SPORTS
Munn dull compared to other CCHA rinks
Any article that you read about Munn Ice Arena will say it's one of the nicest college hockey facilities in the country.
ICE HOCKEY
WEB ONLY: Lake Superior invades Munn for 2 weekend games
The goal remains simple for the MSU hockey team - win three out of every four games the remainder of the regular season. After a split last weekend with Western Michigan, the Spartans (12-11-1 overall, 7-9-0 CCHA) will be forced to win both games this weekend, when they welcome Lake Superior for a two-game series at Munn Ice Arena, in order to accomplish their goal. "We know we have to win every game at home," MSU head coach Rick Comley said. "It's plain and simple and none of them are going to be easy.
SPORTS
Injury doesn't keep Alexander from competing
MSU gymnastics team tri-captain Sarah Alexander is starting off the 2005 season strong, despite a shoulder injury. Her final score of 39.150 won her the all-around title at the season-opener Jan.
SPORTS
No. 20 Spartans have 'upper hand' in meets
The No. 20 MSU wrestling team will be busy at home this weekend as the Spartans host two dual meets at Jenison Field House. The Spartans will face Kent State on Friday and Ohio State on Sunday, and are feeling good going into the weekend. "I actually think we have the upper hand in this dual," said sophomore Andy Simmons on facing Ohio State, who tied for third in the 2004 NCAA Championship. Head coach Tom Minkel said his team matches up well. "They're not as strong a team as they were last year, but they're always a good team," he said. The Spartans are coming off a long week as their trip to Oklahoma was plagued by bad weather, airport closings, traffic jams and flight cancellations. "We are starting to come out of it," said Minkel of the fatigue his team faced.
SPORTS
Q&A Player of the week: Lindsay Bowen
The junior guard led MSU to three straight home wins this past week. She had 17 points against Iowa, 14 points against Wisconsin, and 20 points against Minnesota. The State News: As a junior this year, looking back, is this where you pictured the program being at this point when you came to MSU? Bowen: I've always pictured winning a national championship since I was younger.
ICE HOCKEY
Lalonde 'comfortable, confident' after recovering from knee injury
After scoring a team-leading 22 goals in the 2003-04 season, forward Mike Lalonde was expected to pick up where he left off to start his senior year at MSU. After a slow start, Lalonde suffered a knee injury that kept him out of the lineup for the majority of December, only posting one goal at the time of his injury. Lalonde's return to the lineup for the first game of the Great Lakes Invitational tournament against New Hampshire was well received when he scored a goal in MSU's 4-3 overtime win - and he didn't stop there. In the six games that Lalonde has played since returning from injury, he has scored in three of them, including a huge game-winning tally last Saturday over Western Michigan. "I definitely feel like the injury is healed," Lalonde said following Saturday's 3-1 win.
ICE HOCKEY
Injured icers making progress for return
Injured icers making progress for return Junior forward David Booth and senior forward Kevin Estrada were scratched from the lineup last weekend because of sickness, which they picked up on a recent road trip to Miami (Ohio). Booth's illness was taken more seriously than originally diagnosed, when he lost more than 20 pounds and wasn't eating.
BASKETBALL
Illinois, U-M perfect in conference play
The dust has settled after week two of Big Ten play, and two teams remain undefeated - Michigan and Illinois. But both squads are hitting the heart of Big Ten scheduling.
SPORTS
MSU, Illini tip off tonight
The No. 8 MSU women's basketball team will head out on the road this week for two games after being home for three straight games.
SPORTS
WEB ONLY: Rayner kicks 5 extra points as East beats West, 45-27
Place-kicker Dave Rayner played in the East-West Shrine Game on Saturday, kicking a 29-yard field goal and five extra points for the East team. The East defeated the West 45-27 in the annual game held in San Francisco. Rayner also will join fellow seniors DeAndra Cobb and Ronald Stanley to represent the East in the Jan.
SPORTS
Closed airport, accident, fog, strands team
Little did the Spartans know, but the MSU wrestling team was in for an adventure on its way to a Thursday night dual meet against Oklahoma State. "Remember that movie 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles' with Steve Martin and John Candy?" asked head wrestling coach Tom Minkel during the Monday press conference, "That was us." And he was being modest. The Spartans' adventure began with a 1 p.m.
SPORTS
WEB ONLY: Stanton named team MVP
MSU quarterback Drew Stanton was named team MVP for his sophomore 2004 season. Stanton threw for 1,601 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions and ran for 687 yards and five touchdowns in 2004.
SPORTS
WEB ONLY: Minagawa-Webster first-ever MSU soccer player drafted
Men's soccer forward John Minagawa-Webster was drafted in the fourth round of the MLS SuperDraft on Friday by the Kansas City Wizards. Minagawa-Webster, who had 25 goals, 17 assists and 67 points in his time at MSU, becomes the first MSU player ever chosen in the 10-year history of the draft.
SPORTS
WEB ONLY: Men's tennis wins, women's loses in weekend play
The MSU men's and women's tennis teams were in action over the weekend as the men went 2-0 at home against Northern Illinois and Wright State and the women lost to Virginia in Nashville, Tenn. The No.
SPORTS
WEB ONLY: Gebauer wins pole vault for track team
The MSU men's track and field team sprung into action over the weekend at the Kentucky Invitational, led by a strong showing by the pole vaulters.
SPORTS
WEB ONLY: Former MSU field hockey player named to national team
Former MSU field hockey standout and current volunteer assistant coach Alexandra Kyser has been selected to the U.S.
ICE HOCKEY
Split indicative of team's up-and-down year
MSU head coach Rick Comley said he didn't sleep Friday night. After watching his Spartans fall 5-4, despite a hat trick off the stick of sophomore forward Drew Miller, and registering 50 shots to Western Michigan's 25, Comley and the Spartans were heartbroken and looking for answers. Comley said the loss was frustrating "more than you can possibly imagine." Normally, when a team doubles the shots of its opponent, it wins.
SPORTS
WEB ONLY: Crawford returns to Kentucky
Freshman guard Joe Crawford returned to Kentucky this past weekend, ending speculation that he would be transferring to MSU. Crawford, who left Kentucky on Jan.
BASKETBALL
Keady makes final trip to Breslin Center as coach
It will be the end of an era tonight at Breslin Center. The No. 19 MSU men's basketball team will say farewell to Gene Keady, when the legendary Purdue head coach makes his final appearance in East Lansing as his 25-year career as coach winds down. Keady owns a 25-21 all-time record against the Spartans. "I'm looking forward to playing Purdue," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said.
ICE HOCKEY
Spartans still streaking with 8th straight home win
The No. 8 MSU women's basketball team ran their home record to 8-0 after defeating No. 12 Minnesota on Sunday, 62-49. The Spartans (15-2 overall, 4-1 Big Ten) were led by junior guard Lindsay Bowen, who had 20 points after only scoring two in the first half, and senior center Kelli Roehrig led the team in rebounds with nine. "Lindsay was much more aggressive in the second half," MSU head coach Joanne P.