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Sports | Football 1000

SPORTS

Defense key to early season wins

The women's soccer team continues to excel on the defensive side of the ball, having allowed only two goals in the first six contests of the year. Senior defender Nina Mastracci said the team places an emphasis on defense everyday in practice and each game the team feels better about the progress being made. "We have an experienced back line this year and a great goalie backing us up," she said.

FOOTBALL

Adams just trying to improve each game

MSU head coach John L. Smith hasn't really had a true bandit since becoming head coach before the 2003 season. Now, in his third year, he may have finally found his man. Sophomore Sir Darean Adams has risen up and taken control of the spot. "I really like what he's done," Smith said. "The last two weeks, he's really focused and said 'I'm going to get better each day,' and that's the way he's taken the field.

SOCCER

MSU earns weekend split

The MSU men's soccer team split a pair of weekend games at the Michigan Invitational in Ann Arbor, defeating Long Island 2-1 on Friday before losing 1-0 to Louisville on Sunday. Sophomore forward Kenzo Webster scored off an assist from senior midfielder John Kaczmarek in the sixth minute on Friday to give MSU an early lead. Freshman forward Doug DeMartin then scored the eventual game winner less than six minutes later off a corner kick from senior midfielder Ryan McMahen. Long Island scored in the 86th minute, but couldn't get the equalizer. On Sunday, MSU outshot Louisville 14-6, but couldn't find the back of the net with either of the two shots that were on target. McMahen paced the Spartans with five total shots and had the only two shots on net. Louisville's goal was scored by back Frank Jonke in the 59th minute of play.

SPORTS

Spartans continue hot streak

After a close match against Bowling Green Friday night, the MSU women's soccer team picked up its game and defeated Toledo 4-0 Sunday, despite high game-time temperatures. It also was the 20th anniversary for the Spartans which was celebrated during halftime.

FOOTBALL

Ringer shines in absence of Teague

Sorry, Jason Teague, you weren't missed. At least not by head coach John L. Smith. The senior running back was suspended indefinitely and did not dress Saturday in the Spartans' 42-14 win at Spartan Stadium. "He'll have some work to do," Smith said after the game. "Teague and I are having a father-son spat right now and usually the father wins." Teague worked his way back on the team - and into the starting lineup - for the season opener following an off-field incident.

SPORTS

Rivalry will have to wait until 2007

It's apparent MSU and Hawaii have a rivalry in the making. But it's too bad that six hours and more than 4,000 miles separate the Spartans from meeting the Warriors again, not to mention two years, which is when MSU travels to Hawaii. But maybe that's a good thing. Leading up to the game, the Spartans said there was a "payback factor" stemming from last season's loss at Hawaii, where they made the exhausting trip only to leave in heartbreak.

FOOTBALL

Defense dominating with key players

After an offseason of relentless questions about its ability, the MSU defense has put some critics to rest. With two games against teams with damaging passing attacks under its belt, the Spartans' defense has yielded just 28 points. Aided by the return of senior cornerback Jaren Hayes and the explosion of sophomore bandit Sir Darean Adams, the Spartans were largely able to shut down Hawaii. MSU head coach John L.

SPORTS

Monday musings

• What a weekend for football! Michigan lost. Ohio State lost. Iowa lost. The only thing that could have made it better would have been a commanding Spartans win.

VOLLEYBALL

Spartans look to stay perfect in Kansas

After their success at home, the MSU volleyball team will kick off its six-game road trip at the Jayhawk Invitational, where the Spartans will compete against nonconference foes Temple Virginia Commonwealth and host Kansas for the Invitational title MSU head coach Cathy George is calling this "international flavor weekend" and believes it's going to be one of MSU's toughest tests of the young season, as the Spartans (4-0) face a wide variety of talent. "We play Temple first, and Temple is a team that has a lot of Chinese players on it," George said.

BASKETBALL

Ford Field to host Spartans again

MSU has agreed to play a pair of neutral-site men's basketball games with Texas Tech, including one at Ford Field, the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reports. The Spartans will play in Dallas on Dec.

SOCCER

Senior captains key to Spartans' success

After a win against UMass and a tie against Denver, the MSU men's soccer team is getting into the flow of the season and preparing for its weekend tournament. Those games were the only ones the Spartans (1-0-1) will have to play back to back, and even though it took a physical toll on the team, head coach Joe Baum said there are positives to playing two games close together. "Going through the physical demands of playing two games in two days - we got through that, and that will help us from a physical and preparation standpoint," he said. The Spartans face Long Island on Friday in the U-M Tournament in Ann Arbor. Baum said the freshmen are fitting in well, making an immediate contribution.

BASKETBALL

Izzo nabs 1st recruit for '06

Isaiah Dahlman, a 6-foot-6 swingman from Braham, Minn. has verbally agreed to play basketball with MSU starting next season. Dahlman, a senior in high school, averaged 28 points, six rebounds and five assists last season and led his team to a 33-0 record and the Minnesota Class 2A title. He is the first commitment MSU men's basketball head coach Tom Izzo has secured from the class of 2006. "He's definitely a top 100 player," said Chris Monter, midwest recruiting analyst for the recruiting service Collegebasketballnews.com.