SPORTS

Local products make strides in Arena Football

Andy Jasner
Special to The News Journal

The Arena Football League season culminates Saturdaywith Arena Bowl XXVII between the Cleveland Gladiators and Arizona Rattlers.

Around the indoor league, several players with Delaware ties saw action.

Former Wesley football standout Larry Beavers led the New Orleans VooDoo with 80 receptions for 1,020 yards and 16 touchdowns. Beavers also returned four kickoffs for touchdowns, tops in the league.

He averaged 19.7 yards per punt return as well and ranked third among all players with 146.5 all-purpose yards per game. That performance earned him second-team, All-Arena honors.

New Orleans finished the season 3-15.

Beavers played at Wesley from 2005-08 and finished ranked second with 2,366 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns. His 123 receptions were fourth all time.

Meanwhile, fellow Wesley product Bryan Robinson tallied 11 solo tackles in 14 games for the Philadelphia Soul. Last season, Robinson, a defensive end, was named first-team, All-Arena after recording 41.5 tackles and team-record 11 sacks. The Soul finished this season 9-9.

The Soul also featured former University of Delaware kicker Jon Striefsky and two Delaware State products – defensive back James Romain and defensive lineman Tyron Hurst.

Romain had five interceptions, including two for touchdowns.

Hurst played in five games and recorded one solo tackle. He was placed on injured reserve in June 18 and is no longer listed on the Soul roster.

Striefsky went 26 for 29 on extra points and did not attempt a field goal this season. He remains on the roster.

Another former Blue Hen, defensive lineman Matt Hardison, had nine tackles in nine games for the Tampa Bay Storm (8-10). He also had two sacks and an interception.

In Pittsburgh, former Hornet Keith Newell started nine games on the offensive line for the Power, who went 15-3 in the regular season and lost in the American Conference semifinals.

Farquhar takes over St. Joe’s field hockey

Lynn Farquhar was recently named as the head coach of the Saint Joseph’s University field hockey team.

Farquhar, who was previously the associate head coach at the University of Delaware, is the 11th head coach in St. Joe’s history.

Farquhar replaces Michelle Finegan, who stepped down after 17 seasons and a school record 143 career victories.

Farquhar spent the 2013 season at Delaware, where she helped guide the team to a regular season title, Colonial Athletic Association championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Before coaching at Delaware, Farquhar had been an associate head coach at James Madison and Syracuse.

“I am excited for this tremendous opportunity and cannot wait to start soaring as a Hawk,” Farquhar said in a statement. “As a program, each day we will choose to prepare with passion, confidence, and a team outlook. Saint Joseph’s is a special place and a great fit. It exemplifies a true family setting where every individual is genuinely supported to achieve success in academics, athletics, and beyond.”

St. Joe’s will open its season Aug. 29 at Lehigh.

A pair of local players compete for Lehigh – junior midfielder Erin Ricker (Cape Henlopen) and junior midfielder Alex Beatson (Archmere).

Marist College welcomes Cape grad

Max Euler, a former First Team All-State selection at Cape Henlopen, will be a freshman competing for the Marist College men’s soccer team this fall.

Euler had 16 goals and nine assists as a senior at Cape.

“Euler’s speed and work rate will definitely be successful at our level,” Marist coach Matt Viggiano said in a statement. “We look forward to his ability to score some goals for us and we’re excited about his prospects of succeeding at this level.”

Marist opens its season Aug. 29 at home against Villanova.