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Sports

SPORTS

Fluky win doesn't satisfy Lions fan

The Detroit Lions are now 2-2, and still in good shape in the NFC North. Gulp. They beat the Baltimore Ravens yesterday, which has everyone riding high once again on this franchise that's gone so wrong ever since Matt Millen took over as team president and general manager. I didn't count on them to beat Baltimore yesterday and I was a little surprised when I saw they were up 14-0 early on in the game.

SPORTS

Just for kicks

Yvette Lanier
October 10, 2005

The MSU women's soccer team extended its winning streak to three games on Sunday by defeating Northwestern 2-1 at Old College Field. Despite being winless in the conference, the Wildcats presented problems for the Spartans throughout the game. "Northwestern is an excellent team - there's no way they should be struggling in the Big Ten," head coach Tom Saxton said.

SPORTS

Icers win tournament to open up season

Esther Gim
October 10, 2005

The MSU hockey team won the Lefty McFadden Tournament, sweeping Wayne State on Saturday and North Dakota, the 2005 national runner-up, on Sunday in Dayton, Ohio. MSU sophomore forward Bryan Lerg (four points), senior forward David Booth (three) and junior defenseman Tyler Howells (two) were named to the all-tournament team. Sophomore forward Chris Mueller recorded two goals against the Fighting Sioux, and junior goaltender Dominic Vicari recorded the shutout with 25 saves in the 3-0 victory.

SPORTS

Tickets for Palace game on sale today

Esther Gim
October 10, 2005

Tickets for the Spartan Clash, the event that will pit the men's basketball team against Wichita State, go on sale today at www.palacenet.com, the Palace of Auburn Hills box office, Ticketmaster or by calling (248)645-6666. The third-annual Spartan Clash is at 7 p.m.

SPORTS

Men's tennis plays well during weekend

Esther Gim
October 10, 2005

The MSU men's tennis team recorded wins in the No. 1 and No. 2 singles' matches in the Spartan Invitational while also getting the victory in two of the three doubles matches against Western Michigan on Sunday. MSU sophomores Nick Rinks and Adam Monich each went 3-0 in singles' play during the weekend and also partnered to go 4-0 in doubles' play. The junior duo of Michael Flowers and Joseph McWilliams recorded the other MSU doubles victory.

FOOTBALL

Fish and Bish working during MSU bye week

No. 6 Ohio State at No. 16 Penn State Fish: This game has potential to be quite a low-scoring affair. The Buckeyes have one of the best defenses in the Big Ten, and after last week's throttling of Minnesota, Penn State comes into the game with a little more swagger. People have been writing Penn State off the last few years, but these Nittany Lions could spoil Ohio State's chances of winning the Big Ten. I see this game coming down to who has the better offense, and although both teams have made steps in the right direction in this area, Ohio State's offensive tandem is more proven. Look for a late Teddy Ginn Jr.

FOOTBALL

Luxurious lockers

Tom Keller
October 7, 2005

In 1991, Greg Bria was sitting in Munn Ice Arena watching the MSU hockey team practice when then-head coach Ron Mason skated to him. At that time, Bria was just a fan but had spent a lot of time around the team and had developed a reputation around the program as a handyman. "Hey, we need some new lockers for the locker room," Mason said.

VOLLEYBALL

Shoulder injury didn't slow down transfer from WMU

Kristen Daum
October 7, 2005

Ashley Schatzle first felt that something was wrong with her shoulder in her later high school years. But after having surgery last winter, this outside hitter for the MSU volleyball team said her game has improved. "I had a fray in my rotator cuff," said Schatzle, a nursing sophomore, describing her shoulder injury.

FOOTBALL

Offense questioned after tough loss to U-M

Matt Bishop
October 7, 2005

Despite a 4-1 record, the second guessing of the MSU football team's coaching staff has begun after some failed plays in its 34-31 overtime loss to Michigan last week. Offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin has taken a bulk of the heat, but said if given the chance to recall any plays of the game, he would decline. The general feeling among Spartans fans is that the play calling has been a bit conservative, especially during the second half of MSU's win over Notre Dame and the second half of the U-M game. "To say we were conservative is ludicrous," Baldwin said.

ICE HOCKEY

Expectations high for Spartans entering 2005-06 season

Eric Fish
October 7, 2005

After compiling a 20-17-4 overall record last season with the expectations and hopes that the program had coming into the 2004-05 campaign, MSU head coach Rick Comley is determined to leave last year in the past. "It was a season obviously, we had good expectations and there was no reason to think we weren't going to do well and then it just didn't work," he said.

FOOTBALL

No. 16 Penn State plays host to No.6 Ohio State in Happy Valley

Matt Bishop
October 5, 2005

After joining the Big Ten in 1993, Penn State finished in the top three of the conference for five straight years. Yet, the Nittany Lions have not come closer than fourth place since then. But this year might be a different story as Joe Paterno has his team out to its first 5-0 start since 1999, when the team won its first nine games. This weekend presents the toughest test to date for the No.

BASKETBALL

Recruit earns praise despite size

Tom Keller
October 4, 2005

MSU men's head basketball coach Tom Izzo secured his second verbal commitment from the top tier of the class of 2006 - Raymar Morgan, a versatile, 6-foot-7 forward from Canton, Ohio. Morgan is listed as the eighth best small forward and 28th best overall prospect in the nation by the recruiting service www.scout.com. "He's just a good, well-rounded player," said Chris Monter, Midwest region recruiting analyst for www.collegebasketballnews.com. "He does a lot of things around the hoop and he has a good mid-range game." Morgan had narrowed his options to MSU, Michigan and Ohio State.

SPORTS

MSU splits weekend games on the road

Yvette Lanier
October 3, 2005

After falling to Minnesota on Friday the MSU women's volleyball team bounced back on Saturday, defeating Iowa, 3-2. The Spartans (9-5 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) were led by senior setter Mickey Davis who posted a floor-high 74 assists against Iowa.

SPORTS

Spartans pick up win at end of trip

Tom Keller
October 3, 2005

After suffering a 5-1 loss to Purdue on Friday, the MSU women's soccer team knocked off Indiana 1-0 on Sunday to salvage a split on their weekend road trip. Sophomore forward Breana Ballard provided all the offense the Spartans (5-3-3 overall, 1-1-0 Big Ten) would need on Sunday, beating Hoosier goalkeeper Lauren Fabbro low into the left corner just moments before halftime to net her first career goal. "It's real exciting to finally get one, especially today," Ballard said in a written statement.