Dowling College

Bridgeport, Conn. – Over 100 administrators, coaches, student-athletes and guests from all 11 East Coast Conference institutions traveled to the John J. Cox Student Center on the campus of the University of Bridgeport on May 12 for the East Coast Conference Awards Dinner.

The event highlighted team and student-athlete accomplishments including recognizing the Players, Coaches and Scholar-Athletes of the Year from all 17 ECC sponsored sports. In addition, the conference honored student-athletes, teams, and member institutions with special awards while also handing out the 2013-14 Commissioner’s Cup.
 
The Dowling College athletic department is the recipient of the 2014 East Coast Conference Community Engagement Award of Excellence for their Walk for Wishes 5K Run/Walk. This award is presented annually to the institution that hosts an activity on their campus which embodies the principles of community engagement by building relationships and bridging the gap between campus and community.??This past year, Make-A-Wish of Suffolk County partnered with Dowling College Athletics and hosted a Walk for Wishes 5K Run/Walk at the Golden Lions Field on Dowling’s Brookhaven Campus.  Over 150 Dowling Student-Athletes spent the day making a difference and volunteering at the event which involved more than 500 participants and raised $30,000 for Make A Wish.? 
 
Dowling’s women’s soccer team was awarded the ECC Sportsmanship Award. The team was honored after earning a NSCAA Team Ethics and Sportsmanship award for earning only two yellow cards and zero red cards on the season.  While sportsmanship in all conference sports, including soccer continues to be a focus for the conference and all schools around the country, the ECC was pleased to recognize this team for their positive behavior and for helping to create a positive game environment.
 
Junior Dragana Jelovac of the Dowling College volleyball team was named one of three recipients of the John Smillie, Jr. Award for overcoming personal and physical challenges to continue to play the sport that they love. .  Jelovac and her teammate were struck by a car while walking near the Dowling’s campus in September of 2012.  Jelovac sustained a traumatic brain injury and was hospitalized for four days.  Immediately after she was released, Dragana began treatment and rehabilitation for her injuries and was determined not to let the accident prevent her from playing.??In February of 2013, Jelovac was cleared to resume volleyball activities.  She returned to the starting lineup this past fall and amassed 236 kills in 32 matches. Her play helped the Golden Lions advance to both the ECC Championship and the NCAA Division II East Regional.
 
2013-2014 ECC Scholar Athletes of the Year
Men’s Cross Country – Scott Litts (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.), Dowling: Litts, a junior English major with a 3.946 GPA, was an All-Conference First Team selection after coming in fifth place at the ECC Championship in a time of 25:44.38.??
 
Women’s Cross Country – Alyssa Ligouri (Ridge, N.Y.), Dowling: A First Team All-Conference member after crossing the finish line in sixth place (18:36.86), Ligouri boasts a 3.953 GPA as a Biology major.
 
Women’s Tennis – Robyn Romanoff (Centereach, N.Y.), Dowling: Romanoff, a senior All-Conference selection, posted a mark of 7-4 in singles for the Golden Lions this season. She also excelled with her academics with a 3.796 GPA.