Redlands to host men’s soccer sectional

The University of Redlands has been chosen to host the NCAA Division III men’s soccer sectional (round of 16) which will be held Friday and Saturday at Farquhar Field.

Joining Redlands in the field are Calvin (Mich.), Randolph College (Va.) and Texas-Tyler.
Bulldogs coach Ralph Perez said some upsets around the country paved the way for his team to be playing at home.

“I was a little surprised, then I started looking at some of the other results,” Perez said. “We’re just happy to still be playing. We also know that if we slip up once it could be over just as fast.”

The No. 13 Bulldogs (20-3-1) will play Calvin College (17-5-1) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. The 5 p.m. game will pit Randolph (18-5) against No. 22 Texas-Tyler (17-2-1).

The Bulldogs enter with a 19-game unbeaten streak, highlighted by impressive playoff wins over Pacific Lutheran (4-1) and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (3-0) in which the defense allowed just a combined 10 shots on goal.

Redlands is second in NCAA Division III in scoring with 86 goals and 76 assists. Freshman forward Charles Izydorek, out of Arrowhead Christian Academy, leads the team in points (36) and goals (15).

Tickets can be purchased at Farquhar Field up to one hour prior to kickoff. General admission is $6. Students with school I.D. and senior citizens cost $3, while children ages 2-12  are $2.

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Bulldogs get postseason invite

The University of Redlands football team has become the first SCIAC runner-up in history to earn an at-large playoff berth. The Bulldogs (8-1) made the 32-team field for the first time since 2007 when it shared the conference title but got the automatic bid.

The Bulldogs will not be heading to Cal Lutheran as most thought they would if they made the field. Instead they will get on a plane for a Saturday matchup against American Southwest Conference champion Mary Hardin-Baylor (10-0), which is making its eighth straight playoff appearance and 10th in 11 years.

Early in the week coach Mike Maynard said the only scenario in which his team would likely make the field was if the NCAA sent it back to Thousand Oaks because it has always limited the first-round field to one plane flight. Not only will Redlands be getting on a plane, so will Cal Lutheran which is being sent to Linfield (Ore.).

The Bulldogs making the field is good, not just for the school but the conference as well. Now there is a precedent for a runner-up making the field. A big part of Redlands qualifying, no doubt, was its nonconference win over then No. 6-North Central (Ill.). Maynard thought his team deserved a shot last year at 8-1, but strength of schedule was singled out as an issue.

So if Redlands didn’t get in, then strength of schedule really didn’t matter at all. That would have been sending a bad message that no matter what you do, you’re not getting in if you’re not first.

No Redlands wasn’t overly impressive in some of its SCIAC games, but margin of factor is not supposed to be a factor. A win is a win.

The next step is for the both Redlands and Cal Lu to put in good showings so the SCIAC is deemed worthy for a second spot in future years as well.

 

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Pomona-Pitzer player earns academic honor

Senior guard James Lambert was named to the Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 first team in a vote of the district’s sports information directors.

Lambert, who carries a 3.93 grade point average as an economics major, is now eligible for Academic All-America honors, which will be announced in December.

As one of the team co-captains, Lambert has had a key role in this season in blocking for junior running back Luke Sweeney who leads the nation (Division III) in rushing by over 20 yards with 182.4 yards per game. Lambert and his line-mates have paved the way for Sweeney to set both single-game (265) and single-season (1,277) rushing records in the 119-year history of Sagehen Football.

In fact, over his career, Lambert has blocked for Pomona-Pitzer’s all-time leading passer (Jake Caron) and receiver (R.J. Maki), in addition to Sweeney’s records this season.

Lambert and the Pomona-Pitzer offensive line have been equally effective this season with their pass protection as in opening holes for Sweeney. The Sagehens have allowed only 11 sacks all year in 263 total passing plays.

Lambert and the Sagehens finish their 2011 season when they travel across Sixth Street to take on neighboring rival Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the annual Peace Pipe game.
 
 

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