Volume 27 Issue 28

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

IslandWavesNews.com

SCARES GALORE

Halloween spooks Island University

by CONTRIBUTING WRITERS • Page 5-16

Sports

Senior scores winning goal at senior night shutout Page 19

Also

October 27, 2016 Volume 27, Issue 28

News Page 2 Entertainment Page 17 Sports Page 18

2 News STUDENT PUBLICATION OF TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITYCORPUS CHRISTI

10.27.2016

Islanders host first mental health awareness walk Melissa Rodriguez @__melisssaaaa

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his year, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences, in partnership with the University Counseling Center, will ISLAND WAVES STI | ISLANDWAVESNEWS.COM | VOLUME 26 ISSUE 20 | 08.27.15 host a walk in support of menIslandWavesNews.com tal health awareness for the first time on campus.

Editor-in-chief The walk will take place on KACI ALVAREZ Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Island University and will begin at Web approximately 8:30 a.m. RegisMIKAYLA OELSCHLEGEL, editor tration will be available online JEFFREY THOMAS, on-air talent through OrgSync prior to the EILEEN HERNANDEZ, reporter event or at the event itself startMITCHELL JACKSON, vid. editor ing at 8 a.m. There will be no registration fee for this walk, Copy Editor however, people are encourKATIE MEZA aged to bring canned food or donations in support of the CosVisuals tal Bend Wellness Foundation.

IZZY SNEED, editor “[The goal] is to raise awareMARIAH OLIVE ness and have people present CHARLIE BLALOCK to acknowledge the awareness that we really do need,” said Layout Pamela Greene, assistant proKARA HERRERA, editor fessor in the College of Nursing SABRINA HUTTON, assistant and Health Sciences and principal investigator on the grant Reporters making this event possible. “To GERI LEMMONS, news support people who are in need JONATHAN FORNEY, feature of mental health services and MELISSA RODRIGUEZ, news to not stigmatize that or make it something that is shaming.”

Advertising JAMIE FINK, manager

Faculty Adviser WENDY MOORE

ABOUT ISLAND WAVES Island Waves is a studentproduced publication at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

The newspaper is printed weekly, except during summer sessions.

Any student or University employee may submit material and opinions for publication consideration. To become a contributor, e-mail or call the Island Waves editor.

CONTACT US 6300 Ocean Drive Unit 5783 Corpus Christi, TX 78412 (361) 825-5862 editor@tamucc.edu ads@tamucc.edu

This entire event has been possible through the fact that both the College of Nursing and Health and the University Counseling Center partnered together in order to obtain the federal grant of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) which has covered the funds to produce the event.

This walk was inspired by the big event that happens annually in Houston, which is also a walk in support of mental health awareness. The same sponsors of the Houston walk have been very supportive of the walk happening on the Island, so much so that they have provided medals for the first 100 finishers.

“Suicide, nationally, is the second leading cause of death for college-age people,” Greene said.

Through this event, the College of Nursing and Health Science and the University Counseling Center hope to take away the stigma that usually comes with the thought of mental health issues and to bring awareness to the fact that it is not unusual for people to experience this type of illness.

“I think [mental health] is

a really important issue that more people should know about,” said Meagan Midkiff, freshman pre-nursing major.

“It really affects more people than you realize.”

“I think it’s awesome. It shows that the school is supportive of this issue and creating awareness is definitely a good thing,” Midkiff said.

Everyone is welcome to participate in this event, students and the community. Greene said they just want people to have fun, feel very open about coming out and just make connections with each other.

For more information about the walk or for early registration, visit https://orgsync. com/89097/forms/222103.

Media production program teaches film through screenings Geri Lemmons @GeriLemmons

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s a part of the media production program, students watched a screening of the film, “Stranger than Paradise.”

This is just one of the events the media production program is putting on this year.

"Stranger Than Paradise" was an independent film that was made in the 1980s.The film was shown to students in order to get them looking at film as a whole in a different way and to open up discussion about how this film was created and what was interesting about what they saw.

“We have multiple initiatives that we do through the media production emphasis,” said Edward Tyndall, associate

professor of media production in the department of communication and media. “The purpose of this is to create a culture of collaboration and idea exchange within the production students.”

Students had a discussion before the film started. They were told what to look for and what might stand out to them while watching the film. They were told to look at narrative, cinematography, production design, editing and the acting.

“We don’t think it is maximizing people’s educational potential within this program if all they do is come to class and then leave and then go back into their separate lives,” Tyndall said. “We want to create as many opportunities for students to come together and

generate impromptu ideas outside the classroom.”

After the discussion the movie started. “Stranger Than Paradise” was about a man, his cousin and his friend and their relationship with America and the adventures they take together. Students sat in the room and observed the film and took some notes on it and the things that interested them.

“We had a really great turn out for this thing,” Tyndall said. “Students were very interested in this film. They spoke and hopefully they will go out into the world and think about it and talk to each other about it. We are trying to make people be the best filmmakers they can be within the four years they are in the pro-

gram.”

After the film was over students were able to reflect on what they watched on the film. Students asked questions, made comments and had many things to say when it came to the film's visual style.

All of the topics that were discussed before the movie were talked about in detail between students and the professors who attended.

“Definitely shows that there is not just one way to do things,” said Mike Montero, junior communication major with at media production emphasis. “I think that the most prominent that we saw was editing and the second noticeable thing was the way it was shot, like there was no cut that we see now a days."

News 3

10.27.2016

Science vs. art: Matter of taste

JONATHAN FORNEY @jb4nay

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ean Frank Pezold defeated Dean Mark Hartlaub in the first annual Iron Chef: Deans’ Challenge put on by Islander Dining.

The matchup was modeled after the “Iron Chef ” TV show, which pits two chefs against one another to make the best dish utilizing a secret ingredient. For the Islander version, the secret ingredient was mushrooms. The two competitors represented vastly different colleges: Science and Engineering (Pezold) and Liberal Arts (Hartlaub).

Supporters of each dean cheered them on in this battle of science versus art. Hartlaub’s fans passed out cutouts with “#TeamHartlaub” printed on them, as well as the phrase “It all starts with liberal arts.” Hartlaub even started a “C-L-A C-L-A” chant while he was cooking. Pezold’s supporters brought osters and cheered their dean on.

Prior to the competition, Hartlaub said, “I do it for my fans and for the children.”

The chefs had 45 minutes to

O N L I N E

Island Waves News .com

Breast Cancer research strides toward cure

On Oct. 14, downtown Corpus Christi hosted making strides for breast cancer education and awareness to raise money to the cause.

Participants at the making strides walk got the opportunity to walk or run while raising money at the same time.

As participants they walked or ran, community volunteers passed out water to keep them hydrated. Continue reading at islandwavesnews.com.

JONATHAN FORNEY/Island Waves

Dean Frank Pezold is all smiles with his Iron Chef plaque after his narrow victory of 1 point over Dean Hartlaub.

cook, plate and present their dishes to the three judges.

The judges were made up of relevant figures on campus: Reginald Wade, director of University Services, Kelly Quintanilla, provost and vice president for Academic Af-

JONATHAN FORNEY/Island Waves

Under the spotlight, Dean Mark Hartlaub cracks a smirk while preparing his Italian chicken pasta dish featuring the special ingredient, mushrooms.

fairs and soon to be interim president of the university, and Ian Woodward, executive chef.

The judging operated exactly like on the TV show. Each judge was given four criteria to look for in each contestants’ dish: taste, presentation, originality and use of the secret ingredient. A maximum of 10 points could be awarded for each category. Once each judge had formed his/her opinion, they came together to determine an overall score for both contestants.

As the deans went to work, host, Tony Gomez, a chef at the Panda Express on campus, gave real-time commentary and kept the audience engaged.

“We’ve got such talented people that work for us, it’s about time we use these resources to show off these guys,” Gomez said.

Pezold made orzo stuffed bell peppers with mushrooms, while Dean Hartlaub prepared Italian chicken pasta. Pezold finished with several minutes to spare and worried that may affect his chances.

“I was really worried that

my food would get cold, but luckily it worked out,” Pezold said.

Hartlaub also finished before the 45 minutes were up, so the judging commenced ahead of schedule.

Each dean brought his dish to the three judges and allowed them to take a few bites to form their opinions. Pezold’s dish faced initial scrutiny before the judges came together.

“Originally: fantastic. Presentation is beautiful and the taste is right up there, but I don’t see any mushrooms,” Woodward said.

The statement caused a gasp through the crowd, but Pezold assured the judges that mushrooms were in his dish.

After some deliberations, the results were in. By the slimmest possible margin (32:31), Pezold was deemed the first Iron Chef champion.

“It feels good, I’m relieved.

The competition was stiff,” Pezold said. “I had to be careful with the seasoning because my wife and I like things really hot, so I toned it down for the judges, but it all worked out.”

Volleyball serves Lamar Cardinals in 3-0 win On Oct. 15, the Islanders volleyball team succeeded in yet another victory in their sweeping defeat against the Lamar Cardinals.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi won the Saturday afternoon match setting their Southland Conference record to 8-0.

Though the Islanders came out victorious, the Cardinals certainly gave the blue and green a run for their money with a close 25-22, 26-24, 2520 triumph. Read more at islandwavesnews.com.

ON THE COVER: Graphic by IZZY SNEED

4 News New Islander swim club makes splash on campus MELISSA RODRIGUEZ @melisssaaaa

D

ue to the fact that Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi had been lacking a swim team, a couple of students took it upon themselves to start a new swim club for all Islanders to enjoy the recreational sport of swimming.

This swim club has been officially operating for only a couple weeks now, but has generated a following of 41 members and counting. “[The goal] was to teach people how to swim better,” said James Crisp, president of the swim club. “And to just have a place where people can go swim with a lot of other people who also love to swim.”

Since the club is fairly new, practices have varied. However, Crisp confirms that as of right now their practices are on Tuesdays from 1 - 2 p.m. and Fridays from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Practice times take place at the University pool and are open to anyone who wants to swim, whether they have been swimming for years or have never swam before.

10.27.2016

“We just wanted an outlet for people who have the same mindset and want to swim together,” said Jensen Degrande, secretary of the swim club.

“Just so people can have a group to swim with.”

There are only four schools in the state of Texas that have a swim team, and TAMU-CC is not one of them. However, Crisp said , many other colleges have swim clubs like this one that just started at the Island University.

This means possible competitions are in store for the new swim club in the near future.

“We want to promote an image of health, and swimming is a really good workout,” Degrande said. “Not a lot of people know how good it is for you.”

Their practices consist of different levels of swim workouts, which greatly resemble those of high school practices. They have separate workouts to accommodate every member’s swimming abilities, so everyone is able to get in a workout that is in their ability range.

“We are just promoting fun, and like yeah it’s kind of a health thing and

yeah it’s a work out, but we all want to hang out together and we try to finish it with [fun activities],” Degrande said.

For more information about the club

and how to sign up, check out their OrgSync page or just stop by the Dugan Wellness Center and ask the front desk about it.

Photos courtesy of DONALD EPPERSON

A swim club member practices backstroke during one of the club’s recent meetings.

Swim club members try to remain under water as long as possible after pushing off the wall in order to get as far as they can using minimal effort before swimming.

Halloween

10.27.2016

5

Five helping steps to carve pumpkins

TYLAR CHAPA contributing writer

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hen the time for Halloween approaches you see Jack-o-lanterns lining patios, sidewalks and yards. For a lot of families carving a pumpkin is a must and also a yearly tradition for each Halloween.

However, not everyone’s pumpkin turns out to his or her expectations or they don’t even know how to carve a pumpkin. Following these simple steps below will lead you to carving a great Jack-o-lantern.

Before you can start on your How to Carve a Pumpkin you have to get the necessary materials needed to carve a successful pumpkin. The materials needed to carve a pumpkin are a smooth, symmetrical pumpkin and the tools to carve it such as knives, saws, hole cutters, a large spoon and marker.

Step 1: Find the smoothest surface on the pumpkin, cut off the top of the pumpkin and scoop out the mushy insides. In order to successfully cut off the top of the pumpkin, use a sharp serrated knife or a keyhole saw.

Step 2: Use a large serving spoon or a fleshing tool to scoop out the seeds, flesh, pulp and fiber inside the pumpkin. While

Photos courtesy of PIXABAY

scooping out the insides, make sure to discard them as you go.

Step 3: There are multiple options for deciding what to carve into the pumpkin.

You can purchase a pumpkin template at a store, print a pumpkin template out off of the Internet or free hand on the pumpkin with a marker. If you are going to free hand on the pumpkin, the carver should use a marker to draw the face or the carving you have decided to do before carving into the pumpkin with a knife or saw.

When using a pumpkin template, trace the design by poking holes with a sharp awl along the design.

Step 4: After drawing the carving outline with a marker on the pumpkin or poked holes along a template, get a small serrated knife or a miniature saw to start cutting out the outline. For safety, always cut away from your body in case the knife slips.

Tip: To prevent exposed areas of the pumpkin’s flesh from turning brown, apply Vaseline.

Step 5: Once you are done carving your pumpkin, you can add lights or a candle inside the pumpkin for extra effects or to have the pumpkin light up at night.

6 Halloween Beat out diabetes with alternative Halloween treats

10.27.2016

MARIAH OLIVE @mariahmydear

Halloween is a sweet treat lover’s dream. But not for the diabetic.

Candy means so much to children, and we don’t realize that until we take it out of the equation. Whether you’re being cautious because of prediabetes, type 1 diabetes or a type 2 diabetes, Halloween can be daunting for anyone affected by diabetes.

Therefore, the focus can be to limit or alter the perspective of a candy filled Halloween.

A little bit of planning, psychology and dedication can work to make it a Halloween unlike any other.

A little candy might be OK. Let the child pick out candy that they absolutely can’t live without for the night.

Designate times throughout the evening and keep an eye on them as they eat and check blood sugar levels. And be the keeper of the candy stash. Still, it is best to check with your doctor to make sure this is okay.

Trade candy in for cash or other rewards. Kids love the idea of having power. With the ability to barter with

their parents or relatives, kids will be more likely to give up the candy.

Instead of a monetary trade in, you could barter with get out of chore coupons or a trip to their favorite store.

Refocus the celebration. Make the focus of Halloween shift to the fun, family and friends over the need to hoard candy. Early focus like this can help for a lifetime. This will also help the whole family be involved in the celebration.

Try alternative treats at home. Popcorn, fruits, sugar-free candy or treats you can make at home are all great

alternatives. Then add some extra Halloween-y decorations on top and ta-da. Recipes for great and tasty diabetic Halloween treats can be found with a simple search. You’ll also be able to control what is in it. You know your child best.

“I always try to give my son options.” said Mary Casey, whose son is a type 1 diabetic. “I never want him to feel limited because of diabetes.

Halloween was a tricky one, but in the end we would do dark chocolate dipped strawberries and frozen bananas.”

Photos courtesy of GOOGLE.COM

A strawberry can be dipped in white chocolate dyed different colors can be decorated to look like other Halloween icons, such as the strawberry above, which has been dipped in orange white chocolate and decorated to look like a jack-o-lantern.

Strawberries dipped in white chocolate can be decorated to look like ghosts.

Halloween

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7

Eight spooky things to do in Corpus Christi CLARISA SALINAS contributing writer

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ooking for something fun to do this Halloween weekend in Corpus Christi? Here are a few ideas to get the party started.

For the Fearless: Fright Night Haunted House is back in town from now until Halloween night. Enter if you dare at 615 Mesquite Street downtown.

For the Music Lover: Sure, country music may not be the spookiest way to kick off Halloween weekend, but that does not mean you should skip out on the ZiegenBock Music Festival. Head downtown to Old Concrete Street Amphitheater on Oct. 29 to catch acts like Gary Allan, Jack Ingram, Cody Johnson and more.

For the Lover of Life: Don’t miss out on the famous Dia de los Muertos Festival on Oct. 29, from 3 p.m. to Oct. 30, 12 a.m.

Enjoy food, live music, face painting, art and a celebration of the Latino community in downtown Corpus Christi.

For the Film Fanatic: Watch

“Ouija” or “Don’t Breathe”, two thriller films out in theaters now sure to leave you at the edge of your seat.

For the Theatre Kid: Sitting in front a screen not your scene? Take your squad on over to Aurora Arts Theater to see the cult classic, “Rocky Horror Picture Show”. Tickets are available at auroraartstheatre. com. The show runs until Oct. 29.

For the Gamer: Looking for something a bit unique? Free Comic Book Day’s Halloween ComicFest 2016 is being held at Comics Plus and is FREE of charge. Snag free comics while snacking on candy and testing your horror trivia. Don’t miss this fun opportunity on Oct. 29.

For the Traditional: Ever wondered what it’s really like to experience the supernatural? Corpus Christi is known for its Haunting on the Blue Ghost at the Lexington downtown. Stop by and find out what the hype is all about.

For the Introvert: Don’t want to suffer through crowds and traffic this Halloween? No judgments here. Stay in, bake some

festive treats and watch “Hocus Pocus”, “Stranger Things” or “Halloweentown”. The possibili-

ties are endless.

If these ideas do not suffice, then be creative. Just three last

tips: Be safe, be responsible and stay away from suspicious clowns.

Photos courtesy of FLICKR

Host a Halloween costume exchange party LIWEN WEI contributing writer

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hen it comes to the Halloween holiday, a costume exchange party has become a popular custom for people to find a perfect costume at a cheap price by swapping old costumes and accessories.

“The party catches my attention because a swap indeed saves my money,” said college student Christine Peng. “I can start cleaning out my closet.”

Such clothing exchange parties showcase the new appearances of the season rather than the usual traditional ways which offers people more opportunity to explore their desirable outfits.

Here are five tips to throw a Costume Exchange Party:

Send the invitation at least two weeks before Halloween: Keep in mind people need time to plan for the party, two-week notice allows people to have sufficient time to dig up their costumes and accessories.

A successful costume exchange party needs rules: Before everyone heads to the party, it is essential to remind people that all costumes must be clean and in wearable condition. Costumes should be neatly hung on hangers to help keep things organized.

Food & Beverage: You will need some great food and beverages since it is a party. Serve Halloween snacks such as pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies and some Halloween candies for the guests to enjoy.

Prepare enough space for

people to try on costumes: Make sure you have enough rooms available for people to try on the costumes. It is important to prepare the party space and mirrors so people can see how they look in the outfits.

Use signs to specifically separate different types of costume’ areas: It is easier for guests to select their ideal costume items by following the signs to the appropriate area.

Divide the different types of accessories into the different rooms or place the items for women on one table and men on the other.

At the end of the party, have a fashion show let the guests try on the costumes they selected, so others can provide friendly suggestions for each other’s look. Lastly, enjoy the party.

Photos courtesy of PUBLICDOMAINPICTURES

8 Halloween

10.27.2016

The haunting of Wilson Plaza

TAYLOR GOLDMAN Contributing Writer

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ave you ever considered stepping outside of the typical traditions to seek out something spookier?

Visit Corpus Christi’s first skyscraper building, the “Wilson Plaza”. The 1927 building is one of the city’s top spots recognized for paranormal activity.

Some of the common occurrences of the Wilson Plaza are known to be elevators stopping with no reason, doors and door knobs moving on their own, unexplained noises coming from people’s offices in early mornings or late nights and visions of dark shadow figures.

Talking about ghosts might be foolish and unrealistic to some, but witnesses of the hauntings of the Wilson Plaza have shared their experiences on the HauntedPlaces.org website, which may have you rethinking.

One witness, James, takes his story back to the 1970s. He spent a lot of time working in the building on nights and

weekends. This man claims that the stories are true because he also heard the opening and shutting of doors and odd elevator stops at times when no one else was in the building. “I even heard someone stapling papers one evening when I was in the office by myself,” James said in his post on the Haunted Places website.

Another witness on the website, Jake, shared a bit more dramatic paranormal activity that he and his brother experienced. The two were remodeling the building alone at night when they both heard doors slamming and a man screaming. They realized there was still no one else in the building.

Afterwards they felt a sense of someone watching them and frequent cold spots throughout the building that weren’t due to the air conditioning since they had not fixed the unit yet. Aside from their crazy experience, Jake said on the website that he still recommends that the Wilson is “certainly a place to check out.”

The month of October usually flies by too fast. If you catch yourself look-

CHARLIE BLALOCK/Island Waves

ing for excitement and need a break from school and work, grab some friends and check out the Wilson Pla-

za. I’m sure most of you Halloween lovers enjoy scary movies, so why not go out and explore for yourself?

Halloween 9

10.27.2016

New Halloween tradition emerges MELODY JACOBO contributing writer

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any parents get anxious when Halloween season approaches and not necessarily because of the scary costumes, but because of the candy.

FoodAlergy.org states that one out of 13 children suffer from Food Allergies.

For those who have a child or know of one that may have been missing out of the trick-or-treat fun, there is an organization who can help.

The Teal Pumpkin Project was created by a mother who desired to provide children with a fun and safe Halloween.

This project has not only swept over the entire U.S., but in 14 other countries, so far. Families can participate by doing two simple steps.

First, place a pumpkin that has been painted teal in front of your home. If you don’t have time to paint a pumpkin, you can find shop for a pumpkin that is already colored teal.

Second, provide non-allergen treats.

The teal pumpkin is what signals trick-

Masina Jacobo holds a teal pumpkin.

MARIAH OLIVE/ISLAND WAVES

photo courtesy of GOOGLE

or-treaters that your home offers safe, fun prizes. Being creative with what prizes you will give away is only part of the fun. Some ideas include glow sticks, notepads, pencils or hacky sacks.

Another way to provide safe treats to children is by having a Teal Pumpkin trunk-or-treat.

Just because you choose to participate in this fun project, doesn’t mean you cannot give out candy. Having two bowls, one with prizes and one with candy is great because kids can have the option of what they want based on their needs. It’s important to keep these separated to stay safe.

By participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project, people raise awareness to those in the neighborhood about the dangers of food allergies. If you have children, they are also being made aware and will be able to use caution with their own friends that may suffer from food allergies.

For more information, visit http:// www.foodallergy.org/teal-pumpkinproject.

10 Halloween

10.27.2016

Dia de los Muertos: A day of remembrance

VANESSA TREVINO Contributing Writer

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ia de los Muertos is more than a holiday for people all around. It is a time of remembrance and celebration for loved ones that have passed on.

The annual three-day celebration of Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead originated in Mexico and is still a huge part of Mexico’s culture. The rituals celebrating the deaths of ancestors can be traced back to thousands of years ago, some of the traditions have since changed, but there are still many practices that remain the same.

“The most traditional way to celebrate this day is to set up what is called an ofrenda,” said Alfonso Castillo, who was nearly a teenager when he immigrated to the United States. “This is where you set a specific place in your home, most of the time it is the dining table and set up a sort of offering.”

Castillo said he remembers practicing Dia de los Muertos traditions as a young child while living in Mexico and how setting up an ofrenda or “offering” is

still the main tradition practiced in celebrating Dia de los Muertos today.

“This ofrenda is full of things that the people you have lost used to like,” Castillo said. “I usually place candy, fruits and some type of adult beverage. I remember one of my grandparents used to love tequila, so now I place a little shot glass with a bit of tequila.”

The ofrenda can be quite large and intricate and filled with foods that were favored by the ancestors and memorabilia that hold value in order to welcome the deceased to the offering and have the opportunity to visit with these spirits.

“We honor our loved ones and celebrate their lives for the people that they were and what they meant to us,” Castillo said. “It’s a way to pay our respects to them and think of them in an effort to never forget them.”

According to Hispanic Culture Online, the start of Dia de los Muertos is at midnight on Oct. 31 when it is believed that the souls of the deceased begin making their way back to their families and the children are the first to visit. This day is

referred to as Dia de los Angelitos or Day of the Little Angels. The special offerings set up for the children are seen as a guide for them to find their way home.

On Nov.1 families spend all their time visiting with the spirits of the beloved children. Nov. 2 is the actual Dia de los Muertos. It is the day the spirits of adults arrive to visit with their families.

This three-day celebration is filled with calaveras (sugar skulls), papel picado (tissue paper decorations), incense, traditional foods and much more.

Mary Gutierrez, born in Monterrey, Mexico, said, “Families have many traditions.”

“Different families in different towns carry out their traditions according to what they know and have seen,” Gutierrez said. “My family and I not only set up an ofrenda but we visit the graves of our loved ones and bring the offerings to them. It is something we plan all year.”

Whether you live in Mexico or have Mexican ancestry, Day of the Dead has become an internationally recognized celebration. Although many traditions are unique, one thing remains the same.

It is about gathering with family and remembering the loved ones who have died and to help guide their spiritual journey home.

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Photos courtesy of VANESSA TREVINO

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Calaveras, or sugar skulls, are generally made and sold by many vendors during Dia de los Muertos and can be found as a part of many ofrendas.

Halloween 11

10.27.2016

Top ten Halloween songs to jam MIKAYLA OELSCHLEGEL @mikaylaMOG

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ith Fall upon us and Halloween just around the corner, there is one way to get into the spirit and that is by listening to music. Music is a language that transcends everything. To help you get into the Halloween spirit, here are the top 10 Halloween songs you should listen to.

Monster Mash- One of the classics that gets everyone moving. This song was released in 1962 by Bobby Pickett, with it topping the Billboard Hits chart that year. It is one of the absolute songs you have to play as you decorate your home for Halloween.

Time Warp from “Rocky Horror Picture Show”- This song never fails to be on repeat once October rolls around.

From The Rocky Horror Show that was released in 1973 and again with the movie in 1975, it is a dance song that anyone can follow along with. It includes the simple dance steps within the

chorus of the song and is played at many events, not just Halloween parties.

I’ve Put a Spell On You from “Hocus Pocus”- Bette Midler made this song a hit when she sang it for her Disney movie, Hocus Pocus. The actual beginnings of this song was when it was released in 1956 by Jay Hawkins as part of a Rock and Roll album. Many celebrities have done covers of it, such as Marilyn Manson, Annie Lennox and Frank Sinatra.

This is another classic that should be coming out of your speakers during the witch’s haunting hour.

This Is Halloween from “The Nightmare Before Christmas”-This is a must for every Halloween and no one can tell me otherwise. Released in the Disney movie “The Nightmare Before Christmas” by Tim Burton, the song tells the story of all the ghouls and monsters that make Halloween their home. Even if it not really being a dancing song, it is still a fun song to impersonate with your friends during the holiday.

Jump In Line from “Beetlejuice”-

The perfect pumpkin pie TAREVA WEBB contributing writer

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t’s fall season once again and that means it’s time for pumpkin pie. We all know that a homemade pumpkin pie is the best, so let’s make one.

Ingredients for the Crust - 1 1/3 cups of flour - ½ teaspoon salt - 1/3 cup vegetable oil - 2 tablespoons of cold water Ingredients for the Filling - 2 eggs - ½ cup of sugar - 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon - ½ teaspoon salt - ½ teaspoon ground ginger - 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves - 1 can (15 ounce) pumpkin - 1 can evaporated milk - 2 tablespoons sugar - whipped cream For the crust, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Next, mix the flour, salt and oil until the flour is moist. Sprinkle the flour with cold water and shape it into a ball. Last, you will put the pastry (flour) inside a plate and press starting in the bottom center, then up toward the sides.

Now it’s time for the pumpkin filling.

So grab a large bowl and began beating the eggs. Continue to beat while adding in sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger, cloves, pumpkin and milk. After it’s all mixed, bake for 15 minutes. When 15 minutes is up, reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees. You’ll know it’s done if you stick a knife in it and it comes out clear.

Finally, after cooling, add a scoop of whipped cream on top and enjoy.

Photo courtesy of PIXABAY

While this song is not much of a Halloween song as the others, it is most associated with the movie “Beetlejuice” that Winona Ryder starred in. It is a fun Trinidadian genre to it that makes people want to dance around their house as Winona did in the movie.

Thriller-Released in 1982, Thriller has taken over the Halloween holiday alongside ‘Monster Mash,’ ‘Time Warp’ and ‘I’ve Put a Spell on You’. While there are dance moves associated with this song, this is one of those songs that make people want to shake their shoulders and howl at the moon with Michael Jackson.

The Banana Boat Song from “Beetlejuice”-Like the other song from Beetlejuice, this was released before the film in 1956 by Harry Belfonte.

According to songfacts.com, it is a traditional Jamaican song that was to be sung by people on the docks working to load bananas onto ships. The Jamaican feel is present through the song with the beat.

Ghostbusters from “Ghostbusters”“Who’re you gonna call?!” “Ghostbusters!” As the theme song to the 1984 classic movie, it garnered Ray Parker Jr. an Academy Award with its release.

This song with its dance-pop feel to it has to be added to this Halloween playlist because it is another song to start doing karaoke to as you make special treats for Halloween.

Superstition-This Stevie Wonder song was released in 1972 and classified as a classic soul song. It is not much of a dance song, more like a bob your head to the beat, but it is fun to try to hit the high notes alongside Wonder as you get ready for your Halloween night.

Kidnap the Sandy Claws from “The Nightmare Before Christmas”- This song has nothing to do with Halloween except the fact that it is in a Halloween movie and it is sung by three children in costumes. But it had to be added to this list because it is fun to dance to with your friends, whether at a party or just driving around town.

12 Halloween

10.27.2016

Mary and Jeff Bell Library haunts students

KELLY DAVIS

Contributing Writer

W

hen you think of an old, haunted library normally you would think of an old cliché horror film that was complete with a ghost represented by an actor underneath a white sheet. But would you think of the campus’ very own Mary and Jeff Bell Library?

During the night shifts in the old Bell Library, both staff and students have been known to see and hear some

strange things when no one else is around.

Faustino Villarreal, a campus security guard who has been assign to the night shift at the Bell Library for many years, shared his experience with some previous library employees.

“There used to be two women who worked here until 6 in the morning, and they’d tell us sometimes that they’d hear noises after we left at 1:30,” Villarreal said.

Villarreal decided to stay one night

just to see if what the women said was true.

“And sure enough, I would hear chains dragging through the rug and then two or three days later, it happened again.” Villarreal said.

The noises bothered the two women staff members so much that they had to close their sections of the library together but they didn’t automatically report the noises because they thought security would laugh at them.

“There are books here; books that go

way back. Maybe the ghosts are coming out of the books,” Villarreal said.

Villarreal said that the Bell Library holds books from early as the 1920s.

It certainly isn’t impossible that they could hold something more than just words on a page.

So the next time you’re in the Bell Library and its mysteriously quiet, if you feel eyes on your back or someone looking at you through the bookshelves, keep in mind that you may not be alone.

ways trying to find an easy way out of a lot of situations. So, how can we resist Halloween candy that is cheap, affordable and super delicious?

Simply make these Jack-O-Lantern Fruit Cups, which only consist of a few ingredients. It’s a cheap pick me up and also a healthy one. Amanda Reyna, a senior and nursing major at Texas A&M University of Corpus Christi, said she is on a budget and can’t afford to buy a lot of candy for Halloween.

“I usually buy fruit anyways when I go grocery shopping, so the cost is no big deal,” Reyna said. “It’s just now I’m making them into a cute little snack for me and my friends to enjoy.”

Ingredients.

1. However many oranges you would like 2.A bowl of mixed fruit Instructions.

First, choose a side that will be the jack-o-lantern’s face. Next, take the orange and cut a thin slice from the

bottom so it rests flat.

Then cut another thin slice on the top, leaving an opening for the fruit.

After this, spoon out as much pulp as necessary. When done taking out the pulp, cut out faces on each orange, like a jack-o-lantern.

Lastly, choose what fruit you would like to stuff the orange with and fill it up.

So you see, it’s pretty simple. Just take an orange, cut it up, fill it with more fruit and you’re good to go.

How to make Jack-o-lantern Fruit Cups KRISTEN GARCIA Contributing Writer

H

alloween is right around the corner, and what better way to spend it than with some tasty treats?

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Halloween 13

10.27.2016

Halloween costumes can disrespect cultures DIAMOND ROSE Contributing Writer

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alloween is a fun holiday that allows people to express themselves through eccentric clothing and sometimes even horrifying decorations.

In its roots, Halloween was a time to dress as frightening creatures to scary away evil spirits that may roam the streets at night. Now, Halloween has transformed itself into a time where people can become things they would never be able to, had it been a day before or a day after. With that being said, the fun in the costume play sometimes leaks into a disrespectful form that must be addressed.

My culture is not a costume. My race is not a mask.

These are the new slogans formed by students at Ohio University for their campaign against the use of stereotypical costumes during the Halloween Season.

Recently, several people have dressed in costumes that depict a negative stereotype or even a caricature of a culture and others are starting to speak up.

Coming from Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania, two students have dressed in “black face” and used Snapchat as a source to mock the Black Lives Matter movement. Though the school has condemned their actions, it still resonates in the minds of those who see it.

Why would one feel that it is appropriate to dress and disrespect a certain group for sake of a costume? The rea-

soning behind it however, is miniscule to the effect it is having on the people who are actually a part of these groups.

“They may not think of it as appropriating,” said Sarah Judy, assistant director of Resident Life at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi. “Often it is white privilege and they don’t think about how it has impacted the people who experienced it.”

It is not only black face that is making a show in this season. The usage of the historic Sugar Skull has made many Latin people very uneasy regarding its constant usage. The sugar skull tradition is used widely in the Latin culture for Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. The Day of the Dead is celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2, right around the same time as Halloween. There has been a recent

increase of the usage of the sugar skull mask as a costume. Many Latin people are asking others to refrain from using the Sugar Skull as a costume, since it is strongly linked to a festival that commemorates their deceased family and friends.

Sarah Judy offers two tips regarding the choice of costumes for this upcoming holiday.

1.) Don’t think of Halloween as an excuse to be another culture.

2.) Learn something about yourself and your culture and use that for your costume instead.

As one prepares for their costume debut this Halloween, think on how it can impact the people around you. How would you feel about your culture or race being represented in such a way?

Costume trends express current pop culture KACI ALVAREZ @earthtokace

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alloween is not all about tricks and treats. For people all across the country, it is the time of the year they can dress up like it is Comic Con. This year’s top five Halloween costumes are no surprise that it involves our presidental canidates, characters from sucessful films and some popular games.

1. Harley Quinn. With Suicide Squad success in theaters this year, people are swooning over the chance to transform themselves into Harley Quinn. The ex-psychologist turned crazy once she fell in love with the infamous Joker.

Women everywhere are embracing Harley’s new look with pink and blue pigtails paired with a “puddin’” choker and carnivalesque bat in hand. Harley Quinn is the most anticipated Halloween costume of the year, so expect to see several blondies popping gum.

2. Political Figures. From Donald Trump to Hillary Clinton, people are hoping on the band wagon to impersonate highly recongnized public figures. Most people believe this election is a joke, so if you’re not into the scary aspect of Halloween, you can turn to a comedic costume.

By becoming Trump or Clinton,

people can praise their candidate of choice or make fun of the one they don’t like. These costumes are all the rage, but hurry up. Halloween stores are selling out of the realistic masks.

3. The Purge. Speaking of elections, Halloween-goers and horror enthusiats are hiding their identies and becoming cold, hard killers from The Purge: Election Year.

This costume gives off a scary and intimidating feel that can spook anyone who comes near you. If this seems like too much, you can always take off the mask and show off your unscary looks.

4. Pokemon. After all the hype about PokemonGO, people are running to get their baulbasaur and pikachu costumes ready for Halloween night.

Being able to transform yourself into your favorite Japanese character is so popular, people have been known for getting group costumes together so they can catch all the candy.

5. Star Wars characters. Dating back to the 1970s with the first Star Wars film, the fanbase has not died down with the most recent movies.

Ranging from Boba Fett to BB8, Halloween-lovers of all ages can emerge themselves into the world Star Wars.

While several costumes seem to be more traditional (vampires and warewolfs), costumes are showcasing today’s pop culture.

IZZY SNEED/Island Waves

Sugar skulls are very popular costume ideas within today’s society. While they may appealing to the eye, it represents a deeper meaning than what most may think.

14 Halloween

10.27.2016

How to host spooktacular Halloween party KRISTEN VEIT Contributing Writer

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alloween is just around the corner and there are only four days left to buy the candy, get a costume and plan that Halloween party you’ve always wanted to have.

Unfortunately, Halloween also falls on a Monday this year, so you have even less time if you plan on partying on the weekend. That means it’s time to get those Facebook party invites and group texts out as soon as possible and plan.

Here are just a few suggestions on how to make your Halloween party a spooktacular event everyone will be talking about.

Decorate Inside and Out. Decorations help set the mood of a party and bring out the festivity that is Halloween.

You can choose to buy pre-made decorations from your local Party City or make the decorations yourself. A good place to find DIY projects is by looking through Pinterest. Simple lighting effects from strobe lights or black lights can also help to set the vibe of the party.

Costuming. Decide ahead of time if you want guests to attend the party in full costume and indicate this on the invitations. Once everyone is present, it is time to hold a costume contest. As the host, you can decide on who you think had the best costume and give them a prize.

Creepy Menu. Food and drinks are vital to any successful party and you need to determine if you will be providing them or if you would like guests to bring their own beverage. Making your own food and drinks can be fun and shows off your creativity. You can create spooky names for your finger foods and fruit punches, such as “goblin fingers” or “the blood of my enemies.” Always indicate which drinks are alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Also make sure your guests are aware of any allergens that may be in the food.

Ghostly Dancing. You are the DJ for the evening so you can choose to play scary Halloween themed music throughout the party or alternate it with some Top’ 40s. Hosting a dance contest is a fun way to get the party started and you can see which of your friends can’t dance.

Play songs such as “Thriller”, “Time Warp”, and the “Banana Boat Song” and see if anyone knows the dances. Those who can complete a full dance can get a prize.

Pumpkin Everything. Fall is all about the power of the pumpkin, and there is no better way to harness that power than with a pumpkin-carving contest.

Have your guests get into teams of two and give them only 10 minutes to carve their best pumpkin. Make sure you are prepared with plenty of carving knives and trash bags. Guests can keep their pumpkins as prizes once the mess is over.

Sensory Overdrive. Play a fun game with your guests and see how good their senses are. All you need to do is put food items, such as spaghetti or jell-o, into a box labeled as “brains” or “eyeballs” and have your guests reach in at their own risk. You can also blindfold your guests, feed them the items, and then have them guess the real food.

Fright Night Theater. Halloween movies can really kick the fear and adrenaline into high gear. Snuggle up next to your friends and have a real

scare with a classic. My top five ultimate scare picks are “Friday the 13th”, “Nightmare on Elm Street”, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, “The Exorcist”, and “Halloween.”

Not Your Mama’s Fun and Games.

Typical card and board games just won’t cut it at a spooky shindig. Tarot cards are a fun way to get to know your friends while performing a private reading of their past, present and future. Talking to the dead on Halloween has always been appealing and what better way to do it than with a Ouija board? Terrify your friends and get face to face with Lizzy Borden...almost.

Photo Ops. How would you remember how great you, Snow White and Freddy Krueger looked together without pictures? Designate an area of the room for a makeshift Halloween themed photo booth. Decorate the area like a wooded forest, cemetery or creepy house and hang some ghosts from the ceiling. You don’t need fancy equipment to take pictures either, just an iPhone and a selfie stick. Party guests can take pictures together and make memories that will last a lifetime.

Ingredients include: -apples (for the lips of the vampire) -jam (strawberry gives it a nice Hal loween effect) -almonds (will be giving the effect of teeth of a vampire) Utensils needed: -knife -spoon Cut the apple in the apple into standard size slices. [See picture 1]. Cut one apple piece per Vampire Bite. Cut the

apple into as many pieces as you need.

Once you are done cutting what is needed, you are ready to make the teeth.

The almonds are a tad sensitive to cut, so cut slowly and watch out for flying almonds. While attempting to cut an almond it may to fly across the room.

Warning: cut slowly. At the local farmer’s market, you can find cut almonds.

When you have all of your almond teeth prepared, you can do the next step.

Put it all together. Take one piece of

apple and push the little pieces of almond in it at the edge. [See picture 2] In between each almond piece, leave a little space so they look like vampire teeth.

After one piece is complete, place them aside. Grab a spoon and, scoop a little bit of strawberry jam on one piece of apple and then place the other apple slice on top. Voila! One apple bite completed. Repeat the process to create several healthy and tasty Halloween snacks [See Picture 3].

Next, push almond pieces into apple toward the edge to make “teeth”.

Finally, put some strawberry jam between two slices of apple to finish off this tasty snack.

Take bite out of this tasty Halloween treat SANDRA SANCHEZ Contributing Writer

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alloween is approaching and all kinds of sweetness will surround you and now with midterms done, it’s time to relax and get your grub on.

Wondering what to stuff your face with and wanting to keep it at minimum of ingredients. A simple do it yourself snack for Halloween is Vampire Bites.

All you need is three ingredients.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SANDRA SANCHEZ

The first step of making Vampire Bites is to cut an apple into as many slices as desired.

Halloween 15

10.27.2016

Origins of Halloween jack-o-lanterns

photo courtesy of FLICKR

ALEXA SCHAEFER contributing writer

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raditions have always played a huge role in what defines holidays. Christmas brings us creative traditions like putting up a big tree and singing catchy carols to strangers. Thanksgiving usually involves football and all of the wonderful, delicious food that should not be consumed in one sitting. Fourth of July is all about the barbecue cookouts, parades and fireworks.

But one cannot forget Halloween because it may be more full of tradition than any other holiday.

Every October, kids dress up in fun costumes, asking for candy with the familiar words “trick or treat.” An orange fruit (yes, it is in fact a fruit) harvested in October, the pumpkin, is a nutritious and adaptable plant that features flowers, seeds and flesh that are edible and very rich in vitamins. Pumpkins are also used to make soups, desserts and breads.

Many Americans include pumpkin pie in their Thanksgiving meals. Carved pumpkins sit out on doorsteps and porches in the United States and other parts of the world. Jack-o-lanterns carved with scary faces and lightened by candles are a for sure sign of the Halloween season.

According to IrishCentral, the tradi-

tion of decorating “jack-o-lanterns”—the name comes from an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack—came from Ireland. As part of their fall celebration, they wanted to light the way to their homes for the good spirits, so they carved faces into the vegetables.

A light was then placed inside the hollowed out vegetable. The Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America, the home of the pumpkin, and it became an essential part of Halloween festivities.

They eventually called these carved out vegetables “jack-o-lanterns.” The legend goes, as told by the Irish, there was a farmer named Jack who made a bargain with the devil that left him wandering the world for the rest of his life.

When the immigrants arrived in America and found an abundant supply of pumpkins, they quickly adopted the pumpkin as the best fruit for carving Jack O’Lanterns.

Halloween will be here before you know it so, when you are picking out the perfect pumpkin to carve, do not forget their origin. On Halloween night, if you look closely, you can still see Jack’s flame burning dimly as he wanders to find a home. Set your pumpkin on your porch or doorstep and light the way through the darkness.

16 Halloween

10.27.2016

U.S.S. Lexington hosts haunted house JADA SAUNDERS Contributing Writer

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here is no better way to spend a Halloween night than on an actual haunted ship.

The U.S.S Lexington acquired the nickname the Blue Ghost when the ship continuously resurfaced during World War II. Every year, for the month of October, the U.S.S. Lexington hosts a haunted house to benefit the museum on the ship as well as The Wounded Warrior Project. Starting the first week of October, visitors are encouraged to enter the haunted ship if they dare.

The haunted house is able to be a suc-

cess because of the incredible volunteers that act as the different characters throughout the ship.

“It’s a very friendly environment and [volunteer coordinators] made it really easy and safe for us,” said USS Lexington volunteer, Andrea Solis.

Before participants are able to volunteer on the Lexington, they are required to sign a waiver stating that they understand the risks and give an emergency contact in case medical treatment is necessary.

“We signed waivers and had little meetings to discuss safety and other issues,” Solis said. “Everyone gets there early to pick out costumes and get makeup done and they work really hard

to plan out different scenarios for each room.”

The various scenarios include a haunted hospital, a clown room, a walking dead hallway and a psychiatric ward.

Jackie Rodriguez, another volunteer who has participated in the haunting, said “Volunteering is a team effort.”

“Once you’re in character, you have to listen out for the person before you in order to know when it was your turn,” Rodriguez said.

After getting their costumes on and their makeup done, the volunteers are given the freedom to choose which room they wish to be in.

As someone who has gone through

the haunted house, Rodriguez said the most nerve-wracking part of walking through the haunted ship was anticipating things to pop out and wondering where they were coming from. Rodriguez said it is fun to be part of the action.

“It was awesome,” Rodriguez said. “It takes your mind off of everything. It’s exciting and a great stress reliever.”

For those looking for a scare this Halloween, head to the USS Lexington. It is open October 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, and the 28th-31st from 7p.m. to 11p.m. Tickets are $20 each with $1 of every ticket going to the Wounded Warrior Project.

For more information, go to hauntingontheblueghost.com

Volunteers’ costumes and makeup are coordinated with whichever scenario they choose to be stantioned in. The scenarios include a haunted hospital, a clown room, a walking dead hallway and a psychiatric ward.

Photos by CHARLIE BLALOCK/ Island Waves

Volunteers dressed up as characters are stationed throughout the haunted house, waiting around every corner to pop out and scare anyone who dares to visit the Blue Ghost.

18 Sports

10.27.2016

Ice Rays come back to Corpus Christi MIKAYLA OELSCHLEGEL @mikaylaMOG

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n Oct. 14, the puck dropped as the Corpus Christi Ice Rays faced off against the Odessa Jackalopes in a twogame weekend series.

The first 10 games saw the team on the road throughout September leaving the game against the Odessa Jackalopes as the first home game of the season.

None of the players come from Corpus Christi, let alone Texas, but for Tomá Vomáka, goalie for Ice Rays, that did not matter, they were back on home ice.

“I think it was amazing,” Vomáka said. “There was a lot of fans here and they supported us all the game. I mean it was amazing.”

The first period of the game was a back and forth routine between the Ice Rays and the Jackalopes. Neither team gave up any goals. There was just under seven minutes left in the first period, then the Jackalopes scored. After the Jackalopes first goal, the Ice Rays went on the defense to make sure a second goal did not occur. The first period ended with the Jackalopes leading one to nothing.

“We started off a little slow but we built on it in the second and third period,” said captain and center for the Ice Rays Mason Krueger. “Playing Ice Rays hockey, going north and south, chipping pucks we really just need to build off the good things we did and come back strong.”

The second period saw the Ice Rays defense continue to put up a fight and the offense taking more shots on the op-

ponent’s goal. Their strategies worked and Brad Power, rightwing for the team, was able to get the first and only goal in turn for the Rays.

“It was a great feeling,” Power said, “[Cody] Fleckenstein made me a nice pass, brought me in on the partial breakaway there, it was a great feeling.”

The final period witnessed the Ice Rays power play early on, which meant they had one more player on the ice than the Jackalopes. The Ice Rays got more defensive in hopes of going into overtime. However, the Jackalopes were able to put a goal into the Rays net, leaving the final score of two to one in the last minute.

Despite the unfortunate outcome of the game the fans came out to support the team, which in head coach Brad Flynn’s opinion is one of the best things they could do.

“Without the fans, we don’t have a team,” Flynn said. “Corpus Christi for the last three years have had the top fan support in the league. Setting record numbers last year, so to build on that again tonight, especially when the weather was as nice as it is, to get the turn out we got, we’re really excited about.”

The Ice Rays came back the next night to face the Jackalopes once more but could not clinch the win as the Jackalopes once again ended the night with a 2-1 score.

The team gets a weekend off but on Oct. 27-29, the team returns to the ice to face the Shreveport Mudbugs. For more information on the Ice Rays or where to buy tickets, go to http://www.goicerays. com/.

Logan Gestro races down center ice with a breakaway.

MIKAYLA OELSCHLEGEL/ISLAND WAVES

Trevor Heuser battles against two Jackalope players for the puck.

MIKAYLA OELSCHLEGEL/ISLAND WAVES

Sports 19

10.27.2016

Senior scores winning goal on senior night JONATHAN FORNEY @jb4nay

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he Islanders’ soccer team defeated the Lady Demons of Northwestern State University 1-0 after honoring their eight seniors for Senior Night.

Prior to the game, the eight seniors on the roster--Hannah Joseph, JessicaKaya Charles, Yvette Franco, Aubrey Kuhl, Brooke Erdmann, Emma Biba, Mariah Olivé and Kallyn Redona--and their families were honored with flowers and recognition. Those seniors are a part of the historic first four-year class of Islander soccer players.

The team donned their blue uniforms in front of their home fans. The crowd was a factor during the game.

“It was definitely an exciting match,” said Shanna Caldwell, head coach. “We had a great crowd come watch the seniors.”

Right out of the gate, the Islanders put the Lady Demons on their heels after a quick goal five minutes into the game by senior forward, Yvette Franco.

The ball went right through the opposing keeper’s legs and into the net. The goal further solidifies Franco’s status as the record holder for most career goals in program history; the 17th of her career at that point.

The goal also marked the second consecutive game-winning goal for the Corpus Christi native. She previously scored the decisive goal in overtime to defeat Incarnate Word.

After the initial score, the Islanders kept up their defensive effort to hold onto the lead.

“The girls played their hearts out on both sides of the ball,” Caldwell said.

“They didn’t give up and that’s what’s asked of them.”

For the seniors, playing in front of their friends and families was an exciting moment, but they were able to focus on the task at hand.

“We were really pumped,” Franco said. “We were actually kind of scared to come out with too much energy, but we got together and came out focused.”

The physical game was decided on the defensive end. Spearheading the effort was junior goalkeeper, Jordan Wainwright. Despite the Lady Demons

taking 10 shots, no balls found the net and three were saved by Wainwright.

The team’s defense has made adjustments since the beginning of the season to put themselves in a better position to win.

“The defense did a good job of trapping runners,” Wainwright said. “We gave up a few of those at the beginning of the season, but we’ve learned from our mistakes.”

The game was the second win in a row for the team as they vie for their playoff spot in the conference tournament to be hosted at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. As Coach Caldwell put it, when it comes to the team’s playoff chances, “we control our own fate.”

PHOTOS BY JONATHAN FORNEY/ISLAND WAVES

After four years on the Island, senior midfielder, Hannah Joseph hugs her head coach, Shanna Caldwell, as her games wearing blue and green wind down.

A shapshot of the physicality of this game, freshman defender, Karla Kedenburg goes up for the header while her teammates fight for position.