Penn College lacrosse coach: ‘The sky’s the limit’

As its basketball teams head into the final week of the regular season – with the women’s squad battling for a postseason playoff berth – Pennsylvania College of Technology men’s lacrosse players are ready to take the field.

ON THE HORIZON
Men’s lacrosse
In somewhat of a rarity for a first-time collegiate varsity sports program, the Wildcats have found success during their first two years under coach Jordan Williams with back-to-back winning records and playoff berths. And Williams looks for his squad to continue its growth in year three.

Penn College opens its 17-match regular season on Saturday at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham.

“We brought in another talented class to supplement our returners. We bumped up our strength of schedule to challenge the team to put us in front of nationally competitive programs throughout the spring. We want to challenge our guys,” Williams said.

“We have athleticism all over. Our skill and our IQ have improved, and that’s helped our new guys get adjusted to the college game,” Williams said. “We’re still young – we’re mostly freshmen and sophomores – so there are a lot of growing pains, but we expect to see some impact from those freshmen, a few transfers and some returners who have made some big strides since the fall.

“We’re going to push the tempo offensively. We’re going to push in transition. We’re going to press out and create chaos on the defensive side. We want to play fast; that’s the most fun way to play.

“For us, the sky’s the limit. Our biggest enemy is going to be ourselves and not buying into our individual roles and maybe a little bit too much ego at times, but as we start the season, we hope to continue to compete in conference and making the semifinals, and a run at the conference is something that we definitely can attain.”

Williams said his players have displayed a lot of skill that still is unrefined thus far in practice and scrimmages. But positive strides are being made.

Among the key returnees from last year’s team, which finished 9-8 overall and 4-3 in all conference matches after reaching the semis, are sophomore defender Mason Nester, of Schwenksville; junior attackman Quinn Caviola, of Ridgefield, Connecticut; junior attack James Thatcher, of Bala Cynwyd; and sophomore midfielder Trevor Soli, of Redding, Connecticut.

Nester was a United East first-team all-conference honoree a year ago, while Caviola, Thatcher and Soli were second-team UE honorees.

Also returning are sophomore attack Sam Hills, of Maynard, Massachusetts; sophomore midfielder Devin Page, of Pine City, New York; junior faceoff Michael Stank, of York Haven; defensive midfielder CJ Jones, of Glenolden; sophomore defender Kevin Ronayne, of Havertown; goalie JJ Cella, of Cape May, New Jersey; midfielder Brendan Kuczma, of New Fairfield, Connecticut; and senior defensive long stick middle Isaac Hernandez, of Monroe Township, New Jersey.

Sophomore midfielder Corbin Moore, of Manheim, a transfer student-athlete from Frostburg State, is among the first-year players expected to make an impact, as are freshmen Harrison Schlachta, of Collegeville; midfielder AJ Dotson, of Wilmington, Delaware; faceoff Brody Borkowski, of Eagleville; attack Camden Elmo, of Hanover; defender Ben Malarkey, of Malvern; and long stick middle Graham Rex, of Abbottstown.

“We’re very athletic all over the field. (We’re physical), which is a good thing and a bad thing because our guys don’t know when to hold back at times. (Another strength is) the buy-in from guys, in the sense of wanting to be a better lacrosse program on and off the field, better young men, better teammates,” Williams said.

Players’ composure, maturity, focus and discipline are areas of struggle, at times, and are things that need to be worked on, the coach said. “We’ve got to find our balance where we can still get the best out of our day but not empty the tank completely,” Williams said.

“The key to team success, overall, is staying healthy,” Williams said. “We have a lot of talent, a lot of potential. Another key to success is guys buying into their roles and understanding that their roles might be 'this' one day and 'that' the next week, but regardless of what that role is, being the best that they can be at that spot on that day, at that time, to help the program – and getting lucky.

“We want the guys to have fun. If we’re having fun every day, we will find success. If we have fun, all the other things will take care of themselves,” Williams said.

Assessing his team’s overall schedule, Williams, who is assisted by Drew Perozich and volunteer assistant Austin Thompson, said, “We have a lot of the teams that beat us last year by good margins and we picked up some tougher games as well. The ultimate goal is to play the best teams that will play us week in and week out because that’s how we will see what great lacrosse is.

“If the first time we see a St. Mary’s (Md.) College-caliber team, and I’m using them as a reference because they won our (United East) conference last year; if the first time we see that quality of an opponent is that opponent, we’re in for trouble. So, we’re trying to put ourselves in front of the best that can challenge us. Having a tough out-of-conference schedule is just going to prepare us for the conference.”

FLASHBACK
Women’s basketball
With the game tied at 34 after three quarters, the Wildcats played tough down the stretch in the fourth frame and earned a United East season split against Lancaster Bible on Wednesday with a 50-47 victory.

A 3-pointer by Lexi Troup, of Huntingdon, with 2:36 left snapped a 47-47 tie, giving the nod to Penn College. Aubrey Stetts, of Jersey Shore, topped the Wildcats with 14 points as they avenged a 10-point December loss to the Chargers.

Wrapping up its home season against Penn State Abington on Saturday, Penn College lost to Penn State Abington, 62-49, as the Nittany Lions took a season series split. Penn College now is 8-6 in the conference, ranked fourth, and 9-14 overall.

Troup paced the Wildcats with 17 points and Rachel Teats, of Middleburg, had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

This week’s games at Penn State Harrisburg and Penn State Berks, on Tuesday and Friday, respectively, will determine the team’s conference playoff hopes, something not achieved since the 2012-13 season before it became NCAA-eligible.

UE standings through Sunday: St. Mary’s (Md.) College, 12-2; SUNY Morrisville, 11-2; Penn State Harrisburg, 11-3; Penn College, 8-4; Lancaster Bible College, 7-7; Gallaudet University, 6-8; Penn State Abington, 5-10; Penn State Berks, 2-11; Wells College, 0-13.

Men’s basketball
Hosting UE conference-leading Lancaster Bible College, Penn College fell, 89-77, on Wednesday.

After trailing early, the Wildcats took a 14-10 lead at the 15:25 mark in the first half before trailing by 11 (37-26) at the intermission. Lancaster Bible opened its largest lead of 20 points at 81-61 with 5:38 left in the game before winning by 13.

Gavin Barrett, of Roselle, New Jersey, and Rees Watkins, of Loyalsock Township, both scored 20 points for Penn College.

Closing out the home portion of their schedule on Saturday against Penn State Abington, the Wildcats battled back from double-digit deficits in both halves before losing, 68-65. Penn College now is 4-10 in the conference and 9-14 overall.

After trailing by 10 at 50-40 in the second half, the Wildcats charged back with a 25-16 run to close within one at 66-65 but could get no closer.

Barrett ended with a game-high 28 points and seven assists for Penn College.

UE standings through Sunday: Lancaster Bible College, 13-1; Penn State Abington, 11-4; Penn State Harrisburg, 10-4; SUNY Morrisville, 7-6; Wells College, 7-6; Penn State Berks, 5-8; St. Mary’s (Md.) College, 5-9; Penn College, 4-10; Gallaudet University, 0-14.

Wrestling
In action on Saturday at SUNY Oneonta, Penn College lost to No. 12-ranked RIT, 43-4, and then used three pins to edge SUNY Oneonta, 26-25, when criteria No. 2 – most falls – came into play. The Wildcats now are 11-9 overall.

Against RIT, a major decision by Ryan Berstler, of Middletown, at 125 pounds accounted for all of Penn College’s points.

In the college’s first-ever win over Oneonta, pins by C.J. Trimber, of Moon Township, at 133; Noah Hunt, of Muncy, at 149; and Mason Leshock, of Shamokin, at 165, proved crucial.

SCHEDULES/RECORDS
Men’s basketball
Overall: 9-14
UE: 4-10
Wednesday, Feb. 8 – host Lancaster Bible College (UE), L, 89-77
Saturday, Feb. 11 – host Penn State Abington (UE), L, 68-65
Tuesday, Feb. 14 – at Penn State Harrisburg (UE), 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 17 – at Penn State Berks (UE), 7 p.m.
(End of regular season)

Women’s basketball
Overall: 9-14
UE: 8-6
Wednesday, Feb. 8 – host Lancaster Bible College (UE), W, 50-47
Saturday, Feb. 11 – host Penn State Abington (UE), L, 62-49
Tuesday, Feb. 14 – at Penn State Harrisburg (UE), 5 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 17 – at Penn State Berks (UE), 5 p.m.
(End of regular season)

Wrestling
Overall: 11-9
Saturday, Feb. 11 – triangular at SUNY Oneonta vs. RIT, L, 43-4; vs. SUNY Oneonta, W, 26-25 (on criteria)
Friday, Feb. 17 – host Scranton, 6 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 19 – Mideast Futures Tournament at Muhlenberg College, 10 a.m.
Friday, Feb. 24 – NCAA Division III Mideast Regional at Ithaca College, 11 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 25 – NCAA Division III Mideast Regional at Ithaca College, 11 a.m.

Men’s lacrosse
Saturday, Feb. 18 – at FDU-Florham, 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 22 – host Marywood University, 4 p.m.

Esports
iRacing
Monday, Feb. 6 – CIL Cup Series–Kansas, 29 and 30 of 45
Tuesday, Feb. 7 – CIL Formula College World Championship–Laguna Seca, 17 of 26
Monday, Feb. 13 – CIL Cup Series–Richmond, 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 15 – CIL Short Track Showdown–Lanier Speedway, 8 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 20 – CIL Cup Series–Watkins Glen, 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 21 – CIL Formula College World Championship–Tsukuba Circuit, 8 p.m.

NACE Rocket League Varsity
Record: 0-1
Monday, Feb. 6 – vs. RIT, L, 3-0 (2-1, 4-1, 5-1)
Monday, Feb. 13 – vs. Southeastern University, 7 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 27 – vs. Michigan Technological University, 7 p.m.

NACE Overwatch 2
Record: 0-1
Tuesday, Feb. 7 – vs. North Dakota, L, 3-0 (2-1, 3-2, 3-2)
Tuesday, Feb. 14 – vs. West Texas A&M, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 21 – vs. Drexel University, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 28 – vs. Ozarks Technical Community College, 7 p.m.

NACE Valorant
Record: 0-1
Wednesday, Feb. 8 – vs. Highland Community College, L, 2-0 (13-3, 13-5)
Wednesday, Feb. 15 – vs. George Mason, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 22 – vs. Western Kentucky University, 7 p.m.

For more about the United East, visit the conference website.

For additional information, visit the Wildcat Athletics website.

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