See rosters, schedules and current news at https://www.emuroyals.com/
Women’s Soccer
The team lost in the ODAC first round Monday at eighth-seeded Lynchburg by a score of 4-0 to eliminate the Royals from the ODAC tournament. The Royals finished the regular season 10-6-1 (4-5-1 in the conference play).
Seniors include Leah Wenger (Broadway, Va./Eastern Mennonite), Laura Rittenhouse (Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite), Ariel Barbosa (Baltimore, Md./Towson), and Emily Hostetler (Marshallville, Ohio/Smithville). Read more.
Cross Country
Talk about peaking at the right time. Of EMU’s 21 cross country runners, 16 of them broke their personal records at Saturday’s ODAC Championships in Salem, Va. The women took fourth place as a team, ahead of rivals Roanoke and Bridgewater. The men were fifth of 12 teams in their race, easily surpassing Shenandoah and Bridgewater.
“I am so proud of both teams. They are amazing people, students and athletes. God blessed me with the opportunity to coach them. I am truly grateful,” said second-year Head Coach Bob Hepler.
Seniors include Abigail Shelly (Collinsville, Miss./West Lauderdale), Elizabeth Nisly (Bluffton, Ohio/Bluffton), Leah Lapp (Lowville, NY/ Beaver River Central), Emma Hoover (New Carlisle, Ohio/Tecumseh), Megan Good (Harrisonburg, Va./ Eastern Mennonite), Savannah Bontrager (Milford, Neb./Milford), Mim Beck (Woodstock, Vt./Archbold) and Collin Longenecker (Harrisonburg, Va./Turner Ashby). Read more.
Women’s Triathlon
EMU’s first-ever triathlon season ended on a high note for the five team members at the East Regional Qualifier at Smith Mountain Lake State Park Oct. 16. Senior Abigail Shelly (Collinsville, Miss./West Lauderdale) finished eighth in and will head to the USA Triathlon-sanctioned national race of the Lake Pleasant Olympic & Sprint Triathlon in Peoria, Arizona. Leah Lapp (Lowville, N.Y./Beaver River Central), Emma Hoover (New Carlisle, Ohio/Tecumseh), Lydia Chappell Deckert (North Newton, Kan./Newton) and Mim Beck (Woodstock, Vt./Archbold) rounded out the scoring. Read more.
Women’s Volleyball
Volleyball wrapped up the 2019 season with a close loss to Marymount University on Saturday. Despite the decision, the Royals (13-13) finished with the most wins of any Eastern Mennonite team since 2001, and also claimed the first .500 season since 2001.
Even with the loss of four seniors, the Royals’ program is on the rise. After six straight single-win seasons from 2010-15, this is the third time in four seasons EMU has eclipsed 10 wins. Seniors include Meredith Stinnette (Altavista, Va./ Altavista), Kara Durren (Gloucester, Va./Gloucester), Ginny Sorrell (Spotsylvania, Va./Spotsylvania) and Abbi Hawkins (Middlebury, Ind./Bethany Christian). Read more.
Field Hockey
The field hockey team closed their season at home Saturday night, dropping a 4-0 ODAC decision to Shenandoah University. The Royals finish with a record of 5-13 overall and 1-7 in the ODAC. EMU closed the gap against many of the league’s top teams this year, including a 3-0 loss to nationally ranked Lynchburg, and looked poised to make a move up in the standings next fall. Midfielder Madeline Mast (Lancaster, Pa. / Lancaster Mennonite) was honored in a pregame ceremony as the team’s lone senior. Read more.
Golf
Olyvia Longacre (Telford, Pa./Dock Mennonite Academy) finished in a tie for 16th out of the field of 33 women at the rain-shortened VSGA Women’s Intercollegiate Championship. Read more.
The men’s team also wrapped the fall portion of the season at the VSGA Intercollegiate, showing marked improvements with new coach Andre Swartzendruber. Senior Troy Hodge (Staunton, Va./Buffalo Gap) carded his second sub-80 round in his first season of collegiate golf. Read more.
Men’s Soccer
Men’s soccer ended their season with a loss at home to No. 13 Washington and Lee last week. This was the final match of the season for the Royals as they finish with a record of 5-14 and 0-8 in ODAC play. Prior to the game beginning was Senior Recognition as Carlos Flores-Melgar (Woodbridge, Va./Gar-Field), Mathew Zimmerman (Partlow, Va./Spotsylvania), Jesus Trejo (Winchester, Va./John Handley), Nik Tucker (Matthews, N.C./Weddington), Juan Vazquez (Waynesboro, Va./Waynesboro), Ian Bomberger (Goshen, Ind./Bethany Christian), and Caleb Oakes (Waynesboro, Va./Stuarts Draft) were honored for their commitment and dedication to the EMU men’s soccer program.