October 31, 2008
North Carolina Wesleyan College, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804
SPORTS
3
Pride Snuffs Bishops
In Key Soccer Match
By Decree Sports Staff
Greensboro—Greensboro College
snapped the NCWC men’s soccer
team’s conference unbeaten streak
at 28 by downing the iSth-ranked
Bishops by a 2-1 score.
The streak dated back to the 2004
season and saw NCWC go 26-0-2 dur
ing its four-year span. Wesleyan is now
12-3 overall, 4-1 in conference play.
A perennial nemesis in the confer
ence tournament. The Pride (10-6-1
overall, 4-1 in USAC) jumped to a 2-0
lead on goals by Fredrik Edelund and
Andrew Clark. Wesleyan struck back
with an Ousmann Sarr goal, assisted
by Arkadiusz Trochowski, but failed to
score in the waning minutes.
The Bishops lost despite a
significant advantage in shots (21-8)
and shots on goal (7-3). Freshman
goalkeeper Porir Gudnason suffered
the loss for NCWC.
Prior to the Greensboro loss,
the Bishops had been an offensive
juggernaut. In its recent five-match
winning streak,- the Bishops scored
a total of 26 goals and yielded two.
On seven occasions this season, the
Bishops have scored five or more
goals. That includes a 13-0 drubbing of
Ferrum, a 9-0 win at Averett, and more
recent 8-2 and 9-0 home victories over
Guilford and Chowan.
“We like to play an attacking style
of soccer with a lot of quick passes
and movement off of the ball,” Coach
Jason Kilby said in describing his
current team’s style of play.
The high offensive output would
mean nothing if the Bishops falter in
the playoffs. Last year the team won
its first 16 games, finishing the regular
season undefeated, and ascending as
high as number two in the national
rankings. Then it lost its first match
in the conference tournament at home
against Greensboro. The Bishops took
their first two matches in the NCAAs,
but lost in the third round, again at
home, to Loras College of Iowa.
“We have a lot of new faces so
we started a little slow this year,”
Kilby explained, referring to early
season losses to Rutgers-Camden and
Mary Washington. “I believe we are
progressing. I hope we will peak at the
end of our season.”
The Bishops scoring has been paced
by Danny Persson, who has leads the
team in goals (22) and total points (50).
Other top scorers include Owen White
(8 goals, 3 assists), Christopher Helm
(3,13), Robert Ivanovich (6,6) and
Ousman Sarr (8, 3).
The Bishops play a key match on
November 1, when they host Christo
pher Newport. A win may secure the
Bishops home field advantage in the
conference tournament as the regular
season champ.
Offense Continues to Sparkle in Recent Wins
By Jarad Brown
Decree Sports Editor
Battling Bishop records are falling
every Saturday on the football field,
which can only mean that it’s fall
again and the North Carolina Wesleyan
season is in full stride.
Since starting its season 1-2, the
Bishops have gone 3-1 in conference
play. They beat Methodist Univer
sity and Averett at home, then lost
to Maryville in Tennessee. Then last
Saturday night the Bishops piled up
over 500 yards on offense in beating
host Shenandoah, 47-28.
r
a conference opponent for the first time
since 2006.
The Bishops did gain over 235 yards
through the air, but three interceptions
and 142 yards’ worth of penalties
proved too much for NCWC to
overcome.
“We simply didn’t match their inten
sity,’’ Henninger said. “We weren’t as
excited to be there as they were and it
showed on the field.”
NCWC 49, Averett University 24
After seeing its conference winning
streak end at the hands of Maryville
College, North Carolina Wesleyan
threw themselves back into the win
column on a record-setting afternoon.
It was evident from the start that
the Bishops game plan was an assault
from above, as quarterback Bo Jordan
completed his first eight passes and
ended with 250 yards and three scores.
"(Passing) was the game plan
coming in,” Jordan said. “We saw some
match-ups in (Averett’s secondary)
that we liked and got the ball to our
playmakers and took advantage.”
The win wasn’t simply an airmail
package; the ground game was clicking
on all cylinders as well, gaining over
260 yards.
Despite five lost fumbles and over
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Antonio Harris looks for running room
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NCWC 42, Methodist 0
NCWC opened conference play
with a 42-0 thrashing of Methodist Uni
versity. It was the conference opener
for both teams, but it was NCWC
making a statement, scoring on its first
four possessions and gaining over 560
total yards.
After forcing two punts, a safety, and
a turnover on downs on Methodist’s
first four possessions, the Bishops leapt
to a 29-0 halftime lead.
“All of our goals are still right there
in front of us,” NCWC Coach Mark
Henninger said.
NCWC came out in the second
half, and put any hopes of a comeback
to rest as Stedman Mathis broke the
longest rushing play in Wesleyan
history, 84 yards for a touchdown.
The win marked the twelfth in row
in conference play dating back to the
2006 season.
“This is exactly where we wanted
to be when we started this program
five years ago,” Henninger said. “I
think it’s a nod to all of the players we
just graduated, the upper classmen we
have now, and the new players we’ve
brought in.”
NCWC 24, Maryville College 37
One week after extending its
conference winning streak to 12, North
Carolina Wesleyan players and fans
watched it come to an abrupt end.
A trip to Maryville, Tennessee
proved to be one the Bishops didn’t
want to make, as they gained only 37
total rushing yards, en route to losing to
Women’s Soccer Evens
Its Conference Mark
Tori Tenner headed in the decisive
goal with 33 seconds remaining in last
Saturday’s game, as the Bishops defeated
visiting Ferrum College, 2-1, and raised
their conference mark to 3-3-1.
Tenner was one of eight seniors
honored before the game by head coach
Beverly Biancur in Senior Day activities.
The other seniors are Bryanne Godfrey,
Reva McCloud, Mikey Case, Alex
Fountaine, Rachel Hernandez, Lauren
Steams and Megan Kintner.
Wesleyan (5-8-1, overall) managed
a 1-0 lead at intermission, thanks to
a goal by Carolina Mussi in the 37th
minute. McCloud was credited with her
12th assist of the season after threading
a pass through the middle to a cutting
Mussi, who beat Panther keeper Katie
Hodkinson with a low shot to her left.
Ferrum tied the game in the 77th minute
on a score by Kelsey Walter.
The match looked to be headed for
overtime with less than a minute remain
ing, but a key foul called on the Panthers
just outside the box set up an Aubrey
Bonorden free kick. The sophomore
delivered the ball into the box, setting the
stage for Tenner's decisive goal.
Earlier in the week, the Bishops were
beaten, 5-1, by conference foe Methodist
University in Fayetteville.
The Monarchs raced out to a 3-0 lead
with goals in the 18th, 21st, and 36th min
utes, with Erica Nath scoring the game's
second goal and eventual game winner.
Wesleyan's lone score came off a suc
cessful comer kick as Bonorden booted
home her fourth goal of the season from
20 yards. NCWC trailed 3-1 at the break.
Methodist out-shot Wesleyan 24-9 in
the match. NCWC goalkeepers Godfrey
and Sarah Hess recorded seven saves
apiece, while MU keeper Kasey Nichols
made four stops on the day.
(Article courtesy of Sports Information)
/
Bishops midfielder Aubrey Bonorden
In recent action against Chowan.
Photo by Grace Wallace
By Decree Sports Staff
Greensboro—The NCWC volleyball team
eclipsed the school record for conference
victories, gaining its 12th and 13th against
Mary Baldwin and Greensboro College on
Saturday.
The wins move the Bishops to 13-2 in the
USA South and 23-6 overall. Since losing
two matches to Christopher Newport on
September 24, the Bishops have won a total of
13 consecutive matches, seven by 3-0 scores.
The team seems destined for a tournament
showdown with the CNU Captains, who have
built a 14-0 conference record and 26-6 overall
mark.
Junior Brittany Insley led the Bishops in
Saturday’s two wins, recording a total of 27
kills and a hitting percentage of .535.
Earlier in the week, Wesleyan treated fans
to one of its most exciting games of the season
by downing Chowan University, a non-league
opponent, in a five-set thriller by a 3-2 score
(25-23,22-25,25-18,20-25,15-10).
Three Bishops tallied double-digit kills as
Insley (18), BaAara DeRatt (15), and Leslie
Hassell (12) all turned in solid performances.
With their 11th straight victory, the Bishops
improved to 21-6 on the season.
The teams fought to a 2-2 tie after four sets.
In the deciding game, Chowan held a slim 10-9
advantage down the stretch. But the Bishops
earned six straight points with the help of three
Hawk attack errors and kills by Insley and
DeRatt.
The Bishops finished with 55 kills as a
team to Chowan's 53. NCWC also held a slight
advantage in blocks at 9-6, while both teams
recorded 10 service aces.
Hassell and Insley completed double-dou-
bles with 14 and 12 digs, respectively. Insley
also turned in five blocks, as did sophomore
teammate Carla Pridgen. Kelly Geoige once
again anchored the Bishop defense with a
team-high 17 digs, while freshman setter
Mackenzie Tmgle dished out 46 assists and had
a game-high six service aces.
“Our team has begun to click really well,”
said Insley
Coach Robin Pietryk attributes the team’s
success to the additional experience that her
sophomore-laden team has gotten since last
season. “That and the addition of a couple key
new players have made us a more solid team.”
Six freshmen returned from last year’s
team, and several have made key contributions.
Pietryk singled out George for her fine
work on the back line. As the libero, George
plays a defensive role, responsible for getting
the ball to the Bishops setters and front-line
hitters. “Kelly plays every point, but her work
is unnoticed because it’s a defensive position,”
the coach said. “It’s really the most important
position on the court.”
Another key, Pietryk said, is that DeRatt, a
sophomore, has moved to the right side of the
front court, a position that allows her to take
advantage of her left-handedness. “She’s been
able to play to her strength now,” Pietryk said.
Before the season began, Pienyk had been
concemed about the setting position, as all-
time leading setting Caitlin George had been
lost to graduation. But she has been pleased
with the play of Tingle. “She’s been getting the
hang of our system,” Pietryk said. “She’s been
doing a good job. She’s really been getting her
timing down” with the hitters on the front line.
Hassell, a freshman, has helped strengthen
the outside hitter position, teaming with the
NCWC’s only senior, Sydney Bens, who led
the team in kills (14) and hitting percentage
(.480) in a recent conference victory over Mer
edith. “We’re more complete in that position”
than the team was last year,” the coach said.
Despite the team’s overall improvement over
last year, NCWC struggled in its last match with
Christopher Newport, the perennial conference
powerhouse, as the Captains swept a double-
header, 3-0,3-0, on the Bishops home court.
Pietryk admits that her team must put
forth a superlative effort if it is to vanquish
the Captains, ranked 23rd in the nation, in the
conference tournament, should the two teams
meet.
“They give everyone problems,” Pietryk
said. “Most of their kids are five-ten to six
feet. They’ve got a huge height advantage on
most teams that they face. They’re tall and
they jump well and they’re experienced.”
Insley cited the spe^ of CNU’s team.
"They play at a completely different level
than other teams in the conference,” she said.
“They play at a very fast pace. We’ll need to
quicken our game against them.”
The coach said her team will need find a
“little weaknesses” in CNU’s team.
Regardless of which teams they face in
the conference tournament, Pietryk said
the Bishops will likely need to win their
conference in order to qualify for the NCAA
Division III tournament.
(Sports Information contributed to this article.)
120 penalty yards, the victory was
never in question, thanks to NCWC
out-gaining the Cougars by over 300
yards and racking up 25 first downs.
The large disparity in yards is in
large part due to a defense that allowed
only 48 rushing yards and recorded
three sacks.
Two of those were by Wesleyan’s
new sack leader, Quinderra Spellman.
Spellman’s sacks were his fourth and
fifth of the season (NCWC single
season record), and his 10.5 and 11.5 of
his career (NCWC career record)
The win pu.shed the Bishops record
to 3-3 and 2-1 USA-South. “I think
it was a great win for confidence. We
were much more excited today,” Coach
Henninger said. “Going into our bye
week after a loss was tough, and this
was a great way to get back on track.”
NCWC 47, Shenandoah 28
Wide receiver Orlando Webb set the
tone for last Saturday’s win, snaring a
79-yard pass touchdown pass on a flea
flicker play during the team’s opening
drive.
For the game, Webb caught
four passes for 143 yards and two
touchdowns. Jordan finished 16-of-29
for 215 yards and three TDs, while
freshman tailback Stedman Mathis
continued his impressive play, racking
up 158 rushing yards.
The defense was spearheaded by
senior Quinderra Spellman who made
a game-high 14 tackles and added to
his team record with 1.5 sacks. Carlos
Railey and Reshard Patterson each
recorded interceptions.
(Sports Infonnation contrihiited to this import.)
LACROSSE from page 1
It was last spring that the players
sought assistance from Public Justice, a
national public interest law firm.
“This is a great win for the athletes at North
Carolina Wesleyan and everyone who cares
about equal opportunity for women in sports,”
said Public Justice’s lead counsel Burton
Craige, a Raleigh-based attomey in private
practice with experience in Title IX suits.
“We’re delighted that the school has agreed to
reinstate the team.”
During a recent phone interview, Craige
confirmed that Public Justice was first
approached by the group of Wesleyan athletes.
Craige and Public Justice performed their legal
work on a pro bono basis, Craige said.
In a May 12 letter to the college. Public
Justice charged that the school’s decision to •
eliminate women’s lacrosse violated Title IX,
Craige said. Negotiations soon followed.
"Anyume you answer the phone and it's a
lawyer on the other end, it gets your attention,"
Dr Stanley Caine, NCWC’s interim president,
said in an interview. "Lawsuits can force you
to make decisions you don't want to make but
that's not the case here, because the reinstate
ment is not simply to comply with any type
of laws or regulations. I think it's important
to realize that the college was not found to be
guilty of wrongdoing. Public Justice probably
views this as a victory, and 1 can understand
why, but no type of ruling was ever made
against the college."
Dr. Caine related that it took little time
for the college to reach a decision. "Getting
all of the legal documents signed took longer
than the discussions to reach a decision," he
said. "(The reinstatement) is to the benefit of
the college and the young women involved.
We concluded that, especially with the strong
interest shown by a number of the young
women, there was a good chance that lacrosse
could succeed if we gave it more time to
develop. That is what we intend to do.”
In a statement. Athletic Director John
Thompson said the Athletic Department is
pleased to revive the lacrosse program. “The
nucleus of the previous team has remained
on campus,” he said, “and we look forward
to bringing in a head coach to recruit for the
program as quickly as possible.”
Thompson added that the lacrosse program,
plus a new women’s golf team scheduled
to compete in 2009, will help Wesleyan’s
overall recruitment of female students, as the
college expands to eight women’s sports. The
moves come at a time when the college faces
significant retention and budgetary problems.
In determining Title IX compliance, one
factor is the ratio of male to females at the col
lege. The regulations take into account students
in the adult degree program as well as the ones
in the traditional day program, said NCWC
Sports Information Director Rikki Rich.
Since 2004, when football was introduced
as the sixth men’s sport, the main campus has
been dominated by males, who now make up
57 percent of the student body By contrast, the
ADP is 74 percent female and 26 percent male,
according to data provided by Cliff Sullivan,
the college registrar.
Wesleyan’s lacrosse team had competed for
two seasons, in 2006 and 2007, and at the time
the team wa.s eliminated, college officials were
concemed that player recruitment had not met
expectations, noting that, in order to field a team,
Wesleyan relied on athletes who had come to
campus to play other sports, such as soccer
During the 2007 season, there were 16
players on the roster, 13 of whom played in at
least half of the team’s matches.
On learning that the team would return,
players expressed excitement.
Megan “Gumby” Kintner, a senior from
Waldorf, Maryland, said she came to Wesleyan
to play soccer, but joined the lacrosse team in
her sophomore year, the team’s second season.
“I was a manager my first year,” she said.
“I saw that the team was really close, that they
had fun and that they worked hard in practice
and in games. 1 wanted to be part of that.”
Saying that she’s “excited” about lacrosse’s
reinstatement, she’s hopeful that new players can
be recruited from campus so that Wesleyan can
put a competitive team on the field in the spring.
She said that considerable interest has been
generated among current Wesleyan students,
including some who are not on a team at present.
Like Penrod, Sarah Matulich, a junior from
Buffalo, came to Wesleyan with the express
purpose of playing lacrosse. An attacker,
Matulich ranked third on the team in goals and
first in assists during the 2007 season.
When she heard the team had been
reinstated, she said, “I was happy. I’m just
excited to play with my teammates again.”
Matulich recalled the disappointment and anger
that players felt last year after the team was cut.
“Our first thoughts were for our coach.
She had just had a baby and moved into a new
house,” she said, refening to Lorin Titus. “Then
I became mad. I came here to play lacrosse.”
Titus confirmed that she will not be a
candidate for the open coaching position. She
guided the team to three victories in both the
2006 and 2007 seasons.
Still a resident of the area, Titus said she
is happy to be a stay-at-home mom to her
infant daughter, Cannen. She said she hopes
to referee lacrosse matches, but noted that
coaching opportunities are limited in eastern
North Carolina.
“We were steadily building the program as a
team and I'm sure the new coach will do a great
job taking up where we left off,” Titus said.
“I knovt' that they have the ability to be great
because they have been working toward that
greatness since day one. 1 will forever be proud
of the NCWC Women's Lacrosse Team.”