Sports

ON CAMPUS

University of Iowa field hockey coach Tracey Griesbaum reached a milestone this past weekend and three former Wyoming Valley Conference standouts were key performers in the effort.

The 4-2 Hawkeyes defeated Stanford 3-2 and Pacific 8-0 to give Griesbaum her 100th and 101st coaching victories in her nine years at the college.

Senior keeper Lissa Munley (Crestwood) was in the goal for both games and now is 40-20 in her career. The Pacific shutout was her sixth in four years as a starter.

“Lissa is a strong leader,” Griesbaum said. “She is not afraid to stand up for what she knows is the right thing. The coaches trust her decisions. She is definitely the leader of our defensive unit.”

The other two players are seniors Caroline Blaum (Wyoming Seminary) and Caitlin McCurdy (Crestwood).

Senior Blaum is in her fourth year as a team captain, including 2006 when she was red-shirted because of an injury. She has four goals and five assists this season and 19 goals and 20 assists for her career. She had two goals and an assist against Pacific and a goal against Stanford. Last year, she was Big Ten Tournament MVP.

“Caroline is a great hockey player who possesses phenomenal ball control skills,” Griesbaum said. “She knows what it takes to lead a team to be the best they can be.”

McCurdy, also a senior, leads the team with seven goals and an assist and she had three goals in the Pacific triumph. She has 33 goals and 11 assists in her career.

“Caitlin is off to a great start,” Griesbaum said. “She understands offensive movement and is displaying good leadership on the forward line.”

MCGOWAN IN THE RUNNING – Senior Matt McGowan has taken over as the top runner for the Lehigh football team.

The 5-foot-11, 210-pounder (Hazleton Area) has picked up 201 yards on 51 carries in two games for the 1-1 Mountain Hawks. He had 173 yards on 39 carries in a season-opening 19-0 victory over Drake but was limited to just 28 yards on 11 carries in a 33-14 loss to a strong Villanova team last weekend.

“Matt is a big part of what we’re trying to do on offense,” Lehigh offensive coordinator Trey Brown said. “He’s the type of back who gets better and better as the game goes on. He’s a physical runner who has the potential of breaking a tackle every time he carries the ball.

Brown also likes McGowan as a receiver out of the backfield. He had five catches for 20 yards vs. Drake.

“Matt catches the ball very well and is very good on screens,” the coach said.

McGowan, a transfer from the University of Richmond, rushed for 336 yards as a sophomore, but missed most of last season with injuries.

The Mountain Hawks are off this weekend and return to action Saturday, Sept. 27 at Princeton.

ADAMS RUNNING WELL – Hillary Adams is the only non-Florida athlete on the University of North Florida women’s cross country team but the junior from Dallas is the top runner on the squad.

Adams finished 15th out of 100 runners in the season-opening Covered Bridge Open in Boone, N.C. She was best on her team with a 5k time of 19:41. She followed that up by teaming with freshman Erin Easley for the best overall time (22:48) in the four-mile Jacksonville Cross-Country Relays.

“Hillary had a great summer and we’re looking forward to her leading our team,” coach Mark VanAlstyne said. “I think she is starting to believe she can be a top runner and, as you know, that’s the key. I think she’ll be a nice force within our conference.”

The Ospreys will compete in the Gator Invitational this weekend in Gainesville, FL.

STEFANIDES HONORED – Former Wyoming Valley West standout Megan Stefanides started strong for the Philadelphia University field hockey team. She was named to the All-Tournament team in the Joshua W. Wesner Memorial Tournament after scoring an overtime goal to defeat Catawba 3-2 and scoring the only goal in a 4-1 loss to host and tourney champion Kutztown. The Lady Rams are currently 1-5.

Stefanides played in 16 games with two goals and an assist last year as a freshman.

“Meg is definitely off to a great start,” coach Christy Knab said. “She worked very hard in the off season and it has paid off.”

Knab likes Stefanides’ maturity.

“She is a leader despite her young age,” Knab said. “She’s a player that we don’t have to push because she does that herself.”

And, according to Knab, the best is yet to come.

“We expect bigger and better things from her as she gains more experience,” the coach said.

TRIO WITH URSINUS – Three seniors are playing a big part this season for the Ursinus football team. They are Greg Zara (Hanover Area), Adam Kabacinski (Pittston Area) and Dan Price (Bishop Hoban).

Zara, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound kicker is doing it all for the 1-1 Bears. He’s 2-for-2 kicking field goals (both 39 yards) and 5-for-5 in extra points. He’s also averaging 36.5 yards on 10 punts including two inside the 20. He also kicks off.

“Greg is kicking the ball better than he ever has,” coach Peter Gallagher said.

Kabacinski, a 6-foot-1, 270-pound defensive lineman, has 10 total tackles with a sack and a forced fumble.

“Adam is one of our captains and has the potential to be a dominate D-lineman in our league,” Gallagher said.

Price, also a defensive lineman, is a 6-foot-2, 240-pounder. He has eight total tackles and an interception.

“Dan starts at end and also holds for Greg on PATs and field goals,” Gallagher said.

There are also six freshmen from the area on the squad – fullback Jason Walton (Coughlin), running backs Travis Evans (Northeast Area) and Tyler Serbin (Wyoming Area), wide receiver Nick Giarratano (Crestwood), defensive lineman Chris Decker (Wyoming Valley West) and defensive back Joe Kost (Hazleton Area).

“Wyoming Valley has been very good to us over the last eight years and we currently have a strong nucleus in our program,” Gallagher said.

SMITH KEYS EAGLES – Former Wyoming Valley West standout Kelley Sm ith is a top performer for the Boston College field hockey team.

The senior plays backfield on a team that has outscored foes 13-3 thus far this season.

“Kelley is a crucial member of our team,” coach Ainslee Lamb said. “She is tenacious with her play and plays with a lot of passion. She truly enjoys the competition each and every day.”

Lamb likes Smith for other reasons as well.

“Her leadership on the field is excellent,” the coach said.

The Eagles are off to a 4-0 start after a 4-0 victory over Holy Cross last Saturday. Smith had her first goal of the season in that game and now has five goals for her career.

GIACOMETTI BACK ON TRACK – Former Dallas High runner Lisa Giacometti is running with the Syracuse University women’s cross country team this fall.

In the season-opening Harry Lang Invitational in Hamilton, N.Y., Giacometti was 17th out of 73 runners in 18:47 over the 4,200 meter course.

“Lisa has had a few setbacks in her time at Syracuse (illness and injury), however she has worked very hard and is on the cusp of making the top seven of what should be a strong top 25 nationally-ranked team,” coach Chris Fox said. “Her work ethic and positive attitude are one of the reasons why the program is reaching national-ranking status.”

Bill Arsenault writes On Campus for The Times Leader. He can be reached at billarsenault70@msn.com.