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Sports

SPORTS

Two losses open Big Ten play for Spartans

Alex Abate
October 3, 2005

The field hockey team came up short Saturday and was upset by No. 14 Iowa as they fell 3-2, staying winless in the Big Ten. This was the second loss in a row suffered at the hands of the Hawkeyes and the first time the Spartans have started the conference 0-2 since 2000. Iowa took the lead twenty minutes into the contest as defender Kadi Sickel found the back of the net beating senior goalie Christina Kirkaldy. The Spartans entered the second half down 1-0. In the second half, Sickel struck again for Iowa and gave them the 2-0 lead over the Spartans. The Spartans didn't give up, however, and got on the scoreboard just less than three minutes later.

FOOTBALL

Lack of kicking game looms large after loss to U-M

Eric Fish
October 3, 2005

The Spartans looked far from an undefeated, No. 11-ranked team Saturday when they fell to Michigan, 34-31 in overtime, amid a number of mistakes that were absent in their previous four contests. The offense, defense, and special teams all played a rollercoaster of a game that sophomore linebacker Kaleb Thornhill called a "team loss". "The defense made mistakes, the offense made mistakes, we all made mistakes," Thornhill said.

FOOTBALL

Monday musings

Tom Keller
October 3, 2005

• Texas Tech has given Pat Knight, son of current men's basketball coach Bob Knight, a five-year contract to replace his dad once he retires. No word yet if MSU has made a similar promise to Tom Izzo's 5-year-old son, Steven. • You could say the Tigers limped to the finish line of another disappointing season this weekend.

BASEBALL

Teams will keep fans interested during playoffs

The baseball playoffs are finally upon us after a long and grueling season that came down to the final day for four different teams. The Boston Red Sox knew they were going to have a shot at the playoffs; they just didn't know whether it would come after Sunday or after a one-game playoff against the Cleveland Indians today. But after the Chicago White Sox successfully knocked off the Indians early Sunday, the Red Sox knew they were in the playoffs and it didn't matter if they won their game or not. The Indians' loss guaranteed the Red Sox the wild card for the third straight season, the same wild card they won last year before winning the World Series. For the Indians, the season ends in disappointment.

SOCCER

MSU unbeaten in last four

Yvette Lanier
September 30, 2005

The MSU men's soccer team (3-1-4 overall, 0-0-1 Big Ten) got back into the win column by defeating Bowling Green (2-6-1) 3-1 yesterday afternoon. Three minutes into the first half, freshman attacker Doug DeMartin got the Spartans on the board with assists going to senior midfielder Ryan McMahen and sophomore midfielder Ryan Dick. MSU head coach Joe Baum felt the Spartans were playing a little sluggish but were able to maintain the momentum at both ends of the field.

VOLLEYBALL

Sophomore shining for Spartans

Yvette Lanier
September 30, 2005

She was only in fifth grade when she was sitting in the stands with her father, cheering and watching a volleyball game, when her dad turned to her and said, "Hey, do you want to play this sport?" As sophomore outside hitter Katie Johnson said, that's how she began to develop her love for volleyball.

SPORTS

Spartans head back on road to face Iowa

Alex Abate
September 30, 2005

After coming off a 3-1 win over in-state rival Central Michigan, the MSU field hockey team jumps back into Big Ten play as they head to Iowa. Going into this game, the Spartans are looking to rebound after starting their conference season with a 3-2 double-overtime loss to Indiana.

ICE HOCKEY

Icers picked 4th in media, coaches poll

Yvette Lanier
September 29, 2005

The coaches and media around the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, or CCHA, are giving early hints that the MSU hockey team will be able to make up for the loss of All-American Jim Slater, who was the team's captain and leading scorer for the last two years. The Spartans were voted fourth in both CCHA preseason polls.

SOCCER

Spartans host game against Bowling Green

Alex Abate
September 29, 2005

After three straight weeks on the road, the MSU men's soccer team returns to the confines of Old College Field as the Spartans host Bowling Green at 4 p.m. Bowling Green has been on an offensive streak as of late, scoring six goals in the past two games.

SPORTS

MSU finds win column once again

Alex Abate
September 28, 2005

The MSU field hockey team got back on the winning track yesterday against Central Michigan by winning the in-state battle, 3-1. The play went back and forth for most of the first half and despite having three less shots than the Spartans (8-3 overall, 0-1 Big Ten), the Chippewas were able to take the lead.

FOOTBALL

It's 'State'ment week for Spartans against old rivals

Eric Fish
September 28, 2005

A 2-2 record this early in the season and an absence from the national polls isn't a familiar place for the Michigan football program. The Wolverines' most recent 23-20 loss to Wisconsin puts them at an overall record of .500, and marks the first time since 1981 that U-M has dropped their Big Ten opener, leaving many U-M fans calling for head coach Lloyd Carr's firing. Things don't get any easier for U-M as they head into the hostile environment of Spartan Stadium this Saturday for an annual matchup with MSU. Michigan has been troubled by injuries to starters on the offensive line, and most notably to running back Michael Hart, who still remains in question for Saturday's contest. Hart has sat out since suffering an injury in the 17-10 loss against Notre Dame two weeks ago, an absence that Carr sees as a major factor regarding U-M's season thus far. "He's a complete football player," Carr said.

SPORTS

MSU looking for win vs. CMU

Alex Abate
September 27, 2005

After a close 3-2 double overtime loss to Indiana, the MSU field hockey team (7-3 overall, 0-1 Big Ten) is looking to end their two-game losing streak as they host Central Michigan this afternoon. After the loss to Indiana, head coach Michele Madison said the team didn't step their game up enough and finish strong.

FOOTBALL

Athletes helping make a difference

For those sports fans who say athletes are not human and all they care about is the money, I have a few examples of why you are wrong. During the past few months I have heard quite a few stories of professional and college athletes and coaches who have made an impact in someone's life off the field. Does this mean that these people are great human beings that deserve a bunch of extra attention? No it doesn't.

SOCCER

Tough battle ends in 0-0 tie

Tom Keller
September 26, 2005

They say a tie is like kissing your sister. But when your sister is the defending national champion and top-ranked team in the country, maybe it's not that bad. The MSU men's soccer team (2-1-4 overall, 0-0-1 Big Ten) played to a scoreless tie against Indiana (4-0-3, 0-0-1) in their Big Ten opener on Saturday, shutting down the nation's No.

FOOTBALL

Defense in command for entire game

Matt Bishop
September 26, 2005

Champaign, Ill. - It's been an up-and-down season for the MSU defense up to this point, but after allowing nearly 600 yards of total offense to Notre Dame last week, the Spartans put the clamp down on Illinois, allowing just 271 yards in MSU's 61-14 win over Illinois on Saturday. "We made some mistakes, I made mistakes, but we made a big stride as a defense in this game," MSU sophomore linebacker Kaleb Thornhill said.

VOLLEYBALL

Spartans get first Big Ten victory of season

Yvette Lanier
September 26, 2005

The MSU women's volleyball team finally earned a victory in the Big Ten season but it didn't come easily as they captured it on the road in a four-game match against Indiana University (7-6 overall, 1-1 Big Ten). The Spartans (8-4, 1-1) got off to a slow start, as the Hoosiers jumped out to an 18-11 lead in game one.

SPORTS

Tough loss to Indiana starts Big Ten season

Alex Abate
September 26, 2005

The MSU field hockey team (7-3 overall, 0-1 Big Ten) played catch-up all game long, and eventually fell to Indiana in double overtime 3-2 in their first Big Ten game of the season. Indiana struck first early in the opening half as midfielder Kayla Bashore found the back of the net and gave the Hoosiers the 1-0 lead. "They were able to swing the ball and get numbers up on the opposite side and we were playing too jumpy," Madison said. In the second half, the Spartans were able to even the score at one as freshman forward Gwen Riley put one in the back of the net at the 39:06 mark. The Hoosiers took the lead again 2-1 as forward Lydia Schrott scored her team-leading eighth goal of the season off a penalty corner. The Spartans scored fewer than two minutes later when junior forward Ashley Pernicano took a pass from senior midfielder Jessica Miller and knotted the game at two. In the first overtime, the Spartans had three shots but were not able to get a goal and the game went into a second extra session. Indiana broke the tie for the final time in the second overtime as forward Kate O'Connell scored, giving the Hoosiers the 3-2 win. The Spartans never led at any point in the game and were always one step behind their opponent.