10 I Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010 Defense focus for Penn State By Tom Copain COt It GIAN STAFF WRITER It's almost four days after Saturday's season opener for the Penn State mens lacrosse team, and the ugly sta- tislics still linger: 24 goals on 40 MEN S It was the most goals Penn State's allowed in 17 years and the most goals the Nittanv Lions have ever allowed in a season opener one more than the 22 they allowed against Maryland in 1960. when coach Glenn Thiel was a team captain But now for Penn State, the focus is off the season opener and toward a meeting with No. 3 Notre Dame this weekend. And despite Thiel saying Saturday Penn State's defense didn't play that had against Robert Morris, defender Matt Bernier said the team spent almost all of practice Monday working exclusively on defensive drills. After watching film, wc would Covello Page 8. Gov olio may never see regular playing time in his State career \.es ERA Newcomer of the Year, have sopho more eligibility. Despite this. Covello has made invaluable contributions to the Lions, though it won't be found in stat sheets or highlight films. The (>-foot-4 Covello blonde hair, blue eyes and seldom seen without a smile has embraced the role of second teamer. dedicating himself to pushing Goas and the rest of the starters to reach their potential. And usually with a little fun along the way. Despite his lack of playing time. Covello main tains a gung-ho attitude. He comes to practice early every day to w'ork with Goas and assistant coach Jay Hosack on what Covello jokingly calls "the fundamentals of setting." In all seriousness. Covello said his work with Hosack has improved his game immensely, and the time the trio puts in together has benefited the setters in both tech nique and game sense. Covello keeps up the intensity at practice, where he animatedly chal ice :cs the starters to play stronger. Junior cap u r Jesse Wagner said every time Covello records a block, he has a genuinely unique cele bration. Assistant coach Colin McMillan said Covello will freeze his arms and hands after he makes a block. Then the sophomore will slowly back up and begin plodding around, almost zombie-like, arms still outstretched in the air. Wright From Page 8, interaction has helped Wright adjust to the new coaching staff and the different techniques they've introduced. Assistant coach Troy Letters said Wright is like a sponge in the wrestling room because he's always ask ing questions and taking in what the coaches tell him. The coaches have worked with Wright on leg attacks and turning opponents while on the mat. ‘ He showed he's capable of doing what we've worked on in the open tournaments. ' Letters said. "Quentin is a guy we kne>v 1! lltf B. Beater Ave. 238-1486 Wednesday, 2/24 Go Go Gadget 10:30 pm to close $2.00 long Islands all (by ‘til midßig&t Va Price Everything only from 5-7 Check us out online psucollegian.com Tell them the daily you found it Collegian get into different plays, and guys wouldn’t really know where they were going, like middies and younger guvs." Bernier said. “So the focus right now r is 100 percent on defense." The focus will need to be on defense against a Fighting Irish team that was ranked No. 9 in the preseason USILA Coaches Poll before beating then-No. 2 Duke on the road. That win included a hat trick from junior midfielder Zach Brenneman. who was named to the Big East honor roll for his per formance last week. The Irish also feature midfield er Grant Krebs, who was named to the Inside Lacrosse All- America second team. LACROSSE "We re putting in a couple of dif ferent things." senior captain and midfielder Brian Shea said. "A lot of it is gonna be communication, just knowing where people are at all times, and that's pretty' much all we can do." Shea added the Lions could pos sibly play zone defense to take the pressure off the starting goal tender. w’hether that is junior John both he and Goas. last would make jumps and improvements." Dave Erwin, the Lions' cur rent starter at 184 pounds, believes Wright is taldng full advantage of his redshirt year and sees improvements in his teammate. Like Wright. Erwin redshirted his sophomore year, going 14-2 after a successful freshman campaign in which he went 23-8. Erwin, now a senior, said the redshirt season is a good time to grow up and mature as a wrestler. Though Wright's year has been filled with victories, he still focuses on his lone defeat to Edinboro’s Chris Honeycutt in the semifinals of the Nittany Lion Open on Dec. 6. His hopes ** S - Coliege Ave. ★ AT&T MEMBERS CAN PURCHASE 2 TICKETS FOR $lO a GREEK CHALLENGE CHECK GOPSUSPORTS.COM/HOOPSPROMOS rn FOR ALL CONTEST DETAILS * FANS CAN RECEIVE A RALLY FLAG W AT THE GATES (•WHILE SUPPLIES LAST) "At first we thought he was just confused, like he didn't know what he w r as doing." McMillan said. "But then we realized that's just Tor. That 's what he does." Covello forever keeps a smile on his team mate's faces. On the 10-hour bus ride home from Lovola-Chicago earlier this month, he created a hammock out of a Snuggie and napped between the seats. When the team is together. Covello is often the center of attention, captivating the guys with one of his signature impersonations he also has perfected a mimic of soft-spoken junior Thomas Pereira or creating a new one on the flv. "Everyone on the team has a different person ality." Covello said. "I mean. I guess I'm funny if everyone says it. I just like to keep the mood lighthearted." Pavlik doesn't take that lightheartedness light ly and appreciates Covello keeping the team in good humor. Yet the coach said Covello is mature enough to know when it's not appropriate to crack a joke. He is a presence, even without the punchline. Covello has a class once a week that forces him to leave practice 45 minutes early. On those nights. Price said the atmosphere is qui eter and less competitive. "He's probably good enough to start at a lot of schools." Price said. "But he's here, working hard for all of us and this program, which is a tes tament to his character. He just loves his life, loves volleyball, loves hanging out with us and being a part of the team." To e-mail reporter: exkso49@psu.edu for another chance to wrestle Honeycutt never came, and the Lion redshirt now awaits his next opportunity to take the mat. Wright said he'll begin freestyle competitions following the national tournament. By then, he'll be a year removed from his freshman success at NCAAs. but Wright is excited to face the best competition next year. When that time comes. Erwin believes he'll be special to watch. "There are big expectations for him next year," Erwin said. "I think he'll meet and succeed a lot of them. He's got good things in store for his future." To e-mail reporter: rmlsl3B@psu.edu nittany lion basketball VS. OHIO STATE BEAT THE BUCKEYES! WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24 AT 6:3OPM oThe Lions are looking to connect on their offensive opportunities: ONLINE psucollegian.com Nichols or redshirt freshman Dave Baker. Thiel said last week the team wouldn't use zone much but also said the team might not be as aggressive early on as it was last vear. And while Bernier said the team will try to get the midfielders involved more so they can be informed if the team goes to zone, the defense does have its draw backs. "When you play zone, you have to realize you're going to be giving up a lot of outside shots," Bernier said. "That's pressure on the goalie, too. That's pressure saving out side shots. So I think we are gonna focus a little more on zone." But perhaps the best defensive strategy for the Lions this week might have come in the way the players felt just moments follow ing last weekend's loss. Ryan Ulsh/Collegian Dave Baker (32) attempts to block a shot Sunday at Holuba Hall. This week, we gotta forget to play catch-up. It's just not about it." Nichols said Saturday, gonna happen against them.” "They're gonna be tough too. We can t start out bad like this and try To e-mail reporter: tecso26@psu.edu Spoiler F r om Page 3 2 12. Penn State still has a chance to impact the race for the regular sea son conierence crown. In their last four games, the Lions host No a Ohio State Wednesday and Northwestern on Sunday travel to No 14 Michigan State on March 3 and finish at home against No. 3 Purdue on March 6. Purdue is cur rently fir.M in the Big Ten but leads Ohio Mate and Michigan State by just a half game. Junior forward D.J. Jackson said the challenge of playing the top teams in the conference is exciting. Having been in the race for a high tournament seed last season, the players can embrace taking on the role of spoiler this year. By winning some of its remaining games, not only can Penn State impact its conference rivals, but its own piece in the conference stand ings Though in last place, the Lions trail iowa and Indiana by one game Pitching From Pare S. the pas' and should inject new life into Penn State's starting rotation this season. Despite not having a set role last season. Ignas was selected third-team .Mi-Big Ten as a fresh man coming out of the bullpen for late relict, middle relief and closing duties. Wanamaker the team's ace before his injury was named second-team All-Big Ten in 2008, leading the team in starts, wins, strikeouts and earned run average. Now. both pitchers are being called upon to lead Penn State's rotation, and each is excited about the possi bility of doing something special after not playing together last sea son. "H's going to be exciting,” Wanamaker said. "We're going to be able to do a lot of good things. Ilgnasl has been coming around real well." The Daily Collegian could change their seed going into the Big Ten tournament with a few wins. “No one sees us as winning,” for ward Jeff Brooks said. “Everyone sees us as an underdog, and we don’t mind taking that role. If every one wants us to be the underdog, we just have to come in and get a win.” Stealing an upset win over a ranked opponent would only boost the team’s confidence. Head coach Ed DeChellis thinks having that confidence could allow Penn State to enter the tournament with a chance to make a run. Fbr now, DeChellis will watch and see how his team handles its role as the underdog and potential spoiler. “It’s the first time we’ve had that [role] in a while, so we’ll see how we relish the opportunity,” DeChellis said. “I think for our kids, we just want to win more games and have some confidence and some consis tency going into the Big Ten tourna ment." To e-mail reporter: adrso79@psu.edu The senior added that, watching from the outside, he has seen a lot of progress from Ignas from last year to now, and he is interested to see how the two of them do as the team’s top two starters. Ignas has also seen similar improvement from his teammate as Wanamaker is working on coming back from his injury to regain his spot as the team’s No. 1 pitcher. And now that Ignas and Wanamaker are in their set roles, Wme has the luxury of trotting out two pitchers with All-Big Ten accolades under their belts, and both pitchers are anxious to see what happens. “With the one-two punch, I think it would be pretty good if he gets back and we can do that Friday, Saturday thing,” Ignas said. “It will work out for us in the long run and take us deep into some ball games and take some pressure off of the freshmen and the younger guys." To e-mail reporter: adal47@psu.edu
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