PLYMOUTH — The head coach of the Plymouth State University football team has been recognized with a prestigious honor after the Panthers enjoyed a championship season in 2008.
PSU head coach Paul Castonia has been selected New England Coach of the Year for Divisions II/III, as voted by the New England Football Writers' Association. Castonia is the first Plymouth State coach to ever win the award.
Castonia will be presented the award at the New England Football Writers' Awards and Captains Banquet on Thursday, Dec. 11, at Casa di Fior in Wilmington, Mass. Also being honored that evening will be PSU senior running back Jeff Mack (Milford), who was named to the N.E. Football Writers' All-New England Team for Divisions II/III last week for the second straight year.
Now in his sixth year at PSU, Castonia led the Panthers to the New England Football Conference Championship in 2008, and a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs. It was PSU's first conference title since sharing the Freedom Football Conference championship in 2001, and it was Plymouth State's first visit to the NCAA Championships since 1995.
PSU, which is 19-3 the past two years under Castonia, finished first in the NEFC Boyd Division this season with a 7-0 record. The Panthers defeated Maine Maritime, 46-16, in the NEFC Championship game, before losing to Cortland State (N.Y.) in the NCAA playoffs, 31-14.
Anyone interested in attending the New England Football Writers Banquet should contact Dick Lipe at Bentley College at 781-891-2334.
PSU men's hoop falls to Colby-Sawyer
CONCORD — The late game of the ninth annual Jacob's Bridge through Autism Classic at NHTI, Concord's Community College featured the Colby-Sawyer College Chargers topping the Plymouth State University Panthers 87-83.
Pacing the Chargers was Will Bardaglio with 19 points and four rebounds, David Rosso with 21 points; Duncan Szeliga added 16 points and seven boards and Matt Lemieux netted 13 points with seven assists.
Ben Huntington was the leader for the Panthers as he finished with 17 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Also playing well was Tom Dowd with 14 points and former NHTI standout Ryan Lambert contributed 12 points and six rebounds.
CSC picks up there second win in nine tries in the classic, while PSU drops only there second game in the history of the event.
PSU Basketball players honored by LEC
PLYMOUTH — Three members of the Plymouth State University basketball teams were recognized with weekly honors by the Little East Conference Monday for their efforts in non-conference victories last week.
Senior guard Ben Huntington (Hampstead) was selected LEC Men's Basketball Player of the Week, freshman Alicia Doucet (Manchester) was named LEC Women's Basketball Rookie of the Week, and junior Laura Kent was on the LEC Weekly Honor Roll. They represented PSU on the LEC list of honors after the Panthers teams pulled off a doubleheader sweep last Tuesday at Castleton State College.
Huntington, a 5-11 guard, scored a game-high 26 points in 21 minutes in PSU's only outing last week, a 113-64 non-conference victory over Castleton. He connected on 10-of-14 shots from the field, including 6-of-9 from three-point range, while adding five rebounds and three assists. Huntington scored 19 points in the first half as PSU put the game away early and led 67-26 at the break.
Huntington has the early lead in the LEC scoring race with an average of 20.5 points per game. He also ranks second in free throw percentage (92.3), sixth in field goal percentage (52.6) and seventh in three-point field goal percentage (45.5). Huntington has been the LEC Player of the Week twice in the first three weeks this season.
Doucet, a 5-11 forward, scored 15 points and shared team-high honors with six rebounds in just 24 minutes last Tuesday as PSU won its only game of the week, a 60-44 non-conference decision at Castleton. She connected on 3-of-4 from three-point range, 6-of-14 overall, while collecting six rebounds, four off the offensive glass.
Doucet is ranked 20th overall and third among freshmen in the LEC with 9.3 points per game this season. She is also ranked sixth in three-point field goal percentage (44.4) and tied for fourth in blocked shots (1.5 blocks per game).
Kent scored a game-high 19 points and shared team-high honors with six rebounds in just 22 minutes last Tuesday in PSU's non-conference win at Castleton. The 6-foot forward set a school record for perfection at the free throw line, converting all 13 attempts, while hitting 3-of-6 from the field. The previous school record for free throws made in a game without a miss was held by Patty Therrien, who was 11-for-11 in 1987.
Kent is off to a strong start for the Panthers. She is tied for second in the LEC in scoring (14.3 points per game) and ranks 15th in rebounding (6.3 rpg). She also ranks fifth in field goal percentage (51.4), third in free throw percentage (87.5), and tied for fourth in blocked shots (1.5 blocks per game).
