Four Penn College Teams Seek National Titles

Published 11.01.2009

News
Wildcat Weekly

Vol. 8, No. 12 (Through Sunday, Nov. 1)

Wildcat Tales Four Pennsylvania College of Technology athletic teams will compete for national championships this week. The men's and women's cross-country teams will vie for United States Collegiate Athletic Association titles Friday in Concord, N.H., while the men's and women's soccer teams play Friday through Sunday at Randolph Center, Vt.

In Penn State University Athletic Conference tournament action Saturday, the Penn College men's soccer team lost in the championship to Penn State York, 1-0, and the women's volleyball team saw its 11-match win streak end in the semifinals to Penn State Fayette, 22-25, 19-25, 25-20, 19-25.

Cross-Country A year ago, competing in the USCAA championships for the first time, both the men's and women's cross-country teams finished third. This season, the men are 44-13 and the women are 16-9-1.

Ten men and five women will represent the college, according to coach Mike Paulhamus. The men will run an 8-kilometer race at 11 a.m. and the women a 6K distance at noon. In all, 14 colleges are entered.

"We're practicing for real tough competition," Paulhamus said, noting that, on the men's side, Mark Cordeiro, of Canton, who won his second straight PSUAC individual title two weeks ago, is hopeful of becoming an All-American with a top-seven finish. Cordeiro was ninth a year ago and Tamara Pavlov (Lewisburg) eighth. Pavlov also will compete.

Women's Soccer Penn College is seeded second in the tournament and will face No. 7 Vermont Technical College at 1:30 p.m. Friday. The Wildcats completed a 7-3-1 regular season, during whichthey outscoredtheiropponents 37-19. Last season at the USCAA tournament, the Wildcats went 1-1.

"I think we did pretty well (during the regular season). There were a couple of setbacks "¦ but we qualified for the national tournament and that was a bonus," assistant coach Markus Rybak said.

"We have a balanced offense. We can be dangerous from any part of the field," he continued. "Defensively, I was pretty happy because I'm more defense-minded."

Looking at nationals, Rybak said, "I want to win. We should get a decent seed. I just hope we play to our potential."

Men's SoccerPenn College is seeded fourth and opens against No. 5 Spalding University of Louisville, Ky., at 11:30 a.m. Friday. The Wildcats (14-4-1 overall) went 0-2 in the national tournament a year ago and have something to prove this time.

"Our expectations are higher this year because of our experience. We know the kind of play we need," coach Enrique Castillo said. "Our defense has improved. I think overall we have a good team. I'm expecting a lot from my guys. We're not going there for a vacation, we want to win nationals. We do belong there and we want to prove it."

Flashback Men's SoccerIn Saturday's championship, Penn State York earned its first title in a decade and dethroned five-time champ Penn College in the process. York, which had tied the Wildcats in double overtime during the regular season, scored in the 15th minute and kept on the pressure throughout to pull out the win.

Penn College edged Penn State York, 2-1, for the championship in 2007 and 1-0 for the title a year ago. Penn State York was the tournament's top seed and Penn College was seeded second.

Penn College advanced to the title match with a 2-0 home win Wednesday over Penn State Beaver. Steven Bullock (Manheim) put Penn College on the scoreboard two minutes into Wednesday's match and Coleby Frye (York) added a goal in the final minute to seal it.

Women's VolleyballThe team's 11-match win streak that propelled it into the playoffs ended against top-seeded Penn State Fayette. Tara Powell (Burgettstown) had two aces and seven kills, Alyssa Covas (Pottsville) had nine kills and six blocks, and Kara Matson (Troy) had nine digs and two aces. The Wildcats end 15-10 overall and 13-4 in the conference.

Recent Results/Upcoming Games Cross-Country Men's overall record: 44-13 Final PSUAC record: 12-0 Women's overall record: 16-9-1 Final PSUAC record: 2-1Friday, Nov. 6 USCAA National Championships at New Hampshire Technical Institute, Concord, N.H., men's 8K race at 11 a.m., women's 6K race at noon

Men's Soccer Overall record: 14-4-1 Final PSUAC record: 10-2-1Wednesday, Oct. 28 host Penn State Beaver in PSUAC semifinals, W, 2-0 Saturday, Oct. 31 at Penn State York in PSUAC Championship, L, 1-0 Friday, Nov. 6 vs. Spalding University in USCAA National Championships at Vermont Technical College, Randolph Center, Vt., 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 USCAA National Championships at Vermont Technical College, Randolph Center, Vt., to be announced Sunday, Nov. 8 USCAA National Championships at Vermont Technical College, Randolph Center, Vt., to be announced

Women's Soccer Overall record: 7-3-1 Friday Nov. 6 vs. Vermont Technical College in USCAA National Championships at Vermont Technical College, Randolph Center, Vt., 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 USCAA National Championships at Vermont Technical College, Randolph Center, Vt., to be announced Sunday, Nov. 8 USCAA National Championships at Vermont Technical College, Randolph Center, Vt., to be announced

Women's Volleyball Final overall record: 15-10 Final PSUAC record: 13-4Saturday, Oct. 31 vs. Penn State Fayette in PSUAC semifinals, L, 22-25, 19-25, 25-20, 19-25