Ex-North standout Boyd was captain for WKU

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Western Kentucky defensive standout Blake Boyd represented the Hilltoppers as one of the team’s four captains in Western’s 41-7 loss to Alabama on Saturday.

Boyd, a former Madisonville-North Hopkins football player, recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter at the Western 7-yard line, but the 11th-ranked Crimson Tide proved too much for the Hilltoppers.

In addition to the fumble recovery, Boyd ended the game with three tackles and a pass break up.

During the previous two weeks Boyd won the Hilltopper coaches’ weekly defensive award and was named the lone junior captain against Alabama for his efforts.

Western plays host to Murray State University in its home opener at 6 p.m. Saturday in the newly renovated Houchens Industries — L.T. Smith Stadium.

Men’s cross country

Austin Peay State University runner Tim Hall turned in yet another team-leading performance Saturday during the Memphis Twilight Classic as the team finished in 10th place among 29 teams.

Hall, a former North runner, has paced the Governors in each of the team’s first three races of the season.

On Saturday, Hall (26:51.32) edged teammate Ryne Sexton (26:53.89) by two seconds as the pair took 33rd and 34th place overall.

The Govs’ next race will be 9:45 a.m. Saturday at the Fleet Feet Sports/Earl Jacoby Memorial in Huntsville, Ala.

Men’s golf

Two recent local high school graduates, Mitch Faulk and Richard Moore, rank seventh and eighth on the 16-member Kentucky Wesleyan men’s golf team through three invitationals.

Moore, a 2008 Central grad, has posted an average round of 79.4 while Faulk, also a 2008 Central graduate, trails slightly behind at 79.8.

Moore turned in the best score between the pair when he shot a 75 on Sept. 5 in the Kentucky Wesleyan Invitational, three strokes behind the team’s leading score. On the same day Faulk carded a 76 to help the Panthers take third place in the five-team tournament.

Kentucky Wesleyan returns to the links Saturday and Sunday in the First Midwest Regional.

Men’s soccer

Former North soccer standout Aaron Arndt played in three games, starting two during the past week for Centre College.

Arndt, a Centre goalkeeper, played the second half as a substitute in the team’s 1-0 win over Mt. St. Joseph (Ohio) on Sept. 10, but recorded a win as a starter two days later when the Colonels defeated Heidelberg College (Ohio) 2-1.

During Centre’s victory over Heidelberg, Arndt allowed one goal, but made seven saves to prevent any further damage from the Fighting Student Princes.

On Saturday, however, Arndt, who leads the team with 14 saves, could not stop the undefeated Wittenberg University (Ohio) Tigers. Arndt made five saves, but two balls eluded his grasp as Wittenberg won 2-1 and improved to 6-0 while Centre dropped to 5-2.

The Colonels will be back in action 6 p.m. Friday when the team plays host to Oglethorpe University (Ga.).

Women’s soccer

Former Lady Maroon soccer player Rachel Oakley tallied her first collegiate goal on Friday to help Oakland City University defeat Spalding University 4-0.

Oakley, a freshman, also contributed with two assists on the day to help the Lady Oaks record the team’s first victory of the season.

Oakley has started each of Oakland City’s first three games.

The Lady Oaks will be in action again 6 p.m. Friday at Marian College (Ind.).

Volleyball

After four matches this season, Barry University (Fla.) junior Julia Ridley has helped the Lady Buccaneers to a 3-1 record and ranks second on the team with 52 kills.

Ridley, a 2006 North graduate, recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs in her first match of the year, Aug. 29, against the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras and added 12 kills in the team’s second game of the night against Dowling College (N.Y.) to help the Bucs to a 2-0 record in the Nova Southeastern University Shark Invitational (Fla.).

During the second day of the tournament Ridley maintained her great early-season performances, but the team split its matches on the day, defeating Alderson Broaddus College (W.Va.) and losing to California University of Pennsylvania (Pa.).

Ridley finished with 11 kills in the win over the Battlers and established a career-high 18 kills in a losing effort to the Vulcans.

Through four matches Ridley ranks second on the team in kills per set (3.06) and fourth in digs (31).

Barry returns to the court 6 p.m. CST Friday against Rollins College (Fla.) when the team opens Sunshine State Conference play.