Monday, September 14, 2009
This Week in Walsh University Athletics
Mon. 14 Women's Golf (H) Walsh University Fall Classic (Sanctuary GC) 10 am
Tues. 15 Women's Golf (H) Walsh University Fall Classic (Sanctuary GC) 9 am
Women's Soccer at Houghton College 5 pm
Men's Soccer at Houghton College 7 pm
Volleyball at Malone University 7 pm
Fri. 18 Men's Gold at Malone Fall Classic (Tannenhauf)
Volleyball (H) Canton Comfort Inn Invitational vs. Saint Xavier 5 pm/vs. Ohio Dominican University 7:30 pm
Sat. 19 Football (H) Ohio Dominican University 12 pm (AM 900 WCER/AM 640 WHLO)
Men's Golf at Malone Fall Classic (Tannenhauf)
Volleyball (H) Canton Comfort Inn Invitational vs. Spring Arbor 12:30 pm/Houghton 3 pm
Men's Soccer (H) Roberts Wesleyan 2 pm
Women's Soccer at Roberts Wesleyan 7 pm
Women's Golf (A) Princeton University Tiger Invitational at Springdale GC, Princeton, NJ
Sun. 20 Women's Golf (A) Princeton University Tiger Invitational at Springdale GC, Princeton, NJ
FOOTBALL: Cavs (1-1) Even Mark with Road Win/Blossomgame, Williams Earn MSFA Player of Week Honors
Walsh evened its record at 1-1 with a 24-16 win at Quincy University in a Mid-States Football Association crossover game on Saturday. After playing two road games to open the season, the Cavs meet Ohio Dominican University (1-1) in the home opener this Saturday at 12 pm at Fawcett Stadium. Fans can still pick-up free tickets at the Giant Eagle store in Washington Square, right across from the Walsh campus.
Walsh scored first when Brian Williams (Sr., Canton, OH/McKinley) returned a Quincy punt 61-yards for a score with 1:36 to play in the first quarter. The two teams would then trade field goals in the second quarter. Quincy's Alex Beard booted a 38-yard field goal, which was followed by Eric Buchanan's (Jr., Lehigh Acers, FL/East Lee County) 40-yarder, which gave the Cavs a 10-3 lead with 9:54 to play in the second quarter. The Hawks then scored the equalizer (10-10) at the 4:40 mark of the second quarter on a 21-yard pass play.
Quincy would take their only lead of the game on Beard's 42-yard field goal with 9:46 to play in the third quarter. It was the only score of the period. Walsh would regain the lead for good at the 14:57 mark of the fourth quarter on a one-yard run by Clinton Blossomgame (Jr., Columbus, OH/Beechcroft). The key play of the drive was a fourth and eight completion from Jim Shiplett to Mike McGill (Sr., Barberton, OH/Coventry) for 23 yards to the Quincy nine-yard line. Blossomgame would then score the clincher, when he busted through for a 35-yard TD on a third and one play. Quincy tallied the final score at the 3:23 mark on a 23-yard field goal.
Blossomgame rushed for 137 yards on 18 carries, all in the second half. Shiplett was 9-21 passing for 99 yards. Joe Morgan (Jr., Canton, OH/McKinley/Illinois) caught six passes for 67 yards and McGill caught two passes for 32 yards. Jason Stiel (Jr., Reynoldsburg, OH/HS) led the defense with 10 tackles and Chris Bivins (So., Alliance, OH/HS) had an interception.
Clinton Blossomgame and Brian Williams each earned MSFA Player of the Week honors. Blossomgame was named the Offensive Player of the Week and Williams the Special Teams Player of the Week. Williams returned two punts for 70 yards and two kicks for 60 yards.
Walsh tangles with Ohio Dominican University on Saturday. The Panthers, who were idle last week, are 1-1. They lost their season opener 14-13 to Bentley University on August 29, then rebounded for a 44-21 win over Seton Hill University on September 5. ODU defeated the Cavs 24-22 at Fawcett Stadium last year and have won the last two meetings. Walsh still owns a 3-2 series lead. At halftime, Walsh will recognize their 2008-09 Athletes of the Year, Megan McDonald (Volleyball) and Joe Shardo (Men's Basketball) and the top student-athletes from the spring semester. The game will be broadcast live on AM 900 WCER (www.wcer.us) and on NewsTalk 640 (www,640whlo.com).
CROSS COUNTRY: (MEN) Cavs 2nd at Sayre Invitational
Walsh (5-1) opened the cross country season impressively with a second place finish in the second annual Ric Sayre Invitational Saturday morning. Mount Union (30) took first place honors. The Cavaliers (82) edged out Wooster (86) for runners-up. Fourth through seventh were John Carroll (130), Hiram (154), Lake Erie (167), and Roberts Wesleyan (193). This week the Cavs travel to South Bend, Indiana for the annual National Catholic Championships.
Jordan Johnson (So., Louisville, OH/HS) paced Walsh and finished eighth in a time of 27:04. Brandon Wollenberg (Fr., Massillon, OH/HS) was the next Cavalier to cross at 27:07. Others scoring points for Walsh were Jordan Groubert (Fr., Hartville, OH/HS) at 16th (27:16) Bob Fay (Jr., Canton, OH/Central Catholic) 25th (28:15) and Matt Long (Sr., Mogadore, OH/HS) 30th (28:38).
CROSS COUNTRY: (WOMEN) Cavs 4th at Sayre Invitational
Walsh (4-3) finished fourth in the second annual Ric Sayre Invitational Saturday morning in their first meet of the season. For the second straight year, John Carroll University (28) won the event with their top five runners finishing 11th or better. Wooster finished (65) finished second and Roberts Wesleyan (86) finished third. The Cavaliers (93) defeated Cuyahoga County Community College (134), Mount Union (136), Lake Erie College (171) and Hiram College (256). This week the Cavs travel to South Bend, Indiana for the annual National Catholic Championships.
Katie Laughlin (Fr., Malvern, OH/Canton South) led the Cavs finishing eighth with a time of 19:39. Kim Swartz (Fr., Tiffin, OH/Tiffin Calvert) followed at 16th overall (20:20), Lissa Yoder (Fr., Cortland, OH/Maplewood) 22nd (20:36), Amber Cross (Fr., Mineral Ridge, OH/HS) 28th (20:52) and Kristen LeFever (Sr., Alliance, OH/Marlington) 29th (20:54).
WOMEN'S GOLF: Cavs Host Invitational
The undefeated Cavs (5-0) will host the Walsh Invitational at Sanctuary Golf Course on Monday (10 am) and Tuesday (9 am). The Cavs have been idle since winning the University of Northwestern Ohio Invitational on August 28/29.
MEN'S GOLF: Cavs (2-4) at Malone Classic
Walsh returns to the links this weekend, as they play in the Malone University Fall Classic at Tannenhauf Golf Course on Friday and Saturday. The Cavs have been idle since their fifth place finish at the John Carroll University Invitational on September 5.
MEN'S SOCCER: Cavs (3-1) Notch Hard Fought Road Win
Walsh improved to 3-1 on the season, after defeating Grace College 2-1 on the road last Saturday. The Cavs 3-1 start is their best since the 2007 season when they won their first three games. This week the Cavs open American Mideast Conference play at Houghton College (2-4) on Tuesday night (7 pm), then play at home against Roberts Wesleyan College (1-3) at 2 pm on Saturday. Walsh finished 4-7 in the AMC last year.
Walsh handed Grace College (2-3-1) its third straight loss, downing the Lancers 2-1 in a hard fought contest in Winona Lake, Indiana. The Cavaliers’ Clint Merck (So., 6-0, Randolph, OH/St. Thomas Aquinas) scored on penalty kick to give the Cavs a 1-0 lead, just five minutes into the contest. Grace responded five minutes later on a breakaway to tie the game (1-1). The game remained tied until the 79th minute mark, when the Cavs Jordan Semple (Fr., 5-7, North Canton, OH/Glen Oak) rolled a goal through the legs of the Grace keeper for the game-winner. George Moga (So., 5-10, Akron, OH/Springfield, OH) recorded the assist. Cavs keeper Mike Kelley (Fr., 6-0, Chagrin Falls, OH/NDCL) had five saves, including some key stops in the second half.
WOMEN'S SOCCER: Cavs (0-1-2) Open AMC Play
After scoring just one goal in their first three games, Walsh (0-1-2) looks to break the scoring drought when they open American Mideast Conference play this week. The Cavs, who have been idle since September 6, travel to Houghton College (2-0-2) on Tuesday (5 pm) and to Roberts Wesleyan College (1-3-1) on Saturday (7 pm).
VOLLEYBALL: Cavs Win Hiram Invitational/Borland and O'Donnell Named to All-Tournament Team
NAIA No. 21 Walsh improved to 7-1 on the season after winning the Hiram College Invitational last weekend. This week, the Cavs open defense of their American Mideast Conference title on Tuesday (7 pm) at Malone University. On Friday and Saturday, in conjunction with Malone, the two schools host the Canton Comfort Inn Classic benefitting the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank. Tickets are $8.00 dollars for both days, and $5.00 for one day. Fans who bring two canned food items receive $1.00 dollar off the original ticket price. There will be three matches at Malone and Walsh each day.
Walsh swept Marietta College in their first match at the Hiram Invitational (25-20, 25-22, 25-12) on Friday. The Cavaliers were led by Hannah Duran's (5-9, Fr., Grafton, OH/Midview) 37 assists. Freshman outside, Julianne O'Donnell (5-10, Fr., Willowick, OH/Lake Catholic), had her fifth double-double of the season with 12 kills and 16 digs, while also adding two service aces. Kristen Rohlfs (5-7, So., Loveland, OH/Mount Notre Dame) had a team-high 19 digs. Natalie Borland (6-0, Sr., Kent, OH/HS/Kent State) added 10 kills and a team-high 5.5 blocks. Natalie Phillips (5-10, So., Wooster, OH/HS) also had two service aces and 11 digs.
Walsh then completed the tournament sweep by winning twice on Saturday. In the first match, the Cavs swept the University of Rochester by the scores of 25-17, 25-18, 25-23. Walsh was led by Duran's 35 assists and Borland's 10 kills and 3.5 blocks. Rohlfs had a team-high 19 digs, while Jenna Golic (5-10, Fr., Mentor, OH/HS) added 16 digs and six kills. Rohlfs and Borland each had one service ace.
In the second match of the day, Walsh defeated Hiram College 25-18, 25-17, 25-21. Duran had 36 assists and eight digs, Julianne O'Donnell (5-10, Fr., Willowick, OH/Lake Catholic) led with 14 kills, 11 digs and two aces, and Rohlfs had a team-high 17 digs. Phillips also added 10 digs and Megan Kelly (5-10, Jr., Brook Park, OH/Holy Name) finished with eight kills.
Natalie Borland and Julianne O'Donnell were both named to the all-tournament team. Borland finished the weekend with 26 kills on a .313 hitting percentage. She added two service aces and 10 blocks. O'Donnell had a team-high 35 kills (.260 hitting percentage), four service aces, 36 digs, and two blocks.
