Urbana University  2-0
                                Malone ties:
                                     Tiffin University  1-1 (2OT)
                                CURRENT RECORD:  7-5-2  (3-2-1 AMC South)

Volleyball        - Malone defeats:
                             Notre Dame (OH) College  30-26, 30-22, 27-30, 33-31
                             Shawnee State University  30-13, 25-30, 30-20, 24-30, 15-13

                       - Malone loses to: 
                             Mt. Vernon Nazarene University  21-30, 13-30, 29-31 
                             Campbellsville (KY) University  17-30, 20-30, 21-30 
                         CURRENT RECORD:  18-14  (5-7 AMC South)

 

Men's Soccer   - Malone loses to:
                                 Urbana University  1-0 (OT)
                           CURRENT RECORD:  5-6-2   (0-5-1 AMC South)

Men's Golf - Malone finished runner-up among 25 teams at the NCCAA National Championships in West Lafayette, Ohio (River Greens G.C.) last Monday and Tuesday; Michael Johnson placed fifth for All-America honors

 

 

     With a stadium full of alumni, parents, and current students for homecoming weekend, the Malone College football team was able to provide its supportive onlookers with quite a game by pulling out a thrilling 27-24 victory in one overtime period against NAIA #25 Urbana University on Saturday.  Malone posted 75 yards rushing and 230 yards passing for 305 total yards in the game while Urbana racked up 176 rushing yards and 359 passing yards to give the visitors 535 total yards of offense.  Malone was able to overcome this discrepancy in total yardage by creating several big plays in crucial situations throughout the afternoon.  With their third victory over a nationally-ranked opponent, the Pioneers surpassed their win total from last season and improved their current overall record to 4-2 with a 2-1 mark in the MSFA Mideast.
     Urbana was able to jump out to an early 7-0 lead with an 11-play scoring drive on the game’s opening possession.  The Pioneers answered with a 23-yard field goal by place kicker Mike Skvor (So., Long Beach, CA) on their ensuing drive to cut the deficit to 7-3.  The score remained unchanged until late in the second quarter when Urbana quarterback Ryan Gehlert connected with wide receiver Marc Burr on a 51-yard scoring strike to give the Blue Knights a 14-3 advantage with 4:06 remaining in the first half.  Urbana, though, received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct celebration penalty after the touchdown which was enforced on the ensuing kickoff.  Malone was able to take full advantage of this Blue Knight mistake and change the game’s momentum as wide receiver Justin Johnson took the kickoff and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown to cut Urbana’s lead to 14-10 at the half.
     Malone then took the lead on its opening second half drive as wide receiver Derek Deardorff (So., Kenton H.S.) caught a long pass from quarterback Brad Reifsnyder (Sr., Hoover H.S.) and then proceeded to drag his defender ten yards into the end zone to give the Pioneers a 17-14 advantage.  Urbana then tied the game early in the fourth quarter with a 36-yard field goal before Malone regained the lead on a one-yard touchdown plunge by running back Bernard Payton (Jr., Pomona, CA).  Skvor added the extra point to put the Pioneers in front 24-17 with 5:40 remaining in the game.  Urbana was able to pull even once again, though, as Gehlert found Burr on a five-yard touchdown pass to tie the contest at 24-24 with just 21 seconds remaining in regulation.
     The game then headed to overtime with Urbana receiving the ball on offense first.  The Blue Knights were able to convert one first down on their possession but were forced to attempt a field goal on fourth down from the Malone nine yard-line as the Pioneer defense stiffened inside their own ten-yard line.  The short 27-yard attempt was then blocked by linebacker Justin Murphy (Jr., Minerva H.S.) giving the Pioneers an excellent opportunity to win the game.  Needing just three points for the victory, Skvor once again came through in the clutch, nailing a 36-yard attempt to give Malone a dramatic 27-24 win.
     Reifsnyder completed 21 of 34 pass attempts to eight different receivers on the afternoon for 230 yards and one touchdown.  Payton rushed for 95 yards on 19 attempts and one touchdown to go with four pass receptions for 17 yards.  Wide receiver Mike Clapham (Jr., Elyria Catholic H.S.) tallied a team-high six catches for 59 yards while wide receiver Josh Settlemire (Jr., Howland H.S.) recorded four catches for 55 yards.  Deardorff snagged two catches on the day for 63 yards and one touchdown and tight end LaRoi Johnson (Jr., Pittsburgh, PA) hauled in two passes for 18 yards.
     Defensively, linebacker Jamal Gambrell (Jr., Maple Heights H.S.) paced the squad with 11 tackles (seven solo, one TFL) and one forced fumble followed by cornerback Chris Cruise (Jr., Field H.S.), who tallied nine tackles (six solo) and one pass break-up.  In addition to his crucial blocked field goal, Murphy posted seven tackles (three solo), one pass break-up and one interception.  Linebacker Kevin Kapostasy (Jr., Fairport H.S.) added six tackles (five solo, one TFL) and one forced fumble while defensive back Cody Kapostasy (Sr., Fairport H.S.) also recorded six tackles (five solo).  Defensive back Jason Frantz (Sr., Perry H.S.) had six tackles (two solo) with one fumble recovery while fellow defensive back Rayshawn Cole (Sr., Firestone H.S.) added six tackles (one solo) and two pass break-ups.
     This week, Malone (4-2, 2-1 MSFA Mideast) will face yet another nationally-ranked opponent when they travel to NAIA #2 University of Saint Francis (IN) (6-0, 2-0 MSFA Mideast) for a 12:00 p.m. match-up.
 
Women’s Soccer Ties Tiffin, Defeats Urbana

 

     The Malone College women’s soccer team posted a 1-1 tie at Tiffin University on Tuesday before picking up a 2-0 victory at Urbana University on Saturday.  With the 1-0-1 week, the Pioneers improved their overall record to 7-5-2 with a 3-2-1 mark in the AMC South Division.
     Against Tiffin, Malone grabbed the early advantage on Aleesha Denmeade’s (So., Hoover H.S.) diving header from a direct kick by Amanda Zabukovec (Sr., Brunswick H.S.) in the 26th minute.  Tiffin was able to pull even just 12 minutes later, though, with a deflected corner kick to tie the game at 1-1.  Both teams battled back and forth over the remainder of regulation and two overtime periods, but neither squad could post a second goal resulting in the 1-1 tie.  Malone tallied four shots on goal in the defensive match while keeper Stacy Messner (Fr., Green H.S.) recorded two saves.  Tiffin recorded three shots on goal and three saves.
     Against Urbana, the Pioneers struck early as Shannon O’Connor (So., Brunswick H.S.) assisted Vana Morgan (So., West Branch H.S.) on a goal in the eighth minute of the match.  Malone tallied another goal just minutes later as Julie Herbst (Sr., Dyer, IN) was able to beat the Urbana keeper on a pass from Erin Gilmour (Fr., Howland H.S.) to give the Pioneers a 2-0 lead just ten minutes into the contest.  These two goals were more than enough for the Malone defense as the Pioneers stifled the Urbana attack for the remainder of the game to record their sixth shutout of the season.  Malone recorded ten shots on goal in the contest while Messner and keeper Sam Brown (So., Knoch H.S.) combined to make six saves.  Urbana posted six shots on goal and eight saves.
     This week, Malone (7-5-2, 3-2-1 AMC S) will host Notre Dame (OH) College (8-6-0, 4-2-0 AMC N) on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. and Rochester (MI) College (5-9) on Friday, also at 4:00 p.m.  The squad will then travel to Walsh University (6-7-0, 2-3-0 AMC S) on Saturday for a 3:00 p.m. match (changed from 7:00 p.m.) with the Cavaliers.

 

Volleyball Posts 2-2 Record On The Week
 
     The Malone College volleyball team picked up a 30-26, 30-22, 27-30, 33-31 victory over Notre Dame (OH) College at home on Thursday before traveling to the Mount Vernon Nazarene University to compete in the Papa John’s Invitational over the weekend.  The squad began play on Friday with a 21-30, 13-30, 29-31 loss to the tournament’s host (MVNU).  Then on Saturday, the Pioneers fell to Campbellsville (KY) University 17-30, 20-30, 21-30 before bouncing back with a 30-13, 25-30, 30-20, 24-30, 15-13 victory over Shawnee State University.  Senior outside hitter Racquel O’Hara (Claymont H.S.) was named to the All-Tournament team for her outstanding play throughout the invitational.  Following the 2-2 week, Malone’s overall record now stands at 18-14 with a 5-7 mark in the AMC South Division.
     Against Notre Dame, senior middle hitter Ashley Yocum (Jonathan Alder H.S.) led the way with 20 kills, 15 digs and five blocks (three solo).  O’Hara followed with 17 kills and 21 digs while freshman middle hitter Kristen Schoolcraft (McKinley H.S.) tallied 11 kills and four blocks (two solo).  Junior libero Amanda Robinson (Claymont H.S.) added 14 digs and two service aces with freshman setter Casie Mruk (Revere H.S.) contributing 57 assists.
     Against Mount Vernon Nazarene, O’Hara paced the squad with 15 kills and 10 digs followed by Schoolcraft with 10 kills.  Sophomore outside hitter Catie Huggins (St. Vincent/St. Mary H.S.) added eight kills while Yocum posted seven kills, 12 digs and three blocks.
     Against Campbellsville, O’Hara posted six kills followed by Huggins with five kills.  Robinson tallied eight digs and three service aces, Schoolcraft recorded four blocks and sophomore setter Bethany Thompson (Tusc. Central Catholic) dished out 11 assists.
     Against Shawnee State, Yocum led the way with 14 kills and four blocks (three solo) followed by O’Hara with 13 kills and 23 digs.  Schoolcraft added 11 kills and five blocks (two solo) while Thompson tallied four service aces and 26 assists.
     This week, Malone (18-14, 5-7 AMC S) will travel to the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois to compete at the Big Guns Classic on Friday and Saturday.

 

 

     The Malone College men’s soccer team fell 1-0 in overtime at Urbana University on Saturday in the squad’s only match of the week.  With the tough defeat, the Pioneers' overall record now stands at 5-6-2 with a 0-5-1 mark in the AMC South Division.
     The match with Urbana remained scoreless throughout both the first and second periods of regulation, sending the contest to overtime with the score tied 0-0.  The match ended quickly in the first overtime, though, as Malone allowed an own goal in the 94th minute to give the Blue Knights the 1-0 victory.  The Pioneers took six shots on goal in the match while keeper Mike Porter (Jr., Highland H.S.) posted 10 saves.  Urbana recorded 10 shots on goal and six saves.
     This week, Malone (5-6-1, 0-5-1 AMC S) will host Geneva (PA) College (2-9-3, 0-2-1 AMC N) on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. before facing Rochester (MI) College (5-7-2) on Friday at 2:00 p.m. (also at home).