Panther Power Rankings

CLOCK PHOTO / MADISON SVOPA

Players

1.Zara Jakubas, Tennis (Ranked 2^nd last issue): When you are named conference player of the week for the second time at this point of the season, you are clearly doing something right. For Jakubas, she is 6-0 in both singles AND doubles play. Against UMass Boston, Jakubas dropped only nine sets combined between the two matches that she played- and that was an off day!

2.Nikki Garvey, Field Hockey (Unranked): Garvey was named LEC Field Hockey Offensive Player of the Week for the 4^th time in her career. She currently leads the LEC with 18 points on the season, and is currently 11^th in the nation in points per game. Starting off the season with a 2-0 record in conference should give the Panthers some decent momentum heading into the middle of their season.

3.Senad Mehmedovic, Soccer (Unranked): Scoring a game-winning goal is a big deal. Scoring a game-winning goal, against your in-state, in-conference rival, at “home” is a huge deal. That is exactly what Mehmedovic did against Keene State last weekend, as his first goal of the season at approximately the 62^nd minute mark was ultimately the game-winner for the men’s soccer team.

4.Kaitlyn Wilder, Field Hockey (4^th): Wilder was her usual, consistent self in the two games since the last time these power rankings were made, as she had a goal in two assists between the two wins PSU had. What keeps Wilder in the Top 5, is that she was named Captain of the team last week, and she is only a sophomore. 

5.David Martino, Cross Country (Unranked): Martino has been the fastest runner for the Panthers this season, as he has posted quick time in all three events for the cross-country team this season. In the team’s most recent meet, Martino finished the five-mile course in 28:21. At the UNE Invitational, the senior finished the course in 28:06, which allowed him to finish 21^st out of 143 runners.   

Teams

1.Tennis (6-0 record, last issue 1st): When will this team slow down?!? Since the last issue of The Clock came out, this team is 4-0 and has defeated all four teams that they have played 36-0. The Panthers, who coming into the season were picked to finish 5^th in the Little East Conference standings, will face 3^rd ranked UMass Dartmouth on Saturday.

2. Field Hockey (4-1, last issue 2nd): Big conference wins over Worcester State, as well as Western Connecticut State University have given the Panthers an early 2-0 record in LEC play. Nikki Garvey had four goals between the two games, and Alivia Bates allowed only two goals.

3.Men’s Soccer (2-5, last issue 3rd): Beating Keene State is a big deal in Plymouth State athletics, and the Panthers were able to defeat the Owls 2-1. Felix Lindeberg had four saves in the win for PSU, who captured their first conference win in their first conference contest.

4.Men’s Cross Country (last issue unranked): At the University of New England Invitational, the Panthers were able to finish 9^th out of 17 teams, and then finished 29 out of 34 teams at the competitive UMass Dartmouth Invitational. Nat Smyth, Sam Webber, and Shawn Miller have consistently been improving their times in the events as the year has progressed.

5.Volleyball (4-8 last week unranked): Despite some tough out-of-conference competition, the Panthers will look to build on a three sets to none win over Daniel Webster College. Miki Taffe and Katie Sylvia have become key players for PSU, as the sophomores have the 2^nd and 3^rd most kills on the team, respectably.