ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend women's water polo team is ready to embark on their 11th season and eighth under head coach Joe Tristan. The Lions add five new faces with the five returning players for the upcoming season, including four freshmen and one junior.
"I am very excited about our team this season," said Tristan. "We have a lot of experienced players who will contend for playing time all year."
Behrend welcomes back leading scorer from last season and first-ever All-American in program history, sophomore MaryEllen Spooner. Spooner, also the team Rookie of the Year, netted 25 goals and dished out 14 assists in her debut season. She also made 50 steals and converted six penalty shots.
The lone senior Jillian Sebrosky will take on a leadership role in her final year along with co-captain junior Hilary MacManus. Sebrosky played in all 28 games a year ago and was voted Most Improved Player after netting a goal and collecting three assists. MacManus was instrumental in between the pipes last season, making 19 saves and six steals in 21 games.
The last two returning letterwinners are Anne Lawrence and Kendall Duffy. Lawrence is coming off an outstanding swimming season with the Lions, earning the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Swimmer of the Year, and hopes to continue the same success with the water polo team. The junior was fourth on the team last season with eight goals, while making 42 steals in 27 contests. Duffy led the team in kickouts with 31 and scored seven times.
Newcomer Elizabeth Causgrove will replace graduating goalie and All-American Jenna Zeyfang. The local product from McDowell High School will earn the starting spot in the net for Behrend. New to water polo, but not new to the Lions are freshmen Rachael Ragen and Julia Pfund. The two enjoyed tremendous seasons with the swimming and diving team. Ragen was named AMCC Newcomer of the Year, setting three individual team records along with four relay records.
Freshman Paula Rusca and Gwen Thompson will add depth to the roster and gain experience in their first season.
Behrend will begin the 2011 season not too far from home at Grove City on March 4-5, before traveling to Chatham on March 6. The Lions will then host a CWPA Tournament March 18-20 and then the Behrend Invitational the following weekend.
