Issue 07, Volume 82

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Issue 7, Volume 82

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A glimpse ahead

The first presidential debate happened Monday, and students watched from all over the University to see who might become the next president. | PG. 4

OPINION

Water crisis displays poor communication Assistant opinion editor Thom Dwyer says the University acted too slowly in informing students about the particulars of the campus water situation. | PG. 5

NEWS

Soccer finds their footing

After years of struggling, the women's soccer team is finding the success they've been working for. | PG. 8

2 | Wednesday, September 28, 2016

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Emily Burleson, EDITOR

CITY

i

Black Lives Matter activists march through campus JASMINE DAVIS

STAFF WRITER @JPDAVIS_TDC

Black Lives Matter activists and allies gathered beneath the Martin Luther King Jr. statue at MacGregor Park Saturday to demand justice for fallen members of the black community.

During a time for open speaking, Rebecca Nelson, who was at the park in celebration of her niece’s birthday, spoke of her fear as a black woman and as the mother of black children.

“It’s all right to be scared, it’s all right to have fear,” Nelson said, before urging the audience to put those fears aside in order to push for change. “Let’s stand up for justice, peace and equality.”

Marching for justice Among the controversial deaths mentioned were the recent police shootings of Terrence Crutcher in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, North

Carolina.

Footage of Scott's shooting was released just hours before the protest.

“Don’t let this be a one-day thing or a one-time thing,” Deondre Moore, an equal rights activist and Sam Houston State University student, said. He urged those present to continue advocated for black lives, but Moore said the biggest contribution anyone, especially young people, could make is to get out and vote.

Using elections to incite change was a theme among a majority of the speakers. They urged the audience to make their voices heard in the upcoming local and presidential elections.

“We need to organize with our dollars. We need to organize with our votes,” said Adele Montgomery, an adult educator in the community. “Young people, please vote. You guys are the ones who pushed this movement forward.

The movement always comes out

DID YOU KNOW? October 11, 2016 is the last day to register to vote in the upcoming national, state, and local election.

NO WORRIES! The Black Law Students Association has you covered.

In conjunction with the Houston League of Women Voters, we will be holding a Voter Registration Drive on Friday, September 30, 2016 right outside of the dining area at Student Center South from 11am to 3pm.

The Cougar

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ABOUT THE COUGAR The Cougar is published every Wednesday during the fall and spring semesters and online at thedailycougar.com. The Daily Cougar is supported in part by Student Service Fees.

COPYRIGHT No part of the newspaper in print or online may be reproduced without the consent of the director of Student Publications.

ISSUE STAFF COPY EDITING

Nguyen Le

Houston police officers blocked Black Lives Matter protesters from marching on Texas Spur 5 during a rally Saturday night. | Thom Dwyer/The Cougar

of the universities. It comes out of the young people.”

As the protest marched toward UH, upward of 80 people chanted demands for justice and recognition. “Hands up, don’t shoot,” and “No justice, no peace,” could be heard along Calhoun Road and University Drive.

Houston Police Department officers were present throughout the protest on foot, in squad cars and on horseback. From the beginning of the march, the officers were largely met with anger and hostility. The animosity ultimately culminated in a “F*** blue lives” chant that failed to catch on as the crowd moved through the UH campus.

At one point, HPD officers prevented protesters from moving toward Texas Spur 5. More than 20 officers lined up across University Drive, forcing protest participants to take a different route through the University.

Despite the tense atmosphere of the event, HPD officers remained present and peaceful.

Call to action Legal observers for the American Civil Liberties Union were present to document the proceedings of the protest and any

misconduct between police and the demonstrators.

According to the ACLU website, these trained volunteers serve as legal witnesses to ensure that First Amendment rights are respected.

From UH, Black Lives Matter: Houston and its supporters continued marching down Wheeler Avenue and past TDECU Stadium until they reached Texas Southern University.

As protesters gathered at the historic Tiger Walk located at the university's entrance, TSU alumnus and UH master of public policy candidate Jerry Ford Jr. spoke of the university’s history during the civil rights movement.

In the closing remarks at TSU, Ford urged others to share what the movement means to them.

Among the volunteer speakers was a boy, a friend of the recently slain 24-year-old Ashtian Barnes.

The boy said he was 13 years old and called himself Corey.

“White silence is black violence, and that’s what we want students to know,” Gregory Chatman, an organizer for Black Lives Matter: Houston, said. “Get out, get involved and join the cause. Black lives matter.” news@thedailycougar.com

CLOSING EDITORS

Trey Strange Bryce Dodds Leah Nash

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ABOUT CSM The Center for Student Media provides comprehensive advisory and financial support to the university’s student-run media: The Cougar newspaper, Student Video Network and COOG Radio.

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At least 80 protesters marched from the statue of Martin Luther King Jr. at MacGregor Park to Texas Southern University. | Jasmine Davis/The Cougar

Wednesday, September 28, 2016 | 3

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NEWS

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Emily Burleson, EDITOR

RESEARCH

Slave culture research featured at new Smithsonian museum KATELYN KENNEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A new museum from the Smithsonian Institute will house several pieces of African-American history uncovered by a UH faculty member.

Kenneth Brown, an anthropology professor and an African-American studies affiliate, will display artifacts discovered during an excavation at the Magnolia Plantation in Louisiana at Washington D.C.'s Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

The museum opened last Saturday.

In his research, Brown used materials excavated from former plantations to interpret how enslaved people adapted their lifestyles to the American slavery institution.

“We found the curer/midwife’s cabin, a hunter’s cabin, a seamstress’s cabin, a carver’s cabin, the elder’s cabin, the church,” Brown said. “We could begin to identify

the functions of several cabins because of what had been left behind.”

Crucial history By exploring what he called “the abandonment level," in which there is physical evidence of the plantation tenets suddenly moving away, Brown discovered the creation of an African community.

Brown said enslaved people made dedicated efforts to preserve their traditions by embedding African symbolism into everyday objects. For example, they carved holes in cardinal directions on lockets and made glass buttons etched with six-point stars.

“They were making these things so they could actually be wearing these important symbols without anybody calling them anything but a very nicely decorated button,” Brown said.

Brown explained that the preservation of African heritage was essential to the resilience of the

community.

“All early African-American cemeteries are on flowing bodies of water so that if the spirit chooses to, it can get on the body of water that gets you to Africa — they can go home,” Brown said.

“Those may sound like pretty strange beliefs, but they are beliefs that weren’t driven out of them by enslavement. They were beliefs on which they built their communities and on which they trained people.”

James Conyers, faculty director of UH's African-American Studies department, echoed the importance of Brown’s research in regard to understanding enslaved culture.

“In looking at those communities, a lot of that information has been suppressed,” Conyers said. “(Brown’s research) provides alternative questions about who these people are.”

Conyers said much of the literature about slavery upheld that enslaved people took a position of submission, which Brown’s

Kenneth Brown's research about slave culture conducted at Magnolia Plantation will be featured in the newly-opened Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. | Courtesy of Media Relations

research hopes to discredit.

“If you don’t have a culture — and this is a key component of Dr. Brown’s work — then in a dottedline way, you’re inferring that the people are not human,” Conyers said. “When (Brown) presents these things, looking at currency, looking at objects that they used to eat, objects they used to carve,

once you start to draw those parallels, it provides a different set of questions to go back and look at the historical record.”

Read more about students' vital role in the exhibition at thedailycougar.com/news. news@thedailycougar.com

4 | Wednesday, September 28, 2016

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Emily Burleson, EDITOR

ELECTION

Debate watch parties bring tense election to campus THE COUGAR NEWS STAFF @THEDAILYCOUGAR

The smell of popcorn and intense anticipation filled the Student Center South's overflowing Monumental Stairs.

Even though he cannot vote, graduate student Mario Lopez was there to watch.

Lopez was one of hundreds of students who gathered in various spots around campus Tuesday night to witness presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump debate for the first time.

"He’s not going to be able to kick out 11 million immigrants,” Lopez said.

All were attentive Lopez had immigrated, legally, to the U.S. when he was 8 years old.

Prior to that, his family waited 10 years in Mexico before receiving the green light to move.

“We need to fix the immigration system in a way that is sensible and reasonable," Lopez said. "We need to be thinking about the families that we might break up in this country."

The outcome of this election will affect Lopez. It will have an

The Honors College Governing Board hosted one of many presidential debate watch parties on Monday. In a poll conducted by The Cougar, students overwhelming said that Hillary Clinton won the debate. | Julie Aracia/The Cougar

even greater effect on the 11 million undocumented immigrants whom he expressed concern for.

Boris Penaloza, a Panamanian immigrant and doctoral candidate in electrical engineering,

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compared Trump to political leaders like Benito Mussolini and "psychopaths," as Penaloza called them, who ran for office in his home country.

"Usually, in every country, the debates are kind of useless," Penaloza said. "At the end of the day, most of the things they say there aren’t what they are going to do. But at least it gives you a screenshot of what the mentality of the candidate is.”

The College Republicans at the University of Houston hosted a watch party for the Presidential Debate on Monday night at Calhoun’s Rooftop.

Students drank beer and jeered at the screens as Trump and Clinton faced off.

For Matthew Wiltshire, history senior and director of public relations for the College Republicans, the watch party was a social event.

“Politics should be fun, and it’s better with beer,” Wiltshire said.

The election's extreme partisanship was not on display at Calhoun's as Democrats and Republicans shook hands, played drinking games and joked with each other. Gwyneth Kemp, an anthropology senior and member of the College Republicans, attended purely for entertainment.

“It’s not just about watching the debate — it’s being able

to ridicule it with my friends,” Kemp said.

Time for a difference Students at the Honors College debate watch party settled into the rows of maroon couches at the Honors Commons with big bowls of ice cream. The Honors College Student Governing Board provided snacks and buzzword bingo for attendees.

Whenever a candidate said "All Lives Matter" or "Make America Great Again," students were one step closer to winning bingo.

Computer information systems senior David Montalvo was impressed that Trump and Clinton discussed race relations, but he wanted to see more from the presidential candidates.

"It’s interesting that they didn’t mention anything specifically about Black Lives Matter," Montalvo said. "They didn’t talk too much about gun safety even though Trump did mention his endorsement.

"I think I would’ve liked them to talk more about Obamacare, health care and gun safety."

Still, Montalvo was part of a minority of UH students who thought Trump won the debate.

While he said that Clinton had a lot to say about issues in need of change, only Trump would be able to take action.

Back in the Student Center, chemical engineering senior Jerry Wright was not sure who won.

He liked that Trump is an outsider to traditional U.S. politics.

"I don’t know if I agree with all of his policies or his antics, but I think we need something different than a normal politician," Wright said. "He’s definitely unorthodox and he’s not that articulate all the time. He is kind of childish, somewhat, but I just don’t like politics in general. I want somebody different.”

McRae Peavy, Marialuisa Rincon, Ness Tiryakioglu and Alycia Olson contributed reporting to this story. news@thedailycougar.com

RESULTS ARE IN:

Who won the debate?

HILLARY CLINTON Former Secretary of State

DONALD TRUMP Business Mogul

65%

17% 18% UNDECIDED

Based on a non-scientific survey of 135 students a the Student Center, Calhoun's Rooftop and the Honors College during and after the debate.

Wednesday, September 28, 2016 | 5

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thedailycougar.com/opinion

OPINION

opinion@thedailycougar.com

Frank Campos, EDITOR

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF

Trey Strange

MANAGING EDITOR

Bryce Dodds

CAMPUS

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Leah Nash

UH needs to communicate better during campus issues

U

H’s inability to give students prior notice about the brown water crisis and possible contamination of water is unacceptable.

Water is something that many people hold to a high standard, especially in a developed place like ours. The more I think about it, the more ridiculous it is to me that the University took so long to notify students of the discoloration. Yes, it turned out to THOM not be harmful, DWYER but what if it ASSISTANT had? Imagine OPINION EDITOR how many people would have been affected by it due to the University waiting so long.

I am a resident adviser, which makes me a resource that students are supposed to be able to rely on.

That said, the night the discolored water began spewing, I had extremely little information to give to my worried residents. All I could do was offer my own bottled water and tell them that I would update them whenever I caught wind of

something.

Before that, as eateries all over campus were shut down, there was still nothing solid to go on regarding the state of the water, besides firsthand accounts and hearsay.

Yet, even with those observations, not a single email was sent to students until five hours after restaurants started to close.

The University needs to communicate with students better the next time something like this happens — especially the ones who live on campus and stand to be the most affected by something like this.

This would have been a good time to use the text blast that students signed up for. A simple text would have done well to tamper the rumors and prevent possible sickness.

Although tests came back reporting the water safe for consumption, the school still should have immediately informed students as soon as they knew about the water discoloration. Many students on campus had showered or brushed their teeth that day and were freaking out when they received emails not to mess with the water.

One aspect that the University

UH distributed water to students across campus to prevent dehydration after last week's water discoloration cut the water supply. | Ajani Stewart/The Cougar

OPINION EDITORS

Frank Campos Thom Dwyer

CHIEF COPY EDITOR

Nguyen Le

NEWS EDITORS

Emily Burleson Alex Meyer SPORTS EDITORS

Reagan Earnst Jonathan Valadez

ARTS EDITORS

Karis Johnson Greg Fails PHOTO EDITORS

Justin Cross Ajani Stewart SENIOR STAFF

Dmitriy Borovykh Caprice Carter Bruce Chao Peter Scamardo Jorden Smith Douglas Van

STAFF EDITORIAL The Staff Editorial reflects the opinions of The Cougar Editorial Board (the members of which are listed above the editorial). All other opinions, commentaries and cartoons reflect only the opinion of the author.

Opinions expressed in The Cougar do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Houston or the students as a whole.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Showers, toilets and sink faucets emitted discolored water across campus, closing most restaurants. | Valeria Dominguez/The Cougar

handled in a creative way was calling in the food trucks when every restaurant was closed. This was a brilliant move.

Although the lines were long and made the wait for food much longer, it worked well in a pinch and was better than not having any food options at all. UH was making the best of a food logistics nightmare, and I applaud them for that.

Plus, the food trucks agreed to take meal swipes alongside regular Cougar Cash and debit. By doing this, students with a limited amount of Cougar Cash but an abundance of meal swipes could still eat without any hassle.

UH also did acceptable damage control by acquiring large amounts of water and making them available to students across campus.

The placement of the water was well thought out and organized.

Large amounts of water where placed in student-dense areas such as residence halls and the Student Center.

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One thing we can take away from this ordeal is how nice it is to have clean water — especially when you consider how many people live in the world without that necessity. Although it was a minor inconvenience that made us drink bottled water and eat out of food trucks for three days, we should have been told about the situation much sooner.

This can be a learning situation for everyone. Students should always be prepared for things like this. Whether it is water discoloration or a hurricane, it never hurts to have a few necessities stored away specifically for situations like this one. The UH administration can try a little harder to sit on its hands a little less before notifying students of the issue like this instead of letting rumors and disinformation guide students.

The Cougar welcomes letters to the editor from any member of the UH community. Letters should be no more than 250 words and signed, including the author’s full name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Anonymous letters will not be published. Deliver letters to N221, University Center; e-mail them to letters@thedailycougar.com; send them via campus mail to STP 4015; or fax to (713) 743-5384. Letters are subject to editing.

GUEST COMMENTARY Submissions are accepted from any member of the UH community and must be signed with the author’s name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Commentary should be limited to 500 words. Guest commentaries should not be written as replies, but rather should present independent points of view. Deliver submissions to N221, University Center; e-mail them to letters@thedailycougar. com; or fax them to (713) 743-5384. All submissions are subject to editing.

Assistant opinion editor Thom Dwyer is a broadcast journalism sophomore and can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

The Cougar is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press.

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sports@thedailycougar.com

Reagan Earnst, EDITOR

FOOTBALL

Defender has bounce back season for the Cougars REAGAN EARNST

SPORTS EDITOR @REAGANEARNST

In football and in life, one event can change the future in an instant.

For redshirt-sophomore cornerback Howard Wilson, that moment was Sept. 26, 2015.

Wilson started every game for the Cougars in 2014 and HOWARD WILSON finished with CORNERBACK 48 tackles and three interceptions. He was one of the most impressive freshman on the defense and expectations were sky high entering 2015.

“I didn’t think I was going to be out a whole season,” Wilson said. “When they told me I was going to be out I was upset because I was going to miss getting to play with my teammates.”

Playing the Texas State University Bobcats on a rainy night, the Cougars were in control. Returning from halftime with a 42-7 lead, the team could turn on cruise control and coast to a victory.

Texas State quarterback Tyler Jones dropped back to pass for his team’s opening possession of the third quarter.

With pressure coming from the line, Jones misread the

Wilson's two interceptions and touchdown against the Cincinnati Bearcats helped the Cougars escape Nippert Stadium with a win Sept. 15. | Courtesy of UH Athletics

defense and threw an errant ball directly into the hands of a waiting Wilson.

The second-year corner reeled in his fourth career interception and began up field to return Jones’ mistaken throw. Running just five yards on slick turf, a defender laid a legal hit at Wilson’s knees, pre-

For No. 6 Wilson, the 2015 football season ended abruptly when he suffered a torn ACL against the Texas State Bobcats. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

venting a lengthy return.

“It sucked because I had just got an interception and then I got hurt,” Wilson said.

Wilson got up immediately, celebrated with his teammates and ran to the sideline.

On his way back to the bench with the adrenaline of the moment beginning to subside, a limp emerged from the standout sophomore.

Although he did not know it at the time, Wilson’s right ACL was torn on the play and would require a season-ending surgery to repair the damage.

Fortunately, because the injury was sustained early in the season, he was still eligible for a medical-hardship waiver that would allow him to redshirt the rest of season and not lose a year of eligibility.

The DeSoto-native had an uphill battle ahead of him and would have to not only gain his strength and athleticism back, but also earn his spot on the team again.

However, Wilson did not allow his circumstance to impede upon his success.

“After he got hurt, it was a matter of if he could make the cut,” Defensive coordinator

“During the summer and at fall camp he came out and showed us he could play at this level. It was impressive to see a guy get hurt, come back and his earn starting spot. ” Todd Orlando, Defensive Coordinator

Todd Orlando said. “But he’s a very talented guy. During the summer and at fall camp he came out and showed us he could play at this level. It was impressive to see a guy get hurt, come back and earn his starting spot.”

Putting in a full offseason of work, Wilson has returned even better than he left a year ago.

His recovery came full circle in football’s 40-16 win over the Cincinnati Bearcats earlier this season.

In just his second game of the season because he did not take the field against Lamar University, Wilson looked like his old self by setting a career high with two interceptions in the game.

Like something out of a

movie, the fully recovered Wilson helped ice a game in which the Cougars otherwise struggled when he returned his second pick 28-yards for a touchdown. Orlando credits Wilson’s clutch defensive play as what helped the team to seal the deal against the Bearcats.

Many opponents may underestimate him, but he is no stranger to adversity.

“I just want to do it for my brother next to me,” Wilson said. “At the end of the day, it’s about helping the team get to a championship. I hope every team sees me as a weak link.

They can throw it to my side and I can get more plays and more picks.” sports@thedailycougar.com

Wednesday, September 28, 2016 | 7

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thedailycougar.com/sports

SPORTS

sports@thedailycougar.com

Reagan Earnst, EDITOR

BASKETBALL

Sampson scores big with standout transfer DEZ EWELL

STAFF WRITER @SRA_EWELL

When Kelvin Sampson took the head coaching position at the University of Houston in 2014, the program was in shambles.

Taking the reins of a team that has been buried in mediocrity for over 30 years, the seasoned coach knew he had his work cut out for him.

Now in his third season at the helm, the team is being overtaken by Sampson-recruited players.

Also building through transfers, one player will be looking for his second chance when the Cougars tip off Nov. 5 in Hofheinz Pavillion.

Junior transfer forward Devin Davis played his freshman year at perennial basketball powerhouse Indiana University before redshirting his next season due to injuries he sustained in a car accident.

The road to UH Opting to transfer to Odessa Junior College upon his recovery, Davis used his time in the JUCO ranks to springboard himself back to a Division One program.

Both Davis and Sampson are excited about the possibilities that could come from their collaboration. Davis is hungry to show what he could have been at Indiana. “It feels good to go through the accident, then go to a lower level junior college, and now back to a division one (university),� Davis said. “How I feel is that I’m not done yet.�

Many factors helped Davis choose UH, but he felt that under Sampson’s leadership was where he was meant to be.

Davis said that upon his visit to the UH campus, it was the coaching staff ’s welcoming attitude that helped him feel at home in Houston.

Sampson views Davis as a great addition to a young team with unlimited potential.

Due to his skill set, size and athleticism, Davis brings an element to the Cougars that Sampson believes will be a dominant factor this season. “We’re going to be depending on him a lot,� Sampson said. “Devin has got to get stronger mentally. He’s got to get more street fighter in him. I love

Davis is already a strong player, but his coach believes he still has room to grow. | Courtesy of UH Athletics

his skill level. I love his body, I mean he weighs 230 pounds.�

The third-year coach pointed out that Devonta Pollard was arguably the most dominant player for the Cougars last season, but Davis’ size far outweighs Pollard’s 195-pound frame.

He expects Davis to bring a different aspect to the Cougars that will create new adjustments on the court compared to last year’s lineups. “I think Devin is going to be able to bang inside a little more,� Sampson said. “Devin has to help us. We recruited him for a reason. He would be a good player in any conference, but he has to buy in to what we’re doing.�

Sampson is excited to have Davis and the other newly-acquired players on his team, but he is still thinking realistically.

With the addition of Davis and the rest of last year’s

recruiting class, coupled with the experience of the returning

players, Sampson is doing just as he said: adding the pieces the Cougars need.

If he can continue to add the necessary parts, Houston doesn’t look as if they will slow down any time soon.

Sampson has made it known that an important part of finding good ball players is not just locating talent, but also scouting players that fit well into your system.

Athletes that fit well in his system depends not only on on-court physical actions, but also mental fortitude.

Davis will bring both to the Cougar lineup. “It’s easy to find talent, it’s easy to find character guys. It’s hard to find both,� Sampson said. “I think that’s what Devin is. He’s a character guy and he’s talented.� sports@thedailycougar.com

worship DIRECTORY

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SUNDAYS: 10:45 AM - Religion Center 6:00 PM - Catholic Center WEEKDAYS: Tuesday—Friday 12:00 Noon CATHOLIC NEWMAN CENTER Confession: Before or After Masses Office # (713) 748-2529

The next step Even though the Cougars have improved quickly over the past two seasons, they are still putting the pieces in place to create a basketball powerhouse.

Compared to some of the other teams in the American Athletic Conference, UH is new to the rebuilding procedure, which started with the hiring of Sampson two years ago. “As coaches we understand the process,� Sampson said. “You don’t fix all the problems in one recruiting class. We still aren’t finished building this.�

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IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING IN WORSHIP DIRECTORY, CONTACT JOSÉ SALAZAR AT 713-743-5356

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SPORTS 713-743-5303

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sports@thedailycougar.com

Reagan Earnst, EDITOR

SOCCER

Years of struggle are paying off for soccer head coach ADAM COLEMAN

STAFF WRITER @2_AWESOME

Head coach Chris Pfau has his team on the right track as they've raced to a 5-1-1 record. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

missing: experience.

Pfau said that this year’s juniors are his first true recruiting class.

“The last two years we have been playing a lot of freshman and sophomores,” Pfau said. “No matter how good these players are — they are young. There are times they are good and times they are bad. With young players there is usually no in between. This year, they are juniors and sophomores and have learned

COOGTV

If fans of Cougar athletics have learned anything over the last decade, it's that when a team has the right coach and philosophy all it takes is patience to see results.

Tom Herman and the football team saw it, so did Todd Whitting from baseball and basketball's Kelvin Sampson. Head coach Chris Pfau and the 5-1-1 soccer team are next.

The hardest thing for fans is to wait and they have done in the last four seasons. Pfau came to Houston with a plan to turn the program around, but it hasn’t always been easy.

Like most coaches, it took time for him to get the players who align with his system.

“Most of the players when I came in decided not to play anymore because the level of soccer required more work and commitment then they wanted to put in,” Pfau said. “After my second year we lost about 16 players either to graduation or players deciding not to play anymore.”

He was undeterred, however. After recruiting players and implementing his tactics over the years, Pfau finally has found the one thing that was

PRESENTS

THE

ACCOUNTANT

A SPECIAL SCREENING OF

how to be more consistent and mentally tougher.”

Although Pfau’s recruits have had to endure some of the worst seasons in program history, this has only strengthened their mental fortitude.

That mental toughness was on display after the Cougars suffered their sole loss of the year against UC Riverside.

“The mood in the locker room was disappointing,” said sophomore

forward Desiree Bowen. “We felt like we lost the game because we didn’t work hard enough, but we know we just have to move on and work hard in practice to get back on track.”

That mentality carried over to the pitch and helped the Cougars close their non-conference schedule with two more victories that gave them their highest win percentage for the non-conference in school history at 0.786.

“The bad is over,” Pfau said.

“These last couple of years we have taken our lumps but it is starting to pay off with these younger players now having that experience.”

Pfau and company will need that experience now as they head into arguably the toughest part of their schedule.

Their next two games are on the road against the University of Central Florida and the undefeated University of South Florida before returning home to host Temple University and the University of Connecticut.

“We’ll find out very quickly where we are,” Pfau said. “We’re in a better place. I think if we can weather the storm and continue to play the way we are, who knows.”

The season is still young, and Pfau thought that his program is on the right path to becoming a powerhouse.

He has the blueprint — all that's left is to turn the potential into topline production.

“I do believe that with what will return over the next couple of years and what we have coming in, the sky is the limit,” Pfau said. sports@thedailycougar.com

THURSDAY OCTOBER 6TH, 7PM STUDENT CENTER THEATRE FIRST COME FIRST SERVED