Men's Soccer - Tuesday, October 15   |   Women's Soccer - Wednesday, October 16   |   Volleyball - Thursday, October 17
 
Note:     All eight make the G-MAC Championship Tournament
First Round = Top Four seeds will each host their first round contest
Top Remaining Seed after the first round will host the G-MAC Championship Tournament
 

#	School	Points	Conf.	Conference Opponents Remaining
1.	Cedarville	21	7-0	3 (vs. UC; vs. TNU; vs. KWC)
2.	Davis & Elkins	13	4-1-1	4 (vs. AB; at OVU; at SIU; vs. SIU)
3.	Ursuline	12	4-3	3 (vs. CU; vs. KWC; vs. TNU)
4.	Kentucky Wesleyan	9	3-4	3 (at TNU; at UC; at CU)
5.	Trevecca Nazarene	8	2-3-2	3 (vs. KWC; at CU; at UC)
6.	Alderson Broaddus	7	2-3-1	4 (vs. OVU; at D&E; vs. SIU; at OVU)
7.	Salem International	3	1-5	4 (at OVU; at AB; vs. D&E; at D&E)
8.	Ohio Valley	3	1-5	4 (at AB; vs. SIU; vs. D&E; vs. AB)

 
With a victory last night over Salem International, Cedarville controls their destiny, with three games remaining in conference play this season. Cedarville leads Davis and Elkins by eight points overall, with four games remaining, D&E can get to 25 points, meaning with two wins, or a combination of a win and a loss, Cedarville can clinch the top spot.
 
With all eight schools making the G-MAC Championship Tournament, the battle for the top four spots is vital as the top four seeds will each host a first round game prior to the semifinal and finals rounds, which will be hosted at the top seed. Currently, Davis and Elkins, Ursuline, and Kentucky Wesleyan hold the top four spots, but Trevecca Nazarene and Alderson Broaddus have a realistic opportunity to climb from the fifth and sixth spot in the standings all the way up to the second seed.
 
G-MAC Tiebreakers:

For any tiebreaker that needs to be broken, the G-MAC will first look at head-to-head competition for two teams. If they split the season series, tied in their only meeting, or if there are three or more teams that need the tiebreaker broken - the G-MAC will proceed as follows.
 
(1) Record against common opponents in descending order of standings. If one team plays a team in descending order once and the tied team played the same team twice, the match to be compared will be the contest in which both teams played the opponent at matching sites (i.e. Team A & B Tied. Team A played Team C at home and Team B played Team C at home and away. The matches for Team A at home and Team B at home against Team C will be compared for purposes of the tiebreaker).
 
(2) Goal differential in conference games (limit +/- 4 in any one game). (3) Goals against in Conference games. (4) Goals scored in Conference games (limit of +/- 4 in any one game). (5) Coin toss
 
Mid-Point Review and Second Half Preview:
 
CEDARVILLE (11-4-0 Overall; 7-0-0 G-MAC) - The Lady Jackets have surpassed its win total from last season with their 11 wins, and in fact their seven conference win is equal to their overall win total from last season. At 7-10-2 last season, Cedarville featured the Freshman of the Year and the Offensive Player of the Year, Jacoby Ziegler, who has continued to improve into her second season at CU. This season, Cedarville has secured its first winning season since 2008, when they finished 11-8-2 as a member of the NAIA. The Lady Jackets have had a balanced attack, winning games on both sides of the field. They have won five games by three or more goals, and in their four losses, they lost by one goal in each of them - including two of them in overtime.
 
Ziegler, as of October 15, ranked as the number one goal scorer in the nation (NCAA DII). Last season, in 19 games played she had 13 goals and three assists to lead the conference in goals and points. This season she has already scored 15 goals and added six assists for 36 points, ranking number one in the NCAA in goals and points - plus ranking first in goals and points per game - totaling the numbers in 14 games. Hanna Harris, who has played in 15 games, has allowed 11 goals in over 1,311 minutes this season for a 0.75 goals against average, which ranks her 59th in the nation.
  
What Cedarville Needs to Clinch the Number One Seed? The easiest path to the top seed for Cedarville is to win two of their final three games and making it impossible for either Davis and Elkins or Ursuline to catch the Lady Jackets in points. However, their path could become easier if the Senators or the Arrows were to falter. With each team having four games left, they can win out and total 12 points each - meaning D&E can get to 25 points and Ursuline to 24 points. For every loss that max point total reduces by three, and even a tie will reduce it by two points. Cedarville faces Ursuline this weekend and with a win can eliminate them from any chance of earning the top spot. D&E however features a schedule of four games - all against the #6, #7, and #8 seeds currently in the conference.  
 
DAVIS & ELKINS (4-7-1 Overall; 4-1-1 G-MAC) - Maybe the most surprising of teams, D&E has only four wins and a tie on the season overall, all of which have come in conference play. Four of the teams seven losses have come by one goal, and five of the seven losses have come on the road for the Senators. Good news for D&E is they are still playing for a title, ranking second in the G-MAC after a dramatic 2-1 win in overtime on the road at Ursuline, after trailing 1-0 in the second half. In their four conference wins, D&E has outscored its opponents by a score of 10-2. However, in the team’s one loss to the top seed Lady Jackets, the Senators lost 7-1. So it would be accurate to say D&E is still a mystery.
 
On the season, they have scored 14 goals and 12 of those have come in G-MAC wins and ties, with 13 coming in G-MAC play all together. Laia Margenat Dordas leads the team in goals with four despite playing in just eight games and starting only four. Alison Bogar has three, while Taylor Morton and Ashley Muscat each have two.  
 
What Davis & Elkins Needs to Clinch the Number One Seed? The Senators remaining four games come against the bottom three teams in the conference standings. However, when comparing the overall records, they all basically are even. So to say they should cruise to four-straight wins to end the season would be risky. D&E trails Cedarville by eight points and cannot afford to end up tied with the Lady Jackets as Cedarville controls the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Senators cannot really afford a loss and expect to earn the top seed, but at the same time they cannot only look up as Ursuline is just one point behind, Kentucky Wesleyan is four, TNU is five, and Alderson Broaddus is six. With a couple of critical losses or ties, D&E has the opportunity to slip from the second seed down to a fifth seed and having to travel for a first round game in the G-MAC Tournament. Their game against Alderson Broaddus will be the most important to them holding on to a top four seed and making a run at the top overall seed.
 
URSULINE (9-5-0 Overall; 4-3-0 G-MAC) - The Arrows are looking to secure their tenth win of the season, making it four straight years with ten or more wins - and also five-straight years with a winning record under Jason Kubbins. Even more impressive for a program that never had a winning record in program history before the last five seasons. Ursuline began the year on a up and down pattern, winning one and losing one for the first seven games of the season before winning back-to-back games. Since, the Arrows are 5-2. Most recently, Ursuline dropped a conference game to Davis & Elkins to slip to third in the standings and ending a four-game winning streak.
 
On the season, Ursuline is led by the duo of Paige Rowan and Vanessa Consiglio, with Cassie Cripe coming on of late to add a third attacker. Rowan, who ranks fifth in the nation in scoring, leads the team with 13 goals and 30 points, just behind the NCAA’s leader from Cedarville (15 goals and 36 points).  Consiglio has totaled nine goals and eight assists on the season for 26 points. Her eight assists rank her third in the nation and her 26 points are ninth in NCAA DII. Seven of her eight assists have come on goals from Rowan. Her most recent assist came on a goal by Cripe, who has scored six goals and added six assists for 18 points. All six goals and four of the six assists have come in the last eight games.
 
What Ursuline Needs to Clinch the Number One Seed? Similar to Davis & Elkins, the Arrows cannot afford to lose one of their three remaining games - more specifically their next game against current number one seed, Cedarville. Ursuline trails the top spot by nine points (or three wins). With three wins, Ursuline can reach 21 points, which Cedarville currently stands at. A loss or a tie to Cedarville would eliminate Ursuline from earning the top spot. Cedarville faces the current #3, #4, and #5 seeds to finish the season, so the opportunity is there for the teams in the middle of the standings to try and catch Cedarville. Unfortunately, Ursuline plays the same schedule facing Cedarville, Kentucky Wesleyan, and Trevecca Nazarene. More vital for UC than earning that number one seed, is to try and secure the second or third seed.
 
KENTUCKY WESLEYAN (9-4-0 Overall; 3-4-0 G-MAC) - The Panthers, who went just 2-15-1 last season, have seen a dramatic turnaround in 2013, posting a 9-4 record overall and are 3-4 in conference and in position to host a first round G-MAC Tournament game. In fact, they have totaled only eight wins over the past three seasons combined, so a winning record and a chance to earn double-digit wins is a big step forward for the program. The Panthers came out strong, winning four-straight to start, before dropping its first two conference games of the season. They continued their success in non-conference action winning its next two, and in fact they are 6-0 on the season in non-conference action, which they will put that win-streak on the line this week against Campbellsville on Senior Day.
 
KWC has been led by Paige Kramer and Annie Elder, who both have seven goals on the season. Kramer had totaled a team and conference best 10 assists on the season, which ranked her second in the nation. Her 24 points ranks 17th in the NCAA. The team has outscored their opponents 36-12 this season, led by Kathryn Dishion’s performance in goal. She has given up 10 goals in 13 starts, posting six shutouts and a .841 save percentage (53 saves total). The Panthers as a team rank ninth in assists per game (2.46) totaling 32 assists on 36 goals.  
 
What Kentucky Wesleyan Needs to Earn a Home Game in Round One of the G-MAC Tournament? The Panthers have nine points in G-MAC play, eliminating them from catching Cedarville for the top spot, but more importantly, they do control the fourth seed in the standings. As a top four seed, they would host a first round game in the G-MAC Championships. However, they have the opportunity to climb in the standings as they are only four points behind the #2 seed, but also only two points up on the #6 seed in the standings. With three games remaining, all on the road and against #1 Cedarville, #3 Ursuline, and #5 Trevecca - holding onto the #4 seed will be a difficult task and be earned if they can finish the regular-season strong.
 
TREVECCA NAZARENE (4-7-2 Overall; 2-3-2 G-MAC) - The Trojans, which came into the season as the defending G-MAC Champions, were forced to overcome the loss of three seniors, including their goalkeeper,  who was G-MAC Defensive Player of the Year. It has proven to be a struggle in 2013, but TNU sits in fifth position, with the opportunity to climb into a top four seed and a home first round game in the G-MAC Tournament. Last season, TNU outscored its opponents 47-14 on their way to a 16-5-3 record, whereas this season they have been outscored 19-11. Only once has TNU scored three goals in a game, a 3-2 win over Carson-Newman, and in comparison, they have been shut out seven times, meaning if they score they earn a win or a tie as all seven losses came via the shutout.
 
Statistically, Becky Bartos and Anna Hoffman are tied for the team lead with three goals each, while also each having a team-high seven points. In conference games, TNU is sixth in goals with six scored in seven games, but their defense has held strong, giving up the second least amount of goals per game (1.34) in conference. Overall, TNU is seventh in the conference in scoring, and slip to fourth in goals against average (1.47).
 
What Trevecca Nazarene Needs to Earn a Home Game in Round One of the G-MAC Tournament? With eight points in conference play, TNU stands just one point behind Kentucky Wesleyan for the right to host a first round G-MAC Championship tournament game. TNU has three games remaining, all against teams currently in position to host a first round game, so with each win - they would inch closer to earning a top four spot, and with each loss or tie, that team would inch closer to securing their first round home game. Nothing can be identified until the games are played over the next two weekends.
 
ALDERSON BROADDUS (3-8-2 Overall; 2-3-1 G-MAC) - The Battlers entered the G-MAC in 2013, coming off a 13 win season in the final year of the WVIAC, however the move has not gone as expected as AB has won just three games overall, two in conference. They have added some points with two ties overall, and one in conference. Despite the struggles they are, like most, still in position to try and earn a top-four seed and a home first round G-MAC Championship Tournament game. AB began the season with some difficult road games, going 0-4-1 in the first five games. They followed it with some improved play, going 3-1-1 over their next five games, but have dropped three-straight, including a pair of road games against Ursuline and Cedarville this past weekend. The Battlers will face their three West Virginia rivals to conclude the season and hopefully put together a new win streak.
 
The Battlers feature a balanced scoring attack, as seven different players have scored the teams 14 goals. Brooke Hunsaker leads the team with three goals, three assists, and nine points. Despite the struggles to post goals, the defense has been strong, allowing only 21 goals, 11 of them coming in three losses to Daemen, Davis and Elkins, and Ursuline. In the other nine games, they allowed just ten goals.
 
What Alderson Broaddus Needs to Earn a Home Game in Round One of the G-MAC Tournament? AB, sitting in the #6 position, can with one win jump up to #4 and host a first round G-MAC Tournament game. With four games left, three of which come against the bottom two teams in the standings, it would seem AB has an easier road than some to earn the #4 position in the standings. However, they will most likely need to win three of the four games left, which has been hard for anyone in the conference to do with confidence. This weekend could clear up some of the standings, but at the same time if some results similar to last weekend get posted, things could be even tighter headed into the last weekend.
 
SALEM INTERNATIONAL (4-7-0 Overall; 1-5-0 G-MAC) - The Tigers have improved slightly on their record from last season, winning four games so far this season, and earned it first G-MAC victory last week on the road at Trevecca Nazarene. Salem began the season 2-1 before dropping four-straight, have gone 2-2 over their last four contests. Salem ends the season with seven games in conference action, including a home-and-home series with Davis and Elkins on Oct. 26 and Oct. 30. In conference play, all six games for Salem have been shutouts. In their five losses, they have been outscored 10-0, and they won their only game 1-0 over TNU.
 
In their 11 games, Salem has 10 goals scored - all coming in their four wins. In their seven losses, they have been shutout in each game, meaning if they can post a number on the scoreboard they are likely to steal a win. Kelly Smith and Kayla Franzese are tied for the team lead with three goals, one assist, and seven points. In goal, Sarah Jacques is 3-3 in six starts and nine games, making 44 saves and allowing 11 goals, including the one shutout win.
 
What Salem International Needs to Earn a Home Game in Round One of the G-MAC Tournament? For Salem, which is tied with Ohio Valley for the #7-#8 ranking in the conference with three points, their four remaining conference games could get them to 15 points, which with some help could get them to a spot where they could be a top-4 seed. Though with the amount of teams they would have to pass, Salem would more likely try and position themselves with a higher seed in order to avoid one of the top two teams in the standings.
 
OHIO VALLEY (2-7-3 Overall; 1-5-0 G-MAC) - The Fighting Scots, currently tied with Salem International at 1-5 in the conference - though they hold the tiebreaker currently with their 2-0 win over the Tigers. The two teams will face off this weekend as OVU will look to take control of the head-to-head match-up and also look to climb into a better spot in the standings. This season, OVU started the season with a win, but dropped two-straight, and then followed with a strange span of four games that ended three times in a tie. After seven games, they stood 1-3-3 with a loss in conference play. They then defeated Salem, but have lost four straight conference games to find themselves 2-7-3 overall.
 
Victoria Bruce leads the way for OVU, scoring five times this season, totaling a team high 11 points, while Amanda Simpson has scored four times for eight points. As a team, OVU has been outscored 22-13, though they have scored in nine of the teams 12 games. They scored six goals in their two wins, and in all three ties, the games ended 1-1 through two overtimes. In five of the teams seven losses, they lost by only one goal, so again despite the overall record and the low amount of goals scored, OVU has not been dominated this season and have the opportunity to make some noise as the regular-season comes to a close and potentially in the G-MAC Championships.
 
What Ohio Valley Needs to Earn a Home Game in Round One of the G-MAC Tournament? - Similar to Salem, with three points and four games remaining, the opportunity is there for the Fighting Scots to climb up the standings, but more than likely they will look to secure a second win over Salem or another G-MAC program, and even steal a couple points via a win or tie in order to earn a higher seed.
 
Postseason Preview:
 
Nothing has been set in regards to who the number one seed will be, though it has been narrowed to only three possibilities and we could know this weekend if Cedarville wins and Davis and Elkins were to lose, who the number one seed will be. However, we will not know where the semifinal and finals will be held until we know who the top remaining seed from the first round is.
 
Currently it appears Cedarville will earn that top spot as they have won each game this year and have beaten each of their final three opponents once already this season. Davis and Elkins and Ursuline will battle for the #2 and #3 seeds, not only among each other, but in an attempt to keep from dropping to #4 or lower and having to travel for the first round. The grouping of Kentucky Wesleyan (nine points), Trevecca Nazarene (eight points), and Alderson Broaddus  (seven points), will be the biggest fight coming down the stretch as each would like to earn a first round home game in the G-MAC tournament, and even more would like to climb into the #2 or #3 position in order to avoid a semifinal match against Cedarville - provided Cedarville is the top seed and wins its first round game.
 
Having scored the most goals (18) and given up the fewest goals (4) in the conference, Cedarville is the obvious favorite. But in a one-game situation, Davis and Elkins, Ursuline, Kentucky Wesleyan, Trevecca Nazarene, and Alderson Broaddus have all proven they cannot be overlooked by anyone. The G-MAC Tournament should have some dramatic finishes and tremendous battles from the opening round of eight teams, down to the finals.  
 
Preseason Predictions revisited:
 
In late August, the coaches’ preseason poll was released, and when comparing it to the current rankings - you will find some surprises and also some perfect placements. Of course, with three or four games to go in the regular-season, and a bunch of teams fighting for their final seeding in the G-MAC Championship, there is a chance that the final standings could get closer to the preseason predictions, but also could get more scrambled. The Coaches tabbed Trevecca Nazarene as the team to beat, which with a 2-3-2 record (eight points), they will not earn a top spot in the postseason tournament - however, that will not eliminate them from the opportunity to repeat.
 
Davis and Elkins, coming off an 11 win season was picked second, with Alderson Broaddus, coming off a 13 win season, was picked third. D&E currently sits in second, though the win total will not be matched in 2013, while AB stands sixth, but could reach the #3 or #4 seed with a strong finish in its final four games. Cedarville and Ursuline, which had strong seasons last year in the G-MAC were picked #4 and #5, but have proved themselves with their current positions as #1 and #3 seed in the standings.
 
Kentucky Wesleyan, Ohio Valley, and Salem International, coming off 2-3 win seasons in 2012, were picked 6-8 in the preseason poll. KWC has had a surprising season, winning nine games overall and stands fourth in the G-MAC with the opportunity to move up or down based on its final three games, all tough road match-ups. Salem and Ohio Valley are tied currently for the bottom two spots in the G-MAC, but will make it tough for their opponents to close out the season, as each has earned a win in conference this season and will look for a second before the regular-season is complete.