Local college notes

Tracking the Bears

• The Coast Guard Academy men's soccer team already has surpassed last year's win total. Now the Bears (9-3-1, 3-0-1) are shooting for the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference regular-season title. They can secure the title with wins at MIT (Oct. 20) and at Babson (Oct. 27).

Coast Guard is in second place behind Babson (11-3-1, 4-0). The Bears are guaranteed to post their first winning record since 2008 when they went 13-8-1 overall and won the ECAC Championship. They're riding a seven-game unbeaten streak.

Sophomore defender John Tarzian earned NEWMAC offensive player of the week honors after scoring three goals - all on headers - in wins over Albertus Magnus and Mitchell College. He leads the team with four goals.

This week, Coast Guard hosts 25th-ranked Eastern Connecticut in its final home game at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Senior forward Matt Furman of Montville and senior goalie Jordan Munsell of Waterford are key players for the Warriors (12-0-1). Furman is the team's top scorer with 11 goals and two assists and Munsell has appeared in all 13 games, posting a sparkling 0.60 goals against average.

• Injuries have hampered the volleyball team, as four different starters have missed time over the last two weeks. The Bears (14-11, 4-2) are going for a school-record tying 26th straight home victory tonight against Mount Holyoke.

Also tonight, the Bears are holding a special event with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Southeastern Connecticut. Each team member will partner with a "Little Bear" who will wear a Coast Guard volleyball T-shirt and be introduced during pregame.

• Freshman Caroline Eastman, who has three goals, is the leading scorer for the women's soccer team. Jill Kelly has a team-best three assists for the Bears (2-10, 0-6).

• College basketball practice began for the men's and women's programs on Sunday. Both teams welcome back five starters from last season.

Senior co-captain Greg Marshall (15.7 points per game), sophomore David Anderson (10.9) and junior Kevin Sowers (11.3) are the top returning scorers for the men. Senior Jimmy Knudsen is the top returning rebounder at 5.7 per game. Coast Guard visits the University of Rhode Island for an exhibition game on Nov. 2.

First-year women's coach Alex Ivansheck will rely on junior Kaitlin Ward (11.4 points) and sophomore Brittany Zimmerman (10.1). Coast Guard host Mitchell College in its season opener on Nov. 15.

Camel highlights

• Senior Michael LeDuc was named the New England Small College Athletic Conference men's cross country performer of the week after placing second in the Connecticut College Invitational on Saturday at Harkness State Park. He finished the 8,000-meter course in 24 minutes, 54 seconds, and made the All-Invitational team. In last year's race, he crossed the line in 26:25 and placed seventh.

"Mike worked very hard this summer to prepare for the fall and the past few weeks his training has been going very well," coach Jim Butler said in a released statement. "His fitness level was evident in how well he ran on Saturday. Hopefully, we can carry this forward and keep him injury free as we approach the championship portion of the season."

The Camels are ranked eighth in the New England Division III poll.

• The volleyball team needs two more wins to reach 18 victories for the seventh consecutive season. The Camels (16-2, 7-2), who own a five-match winning streak, are ranked third in the latest New England Division III poll. They're ranked first in the NESCAC in hitting percentage (.254), kills per set (13.08) and assists per set (11.98).

• The women's soccer team is still in the running for a NESCAC tournament berth. The Camels (4-6-2, 2-6) take a three-game unbeaten streak into today's important game against Wesleyan in Middletown. Grace Bilodeau, Lilly Cannon and Astrid Kempainen have three goals apiece to pace the Camels.

• Junior goalie Casey Marini lowered his goals against average to 0.60 after earning his third shutout of the season in a 0-0 double overtime tie with Bates on Saturday. The Camels (3-2-6, 0-2-6) need at least a split in their last two men's soccer games to have a shot at qualifying for postseason.

• The field hockey team moved one step closer to securing one of eight conference tournament berths with a 4-1 win over Bates on Saturday. Conn (6-5, 3-5) is tied for seventh with Williams. Brittany Fitzgerald and Heidi Halsted share the team lead with four goals apiece.

• The water polo team had two games on the West Coast over the weekend. Conn (3-10) lost to Cal Lutheran 20-8 and Chapman 10-9 in overtime. Junior Clayton Witter had 15 blocks and three steals while Carlos Heros added four goals.

• The Camels sailed to 17th place out of 22 teams at the Captain Hurst Trophy Regatta, which was hosted by Dartmouth. Bryce Kopp and Grace Medley combined to place 11th in the B Division.

Mariners making a splash

• The Mitchell College women's soccer team held its Senior Day ceremony prior to Saturday's home game against Wheelock College at Alumni Field. Lauren Fritsch, Rebecca Tabak, Malorie Klieber and Amanda Hernandez, all four-year letterwinners and members of the 2010 New England Collegiate Conference championship team, were honored. Fritsch scored two goals in a 7-0 win.

Around the region

• Freshman tight end Tecumseh Champlain, a Montville High School graduate, had one catch for 19 yards in Western Connecticut State University's 34-33 loss to Morrisville State on Saturday. In five games this season, he has four receptions for 35 yards.

Senior defensive end Michael Farnsworth, a Fitch graduate, has 23 tackles and a sack this season.

• Wentworth sophomore midfielder Olivia Moore, an East Lyme graduate from Salem, is tied for second on the women's soccer team with three goals. She has started all 15 games. In a 4-3 win over Salve Regina Saturday, Moore had a goal.

• Becker College senior Alysha Giulietti, a defender from Uncasville, scored her second career goal and added an assist in a 9-0 win over Daniel Webster last week. Junior Christina Boucher of Pawcatuck scored her first two goals of the season.

• Sophomore Taylor Tomasetti of Waterford is playing No. 1 doubles for the Worcester State women's tennis team. She combined with Danielle Candelieri to rally for an 8-6 win Sunday against UMass Boston, helping the Lancers qualify for the Little East Tournament.

- Gavin Keefe