Varsity hockey coming to New Hope Solebury High School

Matt Benda and Jay MacDowell

Staff Writers

This winter New Hope Solebury high school will have its first ever hockey team. They are in the Varsity A division and play their first game in November. The Lions will be playing in the Suburban High School Hockey League (SHSHL) playing against other schools at the varsity A level such as Hatboro-Horsham, Upper Dublin, Lower Moreland, Upper Moreland and more from the area.   
The team’s home rink will be at Warwick Ice in Warrington. This season the team will be coached by Jeff Garvin and Paul Burns with assistance from the team manager Wayne Fowler. The team consists of all high school grade levels and the following students:

• Aidan McCollum (Senior)
• Chris Allen (Freshman)
• Chris Braun (Senior)
• Devin Bock (Senior)
• Garrett Hoffman (Freshman)
• Grayson Asplundh (Junior)
• Jay MacDowell (Senior)
• Kel MacDowell (Sophomore)
• Matthew Bracco (Junior)
• Michael Janora (Freshman)
• Rex Fowler (Freshman)
• Vincent Vetrano (Senior)

Some of the seniors on the hockey team are optimistic on the looming season. Senior Captain Chris Braun said “Championship or Bust,” when asked about the team’s goal for the upcoming season. Senior Captain Defenseman Jay MacDowell said , “I like hockey and am looking forward to the season”, when asked if he was excited on the upcoming season.

Considering that the New Hope team is in the Varsity A division this season the expectations have been set high for the upcoming season. The team will essentially be chip chasin’.

Penn State Wins a 21-19 Thriller Against Iowa

Jack Cane and Dan Flavin
Staff Writers

 This Saturday, Penn State’s football team won 21-19 against Iowa in the final seconds of the game. The game was taken place at Iowa’s stadium, Kinnick Stadium.

 The first quarter was dominated by defense. There were six drives, but only three points. The quarter was dominated by punts until one of the final drives when Penn State hit a 19-yard field goal. Throughout this season the Penn State offence has been extremely dominant, scoring more than 50 points in two of their three games. The lack of scoring made Penn State fans nervous.

 Going into the second quarter the score was only 3-0 Penn State. With seven minutes to play until halftime, Iowa had possession on their own three yard line. Shareef Miller, Penn State's defensive end, tackled Iowa’s running back in their end-zone for a key safety. This left Iowa fan’s shocked knowing they are now down 5-0 with Penn State's possession. Minutes later with just over 30 seconds left until half, Iowa quarterback Nathan Stanley throws 21-yard pass to receiver Nick Easley. Iowa now taking the lead 7-5 before half.

 Just five minutes into the third quarter, the Nittany Lions kicker, Tyler Davis, nails a 21 yard field goal to push Penn State ahead by one, 8-7. Just 5 minutes later, Penn State RB Saquon Barkley rushes the ball for a touchdown from within the red zone. This put them ahead even more, 15-7 going into the final quarter.

 In the starting minutes of the fourth quarter, Iowa’s QB Nathan Stanley launched the ball to receiver, Akrum Wadley, for a 70-yard touchdown. They were still down 15-13 so they decided to go for a two point conversion but failed. With just around two minutes left, everyone in the stadium was scared to see the outcome. As the Hawkeyes had possession and were still down by two, running back Akrum Wadley took a handoff and went all the way for a 35-yard rushing touchdown. Trying to get the extra two, they failed again on the two point conversion. Iowa now up 19-15 but Penn State's ball. After 11 plays in the possession, the ball was on the seven yard line with only four seconds left. With the time running out and the last possession of the game, Trace McSorley (Penn State quarterback) drops a quick laser over to Juwan Johnson (Penn State wide receiver) running into the endzone. A final score of 21-19, Penn State.

 After the game, many coaches from other teams had stuff to say  “ (Barkley is) making runs that are impressive, and he can catch the ball out of the backfield,” Indiana Coach, Tom Allen.

Penn State Football

Jack Gawason and Nick Fest

Staff Writers

Penn State has started off the college football season going three for three. Head coach James Franklin ended last year’s campaign with a Big Ten Championship and a Rose Bowl bid. Unfortunately, they fell short to the University of South California. This year they are an older and more experienced team, and considering they did not lose very many people to the draft or graduation last year, their a much better team than they were a year ago.

Coach Franklin has the best running back in the nation, Saquon Barkley and a solid quarterback in Trace McSorley. Their first three games were not too much of a challenge considering they played only one team from the power five conference. Their first game was against Akron, which was an easy win. Saquon got his Heisman campaign started in that game and continued it into the Pittsburgh and the Georgia State games. These games ended in a blowout, which was expected. On September 23rd, they face a familiar opponent in Iowa, a Big Ten matchup. They breezed by them last year. Big games coming up on the schedule include Ohio State and Michigan.

76ers start highly anticipated season

Adam Somers

Staff Writer

As the Sixers move towards a highly anticipated season, there is much to love. With the addition of Markelle Fultz and shooter, JJ Redick, the Sixers seem prepared to make a major jump this season. After going 28-54 last year, the Sixers’ combination of a healthy Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, along along with editions has ESPN predicting them to go 37-45, with many believing they can do even better.

 Philadelphia is known for its passionate fans and they are certainly excited for the season, and this resonates with the players. New addition JJ Redick called Philly a “Sports Town,” suggesting that he had never played in one before, bouncing around from Orlando, Milwaukee, and Los Angeles. Along with Markelle Fultz remarking to NBC Sports “Just walking around, just having the fans here. Just walking around hearing, ‘Trust the process.’ This team is just so young, so open. We’ve got some good vets here. Just coming here, I feel welcomed. It almost feels like I’m almost going back to college, just being welcomed. Just having everyone being around all the time. I love it. I don’t regret anything that happened. I’m excited.”  These new additions have certainly received a warm welcome from their fans, and will be an integral part of future success.

 Team President Bryan Colangelo, believes the Sixers are ready to take the next step as well, saying to CSN Philly “We have added a number of pieces, some familiar faces, some unfamiliar. But we feel that all in all, we’re going in with a good blend of that young core that we talk about. We talk about the veteran presence and inclusion with the mix, and feel that things are moving in the right direction with us and put us in a good position to compete and take another step forward as an organization.”  It definitely is a potent mix, and in years to come the Sixers should be serious contenders if they can keep their young stars on track.

The World’s Most Watched Competition

Jack Buckard

Staff Writer

The world’s most watched and richest competition, the UEFA Champions League, is back for another season. Prestigious teams from countries such as England and Spain, including the likes of players such as Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr., are back to take home the trophy. Back-to-back champions, Real Madrid, who have another world star in Cristiano Ronaldo, look to defend their title once again this year.

 The Champions League, which runs from the group stages in September to December, then the Knockout Stages from February to late May, than the competition ends with the Final in early June to millions of viewers from around the world. Also, just because well-known domestic champions are seen in the competition, doesn’t mean smaller teams from smaller nations don’t make a big impact. A Manchester City midfielder, Kevin de Bruyne, said to an ESPN reporter after the game, “I definitely think this was not my best game, but it is the way it goes. It was hard graft tonight but this team can play.” De Bruyne played against a lesser-known Ukrainian side, so it seems anyone can do well in the Champions League.

 Most people in the United States believe that the Super Bowl is the most watched sporting event of the year, but it is actually the Champions League Final. Over 350 million people worldwide watched 2017’s final, however only 3 million from America are in that total. The Super Bowl only got 175 million people worldwide to watch  the Patriots come back and beat the Falcons. Furthermore, the Champions League is the world’s richest competition, with each club earning millions of dollars with each advancement.

 So far this year, two matchdays have been completed, with reigning champions Real Madrid winning both of their games. Other teams including Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, FC Barcelona, and Manchester City have started off well too, with each club gaining 6 points through two games. The top scorer so far is Harry Kane who has 5 goals, with Anthony Martial grabbing 3 assists to lead that category. Finally, it’s got one sweet anthem as well. So on October 17, when Matchday 3 comes on TV at 2:45, turn on Fox Sports 1 and watch Real Madrid take on Tottenham. It will be more exciting than you think.

Messi leading Barcelona to a hot start to new season

Thomas Muzekari

Staff Writer

On Tuesday Sept. 12 in Barcelona, Spain, FC Barcelona avenged last season’s Champions League Quarterfinals loss to Juventus with a 3-0 win in this season’s Champions League Group Stage opener versus the Italian side.

The scoring was led yet again by the magic man Lionel Messi, as the Argentine scored two goals, one just before halftime after a clever give-and-go with Luis Suarez and a sublime finish in the bottom right corner, and the other coming in the 69th minute, when Messi received a through ball from Andres Iniesta, then maneuvered around two defenders, and ultimately struck another past the great Italian goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon. The other goal came sandwiched in between the two Messi goals in the 56th minute, when Ivan Rakitic followed up on a Messi pass across the face of the goal, as the ball was deflected back to the center of the box, leading to the Croatian coolly placing it home.

This victory for new manager Ernesto Valverde and Barcelona came just after a 5-0 home win over Espanyol on Sept. 9 in a La Liga matchup in which Messi scored a hat trick, with the other two goals coming from Gerard Pique and from Luis Suarez late, one that put the icing on the cake of a dominant league win.

Barca’s next league fixture was on the weekend after the Juventus win, a game away at Getafe. The team pulled off a 2-1 comeback victory after trailing 1-0 until the 62nd minute when Denis Suarez--who came in as a sub--measured a precise lobbed finish into the top left corner. The game-winner came from the new signing Paulinho, who also came in as a sub, as the Brazilian took a pass from Messi, shrugged off a defender and calmly slotted home his first goal for the Spanish side. In the win, however, Barcelona’s other key signing this past summer, Ousmane Dembele was hurt and is now expected to miss 3 to 4 months of action.

The following league game was another win, this time at home over Eibar in a 6-1 triumph at the Camp Nou. Paulinho and Denis Suarez both scored for the second game in a row, but the headlines again belonged to Lionel Messi after another staggering performance, this time scoring an astonishing four goals.

In their most recent La Liga game, Barcelona defeated Las Palmas 3-0, led by Messi’s two goals and an assist to Sergio Busquets.

Before the start of this season, many were questioning and doubting Barcelona after the Brazilian Neymar left the squad to join Paris Saint-Germain for a record signing transfer fee this past summer. Add that to the fact that last season with Neymar, the Spanish side was unable to win La Liga or the Champions League. After Neymar departed, Barca made a few signings, bringing in Dembele and Paulinho. The team also kept all of their key players from last season aside from Neymar, but many retained their doubts and the belief that Real Madrid is certainly above Barcelona at this point.

Well, look now. Barcelona has commandingly taken down Juventus in the Champions League, and they most recently beat Sporting Lisbon 1-0. The club has played seven league games, and they have won all seven. Their 21 points in the league put them in sole possession of first place in the standings. Messi has been playing like his usual spectacular self, now doing even more to lead Barcelona without Neymar in town. Meanwhile, last season’s La Liga champions and Champions League winners, Real Madrid, are sitting in 6th place, seven points back from Barca. So, what are the doubters saying now?

CTE revelations come from Hernandez autopsy

Riley Brennan

Co-Editor In Chief

Aaron Hernandez, convicted murder, and former NFL tight end, who committed suicide April, has been found to have suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), following recent examinations by scientists at Boston University.

 The examination of his brain found that the damage inflicted by CTE was similar to the damage found in a person in there 60’s, while Hernandez was only 27. The Hernandez-family attorney made the announcements that the scientists involved had declared Hernandez was “the most severe case” they’d seen in someone so young.

 As an increasing number of players are diagnosed with CTE, the NFL continues to face backlash, facing accusations of hiding the truth of the dangers of the sport from the players, fans and public alike. Mr. Hernandez’s estate has filed a lawsuit against the league on the grounds that the NFL, as well as his former team the Patriots, knew about the correlation between inflicted head trauma and brain disease, but choose not to supply enough protection or information. The lawsuit filed seeks to compensate Hernandez’s daughter for the loss of her father.

 Hernandez had just been acquitted for the 2012 murder of two men, making his shocking suicide only days later, all the more confusing. However, suicide is not uncommon among those who have CTE, which further calls Hernandez’s behavior and actions into question. Multiple former NFL players who were diagnosed with CTE have committed suicide, making this a fairly familiar public relations issue for the league. This is not the only controversy the NFL has had to shoulder in the past few weeks, as outraged and supportive fans alike, loudly express their opinions toward the support, and lack thereof, from the league during the National Anthem at football games across the country on Sunday, Sept. 24.

Elliott the Goat: Rookie Kicker Saves the Day!

Frank Spadavecchia, Devin Bock and Isaac Zucker

Staff Writers

The Philadelphia Eagles beat the New York Giants on a last second 61-yard field goal kicked by rookie Jake Elliott. Elliott, who missed a 31-yard field goal the week before, had  missed a less challenging 52-yard field goal earlier that day. Despite this, he remained calm and was able to hit the game winning kick from 9 yards farther.

 With thousands of anxious fans waiting to see if the rookie would miss yet another field goal and send the Eagles season into a downward spiral, Elliott was able to put all emotions aside and simply win the game. According to CSNPhilly.com, he received some help from a rather large and respected figure in the Eagles’ locker room. Seconds before Elliott went out to attempt the game winning kick that would possibly give the Eagles a 2-0 start in their division, 6-foot-4, 328 pound Left Tackle Jason Peters said, “Hey. No more misses bro.” This struck fear into Elliott, who didn’t want to know what would happen if he missed. Some more motivation was given by Quarterback Carson Wentz, who said he’d write a game check to Elliott if he made the field goal.

 Since the game, Elliott has been named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week, interviewed by Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, and talked about by everyone in the Philadelphia area. Carson Wentz followed through with his promise, but instead they chose to send the money to a charity of Elliott’s choice. After a busy and exciting week, Elliott and the Eagles took on the Chargers in Los Angeles, barely securing another tight victory 26-24 to go 3-1 on the season.

New Hope-Solebury Field Hockey pulls out a triumphant shutout season so far

Sydney Garvin and Rachel Saxton

Staff Writers

The New Hope-Solebury Girls Field Hockey Team, whose starting lineup consists of only three seniors and the rest underclassmen, have proven their small but mighty mentality with nine shutout wins.

  Under the coaching of Gwen Smith, the Lions team has a total of 76 goals throughout their nine game season so far. With a roster of four seniors, eight sophomores, and 11 freshmen, the girls went into the season uncertainly.

“With losing the people we did last year, it was obvious that the team dynamic would be different. But honestly, the freshman and sophomores have exceeded expectations,” senior captain Claudia Koeppen stated.

It is always intimidating as a freshman starting preseason, but the Field Hockey team makes sure that no one feels less than others.

“It’s a lot of fun because you don’t feel any different from everyone else. The older girls don’t treat you any differently and are very supportive. I also think that no matter what grade you’re in you are a part of the team,” stated freshman Erin Firth, who earned a starting spot on defense.

The Lions team was voted game of the week against Christopher Dock, who has been the team’s Bicentennial Athletic League rivalry for years by Philafieldhockey, whose website is used to promote collegiate, high school, middle school, youth, and club field hockey in the greater Philadelphia area. The two teams shared the BAL title in 2014 and Dock surpassed NHS during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. The girls were ready to reclaim their title this year. With an 8-0 win, the Lions conquered their mission and received their well-deserved headline.

The Lions also proceeded to win the PhilaFH team of the week out of over one hundred teams in the high school and collegiate level.

“You’ve got to take every day, day by day and every game, game by game. That’s why you compete. Any team on any given day can beat you. That’s how I see it and that’s how I prepare my team,” said Coach Gwen Smith according to the PhilaFH article.

The Lady Lions have seen everyone in their league once and are excited to play them in round two in order to hang their BAL Championship banner in the school gym.