, rowers go indoors for world event

The brutal winter has not prevented frostbite fleets from competing on the western end of Long Island Sound off Larchmont Yacht Club, nor has it stopped a group of seasoned youth rowers representing the Nyack-based River Rowing Association.

Mind you, a RRA crew did not take to the Hudson River, but rather journeyed to Boston, Mass., landing at the Agganis Arena to compete at the CRASH-B Sprints World Indoor Rowing Championships.

“This was the first time ever for us,” said RRA president and Masters medalist Ivan Rudolph-Shabinsky.  “It’s the biggest indoor rowing race in the world, with rowers coming from all over the world to compete.”

The RRA president entered 10 rowers in the event, which attracted well over 2,500 competitors, because several team members had been rowing very well.

“We thought some kids would do admirably, and they did admirably. Many of our rowers set personal records,” continued Rudolph-Shabinsky, whose daughter Alice, a Nyack HS senior, was among them in the 18-and-under women’s class that covered 2,000 meters.

Alice has already been recruited to row at highly regarded Cornell University, where her dad also competed alongside RRA director Peter Klose.

“I’m a pretty proud papa right now,” offered the club president, who is also proud to note that several RRA alumni have gone on to compete at other acclaimed colleges such as Harvard, Lehigh and Ohio State, last year’s NCAA champion.

Rudolph-Shabinsky said the RRA includes several students from Clarkstown, whose rowing program in the spring in conducted by the RRA. Other Rockland County schools with crew programs include Suffern and North Rockland.

At the world indoor championships, second-year member Sammi Hashash of New Milford, N.J., who is blind, was a champion in one of the youth adaptive categories (LTA – Vision Impaired, with LTA representing legs, trunk and arms).

“That’s one of the great things about rowing, it’s available for people with various physical handicaps,” said Rudolph-Shabinsky.

Hashash, who lost his vision to disease before the age of 10, rows in a regular boat by feel when the RRA gets on the water. Hashash’s victory in Boston enabled him to return home with a coveted CRASH B Hammer.

CRASH B, which offers the ultimate in competition on indoor rowing machines, Ergs, began in the 1970s with a small group of men from Cambridge who wanted to stay in shape when they were unable to be on the water.

Asked to fully detail the acronym, Ivan laughed a bit and said “Cambridge Rowers … and it just became CRASH B for whatever reason. But it’s certainly grown to be a worldwide competition.”

The RRA rowers next compete in their annual Pull With Purpose Row-a-Thon on March 15 to benefit the Nyack Center.  

The Row-a-Thon is atwo-hour team relay ‘race’ on indoor rowing machines called ergometers, or “ergs” for short.   Teams can have any number of participants, but to register as part of the competitive category, teams are limited to five or fewer rowers.

The event will be held at the Nyack Center (58 Depot Place – corner of Depot and Broadway).  Registration opens at 8 a.m. and the competition starts at 9.

The event is free, but all participants are urged to raise funds. Online fundraising is available via www.firstgiving.com.

RRA WORLD INDOOR ENTRANTS: Paige Vignone, Academy of Holy Angels; Catie Gackowski, Bergen Tech; Ethan Jaynes, Clarkstown North; Camryn McGrath, Clarkstown South;  Sammi Hashash, New Milford, N.J.; Shawn McNulty, Northern Valley (N.J.) HS; Maya Bose, Milo Fradianni and Alice Rudolph-Shabinsky, all of Nyack HS; and Reece McNichol, Tappan Zee HS.

Jessica Bullock, 10, senior honoree

SPECIAL SENIOR: The Purchase College women’s basketball team, already primed for the postseason, punctuated its final regular-season home game by honoring seniors Jessica Bullock of Thiells and Jess Lindsay of Rochester, and then pounding St. Joseph’s College-L.I., 77-44. Bullock was joined in a brief pre-game ceremony by her mother, Sandra, her father, Henri IV, and her brother Henri V. Then, PA announcer Donatello M. Demeo introduced Bullock , a guard out of North Rockland HS, for a rousing rendition of the national anthem.

SPARTANS SPARKLE: Winslow Dorsainvil of Monsey won the 60 meters in 6.89 and placed third in the 200 and George Erazo of North Babylon earned 46 points, sparking the St. Thomas Aquinas College men’s track and field team to a runner-up finish at the East Coast Conference Championship at St. Anthony’s HS in South Huntington.  Dorsainvil, a graduate of Spring Valley HS, also helped the 4×200 relay team to victory, combining with Erazo and Anthony Henry and Frankie Colon, both of Suffern, for a clocking of 1:32.95.  Freshman Sammy Abdaltilif of Nanuet took fourth in the 400 and was part of the victorious 4×400 team of Erazo, Colon, and Henry that clocked 3:30.53.  Garvenchy Nicolas of Brooklyn was second in the 500, followed by Colon.  In the 1,000 Matt Buell of Staten Island took second and Ryan Gasser, also of Staten Island, placed fourth.  Ed Oswald of New City placed fifth in the high hurdles and sixth in the high jump, with Tristan Holmgren of Valhalla claiming second. The Lady Spartans set a school record in the 4×200 at 1:50.95 behind Kaitlyn Mancini of Merrick, Tiana Kirkland of New City, Catherine Sandkuhl of North Babylon, and Gabby Sloezen of Westwood, N.J. Keeley Bateman of Pearl River placed third in the 1,000 with a time of 3:16.97.  Tappan Zee HS graduate Meagan Jaskot of Blauvelt took third in the 3,000 with a time of 10:56.74 while North Rockland HS alumna Katie O’Grady of Tomkins Cove earned third place in the 5,000 with a time of 20:00.66.  The DMR team of Bateman, Jaskot, Gina Funaro of Queens and Rebecca Fortoul of Hasbrouck Heights, N.J., took second in a time of 13:22.47.

QUICK HITTERS: Junior guard Felicia DaCruz of Chestnut Ridge has been providing a big assist to the high-flying Fairfield University women’s basketball team, which is 18-8 with two regular-season games remaining. DaCruz, an alumna of Albertus Magnus HS, has 137 assists, more than three times the next-best total on the team. DaCruz is also averaging seven points a game. Fairfield closes the regular season with games in Buffalo on February 28 against Canisius and in Niagara on March 2 against Niagara University. …The nationally fifth-ranked Cortland wrestling team was upended by 15^th-ranked Ithaca, 20-13, dropping the Red Dragons to 13-4 on the season. The host Bombers, who improved to 12-5, opened up an 8-0 lead after Jimmy Kaishian of Yorktown Heights earned an 8-2 decision at 125 pounds against junior Paul Fields of New City. … Lisa Bates of Pearl River is a senior infielder on the Ithaca College softball team. Bates, a Tappan Zee HS alumna, last year was named Ithaca’s representative on the Empire 8 Sportswoman of the Year team, which recognizes one player from each team for upholding the conference’s initiatives in competing with honor and integrity. The Bombers open the season on March 9 in Clermont, Fla., against Juniata College and Manhattanville College. … Freshman Breanne Baez of Pomona, a North Rockland HS graduate, competes in pole vault on the Ithaca College track and field team. The Bombers will participate in the NYSCTC Indoor Championships on Feb. 28-March 1 at St. Lawrence University in Canton. … Senior guard John Perez of Haverstraw had an exceptional all-around game as the Plattsburgh men’s basketball team beat Potsdam, 78-61. The North Rockland HS alum pulled down 12 rebounds, with seven points, three steals, two assists and two blocked shots. … Freshman forward Michaela Murdock of Chestnut Ridge finished the season with six points on two goals and four assists on the women’s hockey team at Manhattanville College in Purchase. The Valiants ended the season with a 3-0 loss to UMass Boston in the ECAC East Conference Tournament at Terry Conners Rink in Stamford, Conn. .… Nyack HS alum Anthony Accardi of Valley Cottage is a senior midfielder on the Mercy College men’s lacrosse team, which opened its season with a decisive 18-4 victory in Dobbs Ferry over Alderson Broaddus University of Philippi, W. Va., and then waylaid Ohio

Cristina DeVita, lacrosse defender

Valley University, 17-10. The Mavericks visit LIU-Post on March 1 at 11 a.m. and then host American International College on March 4 at 3 p.m. … Cristina DeVita of Valley Cottage, whose dad, Frank DeVita, was a national champion in lacrosse at Johns Hopkins University, is a sophomore defender on the women’s lacrosse team at Fairfield (Conn.) University.  The Stags fell to 0-2 after Rutgers University staged a second-half comeback to pull out a 6-5 victory at RU Turf Field in Piscataway, N.J. Fairfield is home on March 3 and March 8, meeting Lehigh at 3:30 p.m. and Vermont at noon, respectively. … Senior forward Kristin Schmidt of Suffern has completed the regular season on the women’s basketball team at Union College in Schenectady. The Dutchwomen compiled a 16-9 record, with Schmidt making 11 starts and appearing in every game. For the season, Schmidt averaged five rebounds and three points per game, with a second-best 10 blocked shots. Schmidt will have little time to rest as she transitions to softball as the team’s first baseman. Union opens the season with 10 games in Clermont, Fla., beginning on March 22 against Bethel (Ind.) College. … Anthony Calvano of Nanuet, who finished fifth in the state tournament as a senior at Nanuet HS, has participated in four matches as a freshman on the wrestling team

Anthony Simon, steady shortstop

at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. The Patriots compete at the Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) Championships in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 8. … Anthony Simon of Suffern is a junior shortstop on the SUNY Cortland baseball team. Simon, an alum of Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J., batted .429 with three RBI in four games as the Red Dragons went 3-1. Cortland travels to Newport News, Va., for three games March 1-2. The Red Dragons will play both Montclair State and host Christopher Newport on March 1 and will face CNU again on March 2. … Cortland swimmer Ben Davis of Suffern earned points in two events on the second day of the SUNYAC Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships at the Burt Flickinger Center in Buffalo. … Jesse Galina of Suffern is a sophomore second baseman on the Union College baseball team. The Dutchmen, based in Schenectady, open the season against Castleton State College on March 8 at The Rock Sports Complex in Chester at 11:30 a.m., and then leave for a Florida trip. … Lauren Kahn of Nanuet, the Big East midfielder of the year in 2013, is returning for her senior season on the women’s lacrosse team at the University of Connecticut. Kahn the Huskies with 65 points last season on 42 goals and 23 assists. UConn hosts Boston College at 1 p.m. on March 1 at the George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex in Storrs, Conn. … Senior forward KC Jentzen of Pearl River pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds as the Dominican College women’s basketball team defeated Nyack College, 81-73, on senior nigh at the Hennessy Center in Orangeburg. Meghan Richards of Nanuet shared team-high honors for Nyack with 11 rebounds.

The Pearl River School District will hold the 14th Annual PRSD Sports Hall of Fame Induction Dinner on Saturday, March 28. This year’s inductees include:

* Gus Filter- All-County & All-Section Cross Country & Track, Class of 1968
* Betsy McManus- All-State Basketball & Soccer, Class of 2002
* Brendan Fennell- All-American Cross Country & All-State Track, Class of 2003
* 1944 Football Team- Rockland County Champions (the late Coach Ira Shuttleworth)
* Boys Track Teams-Spring 1976, Winter & Spring 1977- County Champs (Coach Tom Doherty)
* Pearl River Volunteer Fire Departments- Winners of the prestigious Tom & Priscilla Lanks Service Award for outstanding support of Pirate athletics

This year’s dinner will be held at the Pearl River Elks Club beginning with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $60 per person prior to March 21st and $70 after March 21st. To purchase tickets, please contact the Pearl River School District Athletic Office at 845-620-3943. Make checks payable to the “PRHS Sports Hall of Fame” and mail to Pearl River School District Athletic Office, 275 East Central Avenue, Pearl River, New York 10965. For additional information and reservations, visit the district website at www.pearlriver.org, under Notices, Letters, and Flyers, or by contacting Todd Santabarbara, PRSD Athletic Director, at 845-620-3943.

Marc Maturo’s official sports column

Spartans expected to sparkle again on the diamond

The St. Thomas Aquinas College baseball team in Sparkill is already flying high – not only en route to the sunshine and warmth in Florida, but as the coaches’ preseason choice to repeat as East Coast Conference (ECC) champion.

In addition, the Spartans’ Stanley Susana, an alum of Cardinal Hayes HS, was selected as the preseason player of the year following an outstanding sophomore season. Susana, an infielder, hit.367 last year playing in every game as STAC compiled a sparkling 39-14 overall mark, going 19-5 in ECC competition.

Scott Muscat, has STAC on right track

Susana, one of many in a strong core of returnees for veteran coach Scott Muscat of West Haverstraw, led the Spartans with 55 runs, was second with 48 RBI and stole 27 bases in 31 attempts and was named to the all-ECC and all-Region teams. As a freshman, Susana was the ECC rookie of the year.

This season, Muscat noted, Susana is moving from third base to shortstop to fill a position previously held by the since-graduated Frank Salerno of New City. (No one, Muscat added, has yet to nail down the third base position for this season.)

“Susana is one of the better hitters in the entire East region,” said Muscat. “He hits with power, and has speed.”

Rich Baerga, moving to shortstop

Another key returnee is junior right fielder Rich Baerga of Pomona, who is a preseason all-America selection by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) following last year’s all-Region acclaim.

“He is fast, and will hit either at the top of the order on No. 9,” said Muscat, who was named coach of the year in 2013 by the ECC and NCBWA after the Spartans set a school record for victories and secured their first-ever bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

In the preseason poll, the Spartans received five first-place votes among the seven in the conference, with Dowling College claiming the other two.

“What it means is that we’re picked to win the entire thing,” said Muscat. “It means we had a good team last year and our core players are returning. So the coaches, they think we should finish in the same position we finished in last year. We’re looking good again.”

Other key players coming back include senior Stephen Sunday of Scranton, Pa.; first baseman Kenny Kirshner of Cornwall-on-Hudson; junior outfielder Derek Hirsch of Melville; and pitchers Robert Frank of Closter, N.J., Rob Naughton of Levittown, and 6-foot-7 southpaw Eric Cooper of Brooklyn.

Naughton, a graduate of Chaminade HS, went 6-1 last season, not losing until the Regional Tournament and earning ECC rookie of the year accolades. “As a pitcher, that’s pretty impressive,” enthused Muscat.

Cooper, recovering from elbow surgery, and Frank, recovering from elbow surgery, are not at full strength but should be 100 percent by mid-season. Frank, out of St. Joseph Regional HS in Montvale, N.J., threw a no-hitter last season and in another game struck out 15 and was a two-time National Division II pitcher of the week.

Also listed as pitchers are freshmen Anthony Morris of New City and Gregory Morano of Congers.

Among other newcomers expected to contribute are Sullivan CC transfer Mike Gonzalez, a right-handed pitcher who will start, and second baseman Omar Cuevas, a transfer from Monroe CC.

An addition to the coaching  staff is Nick Barbalato of Mahopac, who played for Muscat the last four years and ranks second on the school’s all-time hit list with 215. Other coaches are Jon Garvey, Justin Karn and Manny DelRosario.

The Spartans swing into action on March 8 at Wekiva HS in Apopka, Fla., against Stonehill Colleges. STAC then shifts to Rollins College in Winter Park beginning with games against Bentley University on March 9-10-11.

CARDINALS MAKE HISTORY: Sophomore forward Devona Paul of Blauvelt, a Tappan Zee HS graduate, had three blocked shots to share game-high honors, pulled down four rebounds and scored seven points as the women’s basketball team at Plattsburgh defeated visiting Geneseo, 57-52. The Cardinals, who improved to 22-5 in capturing their first SUNYAC Tournament title, will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament – another first for the program.

Sean Driscoll, midfielder

NEW YEAR, NEW HOPE: The Dominican College men’s lacrosse team, which went winless last season, is hopeful of better things this time around. The Chargers, laden with Rockland County athletes, travel to Rindge, N.H., on March 8 to challenge Franklin Pierce University at 2 p.m., and then meet Assumption College of Worcester, Mass., on March 11 at the Torne Valley Sports Complex in Hillburn at 4 p.m. Among the players Coach Bill Kurisko is counting upon include midfielders Anton Gjeloshi and Daniel Palazzo, both of Pomona; midfielder Peter Blickley of Pearl River; midfielder Tom Dentinger of Nanuet; attack Connor Reeves, a Tappan Zee HS alum; senior star goalie Matt Quinones of Nanuet; defenseman William “Billy the Kid” Madigan of Blauvelt; midfielder Kessler Felix of Nyack; and midfielder Sean Driscoll of Stony Point.

BOUND FOR NATIONALS: Track standout Winslow Dorsainvil of Monsey will represent St. Thomas Aquinas College of Sparkill in the 60 meters at the Division II National Championship in Winston-Salem, N.C. Winslow, ranked 14th overall in the country, will run in the preliminaries on March 7. A graduate of Spring Valley HS, Winslow is a two-time state scholastic champion in the 55 and a state champ in the 100. For the Spartans, Dorsainvil is all-East Coast Conference in the 60 meters, 200 meters and 4×200 relay. Recently Dorsainvil, graduate student Garvenchy Nicolas of Brooklyn and senior Allison Borriello of Montgomery set school records at the Boston University Last Chance Meet. Dorsainvil established a standard in the 60 with a time of 6.79 while Nicolas set a school mark in the 800 with a time of 1:54.53 and Borriello clocked 2:16.69 in the 800.

Diana Desir

QUICK HITTERS: Sophomore Tara Monaghan of Stony Point, a North Rockland HS graduate, had a goal and an assist as the nationally fourth-ranked Cortland women’s lacrosse team opened the season with a 20-4 rout of Union College in Schenectady. … The Oneonta women’s basketball team, which had defeated Cortland twice during the regular season, was upended 67-58 at home in the SUNYAC tournament quarterfinals. Senior guard Kelly Mulligan of Pearl River scored four points with three rebounds and two steals as Oneonta fell to 18-8. … Junior Diana Desir of Spring Valley, a standout volleyball player at The College of New Rochelle, was named a repeat selection to the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) 2013 Fall all-Academic Team.  … Sophomore Taylor Redmond of Nanuet, a state scholastic champion in floor exercise in 2012, is competing in all-around on the gymnastics team at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. The Colonials travel to the University of New Hampshire in Durham on March 8 along with Penn State and Bridgeport. … Freshman Vincent Barbetto of New City, who plays attack, is a member of the Pace University lacrosse team. Barbetto — the all-time assists leader at Clarkstown North HS — and the Pleasantville-based Setters open the season in Syracuse on March 8, meeting Le Moyne College at noon. The Setters return home on March 13, entertaining Dominican College of Orangeburg at 3:30 p.m.… Senior midfielder Greg Mooney of Pearl River had a potential game-tying shot thwarted in the closing seconds as the nationally second-ranked Cortland men’s lacrosse team outlasted visiting Union College, 7-6, at the Stadium Complex. Mooney, a Nanuet HS graduate, had scored two goals including a clutch shot that tied the score at 6-6. Union meets Babson College on March 8 at 1 p.m. in Babson Park, Mass., and then hosts Wesleyan University on March 12 at 4 p.m. at Frank Bailey Field in Schenectady. … Junior infielder Anthony Simon of Suffern is batting .429 on the nationally 10^th-ranked SUNY Cortland baseball team, which won five of its first six games and is bound for Auburndale, Fla., to compete in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitation from March 9-15. Simon, an alum of Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J., has three RBI for the Red Dragons. … The Ithaca College men’s lacrosse team, an Empire 8 preseason second-place selection, meets Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa., at 1 p.m. on March 8, and then challenges St. Lawrence University

James Burke, senior defenseman

on March 12 in Tampa, Fla. The upstate Bombers’ defense corps includes senior James Burke of New City, who was a multiple all-county and all-section choice at Clarkstown South HS. … Jordan Levine of Nyack, an associate director of athletics at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry and a five-year player in Major League Lacrosse, is the Mavericks’ head coach in men’s lacrosse. Junior Anthony Accardi of Valley Cottage is a midfielder for the Mavericks, who host Saint Anselm College of Manchester, N.H., on March 8 at 1 p.m., and then travel to Albany on March 11 to meet The College of Saint Rose at 3 p.m. … John Doherty of Pearl River is a freshman pitcher on the baseball team at Ramapo College in Mahwah, N.J. The Roadrunners will be in Winter Haven, Fla., for eight games from March 15-22. … North Rockland HS graduate Rebecca Sassone of Pomona is a first-year member of the rowing team at the University of Delaware. The Blue Hens are scheduled to compete against Saint Joseph’s on March 8 on the

Rebecca Sassone

Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. … Jose Rodriguez of Pomona is a senior catcher on the Nyack College baseball team, which concludes a Florida trip on March 10 in Fort Pierce. The Warriors return to New York on March 13 to meet Briarcliffe College on Long Island. … The Rockland CC women’s basketball team defeated Westchester CC, 79-61, in the first round of the Region XV Tournament.

THIS & THAT: Registration is open and county teams are eligible for the Continental Amateur Baseball Association (CABA) 18U Metal Bat World Series scheduled July 7-12 in Struthers, Ohio. Access http://www.leaguetime.com/Affiliation/Details/2 or contact Ken Quinn at 330 719-0581.

Marc Maturo’s official sports column

N. Rockland grad Monaghan savors life in lacrosse

Tara Monaghan, standout at Cortland

Tara Monaghan

Tara Monaghan of Stony Point — whose enthusiasm, energy and confidence comes across even in a telephone conversation — has a love affair with lacrosse.

Monaghan, a North Rockland HS alumna now playing at SUNY Cortland, is a sophomore midfielder with apparently a natural bent for the sport.

“I love to run up and down the field,” bubbled Monaghan, a team captain who used to play softball and for two years also played field hockey for the Raiders. “Softball is too boring for me, too much standing around, too slow. I played field hockey as a junior and senior, but I like lacrosse a lot better; it’s more fast moving. I like to run around.”

Last year, Monaghan enjoyed a fine rookie season, scoring 37 points on 32 goals and five assists as the Red Dragons won the SUNYAC championship and peeled off 18 straight victories until being upended by eventual titlist Trinity College of Hartford, Conn., 8-6, in the NCAA Division III semifinals.

“We don’t meet them in the regular season, but we would like to get back at them and win the national championship,” offered Monaghan, not lacking an ounce of confidence.

Monaghan posted seven points as Cortland rolled to victory in its first two games, capped by a career-high five-goal performance and a team-best eight draw controls in a 22-6 rout of William Smith.

“It’s going great, I love it,” added Monaghan, who was introduced to the sport by her older brother Jimmy and who picked up pointers from an older cousin Jen Carreceris, who played at Brown University when Tara got started.

Monaghan was recruited to Cortland through her performances with the Hudson Valley Renegades, a travel team that competed in Maryland, Long Island and Massachusetts, among other locales.

“My first year (in college) was a lot tougher than high school because everyone is a lot stronger,” she recalls. “When I got into it, I got the hang of it. This year we’re looking for the national championship. We’re working hard – this year might be the year.”

The year continues at Mount Sinai HS on March 15 at 1 p.m. when the Red Dragons meet Catholic University. Cortland then hosts rival Ithaca College at 4 p.m. on March 19.

Catholic University, based in Washington, D.C., features junior attack Madeline Wilson of Pearl River, who scored five points as the Cardinals split their first two contests. Following the Cortland game, the Cardinals host the University of Mary Washington on March 19 at 4 p.m.

Bryan Greig, solid start

GOOD START: Junior Bryan Greig of New City, an alum of Clarkstown South HS, pitched six no-hit innings, striking out six, and junior Vinny Luppino of Englewood Cliffs, N.J., picked up the save in the first game, sparking the Mercy College baseball team to a sweep of Chestnut Hill College, 4-1, 11-3, in Fort Pierce, Fla. Senior outfielder Brendan Siegriest of Nanuet went 0-for-1 in his only official plate appearance. Also playing for the Mavericks, under fifth-year head coach Bob Greiner and longtime assistant Jason Guadagnino of Stony Point, is Rockland CC transfer Kevin Rocco, a junior pitcher. In a 7-0 loss to American International, Rocco was superb, pitching two innings, striking out three and allowing just one hit. Mercy, following a doubleheader loss to Nyack College, concludes its sunny South Florida trip with twinbills against Stonehill and Southern Connecticut State on March 14 and March 15, respectively. Nyack swept the Mavericks, 1-0, 4-1, behind junior right-hander Cole Tobin of Dover, N.H., in the opener and junior righty Craig Jacobs of Hawthorne, N.J., in the second game. The Mavericks return to New York for a visit to Queens College at 3 p.m. on March 21. Following their recent play, Mercy junior Anthony McQuade of Lindenhurst was named the East Coast Conference player of the week, while Greig and Michael Grudzinski of Islip made the honor roll.

ROWERS RECOGNIZED: The boys and girls teams at the Nyack-based River Rowing Association (RRA) have been recognized by the State Scholastic Rowing Association. Led by head coach Oksana Tsimbalova, the following members earned

Scholar/Athlete Team status for Fall 2013: Sophia Carroll, Zoe Friedberg, Arianna Injeian, Hannah Perry-Zeik, Tyler

Carroll, and Tyler Jenss, Nyack High School; Elizabeth Ginsberg, Ellie Kitman, Lucy Tasker, Dylan Kelly, Chris Lovrin, Lukas Michaels, and John Waffenschmidt, Tappan Zee; Nikita Lakhani, Kayla Rubinstein, Katie Wiebicke, and Ethan Jaynes, Clarkstown North;  Tomi Peterson, Northern Valley, Demarest, N.J; Paige Vignone, Academy of the Holy Angels; Frank Cox, Bergen Catholic; Dylan Markowitz, Pearl River. The RRA’s annual “Pull for Purpose” event to raise money for the Nyack Center and its programs will be held March 15 at the Nyack Center (58 Depot Place – corner of Depot and Broadway). The event is free, but all participants are urged to raise funds. Visit the RRA website at www.riverrowing.org.

ALL GOOD THINGS MUST END: Sophomore forward Devona Paul of Blauvelt scored 14 points, pulled down eight rebounds and had a game-high three blocked shots, but Plattsburgh State was upended by Castleton State, 76-70, in the second round of the Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. Plattsburgh State wraps up a storybook season with a 25-6 overall record. Paul, an alumna of Tappan Zee HS, finished the season averaging 11 points and a team second-best 5.7 rebounds, and her 50 blocked shots easily led the Cardinals in that category.

Lely DeSimone

QUICK HITTERS: Sophomore Lely DeSimone of Airmont is a midfielder/defenseman on the women’s lacrosse team at the University of Pennsylvania. The Quakers travel to New Haven, Conn., on March 15 to meet Yale at 1 p.m., and then host Maryland on March 19 at 7 p.m. at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. … Pitching for the Catholic University baseball team are freshman Chris Hutton of Stony Point and junior Colin Kelly of West Nyack. Kelly, an alum of Nanuet HS, posted a 3.72 ERA last season, starting seven games and picking up five victories. … Freshman outfielder John Kukura of New City walked and scored in a pinch-hitting role as the Pace University baseball team dropped its season opener to New Haven, 12-6, in Yaphank. … Junior attack Meg McNally of Hillburn, a Suffern HS graduate, scored her first career goal for the Mercy College women’s lacrosse team as it fell to host Bloomsburg (Pa.) University, 14-6.  The Mavericks, who are in Denver, Colo., to face Regis University, stay in Denver on March 15 to meet Fort Lewis and return east on March 19 to visit LIU-Post at 4 p.m.  … Samantha Lowney of Valley Cottage, a women’s lacrosse player at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, made the weekly East Coast Conference honor roll. Other Spartans to be recognized are baseball standout Stanley Susana, a Cardinal Hayes graduate, and tennis standouts Inigo Aldekoa and Javier Munoz-Laguna, both of Spain. …Junior guard Luke Houston of Pearl River scored 17 points, with seven rebounds, one assist

Meg McNally, nets first career goal at Mercy

and one steal as the top-seeded Southern Connecticut State University basketball team held off Le Moyne College, 62-55, in the Northeast-10 Conference Championship semifinals at Moore Field House in New Haven, Conn. The Owls then beat New Haven, 73-71, to claim the title as Houston scored 13 points. The Owls (27-2) earned the top seed in the NCAA Division II East Regional and will play host on March 15, facing eighth seed Bridgeport (18-10) at 6 p.m.  The quadruple header kicks off at noon with No. 3 St. Anselm (20-7) against No. 6 LeMoyne (17-11). New Haven (21-8), the No. 2 seed, plays No. 7 Bloomfield (20-8) at 2:30 p.m. The final game of the day pits No. 4 Franklin Pierce (20-7) against No. 5 Philadelphia (25-6) at 8:30 p.m.

THIS & THAT: Registration is open and county teams are eligible for the Continental Amateur Baseball Association (CABA) 18U Metal Bat World Series scheduled July 7-12 in Struthers, Ohio. Access http://www.leaguetime.com/Affiliation/Details/2 or contact Ken Quinn at 330 719-0581.

Summer Clinics coached by Globetrotters stars expanding across the country

The world famous Harlem Globetrotters are bringing their widely popular Summer Clinics – in partnership with fitness club industry leader, 24 Hour Fitness®– to New Jersey and New York for more fun on the court with the only clinics coached by Globetrotters stars.

The Globetrotters will conduct 471 Summer Clinics in 19 markets across the U.S., including clinics on the following dates at area 24 Hour Fitness locations:

24 Hour Fitness Hasbrouck Heights Super Sport
459 Route 17, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604
July 22-24

24 Hour Fitness Paramus Super Sport
260 East Route 4, Paramus, NJ 07652
July 25-30

24 Hour Fitness Nanuet Super Sport
5205 Fashion Drive, Nanuet, NY 10954
July 31-August 3

Each day consists of three separate, two-hour sessions – 9 – 11 a.m.; 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.; and 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.

“It doesn’t matter what skill level you are, every kid will have a blast at our Summer Clinics,” said Globetrotters star Dizzy Grant. “What could be more fun than to be coached by the Harlem Globetrotters? We bring joy to the game unlike anyone else.”

At the Harlem Globetrotters Summer Clinics, kids will:

• Spend two fun-filled hours with their friends being coached by Globetrotters stars.
• Learn more than just the fundamentals, as the Globetrotters emphasize how to be a good teammate on and off the court.
• Find out just how much fun basketball can be for kids of all skill levels.
• Leave with an official clinic certificate, personalized nickname and ticket voucher to the Globetrotters’ 2015 North American Tour (valued up to $40).
• Have a photograph and autograph session at the end of the clinic.

Clinics are open to boys and girls of all skill levels, ages 6-12. The registration price is $69 per two-hour session, but those who register by March 17, 2014, will save $15 per registration. For more information, and to find the clinic nearest you, visit www.harlemglobetrotters.com/clincs.

Action Star Jason Statham was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame. Aside from action movie star Jason Statham other inductees included Cynthia Rothrock Martial Arts Movie Star, Lee Haney 8x Mr. Olympia, Betty Weider, Dan Gable Olympic Gold Medalist. The 3 superstars present from the “Expendables” were Randy Couture, Jason Statham and Arnold Schwarzenegger

Member Global Adviser Rob Fletcher, Founder and creator of America’s next Great Trainer was on hand giving providing interviews with stars. The International Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies for 2014 was co-hosted Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger at the Arnold Sports Festival weekend with over 175,000 in attendance. Over 100 members of the international press covered the event. www.SportsHOF.org.

BY CHAYIM TAUBER

After courting her for years, James Dolan finally got himself the prettiest girl in the room.

Phil Jackson, “The Zen Master” and owner of 13 championship rings (11 as a coach and 2 as a player for the New York Knicks) has returned to his basketball roots in New York, this time taking on a new role of team president.

Jackson’s arrival brings the promise of change for the Knicks faithful: better times, better basketball and better management. Will it be so? Or will Jackson fall into the same abyss of prior regimes?

For the 40 minutes that Phil Jackson took center-stage at Madison Square Garden this morning, there was not a flicker of doubt as to who was in control. Jackson was composed, he was witty, and he was smart. He left himself a couple of open “emergency exits” should things fall apart with the Knicks when he cited his medical issues (that need attention in LA) and his familial obligations (most of whom reside in LA) and of course, how much he misses the weather already; but the overall tone of the press conference was one of change.

The dawning of a new era as Jackson instantly assuaged fears that the media freeze-out by Dolan and his administration would continue saying that he’ll “be accessible” and will have a “good and long relationship” with the New York media.

Jackson addressed several topics ranging from Mike Woodson (“a very good coach having a very bad year”) to Carmelo Anthony about whom he’s made comments in the past. Jackson stated that Carmelo is very much a part of the Knicks plans moving forward and that he’s someone that Jackson could win with.

Jackson confirmed that his deal was for 5 years and that the autonomy promised him by owner James Dolan was crucial in his decision to accept the roll: “I wouldn’t be here if not for that.”

Jackson doesn’t necessarily plan on implementing the vaunted triangle offense for which he’s most famous, but he does want there to be fluidity and teamwork. Ball movement, players cutting, crashing the glass and getting back defensively were all mentioned by Jackson as his version of what a basketball team should be doing and should look like.

“This is a franchise that developed an identity back in the ‘60s that was consistently playing team basketball for seven, eight years….The idea of developing a culture is an overwrought word in the NBA right now, but I think that’s the cache that brought me here,” Jackson said to the packed crowd.

Of course, in the past Jackson developed winning cultures as a head coach. Achieving this goal as a team president will be another matter entirely.

The most important takeaway from the press conference wasn’t said by Phil Jackson but rather, by Dolan. When asked if he was taking a step back and finally ceding control of the organization, Dolan chuckled and replied “willfully and gratefully.”

No words have ever sounded sweeter to Knicks fans who have vilified the owner for his habit of meddling in basketball affairs, to the extent that a rally/protest had been scheduled for tomorrow, March 19 outside of MSG to protest Dolan as an owner. Dolan went on to say that he is a businessman, not a basketball expert and that Jackson and GM Steve Mills were in fact the basketball experts.

All the right things were said. Everything Knicks fans could have wanted to see, they did.

Whether this is Dolan being on his best behavior while on his first date with the pretty girl he’d been courting or if this is actually the dawn of a new era is yet to be seen.

But that time has come. Dolan is no longer wooing Phil Jackson who in turn is no longer playing hard to get, while batting his lashes at the Lakers. The two are finally married – the hard part starts now.

Marc Maturo’s official sports column

Lady Spartans moving forward in women’s lacrosse

The St. Thomas Aquinas College women’s lacrosse team, which reeled off four straight decisive victories to open the season before running into nationally second-ranked Adelphi University, is headed for a highly successful season.

This opinion is held by fourth-year associate head coach Rob Malfetta, with good reason.

“We’ve got a veteran club for the most part, with good junior and senior leadership,” offers Malfetta, who played in goal three years at the collegiate level and 10 years at the club level. “They know the system, and respond to adversity. We’re looking forward to the season.”

Adversity didn’t wait too long for the Lady Spartans, coming in the form of undefeated non-conference foe Adlephi, a high-pressure, extremely fast team that advanced to the NCAA Final Four last season, losing to eventual national champion LIU-Post.

Kaitlyn Lonergan, tends goal

Kaitlyn Lonergan, weekly honor

The Lady Spartans hung tough in the first 10 minutes, but were then overwhelmed, 19-0, as Adelphi unleashed 42 shots on sophomore goaltender Kaitlyn Lonergan of Stony Point.

The North Rockland HS graduate, who had just been honored as East Coast Conference goalie of the week, had a good game with 13 saves despite the ultimate score, said Molfetta.

“We held off their initial pressure, but we were on defense too much, and just couldn’t handle their fast play,” said Molfetta. “We tried to simulate them in practice, but there’s nothing like facing the real thing.”

Molfetta, who remains very confident, chalks up the lopsided loss as a learning experience.

“There will not be another team we face this season like Adelphi – they’re ranked No. 2 in the nation for a reason,” noted the coach.

The Lady Spartans hope to rebound at home in Sparkill on March 22 against Mercy College of Dobbs Ferry, and its junior midfielder Meg McNally of Hillburn. STAC stays home on March 27 to welcome Chestnut Hill (Pa.) College at 3 p.m.

Lonergan, notes Molfetta, is solid in net.

“She’s doing a great job, just a sophomore and making big saves,” he said. “She handles the ball outside of the area, and becomes like another defender; I like that.”

Margaret Sharp, leading scorer

Other solid performers are senior attack Margaret Sharp of Suffern, leading the team in scoring with 30 points on 19 goals and 11 assists and junior midfielder Samantha Lowney of Valley Cottage, an alumna of Albertus Magnus HS, whose 11 points rank third.

Sharp is a team captain, along with junior attack Jen Stickney of Bayport.

Lowney is complemented by Kelly Kucinski of Roxbury, N.J.

“They break down the defense and have the speed to beat a girl one on one,” adds Molfetta, also mentioning sophomore midfielder/defender Sabrina Prestano of Medford, junior midfielder Alexis Serras of Lindenhurst and junior midfielder Ruth Pluviose of Brooklyn.

Molfetta said the Lady Spartans present a defense by committee, with senior Becky Torres of Nanuet the defensive captain.

The Lady Spartans had lifted their record to 4-0 with a 18-3 victory against Wilmington, as Sharp poured in six goals with three assists. Lowney added four goals while Stickney had three goals and one assist.

KC Jentzen earns all-CACC accolades

ACCOLADES: Dominican College women’s basketball standout KC Jentzen of Pearl River has been named to the all-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) first team. A senior forward, Jentzen led the Lady Chargers and ranks seventh in the CACC in scoring this season, averaging 17.2 points per game.  She is eighth in the conference in total points and field goals made. Jentzen, one of this year’s team captains, also paced the Chargers with 10.1 rebounds per contest, while ranking third in the conference, and became the 24th player in Lady Chargers history to score 1,000 points. Jentzen earned two CACC Player of the Week honors this season, and one Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Player of the Week accolades.

QUICK HITTERS: Junior pitcher Danielle DeStaso of Congers is 2-3 in the early going on the Seton Hall softball team, which is struggling at 4-17. DeStaso, an alumna of Clarkstown North HS, is batting .292 with two homers and nine RBI for the Pirates, who open a three-game series against winless Providence College with a doubleheader at noon on March 22 in South Orange, N.J. The teams meet again on March 23 at noon, and Seton Hall stays home on March 26 for two games against St. Peter’s College, beginning at 3 p.m. Junior Taylor Corretjer of Thiells is a second baseman for the Peacocks, who went 2-8 in their first 10 games. … Nanuet HS alumna Shannon Booth of Pearl River is a freshman attack on the Stonehill College women’s lacrosse team. The Skyhawks, based in Easton, Mass., host the University of New Haven on March 22 at 1 p.m., and stay home on March 25 to meet Franklin Pierce University at 6 p.m. … Freshman Vincent Barbetto of New City started at attack as the Pace University men’s lacrosse team notched its first win of the season with its highest scoring output in more than five years, topping Dominican College, 19-9, at the Torne Valley Sports Complex in Hillburn. Chargers goalie Matthew Quinones of Nanuet spent 45 minutes in net, making 10 saves, while senior midfielder Thomas Dertinger of Nanuet scored a career-high four goals and Tappan Zee HS grad Conor Reeves, a freshman attack, added one. The Setters challenge Northeast-10 foe Southern New Hampshire in Pleasantville on March 22 at noon. The Chargers, coming off a 11-6 loss to the University of the District of Columbia at Georgetown Field in Washington, D.C., are back in Hillburn on March 22 against Robert Wesleyan College at 7:30 p.m. and against New York Institute of Technology on March 26 at 4 p.m. … Infielder Anthony Simon of Suffern is 4-for-8 with three RBI in four starts on the Cortland baseball team, which hosts New Paltz on March 21 in a 3 p.m. doubleheader, and then visits SUNYIT in Utica on March 25 at 3:30 p.m.  Tyler Mitts of Nanuet, who is 1-0, and Matt Lawson of West Nyack are pitching for the New Paltz Hawks. …North Rockland HS graduate Rebecca Sassone of Pomona competed on the Varsity Four “B” team as the University of Delaware women’s rowing team opened the spring season with five top finishes against La Salle, Drexel, and host Saint Joseph’s on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. Sassone would switch to Second Varsity Eights in a non-scoring scrimmage against George Washington on the Occoquan Reservoir in Fairfax, Va. The Blue Hens return to the Schuylkill on March March 22 against Lehigh, Temple and Drexel. … The Dominican College baseball team, coached by veteran Rick Giannetti of New City and Chad Duesler of Pomona, visits Nyack College on March 21 at 3 p.m., and then meets Bloomfield (N.J.) College in a doubleheader on March 23 at Provident Bank Park in Pomona. First game is set at noon. … Senior Bryan Greig of New City pitched a complete game, allowing just six hits while striking out nine in a valiant but losing effort as the Mercy College baseball team lost to Stonehill College, 2-1, in eight innings in Fort Pierce, Fla. … Junior Meg McNally of Hillburn had a goal and an assist at the Mercy College women’s lacrosse team handed the Skyhawks of Fort Lewis College their first loss of the season, 10-8, in Denver, Colo. Nicole Augustine of Kingston totaled five points on three goals and two assists for the Mavericks, who visit St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill at 1 p.m. on March 22, and then return to Dobbs Ferry on March 26 to meet Queens at 2 p.m. … Junior right-hander Frank Fantino of Nanuet pitched six innings, giving up three runs, 11 hits and striking out five as the Purchase College baseball team fell to visiting United States Merchant Marine Academy, 5-3. The Panthers are home for back-to-back doubleheaders against Yeshiva University and SUNY-Old Westbury on March 21 and March 22, at 10 a.m. and noon, respectively. … Guard Joe Clinton of Pearl River had a game-high six assists, but the Dominican College men’s basketball team ended its season with a 71-68 loss to Lincoln University in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) semifinals at Alumni Hall on the campus of Fairfield University. The Chargers finish at 18-10. … Junior forward Matt Willows of Congers picked up two assists as New Hampshire (21-17-1) scored twice in the third period and held off a late surge from No. 14 Northeastern (19-14-4) to eliminate the Huskies from the Hockey East tournament, 5-4, at the Whittmore Center in Durham, N.H. In winning the best-of-three quarterfinal series, 2-1, UNH advances to the semifinals at TD Garden in Boston on March 21. … St. Thomas Aquinas College freshman pitcher Anthony Morris of New City was named East Coast Conference rookie of the week, while teammate Rich Baerga of Pomona made the honor roll. … Sophomore Lely DeSimone of Airmont scored a career-best four goals as the University of Pennsylvania women’s lacrosse team outlasted previously unbeaten Yale, 11-9, at Reese Stadium in New Haven, Conn.  … Sophomore Tara Monaghan of Stony Point scored three goals as the nationally fourth-ranked Cortland women’s lacrosse team overwhelmed Catholic University, 20-3, at Mt. Sinai High School.

THIS & THAT: The Collegiate Development Football League (CDFL) is offering a 50 percent discount to county residents to see former college players from every major division compete in one last Scout Bowl Game before the NFL Draft. Click www.cdflbowlgames.com and enter promo code: rockland2014. The game is scheduled April 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Torne Valley Sports Complex in Hillburn.