Sports

A preview of CMU football, soccer, and volleyball

By Marika Yang  |  Aug 19, 2018
Carnegie Mellon’s football team is going into teh 2016-2017 season in high spirits after having a very successful 2015-2016 season, winning their last six regular season games. The team is already beginning to prepare for the upcoming season in the hopes of matching and exceeding last year. (credit: Courtesy of CMU Athletics) Carnegie Mellon’s football team is going into teh 2016-2017 season in high spirits after having a very successful 2015-2016 season, winning their last six regular season games. The team is already beginning to prepare for the upcoming season in the hopes of matching and exceeding last year. (credit: Courtesy of CMU Athletics) Senior forward Megan Bartoshuk finds an opening between two Brandeis defenders in the Tartans’ 0-2 defeat. (credit: Mark Egge/) Senior forward Megan Bartoshuk finds an opening between two Brandeis defenders in the Tartans’ 0-2 defeat. (credit: Mark Egge/) Carnegie Mellon is home to many varsity-level sports, including soccer, volleyball, and swimming. Most athletics are offered for men and women. (credit: Jessica Sochol/) Carnegie Mellon is home to many varsity-level sports, including soccer, volleyball, and swimming. Most athletics are offered for men and women. (credit: Jessica Sochol/)

Football

The Carnegie Mellon football team started the 2017 season with a bang, winning its first five games. The team lost some steam towards the back end of the season, finishing with a 7–4 record. At the Presidents’ Athletic Conference media day, the Tartans were voted to finish fourth in the preseason poll, with one first-place votes. The team looks to put together another winning season this fall while filling the absences of the program’s all-time leading rusher, Sam Benger, and prolific receiver John Prather, who both graduated this past spring.
The team turns to new leaders going into the 2018 season. Senior quarterback Alex Cline will return after 17 career starts and a record-breaking junior season. Cline threw for 2,336 yards, breaking the school’s single-season passing record, and 24 touchdowns. Also leading the team is senior cornerback Ethan Anderson, one of the team’s captains, who is returning after a stellar 2017 season. He finished the season with 63 tackles, 47 solo, and 4.5 for loss, and four fumble recoveries. The 2018 team kicks of the season on Sept. 8 at the University of Rochester.

Soccer

The Carnegie Mellon women’s soccer team finished its superb 2017 season with a narrow loss to Hardin-Simmons University in the sectional semifinal of the 2017 NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Championship. After posting a 15–3–2 record, several of the Tartan players received season honors for their great play. Senior forward Haili Adams started all 20 games, recorded 52 shots (30 on goal), scored 12 goals, including seven game winners, and added three assists. Adams’ play earned her numerous team selections, including the United Soccer Coaches All-America First Team and the All-University Athletic Association (UAA) First Team. Fellow seniors Tori Iatarola and Alex Moy also received honors. First-year goalkeeper Carolyn Botz was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the year and Rookie of the Year. She was also named to the All-UAA First Team.

Botz and fellow returning Tartan players look to continue their success on the pitch in the 2018 season. The team begins its season hosting Shenandoah University on Aug. 31.
The Carnegie Mellon men’s soccer team played several close games during the 2017 season, finishing three double overtime games with draws, and ultimately posting a 10–4–3 record. Strong returning Tartan players look to lead the team in the 2018 season. Rising senior midfielder Zack Masciopinto led the team with eight goals, two which were game winners, and had 48 shots (26 on goal) while starting 17 games. Masciopinto was named to the All-UAA First Team. Rising senior defender Jack McCambridge started 15 games, and was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America First Team. The Tartans’ first match of the season will be at Denison University on Aug. 31.

Volleyball

The Carnegie Mellon volleyball team went 16–0 to start the 2017 season and finished with a 30–5 record and a NCAA Division III Championship Second Round berth. For their stellar season, Coach Kim Kelly was honored as the ECAC Division III Women’s Volleyball Coach of the Year. Senior middle blocker Eliza Donohue and junior outside hitter Lauren Mueller were named to the first team All-ECAC group and sophomore libero Kayla Yew was named to the second team. Additionally, six Tartan players were named to the All-UAA, including Donohue, Mueller, and Yew to the first team. This season, the Tartans will seek their third consecutive bid to the NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship. They open the season on August 31 at the Ohio Northern Invitational at Ohio Northern University.