Fall 2007 Highlights

Women’s cross country finished 11th in the nation, solidifying the program as one of the best in NCAA Division III over the past five years. The Mules were fifth nationally after the 2004 and 2005 seasons. Despite a few key losses, the team should be strong once again in 2008. The Mules were second among NESCAC finishers at the NCAA meet after placing fourth the week before at the NCAA qualifier meet. Anna King ’08 and Cassi Knight ’10 were the top finishers for Colby at the NCAA meet, and Mandy Ivey ’10 took 13th overall at the NCAA qualifier.

The football team finished the season strong with two wins in the final three games and was narrowly beat in the other contest. The Mules, with a young team, took a 19-16 win over Tufts at a time when the Jumbos came in with a 5-1 record and were in first place in the league. Colby also took a 20-13 win over rival Bates. Justin Candon ’08, who caught 26 passes in the final three games, earned NESCAC second team honors.

Men’s cross country runner John Swain ’08 placed fifth at the NCAA qualifier meet to make the national meet for the first time in his collegiate career. Swain, who finished 78th at the NCAA meet, also placed 15th at the NESCAC Championships. Swain’s finish at the NCAA qualifier helped the Mules place 17th out of 47 teams. On a side note, Colby graduate Dan Vassallo ’07 placed 24th at the 2008 Boston Marathon.

Men’s soccer finished 6-6-2 overall and played everyone tough with a stingy defense. The Mules scored the first goal of the season on Middlebury (5-0 at the time), led 1-0 in the first half, and were tied 1-1 at halftime against the eventual national champion Panthers. Colby earned the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic Award for the seventh straight year, the longest current streak in the league.

Field hockey finished the season 5-9 overall, but the Mules lost six one-goal games to NESCAC opponents, and three of those losses were in overtime. Goalie Jamie Enos ’08 earned first team all-conference honors, and junior Mary Clare Snediker ’09 made the NESCAC second team for the third straight year.

Women’s soccer player Katie McCabe ’08 earned all-conference second team honors for a third straight year and ended her career as Colby’s all-time assist leader with 24. At the spring sports banquet she received the Pamela Hoyt Sanborn Award for inspirational leadership and sportsmanship throughout her tenure at Colby. The Mules finished 4-7-3 but allowed two goals or less in 12 of the 14 games.

Gus Thompson ’11 became the first Colby golfer since 2001 to earn NESCAC all-conference honors after making the first team. Thompson finished third at the league meet, just one stroke out of second place.

Volleyball juniors Meredith Lawler (334 kills) and Jenny Lawrence (801 assists) were among NESCAC leaders. The Mules finished 12-22.