l£J Friday, Fkb. 12, 2010 leers have no time to rest with season winding down By Tom Klnslow COLLEGIAN STAFE WRITER In the third period of Saturday's Same against Rhode Island, defenseman Steve Thurston reared back and fired tb k e puc from the blue line through the air before making a sickening thud and ricocheting away. Left in its wake was forward Tim O'Brien, laying face down on the ice and writhing in pain. O'Brien eventually got up off the ice and made it to the bench with only a bruise and the ability to laugh it off. However, those bumps and bruises add up. With forward Dominic Morrone joining Dan Loucks. Chris Pronehik and George Saad on the injured list, there is no rest for the w ean as the leers continue down this stretch run of the season. When asked about the prospect of a night off for some of the veter an players. Penn State leers coach Scott Balboni was unwavering in his stance "No.' chance Balboni said. "No While Balboni isn't limiting any one's activity on the weekends. Lions seeking first season-opening win since 2002 Coiieg", • - Junior Danee Collett connects with a pitch against St. Francis last April. r- '"" c " ' "■ -w T, -s - -T. r WQT Last Chance to See the PSU Wpe€tlers| Intercollegiate Athletics TONIGHT vs. Michigan State® 7pm $ Autograph session with Cyler Sanderson & Team immediately following match - THE GRID Men’s Basketball Lady Lions Men’s Volleyball Wrestling Softball Men’s Lacrosse Women’s Ucresse vs. No. 14 Loyola (Md.) Man’e t««.l Tyson Invitational, Husky Mens Track invitational Wnmpn’cTrark Tyson Invitational, Husky women s iracn Invitational Women’s Gymnastics Men’s Fencing Women’s Fencing Men’s Tennis Women’s Tennis Ice Lions Lady leers during the week is another story. The team was given off mid week a couple of weeks ago a rarity for the team - and the coaching staff is finding other ways to limit the players' workloads. Practice length varies any where from a half-hour to an hour, during which the coaches will have incentive-based contests, with the winners receiving rest and the losers skating. Those factors, coupled with staying disciplined off the ice. is something the players see as ben eficial with so many key moments ahead. ICERS "Right now. I'm going to go home, get my work done and go to bed." goalie Teddy Hume said. "I think everyone has to have that same mindset.” The disciplined mindset of the leers comes more and more into play as this season moves along. Penn State has been in full swing since October and after dozens of games and countless hours of practice, keeping the team men tally sharp has become especially important. "The mental side is something we had a problem with earlier [in the season], and hopefully we can continue staving mentally focused like we have been week in and vs. Michigan State vs. Michigan State ? P- m - Friday Rec Hall Hotel Encanto Invitational Friday through Las Cruces, N.M Sunday vs. Iroquois National Team 4:30 p.m Sunday at/vs. Drexel at Pittsburgh Junior Olympics Junior Olympics vs. Buffalo, St. Bonaventure, Bucknell at Wichita State, at Oklahoma at Kentucky vs. N 0.7 Massachusetts at Purdue vs. Laval SPORTS oPenn State will look to reverse its poor second period play: ONLINE psucolleglan.com week out," O'Brien said. “It is a long season, but if you can keep having fun, it’s the main factor [in staving sharp.]” With the leers needing only a point to clinch the ESCHL title, Saturday's contest against Drexel could become meaningless in terms of the standings, and veter ans could have gotten rest if not for the injuries. However, no matter how tempt ing a night off is, Penn State would rather just keep playing. "I'd like to play myself,” O'Brien said. "Keep your flow and keep everything going with your hands and your mindset and things like that.” But with that in mind, the junior forward sees the other side of the argument. "It might not be bad to rest some guys and have them get an extra night off or not let them play 60 minutes and worry about them catching an injury the Saturday before nationals." O’Brien said. To e-mail reporter: tpksol6@psu.edu By Tom Kinslow COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Ashley Griffith just can't wait to feel the dirt again. The senior can't wait to run out of the dugout and feel the grass under her feet as SOFTBALL she sprints out to take her position in the outfield for her first game of the season. She'll get that chance today as Griffith and the rest of the Penn State softball team head to New' Mexico to take part in the Hotel Encanto Invitational. The Nittany Lions will take on five teams over three days in their first road trip of the season. But there are two teams that stand above the rest New Mexico State and Nebraska. The pair both received votes in the ESPN.com USA Softball Division I poll, and Nebraska gained recognition in the USA Today NFCA Top-25 poll. "It's a nice test to be able to go up against some of the better com petition in the country.” Griffth said. "We get to see exactly where we're at. and we get to prove TIME PLACE TV WHAT TO LOOK FOR Noon Saturday 2 p.m. Sunday * 7 p.m. Fit and Sat. sJn&aT Holuba Ha " Philadelphia, j.csu p.m. bat. Greenberg Ice Pavilion All Day Friday Seattle; and Saturday Fayetteville, Ark. All Day Friday Seattle; and Saturday Fayetteville, Ark. 7 p.m. Saturday 8 a ’ m -Friday Memphis, Tenn 8 a.m. Friday Memphis, Tenn Noon Sat, 9 a.m. Sami Tennis Center and 2 p.m. Sun. 1 p.m. Sat, 11 a.m. Sun. Midnight Sat Lexington, Ky. and Sun. 9:15 p.m. Fri., 10:15 p.m. Sat Senior forward Ryan Paradis (near) handles the puck in Penn State's 5- 1 win against Rhode Island on Saturday. The leers play a home-and-home with Drexel this weekend, starting Friday in Philadelphia. exactly where we're at. Were an excited, new team. “We’ve got a lot of young talent, and it's great to put us to the test right away." Where Penn State is. is at the top of the Big Ten and ranked nationally, Griffith said. Pacing these two teams, howev er, was not by design. Coach Robin Petrini said the team picks tournaments and is more or less at the mercy of the tournaments and who is selected, saying the Lions never know what they’re going to get in terms of opponents. Despite drawing opponents who are cracking into the national spotlight, Petrini believes she will know as much about her team by the weekend's end as if it had played lesser teams in its first action. "Every time you step on the field, I think you learn." Petrini said. "No matter what the competi tion is, you're focused on your selves. Aud so some games you do good things and you win. and some games you do bad things and you win. "And you learn every time you step on the field. The opponent Bryce Jordan Center West Lafayette, Ind. Rec Hall Holuba Hall Pittsburgh Wichita, Kan; Norman, Okla. Greenberg Ice Pavilion ■. Preseason All-Big Ten guards Kalin Lucas and Talor Battle square off as PSU looks for the upset. With only four games left, the Lady Lions make a late push for the NCAA tournament. Canada's top-ranked team travels to State College for matches with the No. 9 Nittany Lions. The Lions look to improve to 5-2 in the Big Ten during their final home dual meet of the season. PSU goes up against New Mexico State and Nebraska two teams trying to break into the national rankings. The men's lacrosse team plays the second of two exhi bition games before the season opener next weekend. Looking to start the 2010 season right, the Nittany Lions host the Greyhounds. The leers need only one point next weekend to clinch their third consecutive ESCHL regular-season title. Mid-distance standouts Ryan Foster and Casimir Loxsom return to action. Watch for breakout distance races for Bridget Franek and Nicole Lord. The Nittany Lions try to improve on their first two sub par road scores from the first two weeks of the season. Certain fencers from Penn State will look to make a name for themselves at their Junior Olympic invitational. Certain fencers from Penn State will look to make a name for themselves at their Junior Olympic invitational. The Lions look to improve their 5-1 start in the last matches for two weeks. The Nittany Lions look to bounce back after two straight losses following a 2-0 start to the season. The Ice Lions conclude their regular season with a two game set against the Kentucky Wildcats. PSU looks to further enhance its resume before the ACHA national tournament field is released next week. The Daily Collegian MEE= 0 Right-handed ace Jackie Hill is bouncing back from an injury last year; ONliNt psucollegian.com gives us the opportunity to play, and then it's up to us on what we do with that." As Penn State steps onto the field this afternoon against UTEP it will do so without having won a season opener since 2002. That doesn't sit well with Griffith. "We are going to get that first team win." Griffith said definitive- Tt's time, and it'll set the tone for the rest of the year." Griffith said she set that as a goal with fellow senior and pitcher Jackie Hill prior to the season. While Hill is firmly focused on achieving that for the first time in her career, she also has one other thing she'd like to do this week end. "I can't wait to get out of the snow." Hill said with a laugh just ready to get out of here, maybe see the sun once, see how that is." To e-mai: reporter tpKsol6@psu.edu
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