"Our new players fit in nicely with the returnees we have," said Head Coach Bridget Benshetler, now in her eighth season at SSU. "They all come from good high school programs that played our style of up-tempo basketball with man-to-man pressure defense."

The strength of this year's team appears to be the backcourt, where junior point guard Amy Cooke (7.8 ppg, 6.2 apg) and sophomore off-guard Jessica LaTour (17.9 ppg) combine to form perhaps the most potent combination in the conference. Unfortunately, the tandem will not be at full strength until the second month of the season as LaTour will miss the season's opening weeks while recovering from a knee injury. The loss is not insignificant, as LaTour earned first-team all-conference honors as a freshman last year and tied the SSU single-game scoring record with 40 points in the team's final game.

"We hope to have Jessie back at full speed in January," said Benshetler. "We'll probably miss her scoring the most. She's our best outside threat and she's our go-to player. That's what we have to replace."

Sophomore Shannon Noon and freshman Michelle Deschu will likely fill her backcourt spot until she returns.

The frontcourt is led by sophomore center Jill Trout, a returning starter coming off a strong freshman campaign in which she averaged 12.2 ppg and a team-high 6.5 rpg. Versatile sophomore Katea Murray (5'10), who averaged 4.5 ppg and 5.4 rpg as a reserve last year, will likely join Trout as a starter in the frontcourt. A number of newcomers will also figure in the forward rotation, including 6'0 freshman Lisa Neylan and 5'11 freshman Elisabeth Barfuss.

"Katea looks stronger than she did last year," said Benshetler. "Neylan gives us added speed in the froncourt and is a good scorer from 12-feet and in. Barfuss is also excellent inside but strong on the wing as well."

Benshetler points to ball possession and good shooting as two of the keys to the team's success this year.

"We need to protect the ball and keep turnovers to a minimum," she said. "We also have to make our easy shots, which we'll get plenty of with our system."

The Sea Gulls, who finished among the national leaders in scoring last year at 82.9 ppg, will likely use a 10-player rotation in most games.

"The players coming off the bench need to contribute for us," Benshetler said. "We have lots of good people on that bench so depth should be an asset."

Defending CAC champion Marymount appears to be the conference favorite once again this season, but Benshetler predicts a closer chase for the title throughout an improving league.

"I think everybody in the CAC is getting better. Marymount may still be the team to beat, but there won't be any easy games."

November 19, 1997

"This is a different group with a different attitude from last year's team," said Lambert, who begins his 28th season at SSU with a 393-321 overall record. "This is a talented group, but right now, its missing the cohesion of last year's team. Its definitely a team that should get better as the year goes on."

The only returning starter is junior point guard Eric Prendeville (4.9 apg), who will offer stability as the team's leader on and off the court. Prendeville finished third in the Capital Athletic Conference in assists and seventh in steals last season. Senior Matt Golden (3.8 apg), who averaged 15 minutes a game while playing in all 31 games last season, provides the Gulls with solid rotation at the position as Prendeville's backup. Prendeville and Golden are two of the team's captains this year.

"The point guard position is clearly one of our strengths this year," said Lambert.

Coming off a productive freshman season, sophomore Colin Exelby (43.4% 3FG) steps into the starting lineup as the number one shooting guard this year. Exelby averaged 5.0 ppg and finished second on the team in treys with 36 while playing 11 minutes per game off-the-bench. Freshman Josh Merkel will fill Exelby's vacated role as the top shooter off-the-bench.

Senior George Robinson (13.9 ppg), who finished fourth in scoring last year but didn't start one game, moves into the starting lineup at the small forward position. Robinson is the top returning scorer and also averaged 4.9 rebounds last year. The deceptive 5-10 senior is an effective inside scorer and defender despite his height.

"George has added a little more of an outside game this season, but he'll still be mostly an inside player for us," said Lambert.

The only other returnee is sophomore Brett Gibbs (2.0 ppg), who played in all 31 games last season. As the only other forward experienced in SSU's run-and-gun, full-court systen, Gibbs will fill a large role this season.

The Sea Gulls have a logjam of new players to help round out the other frontcourt positions. All will likely see action. Among the newcomers who should have the quickest impact this season are: 6'6 junior Sean Soyars, a transfer from St. Mary's; 6'4 sophomore Will Watson, a capable inside and perimeter scorer; 6-6 sophomore Bernie Dennison, a strong inside presence; and 6-4 freshman Paul Kwajafa, another solid inside scorer.

Two other newcomers, 6'4 senior Jamal Montgomery, and 6'2 freshman C.J. Jarmon, can also expect to see ample playing time.

The Sea Gulls will continue to feature their traditional up-tempo style and full-court pressure defense, which helped them average 92.7 ppg last year, third best in the nation. Lambert expects his team to improve through the year as the newcomers grasp the unique system.

"I don't think everybody has bought into the system yet," said Lambert. "It looks like an easy system to grasp, but it's not, especially on defense. We should be a contender by the end of the year, although hopefully we'll get it together earlier."

Additionally, with SSU's seventh win this season, Lambert will join an elite group of Division III head coaches who have amassed 400 victories at one school.

November 18, 1997

Salisbury State University will be one of six charter members in the Atlantic Central Football Conference, announced today by SSU Director of Athletics Michael Vienna. The Sea Gulls join Chowan (NC) College, Ferrum (VA) College, Frostburg State (MD) University, Methodist (NC) College and Wesley (DE) College in the newly-formed league.

This is the first-ever conference affiliation for the Sea Gull football program, which competed as an independent during its first 26 seasons. Salisbury State's 18 other varsity programs will continue to compete as members of the Capital Athletic Conference.

"One of our longstanding goals has been to have all of our intercollegiate programs in a conference," said Vienna. "This affiliation should certainly assist our football program in areas such as scheduling and recognition,especially with team and individual honors. Those are difficult obstacles to overcome, at times, as an independent."

SSU Head Coach Joe Rotellini, who just completed his eighth year with the Sea Gulls, echoed Vienna's feelings regarding the team's new conference membership.

"We're glad to be affiliated with a conference," said Rotellini. "It certainly makes it easier in regards to scheduling games. It also gives our players something else to play for and adds another set of goals for us to try to achieve. Hopefully, it will also provide our players with greater regional and national recognition."

The ACFC, a football-only conference, will begin play in 1998, but will not name its first champion until the 1999 season. The conference will award weekly and postseason honors next season. Weekly awards will include an offensive, defensive and rookie of the week honoree. Postseason honors will include a first and second team all-conference squad, as well as an offensive, defensive and rookie of the year selectee. Mike Welch, commissioner of the Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, will also serve as commissioner of the Atlantic Central Football Conference.

The Sea Gulls played four of the five other conference members in 1997, with a victory against Chowan and losses to Frostburg State, Methodist and Wesley. The Sea Gulls have not played Ferrum since the 1990 season.

SSU completed a 3-6 season on Saturday with a 16-14 victory over William Paterson.

Salisbury State has a 135-112-4 all-time record through 26 years, with 14 winning seasons and five postseason appearances. The Sea Gulls advanced to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, the NCAA Division III Championship Game, in 1986, and also made NCAA Tournament appearances in 1983 and 1985. SSU also played in the ECAC Southwest Bowl Game in 1995 and the Coco Bowl in Puerto Rico in 1976.

Salisbury State, ranked number one in the nation, begins play in the 1997 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Tournament this Friday, November 7 at home against Washington College. A victory would move the Sea Gulls into Saturday's national quarterfinals against the winner of Friday's Messiah - Springfield game, also to be played in Salisbury.

The schedule for the regional hosted by Salisbury State (with records noted)
Friday 11 a.m. Salisbury State (16-2) vs. Washington (16-2)
1:30 p.m. Messiah (15-4) vs. Springfield (14-6)
Saturday 1:30 p.m. Regional Championship Game

Gulls vs. Regional Foes
Salisbury has already faced both Washington and Messiah this season, with one-goal victories against each...The Gulls defeated Messiah 1-0 at home on September 13, and Washington 2-1 in overtime on the road on October 1...The Sea Gulls have never played Springfield... Salisbury State's alltime record against each team:

vs. Washington SSU leads series 5-0
vs. Messiah Messiah leads 8-5
vs. Springfield (Teams have never met)

SSU in NCAA Play
Salisbury State is making its 13th trip to the tournament in the last 14 years...The Gulls qualified for the NCAA Championship Tournament nine straight times from 1984-92 and have returned to the field four straight years after missing out in 1993...Having won the national championship with a 21-0 record in 1986, the Gulls are one of just seven teams to have claimed the Division III title since its inception in 1981...Salisbury has advanced to the national semifinals on three other occasions: 1987, 1988 and 1992...Last year, Salisbury entered the tournament ranked second in the nation, but lost 2-1 at home against Williams in the first round... SSU is 18-12 alltime in NCAA tournament games, including 10-2 in the first round...The Gulls are also serving as a regional host for the third time in the last four years.

Head Coach Dawn Chamberlin
Now in her 11th year, she brings a 142-56-8 overall record into Friday's contest...Chamberlin guided the Sea Gulls to national third-place finishes in 1987 and 1988 and a fourth place finish in 1992.

Sea Gulls in 1997
For the third straight year, Salisbury State enters the NCAA Tournament as the champion of the Capital Athletic Conference... The Gulls defeated Mary Washington 3-0 in last Saturday's title match and bring a 12-game winning streak into the NCAA Tournament... Junior Megan Hopper is the team's leading scorer with 18 goals and 42 total points...Senior Laura Getty has 13 goals and a team-high 10 assists... Senior goalie Kristin Archer has 13 shutouts, a new SSU single-season record, and a .925 saves percentage...The Sea Gulls have outscored their opponents 53-7 this season.

Tickets for the Salisbury regional are priced at $3.00 for general admission and $2.00 for students from the competing schools with a valid ID... Advance sales on the SSU campus are available through 5 pm on Thursday at the Guerrieri University Center's Information Desk...Tickets will also be available at the gate.

Gulls Look For Three "W's" Against Three "W's"
Following an open date last week, the Sea Gulls are looking to cap the final three weeks of the season with three wins against Western Maryland, Wesley and William Paterson. Victories in the final three games against the three "W" opponents would place the Gulls on the "W" side of the final ledger with their second winning campaign in the past three years.

SSU Hopes to Rebound From CNJ Defeat
The Gulls dropped a 35-7 decision against The College of New Jersey in their last outing on October 18. The Lions built an early 14-0 lead, then outscored the Gulls 21-0 in the second period to take control. SSU avoided its first shutout in four years by scoring on the game's final play, a nine-yard scoring toss from QB Matt Main to WR Brian Doyle. Ryan Pusey added the extra-point kick with :00 showing on the clock. On the bright side, SSU's scoring drive covered 85 yards in 15 plays and consumed the final 5:42 of the game.

James Tallies Third 100+ Game of the Season
Senior RB MacArthur James hit the century mark in rushing for the third time this season with 114 yards on 18 carries against the College of New Jersey. James raised his season average to 97.2 yds/game, and is averaging 4.3 yds/carry. He also registered his longest run of the year with a 39-yard burst in the third quarter. James carried three times for 32 yards on SSU's fourth quarter scoring drive.

Sea Gull Notables
Freshman TE Mike Warner (Upperco, MD) recorded his first two collegiate receptions in the game against New Jersey, with both catches coming on SSU's scoring drive...The Gulls are averaging 108 yards rushing per game and 122 yards passing...Sophomore TE Mike Moss (Olney, MD), who had two catches against CNJ, leads the team with 21 receptions for the year...Senior FS Travis Royall (Forestville, MD) leads the defense in total tackles, with 43, and interceptions, with three...LB Scott MacRobbie (Sloatsburg, NY) is second in tackles with 41...The Gulls recorded a season-high five quarterback sacks against New Jersey, each by a different member of the defense...Freshman Mitchell McCraw (Randallstown, MD) leads the team with 3 Ç sacks for minus 23 yards...Starting offenisve lineman Ken Schuckle (Jarrettsville, MD) registered his first career kickoff return, a six-yarder, in SSU's last game...The Gulls are outscoring opponents 38-6 in the fourth quarter this season.

SALISBURY -- The 1997-98 varsity swim season kicks off on Saturday for the Salisbury State University men's and women's teams. Head Coach Jill Stephenson's squads start the year with their traditional season-opener, the Capital Athletic Conference Relays, hosted for the second straight year by SSU.

"This is a good event because the newcomers get a feel for college swimming and everybody has a chance to get the nerves out," said Stephenson, now in her third season at SSU. "We should certainly win some events, but we're also trying people out in different roles. As coaches, we're still seeing what people can do."

The Sea Gull women return a number of key performers who helped rewrite the team recordbook last year. Despite finishing 3-5-1 overall, the Gull set 10 new records last season.

Among the top returnees are sophomore Teresa Piekarski, who set new individual records in the 50 and 100 freestyle last year, in addition to three new relay records; junior Jen Herzig, the school record holder in the 100 and 200 breaststroke; and junior Ali Dispenzieri, the school record holder in the 800 and 1650 freestyle events.

Stephenson also cites three freshmen -- Alison Calcaterra, Rebecca Mitchell and Heather Faron -- who should make a strong and immediate impact.

"I think we've got a very strong team and could have our first national qualifiers this season," said Stephenson. "Our newcomers combined with our returning swimmers gives us a very solid lineup. We'll probably be as strong as anybody we swim against in the sprint freestyle and backstroke events."

Key returnees expected to help the men's squad improve on last season's 1-6 overall record are sophomore Mike Nusbaum, freestyle and butterfly; junior Jeff Waltz, freestyle and backstroke; sophomore Aaron Talasnik, mid-distance freestyle; and senior Doug Lloyd, distance freestyler. The Gulls will need to rely on strong individual performances to overcome a lack of depth on this year's eight-man squad.

"We definitely have some guys who can earn good scores, but with a small squad, we'll have to be very strategic in meets," said Stephenson.

Among the men's newcomers, senior transfer Chris Bembenek appears to offer the most immediate help. Stephenson believes Bembenek has national qualifying ability in the 100 and 200 backstroke and butterfly.

"Everybody is excited about the new season," said Stephenson. "There's a great attitude on the team and we're ready to get started."

"It's very exciting to be number one and it's certainly a morale and confidence boost for our players," said Head Coach Dawn Chamberlin. "This shows the team that all of its hard work has payed off. It's a great accomplishment."

The Gulls closed the regular season with 10 straight wins, including a 1-0 upset over number two ranked College of New Jersey last week. New Jersey remains second in this week's poll, with Messiah moving up two spots to number three. Last week's number one, Lebanon Valley, dropped to fourth following its first loss of the season.

Salisbury State, which peaked as high as number two in last year's rankings, returns to action on October 30 in the Capital Athletic Conference Tournament. The Sea Gulls finished 5-0 in CAC regular season play and earned a first-round bye in the conference tournament. SSU will try to claim its third straight conference championship.

Pairings for the 16-team NCAA Championship Tournament will be announced on November 3. The Sea Gulls are expected to receive their 13th NCAA Tournament invitation in the past 14 years, and are likely to serve as one of four regional hosts for the first and second round games on November 8-9.

NFHCA Poll - October 22, 1997
(Records for games through Oct. 21)

1- Salisbury State 14-2
2- College of NJ 12-1
3- Messiah 13-3
4- Lebanon Valley 14-1
5- William Smith 13-2
6- Trinity 11-0
7- Eastern Mennonite 14-0
8- Washington (Md) 12-2
9t-Swarthmore 13-1
9t-Williams 10-2

Salisbury State's field hockey team brings a 12-2 overall record, an eight-game winning streak and a number four national ranking into its next match on Sunday. These facts would make Coach Dawn Chamberlin's Sea Gulls a decided favorite in just about any contest. Sunday's game, however, is not just another game. It's against The College of New Jersey.

The Lions are the two-time defending NCAA national champions, and bring a 26-game overall winning streak into Sunday's meeting in Trenton, NJ. TCNJ is 12-0 this season and ranked second in the nation.

"Our kids are fired up," said Chamberlin. "This is an enjoyable game to be a part of for everyone. It's a game in which we know we have to play well in order to win."

Playing well has not been a problem for the Gulls throughout much of the season. SSU completed a perfect Capital Athletic Conference regular season with a 7-0 victory over St. Mary's on Tuesday. Salisbury outscored its five CAC foes by a combined 20-0 count this season. The Gulls also have non-conference wins against three top-20 teams this year: #5 Messiah, #10 Washington and #15 Ithaca.

Despite the team's success, Chamberlin says there is still room for improvement. "We're playing steady and we're winning, but we haven't capitalized on many of our scoring opportunities. We need to do a better job of scoring against the stronger teams that we play."

Sunday's game will be played on the Lions' artificial turf field, a surface that the Gulls have not seen previously this season.

"The potential for scoring is always there when you're playing on turf," said Chamberlin. "We need to adjust to that surface in the first 10 minutes of the game. We can't afford to take a whole half to get used to it."

Like SSU, the Lions are also coming off a 7-0 win on Tuesday. TCNJ captured the New Jersey Athletic Conference championship by defeating William Paterson and finished 8-0 in conference games this season.

Sea Gull Notes: Junior Megan Hopper continues to hold a slim lead over senior Laura Getty in the team scoring race...Hopper has 13 goals and 31 total points this season, while Getty has 11 goals and 29 points... SSU has four straight shutouts entering Sunday's game and 10 for the season...The team record for shutouts is 14, established in 1986...Tuesday's seven goal output was the largest of the season for the Gulls...SSU has outscored its opponents by a 44-6 margin this year...The Lions have a 17-3-1 advantage in the all-time series between the teams, including a 3-2 win in Salisbury last season.

Kickoff Returns Spark Gulls Past Chowan
Two kickoff returns for touchdowns helped lead Salisbury State to a 28-17 win at Chowan (NC) last Saturday. Junior Tony Hill (Mechanicsville, MD) gave the Gulls the early lead with an 80-yard touchdown return on the opening kickoff. Later in the half, with SSU trailing 14-7, junior Brian Doyle (Pasadena, MD) registered a 90-yard touchdown return. The Gulls trailed 17-14 at halftime, but limited the Braves to just two first downs and 23 total yards in the second half. Senior RB Mac James (Ft. Washington, MD) and freshman Jamal Avery (Baltimore) scored on rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback.

Last Year vs. The College of New Jersey
TCNJ's Pete Harteveld completed a 5-yard TD pass to Tino Russo with :32 seconds remaining to lift the visiting Lions to a 17-14 win at Sea Gull Stadium...SSU led 14-7 at halftime on the strength of two long scoring passes by QB Kris Kershaw, a 60-yarder to senior Steve Boyd in the first quarter and a 78-yard to senior Mike Muldoon in the second quarter...The second half featured a strong showing by the Sea Gull defense, which kept the Lions out of the end zone until the final minute despite being on the field for over 23 minutes in the half.

Comcast Cable Network to Televise Game
Saturday's SSU-TCNJ football game will be televised by the Comcast Network as part of its New Jersey College Football Game of the Week package. The game will air on delay at 8 p.m. on Saturday on the New Jersey system. It will also be shown on delay on the Comcast Cable System in Salisbury. The game will air on Channel 33 in Salisbury, although the specific air date and time have not been announced yet.

Triple Threat Tony Hill
Junior cornerback Tony Hill has recorded a unique hat trick this season. He has scored a touchdown in all three phases of the game -- offense, defense and special teams. Hill had a 21-yard interception return for a TD in SSU's season-opening win at Ursinus. He added a 61-yard scoring reception against Methodist two weeks ago, then completed the trifecta with last Saturday's 80-yard kickoff return touchdown. Hill, who is also a sprinter on the SSU track team, is tied for the team lead in scoring with 18 points and has 16 tackles and two interceptions on defense. His 36.7 yard average on kickoff returns would rank second in the nation if he had enough attempts.

James Continues to Pace Rushing Attack
Senior RB MacArthur James fell two yards short of his third 100-yard rushing effort of the season last week, finishing with 98 yards on 26 carries against Chowan. James, who scored his third touchdown of the season on a one-yard burst in the fourth quarter, actually had 101 yards before losing three yards on his final carry of the afternoon. Led by James and a rebuilt offensive line, the Sea Gulls are averaging 112.6 yards per game on the ground through five games in 1997, a significant improvement over last year's rushing average of 76.4/game.

Gulls Keeping the Ball
Salisbury State finished with a 32:10 - 27:50 edge in time of possession last week, the fourth time in five games this season that it has had the advantage in that statistical category. The Gulls maintained control of the ball for a remarkable 12:37 of last week's third quarter, which included drives of 18 plays and 10 plays on consecutive possessions.

MacRobbie Paces the Defense
Junior transfer Scott MacRobbie (Sloatsburg, NY) added to his team leading tackle total with 10 stops against Chowan last week...The middle linebacker has 38 total tackles, five more than senior free safety Travis Royall (Forestville, MD)...Royall leads the Gulls with three of the team's eight interceptions....Freshman LB Mitchell McCraw (Randallstown, MD) is third on the squad with 29 tackles and leads the team with 2 Ç sacks...Freshman Rob Howes (Ellicott City, MD) registered his first career interception in last week's game...Senior tackle Mike Brouthers (Port Jefferson, NY) had the team's only sack in last week's contest.

Sea Gull Nibbles
Freshman kicker Ryan Pusey (Delmar, DE) recorded his first career points by converting four point-after- touchdown kicks against Chowan...Fellow frosh, TE Josh Stark (Chantilly, VA) recorded his first two career receptions last week...Stark's second reception, a 47-yarder that set up SSU's final touchdown, is the longest reception of the season by any Gull receiver and the longest pass completion in QB Matt Main's five-game collegiate career...Junior Brian Doyle (Pasadena, MD), who ranked third in the nation in punt returns last week and 15th in kickoff returns, should move up in the latter category after rasing his average to 32.8 yds/return... Sophomore TE Mike Moss (Olney, MD) leads the team with 19 receptions and is the only player with at least one catch in each of the team's five games...SSU has allowed just six points in the fourth quarter this season. SSU has an 11-2 record since the start of the 1995 season when scoring 20 points or better.

Scouting the Lions
The Lions have dropped two straight after opening the season with three consecutive wins...Cortland State built a 14-point halftime lead last week en route to a 43-22 win over TCNJ...The Lions are averaging 25.2 ppg while allowing 18.8/game...Jameon Cropper leads the rushing attack with an average of 95.8 yds/game...Pete Harteveld adds 170.4 yds/game through the air while completing 47.5% of his passes...Tino Russo is the top receiver with 20 catches for 312 yards...LB John Magnotta's 39 tackles leads a defense allowing 291 yds per game.

The Gulls' offense is led by sister forwards Cortney and Danielle Urban. Sophomore Cortney paces SSU with 20 points on eight goals and four assists, while senior Danielle, the four-year program's all-time leader with 37 goals and 16 assists, has tallied six goals and six assists. The two assisted on each other's goals in Wednesday's 2-0 win at Virginia Wesleyan, the program's 50th all-time victory.

The third Urban sister, senior Nicole Urban-Ingley, anchors a defense that has allowed just 12 goals in 12 games. Sophomores Amy Gallagher and Jennifer Mazzola also stand out defensively, and Mazzola recently equalled a team record with three assists in SSU's 7-0 blanking of Marymount. Goalies Amy Forbes and Becky Keller have started nine and three games, respectively, and have shutout opponents a combined seven times.

The Bobcats are 8-3, but 0-3 all-time against the Gulls. Salisbury has outscored Frostburg 13-2 in the teams' previous three meetings. SSU will play its third straight non-conference game on Monday when it travels to Widener for a 3:30 p.m. contest.

Last Year vs. Chowan
George Mayer tied a school record with three field goals and Brian Doyle added a pair of touchdown receptions as the Gulls blanked Chowan 23-0 at home. SSU forced three Brave turnovers and also blocked a punt as the Sea Gulls recorded their second shutout of the season.

SSU Falls in First-Ever Overtime Game
Methodist scored on an 8-yard run on its first possession in overtime to hand the Gulls a 29-22 loss at home. SSU had a chance to win the game in regulation but failed on a 30-yard field goal attempt with five seconds remaining. The loss overshadowed a career-best 147-yard rushing effort by Mac James, and a 179-yard, two touchdown passing performance by freshman QB Matt Main.

James Sets Career Rushing High
Senior RB Mac James (Ft. Washington, MD) eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the second time this season and the third time in his career with a 147-yard performance last week. James carried 28 times and scored SSU's first touchdown of the game on a two-yard run in the first quarter. The senior is averaging 92.7 yds/game.

Two-Way Tony
Junior cornerback Tony Hill (Mechanicsville, MD), a three-year starter in the secondary, won't soon forget his first play as an offensive player. Inserted as a receiver, Hill caught a 61-yard scoring pass in the first quarter that gave the Sea Gulls their first lead of the game. The big play accounted for Hill's second touchdown of the season. He also had a 19-yard interception return for a TD in the season-opener. Hill is tied for the team's scoring lead through four games, although he is the only player to have scored on both offense and on defense.

Sea Gull Notables
SSU is 7-3 all-time in games played in the state of North Carolina...Two of Matt Main's three touchdown passes this season have been to TE Mike Moss (Olney, MD)...Main is the team's top receiver with 18 catches through four games...Brian Doyle (Pasadena, MD) is ranked third in the nation in punt returns with an 18.4 average... Doyle's 54-yard kickoff return against Methodist also raised his kickoff return average to 27.7 yards...FS Travis Royall (Forestville, MD) led SSU with 10 tackles last week...Freshman LB Mitchell McCraw (Randallstown, MD) had nine tackles and recorded his first career interception.

The Sea Gulls will try to knock Methodist from the ranks of the unbeaten when the Monrachs visit Sea Gull Stadium this Saturday.

Last Year vs. Methodist
Despite an overwhelming edge in virtually every statistical category, Salisbury needed a 12-yard touchdown run by Myron Dent with 4:53 remaining to defeat Methodist 28-21. SSU outgained the Monarchs 459-145 total yards, held a 29-7 advantage in first downs, ran 43 more plays and controlled the ball for nearly 20 minutes more than the hosts. Nevertheless, SSU trailed 21-17 entering the final quarter and outscored Methodist 11-0 in the final period to win. The passing combination of QB Kris Kershaw and WR Mike Muldoon was nearly unstoppable. Kershaw completed 28 of 41 passes for 343 yards while Muldoon had nine receptions for 130 yards.

Frostburg Spoils SSU's Homecoming
A 14-yard interception return for a touchdown and the running of Orlando Jones proved to be too much for the Gulls to overcome last week as Frostburg left Sea Gull Stadium with a 16-7 victory. Jones finished with 167 yards rushing for the Bobcats and scored the clinching TD on a 19-yard run in the third quarter. Mac James scored SSUs touchdown with a three-yard burst just before halftime, capping a 10-play, 41-yard drive.The 23-point total was the second lowest in the 25-year series history between the two teams.

Scouting Methodist
For the second straight season, the Monarchs bring an unblemished record into this matchup...Methodist is 3-0 this season and started 2-0 last year en route to a 6-4 final record...RB DeCarlos West scored three times last week in MCs 27-13 victory over Newport News...West finished with 82 yards on 23 carries while FB Dedrick Gaddy added 115 yards...QB Brian Turner completed four of five passes for 116 yards, including a 90-yard TD hookup with WR William Ray.

Sea Gull Notables
TE Doug Batten (Wilmington, DE) caught a career-high four passes for 65 yards last week...Freshman LB Mitchell McGraw (Randallstown, MD) led the defense with eight tackles against Frostburg...Senior FS Travis Royall (Forestville, MD) had seven stops and added a fumble recovery, his fourth turnover produced in three games this season...Kevin Kopco's (Gaithersburg, MD) 11 punts in last weeks game was one short of SSU's single-game record...The Gulls had a 33:21 to 26:39 advantage in possession time against Frostburg.

Last Year vs. Frostburg State
QB Jason Henry passed for two touchdowns and RB E.J. Fuller ran for 152 yards and one touchdown to lead the Bobcats to a 28-3 victory over the Gulls in a rain-soaked contest in Frostburg. Salisbury s only points came on its first possession of the game, with George Mayer capping an eight-play drive with a 29-yard field goal.

Late Drive Falls Short vs. Delaware Valley
The Gulls suffered their first loss of the 97 campaign with a 14-12 defeat at Delaware Valley last week. Trailing by two late in the game, SSU marched 68 yards on 12 plays in the closing minutes but missed a 29-yard field goal with nine seconds remaining in the game.

Doyle is All-Purpose Man
Junior Brian Doyle (Pasadena, MD) made the most of his seven opportunities last week, finishing with 172 all-purpose yards. Doyle was the team s leading receiver with three catches for 43 yards. He also returned two punts for 74 yards, including a 64-yard TD, and added two kickoff returns for 55 yards. His 32-yard return of the second half kickoff helped set up the team s second touchdown.

Sea Gull Notables
After grabbing two interceptions in the season-opener, senior FS Travis Royall (Forestville, MD) recorded his third pick of the year last Saturday...Senior RB Mac James (Ft. Washington, MD) set a new career-high with 107 yards on 22 carries... Starting freshman guard Kevin Gilligan (Bryan s Road, MD) suffered a broken right leg in the third quarter and is likely to be lost for the rest of the year...SSU is 12-13 all-time in its Homecoming Day games, including wins in each of the past two seasons.

An annual rite of fall will again take place this weekend when Salisbury State University hosts its 1997 field hockey invitational tournament. The four-team, two-day event, which traditionally features some of the best programs on the East Coast, will have round robin format with each team playing three games.

Action gets underway with the tournament's defending champion Salisbury State (3-1 overall) taking on Bridgewater (VA) (1-4) at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Denison (3-1) and Plymouth State (2-1), both participants in last year's tournament, follow with a 10:30 a.m. clash. SSU will then battle Plymouth at 3:30, and complete its play with an 11:15 a.m. matchup against Denison on Sunday.

Salisbury enters the tournament having won two straight, including a 4-0 win over Johns Hopkins on Wednesday. Junior Megan Hopper leads SSU with four goals and two assists. Senior Laura Getty is second with two goals and two assists. Senior goalie Kristin Archer has recorded shutouts in SSU's three wins. The Gulls breezed through last year's tournament, allowing just two goals in their three victories.

"It's always good to get this out of region competition this early in the season," head coach Dawn Chamberlin said of the tournament. "It gives us some idea as to how we'll fare against this kind of competition down the road."

Tournament Schedule
Saturday Sunday	8:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 3:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m.	SSU vs. Bridgewater Denison vs. Plymouth State Plymouth State vs. SSU Bridgewater vs. Denison Plymouth vs. Bridgewater SSU vs. Denison

Last Year vs. Delaware Valley
The Sea Gulls posted their first shutout in nine years by blanking Delaware Valley 40-0 in the season opener at home. SSU limited the Aggies to 183 total yards and forced four turnovers. QB Kris Kershaw passed for 201 yards and two touchdowns. SSU added 170 yards on the ground and three scores.

A Look Back at the Opener
Trailing 6-0 in the fourth quarter, SSU scored two defensive touchdowns in the final 14 minutes to rally for a 14-12 win at Ursinus. CB Tony Hill started the comeback with a 21-yard interception return for a touchdown with 14:14 remaining. Three minutes later, FS Travis Royall returned his second pick of the day 64 yards for the game-winning score.Ursinus scored with 1:00 remaining, but SSU successfully defended the two-point conversion pass. Ursinus ensuing onsides kickoff failed, ensuring the Gulls their second straight opening day win and squaring their alltime record in openers at 13-13.

Royall Honors
With two interceptions, including a 64-yard touchdown return, and seven overall tackles, senior FS Travis Royall (Forestville, MD) was named last week s USA III Football national defensive player of the week.

Historical Perspective A win against Delaware Valley will provide the Sea Gulls with their first 2-0 season start since 1986. The Gulls won 13 straight games that season before falling to Augustana in the national championship game.

Open Dates in 97 Slate
In addition to having just three home games among their nine-game slate this season, the Sea Gulls also feature two open dates this fall. SSU is coming off its first free weekend this week, and faces another open date on October 25. The Gulls also had two open dates in last year's schedule, with mixed results to follow. SSU lost to Wesley following its first free weekend, then closed with a win at Sue Bennett following an open date before the season finale.

QB Burke Returns, But Starter Still Unnamed
Junior transfer Tim Burke (Baltimore/Towson HS), who was injured in the second quarter against Ursinus and did not return to the game, has returned to practice. Burke, diagnosed with bruised ribs, earned the starting nod for the opener but has not yet been named the starter for this week s game. Rotellini has deferred the decision on his starter to later in the week. Freshman Matt Main (Middletown, MD/Middletown HS), who replaced Burke in the opener and completed 5 of 7 passes for 35 yards, could earn the nod. Both players will travel.

James Heads Running Back Rotation
Senior captain Mac James (Ft. Washington, MD/Friendly HS) led the three-man running back rotation against Ursinus with 66 yards on 24 carries. Redshirt freshmen Seth Haskins (Rockville, MD/ DeMatha HS) was impressive in relief, logging 42 yards on just eight carries (5.3 avg). Jamal Avery (Baltimore/Southwestern HS) made his debut with one rush and one pass reception.

Scouting Delaware Valley
Delaware valley dropped a 39-17 decision against Albright in its seaosn opener last Saturday. The Aggies return 15 starters from last year s 1-9 team. Sophomore QB Joey Shenko, who took over as the starter in week five last year, will direct the offense. Brian Hearn and Bob Engle are the top rushers. Shenko s main target is 1996 team MVP Bob Leach, who caught 38 passes for 490 yards last year. The defense is led by LB Art Sandora (75 tackles in 96) and DB Terrance Oliver (88 tackles).

SSU Defense Makes Impressive Debut The new-look SSU defense passed its first test of the year as 12 different players registered at least two tackles apiece against Ursinus. SSU s three starting linebackers paced the squad by combining for 20 tackles, led by eight each from Scott MacRobbie (Sloatsburg, NY) and Lucas Seeger (Kingsville, MD). Secondary standouts Tony Hill (Mechanicsville, MD) and Travis Royall added seven tackles each, in addition to their interception touchdowns. Freshman DE Jerald Boyd (Gaithersburg, MD) paced the line with six tackles, including one for loss.

Sea Gulls Poised for
Another Outstanding Season

Salisbury played in the Capital Athletic Conference Championship Game for the third straight season and finished as the conference runnerup for the second straight year. The Gulls were ranked in the Mid-Atlantic Region poll throughout the season, finishing fifth in the final regular season ranking and just missing out on the NCAA Tournament.

The return of four all-conference players should help offset the loss of CAC Player of the Year and team MVP Ava Tasker. Senior forward Danielle Urban (12g-6a in '96), the program's alltime leading scorer, is back and should be among the conference's top scorers again. The return of sister Cortney Urban, who missed virtually the entire '96 season due to injury after finishing second on the team in scoring in 1995, will also help. Freshman Missy Wermine is also expected to provide solid scoring help.

"I think we'll create some scoring chances because of our athletic ability alone," said Head Coach Jim Berkman, who begins his fourth season with a 41-13 career record.

Senior Nicole Urban-Ingley, a first-team all-CAC selectee last year, headlines the midfield unit. Senior Patty Jones (5g-8a), last year's fourth leading scorer and another all-conference selectee, moves from forward to midfield. Junior Shauna DonahueJessica Guley and freshman Allison Nigro.

"We're very solid in the midfield," said Berkman. "Nicole and Patty provide great leadership and experience, and our newcomers are good, all-around players. You can tell that they've played the game all their lives."

The backline will be anchored by a pair of sophomores who both made sizeable contributions as rookies to last year's defensive success. All-CAC performer Amy Gallagher and Dana EarlJessica Miller and Jennifer Mazzola -- are also expected to join the lineup this season.

Freshman Amy Forbes appears to be the replacement for Kristi Kauffman in goal. Kauffman served as the program®s starting goalkeeper since its first varsity game three years ago.

"We're very good defensively,É said Berkman. "With the skill we have among our backs, we'll be able to start a lot of effective counter attacks.

"I like what I've seen of this team so far. I think that they believe they can be pretty good. We've gotten a lot better in the last week alone and I think its the type of team that will keep getting better through the season."

The Gulls jump into action with consecutive home games this weekend. SSU hosts Methodist, a final four participant two years ago, on Saturday at 1p.m. SSU then welcomes Shenandoah on Sunday at 2 p.m.

SALISBURY -- The first day of classes is a week away and most of the Salisbury State campus is still relatively calm. But it's a different story on the athletics end of campus, where all seven of SSU's fall sports teams have already started workouts for the upcoming year.

The Sea Gull football team actually began drills last Monday, and will cap its first full week of preseason with an intersquad scrimmage this afternoon in the stadium. The other teams begin practice today.

Dawn Chamberlin begins her 11th season as head coach of the field hockey teamand has a number of returning starters from last year's 15-3 team. The Gulls, aiming for their third straight Capital Athletic Conference title and another trip to the NCAA Tournament, must replace CAC Player of the Year Sue Fatz but have key players back at nearly every position. Megan Hopper and Laura Getty should carry the offense while Kristin Heath, Becky Tregoning and goalie Kristin Archer will lead the defense.

The women's soccer team, coached by Jim Berkman, enters its fourth varsity campaign after posting a 17-3 record last year. SSU, conference runnerup in each of the last two seasons, returns 13 letterwinners, but will try to replace graduated CAC Player of the Year Ava Tasker. Four returning all-conference players should lead the way, paced by Danielle Urban and Patty Jones on offense and Nicole Urban-Ingley and Amy Gallagher on defense.

Dr. Gerry DiBartolo, the dean of the fall sports coaches, begins his 16th year with the men's soccer team. Coming off five consecutive winning seasons, the Gulls have registered 59 wins over the last five years and have made three straight appearances in the CAC championship game. The return of 16 letterwinners from last year's 12-6-2 team should help offset the loss of CAC Player of the Year Matt Tirschman.

The men's and women's cross country teams, led by third-year head coach Cliff Latham, are both coming off very successful '96 seasons. The SSU women won the CAC and Mason-Dixon Conference championships last fall while finishing second in the NCAA South Regional. The men's team finished second in the CAC and fourth in the Mason-Dixon. Kerri Bowers, who qualified for the NCAA Championships as a freshman last year, returns for her second season and will join senior Lori Frei as a leader on the women's side. All-CAC runners Bob Hendricks and Max Snavlin are both back for the men's team.

The only new coach on the sidelines this fall is Margie Knight of the volleyball team, although she is not exactly a stranger at SSU. Knight, a '79 graduate of the University and a member of its Hall of Fame, actually joined the Gulls last spring and led the softball team to its best record ever. She inherits a volleyball team that returns nine letterwinners from last year's 22-13 squad which advanced to the conference championship match.

Head Coach Joe Rotellini and his staff expect 42 letterwinners back from last year's squad, which finished 4-5, however, only a handful of those are returning starters. A primary focus during the next two weeks will be to assimilate the newcomers into the program.

"On paper, we're going to have a different look this season, but its exciting," said Rotellini, starting his eighth year at SSU. "We have an enthusiastic and hard-working group. It's always interesting to see how the personality of the team will develop.

"One of the priorities during the first few days is to try to get guys in the right positions so we can get them as many reps as possible. It's important that we, as coaches, get evaluations done quickly on all the players. We're certainly anxious to get going."

Most of the day Monday will be spent with meetings, equipment pickup and orientation. The team will have its first practice on Tuesday morning, with two-a-days continuing until August 30. The team will cut back to one practice a day beginning on September 1 in preparation for its season-opener at Ursinus on Septmber 6.

Note to media: The Sea Gulls will have a picture day on Friday, August 29, beginning at 9:30 am. They will then have a closed scrimmage against Williamson College at 4 p.m. that afternoon. Media is invited to attend practice at any time, however, please call sports information director Paul Ohanian in advance to arrange for interviews with players or coaches.

Salisbury State University will be adding four new members to its Athletics Hall of Fame next month during its Homecoming Weekend festivities. The four newest inductees will be officially honored at a dinner banquet on Friday, September 26. The 1997 inductees are:

Delores Gardner Sasajima '59...A four-year field hockey and basketball player who was named the University's Best Female Athlete in 1958.

Mike McInerney '84...A three-time wrestling All-America and two-time team MVP. He placed third in his weight class twice and helped lead the Sea Gulls to two top five team finishes during his career.

Stacey Stem '87...A four-year starter on two teams, she earned three All-America awards in field hockey and a one in lacrosse. She also claimed three team MVP awards during her career.

Dean Burroughs (Coach)...One of the most successful coaches ever at SSU, he piloted the men's and women's tennis programs for 21 years until retiring in 1994. He compiled a 289-108 career record, a winning percentage of over 72%.

The Hall of Fame was initiated in 1985 to honor those who have made outstanding contributions to Salisbury State's athletic heritage. The addition of these four inductees brings the Hall's membership to 61.

Selection for the Hall of Fame is the highest honor that the University can bestow upon one of its former student-athletes. To be eligible, an individual must have graduated from the University at least 10 years earlier or be retired as a coach for at least two years.

Tickets for the September 26 induction banquet are $25 and available through the SSU Alumni Office at (410) 543-6042. Advance reservations are strongly encouraged. Upon induction, each member will have a permanent plaque added to the Hall of Fame display case in SSU's Maggs Physical Activities Center.