After a regular season that included four first-place and one second-place finish in invitationals, Pennsylvania College of Technology golfers will seek conference and national honors in tournament action Monday and Tuesday.
ON THE HORIZON:
Golf
After a regular season that included four first-place and one second-place finish in invitationals, Pennsylvania College of Technology golfers will seek conference and national honors in tournament action Monday and Tuesday.
Competing on the Penn State Blue Course, the Wildcats are among the favorites for the Penn State University Athletic Conference and United States Collegiate Athletic Association championships.
“Our regular season was what I was looking for out of the team. Although I thought we would have more scores in the 70s this season, the scores were pretty consistent and I was pleased with their regular season play,” coach Matt Haile, who is in his fifth season, said. “Although our last two matches yielded our highest team scores all season, I’m confident in their games heading up to Penn State. We’ve spent this week ironing out the small things that will yield better play and I’m excited to see them play two days of golf.
“I’ve very pleased with my players thus far. They’ve been consistent all year and my newcomers have stepped it up and played great for not having played most of the courses we played this year. They’ve worked really hard on their games this season and I’m proud to have such a great group of guys who are dedicated to the team,” Haile continued.
The key Monday and Tuesday, according to the coach, “is staying patient and playing their games. The tournament is two days so it’s important that they not give up after a few bad holes. If they have a bad day, they need to come back with a good round.”
Through action thus far, weather and course conditions couldn’t have been better for the Wildcats, although that could change with a good chance of showers forecast for Monday by the National Weather Service in State College and isolated showers forecast for Tuesday.
Looking ahead, Haile said, “Based on team scoring average for the regular season, we averaged nine shots better than PSU DuBois. Anything can happen at this point and our guys need to go out and play their games and it should all work out in the end. Based on the talent we have on the team, I’m just waiting for that breakthrough moment that we really haven’t had yet thus far. We have at least four players on the team who realistically can shoot in the 70s, so I’m really hoping this happens at Penn State.”
Competing in the championships for Penn College will be Alex Howe, of Lake Ariel; Corey Teeple, of Lake Ariel; C.J. Foust, of Palmyra; Nick Krupka, of Allentown; Bryce Petersheim, of Birdsboro; and Sam Bubb, of Williamsport.
Penn College finished second in the PSUAC last year and in 2010 and was third in 2009 and 2011. Its last conference title came in 2008. In USCAA play, the Wildcats were fourth in 2009, fifth in 2010, seventh in 2011 and eighth a year ago.
FLASHBACK:
Golf
The Wildcats closed out their regular season on Monday and saw their four-match conference unbeaten streak come to an end at the PSU Hazleton Invitational as PSU DuBois edged Penn College, 339-344, in an eight-team event. Teeple and Foust each shot 84 for the Wildcats while Howe had an 86 and Bubb a 90.
Women’s tennis
Playing at the No. 4 singles position, Taylor Pompili, of Renovo, scored the only win for Penn College in an 8-1 loss to Lycoming College on Thursday.
It was announced late last week that the PSUAC Championships, scheduled for Oct. 19-20, have been canceled due to a lack of participants.
Men’s soccer
Facing SUNY ESF on Monday night, Penn College opened the scoring on a goal by Christian Dressler, of McAlisterville, assisted by Doug Binnie, of Charlton, Mass., just 12:36 into the match, but that was all of the offense the Wildcats could muster in a 2-1 non-conference loss.
In Newark, N.J., Thursday night against Berkeley College, Penn College outshot its opponent, 15-11, but could manage only a goal by Chris Brennan, of New Hope, in a 3-1 loss.
On Sunday at PSU New Kensington, the Wildcats improved to 5-1 in the PSUAC and 10-4 overall with a 4-2 win during which Brennan scored all four goals for Penn College. Brennan’s feat tied the Penn College single-game record. Jacob Tuck, of Hollsopple, had two assists.
Also last week, senior forward Brennan was named the PSUAC Men’s Soccer Player of the Week for the period ending Sept. 29. In the team’s 3-0 week, Brennan recorded five goals and a team-leading 11 points. He scored two goals each in wins over PSU Mont Alto and Bryn Athyn College.
Women’s soccer
Two late SUNY ESF goals turned a 2-1 Penn College lead into a 3-2 loss on Monday. Scoring early for the Wildcats were Robyn Beddow, of Lancaster, and Kelsea Robbins, of Milton.
For the second year in a row, Penn College won the Battle for the Lumber in its annual match against crosstown rival Lycoming College, and this time it came with a 3-1 victory that marked the Wildcats’ first-ever win over the Warriors. It also evened the “Lumber” series at 2-2 after last year’s match went to a shootout after a scoreless tie. Scoring goals for Penn College during Wednesday’s win were Kelsea Robbins, of Milton; Madilyn Walters, of Lewistown; and Valeria Passalacqua, of McAlisterville.
With time running out on Saturday against Carlow University, Beddow scored in the 90th minute to lift the Wildcats to a 3-2 win that moved them to 6-4 on the season. Penn College led 2-0 at the half after goals by Walters and Beddow before Carlow knotted things in the second half. Carlow outshot the Wildcats, 28-6.
Women’s volleyball
On Tuesday, the Wildcats lost to Elmira, N.Y., College, 10-25, 18-25, 20-25. For Penn College, Rachel Heller, of Allison Park, had 15 kills while Courtney Gernert, of Palmyra, had 11 kills and 10 digs and Catie Aviles, of Robesonia, had 15 assists.
During action Saturday in a quadrangular match at PSU Brandywine, Penn College split, beating PSU Schuylkill, 25-5, 25-10, 25-7, and losing to Brandywine, 25-27, 15-25, 20-25. Gernert led the offense with 30 kills and 13 service aces in the two matches.
On Sunday at PSU Mont Alto, Penn College again split, beating PSU York, 25-17, 25-16, 25-19, and losing to the host team, 11-25, 18-25, 20-25, to go to 5-4 in the conference and 6-16 overall. For the day, Gernert had 25 kills and Aviles had 33 assists.
SCHEDULE/RECORDS
Cross-country
Saturday, Oct. 12 – at DeSales Invitational, 10:30 a.m.
Saturday, Oct. 19 – PSUAC Championships at PSU Scranton, 12:45 p.m.
Golf
Monday, Sept. 30 – at PSU Hazleton Invitational, finished second in an eight-team field
Monday-Tuesday, Oct. 7-8 – PSUAC/USCAA championships at University Park, 11 a.m.
Men’s soccer
Overall record: 10-4
PSUAC record: 5-1
Monday, Sept. 30 – host SUNY ESF, L, 2-1
Wednesday, Oct. 2 – at Berkeley, N.J., College, L, 3-1
Sunday, Oct. 6 – at PSU New Kensington, W, 4-2
Wednesday, Oct. 9 – at PSU Scranton, 4 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 12 – host PSU Wilkes-Barre, 3 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 13 – at PSU Greater Allegheny, 3 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 15 – at PSU Hazleton, 4 p.m.
Women’s soccer
Overall record: 6-4
Monday, Sept. 30 – host SUNY ESF, L, 3-2
Wednesday, Oct. 2 – at Lycoming College, W, 3-1
Saturday, Oct. 5 – host Carlow University, W, 3-2
Thursday, Oct. 10 – at College of St. Elizabeth, 3 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 12 – host Alfred, N.Y., State, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 13 – at PSU Greater Allegheny, 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 15 – host Maine-Fort Kent, 2 p.m.
Women’s tennis
Overall record: 2-7
PSUAC record: 1-2
Thursday, Oct. 3 – at Lycoming College, L, 8-1
Saturday, Oct. 12 – at PSU Mont Alto, noon
Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 19-20 – PSUAC Championships, canceled
Women’s volleyball
Overall record: 6-16
PSUAC record: 5-4
Tuesday, Oct. 1 – host Elmira, N.Y., College, L, 10-25, 18-25, 20-25
Saturday, Oct. 5 – vs. PSU Schuylkill at PSU Brandywine, W, 25-5, 25-10, 25-7
Saturday, Oct. 5 – at PSU Brandywine, L, 25-27, 15-25, 20-25
Sunday, Oct. 6 – vs. PSU York at PSU Mont Alto, W, 25-17, 25-16, 25-19
Sunday, Oct. 6 – at PSU Mont Alto, L, 11-25, 18-25, 20-25
Wednesday, Oct. 9 – at PSU DuBois, canceled
Thursday, Oct. 10 – host PSU Wilkes-Barre, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 12 – vs. PSU Beaver at PSU Hazleton, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 12 – vs. PSU New Kensington at PSU Hazleton, 4 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 13 – host PSU Fayette, 11 a.m.
Sunday, Oct. 13 – host PSU Greater Allegheny, 5 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 17 – host PSU Scranton, 7 p.m.
