The Pendulum
Free basketball
The Phoenix gave the fans a
little extra battling with lUPUI
in an extra session.
See story p. 22
Thursday, December 1, 2005 • Pace 21
Sports predictions
See who the Pendulum staff
thinks will win the big
games during week 12.
See story p. 23
Twas the season
Ai holidays near, fall sports complete another chapter
• V I'KA/X/l'’ J ^ tournament but hope next year’s senior leadership will give
m
New
fustin Hite
Assistant Sports Editor
Fall sports ended on a high note for some and a low note
for others. Most of the varsity sports around Elon finished
the season at their expectations and improved from the pre
vious season. „ ,
The most drastic improvement came from the scKcer
field. Both the men’s and women’s teams improved from
last season, and the men’s soccer team won the first confer
ence playoff game in Elon’s history.
Men’s soccer finished the year ranked third in the
Southern Conference with a 9-9-2 record. A coaching
change in the off-season and the acquisition of one of the
Sreshman in .he country were caalyst for a strong sea-
*°Kiki Willis helped lead a revamped offense with 10
goals in 19 games. Brett Paschall provided a second sconng
Son with seven goals of his own. Junior goalkeeper
Taylor Saxe along with an impressive back line including
first t^ all-SoCon tournament members, Junior Nombre
L JFabyan Saxe. T. Saxe finished the year with an impres
sive 1 09 goals against per game and posted six shutouts.
The Phoenix lost only one game at home posting one of the
^st records in recent memory but was atrocious on the road
tfbl more consistent next year.” coach Danen
Powell said. “Especially in road games. We had a poor road
'“me’ieam hoped to put Elon soccer on the map this year
o hi a win in the season finale against UNC-
Greensboro. They fell just short of their goal of the NCAA
Laura Hals/ Photo Editor
p comers Kiki Willis (above) and coach Darren
So!^! ^e/ped propel Elon to the third seed m the
Conference and the schools first ever con er-
ffp 1 win. Willis was named the SoCon
of the Year and Powell was named the SoCon
ber
rpr^ volleyball team finished v^ith a
^°^^^yball looks to rebound from a sub-par sea
^^^nks to a strong recruiting class.
them the edge.
“We have 10 seniors next year, for that whole class it’s
there last go around,” Powell said. “Seniors always play
with a little extra zip.”
The women’s soccer team was not as impressive on
paper but still followed up with a second consecutive
SoCon playoff appearance after making the playoffs for the
first time. They finished 5-11-3 and got knocked out in the
first round of the playoffs, but this was still a strong per
formance considering their luck during the season.
“We had to be in the record books for the worst luck,”
assistant coach Stuart Home said.
The team was able to rebound from these many setbacks
thanks to leadership and strong play from many different
players. They made the SoCon tournament thank to an
undefeated run in the final four games of the season with
three wins and a tie.
“We got hot when we needed,” Home said. “We want to
be in the top half of the confidence next year, everyone
needs to step up.
The coaching staff is incredibly pleased with the incom
ing freshman class and hopes they will help improve the
play of every member of the team.
Improved Phoenix play did not stop on the soccer field
but also on the track. The women’s cross country team
improved five positions in the conference and the men’s
cross country team improved three places from two years
ago. Alana Black and Anna Mae Flynn received conference
honors. Black made the All-Conference team and Flynn
was named the SoCon freshman of the year.
“Flynn along with all the freshman are my best recruit
ing class,” coach Jackie Sgambati said. “They need to step
up the program and are becoming even stronger.”
The women’s team ran the best race of the year in the
conference toumament.
“The girls all just put it together on a big day,” Sgambati
said.
The volleyball team finished the year 9-23 but looks for
ward to next year after signing a five-year varsity starter
and four-time MVP in high school, Mandy Wilson. The
team this year was lead by hitters Brittany Westphal and
Emily Lucci on offense thanks to play from setter Kate Hart
and Juliena Gigon along with Lucci were strong defensive
ly on the net with nearly two blocks per game. Shelley
Macbean and Brooke Picard helped on defense as the main
defensive specialists. ^
Contact Justin Hite at pendulum@elon.edu or 278-7247.