The Pennsylvania College of Technology golf team wrapped up its regular season with a win and plays Monday and Tuesday in the Penn State University Athletic Conference/United States Collegiate Athletic Association championships on the Penn State Blue Course. Meanwhile, through Sunday’s action, Wildcat teams had an 11-1 week.
Golf
In their final tune-up, the Wildcats finished first at the Penn State Hazleton Invitational on Monday. Penn College scored a 346, five strokes better than Penn State Mont Alto, to top an eight-team field. Junior Alex Howe, of Lake Ariel, shot an 83 to finish third among 39 individuals.
The win was the team’s third in four matches after it opened the season finishing second by four strokes to Penn State Mont Alto in mid-September.
“We’ve really come together as a team in the last few matches and I like what I see going into the championships,” coach Matt Haile said. “I have a good feeling about where we are and who we have playing.”
Last year, the Wildcats finished third in the PSUAC and seventh in the USCAA, and the fourth-year coach expects better this time.
“If these guys go out and are patient with their game, we have a possibility of top five, nationally, but our main goal is to get another (PSUAC) championship. These guys are hungry for another championship.
“I think it sets up well for our guys,” Haile added of the Blue Course. Sunday will be a practice round, with tournament play the following two days. “I hope all of the hard work pays off,” the coach continued.
In addition to Howe, expected to play are sophomore Corey Teeple, of Lake Ariel; freshman Jesse Newman, of Waterfall, who joined the team late; freshman Brian MacPherson, of Salem, N.H.; sophomore Nicolas Krupka, of Allentown; and freshman Bryce Petersheim, of Birdsboro.
The USCAA will also sponsor a skills competition in putting, pitching and longest drive.
According to the National Weather Service in State College, conditions should clear for both Monday and Tuesday with daytime high temperatures in the mid 50s Monday and low 60s Tuesday.
Penn College won six conference championships from 2003-08 and had individual conference champions from 2003-06.
Women’s Soccer
Penn College got four goals from four players in a 4-1 win Wednesday over College of Saint Elizabeth. Goalie Reda Vermilya, of Turbotville, had seven saves in the team’s third straight win.
On the road Saturday at Wesley College, the Wildcats fell, 2-0. Wesley dominated the match with 26 shots to just two in the first half for Penn College. Wesley also had 10 corner kicks and Penn College none. The Wildcats are 7-2-1 overall.
Men’s Soccer
Ali Almehdhar, of Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, and Yousef Alyamani, of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, each scored two goals to lead Penn College to a 9-0 win over Penn State Scranton on Wednesday. Goalies David Munn, of Athens, and Samuel Piatt, of Bedford, shared the shutout. The Wildcats dominated play, outshooting Scranton 50-3. Also for Penn College, Braden Conner, of Reading, had two assists.
Freshman Tarik LaRoche, of Milton, scored two goals and had two assists in a 6-2 PSUAC win over Penn State York on Saturday. Penn College is 10-2-1 overall and 7-0 in the conference.
Team Tennis
On Saturday, the Wildcats avenged an earlier 8-1 loss to Penn State Brandywine with a 5-4 road win to improve to 5-1 overall and in the conference. Christopher Morrin, of Morrisville, and Jordan Rodgers, of Biglerville, were winners in both singles and doubles for Penn College. The loss was the first of the season for Brandywine.
Women’s Volleyball
In PSUAC action on Tuesday, Penn College dominated Penn State Wilkes-Barre, 3-0 (25-6, 25-4, 25-4). Gabrielle George, of Morton, had six aces and added six digs while Courtney Gernert, of Palmyra, had nine kills and three blocks.
Stepping out of the conference on Thursday, Gernert had 20 kills and Caitlyn Curley, of Middletown, had 22 assists as the Wildcats beat Lackawanna College, 3-1 (25-13, 27-25, 27-29, 25-13). Tara Powell, of Burgettstown, added 20 digs and four aces.
Returning to PSUAC action on Saturday, Penn College topped Penn State Schuylkill, 3-0 (25-8, 25-7, 25-3), and Penn State Brandywine, 3-0 (25-15, 26-24, 25-20), to go to 12-5 overall and 7-0 in the conference. Morgan Moberg, of Huntingdon, had 31 assists overall and 19 kills against Schuylkill. Against Brandywine, Gernert led with 10 kills and added 12 digs while Powell had 14 digs.
Rounding out its week on Sunday, the Wildcats won two more conference matches, this time beating Penn State York, 3-0 (25-22, 25-13, 25-17), and Penn State Mont Alto, 3-0 (25-10, 25-22, 25-23), to go to 14-5 overall and 9-0 in the PSUAC. During the sweep, Gernert had 18 kills and 27 digs, and Powell had 33 digs.
Odds and Ends
Two Penn College student-athletes were honored by the PSUAC and USCAA last week. In women’s volleyball, Gernert was named the women's volleyball Player of the Week for the period ending Sept. 30 and, in men’s soccer, junior David Munn, of Athens, was named the Goalie of the Week for the period ending Sept. 30.
Gernert had 38 kills, 76 digs and five service aces in the Wildcats' 3-2 week. Her 20 digs against Misericordia University on Sept. 29 were a career high. Munn led the Wildcats to a 2-1 week with two shutouts, including a career-high 13 saves in the team's 1-0 win against Albright College.
In the Week 5 USCAA Coaches’ Poll, for the period between Sept. 28 and Oct. 5, Penn College was ranked No. 2 nationally in women’s soccer, No. 7 in men’s soccer and No. 12 in women’s volleyball.
SCHEDULE/RESULTS/RECORDS
Cross-Country
Saturday, Oct. 13 – at Penn State DuBois Invitational, 1 p.m.
Golf
Monday, Oct. 1 – at Penn State Hazleton Invitational, finished first in an eight-team field
Monday-Tuesday, Oct. 8-9 – PSUAC/USCAA Championships at Penn State Blue Course
Men’s Soccer
Overall record: 10-2-1
PSUAC record: 7-0
Tuesday, Oct. 2 – host Susquehanna University, canceled
Wednesday, Oct. 3 – host Penn State Scranton, W, 9-0
Saturday, Oct. 6 – at Penn State York, W, 6-2
Thursday, Oct. 11 –at Penn State New Kensington, 3 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 16 – at Penn State Hazleton, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 20 – host Bryn Athyn College, 6 p.m.
Women’s Soccer
Overall record: 7-2-1
Wednesday, Oct. 3 – host College of St. Elizabeth, W, 4-1
Saturday, Oct. 6 – at Wesley College, L, 2-0
Saturday, Oct. 13 – host Valley Forge Christian College, 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 17 – at Alfred, N.Y. State, 7 p.m.
Team Tennis
PSUAC record: 5-1
Saturday, Oct. 6 – at Penn State Brandywine, W, 5-4
Wednesday, Oct. 10 – at Penn State Mont Alto, 3 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 13 – host Penn State Lehigh Valley, noon
Women’s Volleyball
Overall record: 14-5
PSUAC record: 9-0
Tuesday, Oct. 2 – host Penn State Wilkes-Barre, W, 3-0 (25-6, 25-4, 25-4)
Thursday, Oct. 4 – at Lackawanna College, W, 3-1 (25-13, 27-25, 27-29, 25-13)
Saturday, Oct. 6 – host Penn State Schuylkill, W, 3-0 (25-8, 25-7, 25-3); host Penn State Brandywine, W, 3-0 (25-15, 26-24, 25-20)
Sunday, Oct. 7 – vs. Penn State York at Penn State Hazleton , 3-0 (25-22, 25-13, 25-17); vs. Penn State Mont Alto at Penn State Hazleton, 3-0 (25-10, 25-22, 25-23)
Wednesday, Oct. 10 – host Penn State Scranton, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 11 – host Penn State Harrisburg, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 13 – vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny at Penn State Beaver, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 13 – at Penn State Beaver, 4 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 14 – at Penn State Fayette, noon
Sunday, Oct. 14 – vs. Penn State New Kensington at Penn State Fayette, 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 17 – at Elmira, N.Y., College, 7 p.m.
Golf
In their final tune-up, the Wildcats finished first at the Penn State Hazleton Invitational on Monday. Penn College scored a 346, five strokes better than Penn State Mont Alto, to top an eight-team field. Junior Alex Howe, of Lake Ariel, shot an 83 to finish third among 39 individuals.
The win was the team’s third in four matches after it opened the season finishing second by four strokes to Penn State Mont Alto in mid-September.
“We’ve really come together as a team in the last few matches and I like what I see going into the championships,” coach Matt Haile said. “I have a good feeling about where we are and who we have playing.”
Last year, the Wildcats finished third in the PSUAC and seventh in the USCAA, and the fourth-year coach expects better this time.
“If these guys go out and are patient with their game, we have a possibility of top five, nationally, but our main goal is to get another (PSUAC) championship. These guys are hungry for another championship.
“I think it sets up well for our guys,” Haile added of the Blue Course. Sunday will be a practice round, with tournament play the following two days. “I hope all of the hard work pays off,” the coach continued.
In addition to Howe, expected to play are sophomore Corey Teeple, of Lake Ariel; freshman Jesse Newman, of Waterfall, who joined the team late; freshman Brian MacPherson, of Salem, N.H.; sophomore Nicolas Krupka, of Allentown; and freshman Bryce Petersheim, of Birdsboro.
The USCAA will also sponsor a skills competition in putting, pitching and longest drive.
According to the National Weather Service in State College, conditions should clear for both Monday and Tuesday with daytime high temperatures in the mid 50s Monday and low 60s Tuesday.
Penn College won six conference championships from 2003-08 and had individual conference champions from 2003-06.
Women’s Soccer
Penn College got four goals from four players in a 4-1 win Wednesday over College of Saint Elizabeth. Goalie Reda Vermilya, of Turbotville, had seven saves in the team’s third straight win.
On the road Saturday at Wesley College, the Wildcats fell, 2-0. Wesley dominated the match with 26 shots to just two in the first half for Penn College. Wesley also had 10 corner kicks and Penn College none. The Wildcats are 7-2-1 overall.
Men’s Soccer
Ali Almehdhar, of Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, and Yousef Alyamani, of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, each scored two goals to lead Penn College to a 9-0 win over Penn State Scranton on Wednesday. Goalies David Munn, of Athens, and Samuel Piatt, of Bedford, shared the shutout. The Wildcats dominated play, outshooting Scranton 50-3. Also for Penn College, Braden Conner, of Reading, had two assists.
Freshman Tarik LaRoche, of Milton, scored two goals and had two assists in a 6-2 PSUAC win over Penn State York on Saturday. Penn College is 10-2-1 overall and 7-0 in the conference.
Team Tennis
On Saturday, the Wildcats avenged an earlier 8-1 loss to Penn State Brandywine with a 5-4 road win to improve to 5-1 overall and in the conference. Christopher Morrin, of Morrisville, and Jordan Rodgers, of Biglerville, were winners in both singles and doubles for Penn College. The loss was the first of the season for Brandywine.
Women’s Volleyball
In PSUAC action on Tuesday, Penn College dominated Penn State Wilkes-Barre, 3-0 (25-6, 25-4, 25-4). Gabrielle George, of Morton, had six aces and added six digs while Courtney Gernert, of Palmyra, had nine kills and three blocks.
Stepping out of the conference on Thursday, Gernert had 20 kills and Caitlyn Curley, of Middletown, had 22 assists as the Wildcats beat Lackawanna College, 3-1 (25-13, 27-25, 27-29, 25-13). Tara Powell, of Burgettstown, added 20 digs and four aces.
Returning to PSUAC action on Saturday, Penn College topped Penn State Schuylkill, 3-0 (25-8, 25-7, 25-3), and Penn State Brandywine, 3-0 (25-15, 26-24, 25-20), to go to 12-5 overall and 7-0 in the conference. Morgan Moberg, of Huntingdon, had 31 assists overall and 19 kills against Schuylkill. Against Brandywine, Gernert led with 10 kills and added 12 digs while Powell had 14 digs.
Rounding out its week on Sunday, the Wildcats won two more conference matches, this time beating Penn State York, 3-0 (25-22, 25-13, 25-17), and Penn State Mont Alto, 3-0 (25-10, 25-22, 25-23), to go to 14-5 overall and 9-0 in the PSUAC. During the sweep, Gernert had 18 kills and 27 digs, and Powell had 33 digs.
Odds and Ends
Two Penn College student-athletes were honored by the PSUAC and USCAA last week. In women’s volleyball, Gernert was named the women's volleyball Player of the Week for the period ending Sept. 30 and, in men’s soccer, junior David Munn, of Athens, was named the Goalie of the Week for the period ending Sept. 30.
Gernert had 38 kills, 76 digs and five service aces in the Wildcats' 3-2 week. Her 20 digs against Misericordia University on Sept. 29 were a career high. Munn led the Wildcats to a 2-1 week with two shutouts, including a career-high 13 saves in the team's 1-0 win against Albright College.
In the Week 5 USCAA Coaches’ Poll, for the period between Sept. 28 and Oct. 5, Penn College was ranked No. 2 nationally in women’s soccer, No. 7 in men’s soccer and No. 12 in women’s volleyball.
SCHEDULE/RESULTS/RECORDS
Cross-Country
Saturday, Oct. 13 – at Penn State DuBois Invitational, 1 p.m.
Golf
Monday, Oct. 1 – at Penn State Hazleton Invitational, finished first in an eight-team field
Monday-Tuesday, Oct. 8-9 – PSUAC/USCAA Championships at Penn State Blue Course
Men’s Soccer
Overall record: 10-2-1
PSUAC record: 7-0
Tuesday, Oct. 2 – host Susquehanna University, canceled
Wednesday, Oct. 3 – host Penn State Scranton, W, 9-0
Saturday, Oct. 6 – at Penn State York, W, 6-2
Thursday, Oct. 11 –at Penn State New Kensington, 3 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 16 – at Penn State Hazleton, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 20 – host Bryn Athyn College, 6 p.m.
Women’s Soccer
Overall record: 7-2-1
Wednesday, Oct. 3 – host College of St. Elizabeth, W, 4-1
Saturday, Oct. 6 – at Wesley College, L, 2-0
Saturday, Oct. 13 – host Valley Forge Christian College, 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 17 – at Alfred, N.Y. State, 7 p.m.
Team Tennis
PSUAC record: 5-1
Saturday, Oct. 6 – at Penn State Brandywine, W, 5-4
Wednesday, Oct. 10 – at Penn State Mont Alto, 3 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 13 – host Penn State Lehigh Valley, noon
Women’s Volleyball
Overall record: 14-5
PSUAC record: 9-0
Tuesday, Oct. 2 – host Penn State Wilkes-Barre, W, 3-0 (25-6, 25-4, 25-4)
Thursday, Oct. 4 – at Lackawanna College, W, 3-1 (25-13, 27-25, 27-29, 25-13)
Saturday, Oct. 6 – host Penn State Schuylkill, W, 3-0 (25-8, 25-7, 25-3); host Penn State Brandywine, W, 3-0 (25-15, 26-24, 25-20)
Sunday, Oct. 7 – vs. Penn State York at Penn State Hazleton , 3-0 (25-22, 25-13, 25-17); vs. Penn State Mont Alto at Penn State Hazleton, 3-0 (25-10, 25-22, 25-23)
Wednesday, Oct. 10 – host Penn State Scranton, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 11 – host Penn State Harrisburg, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 13 – vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny at Penn State Beaver, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 13 – at Penn State Beaver, 4 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 14 – at Penn State Fayette, noon
Sunday, Oct. 14 – vs. Penn State New Kensington at Penn State Fayette, 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 17 – at Elmira, N.Y., College, 7 p.m.
No. 8