Penn College seeks cross-country championships

Cross-country
On Friday, the Wildcat men finished last in an eight-team field at the Lebanon Valley College Last Chance Run Fast Invitational. David Carlson, of Elizabethtown, finished 83rd among 95 runners over an 8K course in 32:39.8 to lead the Wildcats. No Penn College women competed.

“It was just a meet to give some of the kids in the back a chance to run a PR (personal record). It was a flatter course. … In case somebody was going to miss conferences or couldn’t compete, I wanted to give them one more meet to race in this year,” coach Nick Patton said of the Friday event.

Assessing the season thus far, Patton said, “We’ve had stiff competition, but we’ve progressed. I think we’re where we need to be right now. I’m liking everything I see right now and I’m confident that we will be ready to go next weekend.”

Josh Velez, of Lewistown, and Sidney Trunzo, of Williamsport, have led the men’s and women’s teams, respectively, throughout the season, and Patton is hopeful of all-conference finishes (top 21) for each.

“They’re (the women) going to go out and run and do their best because they’ve done it all season. … We’re at the right spot and we’re ready to go. The women’s conference (championship) is pretty much up for grabs,” Patton said, adding, “The team (men) should be somewhere in the top five.”

Patton described the Lancaster Bible College course’s hills as “moderate,” which should be an advantage for his harriers, who he said are more “strength runners.” But he has a bigger concern.

“Hopefully, it’s dry. We haven’t gotten too many dry courses this year. It’s either been 90 degrees or it’s been muddy wherever we’ve traveled,” the coach said.

Among those expected to compete for the Penn College men are Velez; Thomas Runner, of Elkridge, Maryland; Matt Leiby, of Danville; Jonah Isaacson, of Muncy; Ben Ericksen, of Norwich, New York; Chris Hogan, of Halifax; and Alex Giffin, of Chambersburg.

Competing for the Penn College women, in addition to Trunzo, are Rosey Thomas, of Port Allegany; Katie Plankenhorn, of Montoursville; Nikki Crow, of Elizabethtown; Brittany Weiskopff, of Blossburg; and Mallory Hoffman, of Minersville.

FLASHBACK
Golf
On Saturday in the NEAC Fall Preview at Foxchase Golf Club, the Wildcats finished third with a 340 in a four-team field. Ned Baumbach, of Elizabethtown, finished 10th and paced Penn College with a 9-over-par 81 and was closely followed by teammates Austin Moscariello, of New Columbia, 11th with an 83; Brian Whelan, of Cresco, 12th with an 85; and Tyler Marks, of Beachwood, New Jersey, 16th with a 91. Matt Kreider, of team-champ Penn State Berks, medaled with a 1-under 71. Berks shot a 299.

Men's soccer
Two second-half scores, the latter on a penalty kick at 88:41, lifted homestanding Lancaster Bible College to a 2-1 win Tuesday in NEAC action. Lancaster Bible College led in shots, 14-10 (7-4 on goal), and in corner kicks, 8-3.

In conference action on Saturday at Keuka College, Penn College lost, 2-0. Keuka led in shots, 17-5 (7-0 on goal). The Wildcats led in corner kicks, 3-2.

Vance Gradwell, of Bernville, scored one goal and assisted on another on Sunday as Penn College struck twice in the second half for a 2-1 conference win at Wells College that improved its overall record to 6-7-1 and 6-4 in the NEAC. The Wildcats led in shots, 11-9 (8-4 on goal), while Wells led in corner kicks, 9-2.

In North Eastern Athletic Conference action this week: Host Penn State Berks (5-9-1 overall, 6-3 NEAC through Sunday), 3 p.m. Saturday.

Last meeting vs. Penn State Berks: Lost 4-0 on Oct. 23, 2016.

NEAC standings through Sunday: Penn State Abington 9-0-1, Lancaster Bible College 8-2, Keuka College 7-3, Morrisville State College 6-3, SUNY Cobleskill 5-3-1, Penn College 6-4, SUNY Poly 5-5, Gallaudet University 4-6, Penn State Berks 3-7, Wells College 3-7, Cazenovia College 2-8, College of St. Elizabeth 0-10.

Statistically speaking: Goalkeeper Hunter Gosnell, of Westminster, Maryland, is 11th in the NEAC with 37 save, 12th in save percentage at .649 and tied for eighth with 20 goals against.

Women's soccer
In nonconference play on Wednesday at Penn State Altoona, the Wildcats lost, 3-1. Kaelan Cronan, of Leesport, scored the lone Penn College goal in the first half. It was her 13th of the season. Altoona led in shots, 19-15 (both teams had 10 on goal), and each team had four corner kicks.

Squaring off at NEAC unbeaten Keuka College on Saturday, Penn College fell, 3-0. Keuka led in shots, 21-8 (15-2 on goal), and the Wildcats led in corner kicks, 5-4.

On Sunday in NEAC action at Wells College, the Wildcats rebounded from back-to-back losses with a 5-2 win that boosted their overall record to 11-5 and conference mark to 8-2. Cronan scored twice for Penn College and Tiffany Brown, of Mechanicsburg, had two assists during the match, in which the Wildcats led in shots, 27-9 (15-6 on goal), and in corner kicks, 5-1.

In North Eastern Athletic Conference action this week: Host Penn State Berks (11-3-2 overall, 9-0-1 NEAC through Sunday), 1 p.m. Saturday.

Last meeting vs. Penn State Berks: Lost 4-0 last Nov. 5.

NEAC standings through Sunday: Penn State Berks 9-0-1, Keuka College 9-0-1, Penn College 8-2, Cazenovia College 7-2-1, Lancaster Bible College 5-3-2, Morrisville State College 5-4-1, Gallaudet University 4-5-1, SUNY Poly 3-7, Penn State Abington 2-7-1, SUNY Cobleskill 2-8, Wells College 2-8, College of St. Elizabeth 0-10.

Statistically speaking: Cronan is fourth in the NEAC with 15 goals, fourth with 35 points and fifth with 66 shots while goalkeeper Taylor Gonzales, of Lititz, is third with a .849 save percentage and third with 1.17 goals against average.

Women's volleyball
Competing on Saturday at Wells College, Penn College dropped 0-3 decisions to both the home team and Keuka College to go to 1-19 overall and 0-10 in the NEAC. Against Keuka, a 12-25, 10-25, 15-25 loss, Hannah Burnett, of Middlebury Center, had seven assists and six digs. Against Wells, a 11-25, 16-25, 14-25 defeat, Burnett had 12 assists and Michayla Roberts, of Newville, had 10 digs.

In North Eastern Athletic Conference action this week: At Penn State Abington (5-20 overall, 1-9 NEAC through Sunday), 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Last meeting vs. Penn State Abington: Lost 3-1 on Sept. 13, 2017.

NEAC standings through Sunday: Morrisville State College 9-0, Lancaster Bible College 7-1, Wells College 8-2, Gallaudet University 7-3, Keuka College 7-3, SUNY Poly 6-4, Penn State Berks 5-5, SUNY Cobleskill 4-6, Cazenovia College 2-7, College of St. Elizabeth 2-8, Penn State Abington 1-9, Penn College 0-10.

Statistically speaking: Roberts is fourth in the NEAC with 4.50 digs per set.

SCHEDULE/RECORDS/RESULTS
Men’s soccer
Overall: 6-7-1
NEAC: 6-4
Tuesday, Oct. 16 – at Lancaster Bible College (NEAC), L, 2-1
Saturday, Oct. 20 – at Keuka College (NEAC), L, 2-0
Sunday, Oct. 21 – at Wells College (NEAC), W, 2-1
Wednesday, Oct. 24 – host Wilkes University, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 27 – host Penn State Berks (NEAC), 3 p.m.
Oct. 30, Nov. 3, Nov. 4 – NEAC playoffs, TBA

Women’s soccer
Overall: 11-5
NEAC: 8-2
Wednesday, Oct. 17 – at Penn State Altoona, L, 3-1
Saturday, Oct. 20 – at Keuka College (NEAC), L, 3-0
Sunday, Oct. 21 – at Wells College (NEAC), W, 5-2
Wednesday, Oct. 24 – host Juniata College, 4 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 27 – host Penn State Berks (NEAC), 1 p.m.
Oct. 30, Nov. 3, Nov. 4 – NEAC playoffs, TBA

Women’s volleyball
Overall: 1-19
NEAC: 0-10
Saturday, Oct. 20 – vs. Keuka College at Wells College (NEAC), L, 0-3 (11-25, 16-25, 14-25)
Saturday, Oct. 20 – at Wells College (NEAC), L, 0-3 (10-25, 16-25, 14-25)
Wednesday, Oct. 24 – at Penn State Abington (NEAC), 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 26 – at Nazareth College, 5 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 26 – vs. SUNY Buffalo at Nazareth College, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 27 – vs. Rochester College at Nazareth College, 11 a.m.
Saturday, Oct. 27 – vs. SUNY Fredonia at Nazareth College, 3 p.m.

Men’s cross-country
Friday, Oct. 19 – at Lebanon Valley College Last Chance Run Fast Invitational, finished 8^thin an 8-team field
Saturday, Oct. 27 – NEAC Championship at Lancaster, 10 a.m.
Saturday, Nov. 10 – NCAA Division III Mideast Regional Championships at Center Valley, TBA

Women’s cross-country
Saturday, Oct. 27 – NEAC Championship at Lancaster, 10 a.m.
Saturday, Nov. 10 – NCAA Division III Mideast Regional Championships at Center Valley, TBA

Golf
Saturday, Oct. 20 – NEAC Fall Preview at Foxchase Golf Club, finished third in a four-team field
Monday, Oct. 22 – at Lebanon Valley College Dutchmen Fall Invitational at Lebanon Country Club, noon

Wrestling
Thursday, Nov. 1 – host Delaware Valley, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 3 – at King’s College Monarch Invitational, 9 a.m.
Saturday, Nov. 10 – at Gettysburg College Invitational, 10 a.m.

Men’s basketball
Saturday, Nov. 10 – at Alvernia University, 3 p.m.

Women’s basketball
Saturday, Nov. 17 – vs. Susquehanna University at Susquehanna Trailways Tipoff Tournament, 8 p.m. (Nazareth College vs. Westminster College, 6 p.m.)
Sunday, Nov. 18 – vs. either Nazareth College or Westminster College in Susquehanna Trailways Tipoff Tournament at Susquehanna University, TBA 1 or 3 p.m.

For more information, visit the Wildcat Athletics website.

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