Swim Team Beaten by Mt. St. Mary in Skyline Meet

Patchogue, N.Y. - The Lady Golden Eagles fell to the Skyline Conference's first place Mount Saint Mary Knights (9-2, 6-0 Skyline), 113-74, in a dual meet that included the College of Mount Saint Vincent, Saturday afternoon in the Danzi Natatorium.

St. Joseph's Jenna Birkmire (Shoreham, N.Y. / Shoreham-Wading River) and Kimberly Mazza (Bohemia, N.Y. / Connetquot) paved the way for SJC, contributing first place finishes.  Birkmire's top finish came in the 100-yard freestyle as she posted a time of 57.38, while Mazza's first place outcome came in the 500-yard freestyle (6:13.93), where she toasted the competition, beating the runner-up by 13 seconds.

The Golden Eagles showcased strong efforts in the 400-yard medley relay, 400-yard freestyle relay, 200-yard butterfly, 200-yard backstroke, and 200-yard breaststroke, as they compiled second and third place scores. 

Birkmire, Melissa Nocco (Holbrook, N. Y. / Sachem North), Gabrielle Zollo (West Islip, N.Y. / West Islip), and Mazza teamed up in the 400-yard medley (4:40.40) and the 400-yard freestyle (4:05.32), where they tallied second place finishes in each event.

Zollo was responsible for her own second place score in the singles event, the 200-yard butterfly, finishing in 2:38.29.

Lorraine Diehl (Ronkonkoma, N. Y. / Sachem North) and Gabriella Cannon (Bay Shore, N. Y. / St. Anthony's) battled eagerly in the 200-yard backstroke, with Diehl coming in second (2:51.28) and Cannon following up in third (2:57.79).

Cannon recorded another second place finish in the 200-yard breaststroke (3:07.73), and her freshman teammate Marissa Palmeri (East Islip / East Islip) finishing after her placing in third (3:13.08).

The Golden Eagles will look to shake off Saturday's defeat as they gear up for the Skyline Conference Championships at Maritime College on January 30-31.