UMass Hockey: Standout forward Cole O’Hara in the mix for Hobey Baker Award

By RYAN AMES

I’ll admit it, I didn’t think UMass hockey forward Cole O’Hara would be a legitimate Hobey Baker Memorial Award candidate. When it was announced on Jan. 22 that O’Hara and Aydar Suniev were two of the more than 90 nominees in all of college hockey, I didn’t think much of it at the time.

Smith College heads to Final Four to face familiar foe University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

By GARRETT COTE

For the third consecutive season, the Smith College women’s basketball team is headed to the NCAA Division III Final Four. The Pioneers held their send off outside of Ainsworth Gymnasium on Tuesday afternoon, as they walked through a crowd of supporters and onto their team bus, which headed to the airport where they took off for Virginia.

Former Smith College hoop stars turned coaches help team in quest for first national title

By GARRETT COTE

NORTHAMPTON — Ally Yamada and Sofia Rosa sat on the floor of Ainsworth Gymnasium behind the group of 16 Smith College women’s basketball players as Pioneers assistant coach Jen MacAulay broke down film on Smith’s NCAA Division III Final Four opponent, Wisconsin-Oshkosh, on Monday afternoon.

Briefs: Smith Academy’s ‘Falcon 5K’ set for April 12

On Saturday, April 12, the Smith Academy Booster Club is hosting the “Falcon 5K,” starting at Smith Academy, located at 34 School St. in Hatfield, at 9 a.m.

UMass Minutewomen earn WNIT berth

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — The stellar turnaround of Mike Leflar and his UMass women’s basketball team has earned them a chance to play postseason basketball, as their final season representing the Atlantic 10 isn’t over quite yet.

Behind the scenes as the Mullins Center staff hosts basketball, hockey games in same day

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — On two separate occasions this winter, Mullins Center staff spilled onto Jack Leaman Court as soon as the final horn sounded to end a UMass men’s basketball game. They aren’t typically in a huge rush to break down equipment, especially if the next event to take place in the arena is another basketball game, but the Minutemen hockey team had a game about five hours later – they needed to change the hardwood to the ice in time for warm-ups.

Div. 4 girls basketball: Cathedral head coach has high praise for South Hadley following state championship game

By GARRETT COTE

LOWELL — South Hadley girls basketball head coach Paul Dubuc said his team didn’t show up to the Tsongas Center for a moral victory. That very well could be true, but the Tigers did one thing that no other team in Division 4 had done in the postseason: put up a fight against No. 1 Cathedral.

Amherst track contingent impresses at New Balance Indoor Nationals in Boston

Members of the Amherst Regional indoor track and field team earned the opportunity of a lifetime thanks to strong showings throughout the season, as a handful of ‘Canes competed in the New Balance Nationals in Boston over the weekend.

Div. 4 girls basketball: Powerhouse Cathedral holds off South Hadley for second straight year in state championship game (PHOTOS)

By GARRETT COTE

LOWELL — It felt like history had repeated itself at the Tsongas Center on Sunday afternoon. A year ago, the South Hadley girls basketball team got off to a hot start before ultimately falling to No. 1 Cathedral in the MIAA Division 4 state championship game on the third Sunday of March.

FINAL FOUR BOUND! Smith College takes down Gustavus Adolphus for third straight NCAA Div. 3 Final Four berth

A 22-point game from Ally Landau helped the Smith College basketball team advance past Gustavus Adolphus, 61-50, in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division 3 women’s tournament on Saturday.

UMass hockey: Minutemen battle back, but Boston University’s Cole Eiserman nets OT winner in 3-2 Hockey East quarterfinal win

By RYAN AMES

BOSTON – The No. 14 UMass hockey team fell to No. 9 Boston University in overtime, 3-2, during the quarterfinal round of the Hockey East Playoffs on Saturday at Agganis Arena.

NCAA D3 women’s basketball: Hannah Martin, Smith take down unbeaten Bowdoin for spot in Elite Eight

By GARRETT COTE

Smith College is ‘elite’ once again.

Amherst girls 4x200 relay takes 33rd at New Balance Indoor Track & Field Nationals

Several Amherst Regional indoor track and field athletes kicked off what is to be a busy weekend for the Hurricanes on Thursday and Friday afternoon at New Balance Nationals in Boston.

UMass hockey: Minutemen eyeing trip to the Garden when it meets Boston University in Hockey East quarterfinal

By RYAN AMES

A trip to TD Garden is on the line when the No. 14 UMass hockey team faces off against No. 9 Boston University on Saturday during the quarterfinal round of the Hockey East Playoffs.

Div. 4 girls basketball: South Hadley relying on youth in second straight Final Four run

By GARRETT COTE

SOUTH HADLEY — Paul Dubuc met with his senior captains – Ava Asselin, Caitlin Dean, CC Gurek and Maddie Soderbaum – prior to the start of the season back in late November. The South Hadley girls basketball head coach and his Tigers were coming off the program’s first-ever state championship appearance, where they lost to Cathedral in the Division 4 title game.

Div. 4 girls basketball: Top-seeded Cathedral presents quite a challenge for No. 3 South Hadley in Sunday’s state final

By RYAN AMES

The South Hadley girls basketball team will see a familiar foe in the MIAA Division 4 state championship on Sunday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell.

Smith College basketball heads to Maine to face top-seeded Bowdoin in NCAA Division 3 Sweet 16

By GARRETT COTE

When the NCAA Division 3 Women’s Basketball bracket was released on March 3, Smith College was thrilled to be hosting yet another opening weekend, just as it had done the previous three tournaments. But despite earning the right to play first and second round games at home, the Pioneers were given an extremely rigorous path to a potential third straight Final Four.

UMass football: New defensive coordinator Jared Keyte pleased with Minutemen’s opening week of spring practice

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — When Joe Harasymiak accepted the UMass football head coaching job back in early December, a handful of members on the Rutgers staff – where Harasymiak was previously the defensive coordinator – were excited for him. They also wanted to go with him based on the relationships they had built with him over the course of their time together.

UMass hockey: Minutemen hold off Vermont 2-1, advance to Hockey East quarterfinals

By RYAN AMES

AMHERST – Survive and advance is the name of the game during playoff hockey and that’s exactly what the No. 14 UMass hockey team did in its 2-1 win against Vermont on Wednesday at the Mullins Center.

Div. 4 girls basketball: Kate Phillips’ late bucket lifts No. 3 South Hadley past No. 2 Millis 45-42, into state title game (PHOTOS)

By GARRETT COTE

WORCESTER — After making the MIAA Division 4 state final and graduating only one senior from last season’s team, the town of South Hadley, all of western Mass. and competition across the state expected the South Hadley girls basketball team to end up in that same exact spot come March 2025.