2007 Men's Water Polo Preview
After securing talented back-to-back recruiting classes, and 19 new players over the past two seasons, head coach Joe Tristan is eager for the fall season to start.
"I am very excited about our team entering the 2007 season," said head coach Joe Tristan. "We have a lot of experienced players that will contend for playing time."
Providing leadership and serving as team captains will be seniors Anthony Spoto (Birmingham, MI/Birmingham Seaholm) and Mitchell Dwelley (Carlsbad, CA/Palomar Junior College) along with sophomore Jacob Bernstein (Sierra Madre, CA/Pasadena). Dwelley and Bernstein competed in all 19 games last year, with Dwelley posting 16 assists and Bernstein working the middle of the pool. Bernstein, who had three goals, eight steals, three assists, and five drawn kickouts while also being named to the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-American Academic Team.
Spoto, who was selected as the program's MVP last fall, is the Behrend Lions first water polo All-American and has also been a regular member of the Division III Eastern All-Tournament teams. Spoto connected for 40 goals and nine assists last season and enters his senior campaign with a school record 171. Joining Spoto and driving the offense will be senior Andre Pranckevicius (Miami, FL/Miami Beach). According to coach Tristan, "Spoto and Andre Pranckevicius are two of the best players Behrend has ever seen.” After hitting for 40 goals in 2006, Pranckevicius now has a career total of 148 which is second to only Spoto.
"I am thrilled to have Anthony and Andre in our program," said Tristan. "They are a dominant offensive force around the perimeter and at 2 Meters. Combined the two scored 80 of Behrend's 137 goals last season after collecting over 60% of the teams goals in 2005, and both are motivated to improve this season.
Additional experience includes Rodolphe Acelor (Miami, FL/Miami Beach), and Vincent Brewer (Fullerton, CA/Troy). Acelor should shine at the 2 meter mark, Brewer has recorded 133 steals over the last three seasons, set a new single-season record with 82 a year ago, and is only four away from setting a new career mark. Brewer also had 11 goals in 2006 and was named the program's Most Improved Player.
Other veterans returning are Chris Munton (Perris, CA/Perris), Robert Westhelle (Norwood, NJ/Northern Valley Regional at Old Tappen), and Ian Johnson (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley). Munton played in 16 games and Westhelle in 14 games in 2006 while Johnson returns as a defensive specialist and will utilize last season's experience to gain more minutes in the water.
"This is our largest and most skilled incoming class that we have had," said Tristan. "They will strengthen our offense and defense and help us contend for a strong finish in the CWPA."
The rookie class is made up of nine first-year Behrend Lions players. Keith Yaegle (Warren/Warren) is a 6-7 goalie who will do well defending the cage. Raudel Arriaga (Perris, CA/Perris), Keith Meehan (Erie/McDowell), Patrick Allen (Houston, TX/Jersey Village), and Jacob Guiher (Latrobe/Derry) will work for time at the driver position. Matthew Pluta (Erie/Cathedral Prep), Nicholas Lowrie (Corona, CA/Santiago), and Kevin Wolak (LaGrange Park, IL/Riverside-Brookefield) will serve as the defensive backbone with Jon Bacon (Glendale, CA/Crespi Carmelite) earning time at center.
"Matt Pluta, Kevin Wolak, and Keith Meehan will add strong shooting abilities to the perimeter and add more experience to our defensive game," continued Tristan.
"We are looking forward to our trip to compete at Navy and the Redlands Invitational," said Tristan. "I cannot ask for a better start to our season than to play some of the best teams from the east and west coasts." Penn State Behrend begins the 2007 season at the Navy Open on Saturday, September 1. Behrend hits the water three times on opening day against Iona, Queens, and George Washington and finishes the invitational against MIT on Sunday morning. Then the squad travels West to California for the Redlands Invitational.
"Our trip to California will allow our program to play some of the best teams in the country and in Division III,” said coach Tristan. "If we are going to contend as a Division III power, then we need to play the powerhouses in Division III." The blue and white will battle Chapman, La Verne, Whittier, and Claremont in a stretch of two days before continuing on the road for five more contests. The home slate in the Junker pool features Salem International, Gannon, Mercyhurst, and Washington and Jefferson.
The postseason begins with the blue and white traveling to the Eastern Championships on October 27 and 28, and then it will be off to Southern Championships in November. The NCAA Championships will be held on December 2-3.