Penn State hits the road for a triple-header. /// Photo: Jennifer Childress •
We’ve reviewed the DI college and DII college conferences with playoff-affecting games this weekend, but here are some important games in the club and high school sphere, as well as college games outside of the fall championships.
WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE
It’s a last look at the elite clubs before the championships on Nov. 10 and 12 in Marietta, Ga. The big game is Glendale vs. San Diego. The teams are vying for the top seed out of the Blue Conference, and we’ve been waiting all fall for the rematch of the season-opener. The Raptors have seen some mid-season additions in Hannah Stolba, Kristen Shalosky and Carmen Farmer, while the Surfers have been posting monster numbers on the scoreboard (click here for rosters).
Around the rest of the league, ORSU travels to Berkeley, Twin Cities to Atlanta, and D.C. to New York.
CLUB
Glendale has officially entered a DI side into the Frontier competition, and the Raptors will play its first league match against Black Ice this weekend. Glendale had been running a “developmental squad” during the fall and has played several matches, but the official transition to a DI team is a recent evolution. The Utah Vipers were added to the DI league this season, too, and now Black Ice has competition for the post-season berth.
In DII Midwest: Milwaukee Scylla vs. Palmer College. The latter beat Twin Cities 2 last weekend 41-32, and saw Stephanie Snoeberger (2), Hailey Eckstein (2), Alyssa Condomitti, Jennifer Humphrey and Cassie Meylor score tries in the victory. Curious to see whether the Davenport, Iowa, team is building some momentum, and a weighty test awaits in the West 2 leader.
In the DII Northeast, standings leaders Worcester (5-0) and Hartford (4-0-1) will end their seasons against each other. During the spring post-season the top-two teams will play Providence and Burlington in the New England semifinals. Providence and Burlington are playing a cross-tier schedule against DI teams this fall, and thus receive automatic berths to the DII conference post-season.
COLLEGE
As mentioned, playoff berths are on the line this weekend for DI and DII colleges, but we’re giddy over Penn State’s three-game stand in Ohio. The Nittany Lions will play Michigan and Ohio State to end its Big Ten regular season, and then take on DI Elite Lindenwood on Sunday in Columbus, Ohio. The Missouri Lions are coming off a 24-14 win over Life University, a team that Penn State tied 10-10 at home.
In the varsity league, NIRA, Quinnipiac Athletics is sponsoring a fan bus to transport supporters to Southington, Conn., for the Bobcats’ regular-season finale against AIC. Quinnipiac has been without a home field this fall season, and will be on the road to Emmitsburg, Md., next weekend to face Penn State in a non-league game.
HIGH SCHOOL
Michigan hosts its state championship this Sunday, but no one has come close to Grandville. The two-time reigning champion has outscored opponents 480-20, and no one team has scored more than a try against the Bulldogs.
Oregon contests its state 7s championship, and it begins with semifinal match-ups Valley Panthers Black vs. Beaverton Crusaders, and Battle Ground Black vs. Linn Benton Black. Winners play for the Cup at 10:50 a.m. Pacific at Ackerman Middle School in Canby, Ore. Grant is in the bowl bracket with North Clackamas.
Stay tuned for results during the weekend.