Thomas More claims three ACAA championships on Sunday; NKU women defeat Pikeville in exhibition

NKyTribune staff

A triple-option Sunday resulted in three times the fun for the athletic program at Thomas More University, which made a resounding debut in American Collegiate Athletic Association postseason play.

Thomas More captured three ACAA Tournament championships on Sunday — women’s soccer, volleyball and men’s soccer — in its first and only season of competition in the association. The Saints, who are competing as NCAA Division III independents before joining the NAIA in 2019-20, brought home three titles in a six-hour span.

The women’s soccer team played Alfred State to 0-0 draw, but Thomas More won the title in a penalty-kick shootout at snowy, windy Hancock, Mich. Thomas More claimed the championship with a 5-4 victory in the shootout. Sophomore defender Brianna Lunsford was named the ACAA Tournament Most Valuable Player.

Thomas More junior midfielder Olivia Nienaber, junior forward Shaye Isaacs and junior midfielder Megan Sheridan joined Lunsford on the All-Tournament Team. Thomas More finished the season with a 7-12-1 overall record as there is no automatic bid from the ACAA. The Saints transition to the Mid-South Conference next season.

In volleyball action on Sunday at Delhi, N.Y., Thomas More defeated Finlandia (Mich.) by scores of 25-11, 25-14, 25-19 to win the ACAA title. Jenna Mummert hit .600 with eight kills and a block for the Saints. Madison Krumpelman attacked at a .296 clip with 10 kills, while Jessica Ginn finished with 23 digs and a match-high five service aces as Thomas More coasted to the win.

Krumpelman, Ginn and Mummert were selected to the ACAA All-Tournament team. Mummert was named tournament MVP. The Saints — ranked No. 7 nationally — are now 31-3 and will learn their NCAA Division III Tournament destination on Monday.

Finally, the Thomas More men’s soccer team made it a trio of titles on Sunday by incredibly forcing overtime with less than 10 seconds remaining with an own goal by SUNY Delhi and prevailed in a penalty-kick shootout to win the ACAA title.

Due to snow that had fallen throughout the game, the overtime period was eliminated and the teams moved directly to penalty kicks with the score tied at 1-all after regulation.

Thomas More’s Dominic Russo was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Bryce Day, Patrick Louis and Mark McAulay were named to the All-Tournament team. The Saints ended the season with a 6-11-3 overall record.

NKU WOMEN DEFEAT PIKEVILLE: The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team posted a 78-38 exhibition win over Pikeville on Sunday at BB&T Arena. Molly Glick scored 19 points, including four 3-pointers. Emmy Souder added 10 points and six rebounds.

Two NKU freshmen guards from local high schools — Ally Niece (Simon Kenton) and Taylor Clos (Campbell County) — both dished out four assists and had one steal. Clos also scored eight points, while Niece added six points.

NKU’s Kailey Coffey just missed a double-double with eight points and eight rebounds. The Norse held Pikeville to 29.2 percent shooting from the floor and forced 23 turnovers.

Grayson Rose led the Norse on the boards with 11 rebounds. NKU used a strong third quarter to establish a sizeable lead over the Bears. The Norse went on a 15-0 run and kept Pikeville from scoring a field goal until the 3:25 mark in the period. Kennedy Archer had seven points and four rebounds in the quarter, while Souder added six points and dished out all three of her assists.

NKU begins the regular season Wednesday at 7 p.m. when Alderson Broaddus visits BB&T Arena. Wednesday’s NKU game will also be Campbell County Night, which provides $3 tickets for Campbell County residence with proof of identification.

(Information compiled from NKU Athletics Communications, Thomas More and staff reports)