Local roundup
Mustangs’ Jeff Palya fifth in Gateway Invitational Laurel Highlands’ Jeff Palya finished fifth overall with a time of 16:56 at the Gateway Invitational held at Boyce Park Saturday in boys cross-country action.
The Mustangs finished 11th out of 18 teams with 278 points and Baldwin won the tournament.
Teammate Ryan Thorn finished in 19th with a time of 17:41 followed by Tyler Ruda’s 81st place finish in 20:43.
Other Mustang finishers included Chris Felix (83rd, 20:45), Bill Boger (89th, 21:24), Chris Hunchuck (97th, 23:34) and Josh Boyle (98th, 24:08).
Penn Trafford’s Josh Christopher won the event in 16:29.
Laurel Highlands participates in the Red, White and Blue Invitational next Saturday at Schenley Park starting at 9 a.m.
Girls cross-country
Cassie Wallace crossed the finish line of the Gateway Invitational ran at Boyce Park in 27th place with a time of 21:47.
The Fillies placed 12th out of 18 teams with 277 points.
Hannah Yauger was the next LH runner to cross the tape in 38th place with a time of 22:13 and Jordyn Hartsek placed 50th in 22:13.
Other LH finishers included Anna Howard (76th, 24:23), Demi Frankhouser (86th, 25:37), Lauren Molchan (90th, 25:55) and Megan Hudock (96th, 30:17).
Laurel Highlands participates in the Red, White and Blue Invitational next Saturday in Schenley Park starting at 9 a.m.
Men’s soccer
Waynesburg 3, Neumann 2 – David Peters’ second-half goal proved to be the game-winner and Brad Davis tied a career-high with 11 saves as Waynesburg prevailed over Neumann in the consolation game of the Frostburg State Tournament on Saturday.
Senior Dave Thorn
gave the Yellow Jackets a 1-0 lead in the opening minutes of the game off an assist from Peters
. Later in the period Todd Schollaert
netted a goal from senior Ross Philips
to give Waynesburg a 2-0 lead in the first half.
Waynesburg outshot Neumann 29-22 with each team attempting 16 shots in the second half.
Following the tournament, Albert Gallatin graduate Davis
and Thorn earned all-tournament team honors.
The Yellow Jackets return to action on Tuesday, Sept. 5, when it travels to face Penn State-Altoona for a 7 p.m. contest.
College cross-country
The Waynesburg College women’s cross country team opened the 2006 season with a fourth-place showing on Saturday morning at the 11-team SeaGull Opener hosted by Salisbury University. Meanwhile, the men’s cross country squad placed ninth in an 11-team field.
Freshman Janet Carson
rounded out Waynesburg’s top-25 contingent, clocking a time of 24:49 for a 25th-place finish. Junior Haley Hinds
placed 32nd and classmate Katie Weko
rounded out the WC’s top five, placing 33rd overall.
On the men’s side, WC senior Heath Piper
led the Yellow Jackets through the race in 28:56 to take 62nd place. Junior Tim Monaghan
followed in 65th place with a time of 29:09.
Both Waynesburg teams return to action on Saturday, Sept. 16 when it hosts its annual invitational.
College volleyball
Waynesburg College – The Waynesburg College volleyball team opened the season at the Saint Vincent Challenge this weekend, dropping all four matches it played. The Yellow Jackets lost a pair of five-game matches of Friday to Pitt-Johnstown and Point Park before falling to Daemen and the host Bearcats on Saturday. A full recap and statistics from the two-day tournament will be available on Tuesday.
California University of Pa. – California senior Allison Liptak registered 42 kills, 32 digs, three service aces and four block assists in two matches Saturday as the Vulcans beat Walsh College (3-1) and lost to Findlay (3-2) at the Findlay Tournament.
The Vulcans, now 6-2 overall, lost the first game vs. Walsh, then bounced back for a 24-30, 30-26, 30-25, 30-13 triumph. In the last match of the weekend, Cal battled the hosts to the wire before falling 30-25, 32-34, 24-30, 30-28, 15-10.
The Vulcans return to action Wednesday (9/6) with a non-league match at Seton Hill (7 p.m.) before playing the first home match of 2006 on Sept. 12 vs. PSAC West rival Clarion.