MILLSBORO, Delaware — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore didn't have the best day on the lanes on Saturday when they hosted the rest of the conference for the second day of MEAC competition. But they did finish the event with a 6-2 overall record and are in a second-place tie with Delaware State heading into the second MEAC event.
The National Tenpin Coaches Association No. 14 Hawks (25-7, 6-2 MEAC) opened the day with a 1015-863 win against University of Alabama at Birmingham. They struggled in the next match against No. 12 Delaware State falling 1,020-831 before rebounding in the next match to top No. 23 Monmouth 938-911.
"We are just underperforming our abilities right now," head coach Roger Petrin said. "The 930's that we were shooting were winning the majority of the matches this weekend. But sometimes that's not going to be enough."
In the day's final matchup against No. 7 North Carolina A&T State, the Hawks didn't put good scores together through the first four games, but then finished stronger when it was already decided. The Hawks eventually fell 1024-938 and the Aggies stand in first place heading into MEAC No. 2 which they will host on Feb. 17-18 in Greensboro, North Carolina.
"At the end, the pinfall was so far apart that we finally relaxed and just threw shots," Petrin said. "I think that is the takeaway from this event. IN the two matches that we lost we were tight. We were so tight and so worried about what was happening that we stopped talking to one another, we stopped communicating.
"There are reasons to get amped up about who you are bowling against, but honestly with the talent that we have, if we just go and knock down pins we're going to win the majority of our matches. We have to stop thinking about who is across from us."
The Hawks will return to action Nov. 18-20 when they host the Eastern Shore Hawk Classic at Millsboro Lanes.
"Happy with the fact that we have tomorrow off," Petrin said. "I think we all need it mentally. There will be a different oil pattern next weekend that I think will match up better with us and it's my hope that we just go and bowl."
