Page 14, Athlete's dream realized Pro bound: Chris Ackerman, a Behrend student, will have a shot at a pro soccer career when he tries out in England next fall. Happy Birthday Linder Love, Stacer IN THE BLEACHERS by Steve Moore rAtta l • MINE! MINE! / I / AN ~...4alli N \ MZFE. \\ t 4\ V RP? I --t ' fir 1, Alt IN, ' Tilr \1 * _ 1 —....-- Yo J 1& I . YouRS! \ / dirm , 40 ,1116 Im - i - , ~•.'i: ift I # 7 ' 7417 .. . Sports Dan Jaecks/Collegian Photographer Flawless Amel Balcita/Cd/egian Photo Coordinator Schwing: Right fielder Jennifer Young tries to take one deep in a recent game. Right now, the Lions, 17-3, stolen base attempts. must get in all their games. • • • • 5-2. Five different Lions each They've already split with is had an RBI as Varrassa picked nationally ranked Buffalo State Strait a perfect 61 for 61 in up the mound victory. and Allegheny, and have a the field. The error she "Offensively, we've had different strong, well-respected Bethany committed against W& J was people step up at different team coming up on April 26. changed to a filder's choice when she threw a runner out at home. times," said Benim. If the Lions get in all their Strait hasn't made an error in "We have to play one game at games and keep playing the her collegiate career. a time to position ourselves for same way, a NCAA tournament • • a post-season tourney (ECAC or bid ' ibil: • from FLAWLESS page 16 NCAA)," he added. Mazur and Pegher are the only For NCAA, only 20 teams Lions' Notes: Lions to have been in the line are taken' from the , nation.up for all 20 games. The Lions are 50 for 55 in by Joe Mottillo Collegian Staff Many players dream of making it to the pros, but usually it remains only a dream. Behrend has one in our midst who has turned dreams into reality. He is Chris Ackerman, his sport is soccer, and the pro league that he'll be playing in is the English Premier League. "A few weeks ago, my coach got a call from a representative of the EPL, and he contacted me," said Ackerman concerning his shot at the pros. "I'm going to have to bulk up though. Over there, everybody is big, so I can't rely just on my speed." Ackerman started his formal soccer career at Fishburn Military Academy in Virginia. While there he also played on several club and international teams, two of which were the East-West Soccer Ambassadors and the Virginia National team The East-West Soccer Ambassadors is "like an exchange program," according to Ackerman. Players from the U.S. go to Europe and play on teams them and vice versa. is a strong possi Thursday, April 22, 1993 After graduation from Fishburn in 1989, he went to California University of Pennsylvania to continue his soccer career. Since then, his career has been on hold because he broke his leg in January. "My play is at 40% right now and I know there is room for improvement," said Ackerman about his recovery from his injury. "When I go over there, I'll try out to see what level in the City of Wimbledon system I'll end up in," said Ackerman. City of Wimbledon is the top team in the system. If he doesn't make that team he'll probably get sent to either of the farm teams at Milland or Edinburgh. "It's more intense and taken more seriously. It's to England what baseball is to America," said Ackerman over the difference between the European and American styles. "Chris is a good player and plays hard with a lot of heart," said John Ciotti, one of Ackerman's summer coaches. Ackerman leaves for tryouts in the fall. Until then he'll just have to sit back and wait out his dreams. ball E:M:3
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