Last Saturday, in its first MSFA Mideast conference game of the season, the Malone College football team (ranked #23 in the latest NAIA national poll) defeated NAIA #15 Geneva (PA) College at home by a final score of 22-13.  The Pioneer defense came up with big plays throughout the afternoon, forcing six turnovers (including a school record-tying five interceptions) and stopping Geneva’s late fourth-quarter comeback attempt with an impressive goal line stand.  Malone tallied 82 yards rushing and 264 yards passing in the contest for 346 total yards while Geneva posted just 18 rushing yards and 194 passing yards to give the Golden Tornadoes 212 yards of offense in the game.  With its second straight victory over a ranked opponent, Malone improves its overall record to 3-1 with a 1-0 mark in the MSFA Mideast.
     The first points of the game were scored by Malone’s defense eight minutes into the first quarter when sophomore defensive back Fred Weidenthal (Austintown Fitch H.S.) drilled Geneva’s quarterback at the Golden Tornado nine-yard line, jarring the ball loose.  Junior linebacker Justin Murphy (Minerva H.S.) then scooped up the fumble and returned it six yards for the score to give Malone an early 6-0 advantage (extra point attempt was no good). 
     Geneva answered right back, though, on its ensuing possession with a five-play, 55-yard scoring drive to take a 7-6 lead with 4:30 remaining in the first period.  Following an interception by senior defensive back Rayshawn Cole (Firestone H.S.) on Geneva’s next possession, the Pioneers were able to reclaim the lead on a 40-yard field goal by sophomore place kicker Mike Skvor (Long Beach, CA).  The Golden Tornadoes threatened late in the second quarter before senior defensive lineman Brian Landies (Chardon H.S.) snagged an interception to preserve the Pioneers’ 9-7 lead at the half.
     Malone was able to extend its lead to 16-7 on its second possession of the third quarter as quarterback Brad Reifsnyder (Sr., Hoover H.S.) scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak (Skvor’s extra point was good).  After an interception on Geneva’s next possession, the Pioneers added another score when Reifsnyder connected with junior running back Bernard Payton (Pomona, CA) on a 12-yard touchdown pass to give Malone a 22-7 lead with 10 seconds remaining in the third period.  
     Geneva made things interesting late in the fourth quarter with a rushing touchdown to cut the lead to 22-13 (two-point conversion failed) with 4:47 left in the game.  The visitors then recovered the ensuing onside kick and proceeded to drive down the field, advancing the ball to the Malone one-yard line.  With second and goal, the Pioneer defense stiffened, holding the Golden Tornado offense out of the end zone on three consecutive rushing attempts to secure the 22-13 win.
     Reifsnyder had yet another outstanding day under center for the Pioneers, completing 25 of 34 pass attempts for 264 yards with one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown.  Payton tallied 90 yards rushing on 23 attempts to go with six pass receptions for 62 yards and one touchdown.  Junior wide receiver Mike Clapham (Elyria Catholic H.S.) led the receiving corps with seven catches for 87 yards while Derek Deardorff (So., Kenton H.S.) hauled in four receptions for 31 yards.  Junior wide-out Josh Settlemire (Howland H.S.) posted three catches for 44 yards while junior tight end LaRoi Johnson (Pittsburgh, PA) also snagged three catches for 26 yards.
     Defensively, Murphy paced the squad with 11 tackles (three solo, two TFL, 0.5 sack) and the six-yard fumble recovery.  Linebacker Dan Hromada (Jr., Padua Franciscan) followed with seven tackles (three solo) while senior defensive back Jason Frantz (Perry H.S.) posted four tackles (three solo) and two interceptions.  Landies also recorded four tackles (two solo, one TFL) and one interception.  Cole and sophomore cornerback Doug Alford (St. Peter Chanel H.S.) each recorded one interception in the game while defensive linemen Jeff Jeffries (Jr., Meadowdale H.S.) and Mike Drumm (Sr., Huron H.S.) each tallied one sack.
     This week, Malone (3-1, 1-0 MSFA Mideast) will travel to Ohio Dominican University (2-2, 0-1 MSFA Mideast) on Saturday for a 12:30 match-up with the Panthers.

Women’s Soccer Falls To Mount Vernon Nazarene; Defeats Rio Grande

     The Malone College women’s soccer team dropped a match to Mount Vernon Nazarene University at home on Wednesday 5-1 before bouncing back on Saturday to claim a victory over the University of Rio Grande on the road by a final score of 5-1.  With the 1-1 week, Malone’s overall record now stands at 5-4-1 (2-1-0 AMC South).
     Against Mount Vernon Nazarene, the Cougars struck quickly with goals in the 17th and 27th minutes of the match to grab a 2-0 first half lead.  Early in the second half, Malone appeared to cut the lead to one with a header that went into the net, but the goal was waved off due to an off-sides penalty.  The Cougars then were able to turn the momentum around just minutes later with a goal on a penalty kick, giving the visitors a three-goal lead.  Mount Vernon Nazarene then cemented the victory with two more goals in the 77th and 78th minutes to extend its advantage to 5-0.  Malone was able to get on the scoreboard shortly after as Vana Morgan (So., West Branch H.S.) assisted senior forward Julie Herbst (Dyer, IN) for the Pioneers’ lone goal of the contest.  Malone mustered just three shots on goal in the 5-1 loss while three Pioneer keepers combined to make eight saves.  Mount Vernon Nazarene posted 13 shots on goal and two saves.
     Against Rio Grande, Malone scored early and often to put the game out of reach with five first half goals.  The scoring began in the fourth minute as Taryn Carlson (Sr., Poland Seminary H.S.) assisted Herbst for her first of three goals on the afternoon.  The Pioneers struck again just five minutes later as Aleesha Denmeade (So., Hoover H.S.) scored on a pass from sophomore Shannon O’Connor (Brunswick H.S.) to put Malone ahead 2-0.  Senior Amanda Zabukovec (Brunswick H.S.) then assisted Herbst for another goal in the 24th minute.  Vana Morgan then found the back of the net just minutes later on a pass from senior Kara Wenger (St. Clairsville H.S.).  Zabukovec and Herbst then connected again in the 43rd minute to complete Herbst’s hat trick and give Malone a commanding 5-0 advantage.  Rio Grande was able to avoid the shutout with a late second half score but it was not nearly enough as the Pioneers cruised to the 5-1 victory.  Malone bombarded the Rio keeper with 29 shots on goal over the course of the match while keepers Stacy Messner (Fr., Green H.S.), Sam Brown (So., Butler, PA), and Ashley White (So., Wheeling Central Catholic H.S.) combined to make four saves.  The Redwomen posted five shots on goal and 24 saves. 
     This week, Malone (5-4-1, 2-1-0 AMC South) will travel to Ohio Dominican University (2-6-1, 1-1-0 AMC S) on Tuesday for a 4:00 p.m. match before returning home on Saturday to face Geneva (PA) College (4-6-0, 2-2-0 AMC N) at 5:00 p.m.

Women's Cross Country Team Places Fourth Among 19 At Loyola Invitational; Men Finish Sixth Among 18

     The Malone College women's cross country team finished fourth among a mostly NCAA Div. I  19-team field at the Loyola (IL) University Invitational on Saturday while the Pioneer men's team placed sixth among 18 teams.
     The women, who are ranked third in the NAIA, tallied 145 points for its fourth-place finish as Grand Valley State (MI) University took the team title with 38 points.  Southern Illinois University placed second (115), Loyola took third (135) and Northwestern University rounded out the top five (163).  Alabama and Illinois State were among other NCAA Div. I schools that Malone defeated.
     The Malone men, who are ranked fourth in the NAIA, racked up 151 points for their sixth-place finish as Grand Valley State also won the men's meet.  Southern Illinois placed second (128), Southwest Baptist (MO) University took third (143), Illinois-Chicago was fourth (144) and Loyola rounded out the top five (150). 
     For the women's team, Joanna Genter (Sr., Crestview H.S.) placed 11th overall in a time of 18:19 while Amy Iatauro (Sr., CVCA) was next for the team in 26th in 18:48.  Others who scored for the team were Katie Bagley (So., Van Wert H.S.) in 29th (18:49), Rebekah Genter (So., Crestview H.S.) in 37th (18:58) and Kalie Hauenstine (Fr., Ashland H.S.) in 55th (19:16).  Others who competed included Loren Reineke (Sr., Anna H.S.) in 61st (19:25) and Caity Schneider (Sr., Sandy Valley H.S.) in 83rd (19:52).
     For the men, Nik Schweikert (So., Beavercreek H.S.) finished first for the squad and 19th overall in a time of 25:30 while Ryan Kienzle (Jr., GlenOak H.S.) was close behind in 21st (25:33).  Others who scored for Malone included Justin Baum (Jr., Kenston H.S.) in 29th (25:45), Evan Gaynor (Fr., Delta H.S.) in 36th (25:54) and Chris Sinick (Fr., Field H.S.) in 52nd (26:23).  Also competing for the team were Mike Coates (Jr., Sandy Valley H.S.), who finished 125th (27:59), and Paul Robinson (Fr., Field H.S.), who came in 129th (28:07).
     This week, the men's and women's teams will compete at the Ohio Intercollegiates in Delaware, Ohio on Friday.  The men's race is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and the women's event is set for 2:45 p.m.

Men’s Soccer Drops Two In AMC South Competition

     The Malone College men’s soccer team fell to Mount Vernon Nazarene University 3-2 at home on Tuesday before dropping its match with NAIA #2 University of Rio Grande 7-0 on Saturday (at Rio Grande).  Following the 0-2 week, Malone’s overall record now stands at 4-4-2 (0-3-1 AMC South). 
     Against Mount Vernon Nazarene, the Cougars jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead on goals in the third and fifth minutes of the match.  Malone was able to cut the lead in half minutes later when senior forward Alex Ferrandez (Elche, Spain) chipped a shot over the keeper and into the net.  Mount Vernon Nazarene then responded with another goal late in the first half to extend its advantage to 3-1.  The Pioneers fought back with a goal midway through the second period as Pat Quinn (Jr., Copley H.S.) drilled in a cross from Ferrandez.  Malone could not close the gap any further, though, over the remainder of regulation, falling by the 3-2 final.  The Pioneers posted just three shots on goal for the afternoon while keeper Mike Porter (Jr., Highland H.S.) tallied 11 saves.  Mount Vernon Nazarene recorded 14 shots on goal and one save.
     Against Rio Grande, the Redmen displayed exactly why they are ranked #2 in the nation with seven goals, four coming in the first half and three in the second.  With sloppy field conditions, Rio dominated play from the onset, launching 24 shots on goal in the match while holding Malone without a shot on goal for the entire contest.  Porter and Scott Garber (Sr., Heritage Christian H.S.) combined to record 17 saves.
     This week, Malone (4-4-2, 0-3-1 AMC S) will travel to Myers University (1-6-0) on Tuesday for a 3:30 p.m. make-up match before heading to Ohio Dominican University (7-3-1, 1-0-0 AMC S) on Friday for a 3:00 p.m. contest.

Women’s Golf Finishes Fourth At Walsh Invitational

 

     The Malone College women’s golf team came in fourth out of six teams at the Walsh University Invitational Monday and Tuesday.  Malone posted a score of 355 on Monday and 358 Tuesday, giving them a combined score of 713 for the tournament. Trevecca Nazarene University won the tournament with a combined score of 682.  Walsh University came in second with a score of 689 while Tiffin University was third at 712. Ohio Dominican University came in fifth with a score of 722 while Ursuline College rounded out the competition with a score of 897.
     Heather Grovemiller (Sr., Perry H.S.) led the Pioneers with a score of 166 overall (85-81), taking All-Tournament Team honors and placing third in the competition.  Megan Grubb (Jr., Lake H.S.) followed with 181 (90-91) while Elena Duncan (Fr., Winona Lake, IN) followed closely with a 182 (86-96). Jenn Blocker (Fr., Westerville H.S.) finished with a score of 185 (95-90).  Laurie Grubb (Fr., Lake H.S.) posted a score of 198 (94-104) and Heather Hall (Jr., Bellefontaine H.S.) rounded out the Malone squad with a 205 (106-99). In addition, Sarah Ramsey (Fr., Kenton Ridge H.S.), Carinna Baldner (Jr., Hillsdale H.S.), and Evyn Steinberger (So., Springfield North H.S.) also competed for Malone as individuals. 
     This week, the team is idle and will compete next at the Tiffin University Invitational on October 9th and 10th.

 

 

     The Malone College men’s golf team finished second out of six teams at the Red Poling Invitational held in Dearborn, Michigan on Tuesday.  The team posted a score of 312 for the day as Hope (MI) College won the tournament with a score of 306.  Calvin (MI) College came in third with a 313 finish.  Monmouth College finished fourth at 317 while host Spring Arbor (MI) University came in fifth with a score of 320.  Augustana College rounded out the competition with a 329 finish.
     Darren Phipps (Jr., Lake H.S.) led the Pioneers with a third-place finish overall posting a score of 75.  Michael Johnson (So., Lake H.S.) followed with a finish of 78 while Grant Gates (Sr., River Valley H.S.) was one stroke behind at 79.  Scotty Jones (Sr., East Palestine H.S.) followed closely with an 80 while Shawn Deppe (Fr., Jackson H.S.) rounded out Malone’s team with a finish of 81.
     This week, the team will compete next at the Westminster (PA) Invitational on Monday October 2nd.