The Malone University women’s soccer team picked up a 1-0 American Mideast Conference victory on Saturday afternoon at Point Park (PA) University as junior midfielder Katie Heckman (Mars, PA) scored the lone goal of the match in the 67th minute of play.  With the win, Malone ended the season with a 9-7 overall record and 5-6 mark in the AMC while Point Park concluded its 2009 campaign at 2-13-1 overall and 0-10-1 in the conference.

Despite wet and muddy field conditions, Malone out-shot PPU 38-2 and held a 25-2 advantage in total shots on goal.  After a scoreless first half, the visitors pulled ahead for good midway through the final frame with Heckman’s unassisted goal.  Malone’s defense held Point Park in check throughout the match as keeper Sam Brown (Sr., Butler, PA) stopped both shots that she faced to record her third shutout of the season.

Notes: In the 14-year history of the program, Malone has now tallied a total of 12 winning seasons...The Pioneers finished ninth out of 12 teams in the AMC regular-season standings, just three points behind Walsh University and Roberts Wesleyan (NY) College, who tied for fifth place and therefore earned the conference’s final two playoff spots…Malone totaled seven shutouts this year and ended the season with a 0.99 goals against average…In her eight starts this season, Brown allowed just seven goals for a 0.85 goals against average.

The Malone University women’s soccer team suffered a 2-0 American Mideast Conference loss at Mt. Vernon Nazarene University on Tuesday afternoon as the host Cougars broke a scoreless tie by scoring a pair of quick goals in the first 11 minutes of the second half.  The Pioneers outshot MVNU 7-4 during the final frame and held a 12-6 advantage in total shots for the match but Malone was unable to get on the scoreboard, falling by the 2-0 final.  The loss eliminated the Pioneers from AMC postseason contention while dropping Malone's record to 8-7 overall and 4-6 in the conference.  The win secured a playoff berth for MVNU as the Cougars improved their record to 9-5-1 overall and 7-3 in AMC play.

After a scoreless first half, Mt. Vernon Nazarene jumped ahead 1-0 just 22 seconds into the second frame and then tacked on a second score a little over 10 minutes later.  Malone held a 6-4 advantage in total shots on goal as senior goalkeeper Sam Brown (Butler, PA) made two saves.

The Pioneers will conclude their regular-season schedule on Saturday as they travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for a 2:00 p.m. contest against Point Park University (2-12-1 overall, 0-9-1 AMC).

Postseason Picture: The top six finishers in the final American Mideast Conference regular season standings qualify for the conference’s postseason tournament.  The AMC’s  regular-season champion receives one of the conference’s two automatic bids to the NAIA National Tournament.  The conference’s second bid will then go to the winner of the six-team AMC tournament (Should the regular-season winner reach the conference tournament championship game, then its opponent in the title game will receive the second automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament).  Seeds one and two will receive first-round tournament byes with the quarterfinals (#6 seed at #3 seed, #5 seed at #4 seed) slated for November 7th.

With an AMC record of 4-6, Malone is currently tied for ninth in the standings, five points behind Cedarville University and Roberts Wesleyan (NY) College, who are tied for fifth place.  With just one AMC contest remaining on their schedule (at Point Park on Saturday), the Pioneers will be unable to climb into one of the top six spots in the conference standings and, therefore, will not qualify for the AMC Postseason Tournament.  However, the squad could still potentially compete in the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) playoffs.  Information on possible NCCAA postseason opponents and competition dates has yet to be announced.

The Malone University women’s soccer team picked up a 4-0 American Mideast Conference victory at home on Saturday afternoon over visiting Carlow (PA) University.  The Pioneers took command of the match with three first-half scores and added an insurance goal in the opening minute of the final stanza to cement the victory.  Malone’s record improved to 8-6 overall and 4-5 in the AMC with the win while the Celtics dropped to 4-11 overall and 1-8 in conference play.

Freshman forward Sarah Heckman (Mars, PA) turned in an outstanding individual effort as she contributed on three of Malone’s four scores, totaling two goals and one assist on the afternoon.  Heckman delivered the first score of the match in the seventh minute off a pass from freshman midfielder Jennifer McFadden (Massillon Washington H.S.).  Then, just eight minutes later, Heckman assisted freshman midfielder Cassandra Daniels (Perry H.S.) on a goal to push the hosts’ lead to 2-0.

Freshman midfielder Amanda Hanlon (Willoughby South H.S.) wrapped up the first-half scoring just before intermission with her team-leading fifth goal of the season.  Sarah Heckman struck again 45 seconds into the second half, stretching the Pioneers’ advantage to 4-0 after finding the back of the net off a pass from her sister, junior midfielder Katie Heckman (Mars, PA).

These four goals were plenty for senior goal keeper Sam Brown (Butler, PA) as she tallied three saves for her second shutout of the season.  Brown has now made 37 saves and allowed just five goals in her six starts this year (0.80 goals against average).

Malone will return to action on Tuesday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. with an important AMC match at Mt. Vernon Nazarene University (8-5-1 overall, 6-3 AMC).

Postseason Picture: The top six finishers in the final American Mideast Conference regular season standings qualify for the conference’s postseason tournament.  The AMC’s  regular-season champion receives one of the conference’s two automatic bids to the NAIA National Tournament.  The conference’s second bid will then go to the winner of the six-team AMC tournament (Should the regular-season winner reach the conference tournament championship game, then its opponent in the title game will receive the second automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament).  Seeds one and two will receive first-round tournament byes with the quarterfinals (#6 seed at #3 seed, #5 seed at #4 seed) slated for November 7th.

With an AMC record of 4-5, Malone is currently tied for eighth in the standings, five points behind Cedarville University and Roberts Wesleyan (NY) College, who are tied for fifth place.  With two AMC contests remaining on their schedule (at Mt. Vernon Nazarene on Tuesday and at Point Park (PA) University on Saturday), the Pioneers are still alive in the hunt to qualify for the conference tournament but will need to win both of their remaining games and then get some help in other AMC matches.

The Malone University women’s soccer team scored eight second-half goals to pull away for a convincing 11-0 non-conference victory at Ohio Christian University on Thursday afternoon.  Eight different Pioneers scored in the match as the squad recorded its highest goal output since a 13-0 victory over Kentucky Christian University on September 27th, 2007.  The win improved Malone’s record to 7-6 overall while the Trailblazers dropped to 2-2-1.

The Pioneers opened the scoring at the 10:20 mark of the first half when freshman midfielder Cassie Daniels (Perry H.S.) scored off a pass from freshman forward Jasmine Evans (Lexington H.S.).  Freshman defender Kaitlin Hanlon (Willoughby South H.S.) then made it 2-0 in the 25th minute after finding the back of the net off an assist from freshman forward Angie Nutial (Marlington H.S.).  Sophomore midfielder Susanna Jonkka (Helsinki, Finland) later added an unassisted goal to push the Malone lead to 3-0 at intermission.

It was all Pioneers in the second half as the visitors received two goals apiece from Evans and Nutial in addition to solo tallies from freshman forward Lisa Tonelli (Cornerstone Christian Academy), freshman midfielder Amanda Hanlon (Willoughby South H.S.), freshman forward Sarah Heckman (Mars, PA) and freshman defender Sarah Grove (Louisville H.S.). 

Evans and Nutial each had particularly outstanding afternoons as Evans finished with two goals and three assists while Nutial recorded two goals and one assist.

The Pioneers held a dominating 29-1 advantage in total shots on goal.  In her first career start, freshman goal keeper Ashly Kuhn (North Royalton H.S.) notched one save to record the shutout.

Malone will look to extend its winning streak to three matches on Saturday as it returns to American Mideast Conference play with a 12:30 p.m. contest against Carlow (PA) University (4-10 overall, 1-7 AMC).

Postseason Picture: The top six finishers in the final American Mideast Conference regular season standings qualify for the conference’s postseason tournament.  The AMC’s  regular-season champion receives one of the conference’s two automatic bids to the NAIA National Tournament.  The conference’s second bid will then go to the winner of the six-team AMC tournament (Should the regular-season winner reach the conference tournament championship game, then its opponent in the title game will receive the second automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament).  Seeds one and two will receive first-round tournament byes with the quarterfinals (#6 seed at #3 seed, #5 seed at #4 seed) slated for November 7th.

With an AMC record of 3-5, Malone is currently ninth in the standings, six points behind Shawnee State University, Notre Dame College and Mt. Vernon Nazarene University who are all tied for fourth place.  However, with three AMC contests remaining on their schedule (home vs. Carlow (PA) University on Oct. 24, at Mt. Vernon Nazarene on Oct. 27, and at Point Park (PA) University on Oct. 31), the Pioneers are still alive in the hunt to qualify for the conference tournament.

The Malone University women’s soccer team picked up a 2-1 non-conference win at home on Tuesday afternoon over NCAA Division II Lake Erie College as Pioneer freshman midfielder Amanda Hanlon (pictured to the left; Willoughby South H.S.) scored just over four minutes into the contest’s second and final overtime period to break a 1-1 tie.  After receiving a pass from junior midfielder Katie Heckman (Mars, PA), Hanlon fired a shot that deflected off a Storm defender and into the net, giving Malone the thrilling triumph.  The Pioneers’ record improved to 6-6 overall with the win while Lake Erie’s overall mark dropped to 6-8-2.

Malone trailed Tuesday’s contest 1-0 at intermission as the visitors got on the scoreboard in the 11th minute of play when a Lake Erie shot was redirected off a Malone defender and into the net.  The Pioneers knotted the contest at 1-1 less than two minutes into the second frame when freshman defender Alyssa Foldesy (North Olmsted H.S.) tallied her first career goal on a free kick.  The score then remained deadlocked over the remainder of regulation and one overtime period before Hanlon delivered the game winner with less than six minutes to play.

Malone held a substantial 15-4 advantage in total shots on goal as Pioneer keeper Sam Brown (Sr., Butler, PA) went the distance in front of the net, making three saves.

Malone will return to action on Thursday when the squad travels to Circleville, Ohio for a 4:00 p.m. non-conference match against Ohio Christian University (2-1-1 overall).

Postseason Picture: The top six finishers in the final American Mideast Conference regular season standings qualify for the conference’s postseason tournament.  The AMC’s  regular-season champion receives one of the conference’s two automatic bids to the NAIA National Tournament.  The conference’s second bid will then go to the winner of the six-team AMC tournament (Should the regular-season winner reach the conference tournament championship game, then its opponent in the title game will receive the second automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament).  Seeds one and two will receive first-round tournament byes with the quarterfinals (#6 seed at #3 seed, #5 seed at #4 seed) slated for November 7th.

With an AMC record of 3-5, Malone is currently tied for eighth in the standings, three points behind Notre Dame College and Mt. Vernon Nazarene University who are tied for fifth place.  However, with three AMC contests remaining on their schedule (home vs. Carlow (PA) University on Oct. 24, at Mt. Vernon Nazarene on Oct. 27, and at Point Park (PA) University on Oct. 31), the Pioneers are still very much alive in the hunt to qualify for the conference tournament.