2009 Behrend Lions Women's Water Polo Season Preview

The Penn State Behrend women's water polo team enters the 2009 season with high hopes and many new faces eager to face a challenging schedule of competition.  Head coach Joe Tristan returns for his sixth season at the helm of the Behrend Lions water polo program.  Joining Coach Tristan are three returning players from last year's squad who will look to lead the newcomers to success in 2009.

Two juniors will be expected to lead a young squad this spring that features no seniors and only one sophomore.  Starting goalie Jenna Zeyfang (Erie, PA/Erie First Academy) returns for her third season with the Behrend Lions.  She will serve as co-captain and looks to anchor the defense between the pipes.  Zeyfang has climbed among the program's all-time leaders in the record book as she enters 2009 fifth in career saves with 117 stops and fifth in career save percentage (.325).  The other junior on the squad is Danielle Wilson (Pittsburgh, PA/Plum) who competed in 12 games a season ago and recorded one goal, two assists, and four steals.  The third returner is sophomore Danielle Palski (Souderton, PA/Souderton).  Palski burst onto the scene last season competing in all 18 games for the blue and white while tallying 12 goals, 12 assists, and 22 steals and will serve as the other co-captain on this season's team.

The 2009 women's water polo team will also welcome nine newcomers to the Junker Center pool.  Looking to make a splash in their first season with Behrend water polo program will be Rachel Anderson (Imperial, PA/West Allegheny), Julie Cook (Warren, PA/Warren), Kendall Duffy (Vernon Hills, IL/Vernon Hills), Kylie Forsythe (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park), Kim Giles (North East, PA/North East), Jenny LaFuria (North East, PA/North East), Anne Lawrence (State College, PA/State College), Hilary MacManus (Beaver Falls, PA/Blackhawk), and Jillian Sebrosky (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park.

Coach Tristan looks ahead to the 2009 season and is eager to compete against some of the best teams in the country.  The season begins on March 7 at the CWPA Tournament hosted by the University of Michigan.  The blue and white are scheduled to play three games in two days, beginning with a contest against regional rival Grove City.  The Behrend Lions will also test themselves that weekend against Division I powers Michigan and Indiana.  The blue and white will play four home games in the Junker Center pool over three days (March 27-29) facing Utica, Chatham, Mercyhurst, and Gannon.  The squad will also participate in the highly competitive Midwest Invitational hosted by Carthage College April 4-5.  Behrend women's water polo will also be shooting for strong showings on April 18-19 at the CWPA Western Division Championships at Indiana, and April 25-27 at the Eastern Division Championships at Harvard University.

The Penn State Behrend Lions enter the season with an exciting influx of young, talented players with strong potential to improve as the season moves along.  Coach Tristan said, "I am very excited about our team for the 2009 season.  Our schedule should help our program move forward and we will look to improve upon our finish from last season."