October 29, 2010
Western New England College ranked ninth in first NCAA Division III East Region Poll
Led by its strong defense, Western New England College is ninth in the East in the first NCAA Regional rankings released Thursday (Oct. 28).
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Western New England College football team received some special recognition on two fronts Thursday (Oct. 28).
The NCAA released its first regional rankings of the season and the Golden Bears were listed ninth in the Division III East Region.
This is the first time ever that Western New England College has been ranked in the regional poll.
Montclair State (7-0) was first with Delaware Valley (6-0), Rowan, NJ (6-1), Alfred (5-1), and St. John Fisher (7-1) rounding out the top five. SUNY Maritime (8-0) was sixth followed by Cortland (6-1) and Norwich (7-1). Maine Maritime (6-1) claimed the 10th spot.
Also, sophomore free safety Phil Tsopanides (Fairfield, CT) became the first WNEC player of the season to make the weekly d3football.com National Team-of-the-Week.
Tsopanides intercepted a pass in the end zone on the final play of the game and returned its 36 yards in a 14-6 win at Plymouth State, which was the Golden Bears' first ever victory over the Panthers in 13 all-time meetings. He also compiled a team high 10 tackles in the contest.
Western New England College (7-1) visits Endicott (6-2) at 5:00 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 30) in a critical game in the New England Football Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division.
The Golden Bears lead the division with a perfect 5-0 record and can clinch the title with a win over the Gulls who are tied for second (with Plymouth State) at 4-1.
With two weeks remaining in the regular season, all sorts of possibilities can happen as the three squads battle down the stretch in their quest to advance to the NEFC Championship game against the Bogen Division champion.
The NCAA released its first regional rankings of the season and the Golden Bears were listed ninth in the Division III East Region.
This is the first time ever that Western New England College has been ranked in the regional poll.
Montclair State (7-0) was first with Delaware Valley (6-0), Rowan, NJ (6-1), Alfred (5-1), and St. John Fisher (7-1) rounding out the top five. SUNY Maritime (8-0) was sixth followed by Cortland (6-1) and Norwich (7-1). Maine Maritime (6-1) claimed the 10th spot.
Also, sophomore free safety Phil Tsopanides (Fairfield, CT) became the first WNEC player of the season to make the weekly d3football.com National Team-of-the-Week.
Tsopanides intercepted a pass in the end zone on the final play of the game and returned its 36 yards in a 14-6 win at Plymouth State, which was the Golden Bears' first ever victory over the Panthers in 13 all-time meetings. He also compiled a team high 10 tackles in the contest.
Western New England College (7-1) visits Endicott (6-2) at 5:00 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 30) in a critical game in the New England Football Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division.
The Golden Bears lead the division with a perfect 5-0 record and can clinch the title with a win over the Gulls who are tied for second (with Plymouth State) at 4-1.
With two weeks remaining in the regular season, all sorts of possibilities can happen as the three squads battle down the stretch in their quest to advance to the NEFC Championship game against the Bogen Division champion.
