3.4.10 / Sports
The Clarion Golden Eagles women’s basketball team fell to Edinboro University last Saturday night, ending their hopes of a playoff spot.
With that hope within their grasp, Clarion rallied in the second half, but fell short of Edinboro 78-66 at McComb Fieldhouse in Edinboro.
Going into the game 5-8 in the PSAC West, the Eagles needed a win to clinch the fourth and final playoff spot for the PSAC-West.
Right from the start, the battle was intense as Clarion knew this game would make or break their playoff hopes.
A win would mean they overcame numerous obstacles and injuries, which plagued the Lady Eagle’s season.
Both teams jumped out of the gates quickly, knowing this wouldn’t be an easy victory. For most of the first half, the Lady Eagles would lead, but eventually Edinboro would prove to be too much.
Thirteen minutes into the game, the score was tied up at 19. With 1:25 to play in the first half, Edinboro would re-tie the score at 30.
Edinboro went into the locker room at the half, up 35-31. Clarion was able to tie it up again at 48 with a little over 12 minutes to go in the game. However, this would be the closest the Lady Eagles would get to the Fighting Scots.
Clarion struggled from behind the arc, missing all three pointers, which has been one of the team’s strengths in the Golden Eagle’s offense during previous games.
Janelle Zabresky led the Lady Eagles with 19 points as Bethany Koch and Rachel Graeff followed with 13 each.
In an interview with Coach Gie Parsons, she said that the team played its heart out.
“The team had a lot of unfortunate injuries this season,” Parsons said.
Despite the injuries, the team still had an opportunity to make playoffs. In preparation for next year, Parsons said she wants to come back and work on a lot of the fundamentals and things that win big ball games.
With three players red shirting, the team will have a lot of really good players for their return next season. Goals are to get everyone healthy and back to full strength.
In an interview with senior Bethany Koch, she said she felt as though the team never reached its full potential this year.
Koch commented that in the off-season, the team “needs to improve on the little parts of the game and get all players and everyone on the same page.”
As she graduates this year, she said she looks forward to graduation and possibly getting into some coaching.
3.4.10 / Sports
The last time the Clarion men’s basketball team won a home playoff game was in 1997, until now. More »
2.25.10 / Sports
Clarion clinched its 12th PSAC-West playoff spot in 14 years with their 103-98 win over Slippery Rock this past Saturday. More »
2.25.10 / Sports
Steven Cressley wrestles against Lock Haven’s Derek Caldwell at 174 pounds, winning by decision 7-3. (Neal Henry / The Clarion Call)
With a dominating 33-9 win against Lock Haven Friday night, the Golden Eagles wrestling team finished the season with a record of 8-8 in dual meets and a 4-2 record in the Eastern Wrestling League. More »
2.18.10 / Sports
Huge wins from James Fleming at 149, Hadley Harrison at 157, and a decision from Nick Milano at 165 helped Clarion trample The University of North Carolina this past Saturday night 25-19 at Waldo S. Tippen Gym. More »
2.18.10 / Sports
This past Saturday, Clarion fell to Gannon University in overtime, 66-65. Or did they? Gannon University’s George Johnson made the game winning shot in overtime. More »
2.11.10 / Sports
Clarion fell to Indiana University of Pennsylvania this past Sunday afternoon, but not due to lack of effort. It was a White-Out at Clarion University’s Waldo S. Tippen Gymnasium as hundreds of fans packed in to catch the game.
The Lady Eagles jumped out to a controlling 11-2 lead about 3:77 into the game, and went into the half leading 47-31. The first half was all Clarion, as the team shot 17-34 from the field.
However, the second half was a different story, as IUP came back from a 16-point deficit at the half to take the lead with 1:10 left in the game.
The Lady Eagles struggled, shooting only 7-28 in the second half, letting the Lady Hawks come back and edge Clarion in the end with a final score of 84-83. More »
2.11.10 / Sports
In what can be considered a season of rebuilding, three Lady Golden Eagles qualified for the PSAC’s while participating in the Division II Challenge in Findlay, Oh. on Saturday.
Molly Smathers, Lisa Nickel, and Ciara Shorts all went into the weekend with the goal of qualifying for PSACs and all three achieved their goal.
“We talked about what they would run and all three chose the race they would do. Their individual goals were to qualify and they accomplished it,” said Interim Head Coach D.J. Bevevino. More »
2.11.10 / Sports
The Clarion men’s basketball team was set to face the number six ranked Indiana University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks (18-2, 7-1) Saturday night in a first place showdown in the PSAC West.
However, due to the snow storm in the area, the game was postponed until Sunday afternoon.
“The extra day gave us a chance to make sure we had our game plan together and an extra day of practice,” Jamar Harrison said.
The change in schedule did not affect the 1,100 fans that came out to cheer on their Golden Eagles in a 71-62 win, to come to a first-place tie with IUP. More »
2.4.10 / Sports
Clarion guard Lloyd Harrison makes a move past an Edinboro defender in Saturday’s game at Tippin Gym. The Eagles won the contest in a score of 82-64. (Caitlin McGill / The Clarion Call)
For the first time since the 2003 season, the Clarion Golden Eagles have started 5-1 in the PSAC-West conference. This past Saturday, the Golden Eagles made easy work of Edinboro (8-11, 2-4), with a convincing 82-64 win. More »
2.4.10 / Sports
Clarion Eagle No. 14 Rachel Skolny looks to pass the ball to her teammates against Edinboro. (Caitlin McGill / The Clarion Call)
Despite four players striking double digits and the team shooting 8 for 16 from behind the arc, the Clarion women’s basketball team fell short Saturday, 94-85, in a fight to the finish against Edinboro University. More »
2.4.10 / Sports
The Golden Eagles wrestling team had an impressive weekend going 2-1, including a 22-17 win over Bloomsburg Friday night that was decided in the final match of the evening. More »
12.10.09 / Sports
The Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving teams competed in the Zippy Invitational this past weekend in Akron, Ohio.
The event ran Friday through Sunday at Akron University’s Ocasek Natatorium. The men’s team took fifth while the women’s team took sixth.
Coach Mark Vandyke said, “We performed very well. We qualified 11 female swimmers and divers for nationals and seven male swimmers and divers.”
The men’s team fell to fifth place behind fourth place Duquesne, third place St. Bonaventure, second place Buffalo and first place Xavier.
Seniors Ryan Thiel and Rich Eckert both took a second place. Thiel took second in the 100 free while Eckert took second in the 200 breaststroke.
Thiel also took first place in the 50 free and third place in the 200 free. Joe Ward followed Thiel in the 50 free taking sixth while Christopher Ellson finished eighth.
Jon Kofmehl took sixth place in the 200 back, fifth in the 200 IM and fifth in the 100 backstroke.
Also placing in the 200 IM was AJ Claypool in sixth and Rich Eckert in seventh.
Benjamin Appleby took fourth place in the 200 free followed by teammate Dustin Fedunok in eighth.
Kofmehl, Eckert, Claypool and Thiel took first in the 200 free relay, Kofmehl, Eckert, Garet Weston and Thiel took fifth in the 200 medley, Claypool, Appleby, Fedunok and Thiel took third in the 400 free relay and Fedunok, Weston, Robert Schwartz and Appleby took fifth in the 800 free relay.
Placing in the 3 meter dive was Logan Pearsall in third, Justin Duncan in sixth and Steven Cutler in eighth.
The women’s team finished in sixth place behind Ohio University (first), Buffalo, Akron, Illinois State and Duquesne (fifth). Kaitlyn Johnson tied for first place in the 100 free, took second in the 100 fly and third in the 500 free.
Morgan Oberlander finished second in the 200 butterfly, third in the 200 IM and fourth in the 400 IM.
Kelly Connolly took second in the 100 breaststroke and fifth in the 200 IM.
Kayla Shull and Courtney Boque followed each other in the 100 backstroke taking sixth and seventh place.
Samantha VanDyke finished fifth in the 200 fly and Gina Mattucci took eighth in the 100 free.
Taking second place in the 400 medley relay was the team of Boque, Connolly, Johnson and Mattucci. Johnson, Shull, Connolly and Mattucci took third in the 400 free relay, Johnson, Mattucci, Maloney and Connolly took fourth in the 200 free relay and the team of Shull, Connolly, Johnson and Mattucci took third in the 200 medley. For diving, Kayla Kelosky took third in the 1 meter and second in the 3 meter. While teammate Jena Gardone took sixth in the 1 meter and fourth in the 3 meter.
Coach VanDyke said, “As a whole the team will keep preparing the same way. Some individuals will change some things about their training so hopefully they will swim faster at PSAC’s and nationals.”
Both teams will have a little break from the meets before they return to action January 23rd when they compete against Edinboro, Gannon and Ashland at Warren Harding High School. Without a schedule until after Christmas break, the team won’t have any problem staying motivated. Coach VanDyke said, “We will be training in Florida from Jan. 2-14. 80 degrees is a great motivator.”
12.10.09 / Sports
The last time the Golden Eagles started a season 3-1 was in the start of the 2004-2005 season.
That season they started 4-1 on their way to a PSAC West title. For their second consecutive home game, Clarion reached the century mark in points by defeating Penn College (3-5) 110-48.
Clarion got off to a quick start as they were able to control the paint, with their first 16 points of the game coming from lay ups.
“We have so many unselfish players on the team and we all pretty much know each others strengths,” said sophomore forward Paul McQueen.
“So we recognized we had mismatches in the paint so it was a point of emphasis,” McQueen said.
The Wildcats of Penn College kept it close for the first nine minutes of the game before the Golden Eagles opened the game wide open.
At the 11 minute mark, Clarion used a 23-2 run, showcased by a two handed reverse dunk by Jamar Harrison, to ignite the home crowd.
The Wildcats would add a last second dunk of their own before the half to make the score 55-27 at the half.
After only scoring three points in the first three minutes of the second half, on a Mike Sherry three pointer, the offense found its groove again.
During the course of the second half, the Golden Eagles would use another huge run, this time a 30-5 run, to put the game well out of reach.
With 12:20 remaining in the half, freshman guard Brandyn Mungo drove the lane finishing off with a one handed dunk.
This seemed to get both the crowd and his teammates wanting some highlight real dunks.
Mungo would add another spectacular dunk, flying high to be on the receiving end of an alley oop from teammate Harrison.
The game almost turned into a dunk contest between Mungo and Harrison.
Trying to match Mungo, Harrison was on the receiving end of his own alley oop, this time from Lloyd Harrison.
To cap of the night, Harrison would add one more two handed dunk.
Clarion had six players in double figures on the night, including Shameel Carty’s first career double- double with 14 points and 18 rebounds.
McQueen led the scoring with a career high 23 points.
“We have great perimeter players so they could not just focus on me or any other post player,” said McQueen.
Junior college transfer Harrison recorded his third 20 point game of the season, while fellow transfer Lloyd Harrison, chipped in with 12 points.
“We are going to need both Jamar and Lloyd to play a lot of minutes for us this season. They need to pace themselves and play smart aggressive defense, the offense will take care of itself,” said Coach Ron Righter.
Junior sharpshooter Mike Sherry continued his hot hand beyond the arc, going 4 for 7 from the three point line, with 16 points. Also, freshman guard Mungo added 13 points.
Clarion was back in action on Monday night against Pitt Johnstown. The Golden Eagles trailed throughout the whole game before the Golden Eagles ended up losing the game 94-79.
“We are still trying to find ourselves. We have a very small team so we need our defense to create some offense,” said Coach Righter.
Carty had another strong performance in the losing effort, putting up 20 points.
Clarion will be back in action this weekend at the Salem Invitational in West Virginia.
They will be playing Friday and on Saturday.
12.10.09 / Sports
Clarion freshman Alex Thomas pinned Edinboro’s Shawn Fendone in the finals at 197-pounds and the Golden Eagles had nine place-winners and finished a strong third at the 67th Annual PSAC Wrestling Championships on Saturday.
Hosted at Edinboro’s McComb Fieldhouse, Edinboro won the team title with 142.5 points, with Bloomsburg second at 134.5 and Clarion third with 110 points.
Rounding out the ten team fields, were Lock Haven in fourth with 99.5, Gannon fifth with 62, East Stroudsburg sixth with 49.5, Kutztown seventh with 48, Mercyhurst eighth at 47.5, Millersville ninth at 43.5 and Shippensburg tenth with 40.
Thomas was the second seed in the 197 pound bracket. He advanced to the final with a 7-1 decision over Chris Nocchi of Mercyhurst. He would then earn a 6-1 decision over Scott Snyder of Kutztown in the semi-finals.
In the finals Thomas worked about one-minute following up a single leg shot to eventually get the opening takedown.
He worked that takedown into a cradle and pinned Fendone at 2:00 to push his season record to 10-3.
Clarion got a second place finish in the 133 pound division from junior Jay Ivanco. Ivanco lost in the finals 4-3 to Gannon’s Corey Bowers.
Bowers had two takedowns and Ivanco three escapes for the final score. Ivanco opened with pin over Justin Fegley at 2:02, and then decisioned Lock Haven’s John Trumbetti 7-3 to get to the finals.
Ivanco was the defending champ at 125 and has a season record of 5-5 this season at his new weight class.Also placing for the Golden Eagles were senior Hadley Harrison third at 157, sophomore Cameron Moran fourth at 141, freshman James Fleming fourth at 149, and sophomore Clint Podish fourth at 184.
Freshman Trey Hicks and sophomore Quintas McCorkle placed fifth at 125 and heavyweight respectively. Freshman Steven Cressley was sixth at 174.
Harrison was 4-1 at 157, winning his first two bouts. He pinned Shane Claar (Shippensburg) at 2:40, before defeating Mercyhurst’s Andy Lamancusa 3-1 for third place.
In third place matches Owen Wilkinson (Lock Haven) pinned Moran at 2:46 at 141-pounds, Torsten Gillespie (Edinboro) defeated Fleming 5-1 at 149, and Jeremie Cook (Lock Haven) defeated Podish 7-3 at 184.
In fifth place matches for Clarion, Ronald Hicks won 1-0 at 125 and McCorkle won 6-2 at heavyweight.
The Golden Eagles return to the mat December 20 at Tippin Gym.
11.19.09 / Sports
The Clarion University women and men’s swimming and diving teams competed Saturday at Duquesne. Both teams recorded losses. More »
11.19.09 / Sports
Clarion’s Bethany Koch takes a jump shot against a Bowie State defender at Tippin Gym. (Angela Kelly / The Clarion Call)
The Clarion University women’s basketball team opened its season by winning both games in the Clarion Classic this past Sunday and Monday. More »
11.19.09 / Sports
The Clarion men’s basketball team opened its season on Tuesday night against PSU-New Kensington. Clarion played an overall complete game, winning by a score 124-50. More »
11.12.09 / Sports
Clarion basketball player, No. 1 Llyod Harrsion, a junior guard from Detroit, lays the ball up against the glass against a Kentucky defenseman in Friday’s game. (Megan Shewell / The Clarion Call)
The Clarion Golden Eagles men’s basketball team kicked off its season with an exhibition game last Friday night. More »
11.12.09 / Sports
Clarion finished its regular season with a win this past Saturday over Cheyney University, who was winless on the year. More »
11.12.09 / Sports
A member of the Clarion men’s swimming team (left) competes against Shippensburg in Tippin Gymnasium on Saturday. (Angela Kelly / The Clarion Call)
The Golden Eagles Swimming teams took on Shippensburg on Saturday. Both the women and men’s teams won the meet. The ladies scored 176-118, and the men had 170 over Shippensburg’s 123. More »
11.5.09 / Sports
Clarion sophomore Jamie Wyatt and freshman Molly Noctor run the course at Edinboro. (Courtesy Photo / Joe Wyatt)
The women’s cross-country team is coming to the end of its season. The team competed at Edinboro Saturday in the PSAC Cross Country Championships against 16 teams in the rain. More »
11.5.09 / Sports
Clarion University women’s volleyball team clinched a play-off berth with 3-1 victory over Indiana University of Pennsylvania Friday night. More »
11.5.09 / Sports
Second place was on the line as the Clarion Golden Eagles traveled to Edinboro to face the No. 21 ranked Fighting Scots.
That was not the only thing on the line in this game. More »
10.29.09 / Sports
It was a heart-breaking game as the Taffurs battled slick conditions, intense defenders and questionable calls, according to spectators.
Clarion University’s men’s rugby team competed in the Division III playoffs for the first time last Saturday, Oct. 24, against Carnegie Mellon University coming up short with a final score of 14 – 12. The Taffurs didn’t go down without a fight. More »
10.29.09 / Sports
The Clarion volleyball team watches the action from the sidelines, all in pink, to show its support for breast cancer awareness. (Angela Kelly / The Clarion Call)
The Clarion University women’s volleyball team reached its goal of raising $1,000 at its Dig Pink match Friday against Mercyhurst.
The money will be donated to the Side-Out Foundation for use in the foundation’s attempts to find a cure and raise awareness for breast cancer.
Clarion beat Mercyhurst 3-2 Friday night. Nicole Andrusz led the way with 17 kills, while Kellie Bartman added 16. Amanda Gough contributed 40 set assists and Rhianon Brady chipped in with 29 digs.
After winning the first two sets 26-24 and 27-25, the Golden Eagles dropped back to back sets 22-25 only to rally 15-10 in the final set.
When asked how the team was able to come back and win the final set after winning the first two, then dropping the next two Amanda Gough said, “During the last two games we played the final points (even though we lost) with more momentum, and we took that into the next game. Having momentum is huge when it comes to playing in the next game when you have just lost the last one.”
Leeann Higginbotham helped with seven kills. Joy Carey had nine digs while Alison Bolinger added eight.
With the win, the Golden Eagles improve to 23-6 overall and 13-2 in the PSAC. Clarion, which was ranked sixth in its region in NCAA Division II at the last poll two weeks ago, can secure a PSAC Playoff bid with a win over IUP Friday.
10.29.09 / Sports
Clarion’s swimming teams have started their seasons. Where is a better location to start them off, than right at their home pool in Tippin Gym. The teams competed on Friday and Saturday in the Clarion Invitational.
The women’s team took first while the men’s team came out in second.
The women’s team received 948 points followed by Grove City with 788, Westminster with 148, and Frostburg with 67 points.
Courtney Bogue said, “It felt really good winning the first meet of the year. We have been training really hard the past couple of weeks, and even though we were really tired, we all pulled it together as a team and did well.”
Kaitlyn Johnson and Kelly Connolly are two of the teams 10 juniors and helped the team win.
Johnson won four individual events: 50 free, 100 free, 200 free and the 100 butterfly. Connolly won the 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke and 200 IM.
Bogue won the 200 backstroke; Morgan Oberlander won the 200 butterfly, and Kayla Shull won the 100 backstroke.
Bogue, Connolly, Johnson and Gina Mattucci won the 400 yard medley relay, while Shull, Maloney, Samantha VanDyke and Katlin Coghe took third in the event.
“The team is looking great this year. Our training has already been a step up from last year within the first few weeks and I have a feeling we are all going to perform very well when it comes to championships later in the year,” said Bogue. She also added, “My favorite part about being on the team would be how close we all are. We are like a big family.”
The men’s team received 666 points putting them in second behind Grove City with 1,117 points.
Westminster received third with 89 points and Frostburg followed with 81 points for fourth.
Ryan Thiel, one of Clarion’s four seniors, won the 50 free, 100 free and 200 free. Clarion’s other seniors include, Andrew Claypool, Rich Eckert and Dustin Fedunok. Eckert won the 200 yard breaststroke and Ben Appleby took the 500 freestyle.
Jon Kofmehl, Eckert, Claypool and Thiel took first place for the 400 yard medley relay.
The teams will be competing at Carnegie Mellon on Saturday where the ladies will be hoping for another win and the guys will be looking to bring home their first win of the season.
10.29.09 / Sports
The Golden Eagles offense attempts to score, as No. 40, John Fuhrer looks to block, as Tyler Huether hands off the ball to No. 80 Tarrean Barrett. (Justin Gmoser/The Clarion Call)
Clarion won its fourth consecutive game this past Saturday against IUP. It was their second straight game where they had to come from behind in the second half to pull out the win.
Right now, it seems like no one can stand in the way of its goal, to become Champions of the PSAC West.
“We need to control what we can control. If we win this Saturday against Edinboro, and get some help from Mercyhurst against California; we are in real good shape. Two weeks is eternal in college football, but we just have to take things week by week and hope for the best,” said Coach Jay Foster.
Well they got another step closer with their win this past weekend.
The Golden Eagles got off to a quick start as they went down the field using a good mix of run and pass, for the touchdown.
From 11 yards out it was John Fuhrer taking it in for the score making it 7-0. After both teams were forced to punt on their next possession, the IUP special teams came up with a huge play.
They were set up with a short field to work with after they were able to break through and block the Clarion punt.
IUP took advantage of this opportunity, tying the score at 7-7 with a rushing touchdown by Tobias Robinson.
It seems like this might have given the Crimson Hawks all the momentum they needed as they outscored the Golden Eagles 14-10 for the rest of the first half to take a 21-17 lead.
It was a last minute touchdown run by star running back Alfonso Hoggard to narrow that deficit.
Clarion came out strong in the second half. After IUP charged down the field only to miss a field goal, the Golden Eagles knew this was an opportunity they couldn’t let slip by. The offensive line would lead the way for Hoggard as he took Clarion down the field, before quarterback Tyler Huether capped the drive off with a one-yard touchdown run.
After taking the lead, the defense for Clarion came up with a momentum swinging stop.
With the ball back, Hoggard and the Clarion offense were back ready to finish this game off.
The whole drive belonged to Hoggard as he picked up all 57 yards for his second touchdown of the day and a 30-21 lead after placekicker Rob Mamula’s extra point was blocked.
With a two-point lead, the Clarion defense came up with the game-winning stop for the second week in a row.
“They have been playing good all game. They are playing with a lot of confidence and knew that they were going to shut the opponent down,” Coach Foster said.
Clarion went on to win the game 30-28.
Hoggard once again had an outstanding game with 292 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns.
Also, it was nice for the seniors to go out with a win in their last home game.
“It feels great after that game, I was speechless. That showed all the work that myself and the three other seniors have put in the past few years. Everything finally paid off, and it was great to go out as winners on our last home game.
“We stuck through it when we were at the lowest that we could possibly be, and I’m just happy I was here, and am able to say that I was part of the turn around to get Clarion football back on the map,” said Huether.
The Golden Eagles will go on the road for the last conference game against Edinboro this Saturday. To this point, this will be their most important game of the year.
“Well, we need to jump on them right from the start and not wait until the second half. We have been stopping ourselves lately with all the penalties, so I believe if we could keep the penalties to a minimum then we will be all right.
“Basically we need to be able to run the football successfully, cut out the penalties, and score one more point than them.
“This is a playoff game for us so everyone knows how big this game is and what we have to do,” said Hoggard.
Kickoff this Saturday at Edinboro is scheduled for 1 p.m.
10.22.09 / Sports
The Clarion Golden Eagles make a feild goal attempt, after sophomore Ray Klinger, No. 91, snaps the ball in Saturday’s game against Mercyhurst. (Neal Henry / The Clarion Call)
With sole possession of second place in the PSAC West on the line, the Golden Eagles hosted the Lakers of Mercyhurst University this past Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Going into the game, Mercyhurst knew they couldn’t look at this as an easy game, as they did in the previous years.
On a cold and rainy day, it was starting to look like Clarion was not ready for the Lakers’ offense. More »
10.22.09 / Sports
The Clarion women’s volleyball team went 2-1 in the past three games.
They beat Gannon last Friday, lost to Edinboro Saturday, and beat Slippery Rock on Tuesday night.
Clarion battled Gannon and won in five sets on Friday night at Gannon. Nicole Andrusz recorded 14 kills and a pair of blocks for the Golden Eagles. They won the match 3-2 by scores of 23-25, 26-24, 25-22, 18-25, and 15-11. More »
3.4.10 / Dustin Sams
Women’s basketball wraps season
3.4.10 / Drew Karpen
2.25.10 / Drew Karpen
2.25.10 / Jennifer Dailey
Wrestlers wrap with winning record
2.18.10 / Dustin Sams