As the fall athletic season comes close to winding down, the winter months will be filled with the sound of basketballs throughout Metheny Field house. The new menâ??s and womenâ??s basketball seasons tip off this week with both teams opening on the road and then returning for home openers later in the week. While the winter seasons begin, the end of an historical campaign came to a close with a heartbreaking volleyball loss in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The cross country teams also ended the 2011 season by competing in the NCAA Division III Mideast region for the first time. After struggling for much of 2011, the football team ended its year on a very high note with an impressive victory over long time rival Westminster. The only fall athletic team still with work to do is the menâ??s soccer team, which will be hosting the NCCAA East regional semi-final match this week.

Despite having two match points and taking the ninth ranked team in the country to the brink of defeat, Genevaâ??s volleyball team was unable to close out its first-round tournament match against Heidelberg and dropped a 3-2 decision. The Golden Tornadoes led the match two games to one and twice came within a point in game five from pulling off the victory. In the end, Geneva had nothing to be ashamed of after claiming the schoolâ??s first PAC title and finishing the season with an overall record of 27-9, including a 17-1 mark in the conference.

Shannon Rech placed 76th overall as the only Geneva runner to break the top 100 at the NCAA Mideast Regional Meet at DeSales. She posted a finishing time of 24:57 on the course to lead the Golden Tornadoes to a 26th overall finish in the 47 team field. Freshman Heidi Steiner was 128th overall with a time of 28:57. Rounding out Genevaâ??s top five was Emily Hoobler (131), Alayna Merkle (151) and Anna Kluitenberg (170). In menâ??s action, Geneva finished 27th overall with five runners finishing in the top 200 of the 316 runner field. Nick Edinger crossed the line first for Geneva with a 105th place spot in a time of 28:06. Chuck Walters (121), Owen Struck (165), Nate Mansor (167) and Jacob Beschner (187) all turned in top performance. Mansorâ??s outing was probably the most impressive as he turned in a personal best time to finish as Genevaâ??s fourth best runner.

Some would say it doesn't really matter what you do all year as long as you beat Westminster. With that being the case, the Geneva College football season was a stirring success. The Golden Tornadoes put together their most complete game of the season with a 23-10 victory over the Titans. It was the 114th meeting between the two schools and it was Genevaâ??s seventh victory in the last nine tries. Genevaâ??s defense came up big and did not allow an offensive touchdown all day. The only Westminster score came on a fumble recovery and return. Offensively, Rocco Colavecchia once again stole the show. Colavecchia rushed for a career best 185 yards on 27 carries, he completed a pass for 15 yards and caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from Zack Hayward. Bryan Visingardi ended a very solid season by kicking three more field goals to end the season as the PAC leader in that category. Geneva finished the season with a 4-6 overall record, but did win its final two games of the year to set the stage for an exciting season in 2012.

The last fall athletic team still in action is the menâ??s soccer team. The Golden Tornadoes finally received word of its NCCAA post-season path. Geneva will open up NCCAA regional play on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. when it welcomes Houghton College to Reeves Field. The winner of that semi-final match will move on to face Malone in Canton on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. for the right to receive an automatic bid to the NCCAA national tournament on Nov. 30 in Kissimmee, FL. Geneva will bring a 13-5-2 record into the semi-final match.

As Jeff Santarsiero prepares to open his 16th season at the helm of the Geneva menâ??s basketball team, newcomer Lori Wynn will begin her first with the Golden Tornadoes. Both teams open the new season on Tuesday at Penn State Greater Allegheny. The women return for their home opener on Thursday while the menâ??s team will host its annual Coaches. Vs. Cancer Tip-off Tournament on Friday and Saturday.

Following is the complete athletic schedule for the upcoming week:

Tues., Nov. 15 Women's Basketball at Penn State Greater Allegheny 6 p.m.
Men's Basketball at Penn State Greater Allegheny 8 p.m.
Wed., Nov. 16 Men's Soccer vs Houghton in NCCAA East Regional Semi-Final 6 p.m.
Thurs., Nov. 17 Women's Basketball vs Ursuline 7 p.m.
Fri., Nov. 18 Men's Basketball Coaches vs Cancer Tip-Off Tournament
Mt. Union vs Grove City 6 p.m.
Geneva vs Pitt-Greensburg 8 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 19 Men's Soccer at Malone 2 p.m. (if necessary - NCCAA East Regional)
Men's Basketball Coaches vs Cancer Tip-Off Tournament
Grove City vs Pitt-Greensburg 1 p.m.
Geneva vs Mt. Union 3 p.m.


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