Miami vs. Central Connecticut State

CORAL GABLES, Florida, January 17. MIAMI collected 12-of-13 top times/scores on Saturday as the Hurricanes breezed past visiting Central Connecticut State University, 166-73, at the Norman A. Whitten University Center Pool on the campus of the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla. Today's race was featured on Video-On-Demand through www.hurricanesports.com.

It was Senior Appreciation Day for the Hurricanes, and they sent four seniors and one junior (graduating early) out in style with a convincing win in order to improve their record on the year up to 9-5. Senior swimmers Britta Boesing, Katie Eason and Sarah Lozier, along with graduating junior Meredith Hatic, competed in their last home event for the Orange and Green. Senior diver Jenna Dreyer did not compete due to soreness. Instead, she is resting for the upcoming All-Star Invitational in Orlando, Fla.

The day started out with the 400 medley relay where the ‘Canes turned in their third-fastest time of the year at 3:56.66, posting a winning time in the race. The Orange and Green were paced by the team of freshmen Erin Simpson (leadoff) and Dana Hatic, accompanied with sophomore Deidre Novotny and junior Kirsten Pomerleau (anchor leg). Central Connecticut State (4-5) took second and third with two teams fielded, the fastest coming in at 4:03.52, followed 4:28.12.

In the 1000 freestyle, the Blue Devils' Erin Crowley, selected as this past week's Northeast Conference Swimmer of the Week, led all performers with 10:24.22, while UM's Cori Lallier (10:40.31) and freshman Sagette Van Embden (11:09.33) went second and third, respectively.

Miami took the top time in the 200 freestyle as Ryann Labreche scored a time of 1:54.55, followed by CCSU's Alex Czaplicki (1:55.38) and the Hurricanes' Tiffany Petzold (1:56.14). For Petzold, it was the sophomore's first 200 freestyle event of the year.

Miami followed that up with a Britta Boesing victory in the 50 freestyle as the senior touched the wall in 24.22 seconds. It was her first 50 free race of the 2008-09 campaign. Following in a close second was teammate Lizzi Torres, touching at 24.80, while Novotny followed suit in third place at 25.24—also her first 50 freestyle race of the 2008-09 campaign. Annika Saarnak got back to business in the 200 individual medley as she posted a winning time of 2:07.15, a personal-best mark for the sophomore. CCSU's Megan McGorry was second (2:12.58), while Dana Hatic collected third place at 2:13.02.

The 1-meter diving event was probably the most exciting event of the day as UM teammate's freshman Kelci Bryant and junior All-American and NCAA Champion Brittany Viola went toe-to-toe until the last two dives. Viola held a lead going into her fourth dive, but it would be Bryant's last two dives that allowed her to catch the junior for the win. Bryant collected a score of 322.05, while Viola finished up 315.45. CCSU freshman Mallory Miller came in third with a score of 201.15.

Viola was equally impressive on her dives on the 3-meter springboard, collecting a winning score of 309.83, followed by Miller with 203.10. Fellow CCSU freshman Sam Smolicz was third with a mark of 184.95.

All three divers for the CCSU Blue Devils are freshmen.

Miami collected another top time in the 200 butterfly as Lallier touched the wall at 2:06.68, followed by Simpson in 2:07.69. The 100 freestyle followed as redshirt freshman Lauren Jacoby scooped up the top time at 53.46, followed by Pomerleau at 53.57. CCSU's Crowley was third at 54.36, followed very closely by Labreche (54.51. for the Hurricanes.

In the 200 backstroke, it was all three Hurricanes going 1-2-3 in order with Novotny leading the pack in 2:09.32, with Simpson second (2:18.13) followed by Van Embden (2:21.97). The 500 freestyle featured Saarnak recording a winning time of 5:01.30 in her first 500 free on the campaign, followed by Tiffany Petzold in second place at 5:11.70, then Boesing in third at 5:12.41—also her first 500 free.

In the 200 breaststroke, Katie Eason registered a winning time of 2:26.57, her fastest time at home in the 200 breaststroke this season. Dana Hatic took second place coming in at 2:26.83, while CCSU's Czaplicki was third at 2:29.94.

The final event of the day was the 400 freestyle relay where the Hurricanes notched a winning time of 3:43.56, led by the UM seniors. Sarah Lozier led off the race, followed by Boesing, Eason and anchored with Meredith Hatic. CCSU fielded two teams for the relay, as their second team collected a time of 3:45.67, finished up by the ‘B' team at 4:06.36.

Miami finishes the 2008-09 home season with a record of 4-2 at the Norman A. Whitten University Center Pool.

The next event for the Hurricanes will be next weekend, January 24, when they travel to College Park, Maryland for a tri-meet with the University of Richmond and ACC opponent University of Maryland. The meet is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at the Campus Recreation Center Natatorium.

For more information regarding Miami swimming & diving, please locate your internet browser to www.hurricanesports.com – the official home for all University of Miami athletics.

Special thanks to Miami for contributing this report.

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