September 5, 2006

Tuesday, September 5, 2006

This Week in Walsh University Athletics

Tues. 5
Volleyball at Mount Union 7 pm

Fri. 8
Men's Soccer (H) Daemen 7 pm
Volleyball vs. Tiffin/Olivet Nazarene at St. Xavier Tournament 6/8 pm

Sat. 9
Volleyball vs. Park/St. Xavier at St. Xavier Tournament 12/2 pm
Women's Soccer (H) University of St. Francis (IN) 5 pm
Football at University of St. Francis (IL) 7 pm AM 900 WCER/640 AM WHLO
Men's Soccer (H) University of St. Francis (IN) 7 pm
 
FOOTBALL (1-0) Cavs Romp over West Liberty 42-16 in Opener
NAIA 13th ranked Walsh University (1-0) rolled over West Liberty State (1-1) 42-16 in their 12th season opener at Fawcett Stadium on Saturday. The loss avenges a 20-17 loss in the season opener at West Liberty State last season and improved the Cavs to 10-2 in season openers. This week the Cavs travel to Joliet, Illinois to meet the University of Saint Francis in a Mid-States Football Association crossover game. Game time is 7 pm EST and will be broadcast on the Walsh University Radio Football Network on AM 900 WCER and on AM 640 WHLO.

Walsh scored on its first possession, as Antwain Reine' (Jr., Dayton, OH/Trotwood-Madison) scored on a six-yard run at the 11:46 mark to give the Cavs a 6-0 lead. Reine keyed the three-play, 60-yard drive with a 40-yard carry. Reine' led all rushers with 124 yards on the ground. Mike Lum's (Sr., North Canton, OH/Hoover) extra point gave the Cavs a 7-0 lead. NAIA All-American return man Rob Lash (Jr., Shelby, OH/JS) then thrilled the fans with a 75-yard punt return for a score at the 9:20 of the first period, as Walsh built a 14-0 lead. West Liberty's only score of the half came on a 23-yard field goal with 3:31 to play in the first quarter. Walsh tacked on two more first half scores, as quarterback Sam Cerreta (Jr., North Canton, OH/HS) scored on a one-yard at the 14:54 mark of the second period and on Reine's two-yard run, as Walsh led 28-3 at the half. West Liberty scored their first touchdown in the third quarter, as they turned a Walsh fumble into points, when they scored from one-yard out to cut the Walsh lead to 28-10. But a West Liberty onside kick failed and Walsh marched 44 yards in four plays, and scored when Jeff Tallman (Fr., Canton OH/Perry) raced 24 yards to give the Cavs a 35-10 lead. The defense gave the Cavs their final tally, when linebacker Duane Porter (Fr., Columbus, OH/Mifflin) picked off a Hilltopper pass on the eight-yard line and then scored to give Walsh a 42-10 advantage. West Liberty tacked on the games final score at the 4:40 mark, when Jarrett Ponder caught a two-yard pass from Jay Gullion.  Linebacker Bryan Howe (Jr., Akron, OH/Ellet/U of Akron) led the defense in tackles with 11, and defensive back Rayshaun Kizer (Sr., Euclid, OH/HS) had nine tackles and two pass break-ups.

Saint Francis was defeated 37-0 by Saint Joseph's College in their season opener on Saturday. The Fighting Saints netted just 55 yards of total offense and only four yards on the ground. They were 2-9 last season and 0-7 in the MSFA Midwest. Walsh leads the all-time series 2-0 and defeated the Saints 41-0 at Fawcett Stadium in 2003 and 28-14 in Joliet in 2002.

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY (8-0): McKee, Cavs Win at Westminster
Walsh (8-0) opened the season with a convincing win at the Fisher Invitational at Westminster College on Saturday. The Cavs (32) won the event going away over second place Alderson-Broaddus (62). Gannon University (95) was third and Penn State-Behrend fourth (107). Brendan McKee (So., Akron, OH/St. Vincent-St. Mary), a NAIA National Qualifier last year, won the race in a time of 27:20. In all, the Cavs captured four out of the top ten places. Chris Zundel (Sr., Madison, OH/HS) was fourth in a time of 27:41, Mike Groholy (Jr., Parma, OH/Valley Forge) finished sixth (27:52), Jon Winnyk (So., Strongsville, OH/Holy Name) was eighth (28:06) and Josh Rogers (Jr., Hartville, OH/Lake) finished 13th (28:46).
The Cavs are idle this week.

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTY (8-3): Cavs 4th at Fisher Invitational at Westminster
Walsh (8-3) finished fourth at the 12-team Fisher Invitational, held at Westminster College on Saturday. Alderson Broaddus finished first, with Gannon second and Saint Vincent third. Lauren Blase (Fr., Boardman, OH/HS) paced the Cavs with a 10th place in a time of 20:19. Kristen LeFever (Fr., Alliance, OH/Marlington) was right behind Blase, with an 11th place finish in a time of 20:21. Marie Pasuit (Fr., Stow, OH/HS) was next at 25th (20:55), followed by Jennifer Foster (Fr., Carrollton, OH/HS) 31st (20:59), Andrea DiNinno (So., Harrison City, PA/Greensburg CC) 31st (21:02), Lindsay Cooper (Jr., Canton, OH/Central Catholic) 35th (21:40) and Tess Francis (Sr., Randolph, OH/Waterloo) 36th (21:44).
The Cavs are idle this week.

MEN'S SOCCER (1-1): Cavs Even Mark with Win at Seton Hill, Open Home Season on Friday
Walsh evened its record at 1-1, with a 2-0 road win at Seton Hill University (1-2) on Saturday. The Cavs snapped a scoreless tie with two second half goals. Casey Eck (So., North Canton, OH/Hoover) scored on a deflection two minutes into the second half to give Walsh a 1-0 lead. Leon O'Neil (Sr., Blackburn, England/Nordan) then scored on an assist from Greg Keller (Jr., Napolean, OH/HJS) eight minutes later to close the scoring. Goalkeeper Ben Pflum (So., Napolean, OH/HS) made three outstanding saves in the second half and seven total. Shots on goal were even at 11.

Walsh plays its home opener and first regular season night game on Friday against Daemen College. Game time is 7 pm. The Cavs then host the University of Saint Francis (IN) on Saturday night at 7 pm.

WOMEN'S SOCCER (0-2): Cavs Have Rough Start at Home
Walsh (0-2) opened the season with back-to-back losses this past weekend. The Cavs fell 5-0 to Roberts Wesleyan on Friday and then 4-1 to NAIA sixth ranked Houghton College on Saturday. This Saturday, they are home to the University of Saint Francis (IN) at 5 pm.

Walsh dropped its first game under the lights, 5-0 to Roberts Wesleyan, on Friday. Wesleyan jumped to an early 3-0 lead, scoring at the three, four and eleven minute mark and led 4-0 at the half. Walsh did outshoot the visitors 13-6. It was the same story on Saturday, as Houghton scored twice in the first six minutes to lead 2-0. Walsh's only goal came on a penalty kick by Abby Swope (Jr., Wadsworth, OH/HS).

VOLLEYBALL (6-1): Cavs Win Three out of Four Matches at Findlay Tournament

Walsh (6-1) played well at the University of Findlay Invitational last weekend, winning three out of four matches.  The Cavs only loss came at the hands of the University of California (PA).  This week, Walsh travels to Mount Union College on Tuesday (7 pm), then plays in the Saint Xavier (IL)Tournament on Friday and Saturday.  The Cavs meet Tiffin at 6 pm and Olivet Nazarene at 8 pm on Friday, then tangle with Park (12 pm) and St. Xavier (2 pm) on Saturday.

Walsh opened the tournament by defeating Glenville State University 3-0 (30-15, 30-25, 30-23).  Megan McDonald (5-10, So., Kirkland, IL/Rockford Lutheran) paced the Cavs attack with 16 kills.  Jamie Herr (5-9, Sr., Attica, OH/Seneca East) added 15 kills and 18 digs and Jillian Barry (5-5, Jr., Salem, OH/HS) handed out 44 assists.  Heather Hernandez (5-9, Jr., Oakdale, CA/HS) also added 13 digs.  In their second match on Friday they defeated Wayne State University in five games (31-33, 30-17, 30-16, 19-30, 15-10). Herr led the Cavs with 22 kills, while Barry dished out 67 assists.  Hernandez led the Cavs with 23 digs.