By The Journal Times staff | Posted: Sunday, October 21, 2007 12:00 am
The UW-Parkside men's soccer team was a happy group Sunday and understandably so.
The Rangers not only finished their 2007 regular season with a 1-0 nonconference victory over Upper Iowa University in overtime at Fayette, Iowa, but they discovered they'll be playing in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.
The Rangers earned the eighth - and final - spot in the GLVC tournament after Northern Kentucky beat Drury 2-0 Sunday. The Rangers will open GLVC tournament action next Sunday against Northern Kentucky at Newport, Ky. It'll be the second game this season between Parkside and Northern Kentucky, which is 18-0 and the top-ranked NCAA Division III team in the nation. On Sept. 9, Northern Kentucky defeated Parkside 1-0.
"We were right in that game,'' said Jason Zitzke, Parkside's associate head coach. "I think we're pretty excited about going back there and getting a second chance against them.
"All of the pressure is on them (the Norse). We have nothing to lose.''
The Rangers (11-6-1 overall) will be going into that game on a high after beating Upper Iowa. The game was a defensive battle throughout and the game was scoreless until Andy Gamarra scored from eight yards out at 95:57. Johnson Thao was credited with the assist.
The Rangers probably wouldn't have gotten into the overtime period without the help of Parkside goalie Victor Perez. With about one minute remaining in regulation play, an Upper Iowa player had a breakaway and drove the ball to the far post. But Perez stretched out and partially deflected the ball.
"That was a huge save,'' Zitzke said.
CARTHAGE: Joey Monegato scored the go-ahead goal late in the first half in the Red Men's 5-2 victory over Lakeland College in a nonconference match against Kenosha.
Carthage took a 2-0 lead on goals by Brian Santella and Greg Goldsberry before Lakeland rallied to tie the game. Monegato then scored at 34:29 to give the Red Men the lead for good.
Carthage also got goals from Pat Walsh and Sean Stefanski in the second half.
The victory improved the Red Men's record to 12-4-2. Lakeland is 2-13.
Women's soccer
UW-PARKSIDE: The Rangers closed out the home portion of their 2007 schedule in style by defeating Ferris State 3-0 in a nonconference match Sunday at Wood Road Field in Somers.
The Rangers, who are 11-5-1 overall, finished with a 7-0-1 record at home.
"It was a good way to close out our home season,'' Parkside coach Troy Fabiano said.
The Rangers scored just 16 seconds into the game. That's when Megan Anderson scored from close range with an assist from freshman Sam Leick.
Leick then scored the first goal of her collegiate career at 17:43 of the first half, giving Parkside a 2-0 advantage. Meredith Novak was credited with the assist, her team-leading 18th of the season.
Becky Zirlin scored the Rangers' final goal at the 77:58 mark.
Erica Higuchi played the entire game in goal and was credited with four saves.
The Rangers' next game will be Sunday when they play at Drury in a Great Lakes Valley Conference quarterfinal game.
Football
CARTHAGE: Matt Denny and Franko Shenault of Carthage, along with Martin Ceisel of Illinois Wesleyan, were named College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Players of the Week.
Shenault, a senior safety, had a game-high 28 tackles in Carthage's 33-28 victory over Augustana Saturday at Kenosha. Shenault had 14 solo tackles.
Denny, a senior place-kicker, kicked two 45-yard field goals for the Red Men against Augustana. Denny had made nine of 14 field-goal attempts this season.
Ceisel, a wide receiver, had 12 catches for 162 yards in Illinois Wesleyan's 28-14 victory over Elmhurst Saturday.