The Colby Mules return to athletics with a bang
The Colby Mules are three weeks into their exciting fall seasons and are already blowing away expectations. Having spent several weeks in preseason before the semester started, the College’s teams came out firing both in and out of conference play, already breaking decades-long records.
Most notably, the football team drove down to Amherst, Massachusetts to face the highly-ranked Mammoths on their home field. Winless against Amherst football for the past 22 years, the Mules had their work cut out for them.
Against all odds, especially after a season-opening defeat to the Wesleyan Cardinals where they scored a meager five points, the Mules stole a victory. Colby Football leaned on their defensive weapons Will Nipon `23, Mark Kassis `24, and Nick Donatio `24 who had eight tackles apiece. Brett Holmes `22 had two interceptions in key locations to curb the Mammoths’ offensive opportunities and give the Mules a threatening field position.
Despite accumulating only 170 total yards to Amherst’s 263 — including a 24 to 101 yard difference on the ground — the Mules’ defense prevailed. Colby Football failed to impress on the stat sheet, apart from an important distinction in time of possession, which the Mules used to wear down a resilient Mammoth attack.
Colby Football was able to put up ten points from a touchdown and field goal, while the Mammoths only managed to score once, making the final score 10-7 Mules, ending a 22 year win-drought against Amherst.
Colby Women’s Volleyball is off to a blazing hot start, boasting a record of 6-3 to begin the season. Notably, Hannah Wyllie `24 has led the team in kills.
Women’s Volleyball has a great balance of veteran leadership coming from the likes of Morgan Selby `23 and Julia Hutchings `22, combined with young hitters like Wyllie and Jenny Slaveck `23. Looking forward, the Mules hope to improve upon their conference play — with a current record of 1-2 — as they travel down to Wesleyan this Friday, Oct. 1.
Both the Men’s and Women’s Soccer are beginning with mixed results, having fine starts to their seasons but facing the formidable Tufts Jumbos this past weekend. Both Tufts Men’s and Women’s Soccer are highly ranked and were always going to be a tough battle.
While the women fell 6-0 to the Jumbos at home, the men’s team played with varying success. Scoring early, the Mules tucked in for a long game of defense, conceding possession to the Jumbos and hoping to squeeze out a 1-0 victory.
Despite Ethan Franco’s `24 setting up multiple chances to score right on Tufts’s doorstep, the Mules failed to double their lead. Tufts came back to tie the game 1-1, which held through overtime. Despite giving up their lead, the Mules had good reason to celebrate against the number-one ranked Jumbos, giving confidence to their games ahead.
Colby Women’s Tennis has been steadily impressing fans with a notable 9-0 win (all Colby competitors won their matches) against Husson University. Men’s Tennis, too, has impressed with less dominating performances this fall.
Managing a first place finish in their first meet, Women’s Cross Country blew past the competition at the Husson Invitational against other Maine colleges and universities. Colby’s team was able to place fifth, sixth, and seventh with strong times from Ellie Page `24, Maggie Blake `23, and Tory Meringer `25.
At the same Husson Invitational. Colby Men’s Cross Country finished third out of the five teams competing. They hope to turn their fortunes around at this weekend’s Maine State Meet in Lewiston.
Field hockey has taken an astonishing, yet predictively dominant start to the season. Veteran leadership coming from Molly Thomas `22, Sally Cassidy `22, and Sydney Turner `22 have taken this team to new heights in the past with hopes of doing it again. With their only loss so far coming from Trinity College, this team of Mules is going to threaten top spots in the division.
Keep an eye out for upcoming athletic events this weekend as our Mules continue their string of good form.
~ Will Bedingfield `22
