14 I Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010
Competition
By Zack Feldman
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
For the first time this season, there is
uncertainty only a couple of days before
Penn State’s women line up for a meet.
Tom Ruane/Collegian
iige Anderson runs at practice last week.
Lady leers to face off tonight at Consol Energy Center
By Christine Newby
FOR [HE COLLEGiAN
The Lady leers will face off
■night in an arena that is unlike
iy link they've ever played on.
u- that seats
T-thT more fans
■ an their home LADY
nk. iCERS
The team is play- -
eg at the new $290
■illion home of the Pittsburgh
■ enguins. the Consol Energy
• enter, against the California
! niversitv of Pennsylvania at 6
"ICal C| called me before the
eason stalled, probably back at
ic very end of the summer and
iid that they were going to be
eying a game iat the Consoll.”
>ach Mo Stroemel said. "[Cal Ul
oecifically picked us. and we said,
■■Yell, veah we'll do that.' "
Penguins center Tyler Kennedy
> dropping the puck to begin the
■ime. according to Stroemel.
Junior forward. Dana Heller, a
for spot heats up before regional meet
Between senior Paige Anderson and
freshman Emily Giannotti, coach Beth
Alford-Sullivan is unsure who will round out
Penn State’s squad at the Blue-White Golf
course for the Mid-Atlantic regional meet
Saturday morning the team’s last
chance to state its case for the Nov. 22
NCAA national championships.
After three years of relative obscurity on
Penn State’s ‘home
squad,” and without a sin
gle top-five finish in her
previous three seasons,
Anderson showed up with
more determination than
ever this season, placing - ~ ~~—
second overall at the Sept. 3
Dolan Duals, one of Anderson’s four top
five finishes for the Lions this season.
Anderson worked her way onto the nine
women travel squad for the Oct. 31 Big Ten
Championships, placing eighth at the meet.
Yet when asked about her expected line
up for the Saturday race, in which the team
is allotted seven spots. Alford-Sullivan said
there were still questions on the back end of
the lineup.
“We ll run seven people," Alford Sullivan
said.
"We have it down to eight but we have
some big decisions to make. All the way
through our five and six is pretty, clear, but
it's seven and eight that we've got to kind of
lock and load."
Despite Anderson's showing this season.
Collegian photo staff member,
grew up watching the Penguins
and will take the first much-antici-
pated faceoff.
"(Playing at the
CONSOL] is a
huge deal. " the
assistant captain
said. "I'm really
excited, especially
because of the
new rink. It hasn't
even been played Stroemel
on that much. I'm
really happy that Cal U asked us to
play because it's Pittsburgh, it's
my home and I love it."
Stroemel said the players have
been looking forward to tonight's
showdown.
"We have Penguins fans on our
team so that's huge for them," he
said. "To skate on the ice where
their idols skate is kind of neat."
The Penn State Ice Pavilion's
maximum capacity is 2,600 while
the Consol Energy Center holds
18.087 people.
"I think it will be a real shock
finishing outside the top-seven at Big Tens
put her "on the bubble" for the small
regional team.
"Our seven and eight are Giannotti and
Anderson,” Alford-Sullivan said. "They've
been back and forth in position on our team,
so it’s a matter of taking some time and
talking with them and getting them into
position and ready to go."
Before the season. Alford-Sullivan said
she could not have expected the level of
success Anderson has had this season,
though when she saw improvement
Anderson made during the summer. Alford
Sullivan knew this would be a breakthrough
season for the Carlisle native.
WOMEN’S
CROSS
COUNTRY
"At the beginning of the season. Paige
was really lighting it up. She ran in our top
five, she was very strong for us." Alford-
Sullivan said. "She's kind of broken through
to a new level of competitiveness for her
self. So I'm not surprised she's been in this
position. And I hope it continues"
Anderson said the adjustment to college
running took its toll on her. but said her final
season approaching gave her extra motiva
tion to prepare well.
"I just had to sit myself down, and be like.
'I want to do well in running.' " Anderson
said.
"I stayed in State College with Kara
IMillhousel and Caitlin [Lane!, my room
mates, and I would go on runs with, 'hem
because they're people I want m run
around timewise. I just worked a lot harder
Iwhen we first step on the ice I.
going from our rink to the Consol."
said captain defenseman Sara
Chroman, a Collegian business
staff member. "Everyone is really
excited so the excitement and
adrenaline will kick in."
Stroemel believes there will be
a ‘wow factor' to playing at the
Penguins home.
"I hope they get over it relative
ly quickly." he said. "The fans yell
all the time, and when I sit in the
stands with fans that are yelling. 1
just kind of shake my head
because as a player you don't even
hear it. You don't hear anything
because you focus in on what's
happening on the ice in Iron! of
you. You never even hear it."
Despite being a New Jersey-
Devils fan. senior goalie Heather
Rossi said it will still be a great
opportunity.
“Some players are a little more
excited, while for others it's just
kind of another game." Rossi said.
"Hopefully those that are really
excited can get light to the game
though v.iien it starts
Off lhe ice. Stroemel
different atmosphere l
the same, hut said !5,.-i
usual on the lee.
'Our teaih i- pivtn a
t'neusina on the work a! .
Stroemel said. "When our
lonises, and they ion.;.-- ~n d
at hand, and they -da
work that they know tin ;> k
do and how tiny haw t"
they play ven wdi
Several mi'nina-- war
\ ii leans mcr the ;>
years. have the Lad I
Division i club ia.ohi
the Cai T Divioor. 11 eh ' 'i
"We have to shut dov
ot their players who ran ha:
their own." Stroemei so:
just need to shut then: dov,: \\
changed our deletr-iv /on.
age a little bit. and as tone
everybody buys ::ua and a ■■
their job v hhin the a>ym w ■
be line."
The irid; leers' last ease
4-J viclorv over Khodi 1
The Daily Collegian
this summer, and I think it helped.’’
"Watching the team win Big Tens in the
fall last year. I wanted to be on a Big Ten
team in XC, because I hadn't done that
before. I was so happy for the team, but it’s
a different experience to be on the team
that’s running it, and I just wanted to expe
rience that.”
As for her competition. Giannotti said
she, too. hopes to earn a spot on the region
al squad.
"I've been top-seven in every race, so I’m
hoping I get to be one of those people, but at
this point. I think the work's almost done,"
(iiannotti said.
"At this point, we re getting rested and
reach to race."
Hanked fourth within the Mid-Atlantic
region, and with Vilianova and Georgetown
loading the way. Alford-Sullivan said the
ranking might be the best indicator of the
•cam’s standing this weekend, though the
ultimate goal for runners is to compete with
and beat Princeton, currently ranked No. 3
in Hie region.
"Without anything to pm\e otherwise.
limceton’s a better program than we are
right now." Alford-Sullivan said.
■ But 1 believe on any given day. we can
bi at Princeton. Our game plan is to go in
thmv. run tough, and upset them for third
place Pan we beat a better-ranked team?
An.'Oiuhiy"
lay.- ago. Siroemii isn’t worried
heta the ! i ! mg res!, though.
V' Inna as we recreate the
sanations in pi'aetice. I don't
IK matters." Stroemel
V.e trv to tic tiu! almost every
eiHv We even do things that
dole iheir shirts so that they
i;;o a ri.vihm based on how
xv wan! to Ire
roman >ani tin' win over
it' Island was hoge tor the
she iniimentum
n tha! usiSi help us against Cal
't'iinih
ss 4;a!<’ makes her feel
> steppiue into something
' think that it's a mvat opportu
t- tor a' to lx- a pail ol the
units inuiiuurai reason in 'the
> < »NS( >L Stn».-mel said.
;i mt'ai for u;
a:,. ')!,rv]
■: ' .uoma ;<> in- tun
zefsoos@psu.edu
iptr.in Michelle
In 1 where the