This week in Walsh University Athletics
Monday, October 12, 2009
Mon. 12
Women's Soccer at Carroll College 4 pm (MT)
Tues. 13
Men's Soccer at Indiana Tech 6 pm
Wed. 14
Volleyball (H) Malone University 7 pm
Thurs. 15
Men's Tennis at National Small College Championships
Fri. 16
Volleyball (H) Houghton College 6 pm
Men's Tennis at National Small College Championships
Sat. 17
Football (H) at Taylor University 1 pm (AM 900 WCER/AM 640 WHLO)
Women's Soccer at Daemen College 2 pm
Men's Soccer at Daemen College 4 pm
Cross Country at Gettysburg Invitational
FOOTBALL: Cavs (4-2, 1-1) Fall Short Against 4th Ranked Cougars
NAIA No. 20 Walsh (4-2, 1-1) played one of its finest games, but fell short, 20-14 to the NAIA fourth ranked University of Saint Francis Cougars (5-0, 3-0) last Saturday night at Fawcett Stadium. The Cavs look to get back into the win column this Saturday, when they travel to Taylor University (3-2, 1-1) for a Mid-States Football Association Mideast contest at 1 pm. The game will be broadcast live on AM 900 WCER (www.wcer.us) and on NewsTalk 640 WHLO (www.640whlo.com).
The 20th ranked Cavs also had their four-game win streak snapped, while the Cougars won their the 12th straight game over the Cavs. USF also won their 48th league game in their last 49 tries. After stopping Saint Francis on the opening drive of the game, Walsh marched 79 yards on 12 plays and scored on Jim Shiplett's (So., Canal Fulton, OH/Northwest) one-yard plunge to forge ahead 7-0 (PAT) at the 6:18 mark of the first quarter. The Cougars tied the game in the second quarter when Shaine Tierney hooked-up with Daniel Carter for a 20-yard score at the 10:49 mark. It looked as if the half would end in a tie, when the Cougars received a huge break when Walsh's Adam Castin muffed a snap on a fourth down punt at the Cavs 18-yard line with 50 seconds to play. Walsh stiffened when USF advanced to the 10-yard line, forcing Rhys Barnhart's 28-yard field goal, which gave the Cougars a 10-7 halftime lead.
On the first possession of the second half, Walsh's Clinton Blossomgame (Jr., Columbus, OH/Beechcroft) fumbled on a third down play and USF recovered on the Cavs' 32-yard line. The Cougars scored when Barnhart booted a 26-yard field for a 13-7 lead. After a quick Walsh three and out, USF broke loose for a big play when Daniel Carter raced 45 yards to give the Cougars a 20-7 lead. Walsh answered late in the quarter, as Jason Stiel (Jr., Reynoldsburg, OH/HS) recovered a Carter fumble at the USF 49-yard line at the 4:24 mark. Walsh scored seven plays later on a Blossomgame two-yard run to trim the lead to 20-14 heading into the fourth quarter.
Walsh's defense would stymie the Cougars twice and would begin their final drive on their ten-yard line with 8:03 to play. The Cavs faced third and 13 on the seven-yard line, when Shiplett hit Mike McGill (Sr., Barberton, OH/Coventry) on the 22-yard line for a first down. Blossomgame would rush for 33 yards and with the help of a pass interference call, Walsh advanced to the USF 30-yard line with a little over three minutes to play. Blossomgame carried three times for nine yards, as Walsh faced fourth and inches on the Cougar 21 with 2:40 to play. But on fourth down the USF defense stuffed the left side and dropped Blossomgame for no gain, to give the ball back to the Cougars with 2:32 to play. USF picked-up a critical first down and ran the clock down to 13 seconds when they punted to the Walsh 18-yard line with five seconds to play, Shiplett threw long, but it was picked-off by Jordan Wise at the 38-yard line to end the ballgame.
Clinton Blossomgame led all rushers with 154 yards and Jim Shiplett was 8-23 for 96 yards and two interceptions.
Clinton Blossomgame leads the MSFA and is second in the NAIA with 940 yards rushing (5.5 ypg) and is averaging 156.2 yards per game. He leads the MSFA and is third in the NAIA in scoring (72 pts.) and with 12 touchdowns. Brian Williams leads the MSFA in kick return average (27.3) and Eric Buchanan (Jr., Green Cove Springs, FL/Clay) is 26-27 in extra points, which leads the MSFA. Walsh's defense has allowed only three sacks in the first six games, while sacking opposing QB 18 times. Last season, the Cavs registered 17 QB sacks the entire season. The Cavs are third in the MSFA in scoring offense at 33.3 ppg.
Walsh leads the all-time series with Taylor 8-1, and defeated the Trojans 24-17 in Indiana last year. The Cavs have won the last seven meetings. The only loss (33-21) was at Fawcett Stadium in 1999. Taylor evened its MSFA Mideast record with a 23-17 win over Malone University at Fawcett Stadium last Saturday. The Trojans are averaging 28.6 points. Quarterback Shaun Addison has paced the offense and is averaging 226.8 yards per game with 10 TDs. Against Malone, Addison completed 23 of 41 passes for two scores and 268 yards.
MEN'S GOLF: Cavs Third at Phipps Memorial Invitational
Walsh (4-21) finished third at the three-team Phipps Memorial Invitational, played at Glenmoor Country Club last Thursday. The Cavs finished shot 331. Malone University finished first (280) and Mount Union College (327) placed second.
Long time residents of Stark County, the Phipps were avid golfers and through the generosity of the Phipps family have made it possible to provide a special opportunity for the men’s and women’s golf programs at Malone University, Mount Union College and Walsh University.
Jacob Repp (Fr., Canton, OH/GlenOak) finished 11th to pace the Cavs with a 77. Cody Cutright (So., Akron, OH/Springfield) tied for 14th after shooting 80. Collin Mottice (So., Manchester, OH/Green) tied for 20th with an 85. Carl Lemmon (Fr., Canton, OH/Louisville) finished 26th with an 89 and Brant Harbert (Sr., Uniontown, OH/Green) tied for 28th with a 94.
Playing as individuals, Steve Ely (Fr., Brunswick, OH/Padua Franciscan) finished seventh carding a 74 (34-40), the best finish for any Cavalier. Michael Mann (Fr., Louisville, OH/HS) placed 13th (79), Dennis Finneran (Fr., Wadsworth, OH/HS) finished 24th (87) Andy Fox (Fr., Millersburg, OH/West Holmes) was 25th (88) and Sam Deighan (So., Bedford, OH/St. Peter Chanel) finished tied for 28th (94).
WOMEN'S GOLF: Cavs Have Busy Week/Kulasa Medalist at Wittenberg
Walsh (58-29) closed the fall season with a second place finish at the Pat Clouse Invitational at Wittenberg University over the weekend. Earlier in the week, Walsh finished second at Allegheny College and 14th at the University of Akron's Zippy Invitational. Sophomore Nikki Kulasa (Amherst, OH/Amherst Steele) capped off an outstanding fall season by capturing medalist honors at Wittenberg, the third time this fall that she has topped the field.
Walsh finished 14th at the 54-hole Zippy Invitational, hosted by the University of Akron. Grand Valley State won the invitational with a final score of 932. Walsh, playing with mostly NCAA division one schools, scored 1051, just five strokes back of 13th place Robert Morris University (PA). Kim Smith (So., Whitehouse Station, NJ/Hunterdon Central) tied for 66th place, with a 54-hole score of 262 (86-88-88). Nikki Kulasa bounced back after an opening round 94 to shoot 81 and 88 and finish 71st (263). Abbey Kimar (So., Canton, OH/Jackson) tied for 74th at 267 (87-86-94) with teammate Katy Collins (So., Youngstown, OH/Ursuline) (88-86-93) and Katie Kohut (Fr., Twinsburg, OH/Walsh Jesuit) tied for 77th at 269 (91-89-89).
On Thursday, the Cavs used a split squad at Allegheny and at the Phipps Memorial. The Cavs "A" team finished second at the nine-team Allegheny Invitational. The Cavs shot 322 and finished six strokes back of Allegheny College. Kim Smith tied for second paced the Cavs with a 76 (37-39). Nikki Kulasa tied for fourth place after shooting 79 (40-39). Katie Kohut tied for 13th with an 83 (41-42), Katy Collins finished 17th with an 84 (42-42) and Kelsey Ozanich (Fr., Warren, OH/Howland) shot 90 (46-44) to finish tied for 29th.
Abbey Kimar finished third for the Cavs at the Phipps Memorial Invitational played at Glenmoor Country Club. The Cavs, using a split squad, featured only four players. Kimar paced the Cavs with a 92. Nikki Barr (Fr., Canton, OH/South) finished 5th (95). Ashley Winston (Fr., Twinsburg, OH/HS) placed 9th (107) and Courtney Klemens (So., Mentor, OH/HS) 14th (116).
Nikki Kulasa fired a 78 on Sunday, to finish with a 36-hole total of 155 (77-78) to capture medalist honors at the Pat Clouse Invitational. Kulasa also won honors at Ohio Dominican's Kiser Classic and at the Walsh Invitational this fall. Unfortunately for the Cavs, they wasted a ten stroke leading heading into the final round and finished two strokes back of champion University of Findlay. The Cavs shot 327 to finish with a two-day total of 646 (319-327), while the Oilers shot 314 today to finish at 644 (330-314). Kim Smith tied for sixth place at 159 (78-81), Katy Collins finished 12th at 163 (82-81), Katie Kohut tied for 20th at 169 (82-87) and Kelsey Ozanich tied for 39th at 178 (86-92).
MEN'S SOCCER: Cavs (7-4, 2-3) Extend Win Streak to Four
Walsh (7-4, 2-3) recorded back-to-back shutouts for the second straight week, after blanking Malone University in an American Mideast Conference game and Ohio Dominican University in a non-conference game. The Cavs four-game win streak is their longest since they won four straight games in 2005. The record for consecutive shutouts is six and was established in 1989. This week, the Cavs travel to Indiana Tech for a non-conference game on Tuesday and travel to New York State to meet Daemen College in an AMC battle on Saturday.
Walsh outmuscled neighboring rival Malone 2-0 last Tuesday. Taking advantage of a free kick on a foul, Nathaniel Milhoan (So., 5-11, Hartville, OH/Lake) centered the ball to Chad Flath (So., 5-10, Wadsworth, OH/HS) who sent a laser into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead at 13:20. Despite many other close opportunities, Walsh wouldn’t score again until the 85th minute when Ben Truax (So., 6-0, Mansfield, OH/St. Peters) assisted a goal by Matt Bly (Fr., 5-10, Bellbrook, OH/HS) to ice the game. Walsh limited the Pioneers to three shots in the second half, as Mike Kelley (Fr., Chagrin Falls, OH/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) recorded the shutout in goal.
Walsh wasted little time in getting a leg up on Ohio Dominican during Saturday afternoon’s soccer match at Len Milazzo Field. The Cavaliers scored two goals in the first 18 minutes of the game and never looked back en route to a 3-0 win over the Panthers. Ben Truax (So., 6-0, Mansfield, OH/St. Peters) earned the first goal after receiving the assist from Matt Bly (Fr., 5-10, Bellbrook, OH/HS) in the box at the 14-minute mark. Four minutes later, Bly tallied another point by scoring a goal on an assist from Derrick Gullen (So., 5-11, Steubenville, OH/HS). George Moga (So., 5-10, Akron, OH/Springfield) added the final goal on an assist from Adam Brately (Sr., 6-2, North Canton, OH/St. Thomas Aquinas) with eight seconds remaining in the game. Mike Kelley was in goal and made three saves on the day and lowered his goals against average to 1.02.
WOMEN'S SOCCER: Cavs (3-5-3, 3-4) Go Extra Again in Notching AMC Win Over Malone
Call them the Kardiac Kids of soccer, as the Cavs played two more overtime games, to extend their streak to four straight overtime contests. Walsh opened the week with a 2-1 win at Malone University in an American Mideast Conference game, then traveled West to Montana, where they battled the University of Great Falls to an scoreless tie. The Cavs have played a record six overtime games this season, shattering the previous record of five in 1998. This week they close their western trip at Carroll College (MT) on Monday, then travel to Daemen College in New York State for an AMC battle on Saturday.
The Cavaliers won a hard-fought match against neighboring rival Malone University by a score of 2-1. Walsh trailed 1-0 in the second half, when Rachel Naumann (Jr., 5-3, Hinckley, OH/Highland) assisted Amanda Patrick (Sr., 5-7, Medina, OH/Cloverleaf) on the game-tying goal at the 76:13 mark. In overtime, Carley Adams (Fr., 5-7, Louisville, OH/HS) assisted Patrick, as she scored her second goal and game-winner on a hard shot that ricocheted off the crossbar in the left corner. Jillian Zanney (So., 5-11, Brunswick, OH/HS) was in goal and recorded seven saves.
Great Falls outshot the Cavs 17-5 in the overtime tie on Saturday. Jillian Zanney made eight saves for the Cavs and lowered her goals against average to 1.41
VOLLEYBALL: Shawnee State Snaps Cavs Streak at 15 and Hands Them First AMC Loss
Walsh (20-2, 4-1) split two American Mideast Conference matches last week to fall from first place. After defeating Point Park University on Tuesday, Walsh fell at the hands of Shawnee State University on Friday. Walsh closed the week with a non-conference win over the University of Rio Grande. This week, the Cavs host rival Malone University in an AMC contest on Wednesday (7 pm). The Cavs bested the Pioneers in a non-conference match in early September. On Friday night, the Cavs host Houghton College in an AMC contest at 6 pm.
Walsh swept Point Park by the scores of 25-21, 25-15, 25-23. Hannah Duran (5-9, Fr., Grafton, OH/Midview) led the offense with 39 assists and also added 10 digs. Middleblockers Natalie Borland (6-0, Sr., Kent, OH/HS/Kent State) and Brittany Morris (5-11, Fr., North Royalton, OH/Padua) pounded 13 and 10 kills respectively. AMC Player of the Week Julianne O'Donnell (5-10, Fr., Willowick, OH/Lake Catholic) added 12 kills. Libero Kristen Rohlfs (5-8, So., Loveland, OH/Mount Notre Dame) had a team-high 17 digs. Megan Kelly (5-10, Jr., Brook Park, OH/Holy Name) had a season-high 12 digs and also added seven kills on a .350 hitting percentage. Natalie Phillips (5-10, So., Wooster, OH/HS) was also in double digit digs with 11 and Jenna Golic (5-10, Fr., Mentor, OH/HS) had a career-high 3.5 blocks.
Shawnee State handed the Cavs their first AMC loss by the scores of 20-25, 18-25, 25-23, 16-25. The Cavs were led by Hannah Duran with 42 assists and she also added 13 digs in the loss. Julianne O'Donnell and Natalie Phillips were both in double-digit kills with 16 and 14 respectively. Kristen Rohlfs led with 23 digs and Amy Police (5-5, Sr., Perry, OH/HS) chipped in 12 digs.
Walsh defeated the University of Rio Grande in four sets by the scores of 25-19, 25-17, 21-25, 25-21. Hannah Duran had 45 assists and 11 digs. The offense was spread out, as Julianne O'Donnell, Natalie Borland and Brittany Morris were all in double-digit kills with 16, 12, and 12, respectively. Jenna Golic led the team in digs with 18 and Kristen Rohlfs chipped in 15. Natalie Phillips also contributed 12 digs.
Brittany Morris is second in the AMC in attack percentage (.391). Julianne O'Donnell is fourth in kills per game (3.7) and Hannah Duran leads the AMC in assists at 11.4 per game.
