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Marlborough High graduate Bobby Butler has had plenty to celebrate this season at the University of New Hampshire, (University of New Hampshire) |
Globe West College sports notebook
Butler on a roll for UNH hockey
With two goals and an assist in Saturday’s 5-4 victory over Merrimack, University of New Hampshire senior cocaptain Bobby Butler of Marlborough extended his scoring streak to seven games (8 goals, 5 assists) for the Wildcats.
“Bobby has really raised his game to a new level this season and has been a true leader for us,’’ said New Hampshire head coach Dick Umile, whose team was 5-2-2 and in first place in Hockey East, 5-6-3 overall going into tomorrow’s conference game against visiting University of Massachusetts at Lowell. “He’s been very good, both offensively and defensively, and you can’t play much better than he’s been playing.’’
Butler, who powered Marlborough High to the Division 3 state title in 2005 and also led the Boston Junior Bruins to the Eastern Junior Hockey League title, is on track for the best point production of his college career. After notching a career-best 30 points (9 goals, 21 assists) last year, the 6-foot, 185-pound forward already has 21 points, with 12 goals and nine assists, this season, just two goals shy of his single-season-best 14 tallies.
Butler, who was tops among Hockey East goal scorers and second in points, had popped in four power-play and two shorthanded goals, and two game-winners. He also had a career-high three assists Nov. 21 against Boston University, one of his six multipoint games, and was honored as Hockey East’s Player of the Week on Nov. 16. On Tuesday, he was named the Hockey East Player of the Month for November.
“Bobby’s a force out on the ice because he’s not only gotten his points, but he’s had an awful lot of opportunities,’’ added Umile. “And he’s had some great backchecks defensively and he’s been physical.’’
Local players boost Tufts field hockey
Sophomore starting goalkeeper Marianna Zak of Concord, junior midfielder Tess Guttadauro of Carlisle, and freshman forward Kerry Eaton of Norfolk were members of the Tufts University field hockey team that compiled an 18-2 record, won the New England Small College Athletic Conference tournament, and advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division 3 tournament before bowing to Salisbury University, 1-0.Zak had a 16-2 record with an 0.61 goals-against average and .818 save percentage while posting six shutouts. She also started last year when Tufts made it all the way to the NCAA title game, a 3-2 loss to Bowdoin. She was a two-time New England Prep All-Tournament team selection while at the Middlesex School.
“Marianna is focused and composed in the cage,’’ said Tufts head coach Tina McDavitt, who missed the Salisbury game because of an emergency appendec tomy. “She is a solid goalkeeper who has stepped up and kept us in big games.’’
Guttadauro - who earned All-Dual County League honors at Concord-Carlisle Regional High in field hockey and track (as a thrower) - had three goals and three assists in 19 games, eight as a starter, this fall.
Eaton - MVP of the field hockey, lacrosse, and track squads at King Philip Regional High, and who will also play lacrosse at Tufts - had a pair of goals in eight games off the bench.
“Tess gives 100 percent all the time, is very fit, and works to improve her game every day as a total team player,’’ added McDavitt. “And Kerry has a lot of natural ability and a positive attitude, and I’m excited to see how she will develop.’’
Here and there
Harvard University two-time All-America senior left tackle James Williams of Chestnut Hill was named for the third straight year to the All-Ivy League first team in football, this time as a unanimous pick. Yale junior defensive tackle Joe Young of Shrewsbury, who had 24 tackles and two sacks, was an honorable mention. . . Dartmouth College senior quarterback Alex Jenny, a former Wayland High star, was awarded the Alan Hewitt ’34 and Robert Hewitt ’40 Award as the player who best epitomizes athletic performance with academic achievement. An economics major with a 3.20 grade-point average, Jenny finished 13th all-time at Dartmouth with 2,241 career passing yards despite being sidelined after the fourth game this season with a dislocated elbow. . . Alex Steinroder, who was 25-1 in singles matches last spring as a sophomore for the Division 1 state champion Concord-Carlisle Regional High boys’ tennis team, is ranked No. 1 in New England by the US Tennis Association in both the 16 and 18-year-old divisions. Steinroder, who trains at the Longfellow Club in Wayland, has faced older competition in recent tournaments. . . Hamilton College freshman Eric Benvenuti of Concord (and Concord Academy) shared Liberty League Rookie of the Week honors for men’s basketball after averaging 13 points, while hitting six of nine 3-pointers, and four rebounds in a pair of Hamilton victories. . . Shrewsbury High junior John Murray captured the 10th and final qualifying spot for the Foot Locker Cross-Country Nationals on Dec. 12 in San Diego with a 16:11 clocking over 5,000 meters at last weekend’s Northeast regional competition in King’s Park, N.Y.Marvin Pave can be reached at 508-820-4223 or marvin.pave@ rcn.com. 
© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.
