September 6, 2009

The Fall 2009 season is well underway after the first week of competition. Scores have been posted, statistics updated and the first SLIAC Players of the Week will be announced this Tuesday, September 8.

Principia College is off to a good start in all their Fall sports. The Panthers men's soccer team is 3-0 after defeating Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (4-3), Millikin University (3-1) and Illinois Wesleyan University (3-2). The Principia women are currently 2-1 and suffered their first loss, a 2-0 shutout to Millikin University this past Saturday. On the volleyball court the Panthers are 3-1 after competing at the Earlham College Invitational over the weekend. They defeated host Earlham twice (3-1 & 3-0) and also defeated University of the Cumberlands (Ky.), 3-1. The Principia cross country squads competed at the Sodexho Grizzly Invitational hosted by Franklin College. The Panthers Drew Clark placed second out of 84 runners in the men's 8K race, while Casey Powell was the top women's runner for the Panthers in fifth place out of 72 runners in the women's 5K race.

The Webster University women's soccer team opened up the 2009 season with a 2-1 victory versus Millikin. The Gorloks do not return to action until this coming Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13, when they take on Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Grinnell College in the Webster/Washington U. Classic.

The first conference volleyball matches will take place this Saturday, September 12, at SLIAC newcomer Spalding University. The Golden Eagles will host both Fontbonne University and Westminster College, while non-conference opponent Oakland City University will also participate in the quad.

The SLIAC cross country schedule is a busy one this coming week, with teams spreading out among six different races. Greenville College will compete at the Bradley Open in Peoria, Ill., on Friday, September 11, while Westminster travels to Warrensburg, Mo., for the Central Missouri Mule Run. On Saturday, September 12, both Blackburn College and Fontbonne will run at the Maryville Invitational, while Spalding will race at the Queen City Invitational hosted by University of Cincinnati, Webster will be at the Les Duke Invitational in Grinnell, Iowa, and Principia will travel to the Madison Kiwanis Invitational in Hanover, Ind.

NOTE: NCAA statistical rankings do not begin this week. The first NCAA men's and women's soccer statistical rankings will be released the week of September 14, and the first NCAA volleyball statistical rankings will be released the week of September 21.