Around the Horn...

Here are a few tidbits for you to chew on while youāre inhaling that slop from the Tivoli that passes for food.

Although I am not going to design this or write it in a fashion that blatantly rips off The Metropolitanās columnist Travis Henry, because then Iād be ripping off Rocky Mountain News columnist Bob Kravitz.

Henry says the column style he uses occasionally is not stolen but a ćtime-tested format for columns.ä He also says he has used it since he wrote for his high school paper seven years ago. Iām sure itās just coincidence, but Barry Forbis, the Newsā sports editor, says Kravitz came to town just over seven years ago, in April of 1990.
Besides, perception is reality. 

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The menās soccer team is running second to the University of Colorado football team in the race for most disappointing season. Barring a miracle, the Roadrunners stated goal of winning the conference tournament is gone after its seventh straight loss Oct. 10, this time to the University of Southern Colorado.

Metro obviously plays to the level of its competition.

In both Regis matches the Roadrunners were a fired-up bunch, while they seemed lethargic and unmotivated in the first loss of the streak to the Colorado School of Mines. Regisā one conference loss Sept. 17 came courtesy of Metro, while Mines has been mediocre at best.

I understand it is tough to play so many road games and the team has had its share of bad breaks, but it is also lacking a killer instinct.

One bright spot has been sophomore forward Jared Zanon, who leads the team with 10 goals and 20 points. Julie Zanon, a freshman and sister of Jared, joined the womenās soccer team this season and has played in seven matches but hasnāt managed to find the net as easily as her brother.

The Zanonās came to Metro from Philomath, Oregon. Both earned all-state honors in their senior years at Philomath High School. Jared also earned the honor as a junior. 

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After pounding Regis in three games Oct. 10, the Metro volleyball team has moved up in the polls to No. 12. The Roadrunners are one of five Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference teams in the top 25. The others are No. 7 Regis, No.11 Colorado Christian, No. 14 Nebraska-Kearney and No.16 USC.

It has been difficult to not pick Michelle Edwards as the Athlete of the Week every week in October. Edwards earned the honor for the week of Oct. 10 and could have just as easily been selected for this edition of The Metropolitan as well.

Edwards is making a case for a selection to the all-conference team in her freshman season. She has led the team in kills for the month and was selected the RMAC Player of the Week for the week ending Oct. 11. Edwards was an all-state selection in 1996, her senior year at Summit High School in Breckenridge.

Senior Laurie Anderson is having quite a season ÷ in fact her best. Anderson is currently seventh all-time in assists and assists-per-game at Metro. Her season total stands at 885 assists and 12.29 assists per game. With 10 matches remaining, Anderson is likely to finish in the top five in single-season performances as well.

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Talk of a national title run for the womenās soccer team might have been a year premature. Although, Metro could challenge Mesa State College for the RMAC championship if it is able to win its six remaining games. All six games are against conference competition.

The Roadrunners finish the regular season Nov. 2 with a home game against the Mavericks. If Metro is able to win the first five, the game with Mesa might become a championship contest.

Metro will lose only five seniors this year, but the core of the team will be back, including its starting keeper Jennifer Pierce and its top five goal scorers. The seniors are Sarah Deigart, Tracie Mayes, Kelly McDougal, Heather Traczyk and Shannon Wise.

The team has outshot opponents 219-101. Itās amazing they have lost at all.

Metro Sports Information Director Mark Cicero said the NCAA tournament usually takes the top two teams in the region. Currently, Mesa is No. 1, and Metro is No. 4.

Sophomore forward Kari Pierce earned RMAC offensive Player of the Week honors for the week ending Oct. 11.