Rhode Island vs CCSU (Women)
- January 27, 2024
- Kingston, R.I.
- SCY (25 yards)
- Results
Courtesy: URI Athletics
Team Scores
Rhode Island 161
Central Connecticut State 139
How It Happened
Rhode Island won five of the final six events to come from behind and defeat Central Connecticut State 161-139 Saturday afternoon.
Visiting CCSU had won six of the first 10 events before Hannah Benavides provided URI with a decisive win in the 200-yard breaststroke. Benavides – who also won the 100-yard breaststroke – posted a time of 2:20.49.
Next, it was Riley Kelly’s turn, as she was victorious in the 500 freestyle. It was her second win of the day as well, as Kelly also won the 100 freestyle. Ella Hacker made it three straight wins for the Rams by leading a 1-2-3 finish for Rhode Island in the 100 butterfly. Hacker, Jenna Salem and Jackie Triglia swept the top three spots for URI.
The team momentum was slowed briefly when CCSU’s Jewelle Maziarz won the 3-meter dive.
Rhode Island came right back with a victory from Julianna Tyler in the 200-yard individual medley. It was a 1-2 finish for the Rams, as Benavides placed second in the event. With the team victory secured, the URI quartet of Avery Potyrala, Megan Huntley, Abby Zadorozny and Kelly ended the day on a high note, winning the 200 freestyle relay in a time of 1:38.49.
Standouts from the Pool
- Junior Hannah Benavides, sophomore Rylee Kelly and freshman Julianna Tyler each won two individual events for Rhode Island.
- Benavides won both the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke races. She also provided a second-place finish in the 200 individual medley and was part of the third-place 200 medley relay team.
- Kelly was a part of three victories on the day. She won both the 100- and 500-yard freestyle races, and she was the anchor of the winning 200 freestyle relay team that also included freshman Avery Potyrala, freshman Megan Huntley and sophomore Abby Zadorozny.
- Tyler also was part of three wins on the day. She took both the 200-yard butterfly and 200-yard individual medley. She teamed with sophomore Jackie Trigilia, senior Mackenzie Thomas and Zadorozny to win the 200 medley relay.
- Junior Maddie Tetreault and sophomore Lily Hsu both offered a pair of second-place finishes for Rhode Island. Tetreault was second in the 1000-yard freestyle and the 200 backstroke.
- Hsu was second in both the 1- and 3-meter diving events.
- Before the meet, Anna Bodycoat, Mia Bonvissuto, Jenna Salem, Carleigh Schlissel and Mackenzie Thomas were honored as part of their Senior Day.
What’s Next
Rhode Island is off until the Atlantic 10 Championship from Feb. 21-24. The meet will be held at the Hampton Virginia Complex.
Courtesy: CCSU Athletics
The Central Connecticut State swimming and diving team dropped a 161-139 dual meet to host Rhode Island on Saturday. Sophie Milhomens and Jewelle Maziarz were both double individual winners for the Blue Devils.
Maziarz, a native of Newmarket, NH, qualified for NCAA Zones with her 1-meter effort. She is the first Blue Devil to qualify for zones since 2018 when Annemarie Durham placed 30th on the 1-meter.
CCSU travels to UConn, Friday, February 2nd for their final dual of the season.
FREESTYLE
- Maggie Rutledge gave the Blue Devils their first individual win, capturing the 1,000 with a 10:37.55
- Taylor Demarest took third in the 1,000 with a 10:53.42 swim, while Kyla Behrle took fifth at 11:04.55
- Shannon Welcome won the 200 free, going 1:53.63, nearly two full seconds clear of the runner-up, while Gabby Spaciano placed fourth at 1:56.56
- Katrine O’Leary, the reigning NEC Rookie of the Week claimed the top spot in the 50 freestyle, clocking a time of 24.78 and Kelly Stotler took third with a swim of 24.96
- O’Leary placed second in the 100 free, 53.47, and Welcome was third at 53.69
- Abbey Keane was the second finisher in the 500 free, swimming 5:08.46, while Rutledge claimed fourth (5:11.20)
STROKES
- CCSU captured the top two spots in the 100-backstroke, with Sophie Milhomens taking the win at 58.13, with Megan Dunnigan at 59.67
- Cassidy Stotler gave the Blue Devils a runner-up finish in the 100-breaststroke, touching at 1:07.46 and Grace Young was fourth at 1:08.13
- Welcome claimed bronze in the 200-butterfly, with a time of 2:11.93, with Gabi Wroblewski fourth at 2:12.15
- Milhomens took the top spot in the 200-backstroke at a time of 2:03.94, with Nathalie Pena third and Morgan O’Hara fourth
- Cassidy Stotler (2:23.11) and Grace Young (2:36.08) went second and third in the 200-breaststroke
- Dunnigan was the Blue Devils top finisher in the 100 fly, swimming 1:00.60
DIVING
- Jewelle Maziarz won the 1-meter diving at 282.45 points, with Zoe Baker third at 252.30
- Maziarz also won the 3-meter event, scoring 257.10, with Baker fourth at 248.18 and Kaitlyn Carroll fifth at 222.98
RELAYS
- O’Leary, Cassidy Stotler, Dunnigan and Kelly Stotler placed second in the 200-medley relay, going 1:49.98
- O’Leary, Spaciano, Welcome and Kelly Stotler closed the meet with a second-place finish in the 200-freestyle relay, going 1:38.88, .39 seconds from the top spot