This past week, the Shepherd Rams Football team took a disappointing loss in their home opener against Slippery Rock University. Meanwhile, there were some positives to cap off the week as the Volleyball team advanced their undefeated record to 8-0, winning the Wilmington tournament in Delaware. The Men/Women’s Cross-Country team traveled to Kutztown Pennsylvania for the DII/DIII Challenge in which the Men finished 12th, and the Women finished 10th. The Men’s Soccer team stayed home this past week to face off against Chestnut Hill and Wheeling in which they came up on top against both teams and the Women’s Soccer team traveled to Fairmont State and Bloomsburg where they tied and caught a win to advance their record to 1-0-2. Both Shepherd Men’s and Women’s Tennis teams also played their home opener, seeing a few wins from the Men, but ultimately a crushing defeat by Catholic University’s Cardinals.
Rams Football
On Saturday Sept. 14, the Football team hosted Slippery Rock University at Ram Stadium, where Slippery Rock got the upper hand in the final score of 20-10. However, there were some positives on the Rams side of the ball as the defense held the Rocky’s to 339 total yards on offense and only 20 points. Unfortunately, the Rams’ offensive side of the ball couldn’t get the chains moving as they only had 266 offensive yards and three turnovers.
Redshirt Junior Quarterback Lek Powell led the Rams with 253 total offensive yards and one touchdown pass.
Senior Wide Receiver Barry Hill led the Rams with four catches for 59 yards.
Redshirt Senior Running back Malakai Brown had 43 total yards with a receiving touchdown.
On the defensive side of the ball, Redshirt Junior Defensive back, Geo-Di Tolbert led the Rams with 10 total tackles.
Rams Cross Country
The Men’s and Women’s Cross-Country team traveled to Kutztown, Pennsylvania on Friday, Sept. 13 to compete in DII/DIII Challenge. The Men finished 12th while the Women finished 10th.
To lead the Men team was Sophomore Connor Ireland who finished 63rd with a time of 31:23.94.
To lead the Women was Junior Riley Staub who finished 39th with a time of 25:47.05.
Rams Soccer
Vs. Chestnut Hill
On Wednesday, Sept. 11, the Rams Men’s Soccer team stayed home to face off against Chestnut Hill. Both defenses held their ground as the final score was 0-0 and ended in a tie. However, Shepherd had more shots with 15 and had more corner kicks with nine.
Sophomore Mid-Fielder Donik Elshani led the Rams with six shots and one shot on goal.
Freshman Goalkeeper Aidan Houck had one save for the Rams.
Vs. Wheeling
On Saturday, Sept. 14, the Men’s Soccer stayed home once again to beat the Wheeling University’s Cardinals 2-1. The Rams led the Cardinals in both shots (18) and shots on goal (6). By the end of the first half, the Rams and Cardinals were tied 1-1 but, in the second half, the Rams got on top and scored, advancing their record to 2-0-2.
To lead the Rams was Elshani who scored two goals for the Rams, earning him PSAC East Athlete of the Week.
Houck recorded one save for the Rams.
Lady Rams Soccer
Vs. Fairmont State
On Monday, Sept. 9, the Rams tied 1-1 against FSU at Fairmont. With a scoreless first half, both teams put points on the board in the second.
Freshman Midfielder Taylor Schuck led the Rams with one goal from an assist from Junior defender Madison Herb.
Sophomore Goalkeeper Hannah Wilt had two saves for the Rams.
Vs. Bloomsburg
On Saturday, Sept. 14, the Rams defeated Bloomsburg University’s Huskies 1-0 with six shots on goal.
Schuck led the Rams with one goal from an assist from Freshman Midfielder Annabelle Wunderlich.
Wilt recorded three saves for the Rams.
Lady Rams Volleyball
This past weekend the Lady Rams Volleyball team traveled to Wilmington Delaware to compete in the Wilmington tournament.
Vs. Holy Family
The Rams handed the Holy Family Tigers a 3-0 defeat (25-12, 25-17, 25-15) in their first match of the tournament on Friday, Sept. 13.
Freshman Mddle Hitter Rylee Lenz led the Rams with 11 kills.
Freshman Middle Hitter/Right Side Hitter Sophia Ryan had 10 kills and led the team with four blocks.
Freshman Outside Hitter Amya Davis led the team with three aces and recorded seven kills and two blocks.
Sophomore Setter Macy Buso led and recorded 33 assists.
Junior Libero Madigan Faircloth led the Rams with 15 digs.
Vs. Southern New Hampshire
That same day the Rams defeated the Southern New Hampshire University’s Penmen 3-0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-20), with the Rams leading in kills, assists, and blocks.
Davis led the team with 10 kills.
Lenz led the team with four blocks while recording eight kills.
Buso led the Rams with 26 assists.
Buso and Senior outside Hitter Sydney Babb both led the team with 12 digs each.
Vs. Jefferson University
The following day on Saturday, Sept. 14, the Rams defeated the Jefferson University ‘Rams’ 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-1) and led in kills, aces, and assists.
Davis led the team with 15 kills and two aces.
Ryan led the team with two blocks.
Buso led the team with 40 assists and posted eight digs.
Faircloth led the team with 11 digs.
Vs. Wilmington University
The Rams won the Wilmington Tournament, defeating Wilmington University’s Wildcats 3-1 (25-17, 19-25, 25-19, 25-13)on Saturday, Sept. 14.
Senior Right-Side Joi Fairweather led the team with 10 kills and tied with Ryan with seven blocks to lead the Rams.
Babb led the Rams with four aces.
Buso led the Rams with 35 assists and recorded 15 digs.
Faircloth led the team with 16 digs.
Rams Tennis
On Sunday, Sept. 15, the Men’s Tennis team hosted Catholic University where the Rams were defeated by the Cardinals 6-1.
Sophomore Curry Taylor was the only Ram to win in his singles matchup.
Singles Competition
Lorenzo Neri (CATH) def. Arka Ganguly (SHEP) 4-6, 7-5, 6-0
Diego Romo (CATH) vs. Taylor (SHEP) 6-0, 6-0
Ben Perks (CATH) def. Fabian Telschow (SHEP) 6-3, 3-1
Henry Odgen (CATH) def. Jeremy Williams (SHEP) 1-6, 6-4, 6-4
Drew Adrianopoulos (CATH) def. Jack Schottler (SHEP) 6-3, 6-4
Leyton Ramos-Platt (CATH) def. Khalid Alsadek (SHEP) 2-6, 6-4, 12-10
Alsadek and Schlotter easily defeated their doubles opponents 6-1.
Telschow and Taylor also teamed up to win against their doubles in a close 7-5 match.
Doubles Competition
1. Neri/Romo (CATH) def. Ganguly/Williams (SHEP) 6-0
2. Telschow/Taylor (SHEP) def. Emanuelli/Perks (CATH) 7-5
3. Schlotter/Alsadek (SHEP) def. Barish/Ogden (CATH) 6-1
Lady Rams Tennis
On Sunday, Sept. 15, the Ladies’ Tennis team hosted Catholic University where the Rams were defeated by the Cardinals 7-0.
Singles Competition
Ella Knox (CATH) def. Allison Cronk (SHEP) Forfeit
Paige Brightwell (CATH) vs. Hallie Meyer (SHEP) 6-3, 6-1
Ava Niggemeier (CATH) def. Alexus Vaughn (SHEP) 6-2, 6-0
Sam D’Addazio (CATH) def. Lily Gross (SHEP) 6-0, 6-1
Ava Kaloustian (CATH) wins by forfeit
Stephanie Menedez (CATH) wins by forfeit
Doubles Competition
1. Tambat/O’Hara (CATH) def. Cronk/Meyer (SHEP) 6-1
2. D’Addazio/Kaloustian (CATH) def. Vaughn/Gross (SHEP) 6-1
3. Morris/Menendez (CATH) win by forfeit