September 10, 2007

This Week in Walsh University Athletics

Monday, September 10, 2007

Tues. 11 Men's Soccer (H) Bethel 4 pm

Volleyball at Urbana 7 pm

Fri. 14 Women's Soccer (H) Ohio Dominican 7 pm

Volleyball at Olivet Nazarene Tournament
vs. Spring Arbor 4 pm

Men's/Women's Cross Country at National Catholic Championships 5 pm/4:15 pm

Sat. 15 Football (H) Trinity International 12 pm

Men's Soccer at Grace 1 pm

Women's Soccer (H) Indiana Wesleyan 7 pm

Volleyball at Olivet Nazarene Tournament
vs. Olivet Nazarene 10 am
vs. Campbellsville 1 pm

Sun. 16 Men's Soccer at University of Saint Francis (IN) 1 pm

FOOTBALL: Cavs Even Mark with Win at Trinity

Walsh evened its mark at 1-1, after winning 12-10 at Seton Hill University on Saturday. The win snaps a four-game losing streak dating back to last season. This Saturday, Walsh plays its first home, when they host Trinity International at Fawcett Stadium at 12 pm. The game will be broadcast live on AM 900 WCER and on AM 640 News-Talk WHLO. Giant Eagle, of Washington Square, is giving away free tickets for the game. They will be available until all tickets are gone.

Walsh's stingy defense, the running of tailback Clinton Blossomgame (Fr. Columbus, OH/Beechcroft) and the right leg of Lambros Paxos (Sr., North Canton, OH/Hoover) led the Cavs to their first win. The Cavs held Seton Hill to 194 yards total offense, Blossomgame rushed for over 100 yards (136) for the first time as a Cavalier, and Paxos booted field goals of 21 and 26 yards.

Walsh scored first when Marc Pullen (Jr., Akron, OH/Ellet) hit James Williams (Sr., Lehigh Acers, FL/Lehigh Sr./Florida International) for an eight-yard score at the 3:33 mark of the first quarter. The PAT failed and Walsh led 6-0. Seton Hill took their only lead at the 1:07 mark of the first period, when Antwarn Jones scored from one-yard out. The PAT gave the Griffins a 7-6 lead. Paxos gave Walsh the lead for good with seven seconds to play in the half, when he connected from 21 yards out to give Walsh a 9-7 halftime lead. Paxos then connected again, from 26 yards out, with 10:52 to play in third quarter to give Walsh a 12-7 lead. Seton Hill added three points on a 32 yard field goal with 12:15 to play in the fourth quarter to end the scoring. Pullen completed 8-15 passes for 124 yards. Tight end Matt Gooch (So., Canton, OH/East Canton) led the Cavs with three catches for 53 yards.

Walsh and Trinity (1-1) are meeting for the fifth time, all-time, with Trinity holding a 3-2 lead. Walsh won the last meeting 31-3 in 2005. After losing their opening game to Malone (32-27), Trinity evened their mark with a 17-13 win over Valparaiso on Saturday. Kyle Bennett hit Brennan Smith with a 13-yard scoring strike with 13:35 to play for the win. Bennett was 17-32 for 167 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Smith caught five passes for 62 yards.

MEN'S SOCCER: Cavs Extend Win Streak to Three

Walsh (3-0) improved to 3-0, after defeating John Brown University (AR) last Friday. The Cavs were participating at John Brown in a tournament, and were scheduled to play Oklahoma City University on Saturday, until torrential rains forced the cancellation of the game. This week, Walsh plays host to Bethel College on Tuesday and at Grace College on Saturday and at the University of Saint Francis (IN) on Sunday.

Lamar Skeeter (Fr., 5-10, Dayton, OH/Fairmont) had the “Hat-Trick” (three goals) in Walsh's 3-1 win over John Brown. Skeeter scored twice in the first half (7:02, 23:02), on assists from Alex Birtcher (Jr., 6-1, Napoleon, OH/HS) and Jeremy Hess (Sr., 6-3, Damascus, MD/St. Johns). His second half goal was assisted by Hess again, 29:44 into the half. John Brown spoiled Ben Pflum’s (Jr., 6-1, Napoleon) shutout bid with their only goal at the 82:58 mark of the second half. Pflum had eight saves.

Skeeter leads the team with four goals and nine points. Casey Eck (Sr., 6-1, North Canton, OH/Hoover), who missed Friday's game due to injury, is second with three goals and six points. Cavs' keeper, Ben Pflum has a 1.33 goals against average.

WOMEN'S SOCCER: Cavs Off to Best Start in School History

Walsh (5-0) continued its best start in school history with three more wins last week. The Cavs blanked Tri-State University 10-0, edged Roberts Wesleyan University 3-2 and shutout Daemen College 3-0. This week, the Cavs host Ohio Dominican University in their American Mideast Conference South opener on Friday, and then battle Indiana Wesleyan University on Saturday in the Walsh Invitational. In the other games, Seton Hill meets Indiana Wesleyan on Friday at 5 pm and on Saturday; Ohio Dominican plays Seton Hill at 5 pm.

Eight different Cavaliers scored in their rout of Tri-State University last Tuesday night. The Cavs scored just 3:50 into the game and led 4-0 at halftime. Shayna McDermitt (So., Green, OH/HS) opened the scoring on an assist from Amanda Patrick (So., Medina, OH/Cloverleaf). McDermitt also had an assist on the night. Abby Swope (Sr., Wadsworth, OH/HS) and Leya Spence (Jr., Mansfield, OH/Madison) each scored twice for the Cavs. Rachel Naumann (Fr., Hinckley, OH/Highland), Chrissy Summers (So., Doylestown, OH/Chippewa), Suzanne Flanigan (Fr., Cleves, OH/Seton), Chrissy Perna (Jr., Alliance, OH/Marlington) and Abbie Sullivan (Jr., Canton, OH/GlenOak) each scored single goals. Walsh keeper Rachel Burcher (So., Wadsworth, OH/HS) had four saves.

Chrissy Summers turned the "Hat Trick" (three goals), in the Cavs 3-2 win over Roberts Wesleyan on Friday. After Walsh fell behind 1-0 23 minutes into the match, Summers tied the game on an assist from Rachel Naumann at the 26:21 mark. Summers then gave the Cavs the lead for good at 2-1, with an unassisted goal at the 61:50 mark of the second half. Her final goal, which proved to be the game-winner, came at the 60:20 mark. Roberts Wesleyan scored their final tally at the 77:14 mark. Walsh out shot Wesleyan 10-9 and led in corner kicks 7-2. Keeper Rachel Burcher had eight saves.

Walsh continued its best start in school history with a 3-0 win at Daemen on Saturday. Three different players scored in the shutout win. Chrissy Perna opened the scoring at the 24:54 mark of the first half on an assist from Chrissy Summers, as the Cavs held the 1-0 lead heading into the locker room at halftime. Suzanne Flanigan then gave the Cavs a 2-0 lead at the 49:27 mark on an assist from Perna. Rachel Naumann then closed the scoring with an unassisted goal at the 64:33 mark. Keeper Rachel Burcher stopped two shots in recording her third shutout of the season.

Chrissy Summers now leads the team in scoring with ten points. She is tied for the team lead in goals (four) with Abby Swope. Swope and Rachel Naumann each have eight points. Burcher has three shutouts in goal and has lowered her goals against average to 0.80.

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY: Cavs Open Season at Home, Get Ready for National Catholic Meet

Walsh (2-1) finished second in the Pre-AMC Meet held on campus on Saturday. Shawnee State University (18) won four-team event, with Walsh second (50), Notre Dame College third (89) and John Carroll University fourth (107). This Friday, the Cavs will travel to South Bend, IN for the National Catholic Cross Country Championships. Walsh finished fourth last year.

Brendan McKee (Jr., Akron, OH/St Vincent-St. Mary) paced the Cavs with a third place (27:33) finish. Evan Heck (Fr., Navarre, OH/Central Catholic) was next for the Cavs with a 12th place finish (29:11). Jon Winnyk (Jr., Strongsville, OH/Holy Name) was 13th (29:14), Tim Geabler (Sr., Canton, OH/GlenOak) 14th (29:28) and Andrew Schulz (Sr., Sugarcreek, OH/Garaway) 17th (29:40).

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY: Cavs Strong Second in First Meet, Ready for National Catholic Meet

Walsh finished a strong second in the Pre-AMC Meet held on campus on Saturday. John Carroll University won the event (39). Walsh (51) came in second, Shawnee State University (67) was third, Ursuline College fourth (95) and Notre Dame College (110) fifth. This Friday, the Cavs will travel to South Bend, IN for the National Catholic Cross Country Championships. Walsh finished eighth last year.

Andrea DiNinno (Jr., Harrison City, PA/Greensburg CC) paced the Cavs with a 6th place finish in a time of 20:21. Kristen LeFever (So., Alliance, OH/Marlington) was next, placing seventh (20:34). Jackie Delameter (Fr., North Canton, OH/Hoover) was ninth (20:55), Megan Case (Fr., Louisville, OH/HS) 11th (21:06) and Lindsay Cooper (Sr., Canton, OH/Central Catholic) 18th (21:41).

VOLLEYBALL: Cavs (7-2) Finish Second at College on Mount Saint Joseph Invitational

NAIA No. 14 Walsh (7-2) won three out of four matches last week, and placed second at the College of Mount Saint Joseph Invitational. This week, the Cavs open defense of their American Mideast Conference South Division regular season championship, when they travel to Urbana University on Tuesday. On Friday and Saturday, the Cavs play at the Olivet Nazarene University Tournament.

Walsh University swept Mount Union College on Tuesday night by the scores of 30-25, 30-28, and 30-19. The Cavaliers were led by Caitlin Whealy (6-2, Jr., Avon Lake, OH/HS) with 10 kills and a .474 hitting percentage. Senior libero Heather Hernandez (5-9, Sr., Oakdale, CA/HS) led the defense with a career-high 32 digs and two service aces. Jill Barry (5-5, Sr., Salem, OH/HS) had 42 assists and 14 digs, while Erica Parker (6-0, Jr., Concord, OH/Mentor) added 2.5 blocks. Defensive specialist Amy Police (5-5, So., Perry, OH/HS) had a team-high four service aces and also contributed 10 digs.

Walsh improved to 6-1 after defeating Otterbein College and Mount Saint Joseph College, at the Mount Saint Joseph Tournament on Friday. The Cavs downed Otterbein's Cardinals 30-11, 35-33 and 30-19 and host MSJ 30-16, 30-25, and 30-22. Megan McDonald (5-10, Jr., Kirkland, IL/Rockford Lutheran) paced the Cavs with 16 kills, five blocks and three aces in the Otterbein win. Jill Barry dished out 38 assists and had 14 digs. Heather Hernandez led the defense 23 digs, Erica Parker had 5.5 blocks and 10 kills, while Megan Kelly (5-10, Fr., Brook Park, OH/Holy Name) added 10 kills. In the Mount Saint Joseph win, Caitlin Whealy paced the Cavs with 13 kills, with McDonald adding 12. Barry handed out 45 assists, Kelly and Parker had three aces, Amy Police had a team-high 12 digs, while Hilary Datillo (5-10, Jr., Mason, OH/HS) had 2.5 blocks.

Walsh swept Geneseo State on Saturday morning by the scores of 30-20, 30-22, and 30-10. The Cavaliers' offense was led by Jill Barry’s 44 assists. Barry also added 14 digs. Heather Hernandez had a team-high 29 digs and four service aces. Erica Parker hit .541 with 15 kills, while also adding 14 digs. Megan Kelly contributed 12 kills and 12 digs. Walsh then lost in three straight games to NCAA III No. 8 Carthage College in the championship match of the tournament. The Cavs were bested 28-30, 17-30 and 36-38. Megan McDonald paced the Cavs with 17 kills, Jill Barry dished out 47 assists, Heather Hernandez had a team-high 18 digs, Erica Parker had two blocks and Amy Police had two aces. Megan Kelly also added 15 digs. Megan Kelly (5-10, Fr., Brook Park, OHB/Holy Name) and Megan McDonald were named to the All-Tournament Team.