WATER POLO TEAM FINDS THE MARK

Sept. 24, 2008

The St. Benedict's water polo team has struggled to get untracked all season.

But the tide may be ready to roll in the favor of the Gray Bees.

Coach Glenn Cassidy's club looked nothing like its 2-6 record would indicate when the team took on Horace Mann in its latest match at home on Wednesday.

Seniors Spencer Vespole and Tom Conte led a very cohesive and confident team effort when the Gray Bees posted a 13-9 verdict over its counterpart from New York.

"There were definitely a lot of promising signs and it was a source of encouragement," coach Cassidy said. "I still see several holes that need to be filled, but that we can work on."

The Gray Bees, which lost four straight last weekend, returned home for just the second time this season. And, like it did in its own pool during a 15-7 victory over Trinity on Sept. 15, the Gray Bees surged ahead in the first half and never relented.

Vespole (5 goals) led the uprising against Horace Mann when he posted a hat-trick in the second quarter alone when the Gray Bees built a 6-4 lead at the half. His final two goals, one in which he lofted a shot over the goalie's head and the other coming on a rebound after a shot by Harquan Rasberry caromed off the crossbar, snapped a 4-4 standoff and gave the St. Benedict's the lead for good.

Conte took over in the third quarter when the Gray Bees went on a 6-2 run to all but put the game out of reach by doubling up its opponent, 12-6. Conte opened the scoring after intermission by scoring the first two goals. He broke open and scored on a long pass by Rasberry just 50 into the second half before giving the Gray Bees an 8-4 cushion with another goal just under a minute later. Vespole and Courtney Mosley, a junior, then scored twice each to complete the third quarter effort.

St. Benedict's (3-6) got a little cautious in the final quarter, scoring just once on a goal by Juan DeJesus, but goalie Jared Pietz came up with four of his 11 saves to stem the tide. Pietz combined with Yomi Onadipe to turn away 18 shots by Horace Mann.

"We've been pressing too much lately," said Vespole of his team's recent, four-match skid. "It's nice to get the victory. But we can't get to excited and have to continue to play hard."

Cassidy also knows one game can't make or break a season, but it's a step in the right direction. The true test will come tomorrow when the Beast of East Tournament kicks off at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg, Pa. If the team does well in its two games tomorrow and Saturday, there could be as many as three other contests later in the weekend.

"I think if there is a turning point, it will have to come this weekend," Cassidy said. "If we play well, I think it would spur a new level of confidence that would be very helpful."

--By Ron Jandoli