I Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010
Comer attempts a struggle for Lions over weekend
By Joe Mclntyre
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
With 138 attempts on the sea
son, the No. 11 Penn State field
hockey team is second in the Big
comer attempts.
The Lions (12-4,
3-2 Big Ten) have
prided
selves all season
on their execution of penalty cor
ners and the fact that they have
the ability to score on any given
corner and any given variation.
But in this weekend’s victories
against No. 17 Duke and No. 5
Princeton, the Lions went a very
uncharacteristic 0-for-15 on penal
ty comers. It was the first time all
season in which the Lions had got
ten at least one goal in a game and
one of them wasn’t off a penalty
corner.
"It's too bad our comers didn’t
execute a little bit more
[Sunday],” coach Char Morett
said. “I thought that we were just a
little slow executing that.”
It was also the first time all sea
son the Lions had gone more than
one game in a row without a
penalty corner goal.
Morett wasn’t necessarily dis
appointed with the corner execu
tion this weekend, she said the
Lions were just a little “off,” which
sometimes happens when a team
faces two top-20 squads.
“I think a lot of it was just tim
ing," Morett said
“We might have had a good
push, but we didn’t have good tim
ing on the hit and I think that was
a big part of it.”
D’Errico
From Page 8,
Rose said reaching the milestone was
‘nice," but not something he or a player
like DErrico necessarily focuses on.
DErrico has always been “team-first,”
Rose said.
When asked about her individual
achievement, D Errico was quick to deflect
the credit to her teammates. She said the
reason she reached the mark on Saturday
night was because the left side did a great
job blocking, which allowed her to dig.
"It's cool, obviously, but nobody can
accomplish any type of statistical mile
stones like that without the play of your
teammates," D Errico said. “It’s not a
sport that you can individually shine with
out people who can shine and support you
and make your job easier.”
The Lions, though, know their success
comes in large part because of D’Errico.
Freshman Deja McClendon said the
libero has been working on being a bigger
presence on the court.
Battle
From Page 8.
not letting it affect how he attacks games
heading into the season.
"If we win, all that stuff will come along
with it,” Battle said. “That's my mindset. I
hear it all the time, Oh, it would be cool to
do this. It would be cool to do that.’ It will
be. but more important is winning games.”
For the second straight season, Battle
enters the season on the Wooden Award
top 50 list, given to the nation's top player.
Desperate to make the NCAA tourna
ment this season for the first time in his
career, the senior is the type of player who
will sacrifice putting up his usual high
numbers for the good of the team.
"I think our team has put their egos out
the door," coach Ed Dechellis said. “I don’t
think we care who scores. I don’t think
Talor cares who scores either. We won a
Saad
From Page 8.
two more games. Balboni said the team
will continue to monitor the injury until he
is 100 percent. He also said he did not want
to risk his forward's future on one series.
"It's a deep bone bruise so it can’t get
any worse," Balboni said. “But it’s still
early in the year, so we’re not going to take
any chances."
Saad has been one of the leers’ main
producers on the ice this season. After
scoring seven goals in 24 games in his
freshman season, the sophomore has
Redd
From Page 8,
shortage of carries for the freshman, but
Royster isn’t concerned about Redd cut
ting into his touches.
“We need to get other people the ball,”
said Royster, who is 31 yanis shy of becom
ing Penn State’s all-time leading rusher. “If
we want to be successful, we can’t just run
me or run somebody else. We’ve got to
spread it around and keep defenses guess
ing."
Redd, a four-star recruit who enrolled in
the spring, was not made available per Joe
Patemo’s policy. But that didn’t stop his
teammates from raving, about his athleti
cism.
Royster called the 18-year-old “a major
asset to the offense” and said the Lions
need to find a way to get Redd the ball.
At 5-foot-10-inches, 200 pounds, Redd’s
stature might deceive defenders who may
not expect the freshman to lower his shoul-
“It’s too bad our
corners didn’t
execute a little bit
more [Sunday].”
Char Morett
Penn State coach
This was certainly an out-of-the
ordinary weekend for the Nittany
Lions, but it does prove one thing
the Lions have the ability to
score in a number of different
ways.
T\vo of the Lions’ three goals
this weekend came off penalty
stroke attempts from junior mid
fielder Jess Longstreth.
The strokes were awarded to
the Lions because of the pressure
they applied to the opposition off
their comers and it forced them to
take a penalty inside the circle.
Different from a penalty comer,
a penalty stroke is awarded when
defenders commit a deliberate
foul in the circle that prevents an
attacker of possession or the
opportunity to play the ball, or
when any penalty prevents a prob
able goal.
And although the Lions didn't
take direct advantage of their
penalty corner opportunities, it
was their pressure off comers that
led to Longstreth’s penalty stroke
goals and eventually two impor
tant wins.
Fbr a field hockey goalkeeper,
penalty strokes are some of the
most difficult shots to save, but
had either the Blue Devils or the
Tigers seen what Longstreth had
done on previous strokes this sea-
“[D’Errico’s] on her stuff
right now.”
“She’s definitely helping me out a lot
more,” McClendon said. “She's on her stuff
right now.”
Teamwork is second-nature for
D’Errico. She’s been around the sport her
entire life. Her mother, Cindy, was a mem
ber of the 1977 volleyball national level A 2
team. Her sister, Brianna, was an all-con
ference volleyball player at Ithaca. And her
father, Dave, is a referee.
Rose said D’Errico brings a strong lead
ership presence and a lot of volleyball
knowledge to the Lions.
“She’s made a great contribution to the
program,” Rose said. “She's got a couple
months left in her college career and I
hope she focuses and continues with the
great effort.”
To e-mail reporter: exkso49@psu.edu
game on the road at Northwestern where
he didn’t score that much. He just wants to
win.”
In that game, Battle scored just 10 points
8.5 points lower than his season average
while teammates DJ Jackson and now
transferred Chris Babb shouldered the
load with 20 each.
That win is indicative of how Battle
approaches games and individual accom
plishments.
Now, with this being his final go around
in college, the senior guard is doing what
ever it takes to go out on a high note.
And if he breaks the scoring record on
the way, it will simply be an added bonus.
“I don’t think he focuses on any of the
scoring records or trying to get any of the
records,” sophomore Tim Frazier said.
“He’s always a team player and it's all
about the team.”
To e-mail reporter: adal47@psu.edu
responded with five goals in as many
games. Saad ranks third on the team with
seven points despite already missing two
games.
The Gibsonia, Pa., native may be best
known this season for his dramatic game
winning overtime goal against rival
Central Oklahoma. Saad made a gritty
defensive play that eventually resulted in a
snipe shot past the Bronchos' goaltender.
“He's definitely a force to be reckoned
with on the ice,” Daley said. "He's a big guy
and hopefully his presence will motivate
some of the other guys on the team."
To e-mail reporter: gfgso44@psu.edu
der and pick up a few extra yards, left
guard Johnnie IFoutman said.
“He’s just a shifty back," Troutman said.
“He plays off of defenders well, he's good at
absorbing hits and he keeps moving for
ward with the ball.”
Royster said what makes Redd impres
sive is his ability to maintain his quickness
while running hard through opposing
defenses.
Redd has yet to score his first collegiate
touchdown, but Royster said much like the
roadrunner, the freshman's quickness
never stops.
“He’s gonna be one heck of a back," right
guard Stefen Wisniewski said. “I mean he's
really good already, so quick, so athletic....
I’m expecting him to be a great one."
Notes: Quarterback Rob Bolden and
safety Andrew Dailey are listed as proba
ble for Saturday’s game against Michigan.
Defensive end Jack Crawford has been
upgraded to possible.
To e-mail reporter: aass22o@psu.edu
IS *? . •!
' \ ••,'>s> '• * » “
?\r"" ' *
Freshman Lauren Purvis (10) controls the ball during the Lions win vs. Princeton on Sunday afternoon
son and throughout her career, every time." Longs?reth said to!- always done it. even since high
they may have had a better lowing Saturday's \vm over the school
chance to stop her. Blue Devils
"I do the same one pretty much "I go to my low id
Deja McClendon
freshman setter
Favre suffers fracture
By Dave Campbell
EDEN PRAIRIE. .Minn. Brett Faux- s
ironman streak has endured a litany a;
injuries and even a pair of premature
retirement press conferences. Perhaps
this is the week that, finally. Favre's health
prevents him from play-
ing. The 41-year-old
Minnesota quarterback
has a stress fracture in his
left ankle that could end
his NFL-record streak at 2!>l consocutn v
games started —• 315 including the uku •
offs.
Vikings coach Brad Childivs
Monday an MRI on Favre's foot reu
the stress fracture as well a
fracture in the heel bone. Mi avulsion tr
ture occurs when a fragment o! bone
torn away by a tendon or llyanu
Childress said neither injury rcqinrt
gery.
"He’s got great pain threshold anri aria
great competitive zeal." Childress smi.
succinctly summing up Favre's legacy ci
durability.
Favre is also the subject of an XFi.
investigation into allegations that hr
lewd photographs and suggestive :?v
-sages to a female New York Jets omplov e«>
in 2008. a development that first pm hi
streak in danger with the possibility oi a
suspension under the league's personal
P'-ri about the investigation.
For this week, it appears Favre's biggest
. ill be iiguring out a way to heal
■is’ enough to face New England on'
prohit Tii \v
'!■' s got in be able to do all the things
:i.e bis position does." Childress said.
V.-u ton! put a guy that's a sitting duck:
x tie iv. His competitive nature I'm sure.
. :i ! i anii' into it. But a lot of times you've
/>; la protcci people from themselves."
Ka\ ;v laid arthroscopic surgery on the’
r.ivlc in Mat. and he received a series of!
.ihncating injections in the joint at the
winning oi the season. The ankle has’
■i him at tunes this fall, but he hurt
iv -- 21-; 24 ioss at Green Bay as he
g tackled from behind while
hU first of three interceptions
s;ii(i in
an ' a\ uLsii
.\’i t v '• '} 'J
limping around during the
Iking gingerly afterward, and
-aid he was wearing a walking
round the practice facility on
Inode;, to make him more comfortable,
lie refused to rule Favre out of this
'••ok s game, which would likely mean a
<ri h'. Turvaris Jackson. But he also
Mia! the streak won't influence the
decision >■!; whether to play him against
ihe Patriot
We have to do what is right for the
Minnexitn Vikings." Childress said.
The Daily Collegian
eportnr jrms4ol@psu.edu
••’’ey. \'FL .spokesman Greg
Monday there was nothing to
la - rankers