LC sports teams busy over Fall Break

Posted on October 22, 2009 by Joe Bartlett, Sports Editor

Lynchburg College sports teams were busy over the last two weeks, as much has happened from individual accomplishments to team wins.

The field hockey team most recently defeated Bridgewater College 8-2, pushing their record to 13-2 overall and 6-0 in conference as they stayed atop the ODAC standings. The ODAC is not the only place where the team has been gaining respect though, as they have moved up to no. 8 in the nation for Division III field hockey, according to the Kookaburra/NFHCA Division III Poll on the NCAA website.

The LC volleyball team also kept its spot atop the ODAC standings as it improved its record to 16-6 overall and 7-1 in conference with a four set win over Eastern Mennonite University. The win extended the team's current winning streak to four with their next match approaching Oct. 21 at Virginia Wesleyan, according to the ODAC website.

The women's and men's soccer teams were also in action over the break. The women's team defeated Emory and Henry 7-0 on Oct. 14, Bridgewater College 3-0 on Saturday, Oct. 17 and Methodist University 5-0 on Sunday. The three wins over break push the women's soccer team record to 10-2-3, which currently has them sitting in third in the ODAC, according to the ODAC website. The LC men's soccer team also currently sits third in the ODAC standings with a record of 11-1-2 after playing ODAC leader Roanoke to a double overtime 0-0 draw on Saturday.

LC senior golfer Mike Butzgy won his first collegiate golf tournament right before the break when LC competed in the two-day Virginia Intercollegiate Tournament held at the par-72 Wintergreen Resort, according to the LC Athletics website. Butzgy shot a 141 for both days to finish three under par, and edge out Max Wydorf of Randolph-Macon for the win. Butzgy opened the tournament with a round of 70, which was the best round of anyone for the two days, according to the LC Athletics website. LC finished the tournament in fifth place as a team, and will not have another tournament until the spring season.

The LC cross country teams also competed this past weekend as both the men and women ran at the Blue Ridge Open. Jennie Pernisi won the women's 5k by 21 seconds with a time of 19:20, the seventh fastest 5k time in school history, according to the LC Athletics website. Senior All-American Ricky Flynn placed third in the Gold Meet of the Blue Ridge Open, a race in which he faced a field of 16 NCAA Division I teams and two NCAA Division II teams. LC's Ryan Van Alstine won the regular 8k at the Blue Ridge Open and was joined by several other LC runners in the top ten. Nolan Compton, Brandon Demers and Brian Robinson also finished in the top ten with times under 27:13, according to the LC Athletics website.