Archive for October, 2011

The Youngstown Phantoms have named their captains for the 2011-2012 season, Head Coach Anthony Noreen announced Friday.

Left wing Mike Ambrosia will serve as the team’s captain while right wing Ryan Belonger, center Dylan Margonari and defensemen Chris Bradley and Mike Gunn will serve as assistant captains.

Ambrosia, a native of Chatham, N.J., is in his second season with the Phantoms. The Princeton University commit appeared in all 60 games for the Phantoms last season, putting up 10G-18A-28PTS. He was voted captain by his teammates and the coaching staff.

“It’s a great honor to be chosen by your teammates,” Ambrosia said. “I’m joined by four great guys but this team is full of leaders and we’re all going to help each other. Coach Noreen always stresses team leadership and we need 20 guys to win every night.”

Noreen said Ambrosia has grown into a leader on the ice and in the locker room and was an excellent choice to wear the ‘C’.

“Mike embodies everything we want this program to be,” he said. “He’s not a guy who says a whole lot, but when he does the other players listen.  An individual act doesn’t make you a leader – it’s about how you conduct yourself all the time. I think Mike really represents that.”

O’Connor Named Goalee of The Week

Matt O’Connor was honored by the USHL last week.  The second year Youngstown Phantom was named the top goaltender for the week as he posted a shutout, on the road, to garner the award.

O’Connor backed up the choice on Friday night against Des Moines as he stopped 30-32 shots and recovered from a sluggish first period to keep the Buccaneers scoreless in the final two frames.  The 6’5″ net minder is very competitive, works hard, and seems poised to be the guy between the pipes for the 3-1 Phantoms this season.

The Youngstown State women’s soccer team took 20 shots, including eight shots on goal, but was forced to settle for a 0-0 double-overtime against Horizon League foe Green Bay on Saturday afternoon.

The Guins move to 3-8-3 overall and 0-3-2 in the Horizon League while the Phoenix move to 3-9-4 overall and 1-3-2 in the league.

Senior goalkeeper Nicole Kline recorded her third career shutout and first of the season with five saves against the Phoenix.  Green Bay goalkeeper Maddie Drusch collected eight saves, including five in the first half, en route to her fifth shutout of the year..

Freshman Jade Flory and senior Geneva Strelka each tallied four shots and Flory posted a team-high three shots on goal.

The Guins return to action, Wednesday, Oct. 19, when they visit Cleveland State at 7 p.m.

For the first time under Eric Wolford, Youngstown State University won a game on the road.  In a must win for both teams, YSU outplayed Southern Illinois in the second half and got their first win at Carbondale in ten years, posting a quality 35-23 win over the Salukis.  The defense played arguably their best game of the season to protect the lead and maybe showed some signs of maturation.

The first half was filled with more of the frustration shown in the Penguins previous two losses.  Earlier in the week, Wolford said that his Penguins (3-3, 2-2) were getting beat on four or five plays where players were not lining up right or missing assignments.  The first half produced two such plays where fumbles killed drives and momentum.

Halftime adjustments and better protection of the football resulted in keeping momentum and putting points on the scoreboard.  The defense really strapped it up all day.  Jewel Hampton was held to 70 yards on 20 carries.  Hampton posed the biggest threat to YSU entering the game, neck-in-neck with Jamaine Cook atop the conference rushing leaders list.  However, Cook emerged in the second half with a couple of long runs, his sixth touchdown, and his fifth 100-yard game of the season.  Kurt Hess played a good game and really controlled the pace regardless of the situation.  Hess played like a captain for those who questioned a sophomore garnering such a title.

“Nothing comes easy for us”, said Wolford.  “We will keep sawing wood and working hard.  Take your hats to our defense today, they really stepped up and played hard.”

Southern Illinois scored first when they marched 43 yards in eight plays, punctuated by a Hampton two-yard run.  The Penguins evened the score in the second quarter when Adaris Bellamy (below) plunged in for a two-yard score.  The YSU scoring drive, which covered 42 yards only took five plays.

The Salukis would capitalize on a turnover and take a 14-7 lead in the second quarter.  Hampton got his second touchdown on a six-yard scamper to increase the margin.  Jackson MacLachlin booted a 34-yard field goal to increase the Saluki lead to 17-7 at the half.

In the second half a couple of long-awaited answers came for the Penguins.  A receiver, Christian Bryan, has stepped up as a go-to guy for Hess.  Bryan made a couple of leaping, full-extension grabs to set up the Penguins in Saluki territory at crucial times.  The other question mark that can be erased was the ability of the defense to finish a game.  Give Davion Rogers the Derek Pixley Hit of The Week now, he earned it when he crushed MyCole Pruitt late in the game, dislodging the ball before the TE could gain full possession.

The Penguins scored the first two touchdowns of the second half to take a 21-17 lead.  Hess found Bryan alone in the corner of the end zone for the first score.  Cook scored the go-ahead touchdown on a hard two-yard run.

The lead would be short-lived as SIU reclaimed the lead on a 20-yard dash from the Iowa transfer, Hampton.  However, the Penguins were able to dig deep and take the lead for good with 1:11 left in the third quarter.  Hess found Jelani Berassa amongst a sea of Saluki defenders in the middle of the end zone and hit him with a hard pass that Berassa hauled in.

After a couple of empty possessions for both teams, the Penguins special teams made a difference.  Josh Lee pounced on a muffed punt that rolled beyond the goal line and into the end zone to put the Penguins ahead by the score of 35-23 with 2:48 left in the game.  Special teams were a problem to that point of the game for the Penguins.  The kickoff coverage unit let Steve Strother gain 195 yards on five returns, and Nick Liste had a couple of punts nearly blocked.  The defensive effort is even more praiseworthy based on the fact that Southern Illinois started most of their drives with great field position.

Hess finished the game 16-21 for 264 yards with two scores and no picks.  Bryan again took top receiving honors for YSU, catching five balls for 131 yards.  Cook had a sluggish first half statistically, but finished strong posting 179 more rushing yards to his growing resume.

Pruitt was a thorn in the Penguins sides all day and the freshman TE finished with 124 yards on eight grabs. Kory Faulkner was 20-35 for 184 yards for the Salukis (2-4, 1-3).

Wolford finally has the road monkey off of his back and this team is going to keep getting better with experience.  Quality win!

The Penguins return home for two games against St. Francis and Homecoming against Western Illinois.

*Photos courtesy of Ron Stevens / YSU Athletics

The Youngstown Phantoms had their home opener against the Des Moines Buccaneers on Friday night at the Covelli Centre.  The fans who attended were treated to an outstanding hockey game that saw 17-year old prospect Austin Cangelosi score a third period powerplay goal and later add an empty-net score to boost the home team to a 4-2 victory.  The victory marks the first time in their three-year history that the Phantoms won a home opener.

The Bucs got on the board 4:31 after the opening puck dropped.  Trent Samuels-Thomas found the back of the net beating Phantoms goaltender Matt O’Conner from short range. Drake Caggiula and Duggie Lagrone picked up assists for the Bucs on the goal.

The Phantoms (2-1-0) tied the game at 1-1 later in the first period.  Mike Ambrosia scored his second goal of the young season, beating Des Moines goalee Jason Karsdorf. The goal came at the 8:17 mark and Kevin Liss picked up an assist, his first of the season.

Before intermission, Des Moines (1-2-1) reclaimed the lead, 2-1, when Caggiula tallied his second point of the night on a powerplay goal. Samuels-Thomas picked up the assist for the Buccaneers who outshot the Phantoms 12-10 in the opening period.

A funny thing happened before the game started.  I was on the glass grabbing pictures of some of the new Phantoms and an older woman was smacking the glass and screaming.  I informed her in a polite way that the game had not started yet.  She said she was cheering for her grandson to have a good game.  The woman turned out to be the grandmother of Sam Anas (above).  She informed me that she was 80 years old and came all the way from Washington D.C. with Sam’s parents to see the game.  I promised her a picture and got a hug.

The only goal scored in the second period was, you guessed it, a game-tying goal from Sam Anas.  The goal marked the first USHL points in the young career of Anas.  Anas made a beautiful move on the Des Moines red line and burst past a defender before beating Kasdorf with a nice backhand just outside the front of the goal crease.  The goal came at the 11:10 mark of the second and evened the score to the delight of the Phantoms faithful in attendance.

“It meant so much for me to score my first USHL goal with my family here to see it.  It was great and I could not stop smiling”, said Anas, who has made a true jump in class as he was playing high school level hockey not long ago.  “There is not just a few strong guys or a few fast guys at this level, everyone is stronger and everyone is fast. Anything you get, you have earned in this league.”

With 7:54 left in the game, Austin Cangelosi, who was all over the place on every shift the entire game, connected on a powerplay chance that gave the Phantoms a 3-2 lead.  Ryan Belonger picked up the assist on Cangelosi’s fourth goal of the season.

“We definitely had more speed and energy at the end of the periods tonight”, remarked Cangelosi.  “Our chemistry here clicks.  We hang out off of the ice and work hard together when we are on it.  I don’t know if I can keep up this torrid pace with the scoring.  If I score great, if I don’t so be it, as long as we win.”

O’Connor really buckled down between the pipes after the first period to earn the victory in net for the Phantoms, making 30 saves on the 32 shots he faced.

With seven seconds left, Cangelosi tallied an empty-netter with the goalee pulled on a breakaway to ice the game.  Ambrosia snagged another point with an assist.

Coach Anthony Noreen talked about keeping his team composed facing a 2-1 deficit after the first period.  “The first period is over is what I told them.  Let’s look forward to the second period and stick to our game plan.  Let’s outhit them, out forecheck, out back check, and beat them to the puck.  Our plan is threefold.  Number one, we strive to be the most conditioned team in the league.  Number two, we talk about keeping the game uptempo and constantly moving the puck forward.  Finally, we refuse to lose. Refuse to lose the puck, refuse to lose battles, and our guys did a much better job tonight with that stuff later in the game.”

These same two teams will hook up again tomorrow night at the Covelli Centre.

October 13 was Media Day for the Youngstown State men’s basketball team.  Things felt different, things are different.  Coach Jerry Slocum was optimistic about the group of student-athletes he has assembled for the 2011-12 season. Before the quotes get printed and before the stats are run, I will go on the record and say that this basketball team will win the Horizon League this year. It is obvious that everyone will have a different opinion of what to expect.  Read the facts before forming an opinion.

This team has a rare blend of quality senior leadership with Ashen Ward and DuShawn Brooks.  Ward has been a constant plus and Brooks is prepared to accept his role as a potential starter after getting quality minutes off of the bench last season.  The youth on the team is oozing with talent. DJ Cole, Chris Morgan, Danny Reese, and Cale Zuiker are all parts of a puzzle that Slocum has been trying to complete for the last six years.

“We paid our dues last year”, remarked Slocum.  “I like the balance, the attitude, and the work ethic that this group has shown.  This is a deeper basketball team than I have had and I am very optimistic that we can finish in the top-third of the conference this season.”

What Slocum (above) did not address is what I will.

Youngstown State lost two players last season, Vytas Sulskis and Dan Boudler. However, the Penguins are welcoming back players who were difference makers in a strong second half run where nobody wanted to play YSU. Damian Eargle, Kendrick Perry, and Blake Allen, along with Ward all got better as the year went on.  Adding in Shawn Amiker, Fletcher Larson, Mike Podolsky, Nate Perry, and Josh Chojnacki, gives Slocum incredible bench strength and balance he has not had the luxury of enjoying in past seasons.

Now, why I say the Penguins will win this league…  Valparaiso had a guy named  Brandon Wood.  He didn’t graduate or get drafted, but opted to transfer to Michigan State to showcase his talents in a brighter spotlight.  Wood averaged 16.7 per game in the 2010-11 season.  Also gone is Cory Johnson who dropped in 26 against YSU last season.

Butler made it to the National Championship for a second year in a row.  Their last loss before that game was at Youngstown State. The Bulldogs are going to be good again, but they are going to experience some growing pains this season.  Gone are Matt Howard, Shelvin Mack, Shawn VanZant, and Zach Hahn.  The Bulldogs will be good, but YSU has better talent this season.

Want more?  Norris Cole was about 45% of Cleveland State’s offense.  He’s going to be picketing instead of playing this season and the Vikings will not be the same tough team without Cole.  Milwaukee lost their top scorer and rebounder, Anthony Hill. Etc…

Basically, the Penguins have equivalent or better talent than every other team in the Horizon League this season.  Slocum knows how to win games (he is sixth among active D-I coaches with 629 wins) , and the players are committed to bigger things.

“This is a group that made a major commitment to the offseason, to our Summer program, and into the Fall”, commented Slocum.  “These guys know what Horizon League basketball is all about and they know about the challenges ahead of them, physically, in a very, very good league.”

“We have worked hard on building a mentality because we know that nothing in this league will be easy”, said senior Ashen Ward.  “We have a sense of dedication that I have never felt before.  Knowing that I can come to the gym at six in the morning and one of my teammates might be there before me is a great feeling.  It’s nice to know that someone is working as hard as me and that he is on my team.”

“I’ll go on the record right now and say that we can win the Horizon League”, said Kendrick Perry.  “We are always seen as the underdogs.  A win against Butler last season paved the way in letting us realize how good we can really be.  We all came here for one purpose, to win.  Everything goes easier when we share a common goal, and we are working hard to reach our goals.”

“I think that guys are coming in ready to work and the competition on this team is healthy”, said Blake Allen.  “We don’t feel pressure, but more excitement. The young guys have come in and really followed the lead of the older guys, everyone is working hard.“

“We come in every day and push each other”, noted DuShawn Brooks.  “I’m not a captain, but I am a senior and I will do everything in my power to help Ashen [Ward] be a leader when needed.  Everyone has been shooting free throws, working on ball-handling, and tuning up their fundamentals.”

Never known to be a successful basketball program, the soil has finally tilled the way Coach Slocum envisioned it would for the last few years.  Expect bigger things this season, expect a competitive program with someone different able to step up and contribute toward a win.  Expect a very strong current of fresh air, bigger crowds, better results, and success.  I do.

At halftime of last week’s Youngstown State football game, the 1991 Penguins National Championship team was honored.  It was nice to see about 25 members of the team on-hand to be introduced to the crowd.  One of the 25 members in attendance was current YSU Athletic Director, Ron Strollo.  Anyone who has been around YSU’s campus in the last few years will notice dramatic changes for the better.

Before every home football game,there are a million calories sitting on three long tables. It is fun to hear the visiting team’s media and sports department boast that YSU puts out the best spread in the conference.  Comparatively, on a recent visit to Michigan State, the only food offered to media was a boiled hot dog and a fountain soda.  Not even a bag of chips.  Big 10, shame on you.

It is also fun to hear coaches and players who travel in to face the Penguins rant about the facilities.   When Illinois State was in town, the boosters commented that they had preconceived notions of not knowing what to expect on their first trip to Youngstown State.  I ran into the same couple after the game, and even though their Redbirds came out on the short end of the stick, they went out of their way to come near me to say that they really enjoyed everything about the visit and thanked several people more important than I for the hospitality.

Back to Strollo…  People have this thing in their minds that an athletic program of a college should strictly be based on wins and losses. There is some truth in the statement, but there are other ways a university will flourish as a direct result of sports.  The WATTS is a great example of how a facility enhances an already beautiful campus, draws recruiting interest for all competitive sports, and can be utilized by more than one group or team at any given time.

“We have really made an investment over the past four or five years in our facilities and the community has really jumped on board”, said Strollo.  “Construction companies, plumbers, and electricians have donated to the improvements that will ensure our facilities continue to stay at the top of the line”.

Surrounded by a great staff, Strollo is always accessible and genuine with an answer to a question.  He attends many sporting events and the thing I admire the most about him is that he can talk on any level with anyone.

“We try to compare what we have here to major Division-I schools”, commented Strollo.  “My role is to keep things running as smoothly as possible.  I can’t go recruit and I can’t coach, so I manage what my role is.  Everything we do is to the best of our ability.  Our goal is to make sure that these coaches and student athletes have everything at their disposal they need to be successful.”

If you havent been on campus for the last three years, go check things out.  Start with the new turf on the football field and walk toward the WATTS.  If you can get access, check out the updated training facilities inside Stambaugh Stadium.  Make your way to Beeghly Center and look at the weight room additions, coaches corner, and upgraded locker rooms.  Visits to the campus, especially by recruits, will reveal a very favorable environment to continue excelling in athletics, but also getting a quality college education.

We have a gift in this valley people.  Rather than focus on the negatives of the “tired steel town” or “mafia ties everywhere” versions, go intake the beauty that lies within.  Keep up the good work, Mr. Strollo!

Youngstown State junior forward Brandi Brown has been named Preseason First-Team All-Horizon League by collegesportsmadness.com in the website’s conference preview.

Brown (Pomona, Calif.) was the Horizon League’s scoring champion last season as a sophomore when she averaged 19.9 points. She was joined on the first team by Preseason Player of the Year Julie Wojta from Green Bay, UIC’s Jasmine Bailey, Detroit’s Yar Shayok and Cleveland State’s Shalonda Winton.

Milwaukee’s Sami Tucker, Loyola’s Monica Albano, Wright State’s Molly Fox, Green Bay’s Sarah Eichler and Cleveland State’s Destinee Blue appeared on the preseason second team.

Brown is coming off one of the best seasons in school history. She was named Second-Team All-Horizon League as she became just one of three YSU players to ever win a conference scoring title. In addition to averaging 19.9 points overall, Brown averaged 22.6 points during league play. The second-ranked scorer in conference games averaged 19.0 points.

Brown scored 597 points in 2010-11, which was the fifth-highest single-season total in school history. She has scored 939 points in her first two seasons on campus, and she needs 61 to become the 17th player in school history to reach 1,000 career points.

Brown will likely receive more preseason praise on Oct. 19 when the Horizon League’s preseason poll of coaches, sports information directors and media members is released.

After a grueling week on the road, the Youngstown State volleyball team will play two Horizon League matches this weekend at Beeghly Center. YSU will play host to Butler on Friday at 7 p.m. and Wright State on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Friday’s contest will be YSU’s “Dig Pink” match in which the Penguins will raise funds and awareness for breast cancer. Fans attending the match are encouraged to wear pink.

Youngstown State picked up its first Horizon League and road win last week with a 3-1 victory at Loyola on Oct. 4. The Penguins hit .279 behind freshman setter Brianna Bartlett and got 14 kills from both Shannon Watson and Missy Hundelt. The Penguins, though, were swept at Green Bay, UIC and Valparaiso to conclude the trip. Hundelt averaged 3.31 kills per set in the four road matches to lead the Penguins. She ranks third in the Horizon League with 3.55 kills per set, and she leads the conference with 0.40 aces per set.  Hundelt was injured when the Penguins played both Butler and Wright State last month.

Butler has won three straight Horizon League matches to improve its record in league play to 4-4. The Bulldogs swept Wright State and Green Bay and beat Loyola in four sets. Butler is looking for its first road win of the campaign. Senior Maureen Bamiro averages 2.88 kills per set, and her .301 attack percentage ranks sixth in the conference. She had seven kills in five blocks when the Bulldogs swept YSU on Sept. 17 at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Wright State has lost nine straight matches since defeating YSU on Sept. 16 at McLin Gymnasium. The Raiders are 2-18 overall with their only other win coming at High Point on Sept. 10. The Raiders lost in four sets to both Green Bay and Loyola last weekend. They had been swept in seven straight matches heading into the Green Bay match. Sophomore Heidi Splinter ranks sixth in the conference with 3.17 kills per set.  She also averages 3.17 digs per set, and she had 17 digs against the Penguins last month.

Following this weekend, YSU will head back on the road for its final three road matches of the regular season. Its next match will be Oct. 21 at Cleveland State.

Damian Eargle

Junior forward Damian Eargle was named to the 2011-12 Preseason All-Horizon League Third-Team by Collegesportsmadness.com, the website announced on Monday.

Eargle, a 2011 Horizon League All-Newcomer Team selection, is the Penguins leading returning scorer after averaging 11.3 points per game last season.

The 6-foot-7 forward also led the Horizon League with 91 blocked shots and 3.0 blocks per game and ranked seventh with 6.0 rebounds per game and with a .516 field-goal percentage.

Eargle, who started 28 of 30 games, was at his best down the stretch. Over the last six games of the season, he averaged 19.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game and shot 63.3 percent (50-of-79) from the field.

The Penguins open the 2011-12 season at Samford, Saturday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m.

A college football program is a big step up from a high school football team.  Even at the high school level, not too many freshmen play for the varsity team.  In a freshman-packed defense, Youngstown State University is gaining experience, valuable experience, where many of its members are new to college.  Coach Eric Wolford and his staff have recruited tirelessly to bring in some of the most talented athletes this country has to offer.  Wolford will never use the youth movement as an excuse for losing.

Southern Illinois (2-3, 1-2) expected more this season, just like YSU (2-3, 1-2).  The two teams paths will cross Saturday and one team will feel like they have advanced forward at the final whistle, while the other team will continue to search for answers.  The fact that these two teams share the same record is interesting in the sense that YSU can score and has, all season.  Southern Illinois has a tremendous defense.  The Salukis held North Dakota State, a team averaging 38 points per game,  to 60 yards rushing last week in a 9-3 loss.

“They have improved tremendously on defense”, said Coach Wolford of SIU.  “It should be a very aggressive football game that is filled with unique match-ups.  They have a running back, Jewel Hampton, who you can tell lifts weights and runs very hard.  Their quarterback [Kory Faulkner] does a very good job of managing the game.”

“We’re still upbeat”, said Freshman WR Christian Bryan (above).  “We have had two tough losses in two games we feel we should have won.  In no way, shape, or form, has anyone on this team quit.  When we have somebody down, we need to finish them off, it is like we are missing that sense of urgency.”

Freshman LB Teven Williams also echoed positive sentiments.  “We have the talent to be great, there are just a few little things that need fixed.  We still feel our goal of making the playoffs is attainable.  When we have lost, it’s been on us this season, not anything the other team did.  Against Southern Illinois, we have to control the line of scrimmage and if everybody does their part, we will be fine.”

The Salukis have not lost to YSU in Carbondale since 2001, they have not lost a Homecoming game in nine years, and YSU has not won on the road in the conference under Wolford yet.  Last year, Youngstown State got by Southern Illinois by the score of 31-28 at Stambaugh Stadium.  The dynamic of Shane Montgomery’s offense can make all of those statistics meaningless with a solid performance against Southern Illinois’ powerful defense.   Kurt Hess remains the glue, Jamaine Cook is having an All-American type of year, the line is maturing, and the receiving group has improved light years since Spring. Once this defense matures, beware.

“Everyone has had adversity in their lives”, said Wolford.  “Someone will get a phone call and get bad news today.  Adversity develops character and toughness and builds a stronger mentality.  I would admit if we were being out-schemed, but we aren’t.  We give these guys a game plan and you have got to line up right and get it done.  I have been on the floor many times, but I always get up.  This team will have it’s day and I wish I could say when, and I can’t say when, but I promise, that day is coming.”

This Saturday’s Youngstown State at Southern Illinois football game will be televised locally on WBCB “The CW”. Kickoff for the contest is slated for 3:05 p.m. Eastern Time/2:05 p.m. Central Time.

Armstrong Cable customers can watch the game on Channel 16 while Time Warner subscribers can see the game on Channel 14.  21 WFMJ and WBCB will also televise the Penguins’ games at UNI on Nov. 5 and at North Dakota State on Nov. 12.

As always, the game will be available on 570 WKBN beginning with the pregame show at 1:30 p.m.