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Share thisRedhawks Weekend Highlights and Wins
It was a big weekend for the cross country and soccer teams for Roberts Wesleyan College. Both men’s and women’s cross country teams qualified for the NCAA DII national championships and both men’s and women’s soccer teams are going to the NCCAA Championships.
It was the cross country teams' first trip to the East Region championships. The women went in as favorites and the men as underdogs, but they shared the same goal: to qualify for the NCAA DII national championships. Each team needed to finish third or better in the field comprised of three NCAA DII conferences.
The women’s cross country team finished at the top of the East Region. Rachel Prutsman finished first in the field of 27 teams and covered the 6k course in 21:36. It was Prutsman's second individual championship title in as many weeks. Megan Hulton, Rachel Hust, and Rachel Hutchinson all finished in the top eight. April Sablan, the Redhawks' final scorer, was 11th. All five of these ladies and Elizabeth Valento, who finished 18th, earned All-East Region awards. Roberts scored just 31 points. Stonehill College (45 points) and St. Michael's College (121 points) earned the second and third qualifying spots.
The men’s team finished third in the East Region. Kevin Brown led the way and finished 9th in the field, clocking 31:50 in his first collegiate 10k cross country race. Justin Bender was the second Redhawk across the line for the first time this season. He was followed closely by Thomas Rodger and Matthew Watson. The three placed 17th, 19th, and 22nd, respectively. These four men earned All-East Region awards. Roberts had two more runners in the top 30. Keith Pease and Aaron Bellomo both came up big for Roberts finishing in front of #3 ranked Franklin Pierce's fifth runner.
The teams will head out for the national championships on December 3rd and compete at E.P. Tom Sawyer Park on Saturday, December 6th.
Both men’s and women’s soccer teams defeated Houghton (2-0 and 1-0 respectively) to win the NCCAA East Region title, and will head to the NCCAA Championships.
The men’s team scored their first goal with about a minute left in the first half. The Redhawks were awarded a free kick near the corner and Scott Carson took advantage of the set play and headed the ball in off of Michael Cunningham's cross. The assist was Cunningham's ninth of the season.
The Highlanders held the Redhawks to a 1-0 lead for almost the entire half. Goalie Michael Scavone was credited with the shutout, making one save. When the Highlanders had a free kick, their goalie Jacob Dunnett came out to help with the play, hoping to push the game to overtime. Senior Stephen Stewart won the ball after the free kick. He then beat the goalie at half and dribbled the ball into the net, securing the men’s East Region victory.
The win improves the men’s soccer record to 11-6-2 going into the NCCAA National Championships.
The women’s soccer team won in overtime against the Houghton Highlanders. The game-winner came in the 101st minute when Ellie Swan netted her eighth goal of the season, which was assisted by Heaven Palamitia. The women’s soccer team has never defeated the Highlanders outside of penalty shootouts and received the automatic bid for the region at the upcoming National Championships in December. Senior goalkeeper Marissa Sell earned her fifth shutout of the season after keeping a clean sheet with four saves. The women’s Redhawks stifled the Highlanders by allowing just six shots in the game. The defense has earned two shutouts in the East Region tournament as they also shutout Lancaster Bible, 4-0, in the semifinals last weekend.
With the win, the women’s soccer team improves to 11-9-0 overall.
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