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PAC ANNOUNCES NEW NAME; REBRANDING EFFORT

Posted: May 7, 2008

Aston, Pa - The Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC), the conference PBU athletics will be joining beginning with the 2008-09 academic year, announced May 1st that it will be changing its name to the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC), effective July 1, 2008.

With the new name comes a massive rebranding effort that will change the identity of the conference.

"This is an exciting time for the conference," Commissioner Frankenstein-Friedman said. "The new name recognizes that we have member schools that are not in Pennsylvania. And, after years of being confused with other conferences that are similarly named, we will be able to create a new identity and really stand out from the crowd."

The PAC's Marketing and Re-branding Committee, composed of administrators and student-athletes from member institutions, conducted two surveys to obtain feedback on what features were important in a conference name. More than 1200 visitors looked at the surveys, and more than 800 completed them.

With feedback from the first survey coming from other conference commissioners, student-athletes, parents, alumni, current students, faculty and staff, the committee was able to create a list of 10 possible names. That list was the basis of the second survey, in which respondents ranked the names in order of preference.

"We learned from the surveys that it was important for the new name to be representative of not only our member institutions, but also our location," said the commissioner. "It was also important that the historical significance of the area be represented somehow. I think we've accomplished that."

The top four names were presented to the conference Athletic Directors to be ranked, and then to the Board of Directors for a final vote. With a name chosen, the conference office began a trademark and copyright search to confirm that the name was free and clear for use.

With the name cleared, the conference is moving forward with logo development. As the conference moves forward, more information will be made available.

As of July 1, 2008, the member institutions of the Colonial States Athletic Conference will be: Baptist Bible College, Cabrini College, Cedar Crest College, Centenary College, College of Notre Dame, Gwynedd-Mercy College, Keystone College, Immaculata University, Marywood University, Neumann College, Rosemont College, and Philadelphia Biblical University. Shenandoah University will continue as an associate member in Men's Lacrosse.

Posted by: Jared Yoder

BOFINGER NAMED PBU CROSS COUNTRY COACH

Posted: May 6, 2008

LANGHORNE, PA - The Athletic Department is pleased to announce the hiring of Eric Bofinger as the Head Cross Country Coach. Bofinger will lead both the men's and women's teams, becoming the twelfth coach in the program's history.

The PBU Cross Country program was started in 1967 but disbanded due to a lack of participants in 1995. The program was resurrected for the first time in 12 years this past season with the men's team finding surprising success, going 47-55 overall against competition in their opening year.

Bofinger is a 2007 graduate of Messiah College where he was a standout long distance runner for the Falcons. He graduated with a Sport and Exercise Science degree with a concentration in Health and Fitness.

Bofinger was a four year member of the cross country program at Messiah as well as a participant on the indoor and outdoor track and field teams. He holds several school records in indoor track including top marks in the 3200 meter relay, the 4000 meter distance medley relay, and both the 600 and 800 meter runs. He captained the Falcons in ?06 and was named a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) All-Conference performer multiple times during his career.

Bofinger's coaching experience includes a stint with Centennial School District this past year as the high school's assistant Track & Field coach where he was responsible for designing workout routines. He is a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.

 
Bofinger currently resides in Warminster, PA.

Posted by: Jared Yoder

SPRING SEASON NEAC AWARDS

Posted: May 5, 2008

LANGHORNE, PA - The Athletic Department is pleased to announce that eleven different PBU student-athletes have been recognized by the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) for their outstanding play throughout the spring athletic season, as announced this past weekend.

In men's golf, freshman Corey Snyder (Fayetteville, PA) and sophomore Jared Wilcox (Falmouth, MA) both generated Second Team All-Conference recognition after finishing 9th and 10th, respectively, in the NEAC Championship held at the Lakeside Country Club in Penn Yan, NY. Snyder fired a combined score of 163 through the two day event (80, 83) while Wilcox finished right on his heels with a collective total of 164 (81, 83). Senior captain Ryan Oessenich (Langhorne, PA) was named Honorable Mention All-Conference after notching a 169 (80, 89) which included his lowest round ever during his four-year career with PBU. Wilcox closed out the year with an average of 82.7; Snyder an 84.2; and Oessenich a 92.1.

In baseball, junior second baseman Jon Shepherd (Jersey Shore, PA) was chosen as a First Team All-Conference selection after finishing 15th in the conference in batting average (.380) and 14th in fielding percentage (.933). Additionally, Shepherd led the team in doubles (10) and slugging percentage (.531). Senior catcher Joel Dager (Wyncote, PA) earned Second Team All-Conference honors after finishing 9th in the NEAC in batting average (.407). Dager also led PBU in RBI's (21) and had a team high 13 walks for the year. Senior centerfielder Lance Svendsen (Lakewood, NJ) was selected as an Honorable Mention All-Conference member. Svendsen finished 10th in the NEAC in steals (12), led the Crimson Eagles in total runs scored (19), and ended second on the squad in fielding percentage (.960).

In softball, junior centerfielder Jessica Ogden (Dunmore, PA), sophomore catcher Jen Steward (Haddon Township, NJ), and sophomore second baseman Lauren Roth (Mont Clare, PA) were each named to the First Team All-Conference squad. Ogden finished 12th in the NEAC in batting average (.376), fourth in runs scored (30), fourth in total hits (40), first in doubles (12) and fifth in total bases (56). Steward was 9th in the conference in batting average (.417), 10th in fielding percentage (.971), and first on the team in stolen bases. Roth ended fourth in the NEAC in batting average (.450), first in hits (44), third in doubles (12) and third in total bases (58). Additionally, junior first baseman Bethany Hill (Mount Joy, PA) and freshman outfielder Caroline DeHart (Barnstead, NH) were each named to the Honorable Mention All-Conference team. Hill concluded the season 11th in the NEAC in batting average (.378) and second on the team defensively in put outs (112).  DeHart hit .357 for PBU on the year and scored 19 runs in just 17 games for the Crimson Eagles.

For the official conference press releases and to view a full list of the award winners, please visit the NEAC website at www.neacsports.com. Congratulations to each of these Crimson Eagle student-athletes!

Posted by: Jared Yoder

SOFTBALL TEAM FALLS TO KEUKA IN NEAC CHAMPIONSHIP

Posted: May 3, 2008

Keuka Park, NY - A famed English proverb notes that "all good things must come to an end." But wow, what a finish to one of the most exciting (and, at times, most frustrating!) softball seasons in recent memory.

PBU began 2008 with just a 1-10 mark through their first 11 games. But despite the horrific opening, the Crimson Eagles made sure 2008 would be a season to remember, becoming the first softball team ever at PBU to win an NCAA III playoff game.

But unsatisfied to settle for a solo win in postseason play, PBU one-upped the bar by advancing to the NEAC championship, a feat most probably figured was highly unrealistic halfway through the year considering the team's sluggard start.

But for all of PBU's admirable resiliency and "we-won't-give-up" mentally throughout the past half a month, their determined spirit wasn't quite enough to upend a Keuka College squad that by-and-large rolled through conference play all year as the Storm defeated PBU for the second time in two days, this time by a count of 6-3. 

Day two of the grueling playoff series began with a matchup on Saturday morning against a Penn State Berks squad PBU had dealt a 6-2 loss less than 20 hours before. But after to falling to Keuka in somewhat devastating fashion the previous evening, PBU needed to recover quickly Saturday.

No worries. The Crimson Eagles disposed of the Nittany Lions 9-0 on the heels of a tremendous game on the hill from junior Ashley Melendez. Melendez allowed just five hits through five innings and gave up only three walks. The shutout marks her second straight and fourth on the year.

Deadlocked at 0-0 through one, PBU exploded for six scores in the top of the second fueled by five hits and three Berks' defensive errors. The Crimson Eagles scored solo runs in the next three consecutive innings and belted out 12 hits for the game, marking just the second time in the past six outings that PBU has managed  to churn out double-digits hits.

The victory advanced the group into the NEAC championship where the Crimson Eagles would need back-to-back victories against Keuka to secure the title.

It wasn't to be.

PBU left seven runners on base and generated just five hits through the game, falling 6-3 to the host institution. The Crimson Eagles scored two runs in the top of the second to go ahead 2-0, but the Storm dealt a major blow in the bottom of the inning, scoring all six of their runs in the stanza to steal a four run advantage. Keuka pumped out five of their nine hits for the game in the inning while walking twice, scattering around four singles and a double to take the commanding lead.

PBU had a prime opportunity in the third after loading the bases with just one out, but a pair of ground-outs left the visitors short and in desperate need of offensive rally in the final three innings. Unfortunately, it never came.

Keuka's pitching staff closed out the afternoon by retiring the side in three of the last four innings, allowing just a single hit during the span which came in the top of the seventh. PBU's push wouldn't be enough as Keuka held on for a three run victory to secure their second consecutive NEAC title.

Junior Jessica Ogden finished the afternoon with three hits, two RBI's, and three runs, while sophomore catcher Jennifer Steward chipped in three hits and three runs. Junior Ashley Melendez added three hits, three RBI's and a score, while sophomore Betsy Ranck and junior Bethany Hill both sprinkled two hits around the infield throughout the day.

Ogden, Steward, and sophomore Lauren Roth were each named to the NEAC All-Conference First Team. Hill and freshman Caroline DeHart were both recognized as Honorable Mention All-Conference.

PBU completes the year with a 17-17 record overall. 

Posted by: Jared Yoder

BRUBAKER NAMED DIVISION III ALL-AMERICAN

Posted: April 11, 2008

LANGHORNE, PA - The athletic department is pleased to announce that freshman men's volleyball player Justin Brubaker (Telford, PA) was named a 2008 NCAA III First Team All-American as announced earlier this week.

The first-year outside hitter finished tops in the nation in kills a game (5.67) and second overall in total points a game (6.37) while guiding PBU to a 24-6 overall record. Additionally, Brubaker led the Crimson Eagles in digs a game (2.38) and attacking percentage (.317). The native of Telford, PA posted the second greatest kill total during a match in all of NCAA III this year after landing 38 kills against D'Youville College on March 28, simultaneously snapping PBU's single match kill record.

The award marks the first time in school history that any Crimson Eagle student-athlete in any sport has been named a NCAA All-American. For the official AVCA press release and to see a full list of the 2008 All-Americans, please visit http://www.avca.org/collegiate/menawards/08DIIIMenAA.asp.

Additionally, sophomore Leandro Dueck (Litiz, PA) and freshman Drew Dillon (Mount Joy, PA) were each named among the NECVA Players-of-the-Week for their performances in the NECVA Tournament last weekend.

Dueck, a 5'10 outside hitter for the Crimson Eagles, was named the Western Division Player-of-the-Week after producing game highs in kills (20, 17) in both matches during the NECVA Tournament. Dueck averaged 5.29 kills a game and 2.14 digs a game over the two-day span and topped the 20 kill mark on Friday for the fifth time this season.    

Dillon, a 5'10 setter for the volleyball team, was named both the Western Division and NEAC Rookie-of-the-Week after concluding last weekend with game highs in assists (53, 41) during both of PBU's tournament matches. Dillon averaged 13.34 assists a game and 2.00 digs a game defensively throughout PBU's two contests in the tournament and topped the 50-plus assist mark on Friday afternoon for the fifth time on the year.

For the official NECVA press release, please visit http://www.necva.org/.

Posted by: Jared Yoder