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Sports | 1000

SOCCER

MSU wins regular season finale, 2-0

Esther Gim
November 7, 2005

Junior goalkeeper Jason Tillman made four saves as the MSU men's soccer team closed out the regular season with a 2-0 victory at Valparaiso on Sunday. Senior midfielder Steve Doster scored the first goal, his third of the season, about 15 minutes into the game on a penalty kick. With less than two minutes left in the game, redshirt freshman forward Doug DeMartin iced the game with another goal. Tillman notched his sixth shutout of the season. The Spartans (7-5-5) will be either the No.

SPORTS

Simmons brothers dominate at tourney

Esther Gim
November 7, 2005

Juniors Nick Simmons and Andy Simmons won titles at 125 pounds and 141 pounds, respectively, at the Eastern Michigan Open on Saturday. The brothers from Williamston got identical 5-0 records as the MSU wrestling team kicked off the season. Four other wrestlers placed in their respective weight classes, including senior Darren McKnight (third place, 149 pounds), and freshman Nick Palmieri (197 pounds), redshirt freshmen Tim Hammer (141 pounds) and John Murphy (184 pounds). The Spartans host the MSU Open Nov.

SPORTS

Spartans blank Indiana in first round of Big Ten Tournament

Senior forward Emma Harris (7) celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's first goal in its 3-0 victory Thursday at Michigan Soccer Field in Ann Arbor. Harris, who was named second team all-Big Ten this week, had a goal and an assist on the day. Junior forward Shannon Collar fights for possession with Indiana defender Robin Barker on Thursday at Michigan Soccer Field in Ann Arbor during the first round of the Big Ten Women's Soccer Tournament. Collar iced the game by scoring the Spartans' third goal in the second half. By winning Thursday, the team earned a spot in today's conference semifinal game at 4:30 p.m.

ICE HOCKEY

Comley looks for success over former team

Matt Bishop
November 4, 2005

It's been a long three seasons for Rick Comley since he left Marquette for East Lansing. The MSU head coach is just 3-7 against his former team, Northern Michigan, since becoming the Spartans head coach in 2002. MSU was swept out of the Berry Events Center last season in the only two meetings between the schools and the Wildcats eliminated the Spartans from the CCHA Super-Six in 2003 and 2004. Now, off to its best start under Comley, MSU is looking to end the Wildcats' dominance when they meet for two games on Friday and Saturday, both at 7:05 p.m.

SPORTS

Familiar foe for MSU in 1st round

Alex Abate
November 4, 2005

Heading into the Big Ten Tournament, the MSU field hockey team is hoping to experience déja vu against the Buckeyes. The sixth-seeded Spartans (12-7 overall, 2-4 Big Ten) will face No.

SPORTS

Wrestlers start year at Ypsilanti tourney

Tom Keller
November 4, 2005

The MSU wrestling team will hit the mats for the first time this season at the Eastern Michigan Open in Ypsilanti on Saturday. The Spartans are ranked in the top 20 in most national preseason polls, and are led by All-American brothers Nick and Andy Simmons. Nick Simmons was named Most Outstanding Wrestler at last year's EMU Open.

BASKETBALL

With guard depth gone, Ager and Brown must run a lot

Ethan Conley
November 3, 2005

Shannon Brown and Maurice Ager are murderous on the wings. MSU's tandem of athletic guards has shown an ability to finish dunks and alley-oops on the fast break that is nearly unparalleled in the realm of college basketball. But with the departure of Kelvin Torbert, Chris Hill, Alan Anderson and Tim Bograkos, there is a question as to whether or not the duo will be able to get up and down the court at the same break-neck pace as in previous seasons. Depth is now a major concern in the MSU backcourt, with the only feasible substitutes for Ager, Brown and sophomore point guard Drew Neitzel being two unproven freshmen: Maurice Joseph and Travis Walton.

FOOTBALL

Defense finally breaks out

Eric Fish
November 1, 2005

A struggling and inconsistent Spartan defensive unit may have gotten the turnaround it was looking for in Saturday's 46-15 win over Indiana. Using a more aggressive strategy, the defense intercepted three passes for the first time since 2003, recovered a fumble, recorded two sacks, and made six tackles for losses, all while holding the Hoosier offense to 369 total yards.

ICE HOCKEY

Icers still fighting injuries

Chris Barsotti
November 1, 2005

It has been a season of ups-and-downs for the MSU hockey team and it has only played five games. The ups have been aplenty, with the team starting the season 3-1-1 and getting wins against top teams North Dakota and Cornell. "Our confidence is very good because we are getting such great efforts from all players," MSU assistant coach Tom Newton said.