University of Jamestown Friday Sports

(UJ)  The 23rd-ranked University of Jamestown women’s soccer team suffered its first loss of the season Friday night, losing 1-0 in overtime to Briar Cliff (Iowa) University in the GPAC postseason championship match.

Despite the loss, the Jimmies had previously qualified for the 2021 NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship Opening Round, presented by Select Sport America. Jamestown will find out their opening round assignment on Monday at 11 a.m.

Taylor Alkire’s goal in the 99th minute was the game-winner, giving the Chargers their first GPAC postseason championship in program history.

Penelope Hoppe (SR/Temecula, Calif.) and Cassandra Diaz (JR/Montebello, Calif.) tested BCU keeper Darrien Sclafani inside the first 25 minutes, then Kamryn Fiscus (JR/Yakima, Wash.) and Miarosa Gyllenswan (FR/Menifee, Calif.) had chances denied in the final five minutes of the half. Alex Nowka (JR/Anchorage, Alaska) stopped all three shots she faced in the first.

As the wind and snow picked up in the second half, so did the Jimmies possession in the offensive half. UJ won three corner kicks and put four shots on target, with another attempt by Haley Dyer (JR/Honolulu, Hawaii) hitting the crossbar.

In the overtime period, Flor Suarez’s free kick up the middle of the field found Alkire, who was able to get by a Jimmie defender and find the net for her 16th goal of the season.

Shots were 12-6 in favor of Jamestown, as were shots on goal (8-6). Nowka finished with five saves while Sclafani had eight.

VALLEY CITY, N.D.  (UJ) — Mason Walters (JR/Jamestown, ND) scored 29 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to help lead the 19th-ranked University of Jamestown men’s basketball team to an 81-64 win over Valley City State University Friday night.

It was the sixth straight win to open the season for Jamestown, who will host Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in the GPAC opener on Wednesday.

VCSU took a 16-8 lead with 13:18 in the first half, but a Will Cordes (SO/Shakopee, MN) three-pointer started a 12-0 Jimmie run, and UJ never trailed again.

Jamestown led by as many as 14 points twice in the first half, including 45-31 after a Marc Kjos (JR/Lake City, MN) basket with 2:45 left, and had a 10-point advantage at the break.

UJ saw its lead cut to six after back-to-back Viking baskets opened the second half, but a Brady Birch (SR/Melrose, MN) bucket and Kjos three-pointer built the lead back up to 11 points.

The Jimmies shot 13-of-28 but held VCSU to 11-of-29 shooting and outrebounded the Vikings 24-13 in the second half. Jamestown shot 51.6 (32-of-62) overall and were 11-of-25 (44 percent) from three-point range.

Cole Woodford (SO/Redwood Falls, MN) had 16 points and four assists while Kjos scored 15 points and added four assists. Birch came off the bench to add 10 points.

It was the sixth win in the last seven meetings for UJ against the Vikings, who will play the Jimmies in Jamestown on November 27.