Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / Sept. 29, 2010, edition 1 / Page 21
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THE PENDULUM SPORTS WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 29. 2010 // PAGE 21 Flag football offers change of pace, competition for students Caitlin O'Donnell News Editor For some, sitting on the sidelines is not an option. While not everyone will have the chance to experience a game on the football field of Elon University, the intramural flag football teams allow students to come pretty close. From sororities to Leadership Fellows to grad school programs, flag football is an opportunity that all types of students can take an advantage of. In the fall, Campus Recreation provides various groups the chance to participate in a seven-versus-seven football league, with girls, boys and coed leagues, said Amanda O'Dell, a junior and captain of the Tri Delta team. “Women in my sorority that were interested in playing got together to form a team," she said. “We are in a bracket with two other teams - we play each team twice and have two byes during the season.” Having grown up with football, O’Dell said when she arrived on campus, she was excited to hear about the opportunity to play the game with other women. For Allison Dixon, a freshman and captain of the Leadership Fellows team, playing flag football was a tradition for freshman Leadership Fellows that she chose to take part in. “I got involved as captain because I wanted to take the leadership role for this activity,” she said. “This experience also helps us as Leadership Fellows to learn how to work as a team in a different setting.” Nicki Grates, a graduate student, also serves as a captain for the team The Pelvic Floor, comprised of the Physical Therapy Grad School Program. “I know for a lot of us it is a fun way to get some exercise because going to the gym can get kind of old sometimes, and it is always really crowded in there, so it’s nice to get outside and run around,” she said. Many members of her team played sports in high school or as undergraduate students. Brett Annese, a senior and captain of the Simple Jack team, also has experience with playing sports in the past. A football player in high school and current member of the club baseball team, he said he has played on a flag football team since his freshman year at Elon. “My team is mostly club baseball players, so we already have a good concept of teamwork, which is very helpful,” he said. “Basically, I just try to stay in shape so all these young freshman don’t run circles around me towards the end of the game.” Though Annese said he doesn’t commit much of his time off the field to flag football, he does schedule a few practices to go over plays for the games. “I admit there are some teams that take it a little more seriously than we do, but we do like to win, and we definitely have the talent to do so,” he said. “If we are confident on this point, we can usually be successful.” For O’Dell, the chance to play without being tackled or having a tooth knocked out is ideal. “I love playing just because it’s a fun change-of-pace from my hectic college life of classes and work,” she said. “It’s a great way to get some exercise and put to use my competitive spirit.” Dixon said she recommends that other students take advantage of the flag football teams. “Whether they are good at football or not,” she said, “it gives you the chance for new great experiences with new and different people.” PAM RfCHTER | Photographor The Kappa Sigma and Sigma Chi fraternities go head-to-head in an intramural flag football game. The two teams are in one of 13 brackets In intramural flag football competition, which are classified as men’s, women's, coed and Greek and are made up of between three and five teams. Women’s soccer begins SoCon play, splits road matches against Samford, UT Chattanooga "We played well at times, but the other team played a little better.” -CHRIS NEAL WOMEN'S SOCCER COACH FILE PHOTO Senior midfielder Alanna Winsper scored two goals on five shots in Elon’s games Sept. 24 and Sept. 26. The Phoenix secured a 1-0 victory against Samford University before falling to the University of Tennessee Chattanooga 2-3, respectively, in its weekend stretch on the road. Lindsay Trigoboff Reporter Attempting to keep up its momentum from the Sept. 24 win against Samford University, the Elon University women's soccer team's efforts came up short with a 3-2 loss to the University of Tennessee Chattanooga Sept. 26 at Finley Stadium. As Elon begins to dig deeper into the Southern Conference play, it plans to improve its l-I conference record and 6-3-1 record overall. “We played well at times, but the other team played a little better,” head coach Chris Neal said. “We gave up a goal right before the half on a counter attack. We were exposed in the back.” Samford junior Donna Kay-Henry scored two counter-attack goals in the second half on the Elon defense. “Chattanooga played really well,” senior midfielder Alana Winsper said. “They had a really quick girl up top, too.” The Phoenix scored both its goals from set pieces, including the first goal of the night with a corner kick from freshman midfielder Olivia Mackey, which Winsper headed past Chattanooga’s keeper and found the net. This was Winsper’s second goal of the season. “The ball was played down the outside left of the field and (freshman forward Jennifer McGorty) won us a corner," Winsper said. “Olivia played a perfect ball, and I just jumped up and headed it in. Lindsay (Nusdeo, Sophomore Midfielder) did a good job in winning the ball all night.” The team will need to work on descending the counter attack, Neal said. Three of the last four games, he said the team has been exposed on counter attacks. Elon has just under a week to prepare for Davidson College, the 2009 SoCon tournament champions. Davidson recently tied its SoCon opener against Furman in double-overtime Sept. 24 and played another draw against Wofford Sept. 26. After the matchup against the Wildcats at 7 p.m. Friday at home, it takes on Georgia Southern University at 2 p.m. Sunday on the same turf. Last season, Elon defeated Georgia Southern 1-0 but fell to Davidson 2-0 later on in the season. “We have two home games next weekend, and we really want to get results, especially since we’re at home,” said Winsper. “We play to win and go off of what we know about them, and we always figure it out according to that." Elon’s next four matches are at home, starting with Friday’s match against Davidson. The Wildcats are currently 4-4-1 overall and 0-0-2 in the SoCon.
Elon University Student Newspaper
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Sept. 29, 2010, edition 1
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