Matthew Bodnar
Staff Reporter
As fall quickly fades away and winter approaches, the time to conclude the fall sports season is upon us. Excitement, heart break and disappointment have been felt by fans of the Green Terror throughout the fall season. Even so, each team and the individuals who partake in the sports have provided us, the fans, with numerous memories and entertainment. These athletes deserve our thanks and praise for a season that was filled with determination and a strong desire to make McDaniel Athletics synonymous with excellence.
Football
After a stirring last second win over Gettysburg, the Green Terror football team guaranteed itself at least a .500 record, with a chance to finish with a winning record for the first time in years. The seniors on this year’s squad have experienced losing seasons each of their previous three years here on the Hill. A winning record this year is a testament to their hard work, leadership, and ability to change the program for the better. Seniors Matt Cahill, Eric Zwilsky, and TJ Develin led the charge on offense and were constant threats to score throughout the year. On defense, seniors Mike Weick, Travis Wenrich, and Tommy Prazenica racked up the tackles and forced turnovers all year. Despite the overwhelming number of seniors on the team, this season has also seen the emergence of young players poised to continue the process of bringing a championship to the Hill.
Volleyball
The women’s volleyball team finished the year with a 17-12 overall record and a .500 mark in conference play. The Green Terror ladies were eliminated from playoffs after falling to 25th ranked Haverford 3-2, despite a valiant effort. Nonetheless the team showed marked improvement and created optimism in the future of the program. The senior presence of Lanni Reisinger, Emily Creighton, Sara Hanlon and Taylor Herrgott
will be greatly missed, but their impact will be felt on the program for years to come.
Women’s Soccer
The women soccer team’s final record of 4-12-2 does not fully display the heart and character of this team. Led by seniors Brittany Baer, Melanie Armstrong, Leanne Hollinger, and Jessica Peyton, this team never quit and displayed lots of potential and optimism for the upcoming seasons. These four seniors laid the groundwork for the underclassmen, who have already garnered much experience throughout the course of the season. The last game of the season, a scoreless draw against Haverford was a tribute to the progress this team has made over the past three months. With a strong core returning to the field next season, the future of women’s soccer certainly looks bright.
Field Hockey
This year’s field hockey team enjoyed a very successful season that ended in heartbreaking fashion for the three senior members of the squad. Mandy Pickard, Emma Ardolino, and Jessica Largent were the leaders of a team that battled for a playoff spot all year long. As the team entered its final game, it had a chance to secure that spot with a win. After falling behind 2-1, McDaniel scored the game tying goal with 4 minutes left to play. Unfortunately for the Green Terror, Haverford tallied the winning goal with a minute left in regulation. Despite this obvious disappointment, this team needs to be applauded for its effort and must use this season as a launching pad for a playoff berth next year.
Men’s Soccer
The men enjoyed a non-losing season, finishing 8-8-1 overall and .500 in conference play. Adam Sommers, Paul Seegren, Michael Beard, Donald Dokas, Benjamin Knight, and Robert Hollasch were the senior men who carried the team throughout the season. The team suffered numerous one goal defeats and had a good chance in every game this season. These tough defeats and close calls will only make this team better down the road. They experienced the heartbreak and will certainly use it as motivation towards a winning season next year. The seniors deserve an enormous amount of credit for teaching the young players and leading by example. This program has certainly taken a step forward under these talented seniors.
