YSU

YSU

Panthers shut out
Penguins, 2-0

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Panthers scored in each half to spoil the season opener for the Penguin soccer team.

The second goal came early in the second half when a shot bounced off a Penguin defender into the net.

Pitt sophomore Ashley Habbel opened the game with a shot from 18 yards out at 5:49 into the game.

YSU goalkeeper Caitlin Bodzioney finished with six saves.

Mason makes cut

WASHINGTON D. C. — For Marcus Mason, no news was good news.

Mason, who played football at Youngstown State last fall, played the waiting game with the Washington Redskins.

Late Saturday afternoon, he had not heard from coaches. That was a good thing. Mason, a roster long-shot at the start of training camp, earned a roster spot.

Mason, a 5-9, 218-pound running back, had a good preseason. He may have solidified a roster spot last Thursday with a strong showing in Jacksonville. He rushed for 54 yards on 12 carries, a 4.5 yards-per-carry average, in the game.

For the preseason, Mason had compiled 95 yards on 25 carries, to go along with a touchdown run in the first preseason game against Tennessee.

In two seasons at Youngstown State, Mason compiled 2,739 rushing yards on 478 carries and scored 31 touchdowns. As a senior, he rushed for a school-record 1,847 yards on 302 carries and had 23 touchdowns.

For Mason, playing for his hometown team promises to be a "great opportunity" and a "great experience."

"It means a lot," Mason said. "Growing up around here, it's just a great experience to play for your home team, let alone play in the NFL. It's all I thought about growing up. Ever since I was six years old, I always wanted to play in the league. It's a great opportunity."

Asked what he focused on to impress coaches in preseason, Mason replied: "Basically, I showed them I could run the ball and I could pick up blocks."

It's only a beginning, though. Mason will soon find out that he must continue to practice at a high level, week-in and week-out.

Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts are expected to share the bulk of carries for the offense. Rock Cartwright is the third backup; he's also a valuable special teams performer and kickoff returner.

AREA

Thunder honored
by af2 league office

BOARDMAN — The Mahoning Valley Thunder is the recipient of the 2007 af2 President’s Award for best overall team operations and a number of other team excellence awards.

The award was announced at a banquet on Aug. 24 in Bossier City⁄Shreveport, LA as part of the ArenaCup8 festivities.

The award was given to team owners⁄operators Dr. Michael Slyk and Tim Chesney with compliments on the quality execution and operation of the team’s inaugural season.

Along with the 2007 President’s Award, the Thunder front office was also honored with the af2’s Best Publication award.

Senior parents night

NILES — Parents of Niles High senior football players and cheerleaders will join their sons and daughters for Senior Football Parents Night on Sept. 7.

Introductions will take place at the game. Parents are asked to meet in the high school cafeteria no later than 6 p.m.

YMCA flag football

WARREN — The deadline to register from the Trumbull County YMCA Flag Football program is Sept. 17.

The program is for boys and girls ages six to 14 and will be played in Waddell Park in Niles from the week of Sept. 25 to Nov. 3.

The cost is $40 for members and $45 for non-members. For information, call (330) 544-2383 or (330) 394-1565.

College cross country

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Bethany College men’s and women’s cross country teams opened up the 2007 season Saturday afternoon by competing at the Westminster (Pa.) College Invitational.

The women finished sixth out of 10 teams, while the men were seventh out of nine.

Penn State Behrend’s men won the team title by scoring 26 points, well in front of Gannon (Pa.) University’s 52, while the Bison finished with 188 to finish ahead of Hiram (Ohio) College and Pitt-Bradford. Bethany’s women scored 147 to place higher than Westminster, Hiram and incomplete teams from Thiel (Pa.) College and Pitt-Bradford.

In the same meet, the Westminster College men placed fourth out of nine teams, while the Titan women took seventh out of eight teams.

The top Westminster finishers were sophomore Jeremiah Patterson with a 16th-place time of 29:49.6, senior Will DeLair with a 22nd-place time of 30:34.5 and junior Andrew Brown (Hickory) with a 23rd-place time of 30:36.4.

Among the women, Westminster's top finishers were sophomore Elizabeth Beardsley with a 29th-place finish at 21:53.7, sophomore Amanda Everett in 42nd-place at 22:37.2 and freshman Jasmine Grady in 44th at 22:42.9.

Thiel soccer

CRESSON, Pa. — Thiel College women's soccer team and first-year head coach Jeurell Smith opened their 2007 season with a 3-0 shutout victory at Mount Aloysius College.

Grove City soccer

GROVE CITY, Pa. — The Grove City College women's soccer team improved to 2-0 Saturday afternoon with a 2-1 victory at College Field over two-time NCAA Division III Championship Tournament qualifier Aurora University.

Junior Stephanie Wild (Carmel, Ind.⁄Heritage Christian) scored an unassisted goal at 54:12 to put the Wolverines ahead to stay. It is Wild's second goal in as many matches.

The Wolverines (2-0) jumped out to a 1-0 lead at 7:50 as sophomore forward Lauren Woodring (Bethel Park, Pa.⁄Bethel Park) scored her first goal of 2007. Aurora (0-1-1) tied the match at 24:01 as Kate Powell scored an unassisted goal.

Thiel volleyball

MARIETTA — The Thiel College volleyball team picked up a 3-1 win over host Marietta College before falling to Penn State Behrend 3-0 Saturday in the final day of the River City Tournament. The Tomcats finished the two-day event with an overall record of 3-1.

Vindicator staff⁄wire reports