Penn College Athletics At A Glance
Last week in review: The women’s softball and men’s lacrosse teams each had double-win weeks, with the softball team extending its win streak to eight games and the lacrosse team knocking off an undefeated team that it had never beaten before. Also, the women’s tennis team opened its spring season with a shutout win, and a men’s golfer placed second in his first spring outing.
On the horizon: The United East Conference and the Atlantic East Conference have finalized a letter of intent to explore a strategic conference partnership in the coming months, it was announced on Wednesday. Upon reaching a definitive agreement, implementation would begin during the 2026-27 academic year with full activation anticipated by Fall 2027.
According to a release, the partnership is intended to provide a pathway for the United East and Atlantic East to remain two strong and sustainable conferences amidst the ever-evolving landscape of higher education and intercollegiate athletics. While not a merger, it is an opportunity for both conferences to remain focused on providing quality competitive experiences for all of their intercollegiate athletic programs. Such a partnership will allow both conferences to maintain fair access to NCAA automatic qualifiers for their widely sponsored sports, stabilize automatic qualifier access for sports at risk of falling below the NCAA minimum requirements, and enhance championship environments for individual sports by creating larger events for participants and spectators.
MEN’S LACROSSE
Last week’s hometown highlights: Owen Kupsey, of Chadds Ford, scored four goals and had three assists, and Elliot Dotson, of Wilmington, Delaware, had four goals and one assist in Wednesday’s win at Marywood University. Alex Hammond, of Lincoln University, had 10 saves while getting his first win in the goal.
Hosting unbeaten Montclair (N.J.) State on Saturday, the Wildcats opened a 10-4 halftime lead and went on for a victory, while also earning their first win in the series after three losses. Kupsey scored six goals, and Aidan McFalls, of Gilbertsville, had four. Antonio Santora, of Haskell, New Jersey, was 22 of 31 in faceoffs, and goalie Ryan Twist, of Great Meadows, New Jersey, made 13 saves.
Also, Santora was named the United East Offensive Player of the Week for his play in games March 9, 11 and 14, during which he was 51 of 67 in faceoff wins, had a 76% in faceoffs, had 26 ground balls and one assist.
SCHEDULE/RECORD
Overall: 9-2
UEC: 0-0
Wednesday, March 18 — at Marywood University, W, 13-6
Saturday, March 21 — host Montclair State, W, 16-12
Saturday, March 28 — host St. Mary’s (Md.) College (UEC), noon
Wednesday, April 1 — at Neumann University, 7 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Last week’s hometown highlights: In Saturday’s first game against Penn State Altoona, Mackenzi Tice, of Mansfield, tossed a three-hit shutout, striking out 12 and improving to 6-0, and Payton Crawford, of Bloomsburg, went 2 for 3 at the plate and scored once on a steal of home. In the nightcap, Penn College used a five-run fourth to break the game open as Tice plated two runs with a triple. Also, Astyn Calaman, of Elizabethtown, was 3 for 4 at the plate with two runs scored. Tice, who surpassed 200 strikeouts for her two-year career in the sweep, earned a save in relief of Laney Wilson, of Doylestown, who improved to 3-1.
SCHEDULE
Overall: 9-1
UEC: 0-0
Saturday, March 21 — host Penn State Altoona (2), W, 2-0; W, 9-2
Sunday, March 22 — host St. Elizabeth (2), ppd.
Tuesday, March 24 — at Juniata College (2), 3 p.m.
Thursday, March 26 — at Gettysburg College (2), 3 p.m.
Saturday, March 28 — at Cairn University (UEC, 2), 1 p.m.
Wednesday, April 1 — at Penn State Harrisburg (UEC, 2), 3 p.m.
GOLF
Last week’s hometown highlights: Gunner Redmond, of Lock Haven, finished second with a two-day 141 total at The Ruckus in Williamsburg, Virginia. Also, Chase Dillman, of Boyertown, tied for 12th with a 148, Brady Handy, of Huntingdon, tied for 41st with a 162, and Logan Gawlinski, of Kittanning, tied for 47th with a 170.
SCHEDULE
Saturday-Sunday, March 21-22 — The Ruckus at Williamsburg National Golf Course, tie 6 of 11
Sunday-Monday, March 29-30 — Swarthmore Invitational (54 holes) at White Manor Country Club, 9 a.m.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Last week’s hometown highlights: Singles winners in Saturday’s UEC shutout of Notre Dame (Md.) University included Ellen Buckley, of Binghamton, New York, at No. 1; Lauren Peck, of South Williamsport, at No. 2; Leah Vest, of Muncy, at No. 3; Faith Murray, of Dillsburg, at No. 4; Kiera Wene, of Ephrata, at No. 5; and Eliza Welshans, of Jersey Shore, at No. 6. Doubles winners were Buckley-Peck at No. 1, Vest-Wene at No. 2, and Murray-Welshans at No. 3.
SCHEDULE
RECORDS
Overall: 2-6
UEC: 1-0
Home matches at Central PA Tennis Center
Saturday, March 21 — at Notre Dame (Md.) University (UEC), W, 7-0
Wednesday, March 25 — at Penn State Harrisburg (UEC), 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 28 — host St. Mary’s (Md.) College (UEC), 4 p.m.
Tuesday, March 31 — host Penn State Abington (UEC), 1:30 p.m.
MEN’S TENNIS
SCHEDULE
Home matches at Central PA Tennis Center
Wednesday, March 25 — at Penn State Harrisburg (UEC), 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 28 — host St. Mary’s (Md.) College (UEC), 4 p.m.
Tuesday, March 31 — host Penn State Abington (UEC), 1:30 p.m.
BASEBALL
SCHEDULE/RECORD
Overall: 4-5
UEC: 0-0
Wednesday, March 18 — at Stockton University, ppd.
Thursday, March 19 — host Gettysburg, ppd.
Saturday, March 21 — host Keystone College at Bowman Field (UEC, 2), ppd.
Monday, March 23 — host Penn State DuBois (2), ppd.
Wednesday, March 25 — host St. Lawrence University, ppd.
Saturday, March 28 — at Penn State Berks (UEC, 2), noon
Wednesday, April 1 — at Cairn University (UEC), 3 p.m.
ARCHERY
SCHEDULE
Saturday-Sunday, April 11-12 — USA Archery East Region Outdoor Championships at Harrisonburg, Va.
For additional information, visit the Wildcats Athletics website.
For more about the United East, visit the conference website.