NCAC in the News

* The Palladium-Item's Joh Chapin previews a young, eager Earlham men's basketball team.

* BuckeyeSports.com's running feature This Date in Buckeye History says that OSU is 12-6 today through its football history. Three of those losses came to current NCAC schools:

1896: Wittenberg 24, Ohio State 6

1891: Kenyon 26, Ohio State 0

1890: Denison 14, Ohio State 0 – In Ohio State’s second ever road contest, the Buckeyes fell to Denison. The Buckeyes (1-2) had won their first game away from Columbus – and first game overall – that May against Ohio Wesleyan.

* In the Lafayette Journal & Courier, Ken Thompson explains Wabash is seeking both the Monon Bell and a playoff berth.

* Sports Illustrated covered the annual Monon Bell Game in 1993 and 1973.

* Dave Jablonski of the Springfield News-Sun continues his extensive coverage of the Wittenberg Tigers with an article on today's dangerous game against Wooster. The Tigers are a game away from their first undefeated season since 2000.

Earlham's Gage an All-Star

Earlham's Cassie Gage has had her season extended by one game. The senior has been selected to play in the 2009 NFHCA Division III Senior All-Star Game.

She is one of 38 players selected, and the is only representative from the NCAC.

“It is very exciting,” Gage said. “I’m nervous and really surprised. I’m in shock and all I can do is grin. It’s great because I never thought that I would be playing in a national all-star game.”

The match is scheduled for Sunday, November 22, 2009 at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass. The contest begins at 9:30 a.m.

Gage has 88 points in her career and is one away from tying Margaret Kerrick (1983-86) for the all-time Earlham record. She has 37 goals and 14 assists in her time with the Quakers.

She is second in career goals behind Kerrick’s 42, while her 14 assists have her tied for third. Rebecca Aldred (2000-03) holds the all-time assist mark with 18.

2009 Fall NCAC SAAC Meeting

Owens Earns Good Works Honor

Earlham's Chris Owens gets plenty of attention for his performance on the football field. The senior is in the hunt for Quaker records in receptions (142, record: 177), receiving yards (2,135 yards, record: 2,543) and touchdowns (19, record: 27).

His performance off the field may be even more impressive. Owens was named to the Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team which honors dedicated and hard-working student-athletes for their off-the-field achievements and selfless contributions to their communities.

A part of the Bonner Scholars Program at Earlham, Owens has completed over 1,500 hours of community service since coming to Richmond in 2005 with organizations such as Townsend Community Center, Reid Hospital and Health Services, Pauline Trueblood Nursery School, Richmond State Hospital, Wernle Children’s Home, Make-A-Wish Foundation, March of Dimes Foundation, United Way, Galileo Charter Schools, Habitat for Humanity, Upward Bound and Earlham Explore-A-College.

The two 11-member Good Works teams – one composed of players competing in the NCAA® Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A) and a combined team representing the NCAA® Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA), Divisions II, III and the NAIA – honor players that embody the true spirit of “teamwork” and “giving back” through commendable acts of kindness and community service.

In order to meet the criteria set forth by Allstate and AFCA, each player must be actively involved and committed to working with a charitable organization, service group or community service while maintaining good academic standing. Candidates must also display sincere concern and reliability, while also having made a favorable impression on the organizations with which they are involved. Neither athletic ability nor on-the-field achievements are among the selection criteria.

See this year's honorees here.

NCAC Football in the News

Short of a playoff run, this might be the most exciting time of the football season. Every team is full of promise and high hopes. Players are on pins and needles, anxious to get out on the field. Fans can't wait for the opener, they've gone a whole year without their fix.

Readers can get ready for opening day with some season previews:

NCAC
League preview in the Cleveland Plain Dealer
The three "Ws" listed in D3football's Around the Great Lakes column

Allegheny
Allegheny counting on healthy Tate via GoErie.com

Denison
Big Red not resting on their past via The Newark Advocate

Earlham
After strong finish, Quakers eager to prove winning's no fluke via the Richmond Palladium-Item

Hiram
2009 Preview

Kenyon
Lords revving up for 2009 season

Oberlin
Oberlin at Washington & Jefferson

Ohio Wesleyan
Bishops set to tackle challenging campaign via The Delaware Gazette (login required)

Wabash
The Indianapolis Star small-college football preview
Adjustments up front via The Paper of Montgomery County
Drive for five via The Paper of Montgomery County

Wittenberg (all from Springfield News-Sun)
Tigers Return 21 starters
Witt QB ready to return after missing most of 2008

Wooster (all from Wooster Daily Record)
DeGrand found niche as linebacker
His job is to twin the game
Capsule look at the Wooster Defense
Position-by-position look at the Scots Offense

NCAC football kicks off tomorrow with eight games across the league:
Kenyon at Case, 12:00
Juniata at Allegheny, 1:00
Kalamazoo at Denison, 1:00
Ohio Wesleyan at Carnegie Mellon, 1:00
Rose-Hulman at Earlham, 1:00
Waynesburg at Wooster, 1:00
Oberlin at Washington & Jefferson, 7:00
Wittenberg at Olivet, 7:00

Around the NCAC

** The Denison men's 4x800 relay team broke a 41-year old record at last weekend's Denison Last Chance Meet. Ben Holder, Lex Hultquist, Ben Pendery and Chris Black won the event with a time of 7:53.49 which shattered the previous record of 7:58.64 set back in 1968.

** The Denison Sports Network returns to the air, bringing Big Red fans a handful of key baseball, softball and men's and women's lacrosse games this spring. The free service kicks off the season Tuesday, March 24th at Big Red Field as the baseball team takes on Heidelberg. See the whole schedule here.

** Former Earlham star QB Justin Rummel recently signed with the Fairbanks Grizzlies of the Indoor Football League.

** Oberlin softball is offering a one-day clinic for players in grades K-6 on Sunday, March 15 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. inside the Jesse Philips Physical Education Center. Participants will receive instruction in all phases of the game. The clinic costs $35 per athlete.

** A pair of Wittenberg programs reached new heights of success this fall and winter. Read about the Tiger women's cross country squad and the men's swimming & diving team - and even listen to the head coaches Craig Penney and Natalie Koukis comment on their accomplishments.

Free Tickets For All

With the present state of the local economy, Earlham is making a special offer to basketball fans this winter.

AD Frank Carr announced last week that fans can attend all Quaker home basketball games for free during the 2008-09 season.

“We’ve decided to offer this for the community as a way of providing entertainment for area residents and supporting our basketball fans,” Carr said.

Both Earlham teams open this weekend in tournaments away from Schuckman Court before returning for their home openers on Tuesday, Nov. 25.

The men’s team faces Manchester College at 6 p.m., while the women’s squad entertains Bluffton University at 8 p.m.

Around the NCAC - World Edition!

NCAC coaches and players are accumulating lots of international experience this summer:

** Denison men's soccer is on a 10-day training trip to Costa Rica. Follow the teams travels on the Denison Soccer in Costa Rica blog, with posts from head coach Rob Russo, assistant coach Andy Zidron, junior Pete Shorten and senior David Folt.

** The Earlham women's soccer team is touring Holland, Belgium and Germany. Follow the teams Postcards from Europe here

** Oberlin men's soccer is on a 12-day training trip to Brazil. Seniors Kyle Taljan, Michael Mullaley and Zach Lewis blogged their adventures at "Blogging From Brazil"

** Wittenberg assistant football coach Andy Waddle spent part of June coaching 95 high school-aged players at the Kaiserslautern Youth Tackle Football Camp on an American military base in Germany.

** Wittenberg women's soccer just returned from a trip to the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.

** Former Wooster basketball player James Cooper, a two-time NCAC Player of the Year, has signed a professional contract with to play for SVD 49 Dortmund, a team in the West Group of the Regionalliga, Germany's third division.

Earlham Plans Busy Saturday

Earlham has packed a lot into its annual Community Day on Saturday - a pair of basketball games, a tennis match, National Girls and Women in Sports Day and a Think Pink event.

Admission is free, but donations will be accepted with the proceeds supporting the Lamar Lundy Fund benefiting the Townsend Center.

The first event of the day gets underway early in the morning. Registration for National Girls and Women in Sports Day begins at 9:30 a.m. The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Girls from 3rd-to-8th grade can take part in swimming, volleyball, basketball, soccer and camp games. Lunch will be served and participants can then attend the women’s basketball contest.

Think Pink will be a part of the women’s basketball game against NCAC foe Kenyon at 1 p.m. Fans are asked to wear pink to support breast cancer awareness.

Basketball Senior Day - There are two seniors on the women’s team, Whitney McBurrows and Samantha Lurie, and three on the men’s squad, Nick Welsh, Neil Collins and Terrel Brown. The five players along with one cheerleader will be recognized on Saturday. The men’s contest against Ohio Wesleyan University is set for 3:00 p.m.

Tennis Match - the Earlham women’s team will open the spring season with a match against Wilmington at 1:00 p.m.

2007 D3Kicks.com All Region Teams

Men's 2007 D3Kicks.com All Region Teams

Great Lakes Region Men's First Team
Matt Borland (WIT) - Junior - Midfielder

Great Lakes Region Men's Second Team
Ryan Larkin (ALL) - Senior - Goalkeeper
Eric Sloan (ALL) - Senior - Defender
Nick Skoczen (OWU) - Senior - Midfielder
Felix Hoffmann (KEN) - Freshman - Forward

Great Lakes Region Men's Third Team
Jeremy Fischer (KEN) - Sophomore - Defender
Shane Price (WIT) - Junior - Forward

Women's 2007 D3Kicks.com All Region Teams

Great Lakes Region Women's First Team
Meghan O'Rourke (WIT) - Senior - Goalkeeper
Jean Arnold (KEN) - Senior - Defender
Suzanne Medwid (WIT) - Junior - Midfielder
Michelle Corbett (OWU) - Junior - Forward
Sarah Ash (DEN) - Junior - Forward

Great Lakes Region Women's Second Team
Amanda Farrell (WIT) - Senior - Midfielder

Great Lakes Region Women's Third Team
Karman Duchon (ERL) - Freshman - Forward

Around the NCAC

** Denison women's basketball established a new school record by hitting 15 three-pointers in a 79-60 win at Earlham last night. The Big Red connected on 15-of-36 tries - amazingly half of the team's 30 field goals in the game came from long range. The previous mark was 11, which was accomplished three different times. They also set a new record for attempts - the old number was 32, set in the 2003-04 season against Hanover.

** Championship football coach Steve Specht freely admits he has stolen some of his best ideas from Earlham and put them into practice winning two Division I Ohio high school football championships in the last three years at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati. The 1990 Earlham graduate played football and baseball for the Quakers, and he took several concepts from his head coaches, especially head football coach Frank Carr, currently Earlham's Athletics Director.

** Hiram will host a free Girls’ Sports Clinic for girls in grades 3-6 on Saturday in conjunction with National Girls and Women in Sports Day. The clinic will be held in the Coleman Sports Center from 11:30 am -12:30 pm, with registration beginning at 11:00 am, and is open to the first 100 registrants. The day will feature coaches and players from women’s soccer, volleyball, basketball and softball, giving the opportunity for participants to experience all four sports. For more information or to register for this event, please click here.

** Oberlin baseball added Brett Higgins as a volunteer assistant coach for 2008. He will serve as the Yeomen’s hitting instructor and will also work with Oberlin’s catchers and outfielders. Higgins brings a wealth of experience from NCAA Division II and the Seattle Mariners’ Class A affiliate Everett AquaSox in Everett, Washington. For more information click here.

** New Wabash football coach Erik Raeburn is settling into his new job in Crawfordsville.

** Wittenberg men's basketball coach Bill Brown earned his 400th career victory when the Tigers defeated the host Hiram Terriers last Saturday (Feb. 2), 91-85. Now in his 21st season as a head coach and his 15th directing his alma mater's men's basketball program, Brown's career record stands at 400-180 in 21 seasons, including 15 at Wittenberg, five at Kenyon and one at Wooster. His record at Wittenberg is a sparkling 340-81, including this season's 13-6 mark.

**

Women's Basketball Thinks Pink!

Edited: Feb. 12

No matter their individual team colors, NCAC women's basketball players will all be sporting pink over the next several weeks.

The conference is one of 19 nation-wide to participate as a group in the WBCA's Think Pink program. Overall, more than 800 high schools and colleges will participate this season.

Fans are encouraged to wear pink to all events to show their support. Check the schedule below for dates and details as they become available.

Friday - Feb. 8
*ALLEGHENY hosted Wittenberg at 6:00 p.m. - All donations received at the game will go to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund, also a moment of silence was observed in remembrance of Pam Evans Smith, Wittenberg's women's basketball coach who passed away in June after a lengthy battle with the disease. Donations will also be collected at Saturday's 2:00 p.m. contest against Earlham.

* DENISON hosted Ohio Wesleyan - the first 100 fans received a free "Think Pink" t-shirt and student-athletes collected donations, with all proceeds going to breast cancer research. Admission to the game was free. Click for pre-game photos

* OBERLIN hosted Wooster - fans were asked to make a $2 donation upon admission and were then eligible to win a pink iPod, a copy of iLife 08, an iTunes gift card and other prizes. All proceeds will go to the Kay Yow/WBCA Breast Cancer Fund.

Saturday - Feb. 9
*ALLEGHENY hosted Earlham at 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday - Feb. 13
* KENYON hosts Denison at 7:30 p.m. - The Ladies, who will be gunning for the outright North Coast Athletic Conference title, will be wearing pink shooting shirts and a limited number of "Think Pink" t-shirts will be given away to students who attend the game.

* WOOSTER hosts Hiram at 7:30 p.m. - players will wear pink shoelaces and warm up in pink tees. The home media and game operators will all be in pink, and the game day program insert will be pink as well. Halftime will feature contests with prizes given away; pink tee shirts will be given to breast cancer survivors, who will be honored at halftime; and pink tee shirts will be tossed into the crowd at the begining of the game. All donations collected at the gate will be donated to the College of Wooster Relay for Life organization.

* WITTENBERG hosts Ohio Wesleyan at 5:00 p.m. - The Tigers will be wearing pink shoelaces while paying tribute to former head coach Pam Evans Smith, for whom the arena was recently named, and also honoring all those who have been touched personally by breast cancer. Breast cancer survivors will be recognized during a special halftime ceremony, "Think Pink" T-shirts will be sold throughout the event, and a breast cancer awareness information table will offer literature. All gate receipts from the game will be donated to Wittenberg's Pam Evans Smith Memorial Fund, created to fund scholarships annually to deserving female senior students who demonstrate leadership and academic abilities.

Saturday - Feb. 16
* EARLHAM hosts Kenyon at 1:00 p.m. - The Quakers will wear pink wristbands and pink socks. The event will also be combined with a celebration of National girl's and women in Sports day in order to reach more women. Posters with breast cancer facts will be placed throughout the building in hopes of raising awareness and educating women. The community will be admitted free to the game, however at the door, fans will be asked for $2 donations to help fight this deadly disease.

* HIRAM hosts Oberlin at 1:00 p.m. - The Terriers will wear pink t-shirts for warmup and will have information and representatives from the local Susan G. Komen Foundation. Additionally, the Terriers have partnered with Domino's pizza. The company will donate money to the Foundation for every 3-pointer the Terriers make this season.

* OHIO WESLEYAN hosts Allegheny at 2:00 p.m. - Breast cancer survivors will be introduced at halftime. The Battling Bishops also hosted the Bishops' Classic Hoops for Hope earlier this season and awarded pink trophies and pink all-tournament plaques. Players warmed up in pink shirts and all proceeds benefited breast cancer research.

Women's Soccer All-Region Named

2007 NSCAA/adidas
NCAA Division III Women
All-Great Lakes Region

First Team
Meghan O'Rourke, Sr. GK, Wittenberg
Suzanne Medwid, Jr. M, Wittenberg
Sarah Ash, Jr. F, Denison
Michelle Corbett, Sr. F, Ohio Wesleyan
Karman Duchon, Fr. F, Earlham

Second Team
Amanda Farrell, Sr. M, Wittenberg

Third Team
Jean Arnold, Sr. D, Kenyon
Amanda Drummond, Sr. M, Kenyon
Maddie Daskovsky, Jr. M, Earlham
Jessie Seaver, Sr. F, Ohio Wesleyan

Coach of the Year:
Norm Riker, Wittenberg

Around the NCAC

** Fans can support Earlham men's and women's basketball at tonight's pep rally. A silent auction, to support the women's soccer team, will also be a part of the weekend's festivities. For more info, click here.

** Denison men's lacrosse is hosting its second annual clinic for coaches and players on Jan. 12. Instructors will include coaches from Div. I and III. For more info, click here.

** Denison softball will also offer two half-day skill clinics, on Jan. 20. For more info, click here.

** The Kenyon Athletic Center received one of 10 Athletic Business 2007 Facility of Merit awards. The KAC also has a shot at being named the 2007 facility of the year. For more info, click here.

** Wittenberg senior Emily Bell was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America College Division second team. She is only the second Tiger volleyball player to earn Academic All-America honors, following in the footsteps of Dawn Reinhardt, a third-team selection in 1998.

All Seven NCAC Teams Represented in Field Hockey All-Region Awards

2007 Longstreth/NFHCA Division III All-Region Teams

GREAT LAKES REGION

First Team
Cassie Gage, Earlham
Katie Jones, Ohio Wesleyan
Perrin Legg, Kenyon
Kate Persing, Wooster
Read Powel, Denison
Boo Vernon, Wittenberg
Gillian Winbourn, Oberlin

Second Team
Diana Boryczewski, Ohio Wesleyan
Abigail Brox, Oberlin
Tori Casanta, Wittenberg
Caroline Graham, Kenyon
Sasha Grumman, Kenyon
Carter Hartung, Denison
Anna Hurley, Wooster
Brittany Montgomery, Wooster
Christine Politis, Oberlin
Meredith Price, Wittenberg
Karen Thompson, Kenyon

In the Polls

Several NCAC teams are making their presence known on national and regional stages:

Women's Cross Country: Ohio Wesleyan improved one spot t0 31st in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division III poll. Allegheny is fifth in the Mideast Region. In the Great Lakes, Ohio Wesleyan is fifth, followed by Oberlin in sixth, Kenyon in seventh and Denison in ninth.

Men's Cross Country: Allegheny moved up four spots to 11th in the U.s. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division III poll. The Gators are second in the Mideast Region. Wabash is 10th in the Great Lakes Region.

Football: Wabash is 10th in the latest AFCA poll and 14th in the D3football.com Top 25. Wittenberg received votes in both polls. Individually, Oberlin junior R.V. Carroll was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week after he led the Yeomen to a 41-14 victory over Earlham. Carroll finished with 217 yards and four scores on 34 carries, for the third-best single-game rushing total in school history. He led a Yeomen surge after the Quakers had taken a 14-7 lead early in the second half by scoring four straight touchdowns.

Women's Soccer: Wittenberg is ranked 12th and Denison 24th in the national NSCAA/adidas poll. The Tigers are first in the Great Lakes Region, followed by the Big Red in third and Ohio Wesleyan in sixth. Kenyon received votes in the poll. D3Kicks.com ranks Wittenberg 24th in their national Top 25. Denison received votes in the poll.

Men's Soccer: Wittenberg is fourth in the NSCAA/adidas Great Lakes Region poll, followed by Kenyon in fifth, Allegheny in eighth and Ohio Wesleyan in ninth. Wittenberg received votes in the D3Kicks.com national Top 25.

Volleyball: Wittenberg has reclaimed the top spot in the CSTV/AVCA Division III Coaches Top 25 poll for the second time this season, and the third time in school history. The Tigers, who received 23 first-place votes, are 26-0 are the only undefeated team left in Division III. They are off to the best start in the program's history and have overtaken the NCAC record for wins in a season, which they previously held (18 in 2004 and 2005). Wittenberg has only dropped five games all season, and has won a school- and NCAC-record 44 straight games, including 14 straight 3-0 victories. The NCAA Division III record is 49 in a row, set by Washington University (Mo.) in 1995, while the all-division record is 105 by Florida in 2003. Wittenberg is one of just eight schools in the 15-year history of the AVCA poll to be ranked in the top spot.

Hiram jumped two spots to 22nd in the poll.

In the Polls

Several NCAC teams are making their presence known on national and regional stages:

Women's Cross Country: Ohio Wesleyan is 32nd in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division III poll. Allegheny is fifth in the Mideast Region. In the Great Lakes, Ohio Wesleyan is fifth, followed by Oberlin in sixth, Kenyon in eighth and Denison in ninth.

Men's Cross Country: Allegheny is 15th in the U.s. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division III poll. The Gators are second in the Mideast Region. Wabash is 10th in the Great Lakes Region.

Football: Wabash has climbed to 10th in the latest AFCA poll and 14th in the D3football.com Top 25. Wittenberg received votes in both polls. Ohio Wesleyan received votes in the AFCA poll. Individually, Oberlin senior defensive back Chase Palmer and Wooster senior linebacker Trey Simmerman were named to the D3football.com Team of the Week. Palmer intercepted a pass with 47 seconds left to stop Denison's final drive, and clinch the Yeomen's 34-27 win over the Big Red. He posted a team high eight tackles (five solo), 3.5 tackles for a loss, and 1.5 sacks. Simmerman had 14 tackles (eight solo), one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in Wooster's first win over the season, 13-9 over Ohio Wesleyan.

Women's Soccer: Denison is ranked 13th and Wittenberg 17th in the national NSCAA/adidas poll. The Big Red are first in the Great Lakes Region, followed closely by the Tigers in second, Ohio Wesleyan in sixth and Kenyon in ninth. D3Kicks.com ranks Denison 23rd in their national Top 25. Wittenberg received votes in the poll. Individually, Wooster sophomore Simone DiSalvo was named to the D3Kicks.com Team of the Week after she scored the game-winner in overtime versus Hiram, a 4-3 decision, and also had an assist in the contest. The Fighting Scots were 1-1 on the week after losing to Kenyon, 1-0, in overtime.

Men's Soccer: Wittenberg is 14th in the national NSCAA/adidas poll - a two-spot improvement over last week, and once again the highest ever national ranking for the Tigers. Wittenberg is second in the Great Lakes Region, followed by Kenyon in sixth, Ohio Wesleyan in eighth and Allegheny in ninth. Denison and Hiram also received votes in the regional poll. Wittenberg received votes in the D3Kicks.com national Top 25. Individually, Earlham freshman Bannett Asingura was named to the D3Kicks.com Team of the Week after he recorded a pair of goals to lead the Quakers past Oberlin, 2-1 in overtime, to win the Freedom Trophy for the first time since the trophy was established three years ago by the 1954 Quaker team inducted into the Earlham athletics hall of fame in 2005. Asingura gave the Quakers a 1-0 lead midway through the first half then scored the game-winner 6:26 into the extra session.

Volleyball: Wittenberg is ranked second nationally for the fourth straight week. The Tigers, who received six first-place votes, are 24-0. Wittenberg and Haverford (23-0) are the only undefeated teams left in Division III. The Tigers are off to the best start in the program's history. The have overtaken the NCAC record for wins in a season, which they previously held (18 in 2004 and 2005). Wittenberg has only dropped five games all season, and have a current win streak of 38 games in a row. Hiram is ranked 24th by the AVCA.

Quakers Sport Pink to Support Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Earlham has planned a week of activities to support Breast Cancer Awareness month.

What started out as the volleyball team's annual community service project, has spread across the athletic department as all of the fall Quaker teams will don pink this week, in some form, to raise awareness for the cause.

Tonight, the volleyball team will wear pink uniforms during its 7:00 p.m. NCAC match against Wittenberg.

"At some point during our match, breast cancer survivors and everyone who knows one will be asked to stand and be recognized," Alred added. "I think there will be quite a few of our fans respond. It's a widespread issue and many women will have to deal with breast cancer in their lives. Everyone should do a monthly exam. It can save lives. Education is the key, and that is what this week is about."

The Quakers cross country teams wore wristbands during the Earlham Invitational this past Saturday. Four other teams will show their support on Saturday.

Earlham's football players will have stickers on their helmets for the Wittenberg game, and the field hockey team will wear pink bandanas against Transylvania in a game using a pink ball. Both soccer squads will wear pink T-shirts during warm-ups prior to their respective matches against Oberlin.

"Breast cancer is pervasive and it seems to be so common," Head Men's Soccer Coach Roy Messer said. "My mom, Gloria, is a breast cancer survivor. Wearing the pink shirts is a small way to show support but it is more about awareness. That's what is really important and something we're trying to create. If everyone would give some thought to it, then the whole operation has succeeded."

Since the volleyball team doesn't have a match on Saturday, squad members will be distributing educational materials, selling T-shirts and accepting donations for the Susan B. Komen for the Cure foundation.

Around the NCAC

Recent items of interest around the NCAC:

** Ohio Wesleyan Athletic Director, Roger Ingles, speaks in a podcast about the upcoming season, new facilities and more.

** Wooster alum, and 2006-07 NCAC Player of the Year, Tom Port has signed a contract to play professional basketball for the Thor Basketball Club in Iceland. The club is located just outside the capital city of Reykjavik and is a powerhouse in the Express League. You can follow the league on Eurobasket.com. The Daily Record ran a story yesterday.

** Earlham football welcomes its, and the NCAC's, first female football player to its roster. Hillary Carter, a former All-NCAC women's soccer player for the Quakers, has decided to give football a try. Says Carter, ""I'm not out to prove I can hang with the boys. I view my role as the same as the other players."

She scored 19 goals with six assists for the Quakers in 2005 earning the NCAC Newcomer-of-the-Year award, while setting several school records that season. However, injuries played a significant role in the switch to football after Carter played in 12 games in 2006 with just two starts leading to no goals and one assist during her sophomore year. Acceptance of Carter as a member of the squad was easy for her teammates because of her athletic history even though she may be the only female student-athlete in college football. "I knew what type of athlete she is so I was excited," said senior linebacker Eric Sturgeon. "I think the entire team felt that way because we know what type of competitor she was on the soccer field. I admire her for have the guts to come out." Read the full story

Quakers Set to Break in New Stadium

Earlham football players are returning to campus, with more than their usual excitement this fall. When the Quakers stepped on campus, they found almost completely new digs as Darrell Beane Stadium underwent a $2 million renovation which began earlier this year.

The new 6,500-square foot facility will serve as the football team's locker room. Earlham also added a new scoreboard, grandstand, fully-wired press box and a gathering plaza for fans, players and family, amongst other additions.

The Richmond Palladium-Item reports the locker room, air-conditioned and carpeted, was an especially big hit with returning players.

The stadium is named for the late Darrell Beane, a 1955 graduate of Earlham and a generous supporter of all of the Quaker athletic programs, especially football. There will be a dedication for the upgrade during the Oct. 20 homecoming game against Kenyon.