FOOTBALL

The MAC finished their non-conference portion of the season with a 16-8 record, one of the best in recent years. The strength of schedule was impressive with wins over all Centennial opponents including Moravian, Ursinus, Gettysburg, Johns Hopkins, and Muhlenberg; NJAC foes Montclair, Kean, and Western Connecticut; Liberty League, former MAC member, Susquehanna; perennial ECFA power Curry; last years ODAC champion Randolph Macon; Division II Pace; and the 2008 USA South champion Christopher Newport. Congratulations to our players and coaches for representing the MAC so well!

The ECAC Defensive Player of the Week goes to Tim Lombreglia,Wilkes University
Junior Defensive Lineman from Sparta, N.J., for a great effort in the win over Christopher Newport. He picked up a career-high 10 tackles as well as two-and-a-half sacks for a loss of 14 yards to lead the Colonel defense. The defensive lineman also intercepted a pass and returned it 38 yards which led to the go-ahead touchdown for Wilkes.

This week conference play starts with the three undefeated teams and Delaware Valley (2-1 with only loss to national power Wesley) sorting things out early. The DVC/LVC match-up is huge as LVC is 3-0 for the first time since 1979, but DVC has won the last six meetings. DVC has won its last six conference openers, including four on the road. Wilkes (3-0) travels to Albright (3-0) for another great contest. Lycoming (1-2) visits King's (1-2), and Widener (2-1) travels to FDU (2-1) on Friday night.

MEN'S SOCCER

The ECAC Defensive Player of the Week is awarded to Andrew Loyd, Misericordia University Senior Goalkeeper from Dillsburg, Pa. On Saturday, MU defeated John Carroll, 1-0, only the second loss of the season for the No. 24-ranked Blue Streaks. Misericordia also battled to a 1-1 tie in double overtime Wednesday evening at the University of Scranton. Loyd only conceded one goal in both games. He made seven saves against Scranton, and earned his first shutout of the season against John Carroll. Loyd dropped his goals against average to 1.11 for the season. The shutout against John Carroll, the 14th of his career, moved him into a tie for fourth all-time in program history.

DVC (6-2) is off the their best start in program history with Tom Antonnuci leading the way. He will look for his third straight hat trick against Goucher tonight. In just eight games, he has already broken the school's single-season records for goals (13) and points (33) and needs one assist to break out of a first-place tie in that category. He has seven helpers on the year.

FIELD HOCKEY

Congratulations to Lebanon Valley field hockey on their 500th school win!

Also, kudos to all the MAC field hockey teams and players on the number of NCAA statistical leaders (13 of 16 schools are represented). Stats don't tell you everything, but they do reinforce our position as one of the best field hockey conferences in the country!

NCAA Individual Leaders

Goals per game: #18 Jenna DiSabatino and Jennifer Keegan, Wilkes, 1.17; #25 Katie Love, Messiah and Jocelyn Novak, Lebanon Valley, 1.14.

Assists per game: #2 Cassie DiSabatino, Wilkes and Shelly Lobach, Lebanon Valley, 1.0; #8 Jenna DiSabatino, Wilkes, .83; #19 Elizabeth Ziegler, Elizabethtown, .71; #30 Yvonne Herbster, Eastern and Brittney Sines, Wilkes, .67; #46 Danielle Heyne, DVC, .63.

Goals against average: #6 Liz Hannegan, Elizabethtown, .61; #17 Ashley Mowery, Messiah, .98; #33 Caitlin Baro, Lebanon Valley, 1.32; #41 Grace Riker, Misericordia, 1.48; #49 Erin McGinley, King's, 1.55; #50 Lindsey Davenport, Wilkes, 1.57.

Saves per game: #29 Hollis Hancock, DVC, 7.75; #46 Laura Ressler, Eastern, 6.67; #48 Victoria DelToro, DeSales, 6.5.

Save perecentage: #18 Liz Hannegan, Elizabethtown, .848; #19 Ashley Mowery, Messiah, .841; #28 Hollis Hancock, DVC, .816; #31 Grace Riker, Misericordia, .814; #42 Laura Ressler, Eastern, .800.

NCAA Team Leaders

Scoring average: #5 Lebanon Valley, 4.57; #8 Messiah, 4.37; #9 Wilkes, 4.33; #36 Widener, 3.00; #45 Manhattanville, 2.74.

Goals against average: #7 Elizabethtown, .61; #16 Messiah, .96; #31 Lebanon Valley, 1.29; #38 Widener, 1.4; #46 Misericordia, 1.47; #49 Wilkes, 1.5.

Scoring margin: #6 Messiah, 3.42; #7 Lebanon Valley, 3.29; #11 Wilkes, 2,83; #35 Widener 1.6; #47 Elizabethtown, 1.10.

Shutouts per game: #4 Elizabethtown, .63; #21 Lebanon Valley, Alvernia, and Messiah, .43; #38 Wilkes, .33; #49 King's and Arcadia, .29; #

Save percentage: #16 Elizabethtown, .848; #17 Messiah, .841; #20 Arcadia, .835; #31 Delaware Valley, .816; #48 Misericordia, .803; #50 Eastern, .800.

Point per game: #6 Messiah, 12.71; #7 Wilkes, 12.33; #8 Lebanon Valley, 12.00; #31 Widener, 8.6.

Assists per game: #1 Wilkes, 3.67; #3 Messiah, 3.57; #9 Lebanon Valley, 2.86; #18 Widener, 2.6; #34 Delaware Valley, 2.0.

Saves per game: #25 Arcadia, 9.43; #40 Delaware Valley, 7.75; #50 Manhattanville, 7.22.

VOLLEYBALL

When people meet Courtney Reinhold after watching her play volleyball, most are surprised that she is not taller. This week, like most weeks, the 5'7' sophomore left a big impression on the court. Reinhold earned Tournament MVP Honors at Elizabethtown College and hit an impressive .512 with 73 kills and just 7 errors in a 5-0 week for the 23rd ranked Eagles. The AVCA recognized Reinhold as the National Player of the Week for the Week ending September 27th. Reinhold, a 2008 All-American and Mid-Atlantic Rookie of the Year, is the first Eastern University player to earn the weekly award from the Coaches' Association. Reinhold and the Eagles will host FDU-Florham on Wednesday night before traveling a short distance to Haverford College for a tri-match against 22nd ranked Haverford College and Johns Hopkins University on Saturday.

SWIMMING

King’s College director of athletics Cheryl Ish has announced the appointment of Matt Easterday as the new head coach of the men’s and women’s swimming teams, as well as aquatics director at the college. Easterday comes to King’s with a wealth of swimming experience and literally grew up around the sport. His mother Kim has been the head swimming coach at McDaniel College in Maryland for the past 32 seasons. Easterday began swimming at age six and embarked on competitive swimming as a 10-year old. Easterday enjoyed a highly successful club career where he was twice named the Maryland State Swimmer of the Year and was also a six-time Junior National qualifier. Upon graduating from high school, Easterday enrolled at Division I University of Maryland. After his freshman year he elected to transfer to Division III McDaniel where he enjoyed a successful three-year varsity career. He set school records in the 200 butterfly as well as in the 200 and 400 meter relay events. In 2006, Easterday was hired as the assistant swim coach and aquatics director at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster. There, he helped coach two Centennial Conference men’s team champions, seven NCAA Division III All-Americans, 12 swimmers who would break school records, and an additional eight swimmers who would set new Centennial Conference records.

“I am very excited to be at King’s and look forward to helping build a winning, successful program,” Easterday stated. “ I was attracted to King’s because the college offers great academic programs and a beautiful campus. The college is in a good area of the country to recruit and I see a lot of similarities to other schools that I've coached at in the past."

“We are thrilled to have Matt join our staff and believe he will be an outstanding fit at King’s as well as in the local swimming community,” Ish stated. “I believe Matt truly understands the Division III philosophy and will be an excellent mentor to our swimmers.”