ByMIG<EY PLACE

On behalf of "Jocktalk" we are glaa to welcome back returning students and we extend hearty greeting to those newcaners who are gracing the campus for the first tire. We trust the latter will imrediately become enthusiastic, and lifetime, rooters for all Panther activities and that you will share with us the euphoria that cares with Victories and the disappoint— ment of defeats. Hopefully

there will be more of the foruer

Since our last coluxm there / ghave been many changes.

There was a firein the Panther 7

lounge and we'd like to

linent the new S.U. \-

on the great job they did in“ ' refurbishing the building. The executiveoffices are also much more attractive in which regard not the least visible improvement is the replacement of \a nice looking General Manager for the smmhat decreit character formerly ensconced therein. We wish them well.

Writing this column before any games are played may

be samhat of a difficult - task» so we'll have to deal

in generalities for a couple of issues and in this issue we will concentrate on the prospects of the hm up- caning Fall sports of Soccer and Field Hockey. In Soccer the usually glun Vincie Mulligan is in probably the most optimistic mood we have ever seen him exhibit. The world's mostpopular spec— tator sport has never been greatly patronized by students during the few years it has been played here although

it has attracted a growing nurber of fans coincident 'with our inprcvanent in - league standings. ‘ _ ~

Last year, the best yet, we had eight 'wins, 713m ties

and three losses in leamie

JOCK

‘ TALK

play and were barely nosed out by Saint Mary's, (region- al winners) ,1-0 in a playoff game. This year, while we have lost Kevin Burdett and Trevor Crawford, (to hockey), we have retained most of last year's team and have several outstanding recruits. Both players and coach feel we are much stronger. Back are Gary Polenz, last year's M.V.P. and U.P.E._I. "Athlete of the Year", who was an

All Conference choice as will

, _ as All Conference Mitch Murphy, outstanding offensive

player Scott Neil, Tommy Hogan, who was an All Conference choice in 1980, but injured last year, is back and in good form. We are much strengthened by newcomers Steve Polenz (Gary's brother) and John IPainchaud who, with last year's Peter MacDonald will play in goal. Also returning are speedy

Alan Stewart and the talented Andy Cameron. »

We have'probably missed some but all in all, it looks like ateamthathngoalong way this year and we hope

that our boys will get the fan support that they merit. A crowd of screeching, screaming supporters can‘do a lot for

a team's success. We realize that many still regret the loss of football and we hope that soccer can fill the

void that came with the loss of the canadian game. We

' have lived through before.

Whin Rugvy was replaced by Canadian Football there used

.tobenanyfanswhppacedup

and down the sidelines shading their heads in horror at the new fad and prophesying its denise becouse of the new game's unpopularity. That game is gone and now we have new predictors of doom and glean butwe are sure that,

if we can win'BIG the stands

filled again. we ,

more things change the more they remain the same! league play starts the 25th and 26th at S.M.U. and Dal. and the first home game will be here on the 29th against Mt.A. Be there.

In Lady Panther Field Hockey, Coach Barb Mullaly has ten players returning fran last year and still has seven newccmers in the running for team positions. For those unaquainted with the game, eleven players participate in a game with but two substitutions permitted. Last year's wcmen hada twowin, one tie andan.

. eight loSS'I-‘ecord which me

five points up on their 1980 figures. Coach Mullaly feels that, with ten holdovers from last year and seven experienced newcomers still in competition for the starting lineup a playoff berth is a reasonable expectation. We might observe that the winless 1980 team was composed, for the most part of Freshmen, the 1981 ,team became Sophomores and their play . This year, natural , are Juniors and they should be improved just that much more. out for 1983!

played their first ganemn Wednesday against Moncton and, as this is being written on Tuesday, we can't give any report. The S.U. Crystal ball has been loaned to several Expo fans. . We'd like to close off .with a tribute to Barb Mullaly. We thought that, with a losing team, she to have her players the highest morale of any team on campus. What would she do with a winner? Hope we find out. Next home game will be on 0ct.3 when Acadia will be here.

Next week we'll look at basketball, hockey and vollerball.