SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Juliana Howell, who starred for three seasons at Clearfield Area High School, is off to a great start for the undefeated Slippery Rock University soccer team.
The freshman forward has scored a pair of unassisted goals, including what proved to be the game-winner in The Rock\’s season-opening 4-2 victory over East Stroudsburg on Aug. 26.
Her goal in the 36th minute gave The Rock a 3-0 lead in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference crossover duel.
Coach Noreen Herlihy moved Howell into the starting lineup against Shippensburg Saturday, and she responded with another goal that put The Rock ahead 3-0 in the 58th minute on its way to a 5-3 triumph.
Sandwiched between those wins was a 1-0 overtime squeaker over California in Slippery Rock\’s PSAC-Western Division opener on Aug. 29.
One of 11 recruits for the 2007 season, Howell has registered two shots in each game and is tied for second on the team with four points. She is The Rock\’s percentage leader in goals (33.3) and shots on goal (83.3).
The Clearfield resident was a three-year all-star in high school as the Lady Bisons\’ leading scorer during three District 9 championship seasons.
Slippery Rock, which has only four seniors on its 29-player active roster, is coming off a 12-7-1 season in which it reached the PSAC semifinals for the four consecutive year and also advanced to the NCAA Division East Regional semis.
The Rock will host Edinboro Thursday at 4 p.m. and travel to Kutztown Saturday for a 2 p.m. game.
* * * * * * * * * * *
SALISBURY, Md. – Quarterback Tanner Kelly, a red-shirt sophomore from Clearfield, and his teammates took their lumps Saturday as Salisbury spoiled the opener of Albright College\’s 100th season of football and John Marzka\’s debut as head coach with a 42-12 romp before 1,488 fans in Sea Gull Stadium.
Kelly\’s passing numbers were solid with 29 completions in 40 attempts for 252 yards and two touchdowns, but the 6-4, 221-pounder was sacked seven times and wound up with minus-16 yards rushing for 20 plays.
He punted six times for a deceiving 36.3 average. He hit boots of 56, 46 and 45 yards, but he also had one of eight yards.
The Lions never were in the non-league game, falling behind 14-0 after one quarter and 28-0 at halftime. The Sea Gulls returned the second half kickoff for a TD and turned a fumble recovery on the ensuing kickoff into their final points in three plays for a 42-0 cushion 1:31 into the third period.
Albright then switched to its no-huddle offense, and Kelly guided a 12-play, 66-yard drive he punctuated with a nine-yard scoring pass to Nate Romig.
Kelly\’s second TD pass, a 12-yarder to Raj Sandher, came wit 8:43 left. His PAT pass was incomplete.
Albright, which wound up with a net of only 26 yards rushing, will try to rebound in its home opener against Kean Saturday at 7 p.m. in Reading.
* * * * * * * * * *
SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – A disappointing afternoon for running back Dave Richards of Clearfield turned even more disappointing when Shippensburg University\’s bid to knock off Shepherd, ranked No. 9 in the American Football Coaches Association NCAA Division II poll, ended in frustration Saturday afternoon at Ram Stadium.
A 25-yard touchdown pass with 1:48 remaining lifted Shepherd (2-0) to a 19-14 win in the 10th Great Valley Classic before a crowd of 4,319.
Richards, a red-shirt junior not listed in the starting lineup although he rushed for two yards on the Red Raiders\’ first play, was caught behind the line of scrimmage on two of his six carries and netted only six yards.
Red-shirt sophomore fullback Chris Lynch shouldered the load for the Red Raiders with 124 yards and both touchdowns. The East Stroudsburg High School product carried 16 times. Aaron Dykes added 50 yards on 11 carries.
Shippensburg heads south again Saturday to play Liberty in a 7 p.m. kickoff in Lynchburg, Va. The Flames competed in the newly-designated Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division 1-AA).
* * * * * * * * * * *
CLARION, Pa. – Former Curwensville Area High School standouts Shawn Sopic and Nick Sipes got their first taste of collegiate football action for Clarion University Saturday evening and were involved in five tackles in the Golden Eagles\’ 38-10 season-opening loss to Tiffin University.
A crowd of 3,300 in Memorial Stadium saw Matt Root throw for five touchdowns and Alvin McKnight run for 170 yards for the Dragons, who were ranked No. 28 in NCAA Division II by the American Football Coaches Association.
The Dragons, who had 10 players selected to the D2Football.com Preseason All-Independents Team, piled up 617 yards in total offense for their second win.
Sopic was credited with one solo tackle and two assists. He also recovered a Tiffin fumble in the fourth quarter.
Sipes had one solo tackle and one assist.
Both are freshman safeties for the Golden Eagles, who will be at home again Saturday against Kutztown. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
