April 6 Edition of The Merciad

:Features On Page 3:

Arts & Entertainment On Page 4:

Sports On Page 7:

Students premiere

‘The Diary of Anne

Baseball dominates

film on youth

Frank’ comes to

violence in Erie

Taylor Little

with 10-game winning streak

The MERCIAD

Read more inside & online

Mercyhurst university

Est. 1929 Vol. 89 No. 17

Wednesday, april 6, 2016

Empty Bowls

Contributed photo

Meghan Maker photo

Mercyhurst students crafted and painted a majority of the bowls that will be sold during this year’s Empty Bowls event. The dinner is Sunday, April 10, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m in the Laker Inn.

Event to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank

By Maggie Switzer Contributing writer

The Social Work and Art Education Departments are teaming up again for the Empty Bowls hunger awareness dinner and fundraiser.

A team of students and faculty from both departments collaborated on this event, which aims to increase awareness of the issue of hunger locally in Erie, nationally and

internationally.

“Empty Bowls allows us to partner with local restaurants and students across campus to bring increased awareness to hunger in Erie and the lasting effects of hunger throughout the world,” junior Social Work major Riley Norton said.

The event will take place on Sunday, April 10, from 4 until 6:30 p.m. at the Laker Inn. The soups and bread are being donated by local restaurants such as Molly Bran-

nigans, Joe Roots Grill and the Whole Foods Co-op.

The dinner itself is simple as it tries to make the point that many people suffer from hunger and often find themselves lacking nutritious and filling food to eat.

People suffering from hunger are usually also suffering from poverty. Food insecurity is a large problem in the Erie area. Eighty percent of Erie school students qualify for free and reduced

school lunches. Empty Bowls is trying to raise awareness of these issues.

Attendees of the Empty Bowls dinner are able to take home a handmade ceramic bowl. Students in the Art Education Department and high school students from Collegiate Academy made the bowls that guests will receive.

Art Education majors and individuals from Collegiate Academy have made over 300 ceramic bowls. Social work

majors arranged locations, donations and media.

“It’s really great that we are able to collaborate across departments to work for something that we all feel passionate about. Everyone brings different strengths to the table and with each person contributing we are able to put on a great event,” Social Work junior Emily Shanahan said.

A member of the Hospitality Department, Elizabeth Gottschalk, senior, donated

hours of her time to assure that Empty Bowls will run smoothly.

Tickets can be purchased by emailing Riley Norton at rnorto66@lakers.mercyhurst. edu. Tickets are $15 for dinner and a ceramic bowl to keep or $5 for just dinner. The proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward the Second Harvest Food Bank.

New core curriculum gives students more freedom

By Melanie Todd Staff writer

The new Mercyhurst REACH core curriculum is officially implemented. This is the second change to the core curriculum within four years.

Initially, students were weary of another change, but many students like the freedom it brings to scheduling.

“At first, I thought the new core would be horrible, but once I looked at it I realized it was actually amazing for me. It is going to broaden my horizons. All in all, I think the new core is going to help out a lot of people to finish school in time and going to help out those who are not sure yet of what they want to do in the future,” Sarah Gaczewski,

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a freshman early childhood education major said.

Some students are finding new opportunities are available to them because of the changes.

“It helped me a lot. I only have a few more classes left to take. Hopefully, I will be able to study abroad with a light load because of this,” Sara Conklin, a sophomore Accounting major said.

Administration is very pleased to hear all the positive feedback from faculty and students alike.

“We didn’t realize the response would be as positive.

The feedback from students has been very positive. I think because it is so student-centered. We feel students will have more opportunity,” said David Dausey, provost and

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vice president for academic affairs.

The curriculum leaves room for students to take more elective classes from different areas of study.

“It’s been a long time at Mercyhurst since students can actually take a number of electives. Electives are an important part of the liberal arts education so students become well rounded and can be intellectually curious,” Dausey said.

Dausey, a Mercyhurst alumnus, found his passion after taking a public health course.

“There are some electives that just take off. Students will love them and want to take them. That in turn drives the faculty to be more creative and it’s just self-perpetuating,” Dausey said.

Many students are concerned of how the changes will affect their current transcripts and projected graduation dates. Academic affairs held a drop-in advising day to look at individual concerns and problems. Additionally, there are several faculty workshops to help with advising concerns in the future.

“For nine out of 10 students, it will put them in a better place than with the previous core. For most students the only thing that could have happened would be the electives were chosen for them,” Dausey said.

Students will not be able to get a minor by simply taking certain classes in the core.

However, they will have room with the new core to take classes and get a minor in any

area they may choose.

“Now you don’t have to double dip. We shouldn’t be prescribing minors to people.

The core curriculum is general education. It is about breadth of study, while majors and minors are deepened study.

If you are using it [the core] as a major or minor then it’s not general education,” said Dausey.

General education is one of the features of a liberal arts school.

“One of the huge values of coming to a liberal arts college is the general education.

Employers want soft skills and that comes from your major but mainly the general education,” Dausey said.

The Freshman Experience aspect of the core seeks to set a foundation for those soft

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skills by includes an introduction to Mercyhurst and a research and writing component.

“There is a huge transition from high school to college.

Your lives are completely different. Some transitions are better than others. We want to make that more level across the board,” Dausey said.

The core curriculum encourages students to think independently by taking classes from diverse disciplines.

“Students are forced to consider different worldviews, challenge assumptions and think introspectively about what they are learning,” Dausey said.

April 6, 2016

The Merciad

Page 2

News

Sister Mary Miller to receive social justice award

By Erin McGarrity Staff writer

On the evening of Friday, April 8, Sister Mary Miller, director of Emmaus Ministries in Erie, will receive the 2016 Archbishop Oscar Romero Award during a ceremony at Mercyhurst.

The Romero Award, named after the murdered archbishop of San Salvador, goes annually to a leader of peace and justice in the Erie community. The first recipient of the award was peace activist

Father Daniel Berrigan, who received the honor in 1991.

Miller became the director of Emmaus Ministries in 1980, the same year that archbishop Romero died. During that time, the organization operated solely as a soup kitchen. Since then, under her leadership, the ministry has greatly expanded to include Emmaus Food Pantry, Sister Gus’ Kids Café and Emmaus Grove: The Erie Urban Farm School.

Countless people in the Erie community have become involved in Emmaus Min-

istries as a result of Miller’s passion and hard work. The organization currently hosts over 300 volunteers, and it is the largest on-site food provider across the state of Pennsylvania.

Verna Ehret, associate professor of religious studies at Mercyhurst, explains why Miller earned the Romero award.

“Sister Mary Miller beautifully exemplifies Archbishop Romero’s particular concern for the poor and marginalized of society,” Ehret said. Each year, the Religious Studies

Department honors individuals like Sister Mary who “live the call of faith and justice in an extraordinary manner.”

Miller is widely known throughout the Erie community, and she frequently receives requests from the media and other national organizations similar to Emmaus to address large-scale issues of poverty and hunger. She believes her role, as a Benedictine sister, is “to stand with the poor — not just feed them, but speak up for them.”

“Working with the poor goes hand in hand with doing

something about social injustice in the world. Soup kitchens are Band-Aids...they’re not the answer to the problem. You have to get at the root, the cause of the problem,” Miller said.

Robert von Thaden, Ph.D., chair of the religious studies department at Mercyhurst, says it is a privilege to annually honor individuals like Sister Mary.

“It is my privilege...to be able to work with my departmental colleagues and the university to honor an individual who lives out her faith and

who exemplifies the ideals of our Mercy mission in such an extraordinary way,” von Thaden said. von Thaden said he believes the award speaks to an overall, communal responsibility to do good.

Miller will also present the annual Romero Lecture, which will focus largely on her work in the Erie community pursuing social justice. The event, titled “Icons at Emmaus,” is open to the public, and it will take place on Friday, April 8, at 7 p.m. in the Mercy Heritage Room.

Chemistry Department earns coveted accreditation

By Adrian Monty Staff writer

The American Chemical Society (ACS) accredited The Mercyhurst Chemistry and Biochemistry Department as of March 2016.

This accreditation gives Chemistry and Biochemistry degrees earned at Mercyhurst a higher standard and will give students even more opportunities once they leave

Mercyhurst.

Clint Jones, Ph.D., chair of the Chemistry department, has put much effort into the official accreditation of the program.

“This is a big day for chemistry at Mercyhurst because an ACS-accredited program must meet significant criteria, including faculty accomplished in all five sub-areas of chemistry, a demanding curriculum, modern facilities and safety procedures,” Jones

said in an official Mercyhurst University news release.

“This designation means a great deal to our university, our department, our faculty and students, not to mention prospective students and their families.”

According to its official website, “The American Chemical Society (ACS) promotes excellence in chemistry education for undergraduate students through approval of baccalaureate chemistry pro-

grams.”

“It makes me feel a lot more confident in my program knowing that we have met the national guidelines for what a chemistry program should strive to be,” Connor Link, a senior Biochemistry major said.

This accreditation largely reflects the expectations of the students of the Chemistry Department of Mercyhurst as well as the accomplished efforts of the faculty and fur-

ther aids in the preparation of students’ professional lives.

According to the American Chemical Society website, “Approved programs offer their students a broad-based and rigorous chemistry education that provides them with the intellectual, experimental and communication skills necessary to become successful scientific professionals. Offering such a rigorous program requires an energetic and accomplished faculty, a

modern and well-maintained infrastructure, and a coherent chemistry curriculum that develops content knowledge and broader skills through the utilization of effective pedagogical approaches.”

@TheMerciad

Annual Career Fair to host 105 companies for students

By Cheyanne Crum Features editor

The Career Development Center is sponsoring the 24th

annual Mercyhurst Career Fair. The fair is scheduled to be held in the Mercyhurst Athletic Center from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on April 7.

“As of [Monday], 105 com-

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panies and agencies are registered to attend,” said Frank Rizzone, associate director of Career Services and Cooperative Education. The list of companies includes UPMC,

Country Fair, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Rue 21, Wegmans and Defense Intelligence Agency.

“These recruiters are coming to talk to students about internships, summer part-time and full-time jobs,” Rizzone said. All current students and alumni are welcome to attend. The fair is also open to the surrounding colleges such as Gannon, Edinboro, Penn State Behrend and Allegheny.

Rizzone encouraged students to come to the fair early

and for faculty to be flexible in allowing students to attend the fair. “Faculty can bring classes to the event, make it a class assignment or give students extra credit,” Rizzone said.

Although there are not exact numbers of how many students get jobs or internships from the Career Fair, Rizzone said they do know that enough students are successful to allow the fairs to continue.

“Keep in mind that this is just the first of many steps in

the job hunting process,” said Rizzone. “Working a Career Fair helps to generate leads, first contact with companies and hopefully a call back.”

These fairs allow students to see what companies are looking for in their applicants while teaching them how to sell themselves in a small amount of time.

Students that attend the fair on April 7 are requested to bring many copies of their resumes to give out and dress in professional attire.

Mercyhurst and Syracuse signed the agreement on the morning of March 15.

Mercyhurst University photo

Ridge College forms master’s program partnership

By Melanie Todd Staff writer

Mercyhurst’s Ridge College of Intelligence Studies and Applied Sciences officially partnered with the School of Information Studies at Syracuse University (iSchool) on March 15.

“The agreement itself was a way to marry the largest intelligence studies school with the largest information sciences school; two colleges with really innovative programs,” James Breckenridge, Ph.D., dean of the Ridge College, said.

Through this partnership, Mercyhurst students eligible for the Fast Track program will be able to complete a master’s degree in an information sciences discipline. Students can begin their course work in their final year of undergraduate study at Mercyhurst or within one year of their undergraduate graduation.

“Anyone here [Mercyhurst students] is eligible, even though the partnership is with the Ridge School,” Breckenridge said.

Additionally, Syracuse students will have the same opportunity to earn a Mercyhurst master’s degree.

“Undergraduates in degree programs in Information Technology and Intelligence Studies will be required to complete 36 credit hours rather than 42 credit hours in order to meet degree requirements,” Breckenridge said.

Currently, the Ridge College of Intelligence Studies and Applied Sciences has 43 traditional graduate students and 85 online graduate students.

“We now have partnership with the largest and most prestigious iSchool and they will refer their students here for grad school opportunities,” said Breckenridge.

Increased enrollment is not the only goal of this partnership.

“We believe this is a wonderful opportunity for our undergraduate students to acquire competencies essential for 21st century professional success,” Breckenridge said.

Syracuse University’s iSchool has served as a model for emerging schools.

“At the iSchool students learn to leverage information in order to add value to society, to empower individuals and organizations with systems that reflect their needs, and incorporate emerging technologies to meet and transform industry trends,” Breckenridge said.

Degrees offered through the Fast Track program to Mercyhurst students include Master of Science in Information Management, Master of Science in Library and Information Sciences, and Master of Science in Library and Information Sciences School Media Specialization.

April 6, 2016

Student film creates hope in community

Features

30th annual Phi Eta Sigma honors freshman at induction ceremony Phi Eta Sigma, a Freshman National Honor Society inducted 133 new members on Sunday, April 3, at 2 p.m.This was the 30th Anniversary of the Mercyhurst Chapter and over 2900 students have been inducted since 1986.

By Catherine Rainey News editor

You are love and you are loved. This is the message that came from the premier of Let It Begin With Me: Putting an End to Youth Violence in Erie, a student-made documentary produced by the senior Social Work class of 2016.

The documentary was a year-long project that began in September and made its premier at Collegiate Academy on Saturday, April 2. The Social Work students received help from the Communication Department.

The hour-long film documents the stories of three teens who were victims of homicides during the summer of 2015. The family and friends of victims were interviewed throughout the school year.

“This film is recognizing that real people and real families are having their worlds turned upside down due to this violence in Erie. People will be made aware of the impact it does not only have on the families but on the community as a whole” senior Social Work major Nikki Charboneau said.

Approximately 400 people attended the premier, according to Michelle Ahrens, who worked on the project.

“I think it went amazing. We really came together as a group on that day to get everything done that needed to be done,” Riley Norton said. Norton, served as a speaker on behalf of the group at the premier.

“I couldn’t have asked for it to

Page 3

The Merciad

Contributed photo

Brent Clapper, senior Communication major working on Let it Begin with Me documentary.

go any better,” Norton said.

Ahrens said she could see the bond of community at the event.

“I think it was really cool to see the community completely come together. Seeing the moms of victims there supporting each other, seeing the kids afterwards that we interviewed, some of the teenagers, we were talking to them and they pulled us into this giant group hug,” Ahrens said.

After the film ended Pastor Curtis Jones, a member of the Erie community, gave a brief blessing.

“He was great because he touched on something that everyone in the auditorium needed to hear which was about love,” said Norton.

“It was something so unifying and so to the core of our documentary, that I may not know the person personally, but I love you. If you like in Millcreek, if you live in Harborcreek, we love each other.”

The Social Work class plans to screen the documentary

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again at Mercyhurst before the school year ends. The time and date are to be determined.

The Social Work majors also plan to distribute a survey about youth violence to fellow Mercyhurst students, according to Norton.

“We want more understanding from the Mercyhurst crew what they know about youth violence because we are on a little castle on the hill, so we want to know what other people know about this issue,” Norton said.

The students involved with the project are: Eva Solomon, Adrian Washington, Kerry Dieter-Roward, Denise Hager, Sarah Klobuchar, Riley Norton, Maggie Switzer, Michelle Ahrens, Lindsay Matczak and Danielle Dros.

The Social Work majors also have received help from the Communications Department, especially the technical assistance of senior Communication major Brent Clapper.

Casey Bleuel

‘Habitators’ build new habitats in Monroe, N.C.

By Cheyanne Crum Features editor

Members of the Mercyhurst Habitat for Humanity club, or “habitators” as they affectionately refer to themselves, along with other students, spent their spring break in Monroe, N. C., and Port Huron, Michigan.

A group of 17 students and two staff members went to Monroe, N.C. and worked on three projects. The Union-Anson County Habitat community joined them on the four-day trip, where they demolished a house, helped a retired veteran clean his yard and built two new homes.

The week began with demolition. The city wanted a house torn down and welcomed Habitat to any of the materials that they could salvage.

“The first two days were demolition based,” Kelsey Davies, Mercyhurst Habitat for Humanity club president, who attended the trip said.

The demolition involved a lot of work.

“We did a lot of different things, including: taking the shingles off of the roof, knocking out the chimney, removing doors and windows, removing trim woodwork, knocking out walls and removing carpet,” said Davies.

The salvaged items from the house were taken to the

ReStore center.

“Habitat re-sells items at a lower price for people who are building or remodeling houses at a cheaper price,” said Davies.

This also helps Habitat to raise the money it uses to build houses.

The afternoon of the second day was spent working at a World War Two veteran’s home where the group worked with him to clean up scrap metal from around his property. For many of the students it was an eye opening experience to work one on one with the community.

“This was a pretty unique project that Habitat did. It is not a common thing for them to help out like that but it was a great experience for us,” Davies said.

On days three and four, they worked on a build site, working on two houses next door to each other. At the two homes, groups of students worked to insulate the houses and put up siding.

“It really is a great experience going on these trips because you never know in what way you will be helping the community and it is such a rewarding feeling knowing that you are helping to make a difference in somebody’s life,” said Davies.

While the group did not finish the houses, other Habitat members will come to

take Mercyhurst’s place as the work is ongoing.

“We worked on two houses that had already been started by other groups but we did finish different parts of the houses. Other groups were coming after us to finish up the houses,” said Bridget Jacob, an Elementary/Special Education major that went on the trip.

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that is based on the idea that everyone should have a decent, safe and affordable place to live.

The group that went on the trip felt they accomplished just that.

“It is rewarding in many ways. The people you meet, the friendships you build, the work you accomplish and all of the things you learn, it is a wonderful way to get to know yourself and see God’s work being done,” said Davies.

The students who went on the Habitat trip feel it is a worthy cause.

“Overall it was a great experience. Everyone on the trip really bonded and enjoyed working for such a great cause,” said Becky Harms, a Business Competitive Intelligence major who went to Monroe.

@TheMerciad

LAKER MOMENT

Casey Bleuel

Breakfast is served Student enjoying the free late-night breakfast offered by the Mercyhurst Activities Council on Saturday, April 2, at 8 p.m. Breakfast was prepared by The Breakfast Place.

Free bacon, eggs, hash browns, sausage, cinnamon rolls and more!

Page 4

Arts &

April 6, 2016

The Merciad

Entertainment

Final collaboration of art now on display

By Colleen Niebauer Staff writer

A symphony of colors, shapes, lines and a bunch of other things I do not know the terms for, are all working together to create something that stirs something inside all of us.

That is how I would define art, as a non-art major.

I can understand that finding the right combination to create art is extremely difficult and takes grueling work and time.

The senior art majors exposed their labor in their carefully chosen artworks for their senior thesis.

This exhibit is titled “Behind Our Eyes.”

The artwork is now on display in the Cummings Art Gallery, which is located in the lobby of the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center.

The works not only show off the artist’s skill, but also express the progress and experience they have in their field of study.

The artists typically choose to work with a media they favor working with, or that they are especially skilled in.

The pieces were specifically chosen and created to form each artist’s series. They were designed to work together, just as instruments in a symphony; to create something overall astounding.

“Although each artist’s series were not intended to work with each other, together within the gallery they appear to have collaborated to create the whole show and they work very well with each other,” Ashley Poletto said.

The artist reception was on Saturday, April 2, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Those who attended the reception saw and mingled with the artist behind the art.

There are 10 graduating seniors who have their final senior art projects on display, including paintings, mixed media, collage and photography in the exhibit.

The seniors displaying their artworks in the gallery are Karly Burns, Art Education; Ashley Favata, Graphic Design; Joseph Lehr, Graphic Design and Caroline Magoc, Art Therapy.

Courtney O’Hara, Art Therapy; Caitlyn Padovano, Art Education; Katie Porter, Art Therapy; Kirsten Rambo, Studio Art; Sabrina VanTine, Art Education and Sydney Waldron, Graphic Design, are also seniors displaying their art.

Their art covers everything from framed, brightly colored roses to four art garments made from everyday used materials.

There is also a wide range of different types of photographs from black and white to steampunk.

There are paintings and three life-sized marionettes on display as well.

The show is free and open to the public weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Stop by to see art that has been created through years of experience and give a final farewell to these art majors.

The senior art majors pictured above at the “Behind Our Eyes” exhibit during the reception.

Joseph Lehr Graphic Design major, middle, has four digital illustrations that feature animals from the Erie Zoo. Ashley Favata Graphic Design major, bottom right, pictured with four art garments she made from everyday materials.

Sabrina VanTine Art Education Major, bottom left created three life sized marionettes using mixed media.

Photos by Trang Nguyen

REVIEW Welcome new MIAC director Brett Johnson Around the world

By Rachel Sobina Staff writer

Online

Brett Johnson, Ph.D, assistant professor of English, and director of the theatre program was recently named the interim director of the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts and Culture.

I had the opportunity to talk with Johnson, and hear what he had to say about the new appointment.

“I am very excited to share my passion for the arts with the audiences, and with the greater Erie Community”, Johnson said.

He also mentioned that a collaboration between the arts was a vital factor to help better the program at Mercyhurst.

Johnson said he felt that the Mercyhurst University community is very lucky to have a very strong program already, as well as staff and students who are very concerned and dedicated to the arts.

Some of the new responsibilities that position entails for

Johnson includes ‘Programming My Act Live’, which include bringing in guest artists, marketing, integrating different offerings within Mercyhurst and doing outreaches within the Erie Community.

When Johnson was asked about any thoughts or concerns about the new position, he seemed at ease with the new responsibilities.

“There will always be challenges to overcome, but I look forward to growing from the new experiences,” Johnson said He is also very excited to promote more of a connection between academics and the arts.

One of the biggest concerns is what the new season will bring, which will also be celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Mary D’Angelo performing Arts Center.

Johnson explained that there would be a diversity of offerings including Broadway, Dance, acrobats, Classical, Choral, Jazz, Irish and chil-

Full list of events can be found on the PAC website

through fifteen songs

By Amber Matha Staff writer

MIAC photo

Brett Johnson, Ph.D, the new interim director of MIAC.

dren’s shows.

He also said that he plans on having a big name to commemorate the anniversary.

Overall, the new season is going to be working on collaborative pieces between dance, music and theater in order to create a true celebration.

The new season will be officially announced in June. @TheMerciad

Last week I went to my first recital that included the vocals of Diane Kalinowski, parttime instructor of Voice and Vocal Literature at Mercyhurst University.

The biographies in the program were the same as always for Nathan Hess, D.M.A, and Joseph Kneer, D.M.A. It was like reading the magnetism chapters of two different physics books. They always say the same thing.

When Hess, Kneer and Kalinowski walked out I think the whole audience was stunned by Kalinowski’s dress.

Hess and Kneer should have worn blue ties to match her gorgeous dress.

Kneer’s tie had blue stripes, so he tried. I give him an A for effort.

I sound like a dying cat if

View upcoming performances: www.miac.mercyhurst.edu

I try to sing, according to my boyfriend. I am so envious of Kalinowski for her amazing voice.

She sang in not one, not two, but five different languages: Italian, German, Russian, French and English.

Singing in a foreign language must be pretty difficult. I find it difficult to even pronounce words properly in normal speaking in my Intro to Spanish II class.

I was looking forward to the Sergei Rachmaninoff songs because the titles were in English, so I foolishly assumed that the songs would be sung in English.

They were not. They were in Russian of all things. Who knew with a composer named Rachmaninoff.

I liked these pieces because they were short and to the point. There were quite a few lyrics, but they were sung very quickly.

The lights were on the struggle bus during intermission. On the other hand, quick shout out to the two men reading The Merciad at the recital.

I do not think that they were professors (93% of our readers) so I thought it was cool that we are reaching a wider audience than I thought.

My favorite song of the night was “Hai Luli!” by Pauline Viardot.

I felt the message of the song on a spiritual level. The long distance relationship feel coming from that song was very strong and I could relate.

At the end of the show, the audience gave the faculty a standing ovation and Kalinowski’s reaction was precious and priceless.

I truly felt that I was given a worldwide tour through music, and that was an experience that I enjoyed.

www.merciad.mercyhurst.edu/ arts_entertainment

April 6, 2016

The Merciad

Page 5

Arts &

Entertainment

Award winning violinist to perform and teach

By Jenny Sabliov

Arts and entertainment editor

The 2015-2016 season of the Roche Visiting Artist Series concludes with the Gold Medalist of the 2014 Ninth Quadrennial International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, Jinjoo Cho. She will be performing a concert on Monday, April 11, at 8 p.m.

She will be presenting a masterclass on Tuesday, April 12, at 2 p.m., both events in Walker Recital Hall, located in the Audrey Hirt academic building, with three Mercyhurst music students.

The three music students are senior Meghan MooneyRyan, freshman Grace Ferrara and freshman Kayla Bravchok.

This is Cho’s first time playing at Mercyhurst University.

The founder and director of the Roche Visiting Artist Series, Albert Glinsky, Ph.D, said he is excited to have Cho perform here at Mercyhurst.

“She is a world class player and to see someone who won

an international prize right before she makes her big debut in New York City is kind of a thrill because we are the preview audience,” said Glinsky.

“It should really be an evening of enjoyable music because she is a really dynamic musician,” said Glinsky.

“It is also important for her to do ‘try out’ concerts before the big deal in New York City, which is a very good thing for her; the more people who invite her to play before her big debut.”

The former music department chair at Mercyhurst, Glen Kwok, is now the executive director of the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis.

He is one of our direct connections and one of the reasons why we are able to have Jinjoo Cho perform here.

“Now she is going to be traveling all over the world, the connection through Kwok makes us very lucky to get her because she is probably not going to be giving that many concerts prior to her big Carnegie Hall debut in May.

So, this is a preview of what audience members will experience in New York City just about a month later,” Glinsky said.

Cho is on the faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music and Oberlin college and she lives in the Cleveland area and is also a local connection.

Kwok contacted Glinsky about a year ago and asked if he would be interested in booking Cho because she wanted to do some preparation concerts before her debut.

“I always have my eye out for who is good for next season,” Glinsky explained.

The artists that the series brings here are always two-day residencies where the artist performs on Monday night and then gives a masterclass on Tuesday afternoon, both of which are free to the public.

The masterclass is an open lesson where the three Mercyhurst students will publicly perform and be coached

by Cho. “It is a neat chance to figuratively go backstage to get a more personal connection

with the artist that performed the night before,” Glinsky said.

This program ranges from modern composers to romantic era Clara Schumann to Debussy.

The program of the concert are “3 Romances for Violin and Piano” by Clara Schumann, “Sonata in G minor for Violin and Piano”

by Debussy, “Fantasy for Solo Violin” by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, “Sonata for Violin and Piano” by Corigliano and “Carmen Fantasie” by Waxman.

It is refreshing to see female composers being featured in concert at Mercyhurst.

Do not miss out on being a part of the audience that will be one of the very first to see Jinjoo Cho perform this program right before her Carnegie Hall debut in New York City this May. Also, do not miss your chance to see her behind the scenes following her concert.

@TheMerciad

Woo Ryong Chae

Violinist Jinjoo Cho will be performing a concert in Walker.

‘Matuto’ will Another look at Anne Frank perform in WRH

By Mackenzie Burns Staff writer

By Mackenzie Burns Staff writer

The word “Matuto,” is not just the Brazilian word for “country boy.”

A Brazilian Bluegrass band adopted the name “Matuto,” which perfectly describes how their music combines the rich Brazilian tones with American jazz, blues, bluegrass and folk.

Matuto has traveled all the way from New York City, and will land themselves in the small city of Erie at Mercyhurst University.

On Thursday, April 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the Walker Recital Hall, you can experience the eccentric sounds of Matuto.

The intermingling of human culture manifests in the melodies of Matuto.

Their music allows them to ask the question, “What does it mean to be human?”

According to band member Clay Ross, they are “questioning the boundaries and borders of the present and past.”

Matuto has three recorded albums, the third of which they describe as “a musical snapshot of the five countries on [their] 2013 State Department-sponsored tour.”

Clay Ross and Rob Curto founded Matuto in Brazil in 2009.

Two quickly grew to five, and the band now includes exotic instruments such as the cavaquinho and the zabumba.

It is no wonder why their music has such an “infectious rhythm,” that is adored by the

Cultural Arts Director at the University of Wisconsin.

The band has performed as the featured showcase artist at WOMEX and at the World Music Festival.

According to the festival coordinator, the band was a “killer addition to World Music Festival Chicago: 2013.”

Matuto was also named the U.S. State Department musical ambassadors in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

The artists’ passion for music cannot be overstated.

Matuto sees its music as an attempt to answer the question of “what it means to embrace and treasure sounds from outside the musical world you were born into.”

Matuto travels all over the Americas, spreading their musical messages to the other continents. This performance will be no exception.

For those that are 21 and older, there will be beer tastings before the performance from Erie’s Lavery Brewing Company.

Tickets are available for adults for $15, seniors and military for $12 and students and youth for $9.

Mercyhurst Student Rush Tickets are available the day of for $5.

Do not miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to explore culture in a way you never have before.

@TheMerciad

MIAC Photo

Online

The band ‘Matuto’ that will be performing at Mercyhurst.

Full list of events can be found on the PAC website

Think you know the story of Anne Frank? Well, think again. The Mercyhurst Theatre Program is presenting Wendy Kesselman’s adaptation of “The Diary of Anne Frank.”

“It restores references to Anne’s burgeoning sexuality as well as the diary’s overt Jewishness,” Director Brett Johnson, Ph.D said.

Anne Frank wrote in her journal, “I want to go on living even after my death.”

This adaptation does exactly that it recreates her life with adequate truth and justice.

Even though viewers can expect minimalist staging, Johnson says the play “captures the claustrophobic realities of [the characters’] daily existence.”

Most associate ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ with the Holocaust, but now it can be seen for what it really is, an “impassioned drama about the lives of eight people hiding from the Nazis in a concealed storage Attic.”

This aspect of humanity is what most attracted Johnson to the play. “[It is] a reminder of the humanity of those who are systematically oppressed by governments,” freshman Rose Pregler who plays Anne Frank, said about the play.

Sophomore Tyler Kirchmeir enjoys Kesselman’s adaptation because the majority of it is not a sad play.

“There are moments within the story where there are moments of happiness, laughter and joy…. Yes, at the end the Nazis get them, but there is so much more to it than that,” said Kirchmeir.

The original piece is more censored to avoid controversy.

Anne’s sexual feelings and maturity are largely cut out of the original play.

Kesselman’s version restores much of these aspects and gives the play a better foundation to fit with the current generation.

However, Anne Frank often

Trang Nguyen

Mercyhurst students during their dress rehearsal in preparation for the Anne Frank play.

comes with the stigma of being worn and overly sentimental.

“Our challenge, then, is to tell the story in a way that will allow people to see it afresh,” Johnson said.

The performances are sure to deliver.

Adult tickets are $10, student and senior tickets are $7 and youth tickets are $5.

Mercyhurst Students can purchase tickets for $5 with a valid student ID. There will be 8 p.m. shows on April 7, 8 and 9.

There will also be matinee performances at 2 p.m. on both April 8 and 9.

Come out and relive the incredible story of the brave Anne Frank.

@TheMerciad

Trang Nguyen

Freshman Rose Pregler who plays Anne Frank, pictured on the far left.

View upcoming performances: www.miac.mercyhurst.edu

www.merciad.mercyhurst.edu/ arts_entertainment

Page 6

April 6, 2016

The Merciad

Opinion

The views expressed in the opinion section of The Merciad do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercyhurst University, the staff of The Relay Life Church. successful Merciad or for the Catholic Responses on any subject are always welcomed and can be emailed to opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.

Organized student cheer section needed in MIC

By Marco Cicchino Staff writer

Nothing happens underneath it.

What exactly is it, though?

On the near side of the bleachers in the Mercyhurst Ice Center is a green banner with white text that reads “Laker Lunatics” in Bodoni Condensed font and “The Asylum” in Jokerman below it. What we need is something to actually occur below it: namely, a formal student section at sporting events, coming up with creative chants, staying on their feet the whole game and cheering on the Lakers vociferously to create an electric atmosphere.

I would like to see that at sporting events in the near future. Virtually every other Division I (and II, for that matter) school has one: look at our counterparts in Pittsburgh (who have “the Oakland Zoo”), Columbus (“Block O”), and State College (“the Legion of Blue”).

My intention was to use the Corner Crew as a basis to ignite Mercyhurst school spirit and start a formal student section in that vein. This, I attest, is the main reason that I did something I probably shouldn’t have over the weekend of March 11 and learned some of the Corner Crew’s chants. Who is the Corner Crew, you may ask? They are the fans that made the fourhour trip from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) to cheer on the Tigers at the MIC, who went on to capture the Atlantic Hockey tournament title on March 19. I was, in effect, an RIT fan for those two games. I had so much fun

in the process due to their exciting display of school spirit.

A quick back-story: Originally, at the Feb. 27 contest, a 3-2 win for the host Lakers, I decided to sit with the women’s lacrosse team on the far end of the metal bleachers.

However, to my direct left, before the band, were a group of fans clad in white-and-orange sweaters who had come up with some of the most creative chants imaginable, effectively creating a Cameron Crazies-esque atmosphere and allowing the fans to have a lot of fun at games.

It made matters worse (or better) when I stubbed my entire left foot dancing during a break in the second period.

A girl in the RIT Corner Crew noticed me hobbling and asked if I was ok. I told her I was, and, to Mercyhurst Captain Emily Koestler’s apparent dismay, she extended an invitation for me to join the Corner Crew and cheer on RIT. Instead of moving on for additional coverage that night, as I told my best friend, I wanted to stay just for these RIT fans, and I did, capturing audio of some chants they performed in the third period. I knew that the next time the Tigers played at the MIC, I was going to sit with the Corner Crew. The girl gave me a shirt when I got to the second game on Saturday night.

What were some of the chants performed? Without allowing too many cats to escape this bag (since I am not an RIT student), we shouted variants of “You s***!” (“Eh?”, “You’re from Ohio!”, “Don’t you know?”) during player introductions.

Amber Matha photo

The Laker Lunatics section for students only is a rallying ground of sports fans in the Ice Center during ice hockey games.

We directed the phrase “It’s all your fault!” at Mercyhurst players with every RIT goal, and creatively called out “B-O-X! To the box!” on the occasion of a Laker penalty, among others.

I intend to collaborate with Student Government President-elect Shannon Holley, Athletic Director Joe Kimball and the Student Activities Council to drum up more support for Laker athletics, as was a major part of Holley and SAC’s platform during the MSG elections this year.

The night after the game I enjoyed with the Corner Crew, I met field-hockey starter Kaitlyn Lechner in the Laker, and I explained my vision of a formal student cheer section to her. A 10-minute debate ensued.

“We can’t, we’re a Catholic school,” Lech said.

“What does that mean?” I replied.

Her teammate, star forward Jessica Brandon, came to her defense and added, “We have values and morals as a Catholic school, and chants like those, putting your opponents down, makes us look bad.”

How does it make us look bad, I thought to myself.

“So you are telling me you, as the fan, cannot talk bad about your opponent in the stands?”

“Nope,” replied Lech.

My response was simple: “But that it what you expect from a Division I student-section.”

And that is why I beg to differ with this opposing view.

Just because you are Catholic does not mean you cannot create an electric gameday experience. Look at the success of the “Red Scare” at Dayton, “Nova Nation” at Villanova, and the “Hoya Hoop” Club at Georgetown. Each of these student cheering groups is laden with 1,500 members or more. We can certainly replicate this on a smaller scale at Tullio, the MAC, and, more importantly, in the MIC underneath the proud banner of “Laker Lunatics.”

Staff writer

Online

I guess the new pop machine in the Laker has been around since J-term. I did not take a class this J-term, so coming back in the Spring and seeing the fancy upgrade was a pleasant surprise. I had only ever seen the big red Coca Cola machines so this was a whole new experience.

The whole mixing flavors thing kind of threw me for a loop at first, and I started my semester by mixing all of the flavors of the fruit punch. Very original, I know.

However, I soon realized that strawberry lemonade was a necessary life choice every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for lunch.

My friend group mixes some more exciting flavors than my plain jane lemonade.

One of my friends chooses to get vanilla Mountain Dew which sounds gross to me.

The sweet vanilla paired with the citrus of the Mountain

Dew does not sound like a match made in heaven, but according to my source, it is wonderful. For those students who enjoyed mixing the pops together with the old machine, this new one is probably a dream come true.

There are some things I miss about the old machine, though. For one thing, there was never that big of a line when it came to the old pop machine because more than one person could pour a drink at the same time. With the new one, especially at rush hour lunchtime around 1 p.m. there may be a line of people longer than the food lines waiting for drinks.

These traffic jams in the cramped little space of the Laker are no fun, especially when the lines for the drink machine and the East St. Deli start overlapping. Things start to get really confusing.

I am one of those crazy individuals who does not drink carbonated beverages. The bubbles in drinks like Pepsi or Coke make me feel ill when I feel them on my tongue, so I try to avoid them as much as

The Mercyhurst Social Work senior class’s film on the topic of violence in the Erie area premiered to an audience of nearly 400 this past Saturday, April 2, in the Collegiate Academy Auditorium.

Amber Matha photo

Holes in the ground are all that remains of the Hirt arch.

After roughly 13 years of awkwardness, the large concrete arch in front of the side entrance to the Hirt Center was taken down. Children from across the land gathered to dance among its ashes.

Bad Heavy exam schedules, and a seemingly reincarnation of midterm week plague many students across campus, causing unneeded stress.

Weird The red-tail hawk that has been hanging around campus the last couple of years made an appearance during a late- March baseball game. After swooping over the baseball field it landed on top of the press box stunning the audience.

@TheMerciad

Laker Inn fountain is soda-ng good

By Amber Matha

Good

The Merciad Editors Sami Rapp

Editor-in-Chief

Karah Hollis

Managing Editor

Catherine Rainey

News Editor

Cheyanne Crum

Features Editor

Carly Contraguerro

Amber Matha photo

Student gets a beverage at the new pop machine in the Laker.

possible.

However, with the new machine, even if I hold the water button before I start pouring my lemonade or my fruit punch, I always seem to get a nice brown dollop of carbonated poison in my cup.

Maybe that is just me being nitpicky, but it is something that I find very frustrating with this machine.

I give the number of drink choices for this machine a two thumbs up. However, the placement of the machine and the fact that only one person

Read more at

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can get a drink at a time is a slight issue. I can only imagine the lines that would form if the pop machines in Egan were to be changed out for the new high-tech mixing machine like the Laker.

Maybe something that would help is the movement of the machine to the juice area. Fewer students, based on my own observations, seem to use this machine, and the pop machine would be more accessible at this location.

@mercyhurst.edu

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The Merciad is the official student-produced newspaper of Mercyhurst University. It is published throughout the school year, with the exception of finals weeks. Our office is in Hirt, Room 110. Our telephone number is (814) 824-2376.

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April 6, 2016

The Merciad

Page 7

Sports

Baseball dominating PSAC play

By James Karasek Staff writer

The Mercyhurst baseball team added four wins over Clarion University last weekend, extending their win streak to nine. The sweep is the second in a row for the Lakers having swept Slippery Rock a week ago.

Scoring was certainly not an issue for the team, posting 36 runs on the weekend outscoring Clarion 36-8. In the fourth game of the series, sophomore pitcher Matthew Minnick threw a complete game shutout moving him to 3-0 as a starter, earning him PSAC Western Division Pitcher of the Week.

On their nine game win streak, the Lakers have outscored their opponents 86-19.

“I feel that when we are hitting as a team it will be very difficult to beat us. This being said, everyone has to contribute and I don’t feel that any single person needs to step up.

As long as we are hitting the ball, everyone has faith that the pitchers will get the job done,” senior Hank Morrison said.

Game one, on April 1, was the closest with the Lakers only posting three runs, but that would be enough. Redshirt junior pitcher Colin McKee improved to 5-1 on the season holding Clarion to two hits in a seven inning shutout.

Although the beginning of game 2 started out slow, the bats were much more alive for Mercyhurst starting in the fifth inning. The Lakers took a 3-0 lead after the bottom of

the fifth. Clarion answered in the sixth inning scoring three runs to tie the game. But Mercyhurst came alive in the bottom of the sixth scoring five runs while Clarion scored just one more run in the seventh inning giving the lakers an 8-4 win.

The pitching staff has not lost a game when holding their opponents to four runs or less all season. The four wins improved Mercyhurst to a 10-1 record at home, with their only loss against Seton Hill on March 18, where the Lakers split the doubleheader with the Griffins.

In game three the Lakers lit up the scoreboard, posting 15 runs on 14 hits. Morrison opened things up in the first inning with a two-run double and would do so again in the fifth, tying his season high RBIs in a game with four. Senior Marc DiLeo and freshman Matthew Schneider joined Morrison in the multiple RBI game with two apiece.

Redshirt senior Joe Gnacinski gave up no runs in five innings earning the win and improving to 4-1 on the season.

“We were confident before but now we are starting to put offensive and defensive efforts together and this makes the atmosphere of the team feel unstoppable. I obviously have expectations to get back to where we were last year in Cary, N.C. where the Division II National Championship is,” said Morrison.

“No matter how badly I want to just snap my figures and be back there this year, as a team we have to take it one game at a time, because like every year there are very

Casey Bleuel photo

Infield junior Cameron Balego (22), pictured above, went 2-3 and scored one run against Clarion in the Lakers 8-4 win in the second game of a double header on April 1.

good teams in our division and region.”

Game four was the biggest margin of victory on the weekend for the Lakers, scoring 10 runs on 10 hits, and a complete game, one hit shutout by Minnick. Minnick had a season high 11 strikeouts and faced only 23 batters through seven innings earning him the PSAC Western Division Pitcher of the Week award.

Continuing with the wins, the Lakers took on Lake Erie College by storm defeating them 14-0 on Tuesday, April 5. Pitching for Mercyhurst was freshman right-handed

pitcher Chris Vallimont.

The Lakers started with a strong first inning, scoring five runs. With Cox on third after stealing and Gonzalez on first after a walk, Morrison singled through the left side, scoring Cox. With Morrison on second base and Balego on first, DiNardo hit a three-run home run to give the Lakers a solid 5-0 lead.

“As a team we are always pumped. We played really good baseball today and were swinging well,” Gonzalez said.

Mercyhurst kept the runs coming in the second inning.

Collin Fantasky stole third and then scored on a error by the catcher. The next run was scored by Morrison on an RBI double to left center by Elliot.

The Lakers continued to hold the Storm to no runs while Merchurst kept racking them up.

Cox scored in the third inning from an RBI off the bat of Gonzalez. In the fourth inning, Fantasky reached first on an error in right field allowing Latona and Balego to score giving the Lakers a 10-0 advantage.

The Lakers had another multiple run in the fourth

inning. Gonzalez doubled to left center, landing him on second, followed by an RBI double by Elliot to bring home Gonzalez. Then for his second of the day, another three-run home run by DiNardo to put the Lakers up 14-0.

The sixth and seventh innings were quiet from the Lakers, only having one hit in each inning. In the eighth, the Lakers had three hits but could not bring in a run.

The top of the ninth inning ended with senior pitcher Ben Nolan striking out three out of four batters securing the Laker’s 14-0 win.

“14-0 win is always great but we have to keep playing small ball and focus on every game,” Gonzalez said.

Vallimont got the win for the Lakers. Through six innings he allowed just two hits, two walks and threw four strikeouts. Senior RHP Matt Jaskolka entered the game in the seventh for Vallimont and allowed no hits.

Junior RHP Jake Collins pitched the eighth inning, allowing no hits and one strikeout.

The Lakers’ (21-8) next league games will be for control of first place in the PSAC West against crosstown rival the Gannon Golden Knights (21-8) this coming weekend, March 9 and 10.

“As a team we all are excited and hyped about this series against Gannon, it is a grear rival and we are looking forward to win the series one game at a time,” Gonzalez said. @TheMerciad

Women’s lacrosse wins nine straight games

By Marco Cicchino Staff writer

Brigid Hurley spent only one season as assistant coach of the Mercyhurst women’s lacrosse team under longtime headman Cecil Pilson.

But after racking up 133 wins and seven consecutive PSAC tournament appearances, Pilson abruptly left his post in December to assume the role at Division I Butler, leaving a huge interrogative as to how Hurley would hold up succeeding him.

But her Lakers are flying high to open her first full campaign as the top dog, going 7-0 in March to open up a 10-1 record The Lakers have won their past nine games, tying a program record last achieved each year from 2008-10.

Now holding the No. 5 and 4 rankings respectively from the IWLCA and Lacrosse Magazine, the Lakers’ strong attack, now averaging 15.36 goals per game, has them soaring into critical games this week against Roberts Wesleyan and East Stroudsburg.

Senior midfielder and Williamsville North product Emily Koestler attributes it to a positive morale in the locker room, a unique approach for a team now nine games over .500.

“I definitely think that us having positive attitudes on and off the field has helped us to realize that we’re a lot better than people think we are, and that has helped us in many games recently [to] have high-scoring games and work together from defense all the way up to the offense so we have a good fluid game,” Koestler said.

hurstathletics.com photo

Kristin Anderson (8) is tied for second nationally with 67 draw-controls. She scored five goals against Shippensburg.

What appears to be working for the Lakers in the first half of this season is a formula that has proved repeatedly to lead to any degree of success. After leading the PSAC with 296 goals and a .517 shot percentage, the Lakers are well on their way to matching it this year, scoring 169 in its first 11 games—a +17 differential compared to the first 11 games in 2015—at an average of 15.36 per game.

Nearly 63 percent of the Lakers’ tallies this season have been unassisted, and 38 of them are on free-position shots, including Koestler’s first two career goals in her senior season. The Lakers are outscoring their opponents by an average of 6.3 goals per game while holding a +70 scoring

margin, including 89-41 in the second half.

Over the course of their current nine-game winning streak, including their first seven PSAC contests, the Lakers are averaging 15.6 goals per game and outscoring their opponents by exactly seven per contest.

They are also holding their first seven conference opponents to just 22 second-half goals and 145 shots. The Lakers have held five of their nine opponents in the overall streak to single-digits, and notably allowed then- No.4 West Chester to just 36.4 percent on 8-22 shooting in a game that required two overtimes to decide.

“I think the key is when we win the draw control and

when we just flow down the offence either by getting a fast break to net or when we make space for each other by doing double cuts or different play, that’s really helping,” Koestler said.

In their two most recent contests on April 1 and 2, the Lakers held true to form and outscored Millersville 9-4 in the second half en-route to a 16-10 victory.

The Lakers were out cleared for only the second time this season, but outshot the Marauders 34-23, including a 17-8 shot-on-goal advantage in the second half. The Marauders kept it interesting and were only down one at the half.

Two separate 4-0 runs by the Lakers broke the game open, with Kristin Anderson contributing four in the second to raise her season total to a game-high 28.

The following day in Shippensburg, the Lakers found themselves trailing for just the second time since March 19 and failed to score the opening goal for just the third time this season.

They exploded for the first 12 goals of the second half.

It was just the second occurrence since February 2010, and included a natural hattrick by Churchville Chili’s Carly Zimmerman.

Captain Koestler also had high praise for the Lakers’ individual leaders, especially the team’s top five goal scorers that have accounted for 75.7 percent of the Lakers’ goals and 73.3 percent of the team’s total offense through their first 11 games.

Anderson is having a breakout campaign, leading the team and tied for 27th in the nation with 33 goals and 41

points after scoring just ten last season, and is converting 54.1% of her 61 shots.

Directly behind her is Zimmerman, with the two-sport star recording a breakout season as well, her 29 goals and 36 points both second on the team to Anderson. These two have accounted for the first six-goal games by a Laker since April 2014.

Also in that impressive 17-6 win, newcomer Taylor Izzo, a sophomore from Frontier Senior, recorded half of her 12 assists.

Meanwhile, Fairport’s Emily Gebhardt needs just two goals to become the fifth 20-goal scorer for the Lakers this season, and her team-high 16 assists put her third with 34 points, including an impressive seven-point game in the season-opener at St. Thomas Aquinas on Feb. 20.

The other seven in that game belonged to Amherst Central’s Grace Lawson. Now a sophomore, she recorded five of her 25 tallies that day and is one of just three players to find the back of the net in every game this season.

On the other side of the ball, the Lakers are dominant, allowing only .42 goals/game more than the 2015 team.

Webster Schroeder product Kristina Roberti is the anchor of that defense, recording a team-high 37 ground balls, her figure of 3.37 per game tied for 23rd in the country.

Meanwhile, Anderson ranks tied for second nationally with 67 draw-controls and fourth at 6.09 per contest. The Lakers as a team are 16th nationally at a scoring margin of 6.36, and have held an advantage in ground balls in all but three contests.

“Coming from a defensive

standpoint, we have a pretty solid defense,” said Koestler.

“When we get refs that let us play aggressive like they did in the Le Moyne game, we really are pretty unstoppable,” Koestler said.

What the Lakers also excel at is clearing the ball from their defensive zone, converting 75.8 percent of clears in conference play and a remarkable 78.3 percent on 112-143 overall, tops in the PSAC. The one area that has been a struggle for the Lakers this season is in between the pipes. Despite her 8-1 record, Gates Chili’s Gabby Gravino has posted an 8.62 goalsagainst average and stopped only 41.6% of her 190 shots faced, and has yet to record double-digit saves in a single game. Her GAA is still sixth in the PSAC and 24th in Division II, but Koestler attributes it to several factors. “[It’s] probably due to the reffing and the 8-meters that were getting called against us. When you put [a] girl on the eight, she’s got a lot of chances to score there because there’s no one in front besides the goalie; I think that and some goals were fluke goals recently, and bad communication of defense, but we’re fixing that,” Koestler said.

The Lakers next home games will be played on Saturday, April 9, at 11:00 a.m. against East Stroudsburg and on Tuesday, April 12 at 4:00 p.m. against IUP.

@TheMerciad

Page 8

The Merciad

Sports

April 6, 2016

Adam Carlson signs with Capitals

By Haleigh Giebel Staff writer

The Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan announced on Monday, March 28, that Mercyhurst University men’s ice hockey freshman goaltender Adam Carlson and the Capitals agreed to a two way, two-year, max entry-level contract. On Tuesday, March 29, Carlson officially signed the deal.

“It means the world, I don’t have any words to describe it,” said Carlson. “It’s one

of those deals, that you can’t resist.”

Carlson’s two-way contract is a NHL component. If he plays in the NHL, terms are at a certain amount and if he plays in the American Hockey League [AHL], he gets the same amount of money, along with a signing bonus.

Carlson’s recruiting process started early on in the season.

He was invited to join the Washington Capitals development camp during Christmas break, where he was told to get an agent. As the recruiting process continued, the Capitals never lost inter-

est, ultimately leading to his signing this week.

“The road was bumpy, but as hard as it was, I had an absolute blast,” Carlson said.

Carlson, a native of Edina, Minn., is the second player in three years and sixth player overall in Mercyhurst hockey program history to sign an NHL contract. He is the second to do so with the Washington Capitals; alumni Jamie Hunt ‘06 also signed before he was a senior and became the first Laker player to play an NHL game.

The other Lakers to sign NHL contracts include Dan

O’Donoghue (Arizona Coyotes), Jody Robinson (New York Islanders), T.J. Kemp (Edmonton Oilers) and Cullen Eddy (Philadelphia Flyers).

Carlson becomes the first goaltender and first freshman in program history to sign with an NHL organization.

He is the second player to leave Mercyhurst early.

“It’s been an unreal experience here at Mercyhurst and I wouldn’t change it for anything,” Carlson said.

In 17 games this season, Carlson posted a 7-7-3 record.

In the Atlantic Hockey Asso-

ciation [AHA], he ranked 11th in goal-against average (2.85) and wins (7), 10th in saves (536) and fifth in save percentage (.919).

Carlson recorded his first collegiate win during his first start in net for the Lakers on Oct. 24 against Army. He stopped 33 shots during the Lakers’ 5-2 win. He posted a career high of 50 saves during Mercyhurst’s 2-2 tie at Robert Morris on Jan. 22.

“This speaks volume for Adam Carlson, the kind of player he is and the kind of person he is,” said Head Coach Rick Gotkin. “Obvi-

ously, he has great potential. They [the Capitals] are excited, he’s excited and we’re very excited.”

Carlson will be joining the AHL Hershey Bears immediately on an amateur tryout agreement.

“It all depends on what I do,” said Carlson. “It’s all in my hands of what team I end up on.”

@TheMerciad

All photos by Haleigh Giebel

All photos by Haleigh Giebel

Freshman goaltender Adam Carlson signed a two-way, two-year entry level contract with the Washinton Capitals. He is the first freshman and first goaltender in Mercyhurst hockey program history to sign with an NHL organization. Carlson will join the AHL Hershey Bears right away on an amateur tryout agreement. In 17 games this season, Carlson posted a 7-7-3 record.

Pictured from left to right: Head Coach Rick Gotkin, Adam Carlson and Assistant Coach Greg Gardner.

Men’s lacrosse ends four game win streak

By Diego Himede Staff writer

On Saturday, March 2, No. 7 Mercyhurst faced No.17 Lindenwood University in a close Eastern College Athletic Conference games at Tullio Field. Although Mercyhurst outscored Lindenwood in the first and fourth quarter 2-1 in each, the Lakers lost the contest 7-8.

In the first half, the Lakers pulled ahead controlling a 3-1 lead. Senior Connor Enright scored the first unassisted goal of the game and then scored again at the end of the first quarter assisted by junior James Crowe. Lindenwood scored three times before sophomore Colin Greenway answered for the Lakers with a goal to tie the game 4-4. However with just 26 seconds left, the Lions scored to break the tie and

take a 6-4 lead.

A Lindenwood goal started off the third quarter giving them a larger advantage until Crowe scored an unassisted goal to close the gap. Lindenwood scored once more in the third quarter and again towards the end of the fourth quarter leading 8-5.

With under two minutes to play Crowe scored his second goal of the game assisted by freshman Kurtis Woodland and with 1:17 remaining McQueen also scored his second goal of the game but it was not enough to come back and beat the Lions.

Mercyhurst did not take advantage of the two additional extra man opportunities they had which could have tied or even won the game for the Lakers. Also, the Lakers outshot Lindenwood University by eight shots, shooting 32-24 times. The turnovers were key for this game. LWU got 20,

Sport

Casey Bleuel photo

Freshman Sam Crusha (28) assisted Keyan McQueen’s goal late in the fourth quarter against Lindenwood University in a close ECAC conference 8-7 loss.

while Mercyhurst got only 14.

Moreover, the Lions dominated the face off match-ups, winning 12 out of 6.

On the defensive side,

senior goalie Matt Wells managed to complete three stops, exhibiting another solid performance. In fact, Wells earned Eastern College Ath-

letic Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in a row. Wells has 63 saves so far with a .485 saves percentage.

Let’s go Lakers!

Women’s Lacrosse Baseball Men’s Lacrosse Women’s Lacrosse

Date

Saturday, April 9 Saturday, April 9 Saturday, April 9 Tuesday, April 12

Despite his work in the net, he was surprised about earning this award.

“I did not see it coming. All of our defensive playerers are doing very well, so I kind of knew that one of us was going to win it, but not me,” Wells said. He also stated that this award proves the excellent job the entire team is doing, not just him.

This loss ends the Lakers’ four-game winning streak.

However, the team feels motivated and optimistic for the rest of the season. This result leaves Mercyhurst with a 3-1 record for the ECAC and 7-1 overall. The next challenge the team faces is against the University of Tampa on Saturday, April 9, at 2:00 p.m. on Tullio Field.

Time

@TheMerciad

11:00 am 1:00 pm & 3:00 pm 2:00 pm 4:00 pm