CAMBRIDGE, Mass., February 25, 2006 - Springfield College freshman Jacqueline Mazzola (Framingham, Mass.) took first place in the vault competition with an impressive score of 9.600 as the Pride, ranked third in Division III according to GymInfo, upended No. 4 MIT, 183.100-182.800, this afternoon at the DuPont Gymnasium in Cambridge, Mass.

Today's victory is the second of the season for SC over the Engineers, as the Pride last defeated MIT back on January 11, 179.375-173.175, in Blake Arena. SC improves to 5-4 overall on the 2006 season as it will next compete in its final dual-meet of the year on Sunday, March 5, at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) in New Haven, Conn., in a 1:00 p.m. start.

Sophomore Kerry McGowan (East Lyme, Conn.) had a strong meet for the Pride against MIT, finishing second on the vault behind Mazzola with a solid 9.500 score, and second on the floor exercise with a team-best score of 9.575. On the uneven parallel bars, freshman Kristen Fairburn (Salem, N.H.) finished third with a team-high score of 9.350, and on the balance beam, it was junior Jillian Silverman (Ipswich, Mass.), sophomore Misa Cellini (Downington, Pa.), and freshman Lauren Isleib (Killingworth, Conn.) each scoring an even 9.000 for team-bests.

published: 02/27/2006