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