2008 Penn State Behrend Men's Water Polo Preview

Head Coach Joe Tristan is looking forward to the start of the fall season. After luring talented back-to-back recruiting classes to join the Behrend Lions, the program appears poised to make a run in 2008.

"I am very excited about our men's team entering the upcoming season," said Coach Joe Tristan. "We have several experienced players that will challenge for playing time."

After compiling the second most wins in school history a year ago the blue and white will look to improve on that mark in 2008.  The Behrend Lions will look to four experienced juniors to lead the way. Jacob Bernstein (Sierra Madre,CA/Pasadena) will be one of two captains on this year's squad.  Bernstein, who was named to the Collegiate Water Polo Association All-Academic Team last year, looks to improve on his eight goals and 16 steals from a year ago. Goalie Robert Westhelle (Norwood, NJ/Northern Valley Regional at Old Tappen) will move into the shallow end goalie slot as he played both ways as a sophomore and was active in 15 games last season.

Also, Matt Pluta (Erie/Cathedral Prep) returns and is the program's most dynamic returning offensive player. He connected for 33 goals and 17 assists in his first season for the blue and white. After a season off, Alex Goldstein (Golden Beach,FL/Dr. Michael Krop) provides the Behrend Lions with another veteran presence.

The core of the Behrend Lions water polo program is comprised of seven sophomores.  Drivers Keith Meehan (Erie/McDowell) and Raudel Arriaga (Perris, CA/Perris) will look to be scoring threats.  Meehan scored 15 goals a year ago and led the program with 18 assists.  While Arriaga contributed seven assists and 11 steals. 

Centers Jon Bacon (Glendale, CA/Crespi Carmelite) and Derek Sieber (Erie/McDowell) are instrumental to the success of the blue and white.  Bacon will also be the second captain of the team.  Last season Bacon was able to score 14 goals and post seven assists from the center position.  Sieber will give size and strength to the 2-Meter offensive position, while sophomore defenders Nicholas Lowrie (Corona, CA/Santiago),  and Kevin Wolak (LaGrange Park, IL/Riverside-Brookefield) will control the perimeter.  Lowrie played in all 27 games a season ago for the Behrend Lions, while Wolak hit the water in 26 contests and collected 20 steals and nine goals in 2007.

Rounding out the sophomore class is goalie Keith Yaegle (Warren/Warren). Yaegle, another member of the CWPA All-Academic Team, was ranked eleventh in the country for total saves with 235 a year ago and will be guarding the goal. He will be working with the defense to improve hit shot save percentage of 45% this fall.

Newcomers to this year's team are Robby Gausman (Erie/McDowell), Chris Graves (McMurray/Peters Township), and Ricardo Ortiz (Erie/McDowell).  All will look to work their way into the blue and white line up. "This is a very talented incoming class," said Tristan. "They will strengthen both our offense and defense and help us contend for a strong finish in the CWPA."

The blue and white will begin the 2008 season traveling to Rochester, NY to take part in the Rochester Invitational.  Penn State Behrend will hit the road for four straight to open the regular season. They will enter the Junker Center pool for the first time on September 27 when they take on local rival Mercyhurst College at 4:00 p.m. and then take on Salem International at 8:00 p.m. 

In early October, the Behrend Lions will again be heading to the West coast. "Our trip to California will allow our program to play some of the best teams in the country and in Division III," said coach Tristan.  "If we are going to contend as a Division III power, then we need to play the powerhouses in Division III." The blue and white will battle several top-notch squads while playing in the Claremont Invitational.

Post season play begins when the blue and white head to Johns Hopkins for the Division III Eastern Championships on October 25 and 26.  Then November brings the Southern Division Championships at Princeton and the Eastern Division Championships at Navy.  The season could conclude with the NCAA championships on December 2and 3.