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Sports

SPORTS

HARDY: 2 games, 2 nail-biters

The tales of two cities, but one of them might as well be a sequel. It was the best of times, the worst of times, in East Lansing on Saturday and Detroit on Sunday. Both days showed promise - the age-old tradition of the Fighting Irish and Spartans and the christening of Ford Field in regular play.

SPORTS

Spartans play own greens, but cant pull out victory

Dawn Klemish
September 23, 2002

For the first time in more than two years, the MSU women’s golf team played a complete home tournament, but the Spartans couldn’t sweeten the experience with a win. Though the weather turned rainy and gray Sunday, the Mary Fossum Invitational continued.

FOOTBALL

Offensive failure

Andrew Fifer
September 23, 2002

For the second game in as many weeks the MSU football team faced a double-digit half-time deficit. It has been a re-occurring theme this season.

SOCCER

Womens soccer team opens Big Ten play

The MSU women’s soccer team (6-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) swept its league-opening weekend, defeating Illinois 2-0 on Friday and Iowa 4-0 on Sunday. Junior goalkeeper Stacy Heller made four saves against both teams, posting her third and fourth shutouts of the season. Against the Fighting Illini (3-5, 0-2), freshman midfielder Erin Konheim scored the game-winner in the 62nd minute by burying a pass from freshman forward Emma Harris. Junior forward Tiffany Laskowski sealed the victory in the 83rd minute, scoring her fourth goal of the season with an assist from senior midfielder Heidi Lutz. Against Iowa (4-3, 0-2), junior defender Andrea Sied scored the first goal of the game in the ninth minute.

SPORTS

Cleaves sent back to Kings with broken bone in foot

James Jahnke
September 23, 2002

Lansing Twp. - Mateen Cleaves said his trade from Sacramento to Cleveland was nixed last week because of a previously undetected broken bone in his left foot. Cleaves said the fracture doesn’t hurt and he didn’t even realize he was injured until X-rays came back from a Cleveland physical.

SPORTS

New field, same old team

Eric Mckinney
September 23, 2002

Detroit - Motor City football fans are used to losing, so Sunday’s 37-31 loss to the Green Bay Packers was nothing new.But Lions fans had another reason to cheer, as the game marked the regular-season debut of the $500-million Ford Field and Detroit’s first regular-season game downtown since 1974.“I love the fact that its down in Detroit,” Mike Emke said of the new facility.

FOOTBALL

SPORTS UPDATE: Irish lucky, or just good?

The luck of the Irish was too much for the Spartans to overcome as Notre Dame’s last-minute heroics polished off MSU, 21-17.Today’s game inside Spartan Stadium was the fourth-consecutive contest, the Spartans (2-2) and Fighting Irish (4-0) put on a show - MSU had won the last five matchups.This time, however, it was Notre Dame that came up with the last big play - a 60-yard completion to Irish wide receiver Arnaz Battle from backup quarterback Pat Dillingham with less than two minutes to play, giving Notre Dame an improbable 21-17 victory.“It was unfortunate we couldn’t sustain what we got going,” MSU head coach Bobby Williams said.

SPORTS

Return to glory

Eric Mckinney
September 20, 2002

He wasn’t Notre Dame’s first choice, but in just three games as head coach, Tyrone Willingham has guided the Fighting Irish back to national prominence. His style and demeanor might not be flashy, but his players know he’s there to win. “I think a lot of guys are happy Willingham is here,” Irish cornerback Shane Walton said.

SPORTS

Special teams unit cost win

Andrew Fifer
September 20, 2002

The MSU special teams unit looks to make a positive impact against Notre Dame - a week removed from a horrendous performance. In the 46-22 loss to California, the Spartans fumbled two kickoff returns and gave up a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown. On the return, senior cornerback DeMario Suggs missed a tackle and junior linebacker Mike Labinjo was out of his coverage lane.

SPORTS

HARDY: Willingham brings hope to Notre Dame, other black coaches

In the land under the Michigan-Indiana border once sat the tarnished golden dome of the Fighting Irish. Marked by scandal - the resignation of former Irish head coach George O’Leary over inaccuracies found in his résumé and threatened sanctions by the NCAA concerning activity under the Lou Holt era - their golden helmets glowed less, showed a few more scratches and chipped a little easier.

VOLLEYBALL

SPORTS UPDATE: Spartans cruise by Northern Illinois

Though the sun wasn’t shining outside, the No. 21 Spartans were shining bright inside Jenison Field House on Friday night, defeating Northern Illinois in three games 30-20, 30-25 and 30-19.The Spartans (8-2) who had their killing-percentage troubles in the South Florida Adidas Invitational last weekend cured enough of their problems to defeat the Huskies (7-4).For the match the Spartans had a killing percentage .352, mounting a total of 53 kills.“When we were playing in system, everything was flowing together,” junior middle Jenny Rood said.

SPORTS

Women golfers ready for first tournament on home links

Dawn Klemish
September 20, 2002

Unfortunate events have prevented the women’s golf team from hosting a tournament the past two years, and head coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll hopes the third time really is a charm. In 2000, rain scattered golfers and forced the Mary Fossum Invitational to end after just 18 holes.