Wednesday, November 19, 2014

PSB All-Conference Selections

PSB has eight players selected to the AMCC's All-Conference team. Here are your All-Conference selections

First Team

Shelby Lloyd: Shelby was also named defensive player of the year. She was the anchor of the PSB midfield with her strength, touch and leadership. The team will miss her presence as she graduates this spring semester.

Maddie Monte: Maddie was the voice and speed of the PSB back line. This year Maddie and the back line held the lowest Goals Against Average (.96) in the AMCC. PSB will miss Maddie and her leadership qualities as she graduates this spring semester.

Alex Bilka: Alex tallied 15 goals and 8 assists giving her 38 total points this season. Alex's unselfish playing style helps create mismatches in Behrens attacking third. She' holds a keen ability to score goals and create chances for surround teammates.

Second Team

Olivia Belack: Olivia netted 16 goals and dished 10 assists for 42 total points on the season. Her speed and ability to run at defenders gives opposing defenders problems.

Jordan Oberlander: Jordan is the eyes of Behrend's attack. Her passing and vision was key to Behrends attack this year. Jordan went on to score 7 goals while tailing 6 assists.

Third Team

Ally Lonas: Ally is the hardest working player on the field at all times. She is able to skin defenders and create chances for teammates. Ally scored 8 goals along with 7 assists.

Leah Morra: Leah could be named the unsung hero of the PSB starting lineup. Her quite but effective passing keeps Behrend connected throughout 90 minutes of play.

Rachel Weyand: Rachel's speed, strength and soccer smarts gives her an advantage on defense. She started center back as a freshman along side senior Maddie Monte. PSB looks forward to Rachel's success in years to come.







Monday, November 17, 2014

Season Review



This year has been yet another success for the Penn State Behrend Program. It was a long road to success but the ladies fought their way to another AMCC title and NCAA tournament selection. Here are some of the accomplishments of the 2014 PSB Lions.

- 4th straight AMCC Championship title and NCAA Tournament berth

- Tied first place for overall wins in a season at 16-6-1

- Eight players named to AMCC All-Conference Team, topping number of selections per team

- 1st in Goals Against Average in AMCC (0.930), led by Junior Taylor Troyan

- The Lions received six top ten Great Lakes Regional Rankings placements, 5th place being the highest placement this season

- Lowest Overall Goals Against in AMCC (22)

- Most Overall Goals in AMCC (64)

- 9 overall conference shutouts

- Freshman Oliva Belack led Lions in Goals (16) and assists (10)

- Shelby Lloyd was named Defensive Player of the Year in AMCC

- The Lions scored at least one goal in 20 out of 23 total games played

- Olivia Belack was named ECAC Offensive player of the week

- Crowned Champions of Fall Fest Tournament

- Olivia Belack ranked 31st in NCAA for total assists (10)

- 41st National Rank in Goals Per Game (2.91)

- 41st National Rank in Points Per Game (7.68)

- 41st National Rank in Total Assists (41)

- 21st National Rank in Total Goals (64)

- 27th National Rank in Total Points (169)

- Olivia Belack was named AMCC offensive player of the week three times

- Kiley Ransbury was named AMCC defensive player of the week

- Alex Bilka was named AMCC offensive player of the week

- Taylor Troyan was named AMCC defensive player of the week



Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Olivia Belack Named ECAC Offensive Player of the Week

Olivia Belack has been named ECAC Offensive Player of the Week following her impressive performance against both Franciscan and Pitt-Bradford. In the second round of playoffs, Olivia tallied her first ever collegiate hat-trick in the 6-1 victory over Franciscan. Belack then scored the game winning goal in the AMCC championship matchup between Behrend and Pitt-Bradford. Overall Olivia has netted a total of 16 goals and 10 assists for a total of 42 points this season.

PSB Ranked 10th in Great Lakes Regional Rankings

The Lions have moved into the 10th spot in the Regional Rankings Poll. Following their win against Pitt-Bradford in the AMCC Championship game, the PSB Lions found themselves back in the Great Lakes Regional Rankings list. The Lions head into the Division III NCAA tournament on a three game win streak while holding a 16-5-1 overall record. The Behrend Lions look to skin Brandeis University this Saturday at 7:30pm in Dallas, Pa.

NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division III Women's - Great Lakes - Final Regular Season Poll - November 11, 2014

RankSchoolPrev.W-L-T
1Carnegie Mellon University 
LH Emory University 0-1;
114-2-0
2Thomas More 
DH Washington & Jefferson College 5-0; DH Grove City College 1-0;
220-1-0
3Hanover College 
DH Manchester University 4-0; DH Franklin College 3-2;
616-4-0
4Capital University 
DH John Carroll University 1-0; DA Ohio Northern University 1-0; DH Baldwin-Wallace University 4-1;
916-5-1
5Kenyon College 
DH Wittenberg University 2-0; DH Allegheny College 3-1;
1012-7-1
6Allegheny College 
DH Denison University 4-1; LA Kenyon College 1-3;
515-6-0
7Denison University 
LA Allegheny College 1-4;
413-6-0
8Case Western Reserve University 
LA University of Rochester 0-2;
78-7-3
9Otterbein 
LH Baldwin-Wallace University 1-2;
312-3-4
10Penn State-Behrend 
DA Franciscan University 6-1; DA University Of Pittsburgh-Bradford 2-1;
NR15-6-1

Behrend Face Brandeis in NCAA Tournament

PSB will face Brandeis University this Saturday in the first round of the NCAA tournament. This will be Behrend's fourth consecutive bid into the NCAA tournament in the past four years. The Lions game this Saturday will be played at Misericordia in Dallas, Pa at 7:30pm. 

PSB secured their automatic bid into the NCAA tournament following their win against Pitt-Bradford in the AMCC championship game. The Brandeis Judges received an at-large bid by holding a 12-4-2 overall record this season. The Judges went 3-2-3 in the University Athletic Association and were one of six teams from the conference to earn bids to the tournament. While the Lions have netted a total of 64 goals this season, the Judges have only allowed 9 goals against with a 0.49 goals against average.  

The other first round matchup will be the hosting Misericordria Cougars against the Cabrini Cavaliers at 5pm on Saturday. The winner of both games will face off in the second round on Sunday at 5pm. 

Monday, November 10, 2014

Behrend Wins AMCC Championship

Penn State Behrend won their fourth consecutive AMCC Championship this past Saturday against Pitt-Bradford. Although Pitt-Bradford drew first blood, the Lions would answer and take home their fourth consecutive AMCC trophy.

It was a cold brisk Saturday afternoon as Penn State Behrend and Pitt-Bradford set out to battle for the AMCC Championship. The game started in Pitt-Bradford's favor with a shot that hit the PSB crossbar only 10 minutes into play. Pitt-Bradford would keep up the pressure by playing physical and direct. Penn State Behrend would match their intensity with a few chances on goal and ball control throughout the first half. Nerves and adrenaline in the first half caused both teams to play physical which ultimately led to a Pitt-Bradford goal redirected from a corner kick late in the first half. Two minutes following Pitt-Bradford's goal, PSB would answer when Ally Lonas's shot found the back of the net. Lonas's goal would keep the game at a 1-1 standstill heading into halftime. 

The second half was very unorganized but PSB manged the game well. Maddie Monte, Caroline Mashyna, Rachel Weyand and Kiley Ransbury kept Pitt-Bradford to zero shots on goal in the second half giving the Lions momentum heading into overtime. It only took the Lions five minutes into overtime to secure the AMCC Championship. Alex Bilka would thread a pass to a sprinting Olivia Belack. Belack would skin one defender and put the breakaway goal past Pitt-Bradford keeper to take home the AMCC trophy. 


Monday, November 3, 2014

Behrend Top Redhawks in First Round

Penn State Behrend stepped past La Roche College this past Saturday and now head into AMCC Semi-Finals. Rain, 20mph winds and a high of 35° set the tone for cold and harsh conditions leading into the first half. Behrend kept their composure throughout the game and finished the second half strong to secure the AMCC First Round win.

Alex Bilka and Olivia Belack teamed up to score the first goal of the game; after Alex Bilka received a deep pass in the corner of Redhawk territory, she was able to find Belack inside the Redhawks penalty box for the 1-0 go ahead goal ten minutes into the game. The Lions dominated the rest of the first half, keeping possession and managing the game well. PSB created opportunities to score, but weren't able to put away any of their chances. Maddie Monte, Rachel Weyand, Caroline Mashyna, and Kylie Ransbury blanked La Roche in the first half, holding the Redhawks to zero shots on goal.

Alex Bilka took the game into her own hands in the second half. She would end up with six total points in the game, recording two goals and two assists. It only took Bilka two minutes into the second half to find Shelby Lloyd at the top of the penalty box. Lloyd was able to get a one-touch shot off in traffic for the 2-0 lead. The third goal put away the game, Leah Morra chipped a ball overtop of the Redhawk back line where Alex Bilka would slide and shoot the ball into the back of the net. Both teams would score a goal each to end the game, giving the Lions 4-1 victory.

The Lions return to action Wednesday for their AMCC Semi-Final matchup at Franciscan.