SPORTS
April 28, 2011 Page 18
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2011 ends in honor Two Plus the Foul from page 20
Photo: Loyolan Archives, Graphic: Conor Morgan | Loyolan
Taking home the “Not Ready to Say Goodbye” award is Anne Scott – formerly of swimming and women’s water polo. Yes, I know that Scott graduated last year, but it just doesn’t seem right that an athletic season can pass without her taking home some sort of LMU-related award. I can’t tell you how many times I looked at results from a swim meet or women’s water polo game and felt like something was missing when I couldn’t find her name next to a record-setting time or a nine-goal game. Her record-setting performances in the pool last season were unearthly, and she needs at least two years’ worth of awards to fully honor them. On a more sensitive note, the “Wounded Lion” honor will be awarded to two entire teams – men’s and women’s basketball. Between the two programs, there were a combined five seasonending injuries, as Alex Cowling, Candice Nichols and MacKenzie Kerins of the women’s team and Edgar Garibay and Jarred DuBois of the men’s team both saw their seasons end early due to injuries. The pain didn’t stop there either, as other key players on both teams missed a considerable amount of time throughout the course of the season. Senior Renahy Young, senior Melanie Ysaguirre, redshirt senior Jessica Vargas and redshirt freshman Camille Buckley of the Lady Lions all battled major injuries throughout the 201011 campaign. The men couldn’t catch a break either, as redshirt sophomore Ashley Hamilton and redshirt junior Drew Viney were forced out of games due to injuries as well. The recipient of the 2011 “Shoot First, Shoot Second” award goes to none other than fifth-year senior Tibor Forai of
men’s water polo. He took more shots at the goal posts than 19 of the 20 other players on the Lions’ roster this season and recorded 60 more attempts than the team’s next highest shot-taker this year. I’m pretty sure he only registered his 15 assists in 201011 by accident – likely on errant shot attempts. It’s not award season unless someone gets honored as the year’s alpha dog. More often than not, this athlete is leading the school’s most popular and followed athletic team, but this year that was not the case. Tara Erdmann, a redshirt junior has been kicking butt and taking names all year long, and even holds a world record in the 10,000-meter, which she set at the Stanford Invitational during the weekend of March 26-27 this year. A world record! Someone from LMU holds a world record in a race. Not too many student-athletes can say that. Erdmann might not have the campus presence of Hank Gathers, but she’s unquestionably up there with the all-time Lion greats. Therefore, she is the recipient of the 2011 “Holy Crap, I’m so Freakin’ Fast” award. Only four pieces of “hardware” were handed out this year (meaning the recipients should frame this issue of the Loyolan and put it in their trophy room one day) but that doesn’t mean the unhonored student-athletes should feel bad about their seasons. It was a tough year in many ways for a number of athletic programs at LMU (kind of a recurring theme for this school, isn’t it?), and while there is always room for improvement, all 2010-11 LMU student-athletes should pat themselves on the back for being true warriors this season. This is the opinion of Michael Goldsholl. Please send comments to mgoldsholl@theloyolan.com.
LMU SPORTS UPDATE Track
After strong performances in San Diego, Calif., the LMU track team travels to two key invitationals.
The track and field team heads to Palo Alto, Calif. for the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational and Irvine, Calif. for the Steve Scott Invitational this weekend. Last Saturday, the Lions headed south to San Diego, Calif. and raced at the UC San Diego Triton Invitational. Standing out in San Diego for LMU was sophomore Sheree Shea, who clocked a 4:31 in the top heat of the 1500-meter race. Shea’s time was the top performance in the event on that day. In addition, freshmen Alyssa Bellia, Brittnie Munoz, Kelly Shogren and Weston Strum, sophomores Caroline Draper, Jessica Mumaugh, Greg Innes, Sterling Lockert and Michael Carlone and seniors Michael Herrera and Connor Pastoor all recorded personal bests in their respective events. Compiled by Nathan Dines | Asst. Sports Editor
W. Water Polo
W. Water Polo
Baseball
Junior Kimberly Benedetti earns Player of the Year award.
The Lions achieve high honors during conference season and look for success at championships.
LMU looks to bounce back from tough conference losses and regain control of the WCC.
The Western Water Polo Association [WWPA] named LMU junior Kimberly Benedetti its 2011 Player of the Year, voted on by the coaches. Benedetti was also named to the WWPA's First-Team along with teammate junior Casey Flacks and LMU Head Coach Kyle Witt. Benedetti has led the Lions in their 35 straight victories against WWPA opponents. Benedetti is currently tied with junior Mary Ann Campos for the team's lead in goals. She ranks sixth in school history with 149 goals. Benedetti, who was named to the WWPA All-Tournament last year, will once again look to lead her team far in this year’s WWPA Tournament.
This weekend, the women’s water polo team travels to Chabot College in Hayward, Calif. for the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Championships. The Lions enter with a 24-8 record on the season, including a perfect 11-0 in conference play and the No. 1 seed in the tournament. LMU also begins this weekend’s play with a multitude of accolades. In addition to Benedetti’s top honor and Flacks’ First-Team selection, Kyle Witt was selected as WWPA Coach of the Year. The list also includes sophomore Erin Manke on the Second-Team All-WWPA, senior Mary Ann Campos for Honorable Mention All-WWPA and freshman Alexandra Honny on the WWPA All-Freshman Team.
The Lions (21-17, 5-4) head into a critical road series against the first place San Francisco Dons (21-20,‐ 7-2) this weekend. Junior Jason Wheeler will take the mound for the Lions. Opposing batters are only hitting .235 off of the left-hander. LMU has lost six of its last eight games, and has lost two consecutive conference series. The Lions only managed three extra base hits in their series against Pepperdine last week; all three hits came in LMU's sole victory last Thursday. The Dons, ‐ on the other hand, have been on fire and have won seven of their last eight games. Senior outfielder Pete Lavin is currently leading the team with 59 hits and a .351 batting average. Friday's game is at 3 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday's start times at 1 p.m.
Compiled by Kevin Cacabelos | Sports Intern
Compiled by Nathan Dines | Asst. Sports Editor
Compiled by Kevin Cacabelos | Sports Intern
Photo: LMU Athletics, Graphic: Greg Smith | Loyolan