Harper women's soccer kicking into high gear

The Harper College women's soccer team is finding out what a last-second goal can do for a program's confidence.

Rebecca Varilek's goal with 2:06 left to go in the Hawks' 2-1 victory over then-No. 4 ranked Rochester Community Tech on Sept. 18 gave her and everyone else plenty of confidence.

Last Wednesday, the Hawks (4-1) thrashed Joliet 7-0. This was the first shutout for Harper goalie Amanda Papinchock since shutting out Joliet 3-0 in the Sept. 2 season opener.

The last time the Hawks lost on their home field was on Sept. 16 when No. 3-ranked College of DuPage beat the Hawks 5-1. Harper travels to Park Ridge at 4 p.m. Thursday against Oakton (3-4).

Tough test for cross country: The Harper sixth-ranked men's and women's cross country teams took to the course for what some observers could call their toughest test yet.

On Sept. 18, the Hawks ran at Illinois State University. Jesus Escareno placed 71st in a field of 268 at the meet. While Escareno was not pleased with the finish, coach Paul Paynter was not as concerned as his top men's runner.

Last weekend the team took a six-hour bus ride to the University of Minnesota. Escareno finished 83rd of 270 runners in Minnasota. This week they travel to Carthage College for their third meet against four-year school competition. The good news for the women's team: All-American Irene Villadares (Buffalo Grove), who has been out for most of the season, is planing to return next weekend,

Men's soccer struggles: The struggles continue for the Harper men's soccer team, which had lost five straight dating back to September 11, before a 2-0 victory Saturday against Waubonsee Community Cllege.

No. 8-ranked Triton (7-2, 4-1 N4C) visited Palatine on Wednesday, and came away with a 3-0 victory. The Trojans' last loss was a 1-0 defeat to COD.

Football starts Iowa series: The Harper (2-2) football team was riding a two-game winning streak into last Saturday's 30-24 loss at Iowa Western. Harper led 10-7 at halftime.

"They (Iowa Western) just made some second-half adjustments," Harper coach Eric Waldstein said. "I was proud of our guys, they never quit fighting."

The win gave Iowa Western what the school is calling its first-ever win. Saturday's game was the first of three straight against schools from the state of Iowa.

A rare Sunday game on Oct. 11 at 19-ranked Iowa Central will end a three-game Iowa series.

When the 2009 schedule was released, one could have bet Waldstein had last Saturday's game circled.

The 33-year-old Waldstein grew up in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, and also had two coaching stints in his home state. In attendance from the Waldstein clan were Eric's parents, his two brothers and his father-in-law.

Three of the next four games for the Hawks are against ranked opponents. The first is Saturday when 18th-ranked Ellsworth visits at 1 p.m. Saturday.

The Hawks' defensive unit will have to come ready to play as they need to stop athletic quarterback Rennie Tirrell. Look for the Hawks' secondary to try to blanket wide receiver Quintin Robinson.

Good weekend for volleyball: It was a profitable weekend for the Hawks women's volleyball team as they hosted their own tournament Friday and Saturday.

Harper head coach Bob Vilsoet collected the 200th win of his career with a three-set win over College of Lake County 25-23, 19-25, 15-11.

Later Friday night, it was a battle of Hawks as they took on Illinois Valley Community College. Harper came away with the two-set sweep 25-20, 25-19.

On Saturday, Harper beat Lincoln 25-9, 25-14 and lost to Highland 25-23, 21-25, 6-15. The Hawks would finish tied for third in the 10-team field after losing to Blackhawk 26-24, 22-25, 13-15 in the semifinals.

Alexandra Mason and Megan Maize where named to the all-tournament team. Malexadra Mason was also named the NJCAA Division III player of the week. "The girls have played the best they have played all season," Vilsoet said of the weekend's performance.

Things do not get any easier for the (12-13,3-3 N4C) Hawks. Former assistant coach Keisha Cameron came back to Harper with her Joliet squad on the Wednesday. The Hawks beat their former assistant coach 25-19, 25-13, 25-22

On Wednesday, the Hawks faced No. 2-ranked Rock Valley. On Thursday the Hawks travel to Milwaukee Area Technical College.