Scots Rally to Knock Off Petrels
The Oglethorpe University men's soccer team lost to Maryville College on Salamone Field on Saturday afternoon, 3-1. Despite holding a 1-0 halftime advantage, the Petrels could not hold off the Scots offensive output in the second half.

Oglethorpe gained the early advantage in this one as Scott Devault and Brett Wooten combined on consecutive touches to set the Petrels up for the game's first goal off the strike from Bryan Burnick in the 11th minute.

The Scots, however, used a steady offensive onslaught in the second half to equalize the game and ultimately take control on a long shot outside the box that beat Oglethorpe keeper Michael Hadjisimos. The Scots extended the lead to 3-1 late in the second half on an incredible goal that was struck "bicycle style" by Maryville's forward.
 
Oglethorpe is now 1-2 on the season and will travel to Birmingham this weekend to play in a tournament. First up will be Spring Hill College on Friday night at 5:00 p.m.

Women Split Four Contests in Greensboro College Invitational
The Oglethorpe University women's volleyball team travelled to Greensboro, North Carolina this weekend and split four contests in the Greensboro College Volleyball Invitational.

The outcome in Greensboro was a mirror image of last weekend's result in Sewanee, Tennessee as Oglethorpe lost both their matches on Friday before rallying to win two on Saturday.
 
In Friday's action, the Petrels struggled with their service game against Piedmont College and, despite winning the opening game 25-18, lost three consecutive games to the Lions (25-16, 25-19, 25-23) to fall, 3-1. Oglethorpe passed the ball well throughout the contest and Sara Blair recorded an outstanding .325 hitting percentage.
 
In Game Two of the evening, Oglethorpe lost a hotly contested match to Lynchburg College, 3-1. Again, the Petrels won the first game, 25-16, before dropping three straight (25-22, 25-21, 26-24) to lose by the final margin of 3-1.
 
On Saturday, the Petrels rebounded to knock off host Greensboro College, 3-1 in the morning session. This time the Petrels lost the opening game (25-19) before rattling off three straight (25-23, 25-18, 25-21) to win the match. Sara Blair posted another excellent hitting percentage of .303 and Alison Burt had 12 kills in the victory.
 
In the afternoon session, the Petrels used great defense and tremendous hustle to sweep Guilford College, 3-0. Following the victory, junior Alison Burt was named to the All-Tournament Team for her outstanding performance.
 
At 4-5 on the season, Oglethorpe will return home to square off with Piedmont College on Pinholster Court at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday night.

Lady Petrels Suddenly on a Roll
The Oglethorpe University women's soccer team, after suffering their worst season in school history in 2007, has continued to bounce all the way back under the guidance of new head coach Alan Woods. On Thursday, the Petrels downed Piedmont College 5-1, scoring on an array of exciting plays.

The Petrels jumped on the Lions early when freshman Alexandria Vassell fed sophomore Mary-Beth Horton for a goal in the game's 20th minute. After holding a 1-0 halftime lead and gaining instruction from Coach Woods, the Petrels came out and found the back of the net four times in the second half. The four second half goals equals the number of goals Oglethorpe tallied all last season.
 
Chelsea Baron logged in to the scorebook after taking a perfect pass from senior Alix Stalnaker and pounded it into the goal in the 52nd minute. Minutes later, two-sport star Shannon Dougherty took a feed from Baron and cracked a wicked shot from 30 yards out that angled across the goal and nestled in the side-netting in the game's 55th minute.
 
Alix Stalnaker scored on an unassisted individual play in the 76th minute and Mary-Beth Horton scored the game's last goal on a pretty feed from senior Kira Carr.
 
Now 2-0 on the young season, the Petrels will gear up to face Spelman next Tuesday on Salamone Field at 5:00 p.m.

Lady Eagles Top Petrels in Volleyball
The Oglethorpe University women's volleyball team lost to Reinhardt College on Pinholster Court on Thursday night, 3-0. The Lady Eagles were able to edge the Petrels in game one of the match, 27-25 and used a twelve point run in game two to take control of the contest.

Reinhardt closed out the match in game three, winning a tight contest, 25-22.
 
At 2-3 on the young season, Oglethorpe, under the guidance of new head coach Kurt Matthews, will head to Greensboro, North Carolina for a weekend tournament that begins with a match versus Piedmont College at 2:00 p.m. on Friday.

Men Can't Crack Methodist, Fall 1-0
The Oglethorpe University men's soccer team lost to Methodist University at Emory on Saturday afternoon, 1-0. Despite outshooting Methodist 13-8 including 9-1 in shots-on-goal, the Petrels could not break through to claim the victory.

With the loss, Oglethorpe's record evens at 1-1 on the young season. The Petrels will be back in action this coming Saturday for their home opener versus Maryville College at 2:30 p.m.

Women Show Strides, Split in Sewanee Invitational
The Oglethorpe University women's volleyball team opened their season this past weekend by splitting four contests versus stout opponents in the Sewanee Invitational in Monteagle, Tennessee.

New head coach Kurt Matthews was thrilled with the team's energy and effort this weekend and he is excited about the growth of the team in the near future. "The women played their hearts out this weekend and I am really happy with their focus and intenisty," said coach Matthews.
 
The Petrels began the weekend by falling on Friday night to two very skilled opponents in Prinicipia and Howard Payne. Despite the defeats, coach Matthews noted Friday night that the team's efforts would be rewardewd come Saturday.
 
The coach's comments proved prescient as the Petrels rebounded to sweep both Spelman and Mississippi College on Saturday afternoon. Oglethorpe pounced on Spelman to win in easy fashion, 3-0 before rallying from down two games to one to eclipse Mississipi College, 3-2.
 
The Petrels, now 2-2 on the young season, will play thier home opener this Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. when they face Reinhardt College.

Men Top Guilford in 2008 Opener
The Oglethorpe University men's soccer team started the 2008 season in style by posting a 4-1 victory over Guilford at Emory University on Friday afternoon. The Petrels got the scoring going early as senior Division I transfer Scott Devault fed Bryan Burnick for a goal in only the game's third minute.

Oglethorpe extended the lead at the 16:54 mark of the first half when junior Italo Cardosa connected with senior Amel Komic for a goal. The Petrels widened the margin to three goals before the half when both Cardosa and Devault used nifty passing to set up junior Danner Marsden for a strike.
 
Oglethorpe concluded their scoring barage in the 59th minute when Devault scored on consecutive passes from Komic and Burnick.
 
At 1-0, the Petrels will be back in action tomorrow afternoon when they face Methodist at Emory University at 3:30 p.m.

Women Top Scotties in Season Debut
The Oglethorpe University women's soccer team began new head coach Alan Woods' career on a high note by defeating Agnes Scott on Friday afternoon, 4-1. The Petrels not only won their first game under their new coach, they also matched last seasons goal total in just one game.

After falling behind 1-0, the Petrels stormed back to score four consecutive goals to earn the victory. Junior Bonnie Morscheiser lobbed a forty yard bomb over the Scotties keeper for Oglethorpe's first goal in the game's 5th minute. Fellow junior Ryanne Arola followed with two goals of her own, the first on a perfectly executed corner delivered by freshman Sasha Alonzo and the second on an unassisted 35 yard bomb of her own.
 
The Petrels finished the scoring with Arola feeding two-sport star sophomore Shannon Dougherty in the game's 59th minute.
 
At 1-0, Oglethorpe will get ready to square off with Piedmont College next Thursday at 5:00 p.m. on Salamone Field.