Seton Hall University
Providence
SHU Flies Past Friars, 160-108
11/4/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – A victory in the 200-yard medley relay started the day for the Seton Hall men’s swimming and diving team and the Pirates poured it on from there, winning the first 10 swimming events en route to an emphatic, 160-108 triumph over the Providence Friars on Saturday.
With the win in their first BIG EAST dual meet of the season, SHU pulled its record level at 3-3 on the season.
In the next competitive race following the opening relay, senior Brian Pauling (Sewell, N.J.) captured his second freestyle win of the year, covering 200-yards in 1:47.21. Fellow senior Austin Acheson (Olathe, Kan.) was close behind in second, touching in 1:47.65. Junior Tyler Naumann (Middletown, Conn.) also produced a top-four finish in the event, posting a time of 1:49.32.
In the 100-backstroke, freshman Tim Bosse (New Windsor, N.Y.) and junior Matt Benson (Overland Park, Kan.) combined to keep the Pirates’ machine rolling, placing first and second respectively. Junior Evan Forbes (Cinnaminson, N.J.) came in fourth to give SHU a trio of top-four times for the second consecutive event.
BIG EAST Championship qualifiers Ryan O'Shaughnessy (Coral Springs, Fla.) and Ian DeLisio (Woodstock, N.Y.) finished back-to-back atop the 100-yard breaststroke field, as Seton Hall occupied the top-two spots for the third race in a row.
Bosse and O’Shaughnessy both went on to collect one more win prior to the end of the competition. Each picked up an additional victory at the 200-yard distance as the freshman swept the backstroke events while O’Shaughnessy claimed first place points in both breaststroke races.
Junior Joey Lacus (Wethersfield, Conn.) collected his first two individual wins of 2012-13 to become SHU’s third multiple-event winner of the day. In the 50-yard freestyle, he overcame an unorthodox start to take first place in a time of 22.36. In the next men’s event following a diving break, Lacus again outpaced all competitors, finishing with a 100-yard freestyle mark of 48.84.
Greg Black (Easton, Pa.) also added a victory to the team scoring, turning in the meet’s best performance in the 200-yard butterfly (1:57.46). He has now recorded three wins and four top-two finishes in five butterfly races this season.
The race also featured the second of three second place times contributed by Jon Ropson (McKinney, Texas) against PC. After placing behind only Ian Keyser (Petersburg, N.J.) in the 1,000-yard freestyle, Ropson came in after black with a time of 2:01.11. He later closed his individual program for the day as SHU’s top finisher in the 500-yard freestyle (4:58.81).
With the meet winding down and the win already in hand, Austin Acheson produced one last memorable moment in his last swim of the meet. Competing in the 400-IM for the first time this season, the senior captain was spurred on by the Pirate faithful in attendance. Coming down the stretch in a close battle for the top time, the near capacity crowd filled Arthur E. Imperatore Natatorium with rousing cheers as Acheson found the extra gear to out-touch Providence’s John Fatigati.
A team of O’Shaughnessy, Black, Lacus and Bosse closed the action by swimming to the fastest 200-yard freestyle relay mark of the meet (1:27.82); meaning SHU collected the top time in all but one swimming event.
Sophomore diver Ben Mitchell (Milford, Pa.) collected first place points for The Hall from the three-meter board, while freshman Eric Davidson (Overland Park, Kan.) improved upon his previous career-best from three-meters with a score of 200.33.
The Pirates are scheduled to return to competition next week against local foe Saint Peter’s. The meet is currently scheduled for Friday, Nov. 9 at 5:00 p.m. in Jersey City. Check back on SHUPirates.com or follow @SHUAthletics on twitter for updates regarding schedule changes.
