MEADVILLE. — Freshman goalkeeper Michelle Welker of Clearfield tied the Allegheny College season record with her eighth shutout as the Gators played North Coast Athletic Conference spoiler for the second time in four days with a scoreless tie against Wittenberg University in their final game Saturday at Frank B. Fuhrer Field.
Welker, who had a save in each of the two 10-minute overtime periods, stopped eight shots, matching her career high. She finished her rookie season with 68 saves for an 84.8 percentage. Opponents scored 15 goals, giving Welker a .91 goals-against average. She was tied for second among NCAC goalkeepers and ranked third in saves, saves percentage and saves per game (5.25).
Allegheny was 10-5-1 when Welker was in goal and finished 10-7-1, including a 3-4-1 mark in the NCAC.
Wittenberg (12-3-3, 5-1-2 NCAC) wound up second in the conference when Kenyon defeated Earlham 2-0 Saturday to claim the regular season championship. Kenyon, Wittenberg and The College of Wooster were tied for first place going into the final week, but Allegheny ruined Wooster\’s title hopes Wednesday as Welker stopped seven shots in a 3-0 shutout.
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STEUBENVILLE, Ohio — Krysten Medzie of Clearfield capped an outstanding first year for the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown women\’s soccer team with a goal and two assists in a season-ending 4-1 win over Franciscan University on Friday.
The freshman midfielder\’s penalty kick in the 26th minute was the lone goal in the first half, and she added two assists in the second half, including one on Alicia Zack\’s game-winning goal in the 75th minute as the Lady Cats finished 12-3-1 in only the second year of the program. Franciscan dropped to 11-2-1.
Two days earlier, Medzie gave the Lady Cats the lead with a goal in the fourth minute in a 7-0 Senior Day victory over visiting Chatham College.
For the season, Medzie tied for third on the team 12 goals, including one game-winner, and was second in assists with 10 and points with 34. She led the Lady Cats in shot percentage at 26.7 (12-for-45).
Pitt Johnstown joined the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in July but played as an NCAA Division III independent this season. The Lady Cats will begin competing against WVIAC teams in 2007.
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WILKES-BARRE — The Wilkes University defense showed why it is leading the Middle Atlantic Football Conference in just about category, making it a rough day for Albright quarterback Tanner Kelly of Clearfield in moving closer to an undefeated season with a 30-6 win Saturday before a Shirk Stadium crowd of 1,393 fans.
The Colonels (8-0, 7-0 in the MAC), ranked 11th in NCAA Division III by the American Football Coaches Association and 15th by D3football.com, held the Lions (1-7, 1-6) to 181 yards, almost 200 under their average.
Kelly, No. 24 in passing efficiency in Division III going into the game, completed only 12 of 29 passes for 100 yards. He was intercepted twice. The redshirt freshman wound up the Lions\’ leading rusher with 31 yards for 10 carries. He scrambled for 39 yards to set up Albright\’s first field goal on the opening drive, but three sacks lowered his net total.
In addition, Kelly handled the punting duties for the third game and averaged 32.4 yards for eight kicks, one a 42-yarder.
Kelly still leads the MAC in completions (122), completion percentage (61.3), passing yards (1,412), passing yards average per game (201.7) and total offense per game (220.7). He is second in pass attempts (199) and third in passing efficiency (134.78).
Kelly has 133 yards on 47 carries and is averaging 32 yards for 20 punts.
Albright plays Lycoming at Williamsport Saturday in a 1 p.m. kickoff.
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SHIPPENSBURG — Dave Richards of Clearfield carried three times for eight yards and caught two passes for 29 yards for Shippensburg University Saturday, but the Red Raiders suffered their third consecutive home setback Saturday as California departed Seth Grove Stadium with a 35-20 win to improve its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division record to 4-0.
A crowd of 1,340 saw the 7-2 Vulcans limit the Red Raiders to 244 yards for their fifth win in a row. Shippensburg is 2-2 in the PSAC-West and 4-5 overall.
For the season, Richards, a redshirt junior right halfback, has 58 carries for 270 yards, 12 receptions for 147 yards and three kickoff returns for 32 yards.
Shippensburg travels to Edinboro Saturday for a 1 p.m. game.
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HUNTINGDON — Freshman defensive back Beau Ryan of Clearfield was credited with one tackle assist for Juniata College in Saturday\’s 35-13 Middle Atlantic Conference loss to Widener before 1,800 fans at Knox Stadium.
Ryan has played in seven games with two solo tackles and two assists.
Juniata (1-7, 1-6 in the MAC) trailed only 21-13 in the fourth quarter before Widener (6-2, 6-2) pulled away. The Eagles will play Delaware Valley (6-2, 6-2) at Annville Saturday.