Thursday, April 9, 2026

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Sports | 1000

SPORTS

Field hockey take 2, goalkeeper honored

The MSU field hockey team extended its winning streak to a record 10 games last weekend, defeating two nationally-ranked teams in the process.The Spartans are now 10-1 for the season and 1-0 in Big Ten play.Freshman goalkeeper Christina Kirkaldy was dubbed the Big Ten Conference’s Defensive Player of the Week for the second consecutive week, after allowing only one goal in two games during the weekend.

SOCCER

Mens team prepares for Loyola

The men’s soccer team will play its only home game for the month of October today, and the team plans to make it count.Loyola travels to Old College Field 4 p.m.

SPORTS

Womens cross team moves up to No. 5

The MSU women’s cross country team moved up four places to No. 5 in the FinishLynx/NCAA cross country preseason poll, conducted by the Women’s Intercollegiate Cross Country Coaches Association.

SPORTS

Runners consistency helps guide team

After a rookie year of great achievements, sophomore Chris Toloff is ready for intense competition and a season full of victories.As one of the top runners on the MSU men’s cross country team, Toloff launched a strong performance Saturday in the Roy Griak Invitational, hosted by Minnesota.

ICE HOCKEY

Coaches get new assignments, Spartans ranked seventh in polls

James Jahnke
October 2, 2002

Among the changes made by new hockey head coach Rick Comley this season is the segmentation of duties for assistant coaches Tom Newton and David McAuliffe. In the past Newton and McAuliffe worked with former head coach Ron Mason on all aspects of the team, but Comley wants the duo to focus their attention on smaller factions.

FOOTBALL

Return secures victory

Eric Mckinney
October 1, 2002

The biggest play of Saturday’s game came from the most unlikely of places, the Spartans’ special teams.With a little more than a minute to play in the third quarter and MSU leading by a score of 20-17, junior wide receiver Ziehl Kavanaght broke the game open with a 88-yard punt return for a touchdown.“When Ziehl ran that ball back the game was close,” junior quarterback Jeff Smoker said.

ICE HOCKEY

Comleys presence looms large

James Jahnke
October 1, 2002

Although Ron Mason’s fingerprints are all over the MSU hockey team, new head coach Rick Comley appears to have a more hands-on approach than his predecessor.With one week of practice already in the books - and another underway - both the MSU players and assistant coaches are raving about Comley’s interpersonal skills.“Coach Comley has really gone out of his way to break down the communication barriers,” assistant coach Tom Newton said.

FOOTBALL

Cats take the bait

Andrew Fifer
September 30, 2002

Statistically, junior wide receiver Charles Rogers had his least productive game of the season. But his presence created openings for teammates in both the running and passing attacks in the Spartans’ 39-24 victory over the Wildcats on Saturday at Spartan Stadium. Head coach Bobby Williams said studying film revealed there would be chances for other players to make plays against Northwestern (2-3 overall, 0-1 Big Ten). “We looked at the last two ball games and people have been really overplaying Charles,” he said.

SOCCER

Spartans pick up first Big Ten win

Dawn Klemish
September 30, 2002

The men’s soccer team rebounded Sunday from last weekend’s 6-1 beating at the hands of Indiana to defeat Northwestern 1-0 and earn its first Big Ten victory of the season.Defense and teamwork were keys in this weekend’s matchup, both things MSU (6-2 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) lacked in its last game.“We were more organized today, we weren’t jumping in,” head coach Joe Baum said.

SPORTS

HARDY: Welcome to Mr. Rogers neighborhood

No, this isn’t the land of Make-Believe. Welcome to Michigan State University, otherwise known as Mister Charles Rogers’ Neighborhood. And it’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood, where Mister Rogers has made us believers, posting the most impressive statistics possible in his green-and-white fairy-tale career here. And you can get here to watch King Saturday, MSU’s legitimate Heisman Trophy contender, by taking a magical Capital Area Transit Authority Trolley ride to the land split by the Red Cedar River. Won’t you join me in a short trip to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood?

SPORTS

Womens team runs to victory in invitational

The No. 9 MSU women’s cross country team dominated the Roy Griak Invitational on Saturday, placing first in the 22-team competition hosted by the University of Minnesota at the Les Bolstad Golf Course. Scoring 72 points to win the meet, MSU outdistanced second-place Arizona State, which finished with 107 points. Winning the invitational was a product of hard work and a preface to upcoming meets, head coach Jim Stintzi said. “We’ve been working hard all summer for this season,” Stintzi said.

SPORTS

Gods must be crazy if Spartans lose

PIGSKIN PROGNOSTICATORS McSkinny’s betrayal of the Spartans pulled him within a game of Death Ro as last week proved to be hard times for your Pigskin Prognosticators. Death Ro (12-7) came out of the weekend with a 1-3 mark, as the Spartans cost him another loss, USC (2-1) tanked and the Gators (3-1) shocked the Volunteers (2-1) in Knoxville. McSkinny (11-8) didn’t fair much better at 2-2.

SPORTS

Rogers thrives despite stumbling team

Andrew Fifer
September 27, 2002

Although the MSU football team hasn’t measured up to preseason expectations, junior wide receiver Charles Rogers has stood tall. The 6-foot-4, 205-pounder has posted 29 receptions for 634 yards and six touchdowns in four games, which has propelled him into the national spotlight.

SPORTS

Quality teams match up in conference start

Iowa (3-1) at No. 12 Penn State (3-0) The two most impressive teams in the Big Ten this year are arguably the Hawkeyes and the Nittany Lions. Both teams had their ups and downs last year, but neither moved into the spotlight like both are doing now.