Lyons Tales: A Review & Preview of Mount Holyoke Athletics for Apr. 8th

Lyons Tales: A Review & Preview of Mount Holyoke Athletics for Apr. 8th

 RIDING

Mount Holyoke claimed its fifth straight Zone I Championship title on Saturday to secure its spot in the upcoming IHSA National Championships. The Lyons will be sending a team of eight riders and five individuals to Nationals after compiling 51 points to win this year's Zones. That total was an impressive 15 points better than the second-place finisher.

Pacing the way for MHC was junior Alexa Lohrer, who won all three events she competed in on Saturday, including earning the blue ribbon in the Zone I High Point Rider Championship.

Mount Holyoke is now idle until Nationals, which will take place from May 2-5 in Harrisburg, Pa., at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex.

TRACK & FIELD

MHC was in action at the 2013 Yellow Jackets Invitational, hosted by American International last weekend. Several Lyons had outstanding performances, including sophomore Dana Fry and first year Camille Coklow, who each won the 10,000-meter race and the 100-meter dash, respectively.

The Lyons return to action next Saturday when they compete at the UMass Invitational, hosted by the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

LACROSSE

The Lyons went 2-0 last week, defeating Western Connecticut State, 8-7, and NEWMAC-rival MIT, 17-6. Sophomore midfielder Kirsten Kilburn recorded six goals on the week, including the go-ahead goal versus Western that put MHC in the lead for good.

Mount Holyoke (8-2; 2-1 NEWMAC) is back in action on Wednesday when it hosts Bridgewater State at 6pm. That game will also be a celebration for MHC Athletics Director, Laurie Priest, who will step down at the conclusion of this school year. The Lyons will then welcome Wheaton on Saturday in the final regular season home contest of 2013. That game will honor MHC's seven graduating seniors.

Live links for both games can be found at http://athletics.mtholyoke.edu/sports/wlax/2012-13/schedule

 CREW

Mount Holyoke took to the water in Medford, Mass., on Sunday against Tufts, Hamilton and Wentworth. Both Lyons novice eight boats posted victories with one defeating the host Jumbos and the other downing the Leopards of Wentworth.

The Lyons are back in the water this weekend, competing at Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester. MHC takes on Clark and Smith on Saturday, before facing Clark, Simmons, Union and Franklin & Marshall on Sunday.

TENNIS

The Lyons (8-7) posted a 5-4 victory over Connecticut College, but fell to Rensselaer - the 19th-ranked team in the region - by a 7-2 margin. Senior My-Linh Nguyen went 2-0 on the day in singles action to lead the Lyons.

Mount Holyoke is back in action this weekend when it competes at the Seven Sisters Championship, hosted by Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The Lyons will open the tournament on Saturday against Wellesley (11am) and Bryn Mawr (2pm) before facing Vassar (10:30am) and Smith (1:30pm) on Sunday.

GOLF

The Lyons golf team returns to the links this weekend, opening its spring schedule at the Vassar College Invitational. The event will also serve as the inaugural Liberty League Championship to which Mount Holyoke is an associate member. Action begins at 11am on Saturday and runs through Sunday.

FOLLOWING THE LYONS!

Want all the latest news on your favorite Lyons' team? Follow the Lyons on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mhclyons or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mhcathletics. You can also sign up for the weekly newsletter, a review and preview of the goings-on of Mount Holyoke Athletics at http://athletics.mtholyoke.edu/list-signup.

Action photo of Madi Mendiola (golf) and Liz Malenfant (lacrosse) courtesy of Frank Poulin Sports Photography. Mr. Poulin's photos can be purchased at http://frankpoulin.smugmug.com/