Page 8 hooping for some [nexperienced women’s team plays tough, looks for depth The Lion’s Eye help By SARAH GALLATIG Lion’s Eye Associate Editor SLG232@psu.edu Get on the ball and join in the game: Penn State Delco’s women’s basketball team is on the prowl, looking for more players. try out for the team. "We have a lot of inexperienced girls on the team," said coach Joe DiAntonio. "It's a building year, with only one returning player; we have a new group of girls and a new coaching staff. The talent level is going to improve as the November 17, 2003 Akuffo, it’s fun, too. "We have so much fun at practice," she said. "We learn a lot, but we always make sure we have a good time." Griffith added that one of the best things about the whole thing is that you don't have to have basketball skills to said Johnson. hard." season goes on." "They worked really Griffith was there, and was equally impressed. "I was very pleased with the way they played," said Griffith, "and they are only going to improve." During the first half Thursday, the Lions trailed by only four points, but during the second half, despite the offense’s best efforts, the shots kept "The shots kept rolling off the rim," In the second half, Philadelphia managed to score numerous field goals in a row, and despite the Lions’ best defensive efforts, emerged victorious. DiAntonio also thought the team lost steam in the second half. "It looked like we lost our legs in the second half," DiAntonio said. "We're going to work on conditioning." "It's not too late : Although the to come out for the WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ROSTER Lions lost their first team," said Athletic | Stacie Mann G So. 53 Chichester game to Community Director Tiz Amy McGregor F So. 59 Haverford College of oro i Brooke Edward G Fr... 57: Prep Chart : ; Griffith. "You even A Sai 3 G 5.4 a ji Philadelphia, 78-51, get 1.5 credits for oly Ak : Fr. 56 Chichester Thursday, they z : orence Akuffo Fr. 56 Upper Darby playing, which Sanu Yohannan ~~ F So. 5-6 Washington played well, and Souls toward satis- | jilian Reilly GW 50 Cad Okara gained much-needed ying your gym | ypCOMING WOMEN'S SCHEDULE | SXPerience against requirements. " wE another team at a Tl onight atD 6 p.m. : 5 Griffith also hh NLL Al 4 high level of compe pointed out that | nov. 24 at PSU Abington ~~ 6pm. | tition. playing basketball is | Dec. 2 PSU York 6 p.m. "They put in 100 more than just hav- | D¢¢ 2 a Harishurg gpm. ercent effort," said ] Dec. 9 at PSU Berks 6pm. | P€ STI0E%,. ing fun. Dec. 11 at Northampton 6 p.m. DiAntonio. They "Playing a sport | Dec. 13 Manor lpm. | battled the whole grltancss yom ode. | © UPCOMING MEN'S SCHEDULE [Hime and demon "q TY : Tonight at DCCC 8 p.m. Spare % 9 © said. tatistics | nov 19 Wilmington 7 p.m. teamwork. show that people | Nov. 24 at PSU Abington ~~ 8 p.m. Assistant coach falling short. who participate in | Dec 2 PSU Scranton 8pm. | Larry Johnson : . tP .m. ; ; . sports do better in Des i; re Merteoman 4 agreed. said DiAntonio. school." Dec. 9 at PSU Berks 8 p.m. "For the first And, says team Dec. 11 PSU Wilkes-Barre ~~ 7 p.m. game, they played member Florence really well together," Photo by Anteia Consorto Dana Johnson, a freshman from Interboro, hustles the ball up the court during Penn State Delco’s loss to Philadelphia Thursday on campus. The coach also said size was a factor. "The other team was a lot bigger," said DiAntonio. "We need to work on overcoming height with other things, like speed and agility." The players were also satisfied with their effort. "We played awesome!” said Brooke Edwards. “We lost, but we played a great and amazing game." Molly Hoffman played her first bas- ketball game ever, and was thrilled by the experience. "We played really well for our sea- son opener,” she said. “It was really good considering many players haven't played basketball before." Feisty soccer team gave obstacles the boot By JOHN HICKEY Lion’s Eye staff writer JWH244@psu.edu After what appeared to be a long, difficult season from the beginning, the PSU Delco soccer team changed quite a few opinions when the playoff hunt came within reach. Held back with early injuries, the Lions had to manipulate their lineup and adapt to the new positions very quickly. Coach Ryan Burke mentioned several key players that recognized a team problem and reacted quickly. "We had players that fought through their injuries all season long, like Raul Amador," said Burke. "People feed off that and it showed on the field. "Frank Schwiester also had a strong season as a striker.” Amador was the team's top scorer. “We started kind of slow,” he said. “We didn't know each other yet. We progressed as a team which helped us make it to the playoffs." When asked about his nagging injuries, Amador simply replied, “Whatever I have to do for the team Burke said Critter Wrigley, the starting sweeper, also was injured early and struggled to continue. With that important position vacant, Burke found Eric Richardson a capable replacement. "I didn't want to play sweeper," said Richardson. "Tt isn't my strong position, but the coach said he needed me to step up. In the end I was glad I made the sacrifice.” According to Burke, Richardon "took over back there." Hisham Rahmi came out for the squad last season having never seen a soccer game in his life. This year he was asked play goalie, rose to the occasion and is now considered an essential part of the team. Overcoming obstacles seems to be second nature to the Lions. "They're a great group of guys," replied Burke. "Everyone: plays at 110 percent." Despite a first round loss to PSU Hazleton, the team had a lot to say about where they came from to end up in the playoffs. PSU Delco's soccer team is proof that hard work, sacrifice, and having fun can bring you a long way in . sports. Editor’s note: A photo caption in the last issue of the Lion's Eye was incorrect regarding the soccer team’s playoff accomplishments. We apologize for the error.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers