1;i The Daily Collegian No. 18 Rooters hope to By CHRIS MASSE Collegian Sports Writer When former Nittany Lion soccer player Michael Coll's penalty shot sailed wide right against Indiana in the Big Ten tournament last November, it ended a disappointing, injury -filled season for the men's soccer team. The Lions, currently ranked No. 18 in the NSCAA/Umbro coaches poll, get a chance to vent frustration and start a new quest for a conference title at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in Williamsburg when they battle No. 12 William & Mary. After playing the Tribe, Penn State will take on the Loyola Grey hounds at 4 p.m. Monday in Baltimore. Loy ola defeated Penn State 2-0 a year ago at Jef frey Field. Senior Travis Berger, who missed last sea son with a broken leg, returns to highlight a potent Lion offense which includes Jon Buzin coming out of the shadows By ANDREW KREBS Collegian Sports Writer It's not that Mike Buzin didn't want to play football. Actually, passion for the game emanates from Buzin like gasoline vapors from a Texaco. He's a foot ball player from the top of his white helmet to the soles of his black cleats. It's just that he didn't want to wear a white helmet and black cleats. He didn't want to play in the shadow of his father. "At the age when I was getting recruited, that's the age when you rebel from your parents," Buzin said. "I was like, 'l'm not going to Penn State, Dad.' " For Rich Buzin, Mike Buzin's dad and a former Nittany Lion football player, statements like that can be hard to swallow. Rich Buzin was, one of the first players Joe Paterno guided as a head coach when he played tackle at Penn State in 1966 and 1967. Following his college career, Rich Buzin spent several seasons in the National Football League with the New York Giants, Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears. Rich Buzin bleeds blue and white. Mike Buzin, though, wanted to form his own football identity away from the shadows and the inevitable comparisons. When the time came to pick a college, Mike Buzin decided to shop around. "I went to (high) school in down town Cleveland, and I didn't want to go to another downtown-type area," he said. "That's why Ohio State, I didn't particularly like. Even Michigan, that was a little too big for me. "(Penn State) was just about perfect, because there was more Lady Booters plunge into season head first By AARON BASTIDE Collegian Sports Writer Penn State women's soccer coach Pat Farmer isn't the type of guy who likes to gradually ease into the season by scheduling easy oppo nents. "I like to start with hard people. I like the kick start," he said. "It sets the stage for the beginning of the season." Farmer's team will face James Madison, a perennial top 25 team, in its season opener 1 p.m. Sunday at Jeffrey Field. This is the fourth consecutive year Penn State, ranked No. 8 in this year's NSCAA/Umbro Top 25 poll, will open with James Madison, ranked No. 13. "This is our fourth year in a row against James Madison," senior Melissa Sallade said, "and it's become a rivalry." The rivalry began in 1994 when JMU spoiled the beginning of Penn State's inaugural season with a 4-1 defeat. The Lady Lions won the 1995 opener, 3-2 in overtime, but JMU got revenge later that year by elim inating Penn State from the NCAA tournament. Last season's opener went to Penn State as senior Erin Killough, playing in her first game after transferring from the Univer sity of San Francisco, scored the game-winning goal, giving her new team a 2-1 victory. "I'm not sure why, but it's always been a huge deal to beat them," said senior Dara Christante, who will start in goal for Penn State on Sunday. "We want to start the sea McClay and Phil Karn, the leading, scorer in the Big Ten last year. Berger is confident the Lions will be a strong offensive team once they get thei timing down "Right now we're missing by just a second or so on one-twos and on seeing the pass," Berger said. "But that's just going to come with the new and old players getting to play each other and that develops as the season progresses." The Lions should be solid in goal. Starting goalie Steve Saunders posted a 4-2-1 lasi year, with a team-best .90 goals against aver age That average will be tested from an improved William & Mary squad. "William & Mary is a very good team. They are very well coached and have had a lot of success," he said. "It should be a diffi cult and challenging match, but we are look ing to come away with a win." to do here than at Notre Dame." Mike Buzin redshirted his freshman year and saw limited action during the next two seasons as a Lion. As he prepares for the 1997 season, however, the 6-foot-3, 266 pounder is No. 1 on the depth chart at nose tackle. At first, Buzin denied the exis tence of any pressure to prove he's as good as his father, but eventually he relented. "I'd always rather do things for myself," he said. "I guess there's always that little thing in the back of my head, though, that says, 'I want to do better than my dad did.' " While Buzin may be reluctant to compete against his father's lega cy, the similarities and differ ences between the two are already being questioned and answered. "They're two different types of people," Paterno said. "Mike's dad was the same kind of worker and had the same kind of character and loyalty. Mike's more enthusi astic and he's got more bubble and bounce than his dad had." And the similarities and differ ences between Mike Buzin and last year's nose tackle, Brandon Noble, are also being questioned and answered. "I guess the biggest question would be trying to fill Brandon Noble's shoes," Mike Buzin said. "I'm just going to do my job and as much extra as I can do." Mike Buzin won't only be play ing in one man's shadow. Instead, he will play in two men's shadows, but he's raring to go nonetheless. "I'm so excited to be here now," he said. "This is my first year starting. We're ranked No. 1. It just doesn't get any better." Maybe Mike Buzin can create a few shadows of his own. son off with a bang and continue from there." JMU head coach Dave Lombardo agreed the familiarity of the two teams has bred a certain amount of contempt. "It's developed into a competi tive rivalry," he said. "We've played four times overall, they've won two and we've won two, it should be a good game on Sunday. But Lombardo doesn't share Farmer's enthusiasm for facing tough opponents early in the sea son. He understands that an early season loss could mean a quick exit from the top 25 poll. "If you lose (an early game) you end up digging a hole and you have to get out of that," he said. "Nobody wants to do that. "But if you want to be an NCAA tournament team you have to play against the best, and Penn State is one of the best around." JMU will try to exploit Penn State's defense, which Farmer said is not as "physical or intimidating" as he would like. "Right now I think we're playing a little soft," he said. "We need to compensate for this with tactical ability and 'quickness." While Penn State's defense may be timid, its offense is anything but. Farmer is impressed by his team's ability to possess the ball and launch lightning-quick attacks on net. "We've been doing well so far mostly because we have the ability to score so many goals," Farmer said, "and as (assistant coach) Paula (Wilkins) says, 'The best defense is a good offense."' .: 1,, 'l\ ,-.1 7 -7 C'N; ,: , ------- ____) k _ . Friday, Aug. 29, 1997 e t off n " ht foot aga'nst Trib g e William & Mary is coming off its greatest city and we have to score more goals," year ever, following a 20-34 mark and a trip Albert said. "We created a lot of opportuni to the NCAA quarterfinals. Although his ties against Virginia but we just didn't capi r team was thumped by No. 2 Virginia, 4-0, in talize on them." a preseason game last Saturday, coach Al After battling the Tribe, Penn State can / • ,_,.e , Albert likes his team's makeup. look forward to another grueling battle with " 4 , "We have a core of experienced players Loyola. who have played in a lot of big games," The Greyhounds, 11-9-2 last year, are in a'Mk- • % Albert said." We're a very tough and scrap- slight rebuilding phase as they try to replace mak' 4 , py soccer team." their two leading scorers from last year. The Tribe features a strong offense and Still, coach Bill Sento remains optimistic for sound goaltending. Forward Wade Barrett, future success. t who tallied 28 points last season, spearheads "This season we have a strong nucleus the offense. Sophomore Adin Brown can with an excellent attitude," Sento said. make life miserable for opposing offenses. "Hopefully, we can attain our goals and Last season, Brown collected nine shutouts move into competition on the national level." H en route to earning the Colonial Athletic Penn State is hoping to get out of the gates Association's Freshman of the Year. . . y-. 1- * el I efe-s 1.. ~64111: Albert said his team has to learn from the mistakes it made against Virginia if it hopes to defeat Penn State. Chris Snyder sacks Temple quarterback Henry Burris in Penn State's defensive lineman, who will help fill the shoes left by the departure of 41-0 victory last season. Snyder and Matt Fornadel are two returning Brandon Noble and position change of Brandon Short. Fornadel, Snyder anchor line Editor's note: This is the fifth story in an eight-part series previewing Penn State's football team. This story pre views the defensive line. By ANDREW KREBS Collegian Sports Writer Two players are gone from last season's edition of the Penn State defensive line two incredibly talented players. Gone is nose tackle Brandon Noble, the team MVP in 1996, who Christy Cochran goes for the kill as Ohio State's Vanessa Wouters and Sherri Heiman attempt to block. Cochran and her teammates will try to secure a No. 1 ranking tonight when they play Duquesne at Rec Hall. "We have to defend with a lot more inten- led the Nittany Lions with eight sacks and set the pace for the defensive line with 27 solo tackles and 45 assists. Gone from the defensive line, but still on the team, is Brandon Short. Last season, as a right end, Short had 48 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Now he's an inside linebacker. "I like Brandon as a linebacker from a leadership standpoint," said Penn State defensive coordi nator Jerry Sandusky. "It will remain to be seen how Brandon two games against Portland and Washington. Gorman said wins over William & Mary and Loyola could set a very good tone for the rest of the season. will do in terms of position adjust ment." Mike Buzin, a 6-foot-3, 266- pound redshirt junior, will attempt to replace Noble. He will likely be backed up by 6-foot, 276- pound fifth-year senior Joe Sabolevski. "I'm a different player," Buzin said. "Brandon was not only a good player, but he was also a good leader. I'm going to try to do the same thing." After seeing action in just 13 Lady Spikers hope to lock up No. 1 ranking By VITO FORLENZA Collegian Sports Writer Forget last season's 31-3 record. Forget this year's No. 2 presea son ranking. With its victory last Saturday over No. 1 Stanford at the State Farm/NACWAA Classic, the Penn State women's volleyball team is primed to secure that top slot. But the new rankings will not be unveiled until Sept. 1, and the Lady Lions still have some business to settle before they sit atop the polls. In its first home match•of the season, the Lady Lions (2-0) face Duquesne (0-0) at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Rec Hall. . "Now that we're No. 1, it's great, but its like we have a bull's eye on us," junior outside hitter Christy Cochran said. "Everyone's ready." Duquesne must be prepared to take on a Lady Lion team that returns five starters and 12 letter winners, including two All-Ameri cans and three All-Big Ten picks. The Lady Lions expect senior middle hitter and All-American Terri Zemaitis to pave the way to coach Russ Rose's first national title in what is now his 19th year at Penn State. With her 40 kills thus far this season, the 1995 Big Ten Player of the Year is 129 kills short of second place on Penn State's all time list. "It's important for our leaders to establish communication," Rose said. "To be ranked No. 1 in August means less than being No. 1 in Sep tember. They have to realize we have a long way to go." But even before the season Jon McClay Lion midfielder Collegian File Photo games over the past two seasons, Buzin saw his stock on the team rise substantially in the spring. He was presented with the Jim O'Hora Award as the most improved defensive player. Because of the experience of two other members of the defen sive line, however, Buzin will probably not shoulder the leader ship role that Noble did. Chris Snyder, a 6-foot-3, 278- pound fifth-year senior will likely Please see SNYDER, Page 22. began, Rose's Big Ten peers named Penn Starr. the conference's elite in the preseason polls by unanimously selecting the Lady Lions as the con ference title winner. The coaches also chose last year's Big Ten Freshman of the Year, setter Bon nie Bremner, sophomore middle hitter Lauren Cacciamani and Zemaitis for the preseason All-Big Ten team. "The Big Ten is the most compet itive conference," Rose said. "The conference is committed to. its ath letic programs, so I think we have a good chance of going undefeated in August." For its program, Duquesne also is riding the coattails of a fine sea son. The Lady Dukes concluded last year with an overall mark of 18-13, tied for sixth in the Atlantic 10. Their nine league wins was the most in school history. Duquesne, coached by Kerry Miller, returns eight letterwinners including five starters from the 1996 squad. "They played very well against Ohio State last year," Rose said. "That was enough to get my atten tion." Unlike the Lady Lions, Duquesne is young. But they are similar to Penn State in experience. Three of the returning four sophomores started last season, and the fourth saw significant action. The Lady Dukes are looking to co-captains Nikki Taylor and Sheila Lopez to keep the squad on a winning pace. Rose hopes his team is prepared. "I expect them to play hard," Rose said. "I expect them to be a lot better than my team is expect ing."
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