Sep 2, 2006 By The 3 min read

Bentworth shuts out Mapletown, 14-0 Lincoln Gibson fired a 26-yard touchdown strike and returned an interception 33 yards for a touchdown as Bentworth blanked host Mapletown 14-0 in non-section football action Friday.

After a scoreless first quarter, Gibson connected with Nathan Dorazio 4:50 before halftime. Dom Sicchitano’s kick gave the Bearcats the 7-0 lead.

Bentworth accounted for 95 yards in the air, highlighted by quarterback Adam McNary’s 69 yards on four tosses.

The Bearcats also won the war on the ground with 94 yards, compared to Mapletown’s 60 yards, highlighted Charles Wonstetler’s 73 yards on 11 carries.

Brandon Geisel led the Mapletown ground attack with 62 yards on 14 carries.

Bentworth accounted for 189 total yards compared to Mapletown’s 99.

Mapletown fumbled eight times, losing three.

Penalties also plagued the Maples as they accumulated 60 yards on eight penalties.

Mapletown takes to the road against Apollo-Ridge Sept. 8.

New Castle 50, Albert Gallatin 12 – It was a rough opening day for the Albert Gallatin football team as it struggled to put points on the board against host New Castle in non-conference action.

The Colonials (0-1) visit Highlands next Friday and then return home the following week to take on Uniontown.

Thomas Jefferson 48, Belle Vernon 0 – First-year head coach Lou Rood suffered a tough opening-day loss to the visiting Jaguars in non-conference play.

The Leopards look to put one in the win column next Friday as they visit New Castle.

Boys cross country

Connellsville 18, Southmoreland 45 – Joe Villaneuva crossed the finish line first in 18:34 as Connellsville rolled past Southmoreland in non-section cross country action.

Teammate Arlo Helms finished second in 19:03, and Southmoreland’s Chris Kiefer rounded out the top-three finishers in 19:12.

The Falcons claimed the next five places as Jeremy Molinaro (19:30), Nathan Richter (20:02), Alan Nedley (20:13), Nick Zurawski (20:27) and Dennis Curry (20:28) crossed the line.

Southmoreland’s Justin Najewicz (20:41) and Matt Lochinger (21:10) rounded out the top 10.

Connellsville (1-0) will participate in the Red, White and Blue Invitational next Saturday.

Girls cross country

Connellsville 15, Southmoreland 50 – Connellsville accounted for the first six places highlighted by a first-place finish by Mary Beth Giles (22:41) as it upended Southmoreland in a non-section meet.

Gabby Carbonara (23:44) and Erica Brooks (24:43) completed a sweep of the top-three finishers.

Teammates April Schultz (25:03), Heidi Halfhill (26:01) and Kayla Booher (26:04) made up the next three places.

Southmoreland’s Jen Bittner crossed the finish line in seventh place with a time of 26:26, while Connellsville’s Laura Husband (27:23) and Leah Williams (27:26) rounded out the top 10 places.

The Lady Falcons (1-0) are back in action next Saturday at the Red, White and Blue Invitational.

Women’s soccer

Lake Erie 2, Waynesburg College 1 – Johanna Butterworth put Waynesburg on the scoreboard first with an unassisted goal, but Lake Erie rallied with a pair to edge past the Yellow Jackets in non-conference action.

Angela Bethel put Lake Erie on the board off am assist from Emma Hoskins. Randi Blakey’s goal, again off an assist from Hoskins, made it 2-1.

Waynesburg goalkeeper Amy Mills stopped 10 shots, compared to Heather McElwain’s 9.

The Yellow Jackets (0-1) visit Grove City Sept. 5.