Her final season on the women's basketball team at Kenyon College in Ohio tapped off with a trip homeward, the start of a memorable campaign for Lincoln-Sudbury graduate Eva George (right).
Kenyon swept both games at the Brandeis University Invitational, including a close victory in the title game against Brandeis when George, the squad's senior captain and starting center, made a few crucial plays down the stretch. The team also was treated to a multicourse dinner at the George residence, hosted by her parents, Michael and Cathy George.
"Coach tries every year to schedule a tournament out of Ohio near the hometown of one of her players, and this year was my turn," said George, who helped lead Kenyon to the regular-season North Coast Athletic Conference title with a 16-0 record. It was the second perfect regular season in program history.
Kenyon finished 20-7 overall after a 43-41 loss to old nemesis Denison University in the semifinals of the conference tournament, halting the Ladies' 17-game winning streak.
"There are six seniors on the team and we really grew as a group this season," said George, a former captain at Lincoln-Sudbury who had a team-high 10 points in her last game.
The 5-foot-11-inch George certainly left an impression on Ladies' head coach Suzanne Helfant.
"In my 13 seasons, Eva is one of two walk-ons to make the team," Helfant said. "She became a starter and a main cog in our offense. We also had her guard our opponents' best post player. She was a compassionate leader who connected with all her teammates."
George, who also played soccer and lacrosse in high school, averaged 8.3 points and 5 rebounds a game this season. Her teammates include freshman guard Elana Carlson of Sudbury, a member of last season's Division 2 state championship team at Lincoln-Sudbury.
Cloonan, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound midfielder, was Mount Ida's fourth-leading scorer last season with 52 points. His overtime goal against Castleton State College in Vermont in the conference championship game gave Mount Ida its fourth consecutive conference title and the program's first NCAA Tournament invitation.
"I had just returned to playing after suffering a shoulder injury in our first meeting with Castleton, and it was probably my best moment as a lacrosse player," said Cloonan, a second-team all-conference selection.
Cloonan, a 2004 Eastern Massachusetts All-Star at Franklin High, played at Dean College in his hometown before enrolling at Mount Ida in Newton.
"We've moved Andrew from attack to midfield to take advantage of his vision and ability to drive one-on-one," said Mount Ida head coach Andrew Fink. "He's a physical guy with stick skills and he should be one of the best players in our conference again. The sky's the limit for him."
Mount Ida will open its conference schedule March 22 at home against Thomas College.
"Lauren moves the puck well and has great skating and puck-handling skills at this level," said Colby head coach Dave Venditti. "She's also an unselfish player who gets the most out of herself and her teammates, and she's one of the reasons we're a winning team."
PJ Sullivan competed at the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships for champion University of Virginia, for which he won the 200-yard breaststroke, was second in the 100-breaststroke, and was fourth in the 200 individual medley. He also swam on the first-place 200 medley and 400 medley relay teams.
Mike Sullivan, a freshman at Notre Dame, helped his team win the Big East Conference meet, where he finished fourth in the 200 backstroke and fifth in the 500 freestyle and 400 individual medley.
Patrick Sullivan, who swims for Bishop Feehan High in North Attleborough, was second at the Division 2 state meet in the 100 backstroke and third in the 200 individual medley. He also medaled at the Central-South Sectional, finishing second in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke.
Watertown High graduate Anthony Coppola, who averaged 20 points a game in a sensational freshman season on the court at Wheaton College, was named the the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, in addition to earning second-team all-conference honors. In putting together one of the finest first-year campaigns in the history of the program, the 6-3 Coppola led the Lyons (13-12) in scoring, 3-point percentage (47.2), and steals (27).
Marvin Pave can be reached at 508-820-4223 or at marvin.pave@rcn.com.
