| The Behrend Beacon
Women's Cross Country brings home AMCC
Championship title;
By Brooke Dodds
staff writer
The women’s cross-country team captured the
AMCC Championship title last Saturday when the
cross-country teams traveled to Frostburg State Uni
versity for the meet. The blue and white faced tough
competition from schools such as Penn State Altoona,
Pitt-Greensburg, Mt. Aloysius, La Roche, Medaille,
Lake Erie, Pitt-Bradford, Frostburg State and Hil
bert.
On the women’s side, they earned 19 points for a
first place finish, giving our girls the 2004 AMCC
Championship title they so fiercely fought for. Penn
State Altoona earned 50 points for a second place
finish and Pitt-Greensburg finished third with 113
points.
Taking the first place finish was our very own Jes
sica Knapp who also tabbed this week’s runner of
the week honors. As senior captain of the women’s
team this year, she helped set the standard. Knapp
blew away the competition covering the soggy 6K
course at Western Maryland 4-H in a time of 25:01.
“I am proud that our girls team has come together
and was so successful,” said Knapp. “We are build
ing a Behrend cross country dynasty under Coach
Cooper.”
Sophomore Leslie Gentile took the runner’s up
place with a time of 25:57 in the women’s individual
category. Senior Claire Manelick finished fifth with
a time of 27:29, sophomore Willa Paterson came in
sixth place with a time of 27:39 and finally fresh
man Leisl Soergel finished 12 in 28:46.
“I think that everyone did a great job on Saturday.
Men’s water polo ends on a high note
Commentary by Kyle Woodside
staff writer
I have been writing articles for the semester about
the team, not knowing who any of them were until
Wednesday night. By sheer coincidence, I was
signed up by a friend to play intramural dodgeball,
not knowing who else was on my team. Five mem
bers of the water polo team were there ready to play.
Coach Tristan has been emphasizing his “great
group of guys” all season that always play as a team.
T could see these qualities in the guys just from these
IM games. (I wonder if they will ask Coach Tristan
to throw wrenches at the goalie next year as part of
the team’s practice drills?)
This past weekend, Behrend traveled to Princeton
for the Division 111 Southern Championships to
wrap up their season.
The first game was against Division I powerhouse
Navy. The Lions played well, but lost, 23-4.
“To score four goals against this team is great,”
Tristan said. “We were nervous because it was the
first game, otherwise the score might not have been
so lopsided.”
Andre Pranckevicius has two goals for the Lions
while Justin Ryder and Anthony Spoto had one goal
each.
The second game was against Division II Slip
pery Rock. A victory against the Rockets would
have given Behrend a chance to finish no lower
than eighth in the tournament. The game was a very
tight match all the way. Slippery Rock was up, 9-8,
with 2:18 left in the contest when they capitalized
on an ejection with 18 seconds left to win, 10-8.
Tristan points to the 6-on-5 opportunities as the
game’s decider. A 6-on-s’s is 20-second power play
where one team has a great chance to score while
being a “man up”.
“Our man up wasn’t there,” Tristan said. “We
were only 3 for 9 [on the 6-on-5 ’sj. That’s ok though
because we’ve lost to them by at least six goals
every game this year so we’re improving.”
Pranckevicius had a hat trick against the Rock
ets. Spoto and Brandon Thiel had two goals apiece
and Justin Ryder contributed a goal as well.
The third game was against another Division II
foe, Gannon University. The Knights have beaten
INTRAMURAL FLAG FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS
THE
SPORTS
The lady lion’s took first place at this year’s AMCC Champoinship meet this last Saturday.
Senior Jessica Knapp was the women’s individual champion, while sophomore Leslie Gentile
took the runner’s up spot.
It was a hard course, but we dug down and finished
where we wanted to,” said Manelick. “All the hard
work that we’ve put in since this summer has paid
off.”
Head Coach Dave Cooper and Assistant Coach
Greg Cooper have done a great job in preparing the
team for the AMCC Championships and now they
are preparing for the NCAA Regional race at Al
legheny College, which is slated to take place Nov.
13.
Behrend by at least 10 goals in every match this
season, but Behrend turned the tables in this game
despite being fatigued from the previous two
games and only lost, 9-6.
Nick McGrady had 10 saves in goal. Spoto laid
the hammer down by having four goals and
Pranckevicius netted two.
The final game was against twelfth-seeded
Grove City. Behrend came out victorious, 9-5. The
team held a 6-0 advantage and never looked back.
“We dominated from start to finish,” Tristan
said. “I was able to give Nick [McGrady] a chance
to play in the field instead of goalie since it was
his last game.”
Pranckevicius had another hat trick for the Li
ons. Danny Ball found the back of the goal twice.
Spoto, Vincent Brewer, Steve Schleicher, Stephen
Sopher and Brandon Sieber also had a goal.
“We gained moral victories in the games we
lost," Tristan said of the tournament.
Behrend finished with a 6-17 overall record.
Kudos goes out to the team on a job well done.
“I just want to make note that some guys on my
team might not have seen much playing time this
season, but they push our starters in practice,” siad
Tristan. This helped make themselves better while
simultaneously making the starters better. This was
the best season Behrend has ever seen.”
As for next year, the team is excited. “Some guys
are on the swimming team now and others are do
ing their own thing such as weightlifting. I’m try
ing to recruit to make our squad even more solid
than it already is.”
The returning members of the squad are ver op
timistic about next season.
“I’m excited to contend with MIT even more
competitively next year,” Vincent Brewer said. “I
want to win the Eastern Championships next year
- yes, I’m that confident!”
Anthony Spoto remained humble even though
he has set records this season at Behrend: “The
team was able to stay in games until the end. I
love this group of guys I play with. They make
me a better player.”
“We’ve got momentum for next season,” said
junior Steve Schleicher.
mini flnfca smmm
The men took a second place finish, not quite be
ing able to bump Frostburg State out of their top spot.
Frostburg earned 25 points, Penn State Behrend
scored 33 points and Penn State Altoona came in
third with 89 points. Behrend’s top runner was
sophomore Brad Ruffo. He came in second place
out of fifty male runners with a time of 29:01 on the
8K course.
Freshman Eric Diluzio came in fourth place with
a time 0f29:42. and sophomore Craig Davis followed
HOUSIMB AMD FOOD SERVICE
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ATHLETE 5pP
OF THE WEEK
Leslie Gentile
SPORT: Women’s Cross Country
CLASS: Sophomore
DATE: November 3, 2004
Leslie Gentile (Corry/Cony) was named
this Housing
Athlete of
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Next up will be
the NCAA regional meet on Nov. 13 at
Allegheny.
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Friday, November 5, 2004
closely coming in sixth with a time of 29:54. Senior
Tim Schultheis took tenth place at 30:13 with team
mates Harry Balwick and Andy Marshall coming in
directly behind him to take the 11 and 12 spots, re
spectively.
“Our team this year is the closest knit team I’ve
ever been on, and we are the best Men’s Cross Coun
try team Behrend has ever had,” said junior Brent
Beauseigneur. We are looking to place in the top
ten at regionals in two weeks which a men’s team
has never accomplished.”
The guys put forth their best efforts all year and
feel all of their hard work has paid off.
“We put our heart and souls into it and nobody
should feel bad about their performances,” said se
nior Mike Barlett. “It is really nice to be in a confer
ence where there is this tight rivalry among teams,
especially between Behrend and Frostburg, because
it makes people hungry for a win.”
This marks only the second time in school history
that the Behrend women have won AMCC’s, once
in 2001 and now in 2004. Knapp has taken three
AMCC first place finishes during her stellar career
in 2001,2003 and 2004.
The Runner of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and
Coach of the Year awards will be announced later
this week. Knapp was predicted to keep her title as
Runner of the Year again this season and with her
first place performance many would say this was the
right prediction.
For now, the team will continue to train for the
NCAA Regional meet at Allegheny, which will be
held next Nov. 13.
the women. were topjrs.
Housing and Food Service Athlete of the
Week is selected by the Sports Information
Staff.
814-231-9000
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