All in With Allison – New coaching staff drives successful fall season

Written By Allison Schubert, Sports Columnist

The women’s golf team has a new coaching staff and an all-new outlook on the 2018-19 season.

It is the first season for both head coach Bob Salera, who was promoted from assistant coach, and assistant coach Carmen Costa. The two of them have led the Pioneers to the most successful season the program has had since its recognition as a varsity sport in 2009.

Another big addition to Point Park this year is junior Joey Walz, who transferred from NCAA DI school Marshall University over the summer.

The Pioneers have participated in three outings so far, and Walz has walked away with individual recognitions in all of them.

They opened their season at the Grove City Invitational, placing first out of the six teams in attendance. Walz fired a two-under 70 and took medalist honors, and all five of Point Park’s athletes placed in the top eight finishers.

The women then spent two days competing in the Carnegie Mellon Fall Shootout, where they ultimately placed fifth overall out of 10 participating teams. The Pioneers topped Washington and Jefferson, Clarion, Carlow, St. Vincent and Westminster.

Walz again placed in the top, shooting a two-over 76 to tie for third place.

Their most recent success came at the Westminster Invitational, taking second to Washington and Jefferson out of six total teams.

Walz again flexed her abilities, taking first place overall. She shot 77 overall, six strokes ahead of the second place finisher, St. Vincent’s Sydney Ball. In the three fall tournaments thus far, Walz has shot all four rounds in the 70s.

The women have a significant break between now and their next outing, the River States Conference Fall Preview, which is a two-day tournament on Oct. 8 and 9. Their final outing of the fall season follows on Oct. 12 during the Pioneer Classic in Bridgeville.