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Sometimes the life in athletics can be anything but kind. We have coaches at Geneva College that pour their hearts and souls into their respective programs and sometimes that passion doesnâ??t necessarily pay off on the scoreboard. This past week was one of those examples where some of our teams had to endure frustrating losses and find ways to make a positive out of a negative. Genevaâ??s menâ??s soccer team and volleyball team were both ousted from the PAC play-offs. The defending champion volleyball team suffered a first-round knock out from Westminster while the menâ??s soccer team suffered a disappointing de ja vu with its second consecutive PAC championship loss at Thomas More. The football team had its chances to upend a very good Washington & Jefferson team but came up on the short side of the scoreboard at the end of the night.

The week opened with hopes of play-off glory as the volleyball team began its defense of a 2011 PAC title. Those post-season hopes were quickly dashed with a 3-1 first-round loss to Westminster College at Metheny Fieldhouse. Despite 18 kills from Ashley Davis and another 11 from Kristland McCracken, Geneva saw its conference championship hopes erased by the Titans. Genevaâ??s volleyball team has a 22-11 overall record and will not wait for word on the NCCAA East Regional tournament. The Golden Tornadoes will compete on the regional level for a chance to make their first-ever trip to an NCAAA national tournament.

The most exciting event of the week came on the Reeves Field turf on Wednesday night. Geneva and Grove City hooked up in a PAC semi-final match that finished in a scoreless tie after 90 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime. The two teams played 220 minutes of soccer this year and neither team was able to find the net. The match headed into penalty kicks where the drama got even more tense. It took eight rounds of penalty kicks but in the end it was the Butler brothers that prevailed. Bryan was solid in goal and older brother Robert put the finishing touches on the match with the game winning kick in round eight. The victory gave Geneva a chance for a championship rematch at Thomas More. The Golden Tornadoes were again kept off the scoreboard and two second half goals by the Saints proved to be the difference in a 2-0 decision. Geneva has an overall record of 10-6-3 and will now await work on where and when the NCCAA East Regional tournament will take place.

Genevaâ??s football team battles Washington & Jefferson nose to nose on Saturday night. In fact, the Golden Tornadoes outgained the Presidents 386-265 but came up on the short end of a 27-17 decision. The loss dropped Geneva to 2-7 overall for the season and 2-5 in conference play. It is the first seven-loss season for a Geneva team since 1978. Despite the loss, Corey Oâ??Patchen moved into fourth place on the all-time receiving list with a seven catch, 118 yard effort. He also continued to climb the all-time ladder with two more touchdowns to his credit. On defense, Dillon Goodell extended his conference leading number in tackles with 13 more against W & J. For the season, Goodell leads the PAC with 85 tackles to his credit. Geneva will look to finish its season on a high note on Saturday afternoon when it hosts Westminster College in a 1 pm kickoff. Prior to the game, Genevaâ??s 12 seniors will be honored as the 2012 senior class says good-bye to College Hill.


Following is the athletic schedule for the week:

(NOTE â?? M. Soccer and Volleyball awaiting NCCAA East Regional Details)

Friday, Nov. 9 Womenâ??s Soccer @ Houghton College 4 pm (NCCAA East regional semi-finals)
Saturday, Nov. 10

Womenâ??s Soccer @ NCCAA East Regional Tournament (TBD)

Football (HOME) vs. Westminster 1 pm



News & Highlights

This Week's Games

*HOME GAMES IN BOLD

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Phone: 724-847-2715 | Email: athletics@geneva.edu

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