LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA. (August 25, 2008) – The Lincoln University of Pennsylvania men's soccer and volleyball teams begin the 2008-09 intercollegiate athletic schedules with difficult road tests on Thursday August 28, 2008.
The men's soccer team, under first-year coach Z. Joseph Jallah, will travel to two-time reigning PSAC champion East Stroudsburg for a 4:00 p.m. kickoff. Second-year coach Schannon Gamble leads the volleyball team into a match at CIAA runner-up Bowie State starting at 6:00 p.m.
Both East Stroudsburg and Bowie State appear to be loaded on paper. Lincoln did hold its own against both teams last year. The men's soccer team dropped a 4-1 decision on October 2 on the road. The volleyball team lost 3-0 in September and 3-1 in October during a spirited match.
Lincoln returns 12 players from last year's squad including senior midfielder Theon Francis (Arima, Trinidad & Tobago/Queens Royal College) (Trinidad & Tobago/Queens Royal College, senior defender Jerrell Hooker (Cunupia, Trinidad & Tobago/Presentation College) (Cunupia, Trinidad & Tobago/Presentation College), junior defender Jarek Harris (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) and senior midfielder Rahsaan Lisimba (Philadelphia, PA/Penn Wood) (Philadelphia, PA/Penn Wood). Francis scored three goals and handed out two assists for eight points last year for Lincoln, which finished with a 3-9 record.
East Stroudsburg, winners of 13 of the last 16 PSAC conference crowns, has been named the preseason favorite in the PSAC East coaches poll. The Warriors return eight starters, including four All-Northeast Region selections, from last year's team that tied the school record with a 19-3-1 record and finished the regular season ranked first in the region.
ESU head coach Jerry Sheska was the Northeast Region Coach of the Year and is fifth in Division II history with 385 career victories in 27 seasons guiding the program at his alma mater. The returnees are led by junior Danny Drago, an All-American defender, and junior goalkeeper Larry Pokrywa, the MVP of the PSAC championship game after making five saves in a 1-0 double-overtime win over Lock Haven that gave ESU the title. Drago had six goals and three assists last season, and Pokrywa led the PSAC with a 0.72 goals against average and had nine shutouts.
In addition, ESU also brings back its top six scorers, highlighted by senior forwards and co-captains Roshane Ellison (11 goals), who scored the game-winning goal in the PSAC championship game, and Jason Shegda (nine goals). Senior forward Kevin Holmes scored eight goals last year in limited time after earning PSAC Rookie of the Year honors two years ago.
The volleyball team will have its hands full with the Bulldogs, who defeated Lincoln twice last year. Bowie State welcomes back five starters and 10 players from a squad that lost in the CIAA championship contest to Fayetteville State. Bowie's top player is sophomore Lydia Mahon, a preseason all-CIAA selection.
Lincoln will be experienced with its senior triumvirate of Jordean Matthews (Pleasantville, NJ/Pleasantville) (Pleasantville, NJ/Pleasantville), Donneisha Smith (Milwaukee, WI/Harold S. Vincent) (Milwaukee, WI/Harold S. Vincent) and Lindsey Wilson (Aliquippa, PA/Aliquippa) (Aliquippa, PA/Aliquippa) leading the way. They have combined to play in 627 games, contribute 837 kills, 311 blocks and 395 service aces. Each player should reach significant milestones during the season.
The Bulldogs finished 16-14 last year under coach Toni Conway. Other key returnees for Bowie State include senior outside hitter Tamira Conner Rogers (260 kills, .123 hitting average), senior setter Jasmine McNair (565 assists, 44 service aces) and senior middle hitter Tiffany Toney (113 kills, 81 service aces).
Lincoln's football team hits the field for the first time 48 years on Saturday August 30 against George Mason University beginning at 1:00 p.m. Also, the women's soccer team begins its much-anticipated season Sunday afternoon against Bloomfield College at 4:00 p.m.
In between the football and women's soccer openers, the men's soccer team will participate in the West Chester University tournament on Saturday and Sunday and the volleyball team will host Virginia State Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m.
For all the latest news and updates on Lincoln athletics, please visit www.lulions.com.
THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE
Thursday August 28, 2008
Men's Soccer: Lincoln at East Stroudsburg, 4 p.m.
Volleyball: Lincoln at Bowie State, 6 p.m.
Saturday August 30, 2008
Men's Soccer: Lincoln at West Chester (West Chester tournament), 3:30
Sunday August 31, 2008
Volleyball: Virginia State at Lincoln, 11 a.m.
Men's Soccer: vs. American International or Mercy (NY), Noon or 2:30 (West Chester tournament)
Women's Soccer: Bloomfield at Lincoln, 4 p.m.
