Penn College XC runners set for conference championships
Pennsylvania College of Technology cross-country runners will compete in the North Eastern Athletic Conference Championships on Saturday (Oct. 31) at Cazenovia College and first-year coach Nick Patton says they are ready.
“It’s pretty simple. I think the team is where it needs to be at this point. I expect a good performance on both sides,” he said.
Reflecting on the regular season, Patton said, “They have taken a lot of time off their times in each race and have gotten progressively better through workouts and running consistently.
“I expect a few breakouts (in individual performances). There could be some all-conference performers.”
The men will run an 8K course and the women a 6K distance.
Key runners during the season for the men’s squad have been Chris Traugher, of Bath; Nathan Mashack, of Bloomsburg; Liam McGarvey, of Cogan Station; Matt DeSanto, of South Williamsport; William Cox, of Ebensburg; and Derrick Morrison, of York.
Key Penn College women have been Erin Sullivan, of Elizabethtown; Ashley Mahaffey, of Hughesville; Allison Bailey, of West Chester; Jen Nicholson, of Lock Haven; Katherine Santoianni, of Williamsport; Jessica Wiegand, of Montoursville; and Kaitlyn Anderson, of Mastic, New York.
Women’s volleyball
The Wildcats closed out their season with matches on Monday, 2-3 (12-25, 25-22, 25-20, 18-25, 11-15) loss at Valley Forge, and Wednesday, 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-16) loss at Alfred State, to finish 1-25. Leading the team throughout the season were sophomores Sophie Coldsmith, of Gettysburg; Felicia Webber, of West Perry; and Kaitlyn Young, of Harrisonburg, Virginia. Coldsmith finished with 69 kills, 35 aces, 238 digs and 236 assists while Webber had 107 kills, 27 aces and 239 digs and Young had 239 digs and 27 aces.
“I think we learned how to compete against tougher teams in the conference and we learned where we needed to improve,” first-year coach Tom McLaughlin said about the season. “We made a lot of progress on running our middles, but we need to get better on serve and receive in order to compete with the teams in this conference.”
Commenting on his key players, McLaughlin said, “Sophie was our captain and by far she really helped carry the team. Compared to other players in the conference she is, by far, one of the best defensive players. She is one of the best defensive players I have coached on the women’s side of the game. She keeps plays alive that a lot of others wouldn’t be able to. She kept us in a lot of matches that we wouldn’t have been in without her.
“Webber really improved a lot this year. … She had several better games toward the end of the season. … She improved her vertical and was able to put more balls away.
“Young was a strong defensive player for us. She’s good at reading hitters and she’s good at getting to the ball where she needs to be,” the coach said.
“If we had a most improved player this year it would definitely have to be Tara Glenny (of Petersburg). She really came along this year from someone who started playing last spring without any experience in organized volleyball. … She really came along and helped us establish the middle and made the most progress of anyone on the team,” he added.
Through Saturday in the NEAC, SUNY Poly was 11-1, Wells College 8-1, Gallaudet University 10-2, Penn State Berks 9-3, Lancaster Bible 7-5, Keuka College 5-4, Bryn Athyn 5-5, Morrisville State 6-6, St. Elizabeth 4-5, Cazenovia 2-8, SUNY Cobleskill 2-10, Penn State Abington 1-8 and Penn College 0-12.
Women’s soccer
During a 1-1 double overtime tie at home against Lancaster Bible on Saturday, the Wildcats got on the board at the 48:48 mark when Robyn Beddow found the back of the net. The visitors knotted things at the 89:04 mark and then the two teams went scoreless through both overtimes. Lancaster Bible outshot Penn College, 16-12 (7-6 on goal), as the Wildcats went to 7-6-3 overall and 7-1-2 in the conference.
Through Saturday, Penn State Berks led the NEAC with a 9-0 mark, followed by Penn State Abington at 8-1, Penn College at 7-1-2, SUNY Poly 6-1-2, Lancaster Bible 7-2-1, Keuka College 7-3-1, Wells College 5-5, Cazenovia 4-6-1, Morrisville State 4-6-1, SUNY Cobleskill 2-7, Wilson College 1-9, Gallaudet 1-10 and St. Elizabeth 0-10.
Men’s soccer
Hosting Lancaster Bible on Saturday, Penn College fell behind 2-0 at the half. Randy Vance, of Greenwood Lake, New York, gave the Wildcats their lone goal, unassisted, at the 74:37 mark before the visitors added their final goal. Lancaster Bible led in shots, 21-8 (11-3 on goal), and in corner kicks, 11-1.
Through Saturday in the NEAC, Keuka College was 8-0-2, Morrisville State 9-1-1, Lancaster Bible College 7-2-1, Wells College 7-3, SUNY Poly 5-3-1, Penn State-Berks 5-4, Penn State Abington 4-4-2, Penn State-Berks 5-4, Bryn Athyn 3-6-1, Penn College 3-6, Wilson College 2-7-2, Gallaudet 1-10, SUNY Cobleskill 0-9.
PENN COLLEGE SCHEDULES
Men’s, women’s cross-country
Saturday, Oct. 31—NEAC Championships at Cazenovia College, Jamesville Beach Park, Jamesville, N.Y.
Men’s soccer
Overall record: 5-11
NEAC record: 3-6
Saturday, Oct. 24 – host Lancaster Bible College (NEAC), L, 3-1
Sunday, Oct. 25 – at Penn State Berks (NEAC), noon
Wednesday, Oct. 28 – at Bryn Athyn (NEAC), 4:15 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 31 – at Penn State Abington (NEAC), 1 p.m.
(end of regular season)
Women’s soccer
Overall record: 7-6-3
NEAC record: 7-1-2
Saturday, Oct. 24 – host Lancaster Bible College (NEAC), T, 1-1 (2 OT)
Sunday, Oct. 25 – at Penn State Berks (NEAC), 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 27 – at Summit University, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 31 – at Penn State Abington (NEAC), 3 p.m.
(end of regular season)
Women’s volleyball
Final Overall record: 1-25
Final NEAC record: 0-12
Monday, Oct. 19 – at Valley Forge, L, 2-3 (12-25, 25-22, 25-20, 18-25, 11-15)
Wednesday, Oct. 21 – at Alfred State, L, 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-16)
(end of season)