LOCAL CONNECTIONS: Gillen contributing to Bloomsburg's soccer success

Scott Walsh, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.
·6 min read

Oct. 18—Freshman midfielder Shay Gillen (Valley View) has started all 14 games for the Bloomsburg University men's soccer team and has recorded points in four straight games.

On Oct. 1, in a 2-1 win over Millersville University, Gillen assisted on Alex Wilsterman's tying goal late in the first half. He scored his first collegiate goal Oct. 5 in a 6-2 victory over East Stroudsburg University.

Against St. Thomas Aquinas College on Oct. 12, Gillen scored the game-winning goal. His header off a corner kick at 22:27 gave the Huskies a 2-0 lead on their way to a 3-1 victory. Finally, he contributed an assist Saturday in a 3-2 win over Lock Haven University that was the Huskies' first over the Bald Eagles since 2015.

For the season, Gillen has two goals and four assists.

Bloomsburg has won seven straight. It is 11-2-1 overall and in first place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division at 6-1-1.

Early accolades

Bucknell University sophomore guard Cecelia Collins (Scranton Prep) was named to the 2022-23 All-Patriot League women's basketball preseason team.

As a freshman, Collins started all 34 games for the Bison and averaged 11.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists. She was named to the Patriot League All-Rookie Team, a second-team league all-star and the league's all-tournament team after helping Bucknell advance to the final, where it lost to American University.

Under coach Trevor Woodruff, the Bison finished 24-10 overall after losing to Drexel University in the second round of the Women's NIT. Collins scored a career-high 23 points on 10-for-14 shooting in that game.

In the preseason poll of league coaches and sports information directors, Bucknell was picked to finish fourth. It opens the season Nov. 7 at Saint Joseph's University.

Touchdown Terp

University of Maryland sophomore tight end C.J. Dippre (Lakeland) had two receptions for 35 yards and scored his second touchdown of the season in the Terrapins' 38-33 win over Indiana University.

Dippre caught an 18-yard scoring pass from quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa on the first play of the second quarter to give Maryland a 14-3 lead. The Terrapins improved to 5-2 overall (2-2 Big Ten) for the first time since 2016.

Dippre has 17 catches for 193 yards and two touchdowns.

Quick connects

Old Dominion University sophomore linebacker Jason Henderson (Delaware Valley) had 10 tackles (1 solo, 9 assists) in a 49-21 win over previously unbeaten Coastal Carolina. Henderson continues to lead the nation in total tackles with 90 (22,68) and tackles per game with 15. ... Florida Atlantic University redshirt sophomore safety Carter Odell (Scranton Prep) assisted on a tackle in a 17-14 win over Rice University. ... Kutztown University redshirt junior quarterback Donny Blaine (North Pocono) completed 16 of 26 passes for 170 yards and one touchdown in a 29-10 win over Shippensburg University. Blaine has thrown for 1,209 yards and 10 TDs in seven games this season. ... United States Coast Guard Academy sophomore defensive back Nico Berrios (Lackawanna Trail) had eight tackles (7,1) in a 24-17 loss to Catholic University. Berrios has 27 tackles (16,11) this season. Junior Erza Tetreault (Western Wayne) started at wide receiver for the Coast Guard and had two kickoff returns for 31 yards. For the season, Tetreault has 10 kickoff returns for 168 yards and seven punt returns for 11 yards. ... Moravian University junior defensive back Zach Scillia (Delaware Valley) had three solo tackles, one sack and forced a fumble in a 26-7 loss to Dickinson College. ... Penn State University men's ice hockey fifth-year senior and second-year team captain Paul DeNaples from Moscow scored his first goal of the season and it proved to be the game-winner in a 4-1 victory over Mercyhurst University. It was DeNaples' eighth career goal, tying him for seventh on the school's all-time goal-scoring list for defensemen. The Nittany Lions are off to a 4-0-0 start. ... Messiah College women's soccer senior Rachael Tirjan (Wallenpaupack) continues to lead the MAC Commonwealth Conference in goals (7), points (16) and game-winning goals (3). ... UNC-Greensboro women's soccer senior Maddy Gilhool (Montrose) scored her team-leading sixth goal to cap a 3-0 win over Furman University. Gilhool also leads the Spartans with 13 points. ... University of Pittsburgh at Bradford women's soccer senior goalkeeper Sadie Wood (Honesdale) still leads the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference in saves with 151. That also is tied for fifth in NCAA Division III.

WEEKLY WINNERS

WEEKLY WINNERS

Atlantic East Conference

Marywood University swept the Atlantic East Conference weekly awards for the period ending Sunday in cross country and women's soccer.

For the second time this season, sophomore Jack Baronski (Valley View) was named men's Runner of the Week. Baronski placed 39th out of 309 runners at the Rowan University Interregional Border Battle, covering the 8K course in 25:53.6. His time was 56 seconds faster than he ran in last year's race.

Kaitlyn Newberry (Valley View) was selected women's Runner of the Week. The freshman was the Pacers' top finisher for the first time in her career at the Rowan Interregional Border Battle, placing 137th out of 308 runners in 25:07.7 on the 6K course.

In women's soccer, sophomore Riley Mulherin (Abington Heights) was named Offensive Player of the Week for the second consecutive week. Mulherin had two goals and two assists for six points in wins over Gwynedd Mercy University and Marymount University.

Freshman Sarah Kretchmer was chosen Defensive Player of the Week. She helped lead a Pacers defense that posted two shutout wins and allowed just three shots.

CSAC

Keystone College sophomore Corey Scochin (Holy Cross) was selected Colonial States Athletic Conference men's cross country Runner of the Week. Scochin was 23rd out of 64 runners in 31:23.90 at the Wilkes University Blue and Gold Invitational.

Six other Keystone athletes were named to the honor roll in their respective sports: Maria Tomada and Karley Cresswell (Lackawanna Trail), field hockey; Annie Metzger, women's soccer; Rebecca Jackson and Hannah Ankerbrand-Ochoa, women's volleyball; and Leo Arrieta, men's soccer.

Clarks Summit University's Kristian Figueroa also was named to the honor roll in men's soccer.

ECFC

Jayson Nami of Keystone College was chosen Eastern Collegiate Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week. Nami scored on a 97-yard kickoff return and also had two tackles on kickoffs in a 41-39 win over Anna Maria College — the Giants' first NCAA win in program history.

— SCOTT WALSH

SCOTT WALSH covers area college athletes and teams in Local Connections. Contact him at swalsh@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100, ext. 5109; and follow him @swalshTT on Twitter.

SCOTT WALSH covers area college athletes and teams in Local Connections. Contact him at swalsh@timesshamrock.com; 570 348-9100 ext. 5109; and follow him @swalshTT on Twitter.