CLUB ROUNDUP: WATER POLO still undefeated

It is considered common knowledge to most collegiate sports programs -- from state schools to the Ivy League to small colleges all over America -- that to have an undefeated season in any sport is a rare and special occasion. Here at Penn these extraordinary events have been occurring quite frequently in the past three years. This season has produced another team that has been able to achieve this impressive feat. That is the Penn water polo team, which boasts an impressive 8-0 record. The team is well aware that over the course of a season, consistency, focus and determination are crucial during a long winning streak. After going 4-0 and crushing the competition in its first meet (including an amazing win over No. 3 Maryland) Penn wanted to remain focused and continue to play intensely in its next meet Oct. 7 against Penn State, Millersville and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. "The Maryland game for us was a major focal point in the preseason, and so naturally after the win we were going to have a little decrease in intensity. But the core of the team remained focused and we did not allow it to happen for too long," co-captain Steve Fallon said. Penn played flawlessly again, never trailing in any game and beating each team by more than eight goals. West Chester, ranked 15th, proved to be the tough test opponent of the day for No. 9 Penn. Penn did have a problem in the West Chester match. "Physically, they were just much bigger than us," Fallon said. Because of the obvious difference in size Penn was forced to make some offensive adjustments. The Red and Blue offense normally focuses around Fallon and sophomore Reed Conan. But in this particular game West Chester decided to take these two out of the offense, forcing other members of the team to step up. "Basically if you draw a comparison to basketball, it was as if our center couldn't get the ball and we had to start hitting the three-pointer, which we were able to do," said co-captain Jon Dwight, who scored four goals to lead Penn. Despite Penn hitting three first-half two-pointers it only had a 9-7 lead at halftime. Led by a strong core of veterans, including Kurk Lehneis, Alex Holsenback, Grant Geison and Matt Santaspirt, Penn completely shut down West Chester, while continuing to excel at all phases of the game. The final score was 19-12. "The way that we are gelling together this year, that is why we are 8-0," Fallon said." "Nobody is playing selfishly or trying to rack up stats. It is a team effort every game." "The biggest difference is the overall commitment from our best player to the last man on the bench," Dwight said. Following the second straight undefeated tournament Penn is "exactly were want to be right now," according to Fallon. As the water polo team heads to the regional championship in two weeks it has two goals. First, it wants to be one of the top two finishers and thus qualify for Nationals. The Quakers also want to beat Maryland again, as they will most likely face the Terrapins in the finals.