By Cort Reynolds
The Ada football team can salvage a disappointing season with an upset of backyard arch-rival Allen East Friday in the regular season finale.
A Bulldog victory would deprive AE (8-1, 5-1 NWC) a share of the league title, and possibly also a playoff spot.
On the other hand, with a victory AE will grab at least a share of their first conference title since 1995 - and clinch its first playoff berth in 13 years.
The Mustangs won 20-14 at home vs. Crestview in week nine to stay in a three-way tie for the league lead with two-time defending champion Spencerville, and 2018 co-champion Columbus Grove.
Senior All-American Chelsea Huppert (Bremen, Ind.) had 12 kills and five blocks and senior Sydney Bapst (Grove City) had 11 kills to lead No. 10-ranked Ohio Northern in a 26-24, 22-25, 25-12, 22-25, 15-13 loss to Otterbein on Tuesday night at the ONU Sports Center.
The Polar Bears (22-5 overall, 7-1 OAC) also got nine kills and five blocks from freshman Madison Kern (Loveland/Mount Notre Dame).
The Cardinals (22-5, 6-2) were led by Dasha Bruyako with a career-high 22 kills, Emily Shuk with 18 kills, Amber Greeley with 17 kills and Tate Eppard with 10 kills and 10 blocks.
The Ohio Northern women's soccer team moved up one spot to No. 20 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll. The Polar Bears are also receiving votes in the D3soccer.com top 25.
Messiah (Pa.) claimed the top spot in the United Soccer Coaches Poll for the second consecutive week, while William Smith (N.Y.) and Washington (Mo.) rounded out the top three. Ohio Athletic Conference member Otterbein was ranked No. 17.
Northern — which boasts a 13-2-2 overall record and is riding a nine-game win streak — travels to Otterbein Wednesday for a 7 p.m. contest at Memorial Stadium.
Here’s the Ohio Northern University sports round up from the past week.
Women’s swim team
The Ohio Northern women's swimming and diving team started off its dual meet season with a victory. The Polar Bears defeated Wilmington 138-122 Friday night.
The 200-meter medley relay team — of Shelby Starkey, Abby Schauer, Kyley Stuart and Gabrielle Grant — got things started, claiming first with a time of 2:11.90.
Schauer won the 100-meter breaststroke, as well, boasting a time of 1:20.21. Stuart touched first in the 100-meter butterfly, clocking in at 1:13.37, and Grant took first in the 50-meter freestyle, registering a time of 29.76.
By Cort Reynolds
ADA - The injury-riddled Ada football team lost another shootout to visiting Paulding 70-40 in Northwest Conference action on a chilly night last Friday at War Memorial Stadium.
The teams combined for over 1,100 yards in offense and 110 points in the wild contest. Ada junior quarterback Brandon Hull accounted for six touchdowns and close to 400 yards in offense, but it was not enough to offset a career game by Panther senior running back Jacob Deisler.
Deisler totaled a whopping 362 rushing yards and five touchdowns as Paulding ran by Ada for 525 yards. Deisler surpassed the 1,100-yard mark on the season with his huge game.
Junior All-American Christiaan Williams (Sidney/Anna) became the first Ohio Northern player to run for 1,000 yards in three different seasons, leading the Polar Bears to a 49-0 football victory over Capital on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Dial-Roberson Stadium.
Ohio Northern improves to 4-3 overall and is 4-2 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, while Capital falls to 0-7, 0-6.
Williams carried the ball 25 times for 218 yards and three touchdowns, giving him a league-leading 1,018 yards in seven games this season.
