BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- Moravian University is continuing to look back at its 2022-23 athletic campaign. Before announcing the top event in the Top 10 Exciting Games from the past year, here is a look at the eight contests that received votes from the Moravian athletic administrators but missed out on making the Top 10.
Women's Soccer Tops Rival Muhlenberg 1-0
The Blue and Grey took a 1-0 lead on an unassisted goal by sophomore forward Carly Pyatt in the 17th minute under the lights on John Makuvek Field on September 7 as Moravian remained unbeaten on the year at 2-0-1. Pyatt's goal would be all the Hounds needed with junior goalie Payce Korpics making two saves in the first half and junior keeper Paige Harrison adding four stops in the second half to secure the shutout.
Read the original game story at https://moraviansports.com/sports/wsoc/2022-23/releases/20220907yak3t1 with links to stats, photos and video of the match.
Football Jumps to Early Lead in Win over Gettysburg
The Greyhounds crossed the goal line three times in eight minutes in the first quarter to jump out to a 21-0 lead on the way to a 43-28 victory over the Bullets on September 10 at Rocco Calvo Field as Moravian began its final season as a member of the Centennial Conference. The Hounds would lead 34-7 heading into halftime as sophomore quarterback Jared Jenkins threw four first-half touchdown passes and ran for another score. Jenkins finished the afternoon going 18-for-24 for 321 yards and four touchdowns while junior wide receiver Brad Bryan caught five passes for 112 yards and two scores. Junior running back Nate Boyle contributed 175 rushing yards and a touchdown on 34 carries.
Read the original game story at https://moraviansports.com/sports/fball/2022-23/releases/20220910syfhwb with links to stats, photos and video of the game.
Men's Lacrosse Rallies in Fourth Quarter for 9-8 Victory at Drew
Moravian fell behind 3-1 in the first quarter but outscored the host Rangers, 4-2, in the second to knot the score at 5-5 in the match played on the road on April 1 as freshman attack Vincent Devito scored with five seconds left before halftime. Drew retook a two-goal lead, 7-5, in the third before sophomore midfielder Nick Sullivan tied the match at 7-7. The Rangers moved back in front with a little over five minutes left in the third quarter. The Greyhounds' defense led by 18 saves by sophomore goalie Thomas Lee did not allow Drew to score again. Moravian netted the tying goal when sophomore midfielder Aaron Judge hit the net with 13:32 to play, and sophomore midfielder Aden Moskovitz gave the Hounds the lead for the first time with 6:35 remaining with the winning goal.
Read the original game story at https://moraviansports.com/sports/mlax/2022-23/releases/20230401usuiz4 with links to stats and video of the match.
Softball Walks Off with Win over Franklin & Marshall
The Hounds won their first of three walk off victories of the year on April 13 with a 5-4 win in the second game of a non-conference doubleheader with Franklin & Marshall College at Blue & Grey Field. After falling in the first game to Moravian, the Diplomats scored three times in the top of the second inning for a lead. Sophomore third baseman Holly Walter put the Blue & Grey on the scoreboard when she trotted home on an RBI bases loaded walk to freshman catcher Marcie Silberman. Freshman pitcher Sarah DeStefano connected on an RBI single to make it 3-2 in the fourth while Silberman gave the Hounds a 4-3 edge with a two-run homer in the fifth frame. F&M tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the seventh. In the bottom of the inning, junior shortstop Ajala Elmore hit a one-out single and eventually scored the winning run on an RBI single by Walter for the victory. DeStefano struck out six in the circle
Read the original game story at https://moraviansports.com/sports/sball/2022-23/releases/20230413u0nuxc with links to stats, photos and video of the game.
Men's Tennis Tops Scranton by Winning Final Two Matches
The Blue and Grey earned a 5-4 win over host The University of Scranton on April 15 at the Birchwood Racquet Club in a match that moved Moravian a win away from the postseason. The Hounds trailed 2-1 after doubles and 3-1 when the first singles contest completed before sophomores Wyatt Marshall and Anthony Ronca won their third and second singles matches to knot the score at 3-3. The Royals moved back ahead 4-3 while senior Kieran Pisani tied the match at 4-4 with a victory at sixth singles. Sophomore Ronny Pimental Ferrer gave Moravian the team with a 6-2, 7-5 triumph at fifth singles.
Read the original game story at https://moraviansports.com/sports/mten/2022-23/releases/20230415uf4ybk with links to stats and video of the match.
Women's Tennis Captures Final Five Points in Victory over Scranton
The Greyhounds rallied for a 6-3 win over The University of Scranton on April 15 in a match played indoors at the Birchwood Racquet Club as Moravian clinched a berth in the 2023 Landmark Conference Tournament. The Royals would lead 2-1 after doubles action completed and 3-1 after the first singles contest ended. The Hounds countered by winning the five remaining singles matches to earn the victory. Freshman Izzy Szmodis won at third singles to make it 3-2 while senior Maddie Figiel tied the team score with a win at second singles. Senior Cristina Merone earned a 6-3, 6-2 victory at fourth singles to give the Blue & Grey the lead while junior Mara Stapleton and sophomore Rose Lombardo completed the match with wins at fifth and sixth singles.
Read the original game story at https://moraviansports.com/sports/wten/2022-23/releases/20230415uzqhb5 with links to stats and video of the match.
Women's Tennis Blanks Goucher in Landmark Conference Semifinal
Moravian shutout visiting Goucher, 5-0, in a Landmark Conference Semifinal match on April 26 played in Timothy Breidegam Fieldhouse due to the weather. The Greyhounds swept the doubles action for a 3-0 lead with victories by senior Julianne Cassady and freshman Izzy Szmodis at first doubles, seniors Maddie Figiel and Cristina Merone at second doubles and junior Mara Stapleton and sophomore Rose Lombardo at third doubles. The victory for Figiel and Merone was their school record 19th of the season. With postseason matches ending when the winning team achieves the five points needed, the Blue & Grey needed just a pair of singles victories to advance. Szmodis would make it 4-0 with a win at third singles while Merone captured a 6-3, 6-2 triumph at fourth singles send the Greyhounds to the championship match.
Read the original game story at https://moraviansports.com/sports/wten/2022-23/releases/20230426x6h6wp with links to stats, photos and video of the match.
Softball Clinches Landmark Conference Top Seed with 11-inning, Walk Off Win Versus Drew
The Hounds entered the final regular season doubleheader with the Rangers at Blue & Grey Field on May 6 needing just one victory to clinch the top seed and right to host the 2023 Landmark Conference Tournament. Moravian would get the win in the opener, but it would be an 11-inning contest with the Greyhounds winning on another walk off victory. Moravian stuck first with three runs in the fourth inning including a two-run homer by freshman catcher Marcie Silberman. Drew countered to move ahead 4-3 in the top of the seventh. The Hounds knotted the scored on an RBI single by sophomore first baseman Lindsey Gawrys in the bottom of the inning to force extra innings. Neither team scored until the Rangers moved back in front, 5-4, in the top of the 11th frame. Junior shortstop Ajala Elmore started the inning on second base as part of the international tiebreaker, and she scored the tying run on an error. Freshman right fielder Sarah DeStefano, who reached on the error, raced home with the winning run on an RBI single by sophomore third baseman Holly Walter, her third walk off RBI of the spring. Sophomore pitcher Madi Cunningham had eight strikeouts while tossing all 11 innings for Moravian.
Read the original game story at https://moraviansports.com/sports/sball/2022-23/releases/20230506wq95rb with links to stats, photos and video of the game.
The number one highlight in the Top 10 Exciting Games of 2022-23 will be released on Wednesday, July 5.
