S. o eOre
, tip porto
MEN'S GOLF
Team
heads to
Ohio to
compete
in season's
last invite
ALEC ITALIANO
sports editor
Through the rain and
cold, the Penn State
Behrend Men's golf pro
gram wil attempt to repeat
at the AMCC tournament
taking place this weekend
in Youngstown, Oh.
Two time AMCC coach
of the year (2008-09) James
Bowen seems to be leading
the team in the right direc
tion as they won two of
their seven tournaments in
this rain-shortened season.
"We have a very good
chance at repeating; we are
one of the two Penn-State
teams there [Behrend and
Altoona] and as long as our
guys keep their heads on
straight we can pull out a
victory," said Bowen.
A lot of competition has
popped up in the confer
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Rookie Vasy brings
ELESE MERKOVSKY
sports editor
Being a freshman in college
is a big transition for most.
Sam Vasy dealt with the nor
mal freshmen things like ad
justing to dorm life and dealing
with Dobbin's food everyday,
but also stepped up into a start
ing position on the women's
soccer team. As she has started
in every game this season in
multiple positions, it is appar
ent that she is a key role in the
Lion's success.
"Adjusting to a whole new
group of girls and learning
their style of play was a huge
adjustment," Vasy said. "The
speed of play is a little faster,
and girls are a lot bigger in col
lege than they were in high
l i u.a&i ! i j ki,l A , k ji,i
Tortella part of men's soccer
MIRANDA MCCORMICK
staff writer
The men's soccer team has
started the season with a record
of 6-2-3. Outscoring their oppo
nents 26-13 overall this season,
the Lions are aiming to win the
AMCC conference champi
onship.
All of their success would not
be possible without senior Jerry
Tortella. Tortella is ranked third
all-time in goals and total points
in school history, and has estab
lished himself as the Enterprise
Rent-A-Car Athlete of the Week.
This fifth-year senior has
achieved so much in his tenure at
Behrend, and has contributed
greatly to the soccer program
here. He has been dreaming of
playing soccer at a higher level
since he was very young.
Behr end
A rock paper scissors tournament
took place at the Junker Center last
Wednesday. Full story on page B 4
Juniors Kevin Koerbel (left) and Kyle Meehl (right) were part of the winning AMCC team last season
Golf team roars
ence in the last few years
and some new programs
stand in the way of
Behrend winning their sec
ond consecutive AMCC
championship.
"Right now the most im
proved team is Mt. Aloy
sius," said Bowen. "I'm not
school."
Vasy played for the power
house Norwin squad in high
"I listen to the song
`All the Above' by
Maino. Then I think
about how lucky I am
to be playing the
game."
Sam Vasy
Freshman center-mid
school, so Vasy's work ethic
and skills transitioned easily
into the colligate level.
"It just felt right," he says. "I
loved the campus and how it was
set up along with a great busi
ness program."
The more he looked into the
soccer program here the more he
loved it. The coach also had a
huge impact on his choice.
"I found Coach Perriatano
very helpful and able to relate to
his players, which I really liked in
a coach," Tortella said.
With this being his last year
playing soccer, Tortella is aiming
to win another AMCC conference
championship.
"I've won one already and
nothing would end my soccer ca
reer better than winning an
other," said Tortella.
It's not just about what Tortella
see Tortella on page B 3
RIDAY,
sure if they will win
AMCCs, but any given
Sunday anything can hap
pen."
Last Sunday the team
traveled to New Castle, PA
in the Westminster Autumn
Invitational where they fin
ished seventh out of twelve
versatility to field
Soccer has been a large part in
Vasy's life, as she began play
ing at age six. While playing
on cup teams and in high
school, Vasy helped her team
make its way to the state semi
finals where they lost in over
time to local McDowell Area
high school in overtime.
Though it was a heart breaking
loss, Sam was recognized as an
All-Section and All-WPIAL
player.
After years of success she has
formed a routine before each
game to get herself pumped.
"I listen to the song 'all the
above' by Maino," Vasy said.
Then I think about how lucky I
am to be playing the game."
"In my junior year of high
school, I met a five year old,
PSBLions.com
Senior Jerry Torte& is third all-time in goals and total points in Behrend history.
Bott om
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
The MLB gears up for post-sea
son play, complete preview on
Page B 4
CTOBER 8, 2010
into AMCCs
teams. Sophomore Zach
Polinski was the low man
for the Lions with a 79 on
the par 72 course, two
strokes behind tournament
medalist Ryan Gaughan
from Malone University.
Junior Kevin Koerbel, the
number one player on the
team with a season average
of 79.4, placed 25th in the
tournament with an 86,
and senior captain Marc
Neiswonger fired an 88 to
take 31st.
"I think we are a young,
developing team that still
has a shot to win AMCCs,"
Grace Ekis, who was diagnosed
with brain cancer who loved
soccer. She passed away and
every day since then I've been
inspired to play for her and I
tell myself to play every game
like its my last."
Vasy started the season off in
the open right defensive posi
tion, but with changes in the
line up, Vasy has made the
move to center midfield. Her
composure on the ball and abil
ity to read the field has led to
her to be successful in any po
sition she has been put on the
field. The fact that she holds
herself to high standards al
lows her to accept the best
when she steps on the field.
see Rookie on page B 3
success
MEN'S WATER POLO
Freshman Brian Shapter has
been named the CWPA
defensive player of the week
said Koerbel. "We just need
to focus and play our own
game, but we have the
players to win. I look for
ward to a big tournament
and hope to put up some
good numbers."
Neiswonger has proved
to be one of the most im
proved players from last
season. He has the third
lowest average on the team
with a 83.9 and tied for first
at the Hilbert Invitational
after fiting a 78.
"My expectations for the
AMCCs is to win and noth
ing else," said Neiswonger.
"I feel like we have the best
team in this conference
and since we are AMCCs
champs from last year it is
important to go out and
show the other teams that
we are not push-overs, and
last year wasn't a fluke.
Our team has great depth
from the seniors such as I,
all the way down to the
first year players. If we
play up to our potential like
we have all year there is
not a team that can beat
PSBLlons.com
Oak Tree Country Club
will play host to the Al
legheny Mountain Colle-
championship as the play
ers tee off Sunday morn
ing. With another repeat,
the team could be traveling
to NCAAs again in the
spring.
"I think we can win," said
Bowen. "But we will have
our hands full."
VOLLEYBALL
Lady Lions
ose c
match
against
rivals
After a long five game
set, Behrend took a
tough loss against Penn
State Altoona. The
women came up just
short in the first two but
were able to snag the
wins in the third and
fourth games. Behrend
was not able to carry
that force into the fifth
game.
"We need more energy
on the court, said fresh
man Chelsea Magnusen.
"We seem to die down
every now and then and
lose our excitement and
energy"
During the first game,
Behrend had an early
lead, but wasn't able to
hold onto it. Altoona
took the lead and never
fell behind for the re
mainder of the game.
Behrend was able to tie
it up, though, at 24 all.
The close game was fin
ished off by a side-out
and a kill by Altoona's
junior, Samantha Link.
Behrend got behind in
the second game and
never took the lead.
"It has been a rough
season so far with our
losses but we have im
proved on some smarter
see Lady Lions on page B 3
Line
Conference
ose
KAELA BISHOP
senior reporter