Page 12
Lions shutting out the competition
by Nick Zulovich
Sports Editor
One might say, they have
turned a comer. Whatever the
analogy, the Behrend men's
soccer team has a three game
winning streak. The Lions also
have not allowed a single goal
during that stretch.
The winning streak reached
three last night as the Lions
defeated Pitt-Bradford 5-0.
Many got into the scoring
column as Chris Heh, Ryan
Ruta, Sean Blank, Ryan Croyle
and Matt Zimmer each registered
a goal in the victory.
Head Coach Dan Perritano is
very happy with his team play.
"We’re playing very well right
now. We just needed some
confidence," stated Perritano.
Ruta felt that having a good
Photo by Dave Boulos/ Collegian Photographer
Please don’t hurt me: An unidentified Keuka player (right) braces himself from a downfield
kick from Behrend's Chris Nelson. Nelson and the Lions take on Nazareth College Saturday.
by Chad Clouse
Collegian Staff
In a tri-match last Tuesday the
Behrend Women's Volleyball
team split the two matches
winning against Thiel and losing
to Grove City College.
The women ran an aggressive
offense against Thiel using two
setters to win. Then they
switched to a 5-1 offense against
Grave City which left them in
trouble early, from which they
never recovered.
Coach Sharon Gregory stated,
"We tried to run a 5-1 till we got
a side out Well it was seven to
nothing till we got a side out.
The damage was already done."
Erin McCormick, a middle
hitler for the team, said, "We quit
communicating which each other
and our talk just went down and
that makes our game go down a
lot.”
When asked about the new
offense they ran against Thiel,
Coach Gregory said, "They ran a
5-1 last year, which means one
setter sets the whole way around.
It really cuts down your offensive
options. We run a two setter
system. One setter sets three of
the players and the other setter
sets two or three players. It's
start to a contest has been the key
to the Lions' recent success.
"We have played a lot harder
earlier in a game,” explained
Ruta. "[During the winning
streak] we haven't dug ourselves a
hole a giving up a quick goal."
Last Saturday, the Lions won a
thrilling 1-0 victory over Keuka
College.
Ruta scored the lone goal of
the game on a brilliant pass from
forward Jay Hodkinson.
"I'm not usually the goal
scorer, but Jay set me up with a
nice pace, and I just sent it to the
empty net," stated Ruta.
A great pass from Hodkinson
is not unusual. He has been the
spark plug off the bench for the
Lions.
"I've adjusted to my role on the
team,” commented Hodkinson.
"When the team is down, it’s
Ladies having
ups and downs
given us a lot more options. A
lot of what I put in is not what
their used to running."
Coach Gregory is new in the
athletic department this year
coming to us from Potomic High
School, Virginia.
She said, about the transition,
"It's definitely different. The
caliber is different obviously.
We're able to do a lot more
offensively which is fun for the
kids. It's nice to be very
deceptive because we're not an
extremely tall team.”
The players are responding
positively to the new coach.
McCormick said, "She has a
good approach to coaching. She
takes the time to explain stuff to
us in a calm voice instead of
yelling and screaming at us, and I
Lady Lions currently
6-12. They look to
improve at
Gettysburg
Tournamnet
think that helps us understand her
better."
Kim Vollmer, a captain on the
Sports
my job to try to pick the team
up. I just want to make a
contribution and not take
anything away from the team."
Perritano felt the biggest
We have played a
lot harder earlier
in a game.
[During
winning streak]
we haven’t dug
ourselves a hole
by giving up a
quick goal.
-Ryan Ruta
team, said of the coach, ”1 think
she is a really positive coach.
She's really into coaching. She's
trying to make it work as much
as possible."
The team is lead by captains
Vollmer and Angie Georg. The
two sophomores are asked to lead
a team made up primarily of
sophomores and freshmen.
Erin McCormick said of the
captains,"l think we have some
good leadership. Angie and Kim
are both great captains. They
provide a lot of leadership for die
whole team, and I think that
comes in good because we have
so many freshmen. It makes the
freshmen more comfortable and
that makes it easier for them to
step on the court and play."
Coach Gregory commented that
the captains were doing a great
job considering the situation.
Most of the players are the same
age, and that makes it hard for the
captains to set up and lead while
stiff being a friend off court.
The teams record is currently 6-
12. There are only five home
games this year so students will
be hard pressed to see the women
in action. The next match is a
tournament at Gettysburg
College the 29-30. The next
home game Tuesday.
addition his team needed was
experience.
"Our guys have gained a lot of
confidence. With 16 new
players, what the guys needed
was experience," stated Perritano.
The winning streak started last
Wednesday with a victory over
Buffalo State 5-0. Blank and
Hodkinson scored two goals
apiece.
"[The Buffalo State win] really
gave us confidence as a team.
We played very well defensively,"
stated Hodkinson.
the
Junior mid-fielder Ryan
Schenck explained how a little
bit of luck is needed to turn a
season around.
Photo by Dave Boulos/ Collegian Photographer
Heads up: Freshman defenseman Carson McLean
concentrates on making another great play in the field.
Thursday, September 28,1995
"Things just weren't happening
for us. We just needed a little
luck on our side and to be patient
and wait for our opportunities,"
explained Schenck.
Overall Perritano has been very
happy with his defensive players
the last three games.
"Ruta and defensemen Dave
Harrison and Carson McLean
have really played well (hiring
this stretch," explained Perritano.
Perritano concluded "We just
have to prepare for Nazareth on
Saturday and take the rest of our
season one game at a time."
The Lions take on Nazareth
College this Saturday. Game
time is set for 2 p.m.