October 23, 2009

FOOTBALL

With four weeks to go in the season, the MAC championship chase is in full swing. Delaware Valley visits Lycoming where a win will not only keep them in first place but will also assure the squad of their seventh straight non-losing season. That would tie a school record that was first accomplished from 1979 to 1985. Lycoming (2-1 in the MAC) needs a win to stay alive in the title race and repeat as conference champions.

Although King's is 1-2 in the conference, they have given every team a battle. They will visit Lebanon Valley as the homecoming opponent. In the rain, this will be two teams running the ball at each other all afternoon. LVC needs the win to stay close to conference leaders DVC and Albright.

Widener (1-2) takes the show on the road to Albright after two disappointing losses in a row. Albright, with their best start in over a decade (6-0, 3-0), can't afford a loss as they still have games with DVC and LVC, the two teams in hot pursuit of the championship.

FDU visits Wilkes as each team hopes to pick up their first conference win. Wilkes started the year 3-0 with great non-conference wins, but has fallen short against the three conference leaders - Albright, LVC, and DVC.

WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL TENNIS

The tournament has been moved to the Kingston Indoor Tennis Club because of inclement weather. See MAC web site for details. Based on forecast, the semi's and finals should be played outdoors at King's/Wilkes on Sunday. Semi-finalists last year, who are returning this year include: Kate Steiner, DeSales; Megan Gillespie, Arcadia; Lauren Verret, Maura Haupt, Courney Otto, Misericordia; Sarah Grodzinski, Shayna Heitzelman, Lebanon Valley; Katie Marstaller, Steph Knepper, Messiah; Emily Swarr, Jessica Russell, Elizabethtown; Michelle Knight, Xiaoqiao Zhang, Rebekah Shanaman, Wilkes; and, Lauren Breen, King's.

TEAM TENNIS

The teams are all set for the team championships in May 2010. Commonwealth: Elizabethtown, Lebanon Valley, Messiah, and Alvernia; Freedom: Wilkes, King's, Misericordia, and Manhattanville.

FIELD HOCKEY

Delaware Valley field hockey (4-1) clinched its first Freedom Conference playoff berth since 2006 with a victory over Misericordia University. A big reason are the two seniors on the team - Danielle Heyne and Bethany Pavlik - who are just nine points shy of a 200 for the duo. They have combined for 71 goals and 51 assists for 191 points. Tomorrow they play Wilkes (3-1) for 2nd place. Nothing gets easier as they play 5-0 Eastern in the conference regular season finale. Eastern hopes to hold on to the top Freedom Conference seed as they visit Misericordia this weekend.

Messiah, ranked #1 in the country, plays perennial powerhouse TCNJ after their convincing win over #7 LVC on Wednesday.

VOLLEYBALL

The Commonwealth championship tournament teams are all set - Elizabethtown, Lebanon Valley, Messiah, and Widener. Elizabethtown and LVC play for first place; Widener and Messiah are both 4-2 so they need to keep playing for the best seed.

Three teams are set for the Freedom tournament - Eastern, DeSales, and FDU. King's, Wilkes, and Misericordia are battling for the 4th spot.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Two big matchups this weekend as Elizabethtown (3-1) travels to Arcadia (4-0) and Eastern (3-0-2) makes their way to Manhattanville (5-0). DeSales plays Misericordia - the winner enhances their chance at tournament berth.

MEN'S SOCCER

Similar to the women, Elizabethtown 3-0-1 is at Arcadia (3-0-1) with the winner staying in the hunt with Messiah (3-0) for the top seed. Lebanon Valley and Widener battle for one of the last Commonwealth spots. Eastern (2-2) hopes to improve their tournament chances as they visit Manhattanville (5-0). DeSales, Misericordia, Wilkes, and King's are all chasing those last seeds in the very competitive Freedom race.