September 18, 2000
The LION’s EYE
Page 8
~ Fall sports preview
By Charles Reed
Staff writer
It’s beginning to look like a grim fall
for Philly sports fans.
The Phillies seem to be content in their
position as the boys of summer while help-
ing the usual contenders surge into
autumn as the men of October, and all
they had to do was rid themselves of their
ace, Curt Schilling.
The Flyers, apparently not happy
enough with the loss of team leader, Eric
Lindros, are bickering over dollars with
one of their two remaining superstars,
John LeClair. Best of luck to General
Manager Bobby Clarke, who has almost
succeeded in his mission to turn the fabled
“Legion of Doom” line into the “Legion of
Doomed.”
In the NBA, it seems the Sixers would
have their fans believe that Tony Kukoc —
not that Jordan guy — was the real catalyst
behind all of those Chicago championships.
As if in emulation of the Flyers and the
Phils, the Sixers almost ran Allen Iverson,
their sole superstar, out of town as well.
Look for only conflict in and around
the First Union Center this fall. But, of
course, with the tumultuous spring for the
Flyers and the violent summer for the
Republicans, conflict around the F.U.
Center is what this town has come to
expect.
Even up in Happy Valley,
Pennsylvania's only “sure thing” has
crumbled, as Joe Pa has his hands full and
- his bench empty. Indeed, Penn State’s foot-
ball fans are gnashing their teeth, seeing
more blue than white, as the Nittany Lions
stumbled to an 0-2 start against such
perennial AP powerhouses as Southern
Cal and ... Toledo?
So, with Philly’s only ray of hope (hope-
~ fully) shining on Sundays with the split-
personality Eagles, where else can Delco
students go except home?
Thus, we arrive at the much heralded,
highly anticipated, Penn State Delco Fall
Sport Preview.
Team Tennis:
Rumor has it that Andre Agassi didn’t
drop from the U.S. Olympic Team because
of personal problems, but because he
Coach Tom Pfleger gives the volleyball
team instructions.
heard that there was an open spot on
Delco’s co-ed tennis team. No word on
Anna Kournikova’s desires to follow suit.
Led by Coach Bill McCourt, who
expects nothing less than a first-place fin-
ish in the CCAC, Delco tennis looks to con-
tinue a winning tradition despite being
severely short-handed. Only four players
are returning from last year’s 8-2 squad.
For the women, Kathy Nguyen and
Tori Davidson will be battling for the num-
ber one singles spot, with Tara Martini
and Nicole Culin closing it out.
On the men’s side, An Shih and Steve
Spera, who went undefeated last year, will
be vying for the top spot, with Naresh
Reddy following close behind.
Soccer:
Despite losing its only pre-season
game, Delco Soccer is expecting big things.
And it hopes to do them with a kicking
game that is powerful, though not always
accurate.
Helmed by first-year coach Bill Munger
and the captaining triumvirate of Andy
Slowik, Bang Duong, and Rich “Noodle-
leg” Neal, the team has seven returning
players from last season, including the
Hadrian's Wall of Goalies, Osmond
Mbaeri.
“We have a lot of high hopes,” said
Slowik. “We have the best goalkeeper in
the league, as voted last year by the
[CCAC] coaches.”
The team isn’t just looking to build on
last year’s 7-9 record — it’s looking to bury
00 0000000000000 0000000000000000000COCOCRICROIOIOSISIS
LJ
Volleyball
9/9 CCAC South PSU Mont Alto
9/12 Delaware CCC
9/16 CCAC North and South PSU
Hazleton (A, 11 a.m.)
9/18 Bucks CCC Delaware CCC (H, 6
p.m.)
9/23 CCAC North and South PSU York (A,
noon)
9/27 Bucks/Phila. PSU Abington (A, 6
p.m.) :
9/30 CCAC South PSU Abington (A, noon)
10/3 Phila./Central (A, 6 p.m.)
10/5 CCAC Eastern Finals (TBA)
10/7 CCAC Finals at University Park (TBA)
10/9 Central Penn (A, 6 p.m.)
10/12 EPCC Playoff (TBA) -
10/14 EPCC Tournament (TBA)
000000000 0000000000000 00000000000OCOCKONCIIIIIYS
There’s no shortstop shortage for Delco Baseball.
Soccer
9/6 Gloucester CCC, L 4-2
(Scrimmage)
9/9 PSU Hazleton
9/13 Manor (H, 4 p.m.)
9/15 PSU Abington (A, 4 p.m.)
9/20 Phila. C.C. (H, 4 p.m.)
9/23 PSU Berks (H, 11 a.m.)
9/26 Bucks CCC (A, 4 p.m.)
9/30 PSU Scranton (A, 1 p.m.)
10/4 Delaware CCC (A, 4 p.m.)
10/7 PSU Wilkes Barre (H, 1 p.m.)
10/10 Williamson (H, 4 p.m.)
10/12 PSU York (H, 4 p.m.)
10/14 PSU Mont Alto (H, 1 p.m.)
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Jose’ Mancia serves one up.
it. How did Coach Munger describe this
year’s squad?
“Good, real good.”
And he said it with a face of stone.
Women’s Volleyball:
Fourth-year coach Tom Pfleger has a
tough road ahead. :
Not only must his team start the sea-
son without returning star starter Vanessa
Behl, who's out until at least the first week
of October with a stress fracture, Delco
Volleyball must also forge through the sad-
ness surrounding the death of Sarah
Stover.
Instead of the usual pre-game shout of
“DELCO!,” plans have been made for a cer-
emonial homage to Stover instead.
“Sarah is a loss ... She was a big play-
er. With Sarah — and if Vanessa were
healthy — we'd be the best team in the
league,” said Coach Pfleger.
Still, the team is built around the blis-
tering serves of returning sophomores
Colleen Kelly and Julienne Balmer, and as
Coach Pfleger said, “Every point starts
with a serve.”
It was the voice of optimism amidst
long odds — a voice that ensures that no
team that plays behind it will lose games,
regardless of the final score.
Tennis
9/9 PSU Berks
9/13 PSU Abington
9/16 PSU Mont Alto (H, 1 p.m.)
9/19 PSU York (H, 3 p.m.)
9/23 PSU Berks (A, 1 p.m.)
9/25 PSU Hazleton (A, 3 p.m.)
9/29 PSU Abington (H, 3 p.m.)
10/5 PSU York (A, 3 p.m.)
10/7 PSU Mont Alto (A, 1 p.m.)
10/11 PSU Hazleton (H, 3 p.m.)
10/ 14-15 CCAC Tournament at
University Park
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0000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
{Photos by CHARLES REED}
Baseball:
The “Ping!” of the bat, the smell of the
grass ... these are the sensations of fall
baseball.
“We have a pretty good squad with a
lot of potential,” said assistant coach John
Winters.
Potential, as we've seen over and over
with the Phillies, is a word for a rebuilding
team. But, as only a two-year campus, it
seems that every year is a rebuilding year
for Delco.
Fifth-year coaching brothers Adam and
John Winters may not see it that way, but
with only three starters returning from
last year’s 8-10 team, rebuilding is basical-
ly what it all comes down to.
Returning are first baseman Jim
Sofranko, pitcher Dan Romano, and All-
Conference shortstop/pitcher David Boyle,
who are, as assistant coach Winters said,
“Looking to get to the championship.”
That may seem a little far-fetched, but
never discount determination, especially in
a young team that has an optimistic out
look toward the upcoming season.
“Team attitude is really good this year,”
said Winters. “The kids who want to win
are really pushing the others.”
Baseball
9/2 Northhampton .....Postponed
(rain)
9/9 Wilkes Barre
9/12 Phila. CC
9/16 PSU Hazelton (H, 1 p.m.)
9/20 PSU Berks (A, 2 p.m.)
9/23 Luzerne CCC (H, 2 p.m.)
9/26 PSU Abington (H, 2 p.m.)
9/30 PSU Mont Alto (A, 1 p.m.)
10/1 Penn College (A, 2 p.m.)
10/7 EPCC Tournament
** ALL EVENTS ARE
DOUBLEHEADERS
A