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Sports | 1000

SPORTS

WEB EXTRA: MSU women's soccer team ignites offense in win

Peter Nichols
September 8, 2006

With the crowd screaming "Go Green! Go White!" and the MSU softball team yelling from behind the opposing net in a surprise appearance, the MSU women's soccer team notched a 2-0 shutout victory against the Cincinnati Bearcats on Thursday at Old College Field. The Spartans quickly forced the ball upfield off the game's opening kick and kept it there until freshman forward Lauren Hill scored the first goal of the game less than 10 minutes in, knocking the ball into the net off a cross from junior midfielder Maureen Pawlak. "I saw it floating over the top of my head," Hill said.

SOCCER

Offense struggling in post-McMahen era

Matt Bishop
September 7, 2006

Despite starting the season with a 3-1 record, "frustrating" is a word that comes up frequently when talking about the MSU men's soccer team's offense. The Spartans have scored just four goals in the season's first four games and haven't been able to put teams away when they've had the chance. That was the case in Sunday's heartbreaking 1-0 double overtime loss to Northern Illinois.

SOCCER

Transfer has champion pedigree

Peter Nichols
September 7, 2006

When junior midfielder Kevin Reiman transferred to MSU from Maryland after last season, he expected to fit right in with the Spartans' starting unit. After all, he has a national championship under his belt, having played 10 games with Maryland, last year's NCAA men's soccer champions. But after tearing muscles in his abdomen this preseason, Reiman hasn't seen the field yet. "I got cleared to play yesterday, so I'm kinda getting back into things," Reiman said Wednesday.

SPORTS

For Spartans, O-F-F-E-N-S-E would spell relief

Eric Fish
September 7, 2006

Any time a team graduates 72 percent of its total offensive production, there's bound to be times throughout the season when scoring is scarce. With the loss of starting forwards Emma Harris and Dana Voorheis — who combined for 17 goals and 11 assists in 2005 — the offensive shoes of the MSU women's soccer team have become empty and waiting to be filled. Last weekend, the Spartans got a taste of how difficult goal-scoring could be this season when they suffered back-to-back shutout losses on the road against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. "Each season it's been like this at the beginning," junior midfielder Maureen Pawlak said.

SPORTS

McKaig named Big 10 Runner of Week for win

Peter Nichols
September 6, 2006

Alissa McKaig, a sophomore on the MSU women's cross country team, was named Big Ten Runner of the Week on Tuesday. In her first race as a Spartan, McKaig finished first in the 5,000-meter event at Friday's Jeff Drenth Memorial with a time of 17 minutes, 10 seconds.

SPORTS

Field hockey records 1st victory of season

Matt Bishop
September 5, 2006

It was quite a bumpy weekend for the MSU field hockey team. Coming off a 6-1 loss to American on Saturday in Philadelphia, the Spartans were able to rebound Sunday against Temple with a 2-1 double overtime win, the first of head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof's career. With Temple up 1-0, MSU tied the score in the final minute on a goal by freshman midfielder Anne-Sophie van Rijswijk. Then, in the second overtime, freshman midfielder Floor Rijpma notched the game winner to give MSU its first win of the season. "I told the girls they needed to get a bonfire going with their play that could be seen in downtown Philly," van de Kerkhof said in a statement.

SPORTS

New coach, new attitude for Spartans

Matt Bishop
September 1, 2006

Despite starting the season with two losses, first-year MSU field hockey coach Rolf van de Kerkhof hasn't lost sight of the big picture. His team got contributions from players both young and old in close losses to Delaware and Louisville at last weekend's Champion's Invitational.

SOCCER

MSU hopes defense can help it overcome monstrous schedule

Matt Bishop
August 31, 2006

If the old saying of "defense wins championships" holds true, the MSU men's soccer team could have a good season ahead. Continuing a tradition of defense-first teams under head coach Joe Baum, MSU has given up just one goal in its first two games this season, a pair of overtime wins in last weekend's Oregon State/Diadora Classic. "When we give up one goal, we're surprised," Baum said.

SPORTS

No longer starter, Vicari opts to go pro

Eric Fish
August 30, 2006

The Spartans hockey team lost goaltender Dominic Vicari prematurely Tuesday when he announced he will forgo his senior year of eligibility to pursue a professional hockey career. "I made the decision based on the matter I thought I was treated last year and not being able to play," Vicari said Tuesday. Vicari entered the 2005-06 season as the team's starting goaltender, but lost the job midway through the season to then-freshman Jeff Lerg. With Vicari temporarily sidelined in January because of an eye infection, Lerg got hot between the pipes and jump-started the Spartans to a CCHA Championship and a No.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans get commitment from 15-year-old phenom

Eric Fish
August 29, 2006

The MSU hockey program scored a verbal commitment this summer from Matt Duchene — a 15-year-old Ontario native who scouts are already predicting to be the province's next hockey prodigy. Although Duchene won't be able to sign a letter of intent for about 18 months, he's already being considered as a Top 5 pick in the 2009 NHL Draft. "There's a lot to like," said Dennis MacInnis, the International Scouting Service's director of scouting. "The kid's got tremendous acceleration and a great set of hands.

SPORTS

Front & center

Eric Fish
August 29, 2006

Maureen Pawlak Junior soccer midfielder Hometown: Novi, Mich. The sport she would be playing if she weren't playing soccer: "Volleyball.

SPORTS

Hill gets weekly honor for hat trick plus one

Eric Fish
August 29, 2006

Freshman forward Lauren Hill was named Big Ten women's soccer Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, a day after she tied a single-game school record by netting all four goals in a 4-2 win against Western Michigan. Hill is the first Spartan to earn weekly accolades since Emma Harris in October 2005. She is the first MSU women's soccer player in 19 years to have a four-goal game. Hill also assisted on a goal in her first career game, MSU's 3-2 season-opening loss to Central Michigan on Friday. Hill was the 2005 Michigan High School Gatorade Player of the Year and was recruited from Northville, Mich.

FOOTBALL

Season ticket sales hit 60K, suspended

Matt Bishop
August 29, 2006

With both public and student season ticket sales exceeding 60,000 for just the fifth time in school history, MSU officials suspended season ticket sales Monday. The 61,227 tickets sold represent the second highest number in school history, just fewer than the 61,479 tickets sold in 2000. The school also sold 12,722 student season tickets, the highest total since it sold 13,360 in 1991. The MSU football team has played in front of home crowds of more than of 72,000 for 45 consecutive games, with a capacity of 75,005. Two games, Notre Dame on Sept.