Westmoreland County campus clippings: GCC grad Tatum Gretz transfers to Youngstown State

Tatum Gretz changed lanes in her college soccer career.

The former Greensburg Central Catholic standout is transferring from Villanova to Youngstown State.

She saw limited time as a freshman and sought a change of scenery.

“We are excited to add a player like Tatum to the Penguin family,” Penguins coach Brian Shrum said. “Tatum is a true playmaker, and she can control the game with her extraordinary ability with the ball at her feet.

“She can create goals for teammates as well as for herself. Tatum will bolster up our midfield community immediately.”

A Mt. Pleasant native, Gretz will have four years of eligibility remaining. Gretz scored 103 goals at GCC, won a WPIAL title and played in two state championship games.

Gretz will join forces with another former local star, Justine Appolonia, Yough’s all-time leading scorer.

Women’s basketball

Saint Vincent: Local bragging rights went to the Bearcats when they played nearby Pitt-Greensburg.

Sophomore Emma Thompson scored 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting, and junior Emily Cavacini and senior Ella Marconi had 17 apiece as SVC (7-3) downed the Bobcats, 77-65, in nonconference action.

Sophomore Melina Maietta (Greensburg Central Catholic) and freshman Sidney McCully had 19 apiece to lead UPG.

SVC traveled to Las Vegas for the D3Hoops.com Classic on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Football

Saint Vincent: Junior Molayo Irefin was named to the All-Eastern College Athletic Conference Team.

A standout return man who led the Presidents’ Athletic Conference in kick return (27.2) and punt return (15.8) yardage, Irefin also was an All-Region first-team pick and a third-team D3football.com All-American.

Seton Hill: Senior All-American linebacker Jaylen McDuffie is a nominee for the Cliff Harris Award for the nation’s best small-college defensive player.

More than 5,000 players from nearly 500 NCAA schools, Division I, II and II and NAIA, will vie for the award.

Finalists will be announced Friday. The winner will be unveiled Jan. 13.

McDuffie had 118 tackles and 11 sacks this season. He has 363 tackles for his career, the most in school history.

Honors

Robert Morris: Former softball pitcher Nicole (Sleith) Schaffer (Yough) will be inducted into the Robert Morris Athletic Hall of Fame.

The induction ceremony will be Feb. 2 at UPMC Events Center in Moon.

Inductees also will be recognized during halftime of the men’s basketball game Feb. 4 against Wright State.

Schaffer dominated during her career, which spanned 2012-15. The three-time Northeast Conference Pitcher of the Year also made first-team all-conference three times.

Her name dots the program record book. She holds single-season marks for appearances (48), innings pitched (247), strikeouts (296), saves (5) and wins (25). Career-wise, she leads the Colonials in appearances (147), starts (114), strikeouts (932), victories (78) and saves (13), while her career earned run average (1.70) is second.

Schaffer threw a perfect game and had three no-hitters. She was the 2014-15 NEC Female Student-Athlete of the Year.