I TUESDAY, Nov. 2, 2010 Forwar By Andrew Robinson COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Tani Costa isn't going to win many footraces against the other forwards on the Penn State women's soccer team. However, after starting the last four games, Costa WOMEN'S has taken over SOCCER the Nittany Lions' scoring lead with eight goals as a part of an offense that has outscored its opponents 14-2 in its last three matches. "It's really just getting used to Malcom Willis (10) and Drew Astorino (28) tackle Denard Robinson in Penn State's win vs. Michigan. Lions' By Andrew J. Cassavell COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Don't let Saturday's changes in the secondary fool you. That was defensive coordinator Tom Bradley's message to fans and media following Penn State's 41-31 win against Michigan, in which he opted to give Chaz Powell his first start at cornerback over Stephon Morris, who had Team gets tested in Temple scrimmage By Jared Shanker COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER The start of the season is only 10 days away and with only one exhibition :ame on the schedule - - for fine-tuning, MEN'S the Penn State BASKETBALL men's basketball _ _ _ _ team spent its Halloween dressed in jerseys instead of costumes. On Sunday, the Nittany Lions scrimmaged at home against Temple, which allowed the Lions some control and leeway to work on particular skills and situations, a luxury that will not be available this upcoming Sunday in their exhibition against East Stroudsburg. "It was pretty solid for the most part; we saw some positive things and negative things," senior guard Talor Battle said. "We watched film [Monday] morning 111 I C' ',"'"'‘ - 4 ' - ,4.- I *, ta). . .. V .... I 4. J.. 5..:: 4,.. . , lir , ; 7. ; i v.• Philadelphia at Washington 7 p.m., CSN Q: How many days has it been since Michigan last beat Penn State in foot ball? Monday's answer. Sept. 20, 1992, vs. the Cincinnati Bengals. d C os t a find in • • t ouc my team and being able to find our Erica Walsh said Costa has round- before we let the track stars get r -1111 . 1 1 W lir 7 . 10 ." 1 " 7, 4 T 1 r ilr combinations and what works," ed into shape the last few weeks. running," sophomore midfielder ' - ''/r- d" 4. Costa said Sunday. "I think I've While she doesn't quite have the Christine Nairn said after the.;. _ really been strong in that and play- sprinter's speed of fellow forwards Lions topped Indiana last i - - 2° - i r ing to my strengths and working Hayley Brock, Maya Hayes and Thursday It gives us a chance to ' V I ' well with the speed up top and Dani Toney Costa is the perfect get up the field and she's done a , ..-1 , 0. , being a complimentary player on foil. At 5-foot-8, the Hawaiian strik- great job and I hope she continues our team." er gives Penn State a physical. to hold the ball for us and get for- ' A.... s , I , The redshirt freshman has five ball-controlling player who is diffi- ward." goals in her last two games, which cult to defend. Costa torched the Hoosiers ._ '.., , - • l II' ' p> earned her the Big Ten Offensive Now in form, Costa has drawn See COSTA. Page 10. It *- ,"..- .1 , t,,,, - Player and Freshman of the Week some comparisons to the player z awards and who preceded her in that role., - • . For Alex Angert's story on - -,,. - , , ": ---4, TopDrawerSoccer.com's National Katie Schoepfer. -- - - • --,,,'. •- • ---.. the team's focus during - Player of the Week honors. While the forward battled poor fitness early in the year, coach depth grows previously started every game There was also the shift at corner this season In all, it was a very different sec ondary from the one with which Bradley started the season. Safeties Andrew Dailey and Nick cent completion percentage is Sukay sat out with injuries, mean- second in the country. The ing Malcolm Willis played every Northwestern quarterback was snap at free safety and Jacob expected to miss time with a Fagnano was the nickel back. See DEPTH. Page 10. and saw what we did wrong and what we did right, and now it's going back and correcting those things we did wrong." Overall, the players took a lot of positives from the scrimmage against the Owls, who provide a better measuring stick for the Lions than Division II East Stroudsburg. The Owls won the Atlantic 10 regular-season and tournament championship and were a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament last season. At times, though, the Lions did struggle to score on offense Sunday, forward DJ Jackson said. The Lions finished ninth in the Big Ten last year in points per game with 64.9. The defense was n't perfect either, he said. "We were a little stagnant on offense, - Jackson said. "We had a couple of miscues on defense as far as rotating and giving up some easy shots." Penn State coach Ed DeChellis Amy nabs league honor =EMI Penn State field hockey sophomore for ward Kelsey Amy earned her second Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award on Monday after tallying every one of the team's four goals in a 4-2 win at Northwestern last Friday. It was Amy's second time winning the award this season and the sixth conference award overall for the No. 9 Nittany Lions field hockey team. Goalkeeper Ayla Halus has won the Defensive Player of the Week four times in 2010. Amy has 17 goals on the season, good enough for first on the team and third in the Big Ten. "She is the replacement for Schep in that she can hold the ball and let everyone else get forward back, but in the weeks to come Bradley expects to get Morris right back into the rotation this week, possibly as a starter. This week the secondary will face Dan Persa, whose 74.4 per- FOOTBALL Jackson practices on media day plans on running in transition and pushing the ball on offense a lot more this season. With the loss of 6-foot-9 backup center Sasa See MEN'S BASKETBALL. Page 10. .401,F0r more coverage on the men's basketball team, check out the Hardwood ON THE Hits blog at: BLOC psucollegian.com the conference race CII N€ 7 psucollegian.com Offense finds steady ground The Penn State offensive line has been the main target of criti cism this season but has recently found progress to build off. FOOTBALL The linemen State offense head into this Saturday's Northwestern game with newfound confidence, and center Doug Klopacz said the offensive line can let out a collec tive sigh of relief. "It helps a lot, opening up that run game, opening up the pass." Klopacz said. Right guard Stefen Wisniewski attributed the offense's recent success to an attitude change. focusing on work ethic. which occurred during the bye week after Illinois. Penn State faces a better rush DeOn'tae Pannell (50) and Quinn Barham (67) block a Wolverine Lions ready to compete in stacked conference At Thursday's media day. Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson was asked if he thought his Nittany Lions were the favorite to win the Big Ten this year. WRESTLING Sanderson sat back in his chair and took a second to think over his answer. The reason for Sanderson's hesitation - the Big Ten is simply stacked. The Nittany Lions come into the season ranked No. 6 in the country, according to rankings compiled by theopenmat.com. The Big Ten has an impressive group of teams, with four teams in the top-10, and nine teams overall in the top-25. Minnesota (3), lowa (5), and Wisconsin (7), round out the top -10, while Ohio State (11), Purdue (13). Northwestern (18), Illinois Coach: McNabb not in shape Mike Shanahan changed his story in a hurry. The new explanation: Donovan McNabb was benched more because of his body, not his brain. Less than 24 hours after declaring he yanked McNabb because of a "gut feel" relating to the quarterback's less-than-full competence in the offense, the Washington Redskins coach instead insisted Monday it was a pre-planned move that had more to do with "cardiovascular endurance" issues. McNabb, because of nagging hamstring and groin injuries, wasn't in good enough shape to run a two-minute offense with no timeouts according to Shanahan. "The cardiovascular endurance that it takes to run a two-minute, going all the way down with no timeouts, calling plays, it's just not easy." Shanahan said. By Brendan Monahan COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER By Brandt Gelman COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Moss deserves skepticism It is easy to assume the worst when a story comes out about Brett Favre or Terrell Owens becoming distractions. Randy Moss. like the previous two play ers, has earned the skepticism and criti cism. Being let go from two teams in three weeks says a lot about a player. especially one who is highly regarded and given up for in the case of his release from the Vikings nothing. NFL fans are aware Moss is a per former on the field, but his outspoken nature can be a cancer in the clubhouse If history is an indicator, teams will add talent at any cost. Where will Moss end up? Some team looking to win. THE DAILY COLLEGIAN Daniel Bott Collegian Tani Costa (21) unloads a pass vs Wisconsin earlier this season. ing defense in Northwestern, as the Nittany Lions offense is fur ther tested before its matchup against Ohio State's Big Ten-best defense Nov. 13. Minnesota and Michigan, the bottom feeders in Big Thn total defense, couldn't have come at a better time for the Lions' running game. The Lions' 185 rushing yards. 150 of which redshirt sen ior Evan Royster gained, were 35 more than the Wolverines allowed per game. Penn State tallied 307 total rushing yards in its last three halves. Those three halves make up 28 percent of Penn State's total rushing production this sea son, compared to 72 percent through the other 13 halves. We didn't put ourselves in bad situations. - said Joe Paterno con cerning the offensive line. Penn State used the running See OFFENSE. Page 10. r,hlue Elmer (19;. and Michigan (20( finish out the rankings. "There are a lot of teams you have to look out for this year." Sanderson said. "It's going to be fun.- Penn State will look to build on its impressive season from last ,•ear. The Nittany Lions finished with a 13-6-1 record in Sanderson's debut season as coach. and were ranked No. 10 nationally at the end of the year. Sanderson said the three-time defending champion lowa Hawkeyes have to be the team to beat in the Big Ten this year until someone can knock them off. Penn State suffered a 29-6 loss to lowa in a dual meet last year. and the Nittanv Lions have not See WRESTLING. Page 10. *For Mike Still's story on the team's preseason rankings: ONLINE psucollegian.com
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