The University of Indianapolis women's softball team may crashing the party that is the Division II Women's College World Series, but the only remaining unranked team in the eight-team championship field is not just going to Salem, Va., this weekend to have a good time.

The Greyhounds will be making their first trip to the Division II Championship this year, just one season after the program reached NCAA Regionals for the first time ever, and head coach Melissa Frost-Fisher is ecstatic with the progress the team has made in the last two years.

"When I first got here we started talking to the ladies about regionals and the World Series, and part of it was getting them to understand that there is life beyond conference play," said Frost-Fisher. "The group of girls we have now is just outstanding, and we lost just a few players last year, so the expectation was to get back to regionals, then get to Super Regionals. We've always talked about the World Series, but as we started playing (in the postseason), it really started to come to life and it became a realistic goal for us."

After suffering a one-run loss in the Great Lakes Valley Championship game, the Greyhounds rolled through their NCAA Regional bracket, advancing to Super Regional action against Saginaw Valley State. UIndy lost the first game of the series, but rallied for two wins, including a convincing 12-3 final score in the deciding game.

"Once we got in the conference tournament and started getting things together a little bit, I saw a completely different spark in the team that I hadn't seen all year," said Frost-Fisher. "It was a spark that was much-needed and we had been waiting on. They came together as a whole and came together as one. Before we knew it, we were down one game at Super Regionals, and there was no hint of our girls giving up and no hint that losing the game was going to happen. Losing was not an option."

The Greyhounds are the only team in the field that won its Super Regional series on the road, something they have adjusted to this season after losing their on-campus facility when the university decided to build a dormitory on the site. The squad moved operations to play at the Indiana Central Little League facility, where they played all of their home games.

"We did some renovations to that field and it actually turned out great," said Frost-Fisher. "It's a great ballpark and great environment, and I think we brought some life back into the youth program there and put a spark in things for them as well."

The experience gave the team a different perspective on the game.

"One of the first things I told our ladies was that there are still seven innings, and still three outs in an inning … the bases are still 60 feet apart and the pitcher's mound is still 43 feet away," said Frost-Fisher. "We talked about keeping the game simple and nothing changed from venue to venue."

The Greyhounds' last three losses have all been by one run, indicating this team is not done fighting until the very end.

"We have really come together, and I think that some of the games that we've lost by one run have brought us even closer together as a team," said junior pitcher Megan Russell. "We're coming together at the right time. Maybe if we would have gotten together like this at the beginning of the season who knows what we would be doing right now. Everybody has the same goal, and now it's the national championship."

"We lost some ballgames early – some close games and some that we were in right until the end," said Frost-Fisher. "I honestly believe that made us stronger. We have always preached that we may be down, but we are never out. We'll always find and way or go down fighting. I just tell them they need to play as every game is their last."

UIndy kicks off the Division II Championship against Angelo State on May 21 at 12 p.m. Angelo State was ranked No. 4 in the final regular season NFCA Division II Top 25, and won the NCAA title in 2004.

"We're on a high from the win we had on Saturday, but we're not going to take that and be satisfied just because it's our first time going to the World Series," said Russell. "We're going to take that and build on it and going to try to win this thing."

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 02:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Angelo State sophomore Aisha Adams remembers hurdling trash cans in her backyard to work on her technique when first learning the event in high school. Just a few years later, that extra work has paid off as she has qualified for and will compete in six events at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships on May 21-23.

Adams began participating in track and field as a sophomore at Millington Central High School in Millington, Tenn., after one of her basketball coaches commented on her speed and suggested she try the sport. She began as a sprinter, but soon added jumps and hurdles.

After high school, Adams spent a season at Barton County Community College (Kan.) where she helped the school win the 2006 NJCAA Outdoor Track and Field national title, but did not compete collegiately again until transferring to Angelo State on the advice of former Barton teammate Celethia Byrd, now one of the Rambelles' top sprinters.

Adams has made an immediate impact for Angelo State, one of the nation's top Division II programs, winning Lone Star Conference titles in the high jump, long jump, triple jump and the 400-meter hurdles.
She racked up 42 points to earn top scorer honors as the Rambelles captured their third LSC title with a record 331 points.

"(Coming to Angelo State) has helped me hit my goals and do things that I've wanted to accomplish at a faster pace than what I had set," said Adams. "I like the competition – it's good."

Adams will compete in the heptathlon, 100-meter hurdles, 400-meter hurdles, high jump, long jump, and triple jump at nationals. She enters the meet with the nation's top mark in the high jump (1.78m), ranks second in the long jump (6.21m), third in the triple jump (12.33m) and has scored the highest point total in the heptathlon (5529) in Div. II this season.

Six events, including the heptathlon, will be a large undertaking for Adams, who usually competes in just two events during regular season meets, but she is ready for the three-day challenge.

"I'll just try one event at a time, and try to stay mentally focused to accomplish the things I know I can do," said Adams.

Adams notes the heptathlon as her favorite events, and she will draw on that experience as she enters nationals.

"I've learned how to stay positive during the heptathlon because there are a bunch of events, and if one event goes wrong, you still have time to make up for it instead of focusing on something that already passed," said Adams.

Angelo State's women's squad qualified 10 different athletes for the NCAA Championships, including six that will compete in multiple events, giving the Rambelles 24 scoring opportunities in the meet. ASU finished the regular season as the No. 1 team in the NCAA Division II Power Rankings released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

"We're excited and positive, but at the same time we cannot get too excited," said Adams. "We know we're a target, so we just have to work as a team and know what the ultimate goal is."

Angelo State will serve as the host of the Division II Championships for the fifth time in school history. The school also hosted the event in 1988, 1991, 1992 and 2002.

"It's nice to have nationals here because we practice on this track every day -- it's a little bit of an advantage," said Adams. "I'll try to use it to my advantage this week."

The Rambelles will be looking for their first-ever Div. II outdoor title. Abilene Christian, also a member of the LSC, claimed the 2008 championship, while Lincoln (Mo.) won five straight in 2003-07.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 02:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Florida Southern claimed its 24th Sunshine State Conference title behind the hot-hitting of Sara Lovestrand as the Moccasins got the win they needed to seal up an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the 19th time in program history.

The senior from Crawfordville, Fla., batted .500 in the three game series with two RBI and three stolen bases, but it was her 3-for-3 outing in a 6-0 win over Tampa on April 26 that earned Lovestrand SSC Player of the Week honors for the third time this season.

After the Mocs lost the first two contests of the series, Lovestrand led off the finale with a triple and scored, and then crossed the plate again following a single in the third inning, and capped it off with a two-run double the next inning. The three hits improved her season total to 88, surpassing the previous mark of 85 that had stood since 1996. Lovestrand also paces the SSC with 69 runs, and needs just four to tie the program record. She has set school records for home runs (10) and total bases (153), and tops the team with a .456 batting average.

The Mocs await the NCAA bracket announcement on May 3 for the pairings of the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament.

EAGLES SOAR: Carson-Newman junior pitcher Stephanie Templeton fired a four-hit shutout to spark the Lady Eagles to a 2-0 victory over Wingate as they captured their second straight South Atlantic Tournament Championship on April 26.

The native of Ringgold, Ga., posted a 3-0 record in tournament play, including a pair of shutouts, as she surrendered just five runs in 24.1 innings pitched on the weekend. Templeton also helped her own cause, batting .429 with a home run and four RBI, and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

The Lady Eagles secured an NCAA Tournament berth with their ninth SAC Tournament title. They have won eight straight tournament games.

POWER-PACKED: Metro State junior designated player/catcher Tara Mickelson blasted four home runs in a series win over Chadron State as the Roadrunners wrapped up the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season title.

The native of Wheat Ridge, Colo., batted .600 with 12 RBI and 11 runs scored as she increased her single-season school-record home run total to 22. Mickelson belted two homers in a loss on April 25, and followed it up with a game-tying solo round-tripper in the third game of the series on Sunday. She capped off the weekend with a three-run jack in the championship-clinching win in the series finale.

Mickelson garnered Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II National Player of the Week and RMAC Player of the Week for her offensive prowess. She batted .615 for the week, raising her season average to .436.

NOTABLE: Northwood's Michelle Boscola was named Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week after becoming the school's career leader in home runs (18) with three last week, while driving in eight of the Timberwolves' 10 runs ... No. 16 Le Moyne claimed its third consecutive Northeast-10 Conference regular season title after winning its last five league games ... Missouri S&T clinched the eighth and final playoff berth in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association as Jen O'Hara went 4-1 with a save in five starts and seven appearances for the Lady Miners last week. She gave up just one unearned run in 38.1 innings pitched on the week, and became the school's all-time leader in wins during the stretch. She was named Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II National Pitcher of the Week for her performances. The Miners have won seven of their last 10 games.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Barry University's school-record, 40-win season vaulted the Buccaneers to the top of the latest Collegiate Baseball Division II poll after they notched a series victory over then-No. 15 Tampa in Sunshine State Conference action last weekend.

With a league-leading batting average of .349, the Bucs are on pace to break the school season mark as they are 11 points ahead of last year's program record. Yan Gomes – the school record-holder with 80 RBI and 147 total bases – is batting .406, while Danny Lima tops the team with a .418 average and 81 hits. Barry also boasts the top ERA in the SSC with a 3.74 mark.

The Bucs remained in first place in the SSC standings with the series win, and look to claim the regular season title at Rollins this weekend.

WORTH THE SACRIFICE: Armstrong Atlantic State has rediscovered the lost art of bunting this season, and will be leaving its mark in the NCAA record books after smashing the previous Division II mark for sacrifice hits.

The Pirates have posted 93 sacrifice hits on the year, eclipsing the previous mark of 78 held by Bryant and Georgia College & State University. The total is also a new school record, which surpassed the mark of 90 set in 1984 when the Pirates competed at the Division I level.

Senior shortstop Juan Dorado tops the squad with 33 sacrifice hits, crushing the previous Division II single-season mark of 23. He needs to one to tie the NCAA all-division record of 34 set by UC Irvine's Ben Orloff in 2007.

A GOLD STAR: Cameron University finished off the Lone Star Conference regular season by sweeping Southwestern Oklahoma State last weekend to claim the league title. The Aggies, who jumped five spots to No. 6 in the latest national poll, have won or tied every series they have played this season.

The Aggies exploded at the plate in game three of the series against SWOSU, belting a single-game school-record seven home runs in an 11-10 victory, while senior designated hitter Nate Arevalo became the school's single-season leader in round-trippers over the week as he belted three to increase his total to 18.

Cameron is the top-seeded team in the LSC Tournament, and will face Tarleton State on May 2.

RED HOT: Catawba College's senior catcher Ryan Query was voted South Atlantic Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player after leading his team to the league championship last weekend. The squad knocked off top-seeded Tusculum College to earn a berth in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Tournament beginning May 14.

The native of Kannapolis, N.C., batted .500 with seven RBI and four home runs in six tournament games. Query ripped a solo home run to ignite a three-run seventh inning as Catawba claimed a 4-3 win in the championship game.

KEEPING PACE: USC Aiken clinched at least a share of the Peach Belt Conference regular season title for the first time since 1994, and the top seed in the league tournament, with a series victory over UNC Pembroke last weekend.

Freshman Stephen Carmon batted .500 with 14 RBI, two doubles and two home runs to lead the Pacers for the week, earning his second PBC Freshman of the Week honor.

After starting the PBC schedule with a 1-5 mark, the Pacers finished the PBC regular season slate by winning its last seven series, and sweeping three of their last four league series. Until a 17-3 loss to UNCP on April 24, the Pacers were riding a 16-game winning streak. The Pacers are No. 4 in the latest Collegiate Baseball Division II poll.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Being a long-stick defenseman in lacrosse may not come with flashy statistics or your name in headlines, but as Le Moyne’s Drew Bezek knows, it is helping your team get the win that is most satisfying.

The junior from Lowville, N.Y., began playing lacrosse in seventh grade, and although he was a good athlete, his stick skills were not advanced as some of his teammates, so he ended up being slated as a defensive player.

"Once you start something, you get accustomed to it and start taking pride in it," said Bezek. "Like any competitor, you want to be the best at your position, and I’ve never thought of changing."

It’s a good thing for the Dolphins that Bezek decided to stick with the defensive side of the field. He anchors the nation’s top defensive unit that has allowed just 3.85 goals per game and causes 8.31 turnovers per game.

"He’s not a flashy, take-away defenseman," said Sheehan. "He’s not the type of kid who takes the ball away from someone, and then legs it to the other end of the field and get a 100 miles per hour shot off. He is so fundamentally sound, and that is without question, the best part of his game. Typically, he ends up frustrating his attackman because they can’t shake him. He’s got fantastic footwork and does a really nice job of keep his stick right on his attackman’s hands."

Bezek, a 2008 first team USILA All-America, was recently named Northeast-10 Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season after playing a key role in the top-ranked Dolphins’ perfect regular season (13-0).

"In my opinion, not only is he the best defenseman, but he may be the best player in Division II this year," said Sheehan. "When you look at his match-ups on a weekly basis, and what he’s able to do against a guy who is averaging five to eight points a game, and that guy is able to come out of our game with no points or one point, that’s extremely impressive."

The leading scorer in the nation, and Northeast-10 Player of the Year, Greg Rogowski of Merrimack was held to one goal while matched up with Bezek, while C.W. Post’s Greg Cerar did not register a point and Southern New Hampshire’s Mike Ball tallied just one assist versus Bezek. Cerar normally averages 5.33 points per game, while Ball entered last week’s contest with 4.70 points per game.

Growing up in Upstate New York – one of the hot beds of lacrosse near schools like Division I perennial power Syracuse – he knew one day he could have an opportunity to play at the collegiate level.

"You hear about Syracuse, but you also hear about Le Moyne and teams like Cortland in the area," said Bezek. "It gets you into it, especially when you realize how many guys from the area go to these schools and do big things. It helps motivate you, and makes it more realistic when you’re younger that you can have a serious chance of playing big-time lacrosse."

The Dolphins have made seven straight NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, winning three national titles (2004, 2006, 2007) during the stretch. Le Moyne’s success stems from its’ defensive mindset – the program has led the nation in goals allowed per game every year since the 2001 season, including their current mark of 3.85.

"I think our system here is certainly a team-style defense," said Sheehan. "We certainly try to bring in the best possible players at that end of the field, but we ask them to be fairly unselfish. Drew’s not going to come out of a game with 12 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers. He’s going to come out of a game that our defense, as a whole, is giving up less than 20 shots and five goals per game. He certainly is a guy that fits what we’re trying to do perfectly."

Le Moyne has allowed an opponent to score in double-digits just once this year, and has held foes to five goals or less in 12 of 13 contests this season.

"As a defense, we’ll look at what they are averaging in goals, and cut that in half, or maybe more to set a standard of where we want to be," said Bezek. "We’re always looking to win, but our goal is to not let them score at all."

Le Moyne looks to claim its eighth Northeast-10 Conference Tournament title in the last nine years when the Dolphins take on the winner of Saint Anselm and Saint Michael’s on May 1 in the league semifinals. The NE-10 championship game is May 3.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lynn University broke into the latest Collegiate Baseball Division II poll at the No. 23 spot after the program's first-ever Sunshine State Conference series sweep over then-No. 4 Florida Southern last weekend.

Senior centerfielder Daniel Flores had a spectacular week at the plate for the Fighting Knights, compiling a .500 batting average, six runs scored and eight RBI in four games. The native of Torrance, Calif., hit safely in all four contests, but provided a three-run homer in the second win against the Mocs, and belted a pair of two-run home runs in the 15-7 season finale. Florence, who posted a 1.125 slugging percentage and .526 on-base percentage for the week, received SSC Player of the Week honors for his contributions.

The Fighting Knights sit in fourth place in the SSC standings behind three other nationally-ranked programs -- No. 4 Barry, No. 13 Florida Southern and No. 15 Tampa.

GOLDEN GUY: West Chester clinched at least a share of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division title after posting a 5-0 record last week, including a sweep of Bloomsburg in divisional action.

Senior outfielder Matt Cotellese ignited the Golden Rams offensively, batting .600 with 10 RBI and eight runs scored. Seven of Cotellese's 12 hits were for extra bases, including four doubles, a triple and two home runs as the native of Boyertown, Pa., garnered his second PSAC East Player of the Week award in the past three weeks.

Cotellese raised his batting average 21 points last week to .448, which ranks third in the PSAC. He is also tied for the league lead in with 21 doubles, and is just three shy of the school's single-season record.

The Golden Rams are currently riding a 10-game winning streak and moved up to No. 7 in the latest Collegiate Baseball Division II poll this week.

RIDING HIGH: Top-ranked Southern Arkansas continued its reign at No. 1 in the national rankings after sweeping then-No. 25 Ouachita Baptist in a three-game Gulf South Conference series last weekend.

The Muleriders have now won 20 straight games, just two short of tying the school record of 22 consecutive wins set by the 1987 team. SAU also reached the 40-win plateau for the fourth straight year as it improved to 41-7 on the year.

Southern Arkansas' five home runs in its doubleheader sweep of OBU on April 19 pushed the Muleriders season home run total to 72, tying last year's school season record. SAU ranks sixth in Division II with 72 round-trippers on the year.

The Muleriders close out the regular season by hosting Delta State this weekend in a series that will decide the GSC West Division title and No. 1 seed in the league tournament. SAU enters the week with a one-game lead over the Statesmen in division play.

NOTABLE: Cameron University jumped 10 spots in the latest Collegiate Baseball Division II poll after taking three of four games from then-No. 9 Abilene Christian in Lone Star Conference action last weekend. The Aggies eclipsed the school record for wins in a season with 37 and moved into a tie with ACU for first place in the LSC standings. Cameron and ACU hold the same LSC mark at 28-12, but the Aggies hold the tiebreaker entering their final regular series against Southwestern Oklahoma on April 24-25 ... Ashland University expanded its first-place lead in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings to five and a half games with 6-1 record last week that included a three-game sweep of then-No. 5 Grand Valley State. The key victories vaulted the Eagles eight places to No. 5 in the latest national poll.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 03:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UC San Diego vaulted to No. 7 in the latest Collegiate Baseball Division II poll after knocking down top-ranked Cal State Stanislaus in a four-game sweep between the two California Collegiate Athletic Association squads last weekend.

Senior right-hander Trevor Decker played a key role in the Tritons' success as he tossed a seven-inning no-hitter in a 6-0 victory on March 14. The native of Palo Cedro, Calif., walked the first two batters of the game, but then retired the final 20 batters he faced in order. He struck out three batters in the outing, and was named Wilson/CCAA Pitcher of the Week for his outstanding performance.

The Tritons, currently on a five-game winning streak, moved into sole possession of first place in the CCAA standings with the sweep. UCSD returns to CCAA action against San Francisco State on March 27.

Continue reading "Tritons on a Tear - Div. II Baseball" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 01:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The University of Nebraska-Omaha moved into a tie for second place in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association standings after knocking off a pair of nationally-ranked league foes last week.

Senior guard Michael Jenkins netted 26 points in an 88-84 upset of then-No. 5 Southwest Baptist on Jan. 14, and followed it up with 27 points in the Mavericks' 10-point victory versus then-No. 13 Missouri Southern on Jan. 17. He combined to make 23-of-24 free throws for the week.

The native of Bellevue, Neb., was selected MIAA Player of the Week for his contributions. Jenkins ranks fifth in the league with a 17.2 scoring average, and moved up to sixth on the school's career scoring list with 1,357 points.

Continue reading "Maverick Moves - Div. II Men's Basketball" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 08:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Michigan Tech extended its winning streak six games with a pair of Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victories last week as the Huskies remained perfect in league play.

Junior Katie Wysocky contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds in a 68-60 win over Northwood, and followed it up with 18 points and 11 rebounds in a 73-58 defeat of Wayne State. She added four assists in each contest. The native of Whitefish Bay, Wis., has posted three straight double-double performances and five this season. Wysocky garnered GLIAC North Division Player of the Week for the first time this season, and is averaging 17.4 points and 10.6 rebounds per game against league competition.

The Huskies have started the season at 8-1 for only the second time since 2000. They entered last week leading the nation in turnovers per game with just 11.6.

Continue reading "Tech Talk - Div. II Women's Basketball" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 02:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Missouri Southern surpassed a school record for the program's best start, and then extended its winning streak with three victories en route to the Puerto Rico/Lexmark Holiday Tournament in Carolina, Puerto Rico last weekend. The Lions are now 12-0 on the season.

Junior guard Mariun Price averaged almost 15 points over the three-day tournament, including 18 points on 7-for-8 shooting and 4-for-4 on three-point field goal attempts in the 89-83 championship game against Puerto Rico-Bayamon. The native of Memphis, Tenn., was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

The unbeaten Lions will have the week off before facing No. 3 Southwest Baptist on Dec. 29 in a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association match-up between unbeaten foes.

Continue reading "Lions Roar - Div. II Men's Basketball" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 02:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Top-ranked Northern Kentucky averted an upset at the hands of the University Indianapolis, and followed it up with a victory at NCAA Division I SIU Edwardsville last week as the Norse remained perfect on the season with a 4-0 record.

The defending NCAA champion was down nine points to UIndy, but senior guard Jessie Slack's 17 points and nine rebounds propelled the Norse to a 56-54 victory on Dec. 4.

The native of Mt. Perry, Ohio, notched a double-double in her next contest, compiling a game-high 20 points and 11 rebounds in a 61-48 win over the Cougars two days later, and garnered Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Week for her outstanding play.

Slack paces the GLVC with 20.5 points per game along with a .625 three-point field goal percentage.

Continue reading "No Slacking Off - Div. II Women's Basketball" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 05:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Southwest Baptist University's Matthew Rogers continued to raise his level of play as the fifth-ranked Bearcats remained unbeaten on the season with two victories last week.

The junior center improved on his career single-game scoring total for the third straight game with 35 points in a 98-70 victory over then-No. 22 Central Missouri as the two squads opened Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association action on Dec. 2. Rogers also grabbed eight rebounds and blocked seven shots in the win.

Rogers, a native of Doniphan, Mo., followed it up with 21 points, eight rebounds and four blocks in 21 minutes of the Bearcats' convincing win over Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) on Dec. 6. He made five three-pointers in the game for his fourth straight contest with at least four shots made from beyond the arc. Rogers, who leadings the conference with 23.6 points per game and a 60.0 percent three-point field percentage, was named MIAA Player of the Week for his contributions.

Continue reading "Better and Better - Div. II Men's Basketball" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 03:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The American International College campus is buzzing about the Yellow Jackets' football team and their ground-breaking season.

The program has had its share of success during the 15-year tenure of head coach Art Wilkins, winning back-to-back Eastern Football Conference titles in 1999 and 2000, but the small, private school of 1,723 students reached new heights in 2008.

The Yellow Jackets have posted a 9-1 record, falling only to Southern Connecticut in their final regular season game. AIC won the Northeast-10 Conference with a perfect 7-0 mark and earned its first-ever bid to the NCAA Division II Playoffs. The team will host Seton Hill in first-round action on Nov. 15 at 12 p.m.

Continue reading "Enjoying the Moment - Div. II Football" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 10:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Emporia State worked its way up to No. 5 in the latest Bison/AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 after stretching its home winning streak to 15 matches with a pair of Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association victories last week.

Senior middle hitter Hannah Carter (pictured right)sparked the Hornets to the pair of sweeps over then-No. 14 Central Missouri and Nebraska-Omaha as she averaged 5.17 points while hitting .512. The native of Olathe, Kan., knocked down double-digit kills in both matches, earning MIAA Hitter of the Week honors for the first time this season. Carter ranks seventh in the MIAA with a .330 hitting percentage.

The Hornets enter the final two weeks of regular season play as the first-place team in the MIAA standings with a 14-1 league record.

Continue reading "Hornets' Nest - Div. II Women's Volleyball" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 10:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sonoma State captured the top seed in the upcoming California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship in a pair of wins last week as forward Eric Lafon tied or set three different program assist records.

The senior from San Diego, Calif., tallied three assists in a 3-0 victory over Cal State Stanislaus on Oct. 31, knotting the school's single-game mark for assists, and setting a new career record with 30 assists.

Lafon followed it up with a goal and an assist in a 4-0 blanking of Chico State two days later, trying the program's single-season record with 13 assists. He was named Brine CCAA Player of the Week for his achievements.

The Seawolves will meet No. 16 Cal State L.A. on Nov. 7 in the first round of the CCAA Championship. Sonoma State enters the tournament riding an eight-game winning streak in which it has outscored foes 28-2. In their last contest, the Seawolves tied the school mark for goals in a season with 64.

Continue reading "Lending a Hand - Div. II Men's Soccer" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 10:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The University of Central Missouri clinched its second straight Mid-America Intercollegiate with a 1-0 victory at Southwest Baptist on Oct. 30 as the Jennies set a school record for wins in a season with 15 and tied a league mark for most consecutive wins with 13.

Junior forward Melanie Hall netted the lone goal in the contest, extending her scoring streak to seven straight games. Her string was snapped in a 2-2 tie at Truman on Nov. 1, but the native of Topeka, Kan., was named MIAA Offensive Player of the Week for her efforts. She leads the conference with seven game-winning goals this season.

Sophomore Lauren Bamvakais was tabbed MIAA Defensive Player of the Week after earning her league-leading 12th shutout of the season against Southwest Baptist, and then holding Truman to a tie as UCM stretched its unbeaten streak to 16 matches. She combined for 11 shots in the two contests.

The No. 5 Jennies look to extend their unbeaten streak at Northwest Missouri State on Nov. 6. It will be their fourth straight road game.

Continue reading "Stretching Out - Div. II Women's Soccer" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 10:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

West Chester University put an end to No. 4 Bloomsburg's 14-game winning streak as the Golden Rams notched a 24-21 win in the waning minutes of the contest against the Huskies on Nov. 1. The victory gave the WCU its second straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division title.

Senior All-American Mike Washington (pictured right) caught five passes for 116 yards for his 22nd 100-yard receiving performance of his career. He also pulled in a TD pass, tying a school record for career points with 342.

Washington currently has 928 receiving yards on the year, and ranks sixth on the NCAA Division II all-time list with 4,443 yards. He needs just 72 yards to become just the third player in college football history to post 1,000 receiving yards in all four years of his career.

Continue reading "Snapped - Div. II Football" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 03:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Grand Valley State was not ready to surrender its incredible regular season winning streak last weekend as the top-ranked Lakers climbed out of a 15-point third-quarter deficit for a 48-42 win over then-No. 23 Ashland, extending their victorious stretch to 40 games.

The lead for Ashland marked the first time since 2004 that an opponent has held an advantage over the Lakers in third quarter in a regular season game.

"It certainly didn't look good at that point, but the kids never blinked and stayed the course," said head coach Chuck Martin. "We had no room for error and both the offense and defense made plays when we needed them.”

Junior quarterback Brad Iciek completed 16 of 25 passes for 319 yards and four touchdowns in the victory, including 223 yards passing, two TD passes and a scoring run as GVSU captured at least a share of its fourth straight GLIAC title. The native of Grandville, Mich., was named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week after driving the Lakers to touchdowns on seven of their 10 possessions in the game.

Continue reading "Grand Comeback" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 09:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Abilene Christian's Bernard Scott (pictured right) shattered his own Lone Star Conference single-game all-purpose yards record as he sparked the No. 3 Wildcats to a convincing win over fourth-ranked West Texas A&M in a match-up between the two previously undefeated top five teams.

The senior from Vernon, Texas, compiled 408 all-purpose yards on 268 yards rushing and 141 yards receiving as the Wildcats improved to 7-0 on the season. Scott ran for two scores and caught a third to help ACU stay on top of the LSC South Division standings.

Scott, who was named LSC South Offensive Player of the Week, set his previous record of 383 yards in ACU's loss to Chadron State in last year's NCAA playoffs.

Continue reading "Great Scott - Div. II Football" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 04:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you're looking for something funky to wear on your feet, you might want to check out the shoe art of Western Washington football player Adrian Milsap (pictured right).

Milsap, a freshman linebacker turned free safety for the Vikings, has always been interested in art, but as a sophomore in high school he found a different way to put his creativity to work.

A friend from Ferris High School in Spokane, Wash., showed Milsap a magazine article about guys who were painting athletic shoes, including a step-by-step guide on how to do it, so he decided to try it.

Milsap first "painted" a pair of his brother's shoes with some Sharpies and they turned out pretty cool. He then tried the paint the magazine article suggested, but it didn't work very well, so he did some more research on the Internet and found a guy who also painted shoes.

"I called him and asked him what kind of paint he used," said Milsap. "He never replied, so my friend e-mailed him and asked him about it. That's how I got the ‘secret recipe' and got it going."

The budding artist painted his own shoes -- a pair of Converse Chuck Taylors' -- and they got some attention around school. When people asked how they could get some, Milsap said he would charge them 10 or 15 dollars to paint their shoes.

"After awhile, word-of-mouth traveled and people all over my high school knew that I painted shoes and wanted me to paint some for them -- even my art teacher," said Milsap.

Milsap paints in a pop art style, and will design the shoes however a customer wants them, although every so often a client will give him some artistic liberty.

"People tend to like a lot of script, and some really goofy stuff," said Milsap. "I paint in really vibrant colors. I do portraits on occasion."

Although the finished products may look like something to put on a display shelf, the special paint allows the shoes to be totally useful.


"The number one comment I get from people when I give them their shoes is, ‘Man, I don't even want to wear these,'" said Milsap. "They are totally wearable though -- I think you could even go swimming in them, even though I haven't tried it."

The shoes make a definite statement, and Milsap, who wears his own art, is a perfect advertisement for drumming up business.

"I was at a tuxedo shop before prom and was wearing my shoes, and this lady asked me where I got them," said Milsap. "I told her I painted them, and another lady was so excited that she asked for my number and I ended painting some cool shoes for her little nephew."

Requests come from everywhere -- there was even a post to Western Washington's web site from a potential client.

"It's to the point where I don't have to look for customers," said Milsap. "They come and ask me all the time. People ask me how much I charge, and I'll ask them how much they are trying to spend. It's anywhere from 20 to 25 bucks to 50 bucks or two for 100."

Milsap, who plans to major in studio art, says that painting helps him balance life as a student-athlete, especially in a world away from the football field.

"It's a different lifestyle -- I would say that for sure," said Milsap. "I told one of my high school coaches that if I wasn't (at Western) playing football that I'd probably have paint all over my hands right now. I'd probably be a hermit and sacrificing a lot of my social life to paint shoes. I love it -- it's different."

Milsap has played in five games for the 3-3 Vikings. Western Washington travels to the University of North Dakota for a non-conference contest on Oct. 18.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 11:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Central Washington senior quarterback Mike Reilly set four records in a 50-28 victory over Western Washington as he led the Wildcats to their fourth straight win at the Battle in Seattle in front of 12,258 fans last weekend.

Reilly completed 36 of 47 passes for 371 yards and four touchdowns, and ran for 58 yards, as he collected a career-best 429 all-purpose yards in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference victory. The native of Kalispell, Mont., set the school's all-time TD passes record with 103, surpassing the mark previously held by Jon Kitna (1992-95). He also broke the GNAC record, and stretched his own school mark for most consecutive passes without an interception to 184 before giving one up to the Vikings in the fourth quarter.

A touchdown pass to junior Sam Togar by Reilly in the first quarter set a new NCAA record for all divisions, marking the 41st consecutive game in which he has thrown a touchdown pass. Reilly, who broke the Division II record in last Saturday's win over Dixie State, broke the all-divisions record held by Bill Borchert of Mount Union (Ohio) from 1994-97.

The No. 11 Wildcats are 5-0 in conference play, and have won 22 consecutive games against current GNAC members.

Continue reading "Life of Reilly - Div. II Football" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 02:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

West Florida junior forward Shaneka Gordon provided an offensive spark for the second-ranked Argonauts as she combined for 17 points in three victories last week.

The native of Old Harbour, Jamaica, began the week with a pair of scores in a 5-0 drubbing of then-No. 5 Columbus State, and then followed it up with two goals and two assists in West Florida's Gulf South Conference opener against Ouachita Baptist. Gordon capped off the week with a hat trick and an assist in a 5-1 win versus Harding on Oct. 5 as the Argos extended their winning streak to seven matches.

Gordon, who ranks third in the GSC with 2.80 points per game, was named the league's Player of the Week for her contributions. She leads the Argos with 28 points on the year. Pictured: Junior Forward, Shaneka Gordon (jimhoguephotos.com)

Continue reading "Flashy Gordon - Div. II Women's Soccer" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Lynn University solidified its lock on the top spot in the NSCAA/adidas Division II Top 25 after knocking off No. 9 Tampa, 4-1, in Sunshine State Conference action to remain perfect at 10-0-0 on the year.

Sophomore goalkeeper Adam Alcock made four saves, including stops on a breakaway attempt and shot off a free kick as the Fighting Knights beat Tampa for the first time in four tries. The native of Stoke-on-Trent, England, collected his second SSC Defensive Player of the Week award for his contributions. It is the fifth time in six weeks a Lynn player has earned SSC weekly honors. Alcock tops the league with a 0.49 goals against average, and tops the nation with 10 victories on the year.

Lynn is one of only two Division II men's soccer teams in the nation that boast an undefeated and untied record. The other, Ashland, is 11-0-0 for the first time school history.

Continue reading "Getting Defensive - Div. II Men's' Soccer" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 03:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Western Washington remained the only unbeaten team in Division II this season as Vikings defeated Seattle Pacific, 3-1, in their only match of the week.

Senior middle blocker Angie Alvord (pictured right)knocked down 22 kills and seven blocks while hitting .340 for the match as the native of Laurel, Wash., garnered Great Northwest Athletic Conference Co-Player of the Week for the second time this season.

The Vikings moved up to No. 3 in the latest CBS College Sports Network/AVCA Division II Top 25 as they improved to 12-0 on the year. Western Washington has won 20 consecutive GNAC matches.

Continue reading "Still Perfect - Div. II Women's Volleyball" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 01:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Seventh-ranked Northwest Missouri State won its third straight Fall Classic at Arrowhead Stadium with a 35-10 victory over No. 6 Pittsburg State on Oct. 4 as the Bearcats became the lone unbeaten squad in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association standings.

Junior running back LaRon Council ran for 144 yards and four touchdowns in front of 21,315 fans in his hometown of Kansas City, Mo. Council, who entered the game as the national leader in points per game and touchdowns, paces the MIAA with 17.0 ppg and 17 touchdowns. He is third in the league with 111.3 rushing yards per game.

Council has scored 17 of the Bearcats' 37 touchdowns on the season for an offense that tops the MIAA in scoring at 43.0 ppg.

Competition does not ease up for the Bearcats, however, as they face No. 22 Central Missouri on Oct 11. CMU is tied with Pittsburg State for second place in the MIAA standings.

Continue reading "Classic Council - Div. II Football" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 09:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Quarterback Kevin McCabe's solid performance sparked California (Pa.) to a narrow 21-19 victory over Indiana (Pa.) in a battle between two Top 15 foes from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division on Sept. 27. The Vulcans' win marks the first time since the 1981-82 seasons that Cal has defeated IUP two straight years.

The graduate student from Gibsonia, Pa., passed for 239 yards and three touchdowns against the then-No. 12 Crimson Hawks, completing 20-of-35 passes without an interception in the win. McCabe helped the team convert on four fourth-down conversions, including one late in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.

McCabe was named PSAC West Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts in keeping the No. 14 Vulcans unbeaten in division play. He has thrown for multiple touchdowns in four of five games this season.

Continue reading "Solid and Steady - Div. II Football" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 01:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bloomsburg University's Jamie Vanartsdalen (pictured right)continued to put her name on top of the Division II career charts as she reached the all-time goals scored record in an 8-0 win over Mansfield on Sept. 18.

The native of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., added another score in the Huskies 3-2 loss to Shippensburg two days later, and netted a hat trick as second-ranked Bloomsburg bounced back with a 7-1 victory over No. 5 Kutztown on Sept. 23. The previous mark of 93 was held by Longwood's Terry Voit (1974-77). She earned her second Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division Player of the Week award for contributing six goals and two assists in a 2-1 week for the Huskies.

Vanartsdalen now has 98 career goals, and also owns the NCAA Division II record for points. The senior forward is tied for second on the NCAA all-time assists chart. She leads the nation in points (4.44), goals (1.67) and assists (1.11) per game.

Continue reading "Making History - Division II Field Hockey" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 09:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

West Chester senior goalkeeper Hilary Smart has sparked the second-ranked Golden Rams in defensive dominance, allowing just one goal this season in a 2-1 victory over Bloomsburg on Sept. 23.

Smart, the reigning Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Player of the Week, entered the contest against the Huskies with a streak of six shutouts and 540 consecutive scoreless minutes.

The perfection was ended on an own goal, halting the Golden Rams' scoreless streak at 618 minutes and 32 seconds, but Smart made three saves to keep WCU's season record spotless.

Before the Bloomsburg game, Smart was one of just two goaltenders in Division II to hold opponents scoreless. She now owns a 0.14 goals against average.

The Rams moved two games ahead of Bloomsburg in the PSAC East standings, and are the only undefeated team in the league this year.

Continue reading "Smart Cookie - Division II Women's Soccer" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 09:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The nation's leader in points continued his scoring frenzy as Jean Alexandre sparked second-ranked Lynn University to a convincing 5-1 victory over previously unbeaten No. 7 Barry in Sunshine State Conference action last week. It was the Fighting Knights' largest margin of victory over the Buccaneers since winning 10-0 in 1993.

Alexandre netted his first career hat trick and his fourth game-winning goal of the season as he increased his league-leading totals to 10 goals and 24 points. The native of Delray Beach, Fla., received SSC Offensive Player of the Week honors for the third time in the last four weeks.

The senior forward entered the week leading Division II with 3.43 points per game, and ranked third with 1.43 goals per game. Lynn remained perfect on the year at 7-0-0.

Continue reading "Top Dog - Division II Men's Soccer" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 09:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Midwestern State is in the midst of its best volleyball season in program history after starting the season 16-0 and receiving the team's first-ever national ranking at No. 23 in the CBS College Sports Network/AVCA Division II Top 25.

The Mustangs defended their new national ranking on Sept. 22 with a sweep of Wayland Baptist later yesterday evening to extend their school-record winning streak to 16 matches.

Midwestern State leads the Lone Star Conference with a .311 hitting percentage and 14.17 kills per game.

Continue reading "Making Strides - Division II Women's Volleyball" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 09:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

West Chester's D'Andre Webb (pictured right)not only set a school record with 306 rushing yards in a 41-10 victory over Millersville on Sept. 20, but the sophomore running back's career day was also the top rushing performance by any player in Division II this year.

The native of Levittown, Pa., scored four times -- one shy of the single-game school record -- including an 87-yard run in the third quarter. Webb averaged an incredible 18 yards per carry, and was recognized as Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Offensive Player of the Week for his stellar performance.

Webb's yardage total against Millersville pushed him up to fourth in the PSAC with 104.8 yards per game, but he leads the league with 10.0 yards per carry.

The Golden Rams' PSAC-opening win was their 10th straight victory against a conference foe other than Bloomsburg.

Continue reading "Spinning a Webb - Division II Football" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 03:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

With nasty weather all over the country this weekend stemming from Hurricane Ike's large system, there were some games cancelled or rescheduled, but most players just had to figure out a way to hold on to the slippery ball in the driving rain, mud and wind.

While top-ranked Valdosta State's game at Southern Arkansas was postponed, No. 2 Grand Valley State was also affected by a driving rainstorm, and used the opportunity to take control despite some tough weather conditions as the Lakers blanked No. 25 Saginaw Valley State, 36-0, on Sept. 13.

It was GVSU's first shutout of the Cardinals in the 37-game series, and the Lakers' first shutout since the opening game of 2006.

The Lakers played mistake-free football despite the weather, while holding SVSU to 101 total yards and just four yards rushing. Sophomore James Berezik recorded his second 100-yard rushing game of the season, making his way to the end zone twice against the Cardinals.

Grand Valley State has now won 33 straight games against Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponents.

Continue reading "Weathering the Storm - Division II Football" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 01:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Three goals in a little more than a minute ... that's one way to get the fans' attention!
Eckerd College established a new NCAA Division II record last week, netting the three fastest consecutive goals by a school in history as the Tritons blanked Florida College, 8-0, on Sept. 6. The trio of goals came in just 1:08, breaking the previous mark of 2:11 set by Montevallo in 2005.

Senior forward Luke Sheekey was responsible for two of the Tritons' goals in the game, including the second of the record-setting scoring flurry. Eckerd led 5-0 just 3:28 into the contest.

Sheeky, a native of London, England, collected five goals and three assists for 13 points in Eckerd's two games last week. He began the week with a hat trick and an assist in the Tritons' 4-2 win against Palm Beach Atlantic. He was named Sunshine State Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his performance.

Continue reading "Quick on the Draw" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 09:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

They say defense wins championships, and if that is the case, Grand Valley State, West Chester and West Florida are looking like tournament-caliber teams so far. None of the three squads have allowed an opponent to score through two weeks of play.

Beginning with an upset of preseason No. 1 University of Tampa in the first match of 2008, Grand Valley State has been flawless this season, thanks to the outstanding goalkeeping of senior Kristina Nasturzio.

The Lakers picked up a pair of victories over Quincy and Missouri-St. Louis over the weekend to stake their claim on the top spot of the NSCAA/adidas Division II Top 25 for the second straight week.

Nasturzio played 180 minutes in the two shutouts, extending her personal shutout streak to 334:51 to start the season and earning Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week for her efforts.

The native of Mississauga, Ontario, has played in all four contests, and is credited with three shutouts as the Lakers have outscored opponents 9-0 in that time period. Nasturzio has not allowed a goal in regular season play since Oct. 18 of last season against Tiffin.

Continue reading "Shutting It Down" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 10:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After only two weekends of tournament play in Division II women's volleyball, only six Top 25 teams remain unbeaten.

Cal State San Bernardino has been flawless in the first two weeks of the season, and playing a key role in that perfection is right-side hitter Jessica Granados, keeping the Coyotes at the top of the CBS College Sports Network/AVCA Division II Top 25.

The junior from Beaumont, Calif., continued her stellar play, averaging 4.42 kills and 1.58 digs per game while hitting .380 as the Coyotes claimed four victories at the UC San Diego Triton Invitational last weekend. Granados' efforts were highlighted by double-digit kills in three matches, and a .438 hitting percentage in CSDH's 3-1 win over then-No. 24 BYU-Hawaii, as she was named to the all-tournament team.

Granados garnered Molten California Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Volleyball Player of the Week for the second straight week, following a week in which she earned Sports Imports/AVCA Division II National Player of the Week. She tops the CCAA with 5.25 kills per game, and ranks third in the league with a .385 hitting percentage.

The Coyotes open CCAA action at Cal State Monterey Bay on Sept. 12.

Continue reading "Staying on Top" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 09:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

No. 18 Bloomsburg continued its stellar start by knocking off its second straight nationally-ranked opponent with a 24-17 victory over No. 5 California (Pa.) University as the two teams opened up Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference action last weekend. The Huskies defeated No. 15 Ashland two weeks ago.

Freshman Derrick Price posted his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game -- the first time since 1997 a Bloomsburg running back has run for the century mark in the first two games of the year. Price, a native of Burlington, N.J., compiled 168 rushing yards on 26 carries as the Huskies racked up 325 yards on the ground.

The Huskies, who are averaging 328 rushing yards per game, have beaten three straight nationally-ranked foes dating back to last year, while extending their winning streak to seven games since mid-2007. The last time Bloomsburg started the season 2-0 was 2005 when it went undefeated in the regular season.

Continue reading "The Price is Right" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 03:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here's a look at news and notes from around Division II Football this week.

Abilene Christian proved it is ready to compete among the nation's elite as the Wildcats stunned then-No. 3 Northwest Missouri State, 44-27, after trailing 21-7 in the first quarter.

"I'm so proud of our guys for the way they kept battling and the way they believed throughout the entire game," said head coach Chris Thomsen following the upset. "To come up here and beat a program like this - a program that we all measure ourselves against - is big for us."

ACU senior quarterback Billy Malone (pictured right) sparked the No. 8 Wildcats as he completed 72 percent of his passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns in the victory. Malone, who tossed a 61-yard score to Jonathan Ferguson to jumpstart a 37-6 run, was chosen Lone Star Conference South Division Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts. Senior running back Bernard Scott - the Division II touchdown leader in 2007 - added two more to his career total as he rushed for 177 yards on 29 carries.

The Wildcats moved up to No. 6 in the AFCA Division II Top 25, and open their home schedule against fellow LSC member Texas A&M-Commerce on Sept. 13.

Continue reading "'Cats Scratch" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 01:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lincoln Memorial University - last year's NCAA Division II runner-up - is poised to make another postseason run in 2008 despite the loss of seven seniors from the most successful team in program history.

The Railsplitters set a school-record with a 20-4-1 record, while repeating as Appalachian Region and South Atlantic Conference champions last year, and return three preseason All-SAC selections to this season's squad.

Continue reading "Going for the Gusto" »

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 05:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)