Women’s cross country
The women’s cross country team looks ahead to the PacWest Championships despite injuries.
“It would be nice if we could have some of our injured and sick runners back,” Coach Jerry Arvin said. “That would change the dynamics of the team if we got three or four of those back. That’s probably not going to happen, we may get one back, maybe two.”
Sophomore Marissa Dotter, a second year runner for the team, said injuries are a crucial hurdle to overcome as three of their top five runners have been injured throughout the season.
“We’ve only had Alex [Hernandez] and Hallie [Swenson], really who have been consistently healthy,” Dotter said. “Three of our top five are injured, so it’s been really hard on our team. It’s tough because a lot of those girls are leaders for us not in not only running, but with experience, too.”
Despite this, Dotter said the team still looks forward to the bigger meets they’ve been preparing for all year. She finished 67 out of 166 people in the Vanguard Invitational in Costa Mesa where the team placed seventh Oct. 11.
“We have a lot of potential as a team,” Dotter said. “I think that even with all of the setbacks we’ve had this year, we can still be very hopeful for the PacWest and going on to regionals.”
With less than three weeks remaining before the conference championships, the women’s cross country team must send seven of their top runners to the meet. Despite the injuries, Arvin remains optimistic as the team prepares for the upcoming meet and the PacWest Championships.
“Next week they’re running a 6k,” Arvin said. “So we’re getting their minds and bodies used to that because that’s what the conference course is going to be. The course at UC San Diego [ The Triton Classic, the second to last meet before the end of the season] will be a little bit tougher than Fresno [PacWest Championship meet], which should give them a chance to not only run a harder course and longer distance, but also tougher people to race against, which will prepare them mentally.”
Senior runner Caitlin Brandt remains hopeful for the future meets.
“They’ve been improving every single race,” Brandt said. “Our team times are improving since the Willamette meet, I feel very hopeful for everybody.”
The team’s next meet is in La Jolla against UCSD on Oct. 25.
Men’s soccer
After getting the season off to a rough start with 0-7-1, the men’s soccer team is back on the ball, going 3-1 in their last four games, boosting their record to 3-7-2 after last Thursday’s win over Dominican.
Third-year Coach Phil Wolf said the level of play was difficult to begin the season.
“The competition at the start off season was very difficult,” said Wolf via email. “I think we are just finding our top form now. We probably all wish we could have some of our early season games back.”
Currently, opponents are outscoring the men’s team 17-10 with PLNU averaging less than one goal per game. PLNU’s save total is currently outpacing their opponents, 43-30.
“Between the boxes we are as good as any team we have played this year,” said Wolf. “That includes San Diego State and the top D2 teams on our schedule. But games are not won and lost between the boxes and we need our players to make more plays in the areas offensively and defensively.”
The Sea Lions look to build off of their new found momentum as they take on Dixie State Oct.25 at PLNU in the midst of a five game home stand.
