By Ari Strait

The Northeastern University swimming and diving team tangled with another Ivy League opponent this weekend, dropping a 155-133 meet to the Princeton University Tigers at Denunzio Pool in Princeton, New Jersey.

The Huskies have only lost twice since January 31, 2001. Both losses happened in the last month out of conference and on the road against Ivy League competition.

While the Big Green from Dartmouth have not been so lucky – being soundly defeated each of the last four times they challenged the Huskies – the Harvard Crimson’s 172-107 victory snapped the Huskies’ 16 meet winning streak on Dec. 14, and this loss to the Tigers drops Northeastern’s record to 8-2 overall, 4-0 in conference.

“We upgraded our schedule this year,” said head coach Roy Coates. “Harvard and Princeton are top 30 or 40 in the whole country. Harvard is probably the best school in New England. I mean, these two teams are the cream of the crop.”

The Tigers (5-0, 3-0) extended their 37 meet winning streak by winning each of the first four events, and ten out of 16 overall. Junior Katie Kane was the first Husky to take an event, winning the 100 yard breaststroke in 1.06.81, 87 hundredths of a second ahead of second place finisher Lauren Rossi, a junior from Princeton.

The other five events won by Huskies were the 1- and 3-meter dives, the 100-yard fly, and 200-yard individual medley.

Sophomore diver Adela Gavozdea, who won both diving events, is critical to a team that is trying to replace American East diver of the year Katie Mailman. This team’s five-person diving squad is very young, with one junior, two sophomores and two freshmen.

“Adela’s huge,” said Coates, “She had to redshirt last year, which is good in one sense because she got to work with [diving coach] Brad [Snodgrass’] system. Talent wise and training wise, she is definitely one of the best,” he said.

Next weekend’s meet against the University of Massachusetts is the team’s final home meet of the season, so the team will take a moment to recognize the five seniors who will be in swimming in Northeastern University’s Barletta Natatorium for the last time.

Seniors Kelly Coburn, Kaitie Colligan, Patricia Eng, Jessica LaSalle, and Jill Vance have been part of three America East champion teams, and have developed tremendously under the tutelage of Coates.

“They’ve all been here all four years, and they’ve never done anything but win championships. They’re more than just seniors. It’s unusual to have five seniors who are more than just the point scorers. They are the vocal leaders. They are American East finalists and American East champions,” he said.

Northeastern University swimming and diving team tangled with another Ivy League opponent this weekend, dropping a 155-133 meet to the Princeton University Tigers at Denunzio Pool in Princeton, New Jersey.

The Huskies have only lost twice since January 31, 2001. Both losses happened in the last month out of conference and on the road against Ivy League competition.

While the Big Green from Dartmouth have not been so lucky – being soundly defeated each of the last four times they challenged the Huskies – the Harvard Crimson’s 172-107 victory snapped the Huskies’ 16 meet winning streak on Dec. 14, and this loss to the Tigers drops Northeastern’s record to 8-2 overall, 4-0 in conference.

“We upgraded our schedule this year,” said head coach Roy Coates. “Harvard and Princeton are top 30 or 40 in the whole country. Harvard is probably the best school in New England. I mean, these two teams are the cream of the crop.”

The Tigers (5-0, 3-0) extended their 37 meet winning streak by winning each of the first four events, and ten out of 16 overall. Junior Katie Kane was the first Husky to take an event, winning the 100 yard breaststroke in 1.06.81, 87 hundredths of a second ahead of second place finisher Lauren Rossi, a junior from Princeton.

The other five events won by Huskies were the 1- and 3-meter dives, the 100-yard fly, and 200-yard individual medley.

Sophomore diver Adela Gavozdea, who won both diving events, is critical to a team that is trying to replace American East diver of the year Katie Mailman. This team’s five-person diving squad is very young, with one junior, two sophomores and two freshmen.

“Adela’s huge,” said Coates, “She had to redshirt last year, which is good in one sense because she got to work with [diving coach] Brad [Snodgrass’] system. Talent wise and training wise, she is definitely one of the best,” he said.

Next weekend’s meet against the University of Massachusetts is the team’s final home meet of the season, so the team will take a moment to recognize the five seniors who will be in swimming in Northeastern University’s Barletta Natatorium for the last time.

Seniors Kelly Coburn, Kaitie Colligan, Patricia Eng, Jessica LaSalle, and Jill Vance have been part of three America East champion teams, and have developed tremendously under the tutelage of Coates.

“They’ve all been here all four years, and they’ve never done anything but win championships. They’re more than just seniors. It’s unusual to have five seniors who are more than just the point scorers. They are the vocal leaders. They are American East finalists and American East champions,” he said.