Home Cooking: Fall Teams Protect the Nest

SALISBURY UNIVERSITY carries a reputation as one of the toughest places to play in Division III across all sports. Three teams in particular last fall lived up to that billing and then some, putting together impressive undefeated runs at home.

SU football turned Sea Gull Stadium into a fortress, winning eight straight home games as part of a 12-1 campaign that featured the fifth undefeated regular season in program history, a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) title and a berth in the national quarterfinals. Led by Division III National Coach of the Year Sherman Wood and 17 All-NJAC picks, including All-American offensive tackle Tre Price, Salisbury averaged over 43 points per game at home, ascended to the top of the NCAA Power Index, and hosted three NCAA Tournament bouts across November and December.

Salisbury University carries a reputation as one of the toughest places to play in Division III across all sports.

Field hockey experienced similar success within the friendly confines, winning all 10 contests at Sea Gull Stadium en route to its first national semifinal berth since 2019. With Regional Player of the Year Marli McDorman and NCAA Elite 90 winner Emma Radebaugh leading the charge, SU toppled six top 10 teams at home, including a trio of victories against archrival Christopher Newport (CNU). Salisbury clinched the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference (C2C) championship by beating CNU in a shootout, then eight days later in the NCAA quarterfinals the Sea Gulls sunk the Captains in another shootout to punch their ticket to the Final Four.

Volleyball was just as dominant inside the Maggs Physical Activities Center, going 9-0 for its first undefeated home slate since 2011. Behind All-Americans Gwen Eustace and Kiley McTaggart,, the Sea Gulls lost just three sets at home and swept seven opponents, including league rivals Mary Washington and CNU. SU used its homecourt advantage to put together a 14-match overall winning streak and qualified for a third straight NCAA Tournament.

Not to be outdone, cross country runner Rachel Roberts used her own home cooking at Winter Place Park to springboard herself to the national stage. After recording the fastest 6K time at home in 16 years in her season debut, Roberts finished second at the C2C Championships and 13th at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships on the way to qualifying for the NCAA Division III Championships in November.

Pictured at top: (Left) Ronald Clark rushes for big yardage during SU’s Homecoming win over Rowan. (Middle) Sea Gull field hockey punches its ticket to its 16th Final Four in program history. (Right) SU volleyball celebrates a five-set win over Swarthmore.