LOCAL CONNECTIONS: Slippery Rock's Novak earns all-PSAC XC honors
Oct. 24—Slippery Rock University sophomore Michael Novak (Mid Valley) earned second-team all-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference honors at the league's Cross Country Championships.
Novak covered the 8K course at Bloomsburg University in 27 minutes, 31.4 seconds to place 29th out of 146 runners. The top 15 finishers are named to the first team and Nos. 16 to 30 make the second team.
His efforts helped The Rock place second in the team standings with 65 points, its best finish since 2008. Shippensburg University won the team title with
26 points.
West Chester University freshman Luke Pikulski (Scranton) finished 65th in 28:30.2.
In the women's 6K race, Lock Haven University sophomore Krista Jones (Elk Lake) placed 60th out of 173 runners in 25:20.8. West Chester junior Abby Marion (Abington Heights) was 66th in 25:29.5. Slippery Rock freshman Lizzie Higgins (Wallenpaupack) was 139th in 27:23.9 while Clarion University freshman Paige Brewer (Montrose) was 151st in 28:04.7.
—Boston College senior Andrew Healey (Holy Cross) ran at the Arturo Barrios Invitational, hosted by Texas A&M. Healey completed the 8K course in 24:26.2
to finish 68th out of 365
runners.
—University of Tampa freshman Bella Noreika (Scranton) finished 23rd out of 76 runners in 23:28.3 at the Sunshine State Conference Championships in Lakeland, Florida. Tampa won the team title for the 17th time in program history.
—At the New England Championships in Boston, University of Hartford freshman Amelia King (Scranton) finished 126th in 22:08.2 and senior Hannah Perkins (Montrose) was 146th in 23:43.4.
—Wilkes University senior Dustin Edsall (Honesdale) ran a season-best 8K of 32:35.72 to finish 99th of 143 runners at the Lebanon Valley College Last Chance Run Fast Invitational.
Shutout specialist
Cairn University women's soccer senior goalkeeper Isabelle Lazor Portis is the daughter of former West Scranton athletic standout Dan Lazor.
On Oct. 7, in a scoreless tie against Rosemont College, Portis became Cairn's career shutout leader with 16, surpassing the previous mark of 15 held by Mackenzie Paugh. Three days later, she blanked Notre Dame of Maryland University, 3-0, for her 17th career shutout.
Portis is 4-5-3 this season with a 1.63 goals-against average, 41 saves and four shutouts. She and her teammates visit Keystone College on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the United East Conference regular-season finale.
Getting his kicks
Keystone College football senior Zac Cost (Lackawanna Trail) leads the Landmark Conference in punting with a 39.6-yard average in 40 kicks. He has three touchbacks, put 12 punts inside the opponents' 20 and has eight kicks of 50-plus yards with his longest being 58 yards.
Cost was named the Landmark Conference Specialist of the Week for the period ending Oct. 15 for his performance in the Giants' game against Wilkes University. He averaged 42.6 yards on eight kicks with a long of 56 yards. Three of his punts landed inside the 20.
Quick connects
Old Dominion University junior linebacker Jason Henderson (Delaware Valley) had 16 tackles (5 solo, 11 assists) in a 28-21 win over Appalachian State. Henderson continues to lead the Football Bowl Subdivision in total tackles (108) and tackles per game (15.4). He was named a Midseason All-American by the Associated Press and The Sporting News. On Oct. 7, he became ODU's career tackles leader, surpassing the previous mark of 350 by Jordan Young from 2017-21. In 31 games, Henderson has 372 tackles (125, 247). ... Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute junior running back Christian Buckley (Dunmore) carried nine times for 35 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that capped a 37-7 win at St. Lawrence University. Buckley ranks eighth in the Liberty League in rushing yards per game (59.3), ninth in rushing yards (356) and tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns (6). ... Hartwick College freshman quarterback James Sobol (Old Forge) threw for 239 yards and three touchdowns covering 79, 14 and 32 yards in a 38-21 loss to St. John Fisher. He also was intercepted three times.
Weekly winners
Marywood University's Patrick Marbaker (Tunkhannock) was selected Atlantic East Conference men's swimming and diving Athlete of the Week for the period ending Sunday. In a meet against the University of Scranton, Marbaker won the 1-meter dive with 149.55 points and placed second in the3-meter dive with 166.10 points.
Five other Marywood athletes were named to the weekly honor roll in their respective sports: Aliyah Heintzelman and Brie Sumner, field hockey; Danny Gomez, men's soccer; Riley Mulherin (Abington Heights), women's soccer; and Mikayla Meek, women's volleyball.
United East
Keystone College's Hernan Godoy was chosen United East Conference Skye Division men's soccer Offensive Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday. Godoy scored two goals, including a game-winner, during a 1-0-1 week that helped the Giants clinch a playoff berth.
Weekly winners
Marywood University's Patrick Marbaker (Tunkhannock) was selected Atlantic East Conference men's swimming and diving Athlete of the Week for the period ending Sunday. In a meet against the University of Scranton, Marbaker won the 1-meter dive with 149.55 points and placed second in the 3-meter dive with 166.10 points.
Five other Marywood athletes were named to the weekly honor roll in their respective sports: Aliyah Heintzelman and Brie Sumner, field hockey; Danny Gomez, men's soccer; Riley Mulherin (Abington Heights), women's soccer; and Mikayla Meek, women's volleyball.
United East
Keystone College's Hernan Godoy was chosen United East Conference Skye Division men's soccer Offensive Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday. Godoy scored two goals, including a game-winner, during a 1-0-1 week that helped the Giants clinch a playoff berth.
Keystone falls to The College of New Jersey
Two goals in the opening seven minutes helped send The College of New Jersey on its way to a 4-2 victory over Keystone College in a nonconference women's field hockey match Monday in Ewing, New Jersey.
Claire Engebreth scored at 3:25 and Carly Cole followed at 6:48 to No. 17-ranked Lions (10-5) a quick 2-0 lead.
Bella DiNardo, who assisted on Cole's goal, scored in the second quarter for The College of New Jersey, then set up Rayhanah Ahmed's goal in the fourth quarter after Keystone rallied to within 3-2.
Angelina Morley and Maria Tomada scored for the Lady Giants (9-4). Hannah Osbahr and Casey Stratton combined for seven saves in the cage for Keystone.
SCOTT WALSH covers area college athletes and teams in Local Connections. Contact him at swalsh@scrantontimes.com; 570-348-9100 ext. 5109; and follow him @swalshTT on X.
SCOTT WALSH covers area college athletes and teams in Local Connections. Contact him at swalsh@scrantontimes.com; 570-348-9100 ext. 5109; and follow him @swalshTT on X.
