SPORTS INSIDER: Capitals Eliminated by Rangers; Harper gives Nationals, Fans a Scare
May 14, 2013
Ceci Ferrara
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
There will be no redemption for the Capitals this year. For the second straight time, the team has been eliminated from the playoffs by the New York Rangers. After starting the series strong 2-0, they dropped two straight after returning to Washington.They won Game 5 in overtime, but failed to maintain the momentum, getting shutout 0-1 in New York two days later. There was no rest for either team as they headed back to D.C. [...]
Caps Lead Rangers 2-1 in Playoffs; Nats’ Bats Show Signs of Life
May 7, 2013
Ceci Ferrara
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
The Capitals had a chance to completely deflate the Rangers on Monday night.
If they had won game three, they would have had a commanding 3-0 lead against New York, just one win away from vindicating last year’s loss. Instead, the Rangers’ desperation won out.
In a game that saw a lot of shifts in momentum, the Caps, down by one, had a chance to tie late in the third period. With less than two minutes left, [...]
Capitals Ready for Rangers; Nats Look to Bounce Back Against Braves
April 29, 2013
Ceci Ferrara
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
After a tumultuous season, the Capitals finished on top.
They clinched the Southeast Division last Tuesday with a 5-3 win over the Jets–a feat that had seemed almost impossible a month earlier. Alex Ovechkin became the league’s top scorer and led his team on an eight-game win streak.
The Caps will face the New York Rangers, a familiar match-up, in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The teams have met in the post-season three times [...]
Wizards Miss the Playoffs; Capitals Hope for Strong Finish
April 22, 2013
Ceci Ferrara
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
There was a glimmer of hope at one point during the past few months that the Washington Wizards might make the playoffs. It quickly flickered and burnt out, but it was there. That says a lot for the team that started the season with twelve straight losses.
The Wizards finished the season 29-53, on a low note with a six-game losing streak. It was not the ending they had hoped for, especially after the surge the [...]
Adam Scott Wins Master’s; Caps Lead Division as Season’s End Nears
April 16, 2013
Ceci Ferrara
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
In a second hole of a sudden-death playoff against Argentina’s Angel Cabrera, Adam Scott nailed a twelve-foot birdie putt to win the Master’s on Sunday. It was not only a personal triumph for him, but for his country: Scott is the first Australian to don a green jacket in the tournament’s seventy-seven-year history.
“We like to think we’re the best at everything. Golf is a big sport at home, and this is the one thing in [...]
Final Four Set; Nationals, Fans, Ready for Opening Day
April 1, 2013
Ceci Ferrara
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
Much like last weekend, the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight rounds of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament were full of drama and surprises.
The Cinderella story of Florida Gulf Coast was halted by the Gators, who advanced to the Elite Eight for the third consecutive year. However, Florida was packing their bags a couple days later after being routed by Michigan 79-59.
With the win, Michigan won the South Region and emerged as a real contender after [...]
March Madness Full of Upsets; Tiger Woods is No. 1
March 25, 2013
Ceci Ferrara
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
Madness is the perfect word to describe the first three rounds of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The games began on Thursday, as so did the upsets. Number fourteen, Harvard, outscored number three, New Mexico, 68-62, and the number twelve California Bears ousted the number five UNLV by just three points.
But one of the biggest shockers, and the one that hit closest to home, came on Friday, when the largely unknown number fifteen, Florida Gulf [...]
Georgetown Gets No. 2 Seed; Caps Beat Buffalo
March 18, 2013
Ceci Ferrara
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
Despite falling to Syracuse in the Big East tournament semifinals, the Georgetown Hoyas (25-6) are headed to the dance as a number two seed.
While the tournament loss was a disappointment—especially since it was their last year in the Big East—it did not hurt their ranking very much. The high-seeded Hoyas will face number fifteen Florida Gulf Coast on Friday in the second round of the NCAA south regional tournament.
If they advance past the Florida Gulf [...]
Tiger Wins 17th World Golf Championship; Caps Slide after Win Streak
March 11, 2013
Ceci Ferrara
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
Tiger Woods is back on top.
Finishing 1-under 71, Woods won the Cadillac Championship at Doral on Sunday, nabbing his 17thWorld Gold Championship title. It was a dramatic turn from last year, when he withdrew from the tournament after 11 holes due to soreness in his left Achilles tendon. With 76 career tour wins, Woods is now just six victories short of the record 82 wins by Sam Snead. He finished two shots ahead of [...]
Wizards Rally Past 76ers; Capitals Showing Improvement
March 4, 2013
Ceci Ferrerra
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
After two tough losses at home against the Pistons and Knicks, the Wizards (19-39) were able to outplay and outlast the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, 90-87.
John Wall was the deciding factor, scoring six points in the fourth quarter after teammate Bradley Beal left with a sprained ankle. Beal has had a phenomenal rookie season, leading the team in scoring with an average 14.2 points per game. But Sunday night it was Wall’s late game effort [...]
Wizards Win Third Straight; Danica Patrick Makes History
February 26, 2013
Ceci Ferrara
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
While the Wizards (18-37) are still a long way from claiming a playoff spot, they are also a far cry from the team that started the season 5-28.
They have won their last seven out of nine games, and are ranked third in the division standings. After beating both the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets, the Wizards extended their win streak to three when they outlasted the Toronto Raptors 90-84 on Monday night.
Rookie Bradley Beal continued [...]
West Wins NBA All-Star Game; Caps Enjoy Three-Day Break
February 19, 2013
Ceci Ferrara
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
The West was the best in the NBA All-Star Game, beating the East All-Stars 143-138 on Sunday.
In a battle against the league’s top two players, Kobe Bryant came out on top, blocking LeBron James twice and foiling his attempt at a comeback. While Bryant blocked James’ jumper and turned it into points for the West, it was another LA player, the Clippers’ Chris Paul, who took home MVP honors.
Paul scored twenty points and had fifteen [...]