Page 10 Sports Lions battle to Mercyhurst John Musser The Collegian "We played a good ball game, but Mercyhurst turned it up a notch to win the ball game in the Anal innings." That's how Coach Greg Guilliams summed up his team's First game of the fall season, a 7- 2 loss to the Lakers in the opening game of the Edinboro Tournament. The Lions stayed close, trailing 3-2 entering the eighth inning despite outhitting the Lakers seven to five. Then Mercyhurst's Joel Dombkowski cracked a two-RBI single off of pitcher Dean Carr as the Lakers scored four runs to break open the game. Second baseman Reese Wetzel lead the Lion's offense with a homer and single. "Walks just got us. The pitchers were wild. Plus, the guys were a little nervous because it was the first game," said Guilliams. "But I can't take anything away from them, Mercyhurst has a good ball club." Despite the wildness, there were some bright spots in the pitching. Matt Palison tossed four innings, yielding only one run. According to Guilliams, the defense was another positive note. "I was pleased with our defensive play," said the first year coach. "We had no errors." Guilliams was also quick to point out that the score could have been worse if not for the play of his defense. "Second baseman Reese Wollenburg brin experience to tea Sue Cepicka The Collegian The Behrcnd baseball coaching staff has been overhauled. Jay Wollenburg has been hired to assist new Head Coach Greg Guilliams. "It was a challenge to come here and coach," says Woliertburg who will primarily be working with the hitters and the infielders. The main objective of Wollenburg's program is to change the attitude of the players into a conFident state of mind. "Like anything else in life you get out of it what you put into it, therefore, the guys can be as good as they want to be through hard work and a desire to excel," said Wollenburg. The new assistant coach stresses attitude, "For the players to concentrate on performing the Men's baseball lose late inning Wetzel and shortstop Pete Zulick turned two key double plays in the first two innings," said the pleased skipper. "Mercyhurst would have scored more than one run if those plays are not made." This was also the first game for the Behrend nine with their new coaching staff. "Its an adjustment period for them, getting used to a new coaching staff and a new system," said Guilliams. "I thought the guys played hard." Because of the poor weather conditions, the Lions did not play the consolation game on Sunday. Their next game will be a home double-header on Oct. 7 with Allegheny College, a perennial NCAA Division 111 power. Now that the First game jitters are out of the way, Guilliams says he expects his squad to improve. "I would expect us to be aggressive, to steal bases, and to make adjustments to win ball games in the late innings. I would expect that would be more evident in a week and a half then in the first game." If Guilliams sees improvement, he says fifth year seniors Darin Wotus and Wetzel will be the ones to lead the way. ”1 think they have shown our younger players some direction, which by spring time will become evident. Leadership is everything. "If you don't have leadership, you're not going to have direction. Not having leadership breeds individualism, and you can't be successful as a team that way." fundamentals and developing confidence in their abilities which will in turn hopefully change their attitude into a winning attitude." Wollenburg, a childhood friend of Guilliams, grew up in Ohio and attended Newberry College in South Carolina to play baseball. During his senior year, Wollenburg received a contractional offer to play on the minor league Pittsburgh Pirates. After two years he was released, and left the United States to play in Australia. Two seasons later he has bounced to Behrend to help coach the Lions. Wollenburg wishes to attain a communications degree, possibly while he's here at Behrend When asked how long his stay here will be Wollenburg answered, "I will stay as long as Greg (Guilliams) stays." The Collegian Bad breaks for booters Team loses two games and starting goalie Bad day: Sophomore goalkeeper Tom Bajus (center, on gurney) receives consolation from a teammate before being loaded onto an ambulance. Bajus fractured three metatarsal bones in his foot during practice last Thursday. by Brad Kane The Collegian Last week was basically an unforgettable one for the Behrend soccer team. Not only did the Lions lose both of their games (5-4 at Geneva and 1-0 at St. John Fisher), but they also lost two players to injury during practice last Thursday. Included in the two injuries was a crushing blow to starting goalkeeper Tom Bajus. A sophomore, Bajus broke the third, fourth, and Fifth metatarsals in his right foot during a drill. It is not known how long Bajus will be out, but he should be out for at least four to five weeks. For the time being, the netminder situation is being manned by freshman Les Spear, who started both games last week, including the Geneva contest when Bajus was still active. Another freshman, Phil Double, could see some playing time, however. "Right now, there is no set plan (to alternate goalies),” said Lauffer. "Philosophically, I want some stability in goal. The team functions better with some consistency not to say that Double's not going to play, but if we were to play tomorrow, I'd say that Spear would be our starter." gs m The other injury was to freshman Alexander Nathan Ebach, who was kicked on the leg by Bajus, also during a drill. X-rays taken on the leg turned up negative, and Ebach could return to the lineup as early as this Saturday for a home match versus Mercyhurst. Prior to the injuries, the Lions lost a tough game to the Golden Tornadoes of Geneva last Wednesday, exchanging goal for goal until late in the contest. The first half saw only two scores. Geneva's Chris White scored first, before Jeff Hockenberger hooked in a kick from 25 yards out, off an assist from Eric Filloon, to tie the game going into the half. Geneva resumed the scoring on a Dereck Wojciecu tally to begin the second half. Vice Pedraza came through for Behrend soon after on a left footed shot, tying the contest at two. Wosciech scored again for the Tornadoes to give Geneva a temporary lead, but Behrend came back again. Ron Peterman notched the goal for the Lions this time, off assists from Mike DaJzall and Pedraza. Geneva appeared to put the contest away, as Jeff Leitzcl and Jeff Houck both scored to put the Tomar'oes up by two. But Behrend did not quit. Thursday, September 27, 1990 Playing with an increased tempo the last minutes of the game, the Lions' Yasser Daoudi scored after warding off three Geneva defenders to bring the Lions to within one. Behrend then almost tallied again in the last twenty seconds of the game, but a shot off the post with a rebound and an attempted header would not fall, giving Geneva the win. "The team rallied, picked up the tempo, played intelligently and with more patience, and then proceeded to come back. They could have given up when the score was 5-3, but they didn% they came right back." "I was impressed with the way the team answered to come back time and time again," said Behrend Head Coach Herb Lauffer. "The team rallied, picked up the tempo, played intelligently and with more patience, and then proceeded to come back. They could have given up when the score was 5-3, but they didn't, they came right back." The Lions tried to bounce back last Saturday, but fell short at the hands of the Cardinals. A goal by Sean Leahy in the first half-was all St. John Fisher needed for the shut-out win. Despite the loss, Lauffer commented that the Lions played, "maybe the most sound match they've played all year. They worked the ball offensively through the midfield third as good as they have all season and the last 15 minutes were some of the best they've played all year." Sports update • On Tuesday, the women's volleyball team upped their record to (4-10) with a win over Case Western Reserve (7-8). * The women's tennis team (1-6) dropped a 5-4 decision at Fredonia (1-6) Tuesday afternoon. ■ Wednesday night's soccer match ended in a 3- 1 loss for tire Lions. Schell/77ie Collegian - Herb Lauffer Soccer Coach