Lady Bears Swimming Falls to Brooklyn in Home Opener

BROOKLYN, NY – The St. Joseph's College women's swimming team dropped a close 49-46 decision to borough rivals Brooklyn College on Thursday night in their home opener at Brooklyn Technical High School.

Both the Lady Bears and Bulldogs level their records to 1-1. St. Joseph's has a short two-week hiatus before resuming a four-game home stand on Saturday, December 3rd hosting College of Notre Dame of Maryland starting at 3 p.m.

Brooklyn took an early lead, which they wouldn't relinquish, in the opening 200 yard medley relay. The 0.80 second margin would prove to be the difference in the meet as it would have given St. Joseph's a 53-42 victory.

The Lady Bears fought to keep pace with the Bulldogs with Darcy Crimi and Elizabeth Fiorella (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney) turning in second place finishes in the 1000 yard freestyle and 200 yard freestyle.

In the 50 yard freestyle, the St. Joseph's cut the deficit to 19-15 with Alison Nunziata (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney) and Jaclyn Kennedy (Breezy Point, NY/Fontbonne Hall) finishing 1-2. However, Brooklyn took first place in the next two events, extending the lead to 35-17.

Kristen McMaster (Brooklyn, NY/Fontbonne Hall) secured the second of the three individual wins for the Lady Bears with a time of 1:06.09 in the 100 yard freestyle for a seven second victory.

Maureen Donohue (Rochester, NY/Rochester) also captured an individual victory in the 100 yard breaststroke and Laura Sonnylal (Richmond Hill, NY/Archbishop Molloy) finished second to cut the deficit to 49-39.

McMaster, Fiorella, Kennedy and Sonnylal teamed up to win the final 400 yard freestyle relay by 26 seconds for the final 49-46 margin.