This Week in Walsh University Athletics
Monday, November 3, 2008
Tues. 4
Volleyball at Ohio Dominican 7 pm
Thurs. 6
Men's Basketball at University of Akron (EXH.) 7 pm AM 900 WCER
Fri. 7
Volleyball (H) Roberts Wesleyan 7 pm
Women's Basketball vs. Martin Methodist at Bethel College (TN) 2 pm (CST)
Sat. 8
Cross Country at AMC Championships at Ursuline College (W) 10:15 am/ (M) 11 am
Football at Marian College 2 pm *
Men's Basketball at University of Maine-Fort Kent 6 pm
Women's Basketball at Bethel College (TN) 4 pm (CST)
Women's Soccer at Roberts Wesleyan (AMC Playoff) 3 pm
Volleyball (H) Point Park University 2 pm
* Broadcast live on AM 900 WCER and SportsRadio 1350 AM
FOOTBALL: Cavs Drop Third Straight (24-22) to Ohio Dominican
Walsh fell to 2-7 overall and remained winless (0-4) in the Mid-States Football Association Mideast, after suffering a 24-22 home loss to Ohio Dominican University at Fawcett Stadium on Saturday. The Cavs' seven losses are the most in a single season. They look to snap a three-game losing streak at Marian College (Indianapolis, IN) on Saturday at 2 pm. The game will broadcast live on the Walsh University Football Network (AM 900 WCER, SportsRadio 1350 AM).
Walsh started well on Saturday, when Brian Williams (Jr., Canton, OH/McKinley) returned a blocked field goal 68 yards for a score at the 4:22 mark of the first quarter to give the Cavs an early 7-0 lead. ODU marched back and tied the game on the next possession on a three-yard pass with 1:44 to play in the quarter. Eric Buchanan (So., Green Cove Springs, FL/Clay) would kick back-to-back field goals (39, 47 yds.) to put Walsh up 13-7, with 5:31 to play in the second period. ODU would answer with a 21-yard field goal to cut the Walsh lead to 13-10 at halftime.
The Panthers scored on their first possession of the third quarter to take their first lead of the game (17-13) on a 21-yard pass. Walsh trimmed the lead to 17-16 early in the fourth quarter (14:04), on Buchanan's third field goal (42 yds.) of the game. The Panthers answered in five plays at the 12:43 mark; on a 10-yard scoring pass to take a 24-16 lead. Walsh would rally, as Jeff Tallman (Jr., Canton, OH/Perry) scored on a one-yard plunge with 7:40 to play to pull the Cavs to within two points at 24-22. Quarterback Jim Shiplett's (Fr., Canal Fulton, OH/Northwest) two-point conversion run failed, leaving the Cavs 24-22. Shiplett was injured on the play and left the field on a stretcher. He suffered a concussion and is lost for the season. Walsh would have one more possession, but turned the ball over on downs. ODU then ran the clock out for the win. Jeff Tallman ran for a game-high 142 yards. Marc Pullen (Sr., Akron, OH/Ellet) started at quarterback and finished 10-24 for 107 yards. Pullen was injured on Walsh's fourth quarter scoring drive, but returned for their final drive.
Walsh and Marian College (5-4, 1-4) meet in a MSFA Mideast game at Grosskopf Stadium in Indianapolis, IN on Saturday. The Cavs lead the series 1-0, defeating Marian 54-28 at Fawcett Stadium last year. Marian scored 17 unanswered second half points on the road last Saturday, to defeat Taylor University 32-23. Marian's Dustin Craig picked-off a Taylor pass and returned it 25 yards for a score to give Marian the lead for good.
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Cavs Open 47th Season on the Road
Walsh opens its 47th season on the road, playing two games at the University of Maine this weekend. On Friday, at 6 pm, the Cavs meet University of Main-Fort Kent and on Sunday, play St. Thomas University at 12 pm. Before opening the regular season, the Cavs play an exhibition game at the University of Akron at Rhodes Arena on Thursday night at 7 pm. The Cavs/Zips' game will be broadcast live on AM 900 WCER.
Walsh returns six letter winners, and two starters, in Jeff Young's (109-30) fifth full season as head coach. Walsh finished 25-6 overall last season and 12-2 in the American Mideast Conference. The Cavs advanced to the "Sweet 16" of the NAIA National Tournament and won the American Mideast Conference Championship for the fourth straight year.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Cavs Open Season on the Road
Walsh opens its 30th season on the road, at the Rotary Classic (Bethel College) in Bethel, Tennessee this weekend. The Cavs meet Martin Methodist on Friday afternoon at 2 pm (CST) and play host Bethel on Saturday at 4 pm (CST). The Cavs return eight letter winners and four starters from last years 13-15 team (5-9 AMC). Head Coach Laurel Wartluft (18-36) begins her third year at Walsh.
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY: Cavs at AMC Championships on Saturday
Walsh (46-23) is set to compete in the American Mideast Conference Championships this Saturday at Ursuline College. The championship race begins at 11 am. Walsh finished fourth last year, with Brendan McKee and Mike Groholy each earning first-team honors and qualifying for the NAIA National Meet. Walsh's last team appearance at the national meet came in 1995.
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY: Cavs at AMC Championships on Saturday
Walsh (55-24) is set to compete in the American Mideast Conference Championships this Saturday at Ursuline College. The championship race begins at 10:15 am. The Cavs finished fifth last year, with Kristen LeFever (Jr., Alliance, OH/Marlington) earning third-team honors and qualifying for the NAIA National Meet. Walsh's only team appearance at the national meet came in 1982, in their initial season.
MEN'S SOCCER: Cavs Close Season 6-11-1
Walsh finished a disappointing season with two losses last week, to finish 6-11-1 overall and 4-7 in the American Mideast Conference. The Cavs fell 3-2 to the University of Saint Francis (IN) on Tuesday, and 2-1 at Mount Vernon Nazarene on Saturday. The Cavs closed the season with five straight losses, four by one goal.
The University of Saint Francis scored twice in the final 20 minutes, to come from behind to edge Walsh 3-2 last Tuesday. Alex Birtcher (Sr., Napoleon, OH/HS) scored back-to-back goals, ten minutes apart in the second half (59, 69-minute mark), to give Walsh a 2-1 lead. Birtcher's game-tying tally came on a penalty kick, with Ben Truax (Fr., Mansfield, OH/St. Peters) assisting on the second goal. The Cougars would rally however, scoring the game-tying goal at the 73-minute mark and then the game-winner 12 minutes later.
Ben Truax gave Walsh a 1-0 lead, on an assist from Alex Birtcher (Sr., Napoleon, OH/HS), at the 24:26 mark of the first half on Saturday at Mount Vernon. The Cavs held the lead until MVNU tied the game at the 61:56 mark, then scored the game-winner with a little less than nine minutes left. MNVU out shot the Cavs 22-7.
WOMEN'S SOCCER: Cavs Set for Post Season
Walsh (9-8-1, 7-5-1) returns to the playoffs, when they play at Roberts Wesleyan College (12-5-1, 10-3) in a first round game this Saturday at 3 pm. The last playoff appearance for the Cavs came in 2005. They are 10-11 all-time in post season action and 0-1 under Head Coach Ed Vargo (76-62-1, 8 yrs.).
The Cavs closed the regular season on Saturday, with a 5-0 American Mideast Conference loss at Mount Vernon Nazarene. MVNU scored three times in the first half (10:08, 35:42, 42:14) to pretty much settle the issue. The Cougars out shot the Cavs 24-7.
Walsh enters the post season with three losses in their last four games. In the regular season, they fell 3-0 at Roberts Wesleyan on September 16. RWC leads the all-time series 5-2, with one tie. This is the first playoff meeting between the two teams.
VOLLEYBALL: Cavs Remain Undefeated in AMC Play/Can Clinch National Tourney Berth with Win
NAIA No. 25 Walsh captured three American Mideast Conference matches last week, to remain undefeated in conference play and inch closer to the NAIA National Tournament. The Cavs have won five straight matches and are 26-9 overall and 11-0 in the AMC with three regular season matches to play. The Cavs can clinch the AMC regular season championship, and NAIA National Tournament berth with a win at Ohio Dominican University (20-10, 10-3) on Tuesday night (7 pm). Later in the week, the Cavs host Roberts Wesleyan (16-17, 5-7) on Friday (7 pm) and Point Park (19-17, 7-6) on Saturday (2 pm) to close the regular season.
Walsh defeated Cedarville University in four games (25-19, 24-26, 25-19 and 25-15) on Friday night at Alumni Arena. The Cavs were led by freshman setter, Jessica Schmidt (5-8, Fr., Michigan City, IN/HS), with 45 assists and Megan McDonald's (5-10, Sr., Kirkland, IL/Rockford Lutheran) 15 kills and 11 digs. Ashley Yuhas (5-9, So., Elyria, OH/HS) led the defense with 21 digs. Caitlin Whealy (6-2, Sr., Avon Lake, OH/HS) and Erica Parker (6-0, Sr., Concord, OH/Mentor) added 12 and 11 kills respectively. Natalie Phillips (5-10, Fr., Wooster, OH/HS) added two aces and Natalie Borland (6-0, Jr., Kent, OH/Kent Roosevelt), starting her first match in the middle, had a team-high 3.5 blocks.
Walsh then downed Carlow College and the University of Northwest Ohio at home on Saturday. The Cavaliers swept Carlow in the first match of the day (25-20, 25-14, and 25-11). Megan McDonald paced the attack with 13 kills, and Ashley Yuhas with 14 digs. Jessica Schmidt handed out 32 assists, Erica Parker contributed eight kills, one block, and eight digs. Yuhas and Natalie Phillips each had two aces.
Walsh then defeated UNOH in four games (26-24, 25-19, 27-29, and 25-22). Marie Jubak (5-7, Fr., Cincinnati, OH/McNicholas) led with 38 assists and Megan Kelly (5-10, Fr., Brook Park, OH/Holy Name) had a team-high 18 kills. McDonald added 15 kills and 11 digs, while Yuhas had a team-high 34 digs. Phillips, Amy Police (5-5, Jr., Perry, OH/HS), and Jubak were also in double-digit digs with 17, 14, and 10, respectively. Natalie Borland (6-0, Jr., Kent, OH/Roosevelt/Kent State) added three blocks.
Megan McDonald, who has been named AMC Player of the Week three times this season, leads the conference in kills (4.1). Erica Parker is 8th in attack percentage (.315) an Ashley Yuhas in 9th in digs (4.1).
