What is becoming a fall tradition, Messiah completed another phenomenal weekend. Men’s soccer easily defeated Medaille 2-0 on Saturday and dominated Merchant Marine 3-0 on Sunday; women’s soccer cruised by Dickinson 3-0, but had their toughest challenge in a while prevailing over Johns Hopkins 2-1. With these wins, the soccer teams now travel to San Antonio for the Final Four on November 3-4. On Friday, the men (21-1) face Wisconsin-Oshkosh (20-0-3) at Noon (ET) and the women (23-0) play William Smith (18-2-3). Assuming they win, the men will play the winner of Bowdoin (15-1-4) and Lynchburg (19-4-1) on Saturday; the women take on either Harden Simmons (23-0) or Otterbein (20-0-3) at 6 (ET). Field hockey looked as though they were set to give Jan Trapp her first national championship as they overwhelmed the tournament field, but two-time national champion Bowdoin had other plans on Sunday. Both teams had been scoring at will (Bowdoin’s closest call was a 4-3 overtime win over Lebanon Valley in Maine), but Sunday ended 1-1 in regulation with the Falcons coming up short on strokes (2-1) after the overtime.

Delaware Valley football (9-2) scored another NCAA championship victory by knocking off Salisbury at home 23-12. They travel to Alliance, Ohio this weekend to face off with ten-time national champion Mount Union, ranked #2 in the nation. After winning the Ohio Athletic Conference, the Purple Raiders overwhelmed Liberty League Champion St. Lawrence 49-0 in the first round of the NCAA’s. Mount Union and Wisconsin-Whitewater have competed in the last five Stagg Bowls in Salem, Va. If the Aggies happened to upset the Mount, they would have to be contenders for a spot in the championship. While it may seem a daunting task, DVC is well balanced with a great defense and a significant running and passing game so the Raiders will have to prepare for all aspects of the game.

The Elizabethtown harriers represented the conference in top fashion at Wartburg, Iowa on Saturday with the women finishing 11th and the men 14th. The three MAC individual competitors also had fine races with Caitlin Dorgan (DVC) attaining All-America status finishing 28th, Jenn Cronin (LVC) just missing All America placing 41st, and Messiah’s Tyler Newhook finishing 89th in the men’s race.

The Lycoming men and Lebanon Valley women are off to 4-0 starts in basketball.