Nicola Mancini
Nicola Mancini

Samko Notches 400th Career Win as Bentley Women Best Babson 181-58

WALTHAM,  Mass. – Bentley University swimming and diving head coach Mary Kay Samko notched her 400th career win in the women's team's 181-58 victory over Babson College Wednesday night at the Dana Center pool.

Samko picked up her 260th career win overall on the women's side, and her 170th win coaching Bentley's women's swimming and diving team over 17 seasons. Overall, her record stands at 400-174 in 31 years as a head coach in a career that includes stints at Southern Connecticut State, Tufts and the University of the South, as well as Bentley.

The Falcons stayed unbeaten in dual meets thus far, improving to 8-0, while Babson dropped to 3-8.

Bentley's win was highlighted by freshman Nicola Mancini (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth HS) setting a school and pool record in the one meter dive with a score of 295.11. She broke her own record of 289.50 set on Jan. 4, and also won the three meter dive with a score of 287.47.

Sophomore Nadine Edwards (Danbury, Conn./Danbury HS) won two individual events as well. She touched first in the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:01.85, and in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:21.07.

Senior Jessica Hodsdon (Brewer, Maine/Brewer HS) was victorious in the 100 breaststroke in 1:09.39, and classmate Monika Drogosz (Unionville, Conn./Farmington HS) took the 100 free in 57.22.

Freshman Lindsey Goodwin (Staten Island, N.Y./Notre Dame Acadmey) won the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:09.94. Hodsdon and Goodwin were also part of the 400 medley relay team that also featured junior Caroline Lewis (Westfield, Mass./Westfield HS) and sophomore Danielle Hellstern (Southbury, Conn./Pomperaug HS). The team won in 4:13.24 with Lewis swimming the first leg, Hodsdon the second, Goodwin the third and Hellstern the anchor.

Bentley will look to keep its unbeaten season going when it hosts Keene State on Saturday at 1:00 pm in the second of three straight home meets.