PIRATE SPORTS ONLINE - Vol. 2 No. 15, Thursday, November 21, 2002

FOURTH-RANKED MCKENDREE CAPITALIZES ON TURNOVERS IN WIN AGAINST PARK
PARKVILLE, MO--The McKendree College Bearcats (6-0) handed Park University (4-4) their first home loss of the season in a 74-59 decision Tuesday night.  Both teams turned the ball over 17 times, but McKendree converted 19 points off turnovers to Park's four.  The Pirates held their last lead early on at 17-16 and kept within ten points into the second half; the Bearcats, led by Dwayne Shaw and Matt Laur with 15 and 14 points, respectively, pushed their advantage to seventeen points late in the contest at 64-47.  Anthony Styles put up 13 points for Park; Dan Durrer contributed 11 points and eight rebounds.  Park managed to shoot just 34.7-percent from the floor; McKendree scored on 49.1-percent of their attempts.  Park hosts Philander Smith College (2-6) Thursday night at 7:00 p.m.

Monday, November 18, 2002
NAIA Soccer National Championship Tournaments
SEND-OFFS FOR CROSS COUNTRY QUALIFIERS, SOCCER TEAMS SET FOR TUESDAY NIGHT IN CONJUNCTION WITH PARK MEN’S BASKETBALL GAME
PARKVILLE, MO—With their respective NAIA Region IV Championship victories Saturday evening, the Park University men and women’s soccer programs have advanced to the sixteen-team NAIA National Championship Tournament.  Park University will feature a formal congratulatory send-off for both teams at halftime of the men’s basketball game between Park and McKendree College, which tips off at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 19, in the Breckon Sports Center.  The men’s team will depart from campus at 9:00 p.m. for Friday’s match with #11 Concordia (Calif.), set for 2:30 p.m. that day.  Park’s women’s team will depart from campus Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. for St. Charles, Mo., where they will face #10 Siena Heights on Friday at 12:00 p.m.  
          Park University men’s soccer (18-1-2) last advanced to nationals in 1984; the women’s program (17-3-1) last appeared in the tournament in 1996.
          Park University men and women's cross country national championship meet qualifiers Mabior Atem, Crystal Bethel and Jessica Ferguson will also be recognized at the event.

Sunday, November 17, 2002
NAIA Soccer National Championship Tournaments
MEN'S TEAM SEEDED 6TH; WOMEN DRAW 7TH SLOT--BOTH PLAY FRIDAY
PARKVILLE, MO--The NAIA National Office announced pairings for the National Soccer Championship Tournaments this week.  Park University women's soccer (17-3-1) is seeded seventh; they'll face #10 Siena Heights (Mich.), Friday at 12:00 p.m. in St. Charles, Mo.  Park's men (18-1-2) are seeded sixth and will face #11 Concordia (Calif.), Friday at 2:30 p.m. in Bowling Green, Kent.  MEN'S PAIRINGS | WOMEN'S PAIRINGS

Saturday, November 16, 2002
Women's Soccer Results
PARK UNIVERSITY SADDLES ST. MARY FOR THE THIRD TIME THIS SEASON, ASSURES RIDE TO NATIONALS
PARKVILLE, MO--Park’s defense, led by seniors Jennifer Miller, Keri Buhrman and Jenni Visala held College of St. Mary (17-4-1) to just three shots in the first half as Park University (17-3-1) defeated the Flames, 3-0.  With the win, Park captured the Region IV Championship and a spot as one of sixteen teams playing in the National Championship Tournament in St. Charles, Mo., next week.  Park’s last trip to nationals was in 1996.  Goal scorers for Park were Pam Bedzrah, Tunde Nemeth and Marilyn Boucher.  In a ceremony after the match, head coach Scott Bowen was distinguished as Region IV Coach of the Year.  Pam Bedzrah was honored as the Region IV Offensive Player of the Year.  Senior Jennifer Miller was named Defensive Player of the Year. Saturday marked Park's third win against College of St. Mary this season.
Summary:  PARK 1-0 (42:53) Pam Bedzrah; PARK 2-0 (54:55) Tunde Nemeth a. Jennifer Greco; PARK 3-0 (68:09) Marilyn Boucher a. Haley Daniel. Keepers: PARK Jenni Visala (90:00) 1 so, 9 saves; CSM Candace Phillips (90:00) 3 ga, 10 saves. Shots: PARK 19, CSM 12. Corner kicks: PARK 5, CSM 2.  Attendance: 207.

Saturday, November 16, 2002
Men's Soccer Results
PIRATES CLAIM REGION IV TITLE, TRIP TO NATIONALS
PARKVILLE, MO—With a 3-1 win over defending Region IV champions, Hastings College (20-2-1), Park University (18-1-2) advanced to the NAIA National Championship Tournament for the first time since 1984.  Park surged ahead 2-0 with goals from Chris Lisaka and Enock Odede; Hastings’ Nick Krueger narrowed the lead to 2-1 with a goal in the 85^th minute.  Park’s Ross Stride connected for the final goal of the match in the last minute, assisted by Almir Lemes Jr.  In a ceremony following the match, Park head coach Efrem Shimlis was honored as the Region IV Coach of the Year.  Region IV Defensive Player of the Year is sophomore defender Eric Ongao; the Offensive Player of the Year went to sophomore midfielder Siemon Mulama. 
Summary:  PARK 1-0 (42:12) Chris Lisaka a. Magnus Gunnarsson; PARK 2-0 (67:05) Enock Odede a. Tiago Sajben; HC 1-2 (84:46) Nick Krueger; PARK 3-1 (89:25) Ross Stride a. Almir Lemes Jr. Keepers: PARK Scott Woods (90:00) 1 ga, 7 saves; HC Cody Christline 3 ga, 12 saves. Shots: PARK 17, HC 10. Corner kicks: PARK 4, HC 5. Attendance: 253.

Saturday, November 16, 2002 NAIA Region IV Soccer Tournament Pairings
Region IV Men's Soccer Semifinals & Championship at Park University (Mo.) November 12 #1 Park (Mo.) - bye #2 Hastings (Neb.) - bye #3 Bellevue (Neb.) def. #6 Tabor (Kan.), 4-1 #5 Doane (Neb.) def. #4 Newman (Kan.), 0-0 (6-5 PK)  November 15 #1 Park (Mo.) def. #5 Doane, 3-0  #2 Hastings (Neb.) def. #3 Bellevue (Neb.), 3-2 November 16 #1 Park (Mo.) def. #2 Hastings (Neb.), 3-1	Region IV Women's Soccer Semifinals & Championship at Park University (Mo.) November 12 #1 Park (Mo.) - bye #2 St. Mary (Neb.) - bye #5 Hastings (Neb.) def. #4 Dordt (Iowa), 2-1 #3 Newman (Kan.) def. #6 Ottawa (Kan.), 2-1 November 15 #1 Park (Mo.) def. #5 Hastings, 2-0 #2 St. Mary (Neb.) def. #3 Newman, 2-1 November 16 #1 Park (Mo.) def. #2 St. Mary (Neb.), 3-0

Saturday, November 16, 2002
Women's Basketball Results
LADY RAVENS CONVINCING IN LOPSIDED MATCHUP WITH PARK
PARKVILLE, MO--The Benedictine College Lady Ravens (2-2) put together two equally lopsided halves of basketball, outscoring Park University (0-3) by more than twenty points in each period for the 84-40 victory.  Park's Tenysha Brown put up eight points; Angela Campbell had 27 points for Benedictine.  Ottawa University defeated Baker, 71-65 in the early game.  PARK-BC BOX | OU-BU BOX

Friday, November 15, 2002
Women's Soccer Results
PARK OUSTS HASTINGS COLLEGE, ADVANCES TO CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY
PARKVILLE, MO--Park University (16-3-1) advanced to the NAIA Region IV Championship match with a 2-0 win against Hastings College (16-5-1) in Friday's semifinals. Junior forward Pam Bedzrah, Park’s leading scorer this season, put the Pirates ahead 1-0 in the 31^st minute, beating Hastings keeper Jamie Welliver after a pass from Tunde Nemeth.  Nemeth sealed Park’s win with a goal mid-way through the second half.  Jenni Visala recorded four saves for the shutout. The winner of Saturday's Region IV Championship between Park and College of St. Mary  will advance to the NAIA National Championship Tournament.  Park's last appearance at Nationals was in 1996.
Summary: PARK 1-0 (30:51) Pam Bedzrah a. Tunde Nemeth; PARK 2-0 (69:43) Nemeth a. Jennifer Greco. Keepers: PARK Jenni Visala (90:00) 4 saves, 1 so; HC Jamie Welliver (90:00) 8 saves, 2 ga.  Shots: PARK 16, HC 9. Corner kicks: PARK 4, HC 7. Attendance: 189.

Friday, November 15, 2002
Men's Soccer Results
PIRATES TAME DOANE; KICK INTO REGION IV CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY
PARKVILLE, MO--The smooth conditions on a groomed Julian Field favored Park University's technical game, as the top-seeded Pirates (17-1-2) advanced to the NAIA Region IV Championship, defeating the #5 seed Doane College Tigers (14-8-1), 3-0.  Park's possession advantage resulted in 22-3 shot differential, favoring the Pirates.  Sophomore midfielder Siemon Mulama scored the first two goals for Park; in the second half, he assisted teammate Almir Lemes Jr., who touched in the third goal of the match.  Scott Woods earned the shutout for Park.  The Pirates will play Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. against the winner of the Hastings-Bellevue match for a chance to advance to the NAIA National Championship Tournament for the first time since 1984.  
Summary:  PARK 1-0 (30:31) Siemon Mulama a. Enock Odede; PARK 2-0 (47:45) Mulama a. Stride; PARK 3-0 (82:59) Almir Lemes Jr. a. Mulama. Keepers: PARK Scott Woods (90:00) 0 saves, 1 so; DC Kip Hovie (90:00) 11 saves, 3 ga.  Shots: PARK 22, DC 3. Corner kicks: PARK 9, DC 3. Fouls: PARK 7, DC 7. Attendance: 211.

Friday, November 15, 2002
Women's Basketball Results
NARROW MARGIN SEPARATES PARK, BAKER; OTTAWA DEFEATS LADY RAVENS
PARKVILLE, MO--Park University dipped to 0-2 following a four point loss to the Baker University Wildcats (4-1) in the opening night of the Park Classic women's basketball tournament.  Baker's Gayla Brown matched Park's Tenysha Brown as each scored twelve points to lead their respective teams.  In the early contest, Ottawa (2-1) downed Benedictine (1-2), 76-64. Ottawa and Baker match up in the 2:00 p.m. game Saturday; Park tips off against Benedictine at 4:00 p.m. PARK-BU BOX | OU-BC BOX

For more information, visit the Park University Department of Athletics web site at www.park.edu/athletic.

Boldface text indicates events held on the Park University campus.
% Designates Senior Day - The final home regular season contest before which seniors will be recognized.