Panther Sports Preview
Game of the Week: Women's Soccer vs. Indiana Tech (WHAC Finals)
Davenport will play in their first ever WHAC Championship game on Friday night when they take on Indiana Tech. The Panthers finished the regular season with a 17-1 overall record and an unblemished 8-0 record in conference play. The Warriors will come into the match-up with a 16-4 overall record and a 6-2 record in WHAC play.
Davenport advanced to the finals by defeating the 8th-seed Marygrove 2-1. In the WHAC semifinals, the Panthers shutout 4th-seed Madonna 2-0. Paige Eli has scored in each of Davenport's two WHAC Tournament games while Letesha Cannonier and Natalie McHale have each tallied one goal. Cannonier and Lizze Paul have each recorded two assists. Michelle Marcus picked up the wins in net for the Panthers in both games allowing only one goal and making five saves.
It took Indiana Tech two overtimes to escape their first round match-up with 7th-seed Concordia by a score of 2-1. The Warriors got by easier in the semifinal match-up defeating 6th-seed Aquinas 3-1. WHAC leading scorer, 21 goals on the season, and Conference Offensive Player of the Year has recorded three goals and one assist in the two tournament games.
Davenport is 9-3 all-time against Indiana Tech including a hard-fought 2-1 win earlier this season. In that game, Davenport jumped out to a two goal lead in the first 10:39 of the game. It remained a two goal game until Indiana Tech scored in the 82nd minute.
This match-up will come at home were the Panthers are 9-0 on the season. Davenport is 4-2 all-time against the Warriors at home. Davenport is also 4-0 all-time in home WHAC Tournament games.
Davenport Men's Player of the Week: John Cruse, D3 Hockey
John Cruse is the Davenport Male Athlete of the Week after leading the Division III hockey team to a perfect 2-0 week that included a sweep of MCHC rival Calvin College who came into the week undefeated on the season.
Cruse is now 9-2 on the season after finishing with a combined 46 saves in the two contests (21 in Friday's 4-1 win and 25 in Saturday's 2-1 victory). The Panthers are off to an 11-3 start this season and have just one game this week as they host Adrian Black on Sunday.
Davenport Women's Player of the Week: Kelsee VanderBaan, Cross Country
Kelsee is the Davenport Female Athlete of the Week as she helped the women's cross country team to its best finish in school history as they placed third in the Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference championship meet on Saturday.
In posting a new school record time of 19:23, VanderBaan is almost guaranteed of a berth to the NAIA National Championships to be held in Vancouver, Wash. on Saturday, November 17. The school record was just one second ahead of the previous mark set earlier this year by teammate Jamie Barnes and it was good for a 14th place overall finish in the 5k race.
Places To Be This Week:
· Friday
o Women's Soccer vs. Indiana Tech – WHAC Finals, DU Turf Field, 7 PM
· Sunday
o D3 Hockey vs. Adrian Black, Patterson Ice Center, 1:00 PM
Teams on the Road:
· Men's Basketball
o Friday: vs. Southern Oregon, Daytona Beach, Fla., 5:00 PM
o Saturday: vs. TBA-Embry-Riddle/Shawnee State, Daytona Beach, Fla., TBA
· Volleyball
o Friday: vs. Lourdes/Concordia – WHAC Quarterfinals, Livonia, Mich., 4:45 PM
o Saturday: vs. TBA – WHAC Semifinals, Livonia, Mich., TBA
o Saturday: vs. TBA – WHAC Finals, Livonia, Mich., TBA
· D1 Hockey
o Friday: vs. Kent State, Kent, Ohio, TBA
o Saturday: vs. Kent State, Kent, Ohio, TBA
· Women's Basketball
o Saturday: vs. Northern Michigan, Marquette, Mich., 6:00 PM
· Bowling
o Saturday - Sunday: vs. Leatherneck (Men)/Miller Time Bowl (Women), Davenport, Ill., All Day
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