Football Loses Home Opener

Men’s Soccer Ties and Volleyball Splits

For More Information Contact: Scott Musa, 540.665.5417  

WINCHESTER , Va. – The Shenandoah University football team opened its 2002 home campaign before better than 1800 fans at Shentel Stadium, but the Hornets faithful went away disappointed as Thomas More College took a 26-7 victory.

Freshman Rufus Wilkins ran 26 times for a career high 245 yards as the Saints improved to 2-1 on the young season. TMC rolled up 434 yards of total offense in a game played for almost the entire 60 minutes in a total downpour. The poor weather contributed to the two teams fumbling the ball 14 times, eight for Thomas More and six for host Shenandoah. TMC lost one fumble and SU two.

The Hornets (0-3) got their only score with 28 seconds to play in the third quarter when junior Matt Harrison (Rockville, Md./Magruder) scooped up a fumbled snap on a 24 yard field goal attempt and raced 86 yards untouched for the touchdown.

After TMC capped an eight play, 69 yard game opening drive with a 22 yard touchdown pass from Scott Garver to Nathan Ritter, the two teams played scoreless ball until the Garver hooked up with Dan Schubert for a 13 yard scoring strike at the 10:13 mark of the third. This touchdown would prove to be the winning score.

Shenandoah once again struggled offensively; the Hornets were held to just 105 total yards (73 rush, 32 pass). Junior Anthony McGhee (Reston, Va./South Lakes) led the hosts with 58 yards on 18 carries.

Freshman Chris Gillette (Woodbridge, Va./Hylton) provided excitement on special teams with two returns totaling 85 yards. He just missed breaking the first punt return for touchdown in school history as the last man caught him on the end of a 43 yard jaunt.

In addition to Wilkins’ 245 yards on 26 attempts, Justin Frisk had 11 carries for 54 yards. Garver finished 9 of 18 for 134 yards and the two touchdowns. Junior Wayne Hogwood (Arlington, Va./Wakefield) was 3 for 14 for 32 yards for SU.

A complete box score and play by play can be found at http://www.su.edu/athletics/fb/2002/092102.htm

Shenandoah opens Dixie Conference play next Saturday at Ferrum College. Game time is 1:00.

Women’s Volleyball

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The SU women’s volleyball gained a split of its two matches Saturday afternoon at the Dixie Conference mini-tournament at Methodist College.

SU (6-10, 1-2) opened with a 3-0 (30-23, 30-27, 30-25) defeat of host Methodist before losing 3-0 (20-30, 23-30, 24-30) to Greensboro in the nightcap.

Sophomore Hannah Williams (Salem, Va./Glenvar) led Coach Ellie Tanner’s club in the Methodist match with six kills and 11 digs while Lesley Beard (Youngstown, Ohio /Austintown Fitch) had 20 assists.

Williams once again led her side with eight kills in the Greensboro match, but it was not enough as the Lady Pride improved to 10-2 with the sweep. Freshman Caroline Crocker (Stanardsville, Va./William Monroe) had a solid defensive game with 11 digs.

Complete box scores and plays by play can be found on the SU web site at http://www.su.edu/athletics/vb/2002/teamstat.htm

The Hornets host Mary Baldwin Monday evening in a non-conference match. The match begins at 7:00 .

Men’s Soccer

SALISBURY, Md. – The men’s soccer team ran its unbeaten streak to two Saturday afternoon with a 1-1 non-league tie with Salisbury University.

SU ( 3-3-2 ) took the initial lead of the contest on a Akmed Mansaray (Alexandria , Va./TC Williams) unassisted goal in the 38^th minute. The Hornets controlled the contest throughout and were six minutes from victory when Salisbury (3-1-1) got the tying goal.

Mike Steinen redirected a CR Krauss shot the appeared to be heading wide into the upper right corner of the net and past a diving Tom Malinosky (Clearwater, Fla./Clearwater Catholic).

Salisbury outshot SU 7-3 in the 20 minute overtime session, but six of the shots went wide and Malinosky made his 15^th and final save on the other attempt.

A complete box score can be found at http://www.su.edu/athletics/msoc/2002/092102.htm

The men return home Thursday afternoon to face Division II Shepherd College.

Women’s Soccer

FAYETTEVILLE , N.C. – The women’s team was not as fortunate as the men; they fell 8-0 to Methodist in Dixie Conference action.

SU ( 2-6-1, 1-2) was outshot 36-2 in the game. Freshman goalkeeper Casey Hall (Hudson, N.C./South Caldwell) made 17 saves in her first game back after missing the past three weeks with a knee injury.

A complete box score can be found at http://www.su.edu/athletics/wsoc/2002/092102.htm

Shenandoah continues this road trip with a Tuesday match at Division II Southern Virginia.

Cross Country

NEW MARKET, Va. – The men’s and women’s cross country teams both finished seventh Saturday at the James Madison Invitational held at the New Market Civil War Battlefield.

Freshman Aimee Ruder (Merrillville, Ind./Purdue) turned in school record best ever 21:57 to finish 33^rd in the women’s 5K race. Junior Lori Mattox (Rocky Mount, Va./Franklin County) finished 46^th with a 25:48.

Freshman Greg Ziegler (Forty Fort, Pa./Wyoming Seminary) led the men with a 30:59, 47^th place finish in the men’s 8K event. Classmate Bryce Anderson (Leesburg, Va./Loudoun Valley) came in four places behind Ziegler with a 32:09.

Both teams are off next week and do not compete again until the Dickinson Invitational on October 5.

Shenandoah University offers 16 intercollegiate sports, eight for men and eight for women. For further information, please contact the Office of Athletic Communications at 540-665-5417 or visit our web site at http://www.su.edu/athletics. For Dixie Conference Information, please visit the Dixie Conference home page: ht

Shenandoah University is a comprehensive Level V private university with an enrollment of approximately 2,500 students in five schools: School of Arts & Sciences, Harry F. Byrd Jr. School of Business, Shenandoah Conservatory, Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy and the School of Health Professions (Athletic Training, Nursing, Physician Assistant, Respiratory Care, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy). The University offers more than 60 programs of study at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels.