While most students left for greener (and warmer) pastures over spring break, UVM winter sports hit their postseason high-point. The men’s hockey team continued their recent tear by beating Northeastern in a best-of-three series at the Gut, punching their ticket to the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston for the Hockey East Championships over the weekend.Also, coach Kevin Sneddon was named 2008 Hockey East Coach of the Year after leading the Cats to a dramatic rise in one of the country’s toughest conferences.On the hardwood, the Cats didn’t fair as well. Men’s basketball fell to eventual America East champs UMBC in the semifinals of the A-East tournament, 73-64. The game was close throughout, however UMBC finished the game on an 18-4 run and ended UVM’s chance of a sixth straight finals appearance in the tournament. Despite UVM’s early exit, sophomore standout Marqus Blakely was named 2008 America East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year while also being named to the USBWA All- District 1 team.After a crushing doubleovertime defeat to BU in the women’s A-East tournament, the women’s basketball team responded by defeating Dartmouth last Thursday in the first round of the NIT.Like Blakely, sophomore Courtnay Pilypaitis was named also named America East Player of the Year, while sophomore May Kotsopoulus earned the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year award.Meanwhile, baseball and softball fought mother nature as hard as any of their opponents.Both teams have had multiple games postponed or cancelled due to weather. Baseball has jumped out to a solid 5-5 start, while the softball team has won three straight after a 10-game losing streak.The UVM skiing team also ended its season over the break.Led by junior Jilyne Mc- Donald’s fifth-place finish in women’s slalom, the Cats placed sixth in the NCAA Championships.Marred by their own weather postponements and a particularly tough schedulre that includes #2 Duke and #3 Virginia, the men’s lacrosse team has struggled early, losing their first six games before beating Bellarmine on Sunday.On the women’s side, the lacrosse team has sprung out to a fast start, starting the season 4-2 and 1-0 in league play.