The Behrend Beacon I 9
Men's and women's soccer teams make improvements to squads, ready for season
After two years of falling just short of the AMCC title, the
Women’s Soccer team is determined to claim their deserving posi
tion at the top. Last season, the Women experienced a difficult loss
in the finals to Frostburg State. They went out with pride as their
season concluded due to the double over-time 3-2 loss. As this team
has never been one that is easily discouraged, the ladies made an
impressive appearance in the ECAC Tournament shortly after. The
2004 Women’s season came to an end with a final standing record
of 14-6-1, a very satisfying feat.
As for the Men’s 2004 season, head coach Dan Perritano said he
was very happy with the regular season, but that it’s not important
to focus on the actual record. It should be more about improving
with each practice and each game. This was thoroughly demonstrat
ed as the men towered over teams such as Hilbert (6-1), Lake Erie
(3-0), Pitt-Bradford (5-0), and Mt. Aloysius (13-0). In the 2004 sea
son, the Men’s team ended with the record of 12-6-1 as the fifth seed
in the AMCC Championships.
For a number of years in the spring, both Men’s and Women’s
teams have participated in the TOPSoccer Program, headed by the
Men’s coach, Dan Perritano. The TOPSoccer organization is a com
munity event that usually lasts for eight weeks, (March through
May). The organization’s sim is to provide disabled children in the
Erie area with the joy of the soccer experience. The age range for
the children has gone from as young as four years old to those in
their early twenties. TOPSoccer is purely a community activity and
has earned much support from the Erie area. Each Wednesday, the
children arrive at the fields and are paired with a member of the
Men’s or Women’s team. The players take the children into the
exciting world of soccer as they teach them simple skills such as
dribbling, passing, shooting and throw-ins. Without a doubt, every
one benefits from the TOPSoccer Program. The participants get a
chance to learn and enjoy the art of soccer, and build friendships
with the players. To the members of the teams that come to the pro
gram and dedicate their time to touching the lives of these children,
the organization is fulfilling the cycle of support from the commu
nity, which has contributed to their success for years.
In the race to be at the top, this year’s teams will prove to be wor
thy contenders. Leading the Women’s team this year are senior cap
tains, Kacie Bums, the talented midfielder who racked up many
impressive goals in past seasons, and Stephanie Bowen, the top
defender from McMurray/Peters Township who is an accomplished
three-time first team AMCC winner. Patrick O’Driscoll, head coach
Women's volleyball team to start off season with high expectations and spirits
By Amy Frizzell
contributing writer
The volleyball team will kick off its 2005 sea-
son at the MariettaToufriameht this weekend at
Marietta. The team will begin play against Ohio
Valley, followed by Denison, and Marietta and
Seton Hill on Saturday.
The Lady Lions began training for their season
on August 22 and has been practicing two to
three times a day. This year the team has decid
ed to make an AMCC Championship and an
SJI'
Ik
%
«•»
■ CD
( - Pern Stab,
’-, En /S.
Map Legend
1. Jack Gordon
2. Maxwell’s Hobby
Shop
By Ashley Bressler
contributing writer
At
t
Senior Brain Blaszczyk goes up for a header during one of last
year’s games. Blas/c/yk will lead an eager Lions' squad this year.
for the women, is very optimistic lor the ladies this season and has
confidently set the standards high with hopes of winning the AMC'C'
Championship, which will send them straight into the National
Finals.
automatic NCAA bid its goal, something that
was denied them by Frostburg State University
in the finals of the AMCC tourney last year.
“ Last season our players learned to train more
intensely and make better decisions during play.
They have returned eager to continue with the
positive momentum from 2004 and push for
more success,” said head coach Phil Pisano
Helping the team to achieve this goal will be
Pisano and assistant coach Gerry Vcnscl. who
will both be starting their second season with the
team. Leading the team will be lone senior setter
UHm tSmjfm
<S> "«
Buffalo Rd
CD
KmitPta
Martin’s Carwash
Patrick’s Restaurant
Total Tan
Monroe Muffler
Eastway Lanes
Wendy’s Restaurant
Topher’s Pizza
Fit Figures
10.
Valerio’s Pizza
12.
13.
14.
Arby’s
Hallmark
Ponderosa
15.
Video U.S.A
16.
Little Caesar’s
r\
O
PORT
‘We are excited for the 2005 season to beam. We have one of the
cc
c
Coniidhiilmg Phot op m pher
Amanda Evans, who is currently the all-time
assist leader at Behrend. Joining her will be
juniors Elaine Volt/ and Lisa Wagner who were
both named all-conference players during the
2004 season. Rounding out the list of juniors
will be Karla Murray. Paige Payer and Katie
Ward. The Lions will also have the help of two
sophomores and five freshmen.
"The talented freshmen joining us will give us
depth that we didn't have last year. They should
challenge for playing time quickly and we’re
excited about their progress so far." said Pisano.
4310 Buffalo Road
Welcomes
Penh State
0 ss|ji
BehrejncK
Studen'ts.^
5 Roast Beef Sandwiches just
most experienced teams we have had in some time at Behrend
with six seniors. We return nine players from last year’s ECAC
semi-final team and we also have 10 talented freshmen that we
are adding to our roster. Our main goal is to win the AMCC
Championship and advance into the NCAA National Tournament.
If we work hard as a team and get behind our common goals, then
1 think we can achieve this. As always we will be up against some
stiff competition in the AMCC. Frostburg, Pitt-Greensburg, and
Laßochc arc always tough opponents. We play some challenging
non-conference games before opening up conference play on
September 24," O’Driscoll said.
The Women have a total of 22 players this season, 10 new
freshmen and 12 returning players. So far in the season, the ladies
have been focusing on training hard, getting to know one anoth
er's style of play and perfecting a few promising formations that
will hopefully send them sailing into the finals.
The Men’s team has all the spots covered as refined play
ers top the line-up. Juniors D.J. Craven and Sean Ruhlman will
lead the forwards. Mark Cipriani and Justin Reese will put their
three veteran years into action by controlling the midfield posi
tion. while Brian Blaszczyk and Dan Bash support the defense
with confidence and ease. Working together will be crucial for the
men this season and it is a task that they have proven to do well.
Learning to know one’s teammates' playing agendas, styles and
abilities is important to all teams, and is no different with the men
of the Behrend soccer team. These players spend hours each day
with one another and form a unique bond and support group for
one another. As Dan Perritano said, “They are friends on and off
the field."
The ultimate goal for this season has been to play collec
tively as one unit, in other words, to be familiar with each other
so that predicting a teammate's next move is apparent to the rest
of the team. This season, the team will be changing things up a bit
by altering their play from past years and so far the team has
adapted remarkably well. This can only mean one thing: we will
all be able to watch as the Behrcnd’s Men’s Soccer Team defeats
the competition.
The Women's Soccer team will open their season on
September 3 for the Herb Lauffer Tournament, which includes three
other teams, Washington and Jefferson, Baldwin-Wallace, and
Juniata. The Behrend Women are scheduled tc play W&J, and the
tournament will take place from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. As for the Men’s
team, they will also begin the season with the Herb Lauffer
Tournament on Septe.ber 3. The men will take the field from 2 p.m.
to 4 p.m., and will first be playing Juniata.
n
435
Harborcreek
All New
Friday, September 2, 2005
The team is currently ranked second in the pre
season poll just behind Frostburg State
University. Penn State Altoona and Mt. Aloysius
round out the last two.
"As coaches we really enjoy working with this
group of athletes and are proud of their focus and
effort," Pisano said. “We feel confident that we
will continue to improve all season and hope to
be playing at another level come playoff time.”