If there were a bright spot in Saturday's football game against Harvard, it would be the play of Penn's special teams unit.
The crew blocked a Crimson extra point and a field goal, and sophomore kicker Derek Zoch hit a career-long 39-yard field goal.
But perhaps the day belonged to Anthony Melillo, whose performance has mostly flown under the radar this season.
The sophomore punter had six kicks, averaging 37.3 yards with his longest travelling 47 yards.
But his best kick was downed on Harvard's 1-yard line pinning the Crimson deep within their own zone.
"That was my first one [downed on the one]," Melillo said. "It's a great feeling. It's mostly Scotty [Williams] though, mostly the gunners and what they do."
Melillo has been consistent all season, averaging 37.6 yards per punt, good enough for second in the Ivy League.
Coach Al Bagnoli has been pleased with his first-year punter, but believes he can still improve his directional kicking. Melillo agrees he has much to improve upon, setting his sights on becoming a top I-AA punter next season.
"It's exciting, it's my first year punting," he said. "But I hope to do better next year."
Defensive monster
For the second time in three weeks and the third time this season, linebacker Ric San Doval led the Quakers in tackles on Saturday, with 13.
The senior from Allison Park, Pa., is putting together an excellent season after sitting out 2004 with a knee injury.
Though San Doval says that personal accomplishments should only be viewed through the lens of team success, he is nevertheless thrilled just to be back out on the field this season.
"To make it through nine games thus far," he said. "And going on to play a 10th after having a knee completely reconstructed, for me it's been great just playing."
San Doval currently ranks ninth in the Ivy League with 72 tackles and is tied with Yale's Lee Driftmier for the lead in fumble recoveries, having pounced on three.
Bagnoli believes that San Doval has been an asset this season after reacclimating himself to the rigors of Ivy League football.
"It took him a couple games to kind of get the rust off," Bagnoli said. "But probably from Week 3 or 4 on, he's been very, very solid. He's a kid that'll be a huge void for us to try to fill next year."
Going out in style
Though Bagnoli may already be looking a bit toward next year, Saturday's game against Cornell will be the last for the Class of 2006.
The current seniors have posted an overall record of 32-7 and are 23-4 in Ancient Eight tilts. In fact, the group did not lose an Ivy contest until Nov. 13 of its junior year.
In a sense, their previous success has made this year's struggles even more difficult.
"I think it's tough, as far as the legacy goes, because we had the potential this year to be the best class in Ivy League history," San Doval said. "We got dealt a deck of cards this year, and the opponents keep throwing out aces suited and we just can't get a face card."
San Doval cited Kyle Ambrogi's suicide and the Quakers' nagging injuries -- as well as the strength of their Ivy opponents -- as obstacles that the team has had to overcome.
Bagnoli agreed that uncontrollable circumstances have not allowed the seniors to match the Class of 2005 with a 26-2 Ivy mark.
"The class itself will leave a really good legacy; it's just unfortunate that they were dealt some of the things they were dealt this year," he said.
The coach also vowed to give the seniors a proper send-off.
"I'm just trying to help them get one more win," he said. "I think that would be fitting of a very successful senior class."
