October 29, 2007

This Week in Walsh University Athletics

Monday, October 29, 2007

Thurs. 1 Volleyball (H) Mt. Vernon Nazarene 7 pm

Sat. 3 Football (H) Marian College 12 pm *

Cross Country (H) AMC Championships Women (10:15 am) / Men (11 am)

Volleyball (H) Shawnee State (12 pm) / University of Rio Grande (3 pm)

* Broadcast live on Walsh University Football Network (AM 640 News-Talk WHLO and AM 900 WCER)

FOOTBALL: Cavs Drop Fifth Straight Game to a Ranked Opponent/Home to Marian on Saturday

Walsh (3-6, 0-5 MSFA Mideast) lost its fifth straight game to a NAIA ranked opponent, falling 56-20 at NAIA No. 3 Ohio Dominican University (9-0, 5-0 MSFA) last Saturday.  For the Cavs, it is the longest losing streak in school history and the 56 points allowed represent the most in a single game. The Cavs also lost their last seven MSFA Mideast games dating back to last season.  This week, they return home for a MSFA Mideast game against first year program Marian College (1-7, 1-4 MSFA).  Game time is 12 pm.  The game will be broadcast live on the Walsh University Football Network on News-Talk 640 WHLO and on the AM 900 WCER.  The game will also be broadcast live on the internet at www.wcer.us and www.whlo640.com

The win for Ohio Dominican was their first ever over the Cavs.  ODU scored 14 points in the first quarter and 21 more in the second and led 35-0 at the half.  Walsh scored once in the third quarter, when Marc Pullen (Jr., Akron, OH/Ellet) connected with Rob Lash (Sr., Shelby, OH/HS) for a 38-yard score.  Clinton Blossomgame (R-Fr., Columbus, OH/Beechcroft) scored on a three-yard run in the fourth quarter, and Sam Cerreta (Sr., North Canton, OH/Hoover) hit Mike McGill (So., Barberton, OH/Coventry) with a 28-yard strike with 5:53 to play.  ODU's high-powered offense rolled-up 541 yards.  Quarterback Cris Reisert passed for 532 yards and three TDs on 45 of 57.  He set NAIA marks for yards and completions in a single season.  Wide receiver Jared Stace set a single-game NAIA record with 18 catches.

Clinton Blossomgame rushed for 135 yards and went over the 1,000-yard mark for the season.  The redshirt freshman has rushed for 1,025 yards and is second in the MSFA in rushing, averaging 113.9 yards per game.  Pullen completed six passes for 156 yards and Lash caught four passes for 106 yards.

Marian captured its first collegiate win, 24-14, at home, against Taylor University last week.  The Knights scored 17 second quarter points and never looked back.  Running back William Stubbs rushed for 158 yards and scored on a 57-yard run in the second quarter. Stubbs has rushed for 574 yards and six touchdowns on the season.

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY: Cavs to Host AMC/NAIA IX Championships

Walsh (40-11) is set to host the American Mideast Conference Championships this Saturday, with a berth to the 52nd annual NAIA Men's Cross Country Championships at stake.  The national meet will be held in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Saturday, November 17.  The Cavs were idle last week.

Walsh finished fourth last year, and last won the conference championship in 1991.  Malone College, ranked first in the NAIA for the last seven weeks, is the odds on favorite.  The Pioneers have won the last 14 conference championships.  Other AMC schools expected to challenge the Pioneers are 14th ranked Shawnee State University, Cedarville University (RV) and the Cavs.  The meet is scheduled to start at 11:15 am.  There is no charge for admission.

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY: Cavs to Also Host AMC/NAIA IX Championships

Walsh's (30-24) women will also host the American Mideast Conference Championships this Saturday, with the winner advancing to the 28th annual NAIA Championships in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Saturday, November 17.  The Cavs were idle tlast week.

Walsh finished sixth at the conference meet last year.  Cedarville University has won the last two AMC titles and is ranked fourth in the NAIA.  Malone College is ranked ninth. The meet is scheduled to start at 10:30 am.  There is no charge for admission.

MEN'S SOCCER: Cavs Close Season

Walsh (8-7-2, 2-4 AMC S) closed the season with an overtime tie at Malone College, and a home loss to Mount Vernon Nazarene.  The Cavs finished fifth in the American Mideast Conference South Division and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2003.
Walsh and Malone (6-9-2) played to a 1-1 double overtime tie at Malone on Wednesday.  After a scoreless first half, Malone scored just minutes into the first half to take the lead.   Walsh's Aaron Davis (So., Blackburn, ENG/Darwen Vale) then scored on an assist from Jeremy Hess (Sr., Damascus, MD/St. Johns) to tie the game at the 49-minute mark.  Each team missed golden chances to take the lead in the final two minutes.  Walsh hit the post and crossbar with less than two minutes to play, while Malone failed on an opportunity right in front of Cavs' keeper Ben Pflum (Jr., Napoleon, OH/HS) in the final minute. 

Mount Vernon Nazarene University (11-5-2, 2-3-1, AMC S) tallied twice in the second half, in handing the Cavs a 2-0 conference loss on Saturday.  After a scoreless first half, MVNU's Sheldon Tugman gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead at the 50-minute mark.  The Cougars then added an insurance goal at the 89-minute mark.  Walsh out shot the Cougars 7-5.  Corner kicks were even at 3-3.  Walsh keeper Chad Ostrowski (Sr., North Canton, OH/Hoover) had three saves.

Lamar Skeeter (Fr., Dayton, OH/Kettering Fairmont) is third in the AMC in scoring, averaging 1.47 points per game and second with 0.65 goals per game.  Skeeter led the Cavs in goals with 11 goals and points with 25 points.  He also leads the AMC in game-winning goals with five.  Alex Birtcher (Jr., Napoleon, OH/HS) finished second with six goals, a team leading five assists and 17 points.

VOLLEYBALL: Cavs Play Well at Madonna, Stun Defending National Champs/Host Mount Vernon Next

Walsh (25-7, 7-2 AMC S) finished a big week with three wins in five matches, as they prepare for a showdown with American Mideast Conference South leader Mount Vernon Nazarene (34-1, 10-1 AMC S), at home on Thursday (7 pm).  The Cavs downed Ohio Dominican University in a conference match, and then went to the Madonna University Crusader Classic over the weekend, where they split four matches.  The Cavs played extremely well against highly ranked competition over the weekend and upset defending national champion National American on Saturday.

Walsh swept (30-20, 30-16, 30-19) Ohio Dominican University last Tuesday night.  The Cavaliers were led by Jill Barry (5-6, Sr., Salem, OH/HS) with 54 assists and Heather Hernandez (5-9, Sr., Oakdale, CA/HS) with 21 digs. Erica Parker (6-0, Jr., Concord, OH/Mentor) led the offense with 17 kills and a .600 hitting percentage. Parker also added 15 digs on the night.  Amy Police (5-5, So., Perry, OH/HS) chipped in a team-high two aces and 17 digs. Hilary Dattilo (5-10, Jr., Mason, OH/HS) led with 3.5 blocks and added 14 kills, with a .636 hitting percentage for the night. Megan McDonald (5-10, Jr., Kirkland, IL/Rockford Lutheran) and Caitlin Whealy (6-2, Jr., Avon Lake, OH) each added 10 kills and Megan Kelly (5-10, Fr., Brook Park, OH/Holy Name) contributed 11 kills.

Walsh fell to a pair of ranked foes at the Madonna University Crusader Classic on Friday.  Walsh lost in five games (24-30, 27-30, 30-27, 30-20, 15-17) to 27th ranked Madonna in their first match.  In their second match, the Cavs were swept by NAIA No. 4 Biola University by the scores of 22-30, 27-30 and 24-30.  Megan Kelly, the AMC Player of the Week, paced the Cavs with 29 kills in the Madonna match.  Jill Barry, the AMC Setter of the Week, handed out 77 assists, Heather Hernandez, the AMC Defensive Player of the Week, had 23 digs and Hilary Dattilo (5-10, Jr., Mason, OH/HS) 5.5 blocks.  In the Biola match, Megan McDonald led with 10 kills, Barry dished out 37 assists and Hernandez had 29 digs.

Saturday was a much better day for the Cavs at Madonna.  Not only did they stop a modest two-game losing streak, but they defeated NAIA No. 5, and defending national champion National American University in their second match of the day.  In the Cavs opening match, they swept University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Megan Kelly and Megan McDonald each had 11 kills in the UMD sweep (30-13, 30-21, 30-17).  Jill Barry handed 38 assists and Heather Hernandez had 30 digs.  Walsh then swept the defending champs by the scores of 30-24, 30-28 and 30-27.  Kelly, who made the all-tournament team, paced the Cavs with 16 kills.  Barry dished out 38 assists and Hernandez had 26 digs and five aces.

Jill Barry leads the AMC and the NAIA in assists, averaging 14.2 per game.  Erica Parker leads the AMC, and is sixth in the NAIA in hitting percentage (.436).  Heather Hernandez is second in the AMC, and 16th in the NAIA in digs per game at 6.6.