Westmoreland County campus clippings: GCC grad Nate Ward transfers to Duquesne

Nate Ward is coming home.

After spending four years playing soccer in the Big Ten Conference at Indiana, the former Greensburg Central Catholic standout is set to play a fifth year at Duquesne.

Ward, a former TribLive Westmoreland player of the year, graduated from Indiana in December.

“I had an awesome four seasons with Indiana but wanted to play my final season in Pittsburgh, closer to home,” Ward said. “Duquesne seemed like the perfect fit for what I’m looking to get out of my last college season.”

Ward played in 11 games last season, logging one start, and had six shots. He was part of two NCAA College Cup teams and won a Big Ten title in 2020-21.

He hopes to provide guidance and experience to the Dukes.

“I am probably most looking forward to being closer to family and old friends again,” he said. “Just being back in Pittsburgh is a joy. But nothing changes from a mentality standpoint. Duquesne has been on the brink of winning an A10 championship the past three years. I feel like I can bring some leadership and experience to the young group. Having played in the biggest games at this level, I think I can help Duquesne reach their goals, and make another run at a title.”

Ward played in 20 matches as a junior and scored a goal against Akron, after playing in 21 of 22 games as a sophomore.

The former Top Drawer All-American saw time in 14 games as a freshman, starting seven and recording a goal and an assist.

Ward had 80 goals and 69 assists in his high school career for perennial power GCC.

Men’s basketball

Carlow: Junior guard Riley Comforti (Southmoreland) scored 10 points, grabbed eight rebounds and added four assists and three steals as Carlow snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 59-56 win over Hilbert (N.Y.).

College of Charleston: Grad forward Bryce Butler (Latrobe) scored 14 points, grabbed five rebounds and blocked three shots in a 107-86 victory over Hampton.

The Cougars’ sixth man, Butler has shown a propensity for being productive in spurts. He only played 19 minutes in the latest win.

Butler added 12 points and four rebounds in 17 minutes in a 90-67 win over Campbell.

Pitt-Greensburg: A team decimated by injuries, the Bobcats (8-12, 7-5) pushed past Alfred State, 67-52, as sophomore Matthew Marinchak (Ligonier Valley) collected a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds.

Freshman Trent Rozich (13 points), sophomore James Evans-Mcquay (11) and sophomore Ryan Greggerson (10) also reached double figures for the Bobcats.

The Bobcats (9-10, 7-5) followed with a 79-66 win over Alfred State as Penrod scored a career-best 25 points, Maietta added 24 points, and Moracco had 21 points and grabbed 15 rebounds.

Maietta finished 10 of 10 from the foul line.

Seton Hill: Senior Ryan Meis (14 points), senior Sean Dillon (13) and freshman Kendrick Curtis (10) all scored in double digits as the Griffins (11-7, 6-6) closed the first half of the PSAC West schedule with a 74-63 win over Edinboro.

Women’s basketball

Chatham: Sophomore Alyssa Laukus (Norwin) pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds, and added eight points and three assists, as the Cougars (16-2, 12-2 PAC) rolled over Bethany, 77-56.

Grove City: Junior guard Mara Polczynski (Norwin) scored a game-high 17 points in a 66-58 win over Westminster.

The Wolverines (9-10, 8-6 PAC) overcame a 10-point deficit late in the third quarter.

Pitt-Greensburg: Junior Melina Maietta (Greensburg Central Catholic) scored 17 points and handed out five assists, while sophomore Tiana Moracco (Derry) added 11 points and eight rebounds in a 65-56 win over Penn State Altoona.

Saint Vincent: SVC made it four wins in a row with a 70-58 victory over Waynesburg as senior Alayna Winkler scored a season-high 14 points.

Senior Emily Cavacini added 13, sophomore Camdon Bashor 11 (and 16 rebounds) and freshman Ashley Lippold 10.

The Bearcats (10-9, 8-6) have beaten the Yellow Jackets 12 consecutive times.

Seton Hill: Eight first-half 3-pointers helped the Griffins (10-8, 7-5) build an early cushion on the way to an 83-69 victory over Edinboro.

Sophomore Helene Cowan had 22 points, senior Christiane Frye added 15 points and 11 rebounds, sophomore Hallie Cowan contributed 15 points on five 3s and freshman Mia Kalich scored 12.

Wrestling

Bucknell: Kurtis Phipps (Norwin), a senior who is ranked No. 16 at 133 pounds, won twice in as many days for the Bison.

He used a last-second escape to edge Army’s Braden Basile, 1-0. The next day, he downed Jaxon Maroney of Drexel, 4-3.

Pitt: Pantherlair.com reported redshirt freshman Dayton Pitzer (Mt. Pleasant) is done for the regular season with a dislocated shoulder, but could return for the ACC Tournament in March.

Pitzer, a 285-pounder for the Panthers, is 8-4 this season and 15-7 for his career.

UNC-Pembroke: Sophomore Logan Hoffman (Belle Vernon) is 14-4 this season competing at 174 and 184 pounds, while grad student Scott Joll (Belle Vernon) has a 21-0 record as a 174-pounder.

Joll, who has 13 pins and is 5-0 against ranked opponents, transferred from West Virginia.

Redshirt junior Logan Seliga (Belle Vernon), meanwhile, is 8-1 at 125 pounds.

Men’s volleyball

Penn State: Grad student John Kerr (Derry) had five kills and three digs and Will Kuhns (Hempfield) added five digs and four kills as the No. 9 Nittany Lions (6-2) knocked off No. 1 Ohio State, 3-2.