Events for the Week of October 31-November 6, 2016

MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Trips to Nationals on the Line as Men Look to Build Upon Strong PSAC Showing, Women Seek Third Regional Crown in Four Years

NCAA DIVISION II ATLANTIC REGIONAL
Saturday, November 5 I at Slippery Rock I Men: 10:30 a.m. Women: 11:45 a.m. 
Gameday Outlets: Regional Home
 
The Edinboro University men's and women's cross country teams set their sights high as they travel down I-79 to Slippery Rock on Saturday for the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional. The top four men's teams and the top three women's teams will earn a spot in the national championships. The men seek to capitalize on their third-place finish at the PSAC Championships on October 22. Five Edinboro harriers earned All-PSAC finishes, with freshman Bryan Geehrer leading the pack with a second-place finish. Corey Wefing and Jon Gusew were right behind Geehrer, placing 11^th and 15^th, respectively, for first team all-league honors. Jared Hallow and Eugene Baritot took 17^th and 18^th, respectively, for second-team accolades. The women look to continue their successful string of regional performances, having won back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014 and placing second a year ago. The Fighting Scots placed seventh at the PSAC Championships, with Senior Emma Sullivan taking fourth place to pace Edinboro. Sophomores Abbey Peters and Abbey Lang took 21^st and 25^th place, respectively, for second team All-PSAC honors.
 
 
 
#24 FOOTBALL
24^th-Ranked Edinboro Carries Momentum to No. 6 California (Pa.) with PSAC West Title at Stake

Saturday, November 5 I at California (Pa.) I 1:00 p.m.  I Adamson Stadium
Records:  Edinboro 8-1, 5-1 PSAC West I California (Pa.) 6-0, 8-0 PSAC West
Gameday Outlets:  LIVE STATS I LIVE AUDIO – WFSE I LIVE VIDEO – ESPN3  

First year head coach Justin Lustig and his Fighting Scots, after being picked to finish eighth in the PSAC West preseason poll, head to league-leading, sixth-ranked PSAC California (Pa.) this Saturday with an unexpected chance to capture the western division title. The game is set to kickoff at 1:00 p.m., and will be streamed live on ESPN3. After beating Slippery Rock, Edinboro overcame a pair of two touchdown deficits against Seton Hill on Saturday for a 42-34 victory, keeping them well alive for a shot at the Western Division crown. A win over the undefeated Vulcans can result a three-way tie in the west, with the winner taking on PSAC East champion Kutztown for the conference title. It's been said over and over again, but the Fighting Scots, in just one year, have risen from the PSAC doldrums to a chance for the league title after an 0-11 campaign in 2015. Junior quarterback Jake Sisson leads the way as he is second in NCAA Division II in touchdown passes (37) and completions per game (28.0), while ranking third in passing yards (3,193) and passing yards per game (354.8). Sisson threw for five touchdowns against the Griffins, going 38-for-62 through the air for 463 yards, marking the fourth time this year he has thrown for over 400 yards and at least five touchdowns. Sisson is the only quarterback across all three divisions to throw, run and catch for a touchdown this year. His receiving corps. deserves a share of the recognition, with Alex Caratelli, James Clark, Ta'Nauz Gregory and Jordan Williams combining for 33 touchdown receptions, with each ranking in the top 50 for touchdown catches in Division II. Edinboro's offense ranks fourth nationally with 359.3 passing yards per game and tenth with 42.7 ppg. After allowing three touchdowns on each of the Griffins' first three drives, the Fighting Scots defense clamped down, holding them to just one score in the second half. They shut them out in the fourth quarter, holding the Griffins to 15 yards in total offense and no first downs. Senior defensive end Victor Hudson had two sacks, both on fourth-down conversion attempts in the fourth quarter, to rank ninth in the nation with 1.22 sacks per game.

 

WOMEN'S SOCCER
Third-Seeded Fighting Scots Renew Acquaintance with Sixth-Seeded Gannon in PSAC Quarterfinals
 
PSAC QUARTERFINALS 
Tuesday, November 1 | vs Gannon | 1:30 p.m.  | Sox Harrison Stadium
Records: Edinboro 13-3-1, 12-3-1 PSAC | Gannon 9-5-3, 8-5-2 PSAC
Gameday Outlet: LIVE STATS I LIVE AUDIO – WFSE I LIVE VIDEO – ETV

TICKETS: $10 Adults, $5 College-Aged | Students at PSAC schools are free with valid I.D.  PSAC passes are accepted.  School regular-season passes are not accepted.
 
The third-seeded Fighting Scots renew their local rivalry with Gannon, hosting the sixth-seeded Lady Knights on Tuesday for a PSAC Quarterfinals contest at 1:30 p.m. at Sox Harrison Stadium. The winner will take on the winner of the Kutztown-Bloomsburg quarterfinals match in the semifinals on Friday, November 4 at 1:30 p.m. Edinboro looks for its third straight postseason win against Gannon, after upsetting the top-seeded Lady Knights in last year's PSAC Semifinals and NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Semifinals. It will mark their fifth meeting in two years. The teams played to a scoreless draw on October 11 at Sox Harrison Stadium. Despite several injuries to key players, head coach Gary Kagiavas has guided Edinboro to its best start in school history at 13-3-1 and 12-3-1 in the PSAC. They were ranked 23^rd nationally and fourth in the Atlantic Region last week by the NSCAA, while also ranking fourth regionally by the NCAA. They received their highest-ever national ranking this year at number 11. Junior midfielder Ashley Mutkus netted two goals in Edinboro's regular season finale, a 3-0 win against Mansfield, to lead the team and rank third in the conference with 23 points and ten goals. Senior forward Alex Brown is second with a career-best 22 points on nine goals and four assists. She had two assists against the Mounties, which moved her into ninth all-time with 67 career points. Brown ranks eighth all-time with 27 career goals. Junior goalkeeper Sarah Baskey is 13-3-1, tying her season record for wins, set in 2015. She has moved into sole possession for second all-time with 26 career victories. Baskey has seven shutouts this season, and 12 for her career. Gannon's Taylor Lewis is second in the conference with 24 points and 11 goals. Goalie Shannon Differ holds an 8-4-2 record with a 1.49 GAA and 0.775 save percentage.



MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SWIMMING
Boro Opens Home Season on Saturday Hosting Bloomsburg
 
Saturday, November 5 I vs. Bloomsburg I 1:00 p.m. I McComb Fieldhouse
Women' Records: Edinboro 1-1 | Bloomsburg 0-1
Men's Records: Edinboro 0-2 | Bloomsburg 1-0

After a two-week break, the Edinboro men's and swimming teams return to the pool for their home opener against Bloomsburg. The men are in pursuit of their first win of the season, while the women look to improve to 2-1. The women defeated Clarion earlier this year, 118-108, for their fourth straight win over the Golden Eagles. The Fighting Scots men are armed with returning swimmers seniors Luke Frederick and Justin Ransel and sophomore Marcus Grosso, while newcomers Nick Bradford, Greg Halle and Daniel Peng look to continue their hot starts to their Edinboro careers. Senior Holly Stein makes her 2016-17 home debut after an impressive showing at Indiana (Pa.) on October 15, where she tallied a trio of victories. Fellow senior Mary Rosati remains Edinboro's top threat in the freestyle and backstroke, while freshmen Jessie Bliss, Kaitlyn Daiger and Katelyn Kopacko make their career debuts at McComb Fieldhouse.
 
 

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Edinboro Begins Five-Match Homestand to Conclude Regular Season Against East Stroudsburg and Kutztown
 
Friday, November 4 I vs. East Stroudsburg I 7:00 p.m. I McComb Fieldhouse
Records:  Edinboro 19-6, 11-2 PSAC Northwest I East Stroudsburg 11-16, 3-10 PSAC Southeast
 
Saturday, November 5 I vs. Kutztown I 2:00 p.m. I McComb Fieldhouse
Records:  Edinboro 19-6, 11-2 PSAC Northwest I Kutztown  5-19, 2-11 PSAC Southeast
 
The Edinboro University women's volleyball team returns home this weekend to host East Stroudsburg and Kutztown Friday and Saturday, respectively, for the first two of their five-match home stand to end the regular season. The Fighting Scots come off two straight wins in their eastern road swing last week at Cheyney and West Chester, strengthening their bid for the top northwestern seed in the PSAC Tournament. Their 11-2 PSAC ledger ties them with Gannon currently for the top northwestern spot. Junior Challen Litwiler leads Edinboro with 268 kills. Senior Latoya Hutchinson is second with 246 kills, while senior middle hitter Victoria Severo is third with 244, including a match-high 14 kills in Edinboro's 3-1 win over the Golden Rams. Junior setter Sydney Trathen continues her reign as Edinboro's assists leader with 848 assists, which ranks fifth in the PSAC.
 


WRESTLING
Fighting Scots Open the Year at No. 4 Virginia Tech

Saturday, November 5 | at Virginia Tech | 1:00 p.m. | Cassell Coliseum
 
The Edinboro University wrestling team opens their 2016-17 season with a road trip to fourth-ranked Virginia Tech on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The Fighting Scots hosted the Hokies on Super Bowl Sunday last season, with Virginia Tech posting a 29-7 win. Edinboro hosted their Red & White Wrestleoffs on Saturday, where head coach Tim Flynn began to see his starting lineup emerge. Flynn returns four of his six national qualifiers from last year, all of whom were nationally-ranked in InterMat's preseason poll. 165-pound redshirt junior Austin Matthews was Edinboro's highest-ranked wrestler at number nine, as he moves up from his 157-pound position a year ago. Patricio Lugo returns as the starter at 149 lbs., and enters his sophomore season ranked tenth nationally after finishing in the top 12 at nationals. Redshirt sophomore Billy Miller was ranked 16^th at heavyweight, while redshirt sophomore and 125-pounder Sean Russell enters the season ranked 18^th. Redshirt freshman Korbin Myers emerged as Edinboro's starter in a competitive field at 133 lbs. The hotly-contested starting job at 141 was won by sophomore Tyler Vath, with redshirt freshman Nate Hagan and newcomer Ozzy Lugo providing exceptional depth. Redshirt senior Chase Delande won the chance to start at 157 lbs., while redshirt junior Ty Schoffstall earned the starting position at 174 lbs. Freshman Dakota Geer materialized as Edinboro's newest starter at 184 lbs., replacing All-American Vic Avery. The 197-pound weight class starting job is still up for grabs between redshirt senior Shawn Reynolds and redshirt sophomore Gordon Truesdale.
 
 
 
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Edinboro Faces St. Bonaventure in Exhibition Game for Seventh Straight Year
 
Saturday, November 5 I Scrimmage at St. Bonaventure I 1:30 p.m. | Reilly Center 
 
The Edinboro University women's basketball team gets their first taste of action on Saturday when they travel to St. Bonaventure for an exhibition game at 1:30 p.m. at the Reilly Center. It will mark the seventh straight year that Edinboro and the Bonnies will square off in an exhibition. The Fighting Scots continue their preparation for 2016-17 after reaching the PSAC quarterfinals last year, where they met top-seeded California (Pa.). Head coach Stan Swank has cast a wide net to replace departing seniors Aignee Freeland and Lauren Hippo, with his roster consisting of two freshmen and three transfers. Several notable players back in plaid this year are the backcourt tandem of senior Katie Fischer, who earned second team All-PSAC West honors last year after transferring from Mercyhurst, and sophomore Michelle Jahn, who was named the PSAC Freshman of the Year. Fischer was second on the team with 16.0 ppg., while Jahn was third averaging 12.6 ppg. Several returnees of note include senior guard/forward Whitney Allen, senior guard Lindsey Jahn and senior forward Maggie Moore.