The Behrend beacon. (Erie, Pa.) 1998-current, April 16, 2004, Image 9
Kevin Fiorenzo & Amy Frizzell, s orts editors On Deck Behrend Athletic Events Saturday Women's Water Polo @ Allegheny Championships @ Michigan TB D Men's Tennis AMCC Championships @ Behrend 9 a.m. Men's and Women's Track and Field 0 Slippery Rock Invitational 9 a.m. Softball @ Frostburg 1 p.m. Baseball vs. Pitt-Greensburg 1 p.m. Sunday Women's Water Polo @ Allegheny Championships @ Michigan TBD Monday Golf @ Grove City Invitational 1 p.m. Tuesday Softball @ Laßoche 3 p.m. Baseball @ Allegheny 3 p.m. Men's Tennis @ Thiel 4 p.m. Thursday Baseball vs. Fredonia 2 p.m. Friday Baseball @ Hilbert 3 p.m. Dynamic duo of Cibula and Ludwig rewrite water polo records by Lauren Packer editor in chief In just her first season playing water polo for Behrend, freshman Cara Ludwig has broken the single-season scoring record and holds the record for most goals in a game. With one tournament remaining in the 2004 sea son, Ludwig currently has 61 goals, one more than former Lion Christine Williams scored during the 2003 season. It was another Williams' record that fell when Ludwig scored seven goals against Carthage at the Wheaton Invitational. Williams set the previous record in her freshman season as well, scoring six goals against Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Ludwig was a third-team all-state selection her senior year at North Penn High School. Only once in her career has she topped this season's seven goal performance. Ludwig once scored nine against Wyoming Valley West in her senior season. Ludwig and Williams are no strangers. The two played against each other in high school, Ludwig for North Penn and Williams for rival Pottsville. Current teammate Brittany Yost also played for Pottsville. "Brittany has told me a lot about her," said Ludwig. "It feels really good to break the record because I know she's such a good player. Plus, I went from swim season not breaking a record to polo season where I broke a record." Ludwig's achievements haven't been a result of her efforts alone. Teammate Samantha Cibula leads the team in assists with 26. Together, the duo of Cibula and Ludwig have ignited the Lions' offense and have become something of a one-two punch against their opponents. Both Ludwig and Cibula recognize their chem istry in the pool. "My first thought should probably be to look at the goal, but my first look is always to Cara," laughed Cibula. "Anytime I think she's open, I pass to her. A lot of the time she is nodding her head no, but I give it to her anyway." "Sam sometimes can see that I'm open, even when I think I'm not," said Ludwig. "She really has good set passes and I just work really well with her." "I think my name should go under Cara's because probably all of my assists have been to Cara," added Cibula. Not only do her teammates count on her, but also head coach Joe Tristan counts on Ludwig to make things happen. "We really try to get the ball to Cara as much as possible because we know she's going to get the shots off," said Tristan. "She's probably one of the best centers in the area and she's going to get her shots off. Even if everybody in the water is against her, she's going to find a way to get the shots off." "I feel confident that (Ludwig) can work the ball into the goal. Usually when I get the ball she knows that there's a pretty good chance that whether she wants the ball or not it's coming to her," Cibula said. "Cara has taught me a lot of stuff about water Track team fields several ECAC runners by Justin Bootes staff writer With chirping birds and teeter-tottering weather, spring has brought several meets for the track team. The Behrend track team competed in the Mount Union Invitational this past weekend. The men would have placed second and the woman would have placed seventh had the meet been a scored meet. The women's team managed to qualify for the ECACs in two events while breaking one Behrend record. Marlena McNutt placed sixth in the 100 m with a time of 13.56 The women's team had two qualifiers for the ECACs. Jessica Sarver placed first in the 1500 m with a time of 4:53. She also managed to qualify for the ECACs. Jessica Knapp placed first in the 5000 m run with a time of 18:01. She managed to not only qualify for the ECACs, but she also broke the Behrend record for that event. The woman's 4x4 relay team placed fifth with a time of 4:20. Although they did not qualify for the ECACs, it was a new Behrend record. The women's team seems to be on its way to a very good season with a meet this weekend at Slip pery Rock. The meet brought about five ECAC qualifiers, four Behrend records and one NCAA provisional SPORTS Friday, April 16, 2004 0I I Cara Ludwig 61 goals 34 steals 27 drawn kickouts 7 goals in one game vs. Carthage 39 percent shooting, Ist career all-time Scored 4 or more goals in 7 games Samantha Cib 3 goals in one g 60 steals 20 drawn kickou 26 assists in one season 35 career assists, 3rd all-time polo. When there are better people on the team it makes me want to do better because I don't want to bring them down. You work harder to be at their level." Adjusting to new teammates has been the big gest challenge for Ludwig. "I had to adjust to playing with so many new people," said Ludwig. "But I think through prac tice, we've all come together. We bonded really well during swim season and I think that has helped us to become a better team." Ludwig all but has the single-season scoring record locked up for this year. Sarah McGarvey has scored 32 goals this season, a little more than half of Ludwig's total. Cibula could have her record broken this weekend. Close behind are McGarvey and Yost, with 23 and 21 assists, respectively. Both Ludwig and Cibula are quick to give credit to teammates for their success. "Sarah and Brittany are both experienced play ers," said Cibula. "They have a great feel for the game and they know how to find the open player." Tristan explained that once teams start seeing the connection that Ludwig and Cibula have, they try to put and end to the dynamic duo. "When they start seeing that Sam and Cara are working so well together, they start to press more on Sam. And that's where Sara and Brittany come in," Tristan said. "When Sam knows she can't get that pass in, there's the other two, right there ready to get that pass in." qualifier. Jason Kuntz placed fourth in the 100 m with a time of 11.23. This time also earned the team an ECAC qualifier position. Brad Ruffo competed in the 5000 m run. He placed first with a time of 15:44, a new Behrend record. Isiah Meek is ranked 11th in NCAA Division 111, as of Wednesday. He placed first in the 110 m hurdles. The new Behrend record is 14.76, held by Meek. The track team placed second in the 4xloo meter relay. Shane Rock, Meek, Jordan Gray and Kuntz qualified for the ECACs with a time of 44.15. In the field events, the team earned three ECAC qualifying positions. Dan Hackworth pole-vaulted 14 feet, placing fourth in the meet and qualifying for the ECACs. Dan Mitchell took second in the javelin with a throw of 177 feet while qualifying for the ECACs. Nick McGrady placed third in the javelin with a throw of 169 feet and also earning a ECAC quali fying position for the team. The men's track tear/1 seems to have high hopes with NCAA provisional qualifiers in its future. "Jess Knapp is only 13 seconds away in the 5000 meters with 18:01.60. Dan Mitchell is less than 6 feet away in the javelin," said head coach Dave Coo per. The men's track team also competes this week end at Slippery Rock. The Behrend Beacon Senior Spotlight: Becky Corbin Senior pitcher Becky Corbin currently has a 3.26 ERA and 21 strikeouts. by Ben Raymond staff writer Name: Becky Corbin Position: Pitcher/First Base Major: Mathematics Semester: 08 Hometown/high school: North East/North East High School Favorite Food: McDonald's cheeseburgers with mayonnaise Favorite Movie: "Happy Gilmore" Beacon: What are your plans for after graduation? Corbin: I am getting married to Dan Steves on June 19, and we plan to stay in Erie. I currently work for Larson Texts Inc., as a student programmer and I plan to continue working there. I am also think ing about taking a few more undergraduate classes so that I can go to dental school in a year or two. Beacon: What is something that not many people know about you or what special talents do you have? Corbin: I play the saxophone and I love to golf and sing karaoke. I also love scrapbooking. Beacon: What is one of your favorite sports memo ries while at Behrend? Corbin: After my sophomore season, I was ranked 30th in Division 111 as Toughest to Strike Out; I only struck out two times in 127 at bats. Beacon: How does the team this year compare to those of others? Corbin: It has been a rough season so far, but we are coming together and we are playing very well together. We get along better than any of the past teams and that makes it fun to play, even when we lose 11 games by one run! We have great team chemistry and we are finally starting to adjust to the new coaching. Hopefully we can finish the sea son strong and end up with a decent record. Beacon: What is one thing that you feel you've improved on in your time here? Corbin: I am a lot more mentally strong as a pitcher. I don't let things get to me as easily as I used to, and I am a better pitcher because of that. Beacon: Behrend is currently in first place in the AMCC. What are your feelings on the rest of the season? Corbin: I believe that our team can win AMCCs. We definitely have the talent and the ability, we just need to put everything together at the right times. I am very optimistic because I know that we have what it takes to do it. Beacon: How do you feel that being a student ath lete has affected your college experience? Corbin: Being an athlete has taught me a lot about time management. When you play a sport, you have to get your work done on limited time and that makes you get it done. I have also met a lot of awesome people (my teammates) and I will never regret playing college softball. It has been a great experience and I am proud of myself for making it through four years. Though it has been a huge time commitment, I have still managed to excel in my classes and to earn an honors de tree in math. Page