This Week In Armstrong Atlantic State Athletics, 10-8-07

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10-8-07

This Week In Armstrong Atlantic State Athletics

Monday, October 8 
Women's Golf at LRC/Myrtle Beach Intercollegiate (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)

Tuesday, October 9 
Women's Golf at LRC/Myrtle Beach Intercollegiate (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
 Women's Soccer vs. Flagler, 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, October 10 
Volleyball vs. Flagler, 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, October 11 
Tennis at ITA Small College National Championships (Mobile, Ala.)

Friday, October 12 
Volleyball at Montevallo Coca-Cola Classic (Montevallo, Ala.) 
AASU vs. Fort Valley State, 4:00 p.m. 
AASU vs. Clark Atlanta, 8:00 p.m. 
Women's Soccer at USC Aiken, 7:00 p.m. 
Tennis at ITA Small College National Championships (Mobile, Ala.) 
Men's Tennis at USC Fall Collegiates (Columbia, S.C.)

Saturday, October 13 
Volleyball at Montevallo Coca-Cola Classic (Montevallo, Ala.) 
AASU vs. West Alabama, Noon 
AASU at Montevallo, 4:00 p.m. 
Tennis at ITA Small College National Championships (Mobile, Ala.) 
Men's Tennis at USC Fall Collegiates (Columbia, S.C.)

Sunday, October 14 
Men's Tennis at USC Fall Collegiates (Columbia, S.C.)

Soccer (8-2-1 Overall, 3-1-1 Peach Belt Conference, No. 8 NSCAA DII Top 25)

The Armstrong Atlantic State women's soccer squad split a pair of matches on the week, dropping a close 2-1 decision at No. 18-ranked Columbus State, but rebounding for a 3-0 win over Newberry on Saturday.

The Pirates traveled to Columbus on Wednesday for a showdown between the top two teams in the Peach Belt, and the matchup did not disappoint. A scoreless first half tie was snapped in the 63^rd minute as Stephanie Parrish delivered off of a free kick for the first goal of the match. The lead would last just over seven minutes, however, as Lyndsi Stricklen followed her own shot and put in a rebound for the equalizer. Parrish would tally the game winner in the 83^rd minute, off of a nice pass from Hannah Ospina, to clinch the match. Freshman goalkeeper Tracey Mitchell made nine saves to keep the Pirates in the match against the Cougars.

AASU hosted Newberry on Saturday and jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first ten minutes on the Indians. Kristin Burton delivered the match’s first goal in the third minute on a pass from Carey Patterson, then added her second goal in the ninth minute, converting Shana Neves’ header into the box into a goal. With the two-goal cushion, the Pirates turned to Mitchell again, who made eight saves in preserving the shutout. The final score would come in the 89^th minute on Lyndsi Stricklen’s chip over the Newberry keeper, giving AASU the 3-0 win.

The Pirates step out of conference on Tuesday, hosting Flagler at 4:00 p.m. in a match that was postponed from early September. AASU will return to league play on Friday, September 12, with a 7:00 p.m. matchup at USC Aiken.

Volleyball (9-15 Overall, 3-2 Peach Belt Conference)

The Armstrong Atlantic State volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to first-place USC Aiken in its only match of the week.

The Pirates hosted the PBC preseason favorite Pacers on Saturday and could never get on track, hitting just .109 in the 30-21, 30-17, 30-24 loss. Antje Reuleke led the Pirates with nine kills on the evening, while Nicole Yates notched 11 digs. The loss was the third in the last four tries for AASU against USC Aiken.

AASU steps out of conference this week as the Pirates host Flagler at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 10, then travel to Montevallo, Ala., for the Montevallo Coca Cola Classic on Friday and Saturday, October 12-13.

Women’s Golf

The Armstrong Atlantic State women’s golf team finished 14^th at the Flagler College Slam in St. Augustine, getting just one round of action in as heavy rains forced Tuesday’s second round to be cancelled.

AASU carded a first-round 358 on Monday, placing the Pirates 14^th in the 20-team field. Senior Katherine Hooks led the Pirates with an 81, tying for 12^th individually. Freshman Carrie George shot an 86 and tied for 48th, while Kristen Graham carded a 95 and tied for 79th. Courtney Sanders shot an 97, good for 84th place, while Kristen Jelinek finished 85th after a 98.

The Lady Pirates return to action on Monday, October 8 and Tuesday, October 9, at the LRC/Myrtle Beach Intercollegiate, hosted by Lenoir-Rhyne College.

Men’s Golf (No. 6, GCAA Division II Top 25 Coaches’ Poll)

The No. 6-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State men's golf team moved up four spots on the final day to finish sixth at the AFLAC/Cougar Invitational, hosted by Columbus State University at the Bull Creek Golf Club.

Junior Chris Wolfe rebounded from a first-round 76 to shoot 70-66 and finish tied for third individually with a four-under-par 212 total. Mitch Baxley shot 70-75-79 to finish tied for 27th with an eight-over-par 224 total, while Parker Gordon shot 76-78-75 to finish tied for 60th with a 229 total. Daniel Mobley carded 81-75-74 to finish tied for 64th with a 230 total and Justin Smith shot 77-78-75 to finish tied for 64th with a 230 total.

AASU tallied an 887 team score, finishing just one stroke behind defending national champion Barry (886). Nova Southeastern led wire-to-wire, winning with an 869 total, three strokes ahead of West Florida (872) and four ahead of USC Aiken (873). Valdosta State finished fourth with an 876 total.

The Pirates will return to action on October 15-16 as AASU takes part in the Southbridge Invitational in Savannah, co-hosted by the Pirates and Georgia Southern University.

Men’s Tennis

The Armstrong Atlantic State men's tennis team competed at the Bollettieri-Treibly College Challenge at the Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Fla., this weekend. Pirate players faced a variety of Division I opponents in pro-set singles and doubles action on Friday through Sunday.

Senior Davor Zink went undefeated in singles play, capturing group F by going 6-0 in the weekend with wins on the final day over Connor Roth of Illinois (10-8) and Hector Nieto of Miami (10-9), while junior Paul Bishop captured group D by going 5-1 in singles, including a 10-6 win over Tim Twyang of Georgetown on Sunday. Robert Jendelund and Kevin Sijmons each went 2-3 in singles, while Christian Bergh went 2-2.

The Pirates were perfect in doubles play as well on the weekend, with each doubles teams going 2-0.

AASU returns to action on Oct. 11-14 as Robert Jendelund will be in action at the ITA Small College National Championships, while the rest of the Pirates will be in action at the South Carolina Fall Collegiates in Columbia, S.C..

- Pirates -