Kevin Fiorenzo, Co-Sports Editor Am Frizzell Co-S I orts Editor Runners continue to excel Water Polo continues to struggle by Aklani Massaro staff writer Despite another winless invitational, a silver lining shone through for the men's water polo The team traveled to the Grove City Invita tional, where they faced off against Slippery Rock, Salem International, California Tech and Grove City. The Lions could not muster a strong offensive attack against California Tech, during the first game of the invitational, falling 4-15. The team's second opponent was Slippery Rock University--a team the Lions had lost to three times last year, but had not yet encountered this year. "In the Slippery Rock game the guys looked strong; the game could have been blown wide open or been close. I think that Slippery Rock thought we were just going to roll over for them but we didn't, - said Tristan. Slippery Rock would prove to be too much competition for the Lions to handle, as they would go Onto shut them out 20-0. The Lions then found themselves matched up ainst Salem International, who handed them a 3() loss The men then faced Grove City College. The Lions had faced Grove City twice this season, losing both of the previous bouts. This time around, the Lions inched one step closer to victory as they tell to Grove City 11-13 "It showed us that we are able to hang with them, it was the third game of the day and we really stepped up and pulled together. We played more like a team." said sophomore Chris Gleditsch. For Tristan, this young team is on a progres sive accent that he hopes will continue through out the duration of the season. "Id say right now we are on about step 10 of lOU, by the time we get to the southern champi onship I'd like to be on step 99 or 100," said Tristan Housing and Food Service Athlete of the Week PENNSTATE 4.1 t Erie Talk about starting the season off on the right foot. The Penn State Behrend Lions' cross country teams again placed well in last Saturday's Allegheny Classic. The placement allowed for two Behrend run ners to be named AMCC "Runner of the Week." At the same time, the finish helped boost the women's team to number six in the Mideast Region rankings. At Allegheny, Junior Jessica Sarver led the team to a second place finish placing 4th out of 151 competitors. Sarver's finishing time of 23:24 earned her the title of Women's AMCC "Runner of the Week." Coach Dave Cooper couldn't be happier with his team's performance. For the past three weeks, Behrend runners have received "Run ner of the Week" status on both the men's and women's sides. In the first two weeks of the season, junior Jessica Knapp, and on the men's side, freshmen Brad Ruffo had the hot feet. For the men's team, another freshman had the chance to strut his stuff in Allegheny. Har bor Creek native Craig Davis placed 2 I st of 146 runners with a time of 28:10, good enough to be named the AMCC's Men's Cross Coun try "Runner of the Week." "It's pretty exciting," says Davis. "I've never received anything like this before." Davis is no stranger to the sport. The ex- Husky has been running since his freshmen year in high school. He recalls his shining mo ment as placing 20th at the state competition Men's soccer team tallies up second tie Sophomore, Mark Cipriani has been a force to be reconed with so far this season by Ray Immekus staff writer The men's soccer team had to settle for a tie after a hard fought game against Washing ton and Jefferson on Saturday. The game be tween the Lions and the Presidents ended at a 2-2 deadlock after double overtime. The teams played scoreless soccer for the final 51 minutes of regulation, following a 9 minute span that saw the two teams combine for 4 goals. At the end of regulation the teams squared off in two more ten minute periods, with both teams unable to come up with the game-win- The game remained tied at zero for a ma jority of the first half, until Washington and Jefferson's Mike Chiodo gave the Presidents Jessica Sarver ` s • L' mr-- Friday, September 26, 2003 By Rachel Lyon staff writer at Allegheny his senior year. And is it hard being a freshman on the team? "Not really," reports Davis, mentioning that his older teammates don't give him a hard time. Once again, both Men's and Women's teams will be battling cross-country powerhouse Frostburg State to regain the title. Both Frostburg teams have won five of the past six champion ships. And while AMCC championship is still over a month away, the Lions are up for the chal lenge. "Our main goal is to beat Frostburg," reports Cooper. In order to dethrone the champs, the Lions big gest challenge will the teams' physical condition. "We need to stay healthy," reports Davis of the men's team. "We have pretty solid top 5-7 runners." Coach Cooper also adds, "Our guys just need to keep working hard." Health is an even bigger issue on the women's side. The team only has eight members, a small disadvantage Cooper points out. Due to the size, the team must stay healthy to hold or move up in the Mideast rankings. The Lions will continue to run Invitationals until AMCC championships which will be held November Ist in Pitt-Bradford. Following con ference championships, the team moves on to the regional meet. For most teams, the season ends there, but Coach Cooper's lofty goal would be to score a trip to the national championships. The cross-country team has seen many posi tive signs toward success, early in the season. The race for the AMCC title has begun. a 1-0 lead at the 30 minute mark. One minute later Senior midfielder Tom Cameron put Washington and Jefferson up 2-0. Both goals came unassisted. Washington and Jefferson's two-goal cush ion was short lived. Senior midfielder Andy Laver put the Lions on the board in the 37th minute with a goal off a penalty kick. Two minutes later, sophomore midfielder Justin Reese tied the game with an unassisted goal. On Wednesday the Lions traveled to Pitt- Bradford for their first conference game of the season, where they won 3-0. This win boosts the teams record to 4-1-2, with a con ference record of 1-0. The men will next play La Roche on Satur day the 27th, at 3:30 p.m. Sport: Cross Country Class: Junior bate: September 22, 2003 Jessica Sarver (Freeport/ Freeport) was named this week's Beacon/Housing and Food Ath- lete of the Week. Sarver finished fourth in a field of 151 competitors at the Allegh eny Classic, leading the Behrend Lions to a second place finish among 15 teams with a time of Q & A with Hordych is the men's soccer goalie who has three recorded shut outs this season. Beacon: Jake, the team starts conference play to- morrow. How confident are you that the team can repeat last year's success? Hordych: We're pretty confident, we're just start ing to gel as a team. We're starting to get in the whole swing of the season, we're starting to mesh at the right time. I mean like you said, we start conference play tomorrow and the team has really come together since the first game. We haven't lost since the first game of the year we just need to stay confident. Confidence is important. Beacon: There are eleven freshmen and nine sophomores on the team this year. Do you feel that your and the other three seniors' leadership is much more important on a team that is fairly young? Hordych: Definitely. They have so much ahead of them, and I think being so young they need lead ership from the senior and junior class so its im portant that we do the right thing for them, so we can continue the great tradition of Behrend soccer. Beacon: You recorded five shutouts last season, and this season you already have three. How much has the defense improved since last season and how much have you improved? Hordych: I think the defense has improved a whole lot more than anyone could have expected coming in. I mean, Dan Bash is playing incredible. He started very well as a freshmen last year. Our de fense, we have been switching of with (Jeff) Mor ris, (Andy) Lesser, and (Luke) Goldner, and I mean all four of those guys are some of the top defensive backs in the league. The defense is what gets my name in the paper, they make my job so much easier. Beacon: How important was your experience in last year's AMCC championship game in to rela tion to how well you, as well as the rest of team is playing so far this season? FILE PHOTO Hordych: That game was a big motivator for this season for the whole team. Greensburg came in and mocked us, and laughed at us. They beat us in over time in a real iffy game. Every person who played on last years team will remember that game and will use that as a real motivator when we play them in the regular season. I'm sure we'll play them in the finals again this year. Beacon: Do you feel this team can return to the AMCC championship game this year? Hordych: Definitely. It will be seven years in a row now I think. Definitely. I know we'll be there November 8. No questions. 23:24. Sarver has been a top finisher in the last two meets, as well as finishing in a top spot many times last season. Sarver was an AMCC and NCAA regional qualifier for the Behrend Lions in the 2002 season. Next up for the blue and white will be the Dickinson Invita tional on October 4 at 10 a.m. The Behrend Beacon senior Jake Hordych by Ray Immekus staff writer Page 10
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