Wrestling
2 Bearcats earn championships
LEBANON -- Junior Brenden Murphy and sophomore Julian Smith claimed 133- and 197-pound championships, respectively, and three others earned top three finishes at the Battle of the Rockies Open on Saturday hosted by the University of Great Falls in Mont.
The Bearcats will close out their first semester schedule on Dec. 15-16 at the Midwest Classic at the University of Indianapolis.
Murphy posted a 4-0 record and pinned Travis Barroquillo in 7:45 in the championship match to claim the 133-pound championship.
Smith posted a 4-0 record and defeated Toby Cheff of Montana State University-Northern in a 5-2 decision in the 197-pound championship. Two of Smith's wins were by major decision and another was by pin.
Sophomore Luis Alba lost a 7-5 overtime decision to Tanner Martin of Indiana Tech in the championship match at 174 pounds to finish as runner-up. Alba posted a 2-1 record at the event.
Sophomore Ross Janney dropped a 3-2 decision to Gurjoot Kooner of Simon Fraser University to finish as runner-up at heavyweight. Janney finished with a record of 3-1.
Sophomore Nick Haferkamp lost a 7-4 decision to Diorian Coleman of Northwest College in the third place match at 165 pounds. Haferkamp finished with a record of 3-2 at the event with two pins and a major decision.
Senior Kyle Reid (Belleville East) competed unattached at the Maryville University/Kaufman-Brand Open also on Saturday, and finished in third place at 197 pounds.
Cougars pick up first league victory
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville wrestling team competed in three dual meets at the Indiana Duals on Saturday, and the Cougars picked up their first conference victory as a member of the Southern Conference.
SIUE defeated SoCon foe Gardner-Webb 24-21 despite being forced to forfeit at two weight classes. With the win, the Cougars avenged a 32-13 loss to the Runnin' Bulldogs last season.
"We wrestled well in our first conference match of the year and to get the win was pretty big," Head Coach David Ray said. "We were able to win three matches with pins, and that's what made the difference."
Senior Kyle Lowman (157 pounds) and juniors Deshoun White (174) and Josh Wood (197) all earned pins against their Gardner-Webb opponents to propel the Cougars to victory.
Also picking up wins against the Runnin' Bulldogs were sophomore Patrick Myers (133) and freshman Jake Residori (165).
"We wrestled better today than we did last weekend (at the Iowa Duals)," Ray added. "We're very young, but we have to make sure that we're improving every time we step on the mat."
The Cougars lost 33-11 to host Indiana and fell 25-15 to Bucknell.
Myers and Wood both went undefeated in their three matches Saturday. Myers improved to 9-1 on the season while Wood moved to 6-4.
"We'll improve as the season goes along, and we'll get better every match," Ray said. "We'll go back to the drawing board, watch the film, and correct our mistakes."
Next up for SIUE is a dual meet at South Dakota State Dec. 8.
Women's basketball
Cougars return to action Wednesday
EDWARDSVILLE -- The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville women's basketball team has three of their next four games at home. The homestandd begins Wednesday with Sacramento State in a 7 p.m. matchup followed by a second matchup this season with IPFW Saturday at 7 p.m.
The Cougars used a run to end the first half and another to open the second half to defeat Southern University 55-53 in the consolation game of the Glass City Tournament.
SIUE, which improved to 4-4 overall, used a 7-0 run to end the first half and another 9-0 run to start the second half. The Cougars were down by as many as 12 points in the first half to the Jaguars, 0-7. It was the second double-digit comeback of the season for the SIUE coach Paula Buscher and the Cougars.
"What we did the last three or four minutes of the first half was play with a lot more energy, and we got Raven Berry touches. The group that was out there to end the first half brought energy, and our bench did that today as well," Buscher said.
Berry, a Collinsville graduate, led SIUE in scoring with 14 points. The senior center also grabbed three steals and three rebounds.
Women's lacrosse
McKendree announces 5 recruits
LEBANON -- McKendree University women's lacrosse coach Brittany Poist has announced five recruits that have committed to McKendree during the fall early signing period.
Samantha Fagerburg of Morton (Ill.) High School, Melissa Gardner of Rockwood Summit High School, Jamie Lawinger of Wheaton Warrenville South High School, Amy Porta of Marquette High School, and Hannah Schneider of Lafayette High School, will all join the women's lacrosse program in 2014.
"I am so proud to announce these five signees," said Poist. "All five are not only talented lacrosse players, but also have lofty career goals that they felt McKendree would help them to accomplish. I cannot wait to work with them next year and truly believe that these five players are the next step towards building a championship program at McKendree."
Fagergurg is a defender for the Morton Crusaders club team in Morton
"Samantha is a natural leader," said Poist. "She has excelled in the many jobs, clubs, and sports she has participated in during her high school career and will see the same success in our program. Her passion for lacrosse is unmatched in this class."
Gardner scored 11 goals, with six assists, and 66 ground balls last season as a junior for the Falcons.
"I anticipate Melissa working very well with our current attack," said Poist. "She is capable of changing the momentum of an entire game with the plays she creates and she finds a way to score when you need her to."
Lawinger has scored six goals, with 65 ground balls, and 47 draw controls during her three varsity seasons as a defender for the Tigers. She was an all-conference honoree last season as a junior and she also plays club lacrosse for Players 360.
"Jamie is a workhorse," said Poist. "Her patience and vision on defense helps her direct her teammates from the crease, and her athleticism will help her cause a lot of turnovers."
Porta posted a 7.20 goals-against average, with 181 saves, and a .668 save precentage as a goalkeeper last season for the Mustangs. She was an All-Conference honoree as a junior and also plays club lacrosse for the St. Louis Speed.
"Pinpoint clears are what define Amy," said Poist. "Not only is she great in the cage, but she is capable of turning clears into fast breaks because of her vision on the field."
Schneider is a three-time All-State and All-Conference honoree as a center/attack for the Lancers.
"Hannah stands out because she is powerful, fast, and has a great field sense," said Poist. "She won't only be a complimentary addition to our attack, but she will be a huge asset on the draw. She should make an immediate impact when she steps onto campus."
The McKendree University lacrosse team will begin its inaugural season on Feb. 23 against Lindenwood University-Belleville. The Bearcats will compete in the Western Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association.
