Last week in review: Stepping into United East Conference play for the first time this season, the men’s lacrosse team gave perennial champion St. Mary’s (Md.) College all it could handle, while the softball team got off to a 2-0 start. Also, three Wildcats received UE recognition for their outstanding performances the week before.

MEN’S LACROSSE

Last week’s hometown highlights: Through the first three-and-a-half periods on Saturday, Penn College never trailed until St. Mary’s pulled ahead with 7:37 left in the fourth quarter and went on to win by three in the closest match ever between the two. Perennial champ St. Mary’s now is 8-0 lifetime against the Wildcats, with the previous closest outcome a five-goal difference in 2022. Owen Kupsey, of Chadds Ford; Elliot Dotson, of Wilmington, Delaware; and Aidan McFalls, of Gilbertsville, each scored two goals for the Wildcats. Elliot Dotson added two assists, and his brother, AJ Dotson, had three assists. St. Mary’s led in shots on goal, 34-18. Penn College goalie Ryan Twist, of Great Meadows, New Jersey, had 21 saves.

Also, Kupsey’s 12-goal, two-assist, 14-point week in wins against Marywood and Montclair State on March 18 and 21 earned the sophomore attack UEC Offensive Player of the Week honors for the second time this season, and he also was named to the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Team of the Week.

SCHEDULE/RECORD

Overall: 9-3

UEC: 0-1

Saturday, March 28 — host St. Mary’s (Md.) College (UEC), L, 13-10

Wednesday, April 1 — at Neumann University, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, April 8 — host Kean University, 6 p.m.

UEC standings through Sunday: St. Mary’s (Md.) College 2-0, Pitt-Bradford 0-0, Penn College 0-1, Cairn University 0-1.

SOFTBALL

Last week’s hometown highlights: A twin bill sweep of Juniata on Tuesday upped the team’s win streak to 10, equaling last season’s longest run and five behind the program-record 15 set in 2022. In the first game, Ryleigh Rinker, of Poway, California, had two hits, including a home run, and scored twice to back starting pitcher Mackenzi Tice, of Mansfield, who went the distance in the circle and improved to 7-0. In the second game, a six-run Wildcat first inning set the tone, and Tice was 3 for 3 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI, and Peyton Crawford, of Bloomsburg, and Taylor Brown, of Bellefonte, both homered. In the circle, Alivia Bizzarri, of Philipsburg, tossed a two-hit shutout for her first win.

On Thursday at Gettysburg, the win streak ended with a doubleheader sweep. The Wildcats were limited to one hit in the opener, and Tice suffered her first pitching loss. In the second game, Astyn Calaman, of Elizabethtown, was 2 for 2 at the plate with one run scored and one RBI.

In a UEC sweep at Cairn University on Saturday, Tice pitched a three-hitter, fanning six, in the first game, while at the plate, Crawford was 3 for 3 with three runs scored, and Rinker had two hits and drove in two runs. Bizzarri struck out seven, walking one, in the nightcap, and Crawford continued her torrid hitting with three more hits, including a home run, and four RBIs, while Rinker plated two.

Also, Tice’s performances in games on March 21 over Penn State Altoona included one win, one save and 16 strikeouts, earning the sophomore UEC Pitcher of the Week honors.

SCHEDULE

Overall: 13-3

UEC: 2-0

Tuesday, March 24 — at Juniata College (2), W, 3-1; W, 10-0 (5 innings)

Thursday, March 26 — at Gettysburg College (2), L, 8-0 (5 innings); L, 10-2 (5 innings)

Saturday, March 28 — at Cairn University (UEC, 2), W, 8-1; W, 10-0

Wednesday, April 1 — at Penn State Harrisburg (UEC, 2), 3 p.m.

Saturday, April 4 — at Penn State Brandywine (UEC, 2), 1 p.m.

Monday, April 6 — at Penn State Schuylkill (UEC, 2), 5:30 p.m.

UEC standings through Sunday: Penn College 2-0, Penn State Brandywine 2-0, Wilson College 2-0, Lancaster Bible College 2-0, Notre Dame (Md.) University 2-0, Penn State Harrisburg 1-1, Cedar Crest College 1-1, Valley Forge University 0-0, Penn State Abington 0-2, Gallaudet University 0-2, Cairn University 0-2, Keystone College 0-2, Penn State Berks 0-2.

MEN’S TENNIS

Last week’s hometown highlights: Posting wins in Wednesday’s UEC loss at Penn State Harrisburg were Logan Ogden, of South Williamsport, at No. 3 singles and Matt Williams, of Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, at No. 4 singles.

The Wildcats were blanked on Saturday against St. Mary’s (Md.) College, with Kyle Shuler, of Williamsport, at No. 1 singles, and Williams, at No. 4 singles, falling in tiebreakers.

SCHEDULE/RECORDS

Overall: 1-5

UEC: 0-2

Home matches at Central PA Tennis Center

Wednesday, March 25 — at Penn State Harrisburg (UEC), L, 5-2

Saturday, March 28 — host St. Mary’s (Md.) College (UEC), L, 7-0

Tuesday, March 31 — host Penn State Abington (UEC), 1:30 p.m.

Friday, April 3 — at Alfred University, 3 p.m.

Saturday, April 4 — at Penn State Berks (UEC), noon

Wednesday, April 8 — at Penn State Brandywine (UEC), 3 p.m.

UEC standings through Sunday: Penn State Harrisburg 3-0, Penn State Berks 3-0, St. Mary’s (Md.) College 1-0, Penn State Abington 2-1, Penn College 0-2, Penn State Brandywine 0-2, Cairn University 0-2, Lancaster Bible College 0-2.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Last week’s hometown highlights: Kiera Wene, of Ephrata, was the lone singles winner at No. 3 on Wednesday at Penn State Harrisburg.

Hosting St. Mary’s (Md.) College on Saturday, Faith Murray, of Dillsburg, was the only singles winner at No. 2.

SCHEDULE

RECORDS

Overall: 2-8

UEC: 1-2

Home matches at Central PA Tennis Center

Wednesday, March 25 — at Penn State Harrisburg (UEC), L, 6-1

Saturday, March 28 — host St. Mary’s (Md.) College (UEC), L, 6-1

Tuesday, March 31 — host Penn State Abington (UEC), 1:30 p.m.

Friday, April 3 — at Alfred University, 3 p.m.

Saturday, April 4 — at Penn State Berks (UEC), noon

Wednesday, April 8 — at Penn State Brandywine (UEC), 3 p.m.

UEC standings through Sunday: Cairn University 4-0, St. Mary’s (Md.) College 3-0, Penn State Harrisburg 3-0, Lancaster Bible College 3-0, Penn College 1-2, Penn State Brandywine 1-2, Penn State Berks 1-2, Penn State Abington 0-3, Notre Dame (Md.) University 0-3, Cedar Crest College 0-4.

GOLF

Last week’s hometown highlights: After shooting a collegiate career-best two-round 3-under-par 141, including a personal-best 68 in the final round and finishing second among 59 golfers on March 21-22 at a tournament in Williamsburg, Virginia, Gunner Redmond, of Lock Haven, was named the UEC Golfer of the Week. During his four-year career, the senior has seen his average 18-hole scores improve every season, going from 83.1 as a freshman, to 82.7 as a sophomore, to 80.1 as a junior and 74.5 this season.

SCHEDULE

Sunday-Monday, March 29-30 — Swarthmore Invitational (54 holes) at White Manor Country Club, 9 a.m.

Friday-Saturday, April 17-18 — St. Joseph’s Long Island Invitational at Bellport (N.Y.) Country Club, TBA

ARCHERY

SCHEDULE

Saturday-Sunday, April 11-12 — USA Archery East Region Outdoor Championships at Harrisonburg, Va.

BASEBALL

SCHEDULE/RECORD

Final overall: 4-5

Final UEC: 0-0

For additional information, visit the Wildcats Athletics website.

For more about the United East, visit the conference website.