BY KEVIN DIFFILY // SEPT. 14, 2012 //

The fall season is always an exciting time for Curry College athletics. Whether your interest lies with the football team, men’s or women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, women’s tennis, or cross country, there is always plenty of enthusiasm at the beginning of each season.

Junior Tyla Miller and the volleyball team are off to a fantastic start. // COURTESY OF CURRY ATHLETICS

This year, the women’s volleyball team has taken everybody by surprise and gotten off to a hot 6-1 start. The Colonels defeated Becker College last night, 3-0, behind sophomore Hannah Robinson’s 20 assists and sophomore Courtney DiBiasio’s 17 digs. Last year’s team finished with just four wins all season and a 4-19 overall record.

The fact that this squad has put together such a terrific run to start the season is an unexpected delight. The team will look to build on its current success when league play starts at Eastern Nazarene College on Saturday, Sept. 15.

The men’s soccer team has also enjoyed a strong start, jumping out to a 4-1 record. After losing 1-0 to Massachusetts Maritime in the season opener, the team has won four consecutive games. The Colonels will begin league play at Nichols College on Sept. 15 (2 p.m.).

The team is back at home Tuesday, Sept. 17, against Newbury College (7 p.m.). Senior Eric Guglielmello has led the way with 5 goals and 2 assists—recently earning Commonwealth Coast Conference Player of the Week honors—while senior Nick Lawless has added 4 goals and 1 assist. Goaltenders Andrew Knighton, a freshman, and Nick Barber, a senior, have similarly been fantastic, with just seven goals allowed through five games.

The women’s cross country team also impressed in its opening meet of the year, the Massachusetts Maritime Invitational. The team placed third at the meet thanks in large part to top-10 finishes by freshmen Megan Erickson (third, 20:46) and Leigha Sweeney (sixth, 21:04). Senior Shannon Wallace and sophomore Jessica Leary placed in the top 20, at 16th and 19th, respectively. A full report can be found on the Curry sports Web site.

After starting the season with a pair of tough, one-goal losses, the women’s soccer team has won its last two games to even its record at 2-2. After a 4-14 season last year, the team will look to build on its previous two results when it begins conference play at Nichols College on Sept. 15.

Women’s tennis is also off to a 2-2 start, and has split its two Commonwealth Coast Conference matches for a 1-1 record. After a disappointing 9-0 loss to Roger Williams University on the road, the Colonels won a spirited 8-1 match over Salve Regina in its league home opener. The team hosts Colby-Sawyer College on Sept. 18 in a non-conference matchup.

Finally, the football team has begun the year on a bit of a dull note. The Colonels lost their first two games to start the year, a frustrating setback for a squad that was looking to start the year in a bright way. Identical 17-7 losses to Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Fitchburg State University have the team off pace, but conference play hasn’t started yet and the team can remain optimistic. The Colonels host Westfield Stat University on Saturday, Sept. 15 (1 p.m.) and open league play against M.I.T. at home on Sept. 21 (7:30 p.m.)

Quarterback Kevin Fruwirth has attempted a whopping 102 passes through the two games, completing 53 of them. Wide receiver Skubie Mageza has been a favorite target, with 19 catches for 147 yards and 1 touchdown.