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Sports | Basketball Men's 1037

FOOTBALL

Late mistakes, field goal doom Spartans in 29-27 upset loss

Matt Bishop
September 12, 2009

The MSU football team’s defense couldn’t find an answer for Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour when it mattered most, as LeFevour led his team on two big drives in the final minutes, the first earning the Chippewas a touchdown and the final resulting in a 42-yard field goal with three seconds left, leading Central Michigan to a 29-27 win over the Spartans on Saturday at Spartan Stadium.

FOOTBALL

Prognosticators 09/11/09

This is an interesting game for the Spartans. Central Michigan brings a talented team into Spartan Stadium but struggled in its season opener against Arizona, losing 19-6. Quarterback Dan LeFevour has proven himself to be the real deal for the Chippewas, but MSU’s defense is hungry and ready to go following last week’s game against Montana State in which it only allowed three points.

FOOTBALL

Backups find unexpected playing time

Chris Vannini
September 10, 2009

It’s a fan’s worst nightmare: Seeing a starter go down and having an unproven backup take the field. But for coaches and players, it’s business as usual. Coaches constantly tell players to practice as if they are going to start for that exact reason.

SPORTS

Web exclusive: More tough road games ahead for MSU field hockey

Jeff Kanan
September 10, 2009

If the No. 7 MSU field hockey team thought it would get a break after playing the first two weekends on the road against quality opponents, it isn’t about to get one. The Spartans will embark on arguably their hardest road trip of the young season as they square off with No. 9 Old Dominion Saturday and No. 8 Syracuse on Sunday, both at Syracuse.

VOLLEYBALL

Tight-knit sisters bring winning equation to MSU

Jeff Kanan
September 9, 2009

For the MSU volleyball team, defense starts with a capital K. That’s because the Spartans defense is anchored in part by the sister duo of Allyson and Mandi Karaba, who were born about 10 months apart and have helped lead the way to a 6-0 start for MSU. Allyson, a junior libero, was named the tournament MVP for this past weekend’s Cleveland State Invitational, which the Spartans won by winning all three of their games.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Freeman offers to play anywhere for team's sake

Cash Kruth
September 9, 2009

Cara Freeman will play anywhere for the MSU women’s soccer team. The junior played forward in high school, is now playing outside midfielder for MSU and even mentioned playing in net for head coach Tom Saxton — an offer she said he wasn’t exactly thrilled about. “I just look at it as if we win as a team; I don’t really look at what I do individually,” Freeman said.

FOOTBALL

Traditional game day cheer to be phased out

Cash Kruth
September 9, 2009

For the first time in more than three decades, “Hockey Cheer” is gone from the Spartan Marching Band’s song sheet. Traditionally a fixture in its pregame show and on third downs during football games, the band did not play the cheer during this past week’s pregame show, but it did play it sparingly in the game.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Standout freshman Stander looks to make impact on field

Cash Kruth
September 9, 2009

When MSU women’s soccer assistant coach Tammy Farnum was asked earlier this summer which incoming freshman had the potential to burst onto the MSU sports scene like All-American sophomore forward Laura Heyboer did in 2008, she listed three names. One of those was Olivia Stander, a freshman forward with an impressive sports résumé out of Grosse Pointe High School.

SOCCER

Brothers' chemistry goes long way

Alex DiFilippo
September 8, 2009

There are only a handful of differences between Domenic and Mark Barone. Mark has long hair compared to Domenic’s short hair. Mark is left-footed while Domenic is right-footed. And Domenic was born exactly two minutes before Mark.

FOOTBALL

Dantonio turns focus to touted Chips offense

Chris Vannini
September 8, 2009

After a season opener that went mostly according to plan, the MSU football team is preparing for a much tougher opponent in Central Michigan this week. The Chippewas, coming off a 19-6 loss at Arizona, are expected to be plenty motivated against an in-state rival.

SPORTS

MSU to play in tournament overseas

Cash Kruth
September 7, 2009

The MSU men’s golf team will take part in what head coach Sam Puryear called a “life-altering experience” beginning Tuesday, when they begin competition in the 27th annual Topy Cup in Tokyo.