Tracking the Bears

• Coast Guard Academy's John Tarzian suffered a broken leg earlier this month. But the season-ending injury didn't prevent him from participating in the senior ceremony during Parents Weekend on Saturday. He was introduced as a starter and took the field with help from his crutches. In a classy display of sportsmanship, Wheaton deliberately kicked the ball out of bounds when the game started to allow Coast Guard to replace Tarzian.

The game between two ranked teams and the top two teams in the NEWMAC ended in a 0-0 double overtime tie.

The star of the game, CGA goalie Richie Burns, earned NEWMAC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second time this season. He has a school single-season record 10 shutouts, which also ranks first in the conference, and hasn't allowed a goal in 714 minutes, 44 seconds.

Heading into Saturday's regular-season finale against Springfield, the 14th-ranked Bears (13-1-2, 4-1-1) already have clinched a top seed in the conference tournament. They have a good shot to qualify for the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1981.

• There's a lot at stake tonight when the Coast Guard women's soccer team hosts Wellesley. With a win, the Bears can clinch a NEWMAC tournament berth and set the program single-season record for wins. The 2002 team went 8-8-1. Coast Guard (8-7-1, 3-5) is attempting to bounce back from a tough week during which it dropped tight games to Wheaton College, 2-0, and Emerson, 2-1.

Senior goalie Holly Moore is tied for the conference lead in shutouts with seven. She has a 1.16 goals against average.

• Entering the season with a roster stacked with underclassmen, odds favored the volleyball team experiencing some growing pains. But the Bears (18-9, 6-2) have continued their winning ways and earned a conference tournament berth.

Their roster is loaded with underclassmen and leans heavily on juniors. Maggie Hine and Ashley Dumont lead the team in assists (523) and kills (305), respectively. Coast Guard hosts Wellesley tonight in its regular season home finale and visits MIT Saturday before beginning tournament play.

Highlighting the Camels

• The Connecticut College women's soccer team is preparing to host a New England Small College Athletic Conference tournament quarterfinal game at 12:30 on Saturday. The opponent has yet to be determined.

The Camels (12-2, 7-2), who are tied for third with Amherst and Bowdoin, close out the regular season today by visiting Wesleyan.

Sophomore goalie Bryanna Montalvo was named the NESCAC Player of the Week after posting shutouts in wins over 14th-ranked Amherst and Trinity. She leads the league in shutouts with nine and has a stingy 0.57 goals against average.

"Bry has been incredible for us this season," coach Norm Riker said in a released statement. "She is a talented keeper, but an even better teammate. Bry is tough, fearless, hard-working and reads the game well. However, it is her foot skills and distribution that have been most impressive."

• The tight race for a tournament berth is going down to the final regular season game for the men's soccer team. Conn (6-7-1, 3-5-1) enters Wednesday's game against Wesleyan (7-5-2, 5-4) in seventh place. A lack of offensive production has hampered the Camels, who rank last in the conference in goals per game at 1.00. They are attempting to qualify for the NESCAC tournament for a program-best fourth straight season.

• Sophomore setter Emily Arterbury averaged 5.8 assists last week while helping the volleyball team win two matches. The Camels have two regular season games left before competing in the conference tournament.

• The field hockey team has played a very competitive schedule, losing to six teams ranked in the top 11 in the country. The Camels (5-9, 1-8) are still in contention for a conference tourney bid.

• The NESCAC cross country championships will be held at Middlebury College in Vermont this weekend. Sophomore Ben Bosworth is the top runner for the men's team while sophomore Ashley Curran is the frontrunner for the women.

Mariners riding a wave

• Mitchell College swept the New England Collegiate Conference men's soccer awards. Khaliyl Holland of Waterford was named Rookie of the Week after playing all 180 minutes on defense in two shutout wins last week. The Mariners have not allowed a goal in three straight conference games and won five of their last six games overall. Senior Taylor Surette was named NECC Player of the Week after scoring game winning goals in a pair of 2-0 victories over Newbury and Becker. He also added an assist.

Mitchell (9-7-1, 4-1) is tied for second place with Daniel Webster (12-4-1, 4-1). Both teams trail Elms, the league leader at 4-0-1. The Mariners close out the regular season by visiting Lesley on Wednesday night and hosting Regis on Saturday.

Around the region

• Senior Chanel Johnson of New London has helped power the Hartford women's soccer team to its first America East regular-season title since 2006. The Hawks (9-3-4, 5-1-1) secured the top seed and a first round bye in the conference tournament with a 2-1 overtime win over Vermont on Sunday. They host a semifinal game on Sunday. Johnson has a team-leading 11 goals and three assists.

• Ledyard graduate and Niantic native John Trudel, a quarterback for the Massachusetts Maritime football team, was named the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week. He tied a school single-game record by throwing four touchdown passes in a 46-41 win over UMass Dartmouth on Saturday. He completed 25 of 45 passes for 336 yards and also rushed for a score. He's accounted for 17 of his team's 23 touchdowns this season.

• Central Connecticut State University senior Shannon McBride of North Stonington placed 38th out of 129 runners at the 12th annual CCSU Mini Meet on Friday in New Britain. She completed the 3k course in 10 minutes, 53.94 seconds.

• Junior linebacker Kenny Strecker of Montville made an interception in the end zone in Western Connecticut State University's 52-49 loss to Worcester State on Saturday.

• East Lyme's Megan Donahue will be one of two seniors honored before the Wheaton College volleyball team's final regular season match today.

• Lesley University senior Danielle Johnson of Waterford chipped in 12 kills and 14 digs in a five-set victory over Newbury last week. The Lynx (13-3, 5-0) reside in first place in the NECC.

• Eastern Connecticut State University goalie Rachel Skelton, a junior from East Lyme, posted her third shutout of the season in a 2-0 win over UMass Dartmouth on Saturday. She finished with four saves. With the win, the Warriors (10-5-1, 4-2) locked up a first round home game in the Little East Conference tournament.

- Gavin Keefe