Marc My Words!

Sports columnist Marc Maturo’s official column

Bulldogs looking to extend horizon in county

The Tri-State Bulldogs, an adult minor-league football team based at the Torne Valley Sports Complex in Hillburn, are looking for a few good men and women.

The Bulldogs, an independently operated organization that features players 18 and over – ranging from police officers to collegians – recently completed a .500 season with a 7-0 loss to the Western Massachusetts Warriors in the New England Football League (NEFL) playoffs.

But the Bulldogs are already preparing for the 2014 season, and a first round of tryouts in January, with some 55 players already signed up. The team can carry up to 75 players.

The Bulldogs brought back former national championship coach Norman Mann for the 2013 campaign, but as always, are in need of players, front-office personnel and even cheerleaders for the Tri-State Bull Dolls.

“We’re reaching out more to Rockland for players, but we’ve always been involved with community causes,” noted Frank Williams, who runs the Bulldogs with his dad Paul Williams and brother Paul Williams Jr.

The next great cause is a breast awareness walk on Oct. 20 at Woodbury Commons in Central Valley, to help raise much-needed funds for breast cancer research.

The Bulldogs have been in existence for some 30 years under various banners, and have been operating as the Tri-State Bulldogs since 2006.

“We’re recruiting players,” repeated Williams, noting that the January tryouts are only the first official step for the 2014 season that opens in early July and runs through October.

This year’s playoff loss was a reversal of sorts, as the Bulldogs had beaten their Massachusetts opponent and defending national champion, 18-14, at Torne Valley in the regular-season.

The Bulldogs, who draw from the tri-state area (thus the name), showcase a roster that already boasts a bevy of local standouts.

Among the team’s needs is a starting quarterback, and a kicker. Getting a shot at QB toward the end of the season was Spring Valley HS alum Jeff Valcy, who is also a defensive back.

Jon Rollins of Nanuet, an alum of Paramus Catholic, saw action at defensive end and James Frazier of Haverstraw also lined up on the defensive line, along with Michael Boykin of Ramapo.

Suffern HS graduate Morgan Van Dunk went two ways at fullback and linebacker, while A.J. Callozza, another Suffern HS alum, was a special-teams player.

Other Rockland-based players included Jonathan Coppage, a wide receiver out of Ramapo HS; running back Reggie Allonce of Spring Valley; offensive lineman Junior Emanuel of Spring Valley; North Rockland HS alum James Foiles, a defensive back; Ramapo HS alum Charley Lundi, a linebacker; and speedy former Ramapo HS track standout Kevin Malivert.

Williams also lauded the efforts of running back Robins Mondasir of Ramapo, backup quarterback Preston Simpson of Ramapo, NYC police officer Dave Smart of Spring Valley, a defensive lineman; and 6-foot-6 wide receiver James Pierre of Suffern.

Williams re-emphasized that the Bulldogs are “backed by nobody,” and would welcome sponsorships.

For information on any aspect of the organization, call 845-497-3647 or access http://www.tri-statebulldogs.com.

IN THE SWIM

            Junior Kelli Dari of Pomona and senior Molly Kauders of Suffern are members of the SUNY Cortland women’s swimming and diving team, which has been recognized as a Scholar All-America team for the 2012-13 season by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA).

Dari is a breaststroke competitor while Kauders specializes in the freestyle for the Red Dragons, who dropped their season opener at New York University, 189-101.

Cortland looks to bounce back on Nov. 9 when it stays on the road to meet Ithaca College at 1 p.m.

PRIVATEERS POUND HAWKS

Sophomore Francis Gannon of Pearl River had six tackles and junior Greg Caneparo of Nanuet contributed a record run  as SUNY Maritime rolled past Becker College, 30-7, in an East Coast Football Conference (ECFC) contest in Leicester, Mass.

Caneparo, who returned three punts for 40 yards, ran for 95 yards on four carries, including a record-setting 85-yard run that was the longest Maritime rushing play from scrimmage in the history of the program. The rush broke the previous record of Travis Scott, who had a 73-yard rush against Becker on October 17, 2009.

Senior defensive back Chris Klass of Nanuet added his second interception for the Privateers (2-3, 2-0 ECFC), who face a tough task on Oct. 18 with a road game in Northfield, Vt., against the Norwich University Cadets. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.

RED DRAGONS ROAR

      Sophomore defensive back Frank Tucek of New City, turning in his best game in a young collegiate career, tied for second-best on the team with eight tackles, helping the SUNY Cortland football team rout host Montclair State, 48-14.

Tucek, a Clarkstown South HS alum, had five solo tackles while junior defensive end Gabe Ostrow of Nanuet had four solo stops and six all told for the Red Dragons, who stay on the road for a game against Brockport at 4 p.m. on Oct. 19.

      Peter Smith of Nanuet, a freshman linebacker, also saw action in the Red Dragons’ victory.

DASHI ASSISTS MERCY IN DOUBLE-OT

            Clarkstown South HS alum Roberto Dashi of Nyack, a junior, beat a pair of defenders on the right end line and found senior  Nansemond Aboagye  in front of an open net for the game-winning goal as the Mercy College men’s soccer team defeated Caldwell College, 2-1, in double overtime in Dobbs Ferry.

Mercy, ranked No. 6 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Continental Tire Division II  East Region Poll, improved to 8-2-1 overall while Caldwell fell to 4-8.

The Mavericks, who played a man down following a red card to junior Chuong Tran of West Nyack in the 38th minute, host Molloy College of Rockville Centre on Oct. 19 and Saint Anselm College of Manchester, N.H., on Oct. 24. Both games are set to start at 3 p.m.

QUICK HITTERS: North Rockland HS alumna Brianna Walker of Pomona is a freshman member of the volleyball team at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, which visits Centenary College in Hackettstown, N.J., on Oct. 17 for a match at 7 p.m., and then welcomes The College at Old Westbury to its Peter Jay Sharp Center in Riverdale on Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. … Anna Palmer of Nyack, a sophomore, teamed up with Emma Yavel of Brooklyn to sweep their doubles match as the Purchase College women’s tennis team lifted its record to 3-0 in the Skyline Conference with an 8-1 victory over visiting Mount Saint Mary. … Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) player of the week McKenzie John of Lafayette, La., led all attackers with 15 kills, 16 digs and two solo blocks, but the Dominican College women’s volleyball team was overtaken by Post University, 3-2, in Waterbury, Conn. … Maxi Fuchs scored in the 93rd minute to lift the Nyack College men’s soccer team to a well-earned 2-1 overtime victory over Holy Family University in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest. The respective women’s teams battled to a scoreless draw in double overtime. … Liz Samimi of Clarkstown is a senior midfielder on the women’s soccer team at Ramapo College, which defeated NJAC rival William Paterson University, 3-1, in Wayne, N.J.  The Roadrunners, who improved to 5-7, take on Richard Stockton College on Oct. 19 in Mahwah, N.J., at 1 p.m., and then visit Rutgers-Newark on Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. … Mike Corbi of Hopewell Junction had a goal and as assist as the St. Thomas Aquinas College men’s soccer team fell to Queens College, 4-2, in an East Coast Conference game at Spartan Field in Sparkill. The Spartans, who fell to 4-4-1 overall and 2-3 in ECC action, are back at Spartan Field on Oct. 19 to challenge undefeated LIU-Post (12-0) at 2:30 p.m. … Senior Conner Alexander of Blauvelt, a veteran defender now playing at the attack position, led all players with five shots as the Northeastern University men’s soccer team battled to a scoreless draw against Drexel in Philadelphia. The Huskies (5-4-3)  travel to Williamsburg, Va., on Oct. 19 to challenge William & Mary at 7 p.m. in a Colonial Athletic Association contest at 7 p.m., and then meet Hartford College on Oct. 22 at Parsons Field in Brookline, Mass., at 6 p.m.

QUICK HITTERS: North Rockland HS alumna Brianna Walker of Pomona is a freshman member of the volleyball team at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, which visits Centenary College in Hackettstown, N.J., on Oct. 17 for a match at 7 p.m., and then welcomes The College at Old Westbury to its Peter Jay Sharp Center in Riverdale on Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. … Anna Palmer of Nyack, a sophomore, teamed up with Emma Yavel of Brooklyn to sweep their doubles match as the Purchase College women’s tennis team lifted its record to 3-0 in the Skyline Conference with an 8-1 victory over visiting Mount Saint Mary. … Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) player of the week McKenzie John of Lafayette, La., led all attackers with 15 kills, 16 digs and two solo blocks, but the Dominican College women’s volleyball team was overtaken by Post University, 3-2, in Waterbury, Conn. … Maxi Fuchs scored in the 93rd minute to lift the Nyack College men’s soccer team to a well-earned 2-1 overtime victory over Holy Family University in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest. The respective women’s teams battled to a scoreless draw in double overtime. … Liz Samimi of Clarkstown is a senior midfielder on the women’s soccer team at Ramapo College, which defeated NJAC rival William Paterson University, 3-1, in Wayne, N.J.  The Roadrunners, who improved to 5-7, take on Richard Stockton College on Oct. 19 in Mahwah, N.J., at 1 p.m., and then visit Rutgers-Newark on Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. … Mike Corbi of Hopewell Junction had a goal and as assist as the St. Thomas Aquinas College men’s soccer team fell to Queens College, 4-2, in an East Coast Conference game at Spartan Field in Sparkill. The Spartans, who fell to 4-4-1 overall and 2-3 in ECC action, are back at Spartan Field on Oct. 19 to challenge undefeated LIU-Post (12-0) at 2:30 p.m. … Senior Conner Alexander of Blauvelt, a veteran defender now playing at the attack position, led all players with five shots as the Northeastern University men’s soccer team battled to a scoreless draw against Drexel in Philadelphia. The Huskies (5-4-3)  travel to Williamsburg, Va., on Oct. 19 to challenge William & Mary at 7 p.m. in a Colonial Athletic Association contest at 7 p.m., and then meet Hartford College on Oct. 22 at Parsons Field in Brookline, Mass., at 6 p.m.

THIS & THAT

            NORTH ROCKLAND HS is staging a Cheerleaders Garage Sale and Flea Market Fundraiser on Oct. 12 in support of a cheerleading squad that earned a bid to compete at the  National Junior  & Senior High School Cheerleading Championships in Dallas , Texas, in January. The event is scheduled 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at North Garnerville Elementary School, 63 Chapel Street, directly off Central Highway. The rain date is Oct. 13.