October 8, 2007

Conference play is winding down with several teams still undefeated in men's and women's soccer and volleyball.

Fontbonne University and Principia College are both still undefeated in men's soccer. The Griffins currently stand in first place at 5-0 and do not have another SLIAC matchup until they face Principia on Tuesday, October 16. The Panthers (4-0) on the other hand, have two important conference matches this week versus Webster University and Westminster College (Mo.).

Westminster is 4-1 in conference play and may have the toughest remaining conference schedule. The Blue Jays take on Principia this Saturday, October 13, and still have Greenville College, Webster and Fontbonne down the road. Webster (3-2) also has four games remaining in the SLIAC, including important matchups with Principia, Westminster and Maryville University (Mo.). Maryville remained in the hunt for the SLIAC Post-Season Tournament with a 2-1 overtime victory at Greenville last weekend. The Saints and Panthers both stand at 4-2 overall.

Principia is the lone undefeated team in women's soccer at 4-0. The Panthers have one final big matchup versus Webster this Wednesday, October 10. A win versus the Gorloks and then sweeping their final three matches versus Westminster, Eureka College and MacMurray College would give them the top spot and hosting rights for the SLIAC Post-Season Tournament.

Maryville (5-1) has only two conference matches remaining versus Eureka and Blackburn College, while Webster (4-1) should close out conference play and secure one of the top three spots in the conference tournament along with Maryville and Principia. Fighting for the fourth spot looks to be Westminster (3-1) and Fontbonne (3-3). It all could come down to their matchup on Saturday, October 27.

Inside on the courts, Webster stands at 11-0 and faces another big test this week versus Principia (10-1). The Gorloks defeated the Panthers 3-1 earlier in September, but fans should be guaranteed an exciting match this Tuesday, October 9.

Looking ahead to the conference tournament, Webster, Principia and Greenville (9-2) should fill the top three spots, while Fontbonne (6-5) and Maryville (7-6) will do head-to-head battle this Wednesday, October 10, in what could ultimately be the deciding match for the fourth and final spot.

Only three weeks remain until the 2007 SLIAC Cross Country Championships. Principia hosted their own Cowbell Classic this past weekend, competing against Eureka College and Stephens College (women only). Fontbonne's men's and women's squads competed at the Millikin Fast Times XC Challenge and both place fifth overall. Blackburn, Maryville and Webster all participated at the Illinois/Missouri Border Wars, with Webster's women's squad being the only team to post a team score out of the three.

Greenville's men's and women's runners will be back on the race paths this week at the Bradley Classic hosted by Bradley University. Blackburn, Eureka and Principia will all compete at the Illinois College XC Invitational, while Fontbonne will be at the Galesburg Fall Classic.