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The University of Virginia field hockey team is 7-1 and ranked fifth in the country and one of the main cogs for the Cavaliers is Greta Ell.

Ell, a junior from Plains (Holy Redeemer), has started all eight games and has seven goals for 14 points. She collected her first career hat trick with three goals on four shots in a 7-2 victory over William & Mary last Friday in a home game in Charlottesville.

Earlier in the season, she had two goals in an 11-1 victory over Fairfield on Aug. 25 and the game-winner in a 4-1 ACC victory over No. 4-ranked Duke on Sept. 8.

The 5-foot-5 striker had nine goals and four assists in 21 games and 19 starts as a freshman and a goal and an assist in 24 games and 13 starts as a sophomore.

“Greta came to preseason fit and strong and confident, looking to contribute in any way possible and so far, she has done just that,” Cavaliers coach Michele Madison said. “She adds a huge defensive value to our team. She trains in practice with game-like productivity, always giving one hundred percent. And, she has a great attitude and is an even better teammate.”

Virginia has a big ACC game on tap Friday , hosting No. 10 Boston College in Charlottesville.

Lefkowitz’s winner

Senior Mallory Lefkowitz scored late in the second half to give her Iowa field hockey team a 3-2 non-league victory over Penn last Sunday in Philadelphia that pushed the Hawkeyes to 4-5 on the season.

The 5-foot-5 forward/midfielder from Kingston (Wyoming Seminary) has started all nine games and had a goal earlier in the season in a 3-2 loss to Stanford. Lefkowitz has 11 goals and 10 assists in 65 career games with 58 starts.

Kimbell leads Bonnies

Freshman Mason Kimbell finished 57th out of 85 Division I runners competing with the St. Bonaventure men’s cross country team at the annual National Catholic Invitational last Friday at Notre Dame.

Kimbell, a Berwick grad, was the sixth best freshman finisher, covering the 5-mile course in 27:40.9. The Bonnies finished last in the 11-team field.

Kimbell kicked off his college career by finishing 13th at the Little Three Championship on Sept. 2 with a 5k time of 16:34.2. St Bonaventure defeated Niagara but lost to Canisius.

Kusakavitch’s key goal

Senior Melanie Kusakavitch had the game-winning goal to help the James Madison field hockey team defeat St. Joseph’s 4-1 on Sept. 8 to move the Dukes to 5-0 to start the season.

It was the first goal of the season for the Holy Redeemer grad, who has 15 goals and seven assists for 37 points in 66 games and 48 starts in her career.

James Madison followed up that victory with a 3-1 loss to No. 4-ranked Duke on Sept. 10 and a 3-0 setback to No. 7 North Carolina on Sunday.

Dixon, Simpson lead the way

Sophomores Cole Dixon and David Simpson, both Dallas grads, are the two top tacklers on the Susquehanna football team. Dixon, a 6-foot, 200-pound linebacker, leads the River Hawks with 22 tackles, including 16 solos.

Simpson, a 5-foot-10, 215-pound linebacker, has 20 tackles, 16 solos, three sacks for 18 yards and a forced fumble.

Susquehanna is 2-1 after a 14-11 victory over Muhlenberg last Saturday in Muhlenberg.

Honor for Gearinger

Junior Dylan Gearinger was named Centennial Conference Athlete of the Week last Monday for his performance with the No. 8-ranked Haverford men’s cross country team. The Berwick grad bested a field of 63 to capture the individual title at the Main Line Invitational last Saturday in Haverford.

His time of 19:58.45 over the 4-mile course was a personal record. Gearinger captured the 3,000-meter run indoors and the 10,000-meter run outdoors as a sophomore.

Sohns earns an award

Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham sophomore Maggie Sohns was named MAC Freedom Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Monday after leading the Devils field hockey team to a 2-0 week.

The Tunkhannock grad had an assist on the second goal in a 3-2 victory over Ramapo on Sept. 13 and what proved to be the winning goal in a 3-1 triumph over Union last Friday. Sohns has started all seven games and leads the 5-2 Devils in minutes play with 436.

Gasser’s starting nod

Senior A.J. Gasser saw limited action his first two seasons with the Franklin & Marshall football team but got on the field for 10 games last season.

This season, the 6-foot-1, 294-pound Hazleton Area grad has started the first three games at right guard on offense for the unbeaten Diplomats, who are averaging 47.7 points and 451.7 yards per game.

Greta Ell has been an important player on a Cavaliers squad that hopes to challenge for a national championship this fall.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_Greta-Ell.jpg.optimal.jpgGreta Ell has been an important player on a Cavaliers squad that hopes to challenge for a national championship this fall. Submitted photo

By Bill Arsenault

For Times Leader