Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
DITULLIO: WELL WELCOME TO RIT
SPORTSZONE. I'M JOHN DITULLIO.
BROMLEY: AND I'M MELISSA
BROMLEY. DITULLIO: FOR OVER FOUR
DECADES THE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S
HOCKEY TEAMS HAVE CALLED THE
FRANK RITTER MEMORIAL ICE ARENA
THEIR HOME. BROMLEY: ON MARCH
FIRST, BOTH TEAMS PLAYED THEIR
FINAL GAMES AT THE CRAMPED, BUT
BELOVED, 2100 SEAT VENUE.
DITULLIO: WHILE IT WAS AN
EMOTIONAL FAREWELL, WE
DISCOVERED THE RITTER WON'T SOON
BE FORGOTTEN. BATTAGLIA: AND THE
TIGERS ARE GOING TO SEND THE
FRANK RITTER ARENA OUT IN STYLE.
THREE TO ONE, RIT WINS HERE IN
THE REGULAR SEASON FINALE. WHEN
YOU LOOK AT IT WHEN IT'S EMPTY,
THERE'S REALLY NOT MUCH TO THE
ARENA, YOU KNOW, IT'S BRICK
WALLS, IT'S SMALL, WOOD BENCHES.
IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE
ARENA THAT MAKE THE ATMOSPHERE
KIND OF HAVE THAT LURE TO RITTER
ARENA. NEW SPEAKER: IT IS A
GREAT PLACE, RECRUITS COME HERE,
PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY COME
HERE, FIRST TIME FANS THEY CAN'T
BELIEVE HOW WONDERFUL IT IS AND
YOU KNOW, THEY GET HOOKED, THEY
COME BACK AND THEY BECOME PART
OF THIS WHOLE TIGER SPIRIT THAT
WE HAVE. ALL: LET'S GO TIGERS!
DESTLER: IT'S REALLY MY FAVORITE
PLACE TO WATCH ATHLETICS. IT'S A
FANTASTIC HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
FOR OUR HOCKEY TEAMS AND THE
CROWD GOES CRAZY. IT'S BEEN A
WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL STORY OF
RIT HOCKEY FROM THE EARLY DAYS
IN D3 TO THESE WONDERFUL DAYS
WE'RE HAVING IN DIVISION ONE.
NEW SPEAKER: IT'S ELECTRIC WHEN
WE STEP ON THE ICE FOR GAMES AND
IT'S A SPECIAL FEELING. NEW
SPEAKER: NO OTHER RINKS COMPARE
TO THE RITTER. WHEN WE'RE ON
AWAY TRIPS WE CAN'T WAIT TO GET
BACK HOME AND HAVE OUR HOME FANS
HERE AND PLAY IN THE RITTER. NEW
SPEAKER: IT'S PRETTY COMPACT,
WHICH I THINK IS AWESOME FOR
WOMEN'S HOCKEY BECAUSE WE GET A
LOT OF FANS. WE ALWAYS HAVE A
PEP BAND SO I THINK A LOT OF THE
THING IS THE ATMOSPHERE, THOUGH.
IT'S GREAT. NEW SPEAKER:
RITTER'S BEEN OUR BABY OVER THE
PAST 40 YEARS, BUT PARTICULARLY
OVER THE PAST YOU KNOW, 30 YEARS
WHERE WE HAVE REALLY GROWN OUR
HOCKEY PROGRAMS. IT'S BEEN LIKE
OUR NEXT HERE. NEW SPEAKER:
HONESTLY, FOR ME I DON'T THINK
IT'S SET IN JUST YET. YOU GET SO
FOCUSED ON THE SEASON AND YOU
TRY NOT T THINK ABOUT IT OR GET
DISTRACTED BY IT, BUT THINKING
NOW THAT YOU'RE A COUPLE GAMES
AWAY FROM ACTUALLY NEVER PLAYING
A GAME IN HERE AGAIN. IT'S KIND
OF HITTING HOME NOW. NEW
SPEAKER: MY FAVORITE MEMORY,
IT'S PROBABLY CLICHÉ NOW, BUT
IT'S GOT TO BE THE NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP, BOTH YEARS,
ACTUALLY, EVEN THOUGH WE DID
LOSE THE FIRST YEAR, IT WAS A
BIG LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR OUR
TEAM SO WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE
WHAT WE LEARNED THROUGH THE LOSS
AND PUT THAT INTO NEXT SEASON
AND WIN IT THE ONE YEAR. WILSON:
THE CROWD WHEN WE WENT OFF TO
THE FROZEN FOUR THAT WAS IN THE
RINK TO SEND US OFF, THAT WAS A
DIFFERENT, YOU'RE NOT PLAYING
THE GAME, BUT A DIFFERENT
EXPERIENCE TO SEE THAT MANY
PEOPLE OUT IN THE CROWD AND
SENDING US OFF I THOUGHT WAS
ALSO SPECIAL, BUT THERE'S JUST A
LOT OF GAMES, SOME OF THEM ARE
HEARTBREAKING GAMES THAT YOU
LOSE AT THE END. OBVIOUSLY I
REMEMBER THE WINS THAT YOU WIN A
LITTLE BIT BETTER, I'D LIKE TO
THINK SO, BUT SO MANY GREAT
MEMORIES AND I THINK THE FANS
WERE A BIG PART OF IT. NEW
SPEAKER: I GUESS IT'S A LITTLE
BIT DIFFERENT FOR ME BECAUSE
THIS WILL DEFINITELY, LIKE IT'S
GOING TO BE MY LAST GAME FOR
SURE AT RITTER AND IT'S GOING TO
BE ONE OF MY LAST COLLEGE GAMES,
SO IT WILL BE WEIRD, IT WILL BE
REALLY WEIRD TO KNOW THAT WE'RE
THE TEAM THAT KIND OF FINISHED
OFF A LEGACY ALMOST AND FINISHED
OFF WHAT RIT HAS KNOWN FOR
HOCKEY FOR SO LONG. MCDONALD:
IT'S GIVEN US AS THE TEAM A LOT,
IT'S GIVEN ME PERSONALLY A LOT
AND ALL I CAN HOPE IS THAT WE
SEND IT OUT OR SEND RITTER OUT
WITH A *** AND MAKE SURE THAT
WE SHOW IT THE RESPECT THAT IT
DESERVES. NEW SPEAKER: WE GET TO
MOVE INTO SOMETHING THAT'S GOING
TO BE AMAZING, BUT WE'RE ALSO
MOVING ON FROM SOMETHING THAT
HAS BROUGHT A LOT TO EVERY
PLAYER ON THIS TEAM AND ANYONE
THAT'S GONE THROUGH THIS RINK.
BATTAGLIA: WE DON'T SAY GOODBYE
TO RITTER, WE SAW FAREWELL,
FAREWELL OLD FRIEND. NEW
SPEAKER: I'M GOING TO MISS THE
INTIMACY OF THE BUILDING, THE
SMALL BUILDING, THE LOUD
BUILDING, MY HOPE IS THOUGH WHEN
WE GO INTO THE POLISSENI CENTER
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT
LOUDNESS AND THAT SMALLNESS
WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT ON THE
OTHER TEAMS OVER THERE WITH US,
BUT THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO
BE. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE THE
SMALLNESS AND THE INTIMACY OF
THE OLD BARN. WILSON: IF WE CAN
RECREATE SOME OF THE MAGIC WE
HAVE AT RITTER IN THE NEW
FACILITY THEN IT'S A HOME RUN.
WE'RE GOING TO MISS RITTER BUT
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO
GOING INTO A NEW FACILITY.
DITULLIO: RIT HOCKEY WON'T BE
RITTER'S PRIMARY TENANT ANYMORE,
BUT THE BUILDING WILL REMAIN
OPEN RIGHT HERE ON CAMPUS.
BROMLEY: THE TIGER HOCKEY
PROGRAMS WILL MOVE INTO THE
4,200 SEAT GEEN POLISSENI CENTER
NEXT FALL. DITULLIO: WELL STILL
TO COME ON THIS EDITION OF
SPORTSZONE. THE LONGEST GAME IN
RIT WOMEN'S HOCKEY HISTORY LEADS
TO A DIVISION ONE FIRST FOR THE
TIGERS. PLUS, IN LACROSSE RIT
COMPLETES A MIRACULOUS COMEBACK
TO TOPPLE THE NATION'S TOP TEAM.
HIGHLIGHTS ARE AHEAD. YOU'RE
WATCHING RIT SPORTSZONE. NEW
BROMLEY: WELCOME BACK TO
SPORTSZONE. AFTER EARNING A
SWEEP OF THEIR FIRST ROUND
PLAYOFF SERIES WITH PENN STATE
THE RIT WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM
MOVED TO THE CHA SEMI FINALS TO
FACE NATIONALLY RANKED ROBERT
MORRIS. DITULLIO: RIT ONE AND
THREE AGAINST THE COLONIALS THIS
SEASON. AFTER A SCORELESS FIRST,
MELISSA BROMLEY GOT THE TIGERS
ON THE BOARD IN THE SECOND WITH
HER THIRD GOAL IN THE LAST FOUR
GAMES. IT WAS ONE NOTHING RIT.
LATER IN THE PERIOD RIT ADDED
ANOTHER AS CARLY PAYERL SCORES
TO PUT THE TIGERS UP TWO ZIP. IT
WAS TWO ONE IN THE THIRD BUT RIT
PUT IT AWAY. KOURTNEY KUNICHIKA
NETS HER TENTH GOAL OF THE YEAR.
RIT WOULD ADD ANOTHER AS THEY
CRUISED TO A FOUR ONE VICTORY
OVER TENTH RANKED ROBERT MORRIS.
MCDONALD: IT'S A BIG STEP FOR US
AND ACTUALLY IT WAS ONE OF OUR
GOALS, KIND OF THE FINAL GOAL
OF, KIND OF OUR GAME PLAN WAS
YOU KNOW, WE WERE HERE LAST YEAR
IN THIS VERY GAME AND YOU KNOW
WE LOST IN OVERTIME AND IT'S A
TOUGH DEFEAT AND WE THOUGHT,
WE'RE READY TO MAKE THE NEXT
STEP SO LET'S GO OUT AND HAVE
SOME FUN AND WIN THE GAME AND BE
READY TO PLAY FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP
AND THAT WAS THE GOAL FROM THE
START OF THE SEASON AND NOW WE
HAVE A SHOT. DITULLIO: RIT
ADVANCED TO THE CHA CHAMPIONSHIP
GAME AGAINST DEFENDING
CONFERENCE CHAMPION AND EIGHTH
RANKED MERCYHURST. WHAT AN
OUTING FOR JUNIOR GOALTENDER ALI
BINNINGTON. IN THE FIRST PERIOD
SHE STOPPED ALL THIRTEEN SHOTS
SHE FACED AS THE TIGERS AND
LAKERS REMAINED SCORELESS.
SECOND PERIOD ACTION, FINAL
MINUTE OF PLAY, TIGERS ON THE
POWER PLAY, ERIN ZACH THROUGH
TWO DEFENDERS SOMEHOW GETS A GO.
RIT TOOK A ONE NOTHING LEAD. THE
TIGERS AND LAKERS REMAINED TIED
THROUGH REGULATION SO WE GO TO
OVERTIME. IN THE EXTRA SESSION
ALI BINNINGTON WAS THE STAR OF
THE DAY. SHE STOPPED 62 OF THE
LAKER'S 63 SHOTS. WE GO TO
DOUBLE OVERTIME. WITH JUST OVER
SIX MINUTES REMAINING LINDSAY'S
GRIGG'S SHOT GETS THROUGH FOR
THE GAME WINNER. RIT STUNS
MERCYHURST TWO TO ONE TO WIN THE
CHA CHAMPIONSHIP. WITH MORE FROM
ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, HERE'S
SPORTSZONE'S TAYLOR BEATTY.
BEATTY: IN JUST THEIR SECOND
SEASON AT THE DIVISION ONE
LEVEL, THE RIT TIGERS WOMEN'S
HOCKEY TEAM MADE A MAJOR
STATEMENT IN CAPTURING THEIR
FIRST CHA CHAMPIONSHIP. THE
TIGERS KNOCKED OFF ELEVEN TIME
CHAMPION MERCYHURST BEHIND ALI
BINNINGTON'S 62 SAVE
PERFORMANCE. WHAT WERE YOU
FEELING WHEN LINDSAY PUT THAT
ONE HOME AT THE END? MCDONALD:
WE WERE SITTING THERE, WE HAD A
GREAT ANGLE ON THE SHOT, AND YOU
ACTUALLY SAW IT GO LIKE IN AND
OUT AND WE WERE LIKE, ME AND
MATT WOODARD LOOKED AT EACH
OTHER AND WE'RE LIKE, ARE YOU
KIDDING? DID THAT JUST GO IN?
AND THEN WE TURN AROUND AND
SHIVAUN IS JUMPING ON US THEN
THE GIRLS WERE GONE. THEY WERE
LIKE ALL OF A SUDDEN FULL OF
LIFE AND RIGHT OFF THE BENCH. AN
AMAZING FEELING. GRIGG:
HONESTLY, NOTHING COULD DESCRIBE
THE FEELING. I SHOT THE PUCK AND
I DIDN'T EVEN PROCESS THAT IT
WENT IN AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN
ALL OF THE PLAYERS ARE COMING ON
THE ICE AND I MEAN, THE FEELING
IS INDESCRIBABLE AND I MEAN, ALI
ON THE BACK END KEPT US IN THIS
GAME THE WHOLE TIME, SO SHE'S
THE ONE TO THANK RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE SHE PLAYED AMAZING AND
PLAYED HER HEART OUT. BEATTY:
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE,
BUT WHAT MORE CAN YOU SAY ABOUT
ALI BINNINGTON'S PLAY? MCDONALD:
NOTHING. SHE PROVES IT YET AGAIN
THAT IN THE BIGGEST MOMENTS,
WHEN THE BIGGEST SPOTLIGHT IS ON
HER, SHE GETS IT DONE AND SHE
GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO WIN ANY
GAME THAT SHE PLAYS IN. BEATTY:
62 SAVES TONIGHT; WHAT GOT INTO
YOU? YOU PLAYED OUT OF YOUR
MIND! BINNINGTON: I DON'T KNOW,
I WASN'T REALLY LOOKING AT THE
SHOT COUNT, I WAS JUST FOCUSING
ON THE NEXT SHOT THE WHOLE GAME
AND TRY NOT TO LOOK UP THERE AND
TRY NOT TO THINK ABOUT HOW TIRED
YOU ARE. JUST TRY TO KEEP MOVING
FORWARD! I'M JUST HAPPY SHE
ENDED IT WHEN SHE DID. NEW
SPEAKER: I THINK YOU KNOW,
BINNER STANDS ON HER HEAD. SHE'S
A HUGE PART OF THIS TEAM, SHE'S
THE BACKBONE OF THIS TEAM AND
YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT AND YOU
KNOW, SHE KEPT US IN THIS GAME
BUT WE ALL WORKED HARD AND
THAT'S THE GREAT THING ABOUT OUR
TEAM IS THAT WE'RE SUCH A TEAM,
WE'RE SO COHESIVE AND WE WORK
UNTIL WE GET THE RESULT WE WANT.
BEATTY: YOU GUYS KILLED OFF A
TON OF PENALTIES THROUGHOUT THE
GAME AND YOUR SPECIAL TEAMS WERE
JUST UNBELIEVABLE. WHAT CAN YOU
SAY ABOUT THAT EFFORT? NEW
SPEAKER: I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH
ABOUT THE SPECIAL TEAMS EFFORT.
YOU'VE GOT CELESTE AND KOURTNEY
AND MARISSA AND ERIN WHO ARE
PROBABLY OUR TOP TWO PAIRS FOR
PENALTY KILLING AND THEY
ABSOLUTELY CRUSHED IT THE ENTIRE
NIGHT AND DID EVERYTHING THEY
NEEDED TO DO AND EVEN THE TEAM
AS A WHOLE WE WERE BLOCKING
SHOTS, WE WERE GETTING IN LANES,
WE WERE DOING WHAT WE NEEDED TO
DO TO GET THE WIN,. NEW SPEAKER:
I THINK THEY WERE A HUGE PART OF
THE GAME AND I THINK EVERYONE
WAS SACRIFICING THEIR BODIES AND
BLOCKING SHOTS AND I THINK
THAT'S WHAT REALLY HELPED US OUT
IN THE END. PROBABLY A BUNCH OF
US ARE GOING TO GO HOME WITH
BRUISES AND HAVING TO PUT ICE ON
THEM BUT IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.
MCDONALD: I THOUGHT WE BATTLED
THROUGH EVERYTHING AND WE TOLD
THE GIRLS THOSE BRUISES WILL
HEAL UP IN NO TIME. THAT TROPHY
WILL LAST FOREVER. BEATTY: JUST
YOUR SECOND SEASON AT D1. WHAT
DOES IT MEAN TO THE PROGRAM TO
BRING HOME A CHA CHAMPIONSHIP?
MCDONALD: IT'S HUGE AND IT GOES
ON THE GIRLS ABOUT KIND OF OUR
YEAR WITH BEING SUCH A YOUNG
TEAM AND LEARNING HOW TO PLAY
WITH EACH OTHER EARLY IN THE
YEAR AND WE'VE CERTAINLY HAD OUR
UPS AND DOWNS EARLY ON AND THE
WAY THE TEAM CAME TOGETHER DOWN
THE STRETCH, STARTED GELLING
WITH EACH OTHER AND THEN KIND OF
HAVING OUR SENIORS AND JUNIORS
REALLY TAKE CHARGE AND JUST LEAD
OUR TEAM RIGHT TO THE FINAL
BUZZER WAS UNBELIEVABLE. NEW
SPEAKER: SECOND YEAR IN DIVISION
ONE AND WE ALREADY TAKE A
CHAMPIONSHIP. I MEAN THE FUTURE
LOOKS BRIGHT AND I CAN'T WAIT
FOR WHAT'S TO COME NEXT. NEW
SPEAKER: I THINK TONS OF PEOPLE
HAVE DOUBTED US AND IF YOU LOOK
BACK JUST LAST YEAR WE PLAYED
MERCYHURST IN OUR FIRST GAME AND
I THINK IT WAS SEVEN TWO, THEY
HAD TWO QUICK GOALS AND JUST TO
SEE THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE
OVER TWO YEARS, IT'S LITERALLY
UNBELIEVABLE AND IT'S GREAT.
BEATTY: YOU GUYS ARE RETURNING A
BUNCH OF KEY PLAYERS NEXT YEAR,
BUT HOW HARD IS IT GOING TO BE
LOSING THOSE THREE SENIORS? NEW
SPEAKER: IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH.
THEY WERE A HUGE PART OF OUR
TEAM AND THEY CONTRIBUTED SO
MUCH SO IT'S REALLY TOUGH TO
LOSE THEM, BUT THEY PLAYED SO
WELL AND I THINK THEY SHOULD BE
PROUD OF HOW THEY DID. MCDONALD:
THEY ACCOMPLISHED EVERYTHING
IMAGINABLE TO ACCOMPLISH AND
THEY'VE LEFT A LEGACY, THEY'VE
LEFT THEIR MARK, THAT'S WHAT
THEY NEEDED TO DO AND THEY'RE
NOT COMING BACK SO YOU'VE GOT TO
TRY AND FIND A WAY TO WIN
WITHOUT THEM. NEW SPEAKER: NEXT
YEAR WE'RE COMING BACK, WE'RE
COMING BACK TO WIN IT AGAIN,
THAT'S FOR SURE. WE GET TO GO
FURTHER HOPEFULLY AFTER NEXT
YEAR SO THAT'S THE PLAN. WE
START THERE, CHA CHAMPIONS, AND
THEN GO ON. BROMLEY: MEANWHILE,
THE RIT MEN'S HOCKEY TEAM
ENTERED THE ATLANTIC HOCKEY
ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS AS THE
NINTH SEED, SO THE TIGERS HAD TO
TRAVEL TO HOLY CROSS FOR A BEST
OF THREE FIRST ROUND SERIES WITH
THE CRUSADERS. DITULLIO: THE
TIGERS WERE ELIMINATED TWO GAMES
TO ONE AS HOLY CROSS RALLIED
FROM TWO GOALS DOWN IN GAME
THREE TO DEFEAT THE TIGERS IN
OVERTIME. RIT FINISHED THE YEAR
WITH A RECORD OF 12, 20 AND 5.
BROMLEY: WELCOME BACK TO
SPORTSZONE. LAST SPRING THE RIT
MEN'S LACROSSE TEAM REACHED THE
DIVISION THREE NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY. BUT A
DISAPPOINTING 16 TO 14 LOSS TO
STEVENSON SENT THE TIGERS HOME
WITHOUT THE TOP PRIZE. DITULLIO:
WELL WHAT BETTER WAY TO BEGIN
THE 2014 SEASON THAN WITH A
REMATCH OF LAST YEAR'S TITLE
GAME. NUMBER ONE STEVENSON
FACING NUMBER TWO RIT AT THE
CARRIER DOME IN SYRACUSE. WE
PICK THINGS UP IN THE FOURTH,
RIT TRAILING BY FOUR WITH UNDER
TWO MINUTES TO PLAY WHEN
TRANSFER CASEY JACKSON NETS HIS
SECOND OF THE DAY. IT WAS 14 TO
11 MUSTANGS. JUST 33 SECONDS
LATER, THE TIGERS ON THE ATTACK
AGAIN AND JACKSON SCORES AGAIN
TO PULL RIT WITHIN TWO WITH JUST
57 SECONDS REMAINING. RIT KEPT
COMING AT STEVENSON. UNDER 30
SECONDS TO GO, ALLISTER WARREN
SCORES HIS FIRST OF THE YEAR TO
BRING RIT BACK WITHIN ONE. FINAL
SECONDS OF REGULATION, RIT WITH
THE MAN UP AND CASEY JACKSON
SCORES HIS FOURTH GOAL OF THE
DAY. AS TIME EXPIRES THEY TIE
THINGS UP AT 14 AND SEND US TO
OVERTIME. IN OT, RIT WITH THE
MAN ADVANTAGE AGAIN, TAYLOR
WISMAN WITH THE OPEN LOOK AND HE
BURIES IT AS RIT RALLIES FROM
SIX GOALS DOWN IN THE FOURTH TO
KNOCK OFF NUMBER ONE STEVENSON
15 TO 14. WITH MORE ON RIT'S
THRILLING COMEBACK VICTORY
HERE'S SPORTSZONE'S EMILY CLARK.
CLARK: RIT SCORED FOUR GOALS IN
THE FINAL MINUTE AND 30 SECONDS
OF THE GAME TO TIE AT 14 AND
TAYLOR WISMAN SCORED THE GAME
WINNING GOAL TO GIVE RIT AN
UNLIKELY WIN OVER NUMBER ONE
RANKED STEVENSON. SO DOWN FOUR
GOALS WITH ABOUT A MINUTE THIRTY
LEFT: WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH
YOUR MIND? NEW SPEAKER: IT'S A
LOT OF GOALS TO MAKE UP IN THIS
SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND YOU
NEVER QUIT, WE NEVER GIVE UP,
BUT AT THAT POINT IT'S TOUGH TO
THINK WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK
AND WIN THAT GAME BUT I'M PROUD
OF THE GUYS. NEW SPEAKER: BEING
DOWN FOUR GOALS WHEN I THINK IT
WAS A MINUTE 37 LEFT, LIKE, WE
THOUGHT WE COULD DO IT BUT WE
DIDN'T KNOW IT COULD ACTUALLY
HAPPEN. AND YEAH, FOUR GOALS IN
A MINUTE 37 IS RIDICULOUS AND NO
ONE EXPECTED THAT TO HAPPEN.
CLARK: SCORING THE GAME TIER IN
THAT FINAL SECOND, WHAT WAS
GOING THROUGH YOUR HEAD?
JACKSON: I KNEW THE TIME WAS
RUNNING DOWN, I DIDN'T EXPECT IT
TO BE LIKE POINT TWO SECONDS OR
WHATEVER IT WAS BUT I JUST HAD
THE TIME AND THE ROOM AND I KNEW
THE CLOCK WAS RUNNING DOWN SO I
HAD TO LET IT GO. IT WAS PRETTY
NICE TO SEE THAT BALL GO IN.
CLARK: NOW STEVENSON DEFINITELY
KEPT YOU GUYS ON YOUR TOES FOR
QUITE A WHILE THERE. DO YOU
THINK IT WAS NERVES OR CAN YOU
ATTRIBUTE THAT TO SOMETHING
DIFFERENT? JACKSON: YOU KNOW, AT
THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON GUYS
ARE GETTING INTO IT AND I THINK
WE WERE HOLDING OUR STICKS
TIGHT, WE PRACTICED FOR SO LONG,
WE WERE JUST ANTSY TO GET INTO A
GAME, BUT ONCE THE SECOND HALF
STARTED, GUYS STARTED TO SETTLE
DOWN AND ACTUALLY PLAY THEIR
GAME AND THE VETERANS STARTED TO
COME THROUGH AND IT WAS A GOOD
EFFORT BY THOSE GUYS. NEW
SPEAKER: MAYBE IT WAS NERVES,
MAYBE IT WASN'T. A LOT OF IT IS
CREDITED TO THEM. THEIR DEFENSE
IS A HIGH PRESSURE DEFENSE,
THEY'RE VERY GOOD, VERY
ATHLETIC, VERY RANGY, THEY BAT
DOWN PASSES VERY WELL SO I DON'T
REALLY KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE CAN
SORT IT ALL OUT AND PLAY A
LITTLE BIT CLEANER NEXT WEEK.
NEW SPEAKER: WE DEFINITELY
SEEMED TO HAVE NERVES IN THE
FIRST HALF, WE DON'T KNOW WHY
BECAUSE WE'VE PLAYED THEM
BEFORE, WE'VE BEEN IN A BIG
STADIUM, SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT
THE REAL REASON WAS. WE HAVE TO
WORK ON THAT, BUT THEN YEAH,
SECOND HALF WE SOMEHOW GOT OVER
THAT AND JUST KEPT GOING. NEW
SPEAKER: I DON'T KNOW, I THOUGHT
WE PREPARED ALL WEEK FOR THEM,
YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LOT OF GOOD
PRACTICES, WE GOT TO PRACTICE IN
HERE A COUPLE OF NIGHTS AGO, GET
USED TO THE ENVIRONMENT, SO I'M
NOT QUITE SURE WHAT IT WAS BUT
WE COULDN'T QUITE GET GOING AT
THE BEGINNING. THEY'RE A REALLY
GOOD TEAM, THEY WON THE
CHAMPIONSHIP LAST YEAR, THEY
CAME IN RANKED NUMBER ONE, THERE
WAS NO QUESTION THEY WERE A VERY
GOOD TEAM AND THEY PRESSURE US A
LOT, AND ALL CREDIT TO THEM,
THEY PLAYED A REALLY GOOD GAME,
BUT WE WERE JUST ABLE TO COME
OUT WITH A WIN. CLARK: HOW DOES
IT FEEL TO BE THE NEW NUMBER ONE
TEAM IN THE COUNTRY? NEW
SPEAKER: I MEAN, IT JUST MEANS
WE HAVE TO WORK HARDER BECAUSE
EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE AIMING
FOR US, IT'S A NICE TITLE BUT
THAT'S ALL IT IS. IT'S JUST A
TITLE. CLARK: HOW DOES THIS
GAUGE HOW YOU GUYS ARE HOPEFULLY
GOING TO HEAD FOR THE REST OF
THE SEASON? NEW SPEAKER: I MEAN
WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE TONIGHT
BUT WE'RE NOT LOOKING PAST
THINKING WE'RE HIGH ON OUR HORSE
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW,
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE GOOD
TEAMS OUT THERE AND WE'VE JUST
GOT TO COME EVERY NIGHT AND BEAT
THEM. WE'RE NOT GOING TO
OVERLOOK ANYONE. WE'RE A
HARDWORKING TEAM, A BLUE COLLAR
TEAM, SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT
IN STRIDE AND PLAY THOSE TEAMS.
NEW SPEAKER: I DON'T KNOW IF
THERE'S A GAUGE THERE. WE'RE
COMFORTABLE IN OUR ABILITY, WE
KNOW WE'VE GOT A GOOD GROUP.
IT'S JUST THAT WE'VE GOT TO BE
HUNGRY EVERY SINGLE CONTEST.
THAT'S GOING TO BE THE KEY. CAN
YOU GET OVER THIS AND REGROUP
AND COME BACK NEXT WEEK AND PLAY
AGAIN. NEW SPEAKER: EVERY GAME
GOING DOWN THE LINE IS A HUGE
GAME AND IT'S A LADDER COACH
MCKEE TALKS ABOUT. EVERY GAME IS
A RUNG IN THE LADDER AND THE END
OF THE LADDER IS THE NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP WHICH WE JUST CAME
UP SHORT ON LAST SEASON SO IT'S
THE FIRST WIN, IT'S EXCITING BUT
IT'S JUST THE FIRST WIN, THAT'S
IT. NEW SPEAKER: PARK POINT AT
DITULLIO: WELCOME BACK TO
SPORTSZONE. ASHLYNN PALMITESSO
PLAYED SPARINGLY HER FRESHMAN
SEASON, AVERAGING JUST UNDER
FIVE POINTS A GAME. BUT WHAT A
DIFFERENCE A YEAR CAN MAKE.
BROMLEY: PALMITESSO PLAYED IN
ALL 26 GAMES THIS SEASON
FINISHING SECOND ON THE TEAM IN
SCORING AND FOURTH IN THE
LIBERTY LEAGUE. SPORTSZONE'S
TAYLOR BEATTY CAUGHT UP WITH
THIS RISING HOOPS STAR. BEATTY:
LAST YEAR WAS YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR
AND YOU AVERAGED A LITTLE LESS
THAN FIVE POINTS A GAME,
COMPARED TO THIS YEAR, YOUR
SOPHOMORE YEAR, YOU'RE AVERAGING
ALMOST 16. WHAT'S BEEN THE
DIFFERENCE? PALMITESSO: I THINK
BETWEEN THE TWO YEARS, ACCEPTING
MY ROLE LAST YEAR, I HAD A
SMALLER ROLE ON THE TEAM AND
THIS YEAR I HAVE A LARGER ROLE.
I WORKED HARD IN THE OFF SEASON
TO IMPROVE MY SHOT. I WAS IN THE
GYM EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR AT
LEAST TWO HOURS AND THEN LAST
SEASON COMING IN I WAS MORE
FOCUSED ON TRANSITIONING FROM
HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE SO I
DIDN'T REALLY SPEND AS MUCH TIME
IN THE GYM. BEATTY: SO WHAT DO
YOU THINK ASHLYNN'S ROLE WILL
DEVELOP INTO? REED: I DEFINITELY
THINK ASHLYNN IS GOING TO BE A
GREAT CAPTAIN SOMEDAY, IF NOT
NEXT YEAR, THEN OBVIOUSLY HER
SENIOR YEAR. I THINK THAT SHE'S
GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A ROLE
MODEL FOR YOUNGER PLAYERS AND
HER WORK ETHIC I THINK IS
CONTAGIOUS. SHE'S IN THE GYM ALL
THE TIME, OTHERS WANT TO BE IN
THE GYM WHEN SHE'S IN HERE SO I
JUST THINK IT'S A REALLY
POSITIVE THING. BEATTY: DID YOU
THINK YOU WOULD BE THIS
SUCCESSFUL THIS EARLY IN YOUR
COLLEGE CAREER? PALMITESSO: I
KNEW AT THE END OF MY HIGH
SCHOOL YEAR I DIDN'T PEAK. I
KIND OF LEVELED OUT FROM MY
FRESHMAN YEAR TO MY SENIOR YEAR
OF HIGH SCHOOL. SO I KNEW THERE
WAS MORE TO COME AND IT WAS JUST
HOW HARD I WANTED TO PUSH
MYSELF. IT WAS SURPRISING THAT
IT HAPPENED SO EARLY, BUT I KNEW
IT WAS COMING. BEATTY: THIS
BEING ONLY YOUR SOPHOMORE YEAR,
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT OUT OF
YOURSELF FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS
IN COLLEGE? PALMITESSO: AS AN
INDIVIDUAL I WOULD LIKE TO
ACCOMPLISH 1,000 POINT GOAL. I
DID THAT IN HIGH SCHOOL SO IT
WOULD BE AWESOME IF I COULD DO
THAT IN COLLEGE. I ACTUALLY WANT
TO SET SOME RECORDS FOR
DEFENSIVE PRINCIPLES. EVERYONE
KNOWS I CAN SCORE, BUT MOST
IMPORTANTLY IT'S KIND OF MAKING
YOUR (INAUDIBLE) AND MAKING THEM
STAND OUT SO I HOPE TO DO THAT.
AS A TEAM I WOULD LIKE TO WIN
LIBERTY LEAGUE AND HOPEFULLY
MAKE IT TO NCAA'S. BROMLEY: WELL
DON'T FORGET THAT STAYING
CONNECTED TO SPORTSZONE IS NOW
EASIER THAN EVERY AT RITSZ.COM
OR BY DOWNLOADING THE SPORTSZONE
APP FOR YOUR APPLE OR ANDROID
DEVICE. DITULLIO: WELL THAT DOES
IT FOR THIS EDITION OF RIT
SPORTSZONE. SO UNTIL NEXT TIME,
THANKS FOR JOINING US IN THE
ZONE.