September 21, ZDDu
Scoreboard
Mfn’s Soccer
Sat, Sept. 16
APPALACHIAN ST. 2 UNCW1 (L)
Wed, Sept. 20
WAKE FOREST (Late)
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Fii, Sept. 15
Delaware 1 UNCW 0 (L)
Sun, Sept. 17
Hofstra 2 UNCW 0 (L)
Tkje, Sept 19
N.C.State3 UNCWO (L)
CROSS COUNTRY
Sal, SepL 16 at Wolfpack Invitational (Raleigh)
Men’s: Seventh out of 11 teams
Women’s: Ninth out of 14 teams
Men’s Golf
Mon, Sept. 18 & Tue, Sept. 19
At Bay Tree Invitational (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
Total score: 296 (Third out of 15 teams)
SCHEDULES
men’s Soccer
Sat, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.
JAMES MADISON
Wed, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.
MOUNT OLIVE
Women’s Soccer
Sun, Sept. 24 at 2 p.m.
at College of Charleston
Cross Country
Fii, Sept. 22
at Great American Invitational (Charlotte)
WOMEN’S Golf
Mon, Sept. 25 All Day
At Memphis Women’s Intercollegiate
(Memphis, Tenn.)
Tue, Sept. 26 All Day
At Memphis Women’s Intercollegiate
(Memphis. Tenn.)
Women’s Tennis
Thu, Sept. 21 All Day
at Hon Doubles Toiunament
Men’s Tennis
Thu, Sept. 21 All Day
at Hon Doubles Tournament
Volleyball
Thu, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m.
at Charleston Southern
Fri, Sept. 22 at Noon
vs. Wmthrop (Orlando, Fla.)
Fri, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m.
vs. Central Florida (Orlando, Fla)
Sat, Sept. 23 at 10 am.
vs. Bethune Cookman (Orlando, Fla)
Tue, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.
at Coastal Carolina
BOLD indicates home game
CAA may become a thing of the past for UNCW
Ben Jones
Sports Editor
If you have not paid attention over the
past year to the Colonial Athletic Associa
tion, you may be missing something. On the
other hand, maybe not. Once again (it seems
like a semi-monthly routine now), rumors
are flying as to the future of UNC
Wilmington’s atfiletic conference ties. How
ever, the latest buzz has a little substance to
it.
According to a Washington Post article
published last Thursday, the presidents of the
six remaining universities in the CAA dis
cussed a possible junction with the
America Conference. Next month,
the presidents of the America East
schools will have their turn to con
verse on the potential merger. The
athletic summit is the detemiining
factor whether America East goes Irom the
current 10-team structure to a set of 16 insti
tutions.
Currendy, the America East Conference
consists of 10 schools in states from Maine
to Delaware, A large concern the would-be
new members from the south would
have is travel. Five
remaining
CAAareinVir-
is the south-
team, with
of the current six
schools in the
giniaUNCW
ernmost
its loca-
where Oo
We Be(on,^
Wustration by James Ftint/ The Seahawk
tion in North Carolina Of course, time and
distance would become a factor to inter-con-
ference competition. The added travel would
cause teams to leave for game locations hours,
if not days, earlier. The extra stretch could
take away fiwrn the academic performance
and in-class participation for the student-ath-
letes.
Most importandy, a financial strain on
school budgets for the additional travel may
become a burden. Schools would have to
come up with a substantial anwunt of money
to cover expenses associated with the tran
sit For instance, the Seahawks could find
themselves heading up to Burlington, Vt, 45
miles south of the Canadian border, to face
the Catamounts of VeniMnt Likewise, the
University of Maine would have quite a long
bus ride down 1-95 to contend against
UNCW. Just imagine the three-day trip for
the cross coimtry team for a 30-minute
match.
Mathematically, the super-confer-
ence does not add up. Yes, money is
the main issue, but what about
Seahawk athletic programs that
compete for cortference champi
onships and NCAA tourney invites? Right
now, UNCW is a top seed in several sports
See CAA, Page 1 9
Mandy Fletcher shows style on and off the field
WILL REES
STAFF Writer
Oftentimes, there is a softly projected
opinion of bias towards athletes. Some may
feel that sports players receive better treat
ment from peers and faculty, and that games
and practice interfere with the collegiate
objective of higher learning. If, however, one
was to take the time to peer further into the
conditions and circumstances that college
level athletes endure, then it would be clear
that the aforementioned opinions were
poorly formulated.
One example of this elite group of stu
dents is the senior soccer player, Mandy
Fletcher. Mandy is a twenty-one year old
Therapeutic Recreation major who trans
ferred, after her freshman year, from Rutgers
University, in her home state of New Jersey,
to UNC Wilmington.
There is more, though, to this soccer
player than just determination and, after a
few brief moments of speaking with Mandy,
it became very clear that she had justly earned
her reputation for being extremely friendly
and easy to get along with.
When asked what she liked to do besides
play soccer, she said, ”I guess just relax,”
which is a very understandable comment,
considering the stress of being a leader of a
soccer team and a student as well as bear
ing the added stress of an upcoming gradu-
Courlesv UNCW Sports lntormat>on Once
Senior Mandy Fletcher relieves
stress off the goalie, clearing the
ball away from opponents.
ationin200l.
Mandy also conveyed a strong sense of
love for her team and for the sport of soccer.
She began playing soccer at the age of five
and grew into a strong defensive player.
‘I’m just defensive miiKled. 1 hate to lose,”
remarked Mandy when asked about her per
sonal insight on the game.
There is more to soccer, however, for
Mandy, than just being defensive and win
ning.
“I definitely want to coach younger kids
one day,” she says.
By saying this, she not only gives the im
pression that she loves soccer but she wishes
to spread her enthusiasm to fiiture genera
tions so that they might experience the satis
faction that she has.
In addition to her gusto for soccer, the
enthusiastic defender had nothing but posi
tive comments about her team.
“ 1 love this place. Honestly, I’d have to
say we’re like family.”
She made further comments about the
unity of the team, saying, “It doesn’t matter
about age, it doesn’t matter what grade you’re
in”.
Cleariy, the UNCW women’s soccer team
has a very strong bond that carries over to
the soccer field during games and, undoubt
edly, can make the difference in a close
match.
As with any well-rounded student-athlete,
Mandy also has other values that she ex
presses in ways besides playing soccer.
“1 believe in a God,” she says, “but I don’t
think you need an organized religion”.
This not only shows a great reflection on
her spirituality as a person and as a serious
athlete, but gives her an edge over her com
petitors by being able to look at all situations
with an open mind. So, if you ever meet a
friendly, enthused soccer player while stroD-
ing through campus, or see someone who
appears to be possibly daydreaming about a
tropical paradise while sitting in class, then,
chances are, it’s Mandy Fletcher.