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Sports

SPORTS

Field hockey squad to face undefeated team

Laura Collins
October 8, 2004

After beating Central Michigan on Tuesday, the MSU field hockey team is ready to host conference opponent Penn State on Saturday. The Nittany Lions remain undefeated in the Big Ten in 2004. Spartans alumni also will be honored at the game, which begins at 4 p.m. Senior forward Veerle Goudswaard continues to carry her team to victory, scoring four goals on Tuesday, marking her third hat trick of the season, in a 8-2 win.

SPORTS

WEB ONLY: Men's soccer readies for five-game trip

Matt Bishop
October 8, 2004

The MSU men's soccer team (7-2), riding a two-game winning streak, will resume Big Ten play in Columbus, Ohio, when the Spartans face Ohio State (4-4-1). The game will be the first of a five-game road trip for the Spartans, who are coming off back-to-back shutouts of Northwestern and Loyola at Old College Field. The Buckeyes are coming off a 1-0 win over Wisconsin on Sunday.

SPORTS

Tillman's 5 saves secure 2-0 win

Matt Bishop
October 7, 2004

Sophomore goalkeeper Jason Tillman made five saves and senior forward Jordan Gruber scored his sixth goal of the season to lead the MSU men's soccer team to a 2-0 win over Loyola on Wednesday at Old College Field. "We were sluggish," MSU head coach Joe Baum said.

SPORTS

Smith's critics need to relax

A couple of weeks ago after the Notre Dame game I got an e-mail from what I assumed to be a Spartans fan. The letter read: "What about firing (John L.) Smith and hiring (former Florida and Washington Redskins head coach) Steve Spurrier?

VOLLEYBALL

Spikers travel to Ann Arbor looking for edge vs. U-M

The MSU volleyball team (6-6 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) is heading to Ann Arbor with a grudge as the Spartans prepare to challenge the Wolverines (13-2 overall, 3-1 Big Ten) at 7 p.m. Last year's matches between the two rivals were split, with each winning at its opponent's house and this year, the Spartans want to take it all. "It seems like as you get older, you get more of a grudge toward the Wolverines," junior setter Mickey Davis said.

SOCCER

Carlson emerging as integral part of team

Laura Collins
October 6, 2004

Every good recipe has an important ingredient that makes the concoction successful. For the MSU women's soccer team, senior goalkeeper Erin Carlson is that special ingredient that not only keeps the defense in check, but verbally guides the team throughout every game. In the shadows of former MSU goalkeeper Stacy Heller, Carlson worked all throughout her college career to be where she is today - a starter for the Spartans squad. "I have been waiting for this time to be able to be out there and show (Coach) that I can be out there and play with these great athletes," Carlson said.

SPORTS

Injuries could sit out two Spartans spikers

While MSU volleyball senior outside hitter Michelle Kopka might return to the court as early as Wednesday, junior middle Brooke Langston might be questionable now, head coach Chuck Erbe said. This past weekend, MSU played Indiana and Purdue, beating Indiana 3-0 on Friday night before falling to Purdue 3-2 Saturday. Kopka did not play in either match because of an injured ankle and was wearing a protective boot last week.

SPORTS

Receivers must catch balls for success

MSU's receivers have shown the speed and route-running precision needed to get open. The problem is, they've also shown a habit of dropping passes once in position to make a play. MSU's spread offense relies on receivers with good hands to move the football.

SOCCER

One goal wins game

Junior midfielder Ryan McMahen scored the lone goal of the game in the first half as the MSU men's soccer team snapped its two-game losing streak and evened its Big Ten record at 1-1 with a 1-0 win over Northwestern on Sunday at Old College Field. Sophomore goaltender Jason Tillman stopped two Northwestern shots and preserved the game in the second half with the Wildcats pressing for the tying goal. "It was his best game," MSU head coach Joe Baum said.

BASKETBALL

Students brave wind, cold for chance at lower-bowl tickets

Sonia Khaleel
October 4, 2004

More than 400 multi-colored tents speckled Munn field Saturday night as devoted students sporting hats, coats and gloves waited to receive their coveted basketball tickets in the windy, bitter cold. "I'm wearing a fleece, a hoodie, my winter jacket, a long-sleeve T-shirt and a short-sleeve T-shirt," said finance junior Michelle Lee as she shivered.

VOLLEYBALL

Errors amount to team's weekend split

Disappointing was an understatement for head coach Chuck Erbe after the MSU volleyball team (6-6 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) fell to Purdue on Saturday. Heartbreaking was more like it as MSU lost, 3-2. "The single most disappointing thing about this is, we should've won this match," Erbe said.

FOOTBALL

At a loss

Iowa City, Iowa - MSU's performance against Iowa on Saturday was so bad that head coach John L.

BASKETBALL

Midnight Mania event to kick off seasons

Darrell Hughes
October 4, 2004

The MSU men's and women's basketball teams are opening their arms to fans and students at its annual Midnight Mania event to kick off the 2004-05 season. Fans and students will have the chance to get autographs from coaches and players at 10:30 p.m.

FOOTBALL

Redshirt freshman steps up in game; 9 catches for 103 yards most by Spartans receiver this season

Iowa City, Iowa - Love was in the air Saturday. Terry Love, that is. The redshirt freshman caught his first career reception for 19 yards in the second quarter of MSU's 38-16 loss at Iowa on Saturday. Then he caught his second career ball on a 9-yard slant rout - good enough for another first down. His third career catch came two plays later, a 4-yard gain. After the next three plays, Love would add his fourth, fifth and sixth career catches. The only thing that could stop Love late in the second quarter was his shoe - which came off - forcing him to the sidelines. Love would add three more receptions to his not-so-long ago empty résumé in the second half, giving him nine on the day with 103 yards.

ICE HOCKEY

Returning players hold vital role in quest for title

Matt Bishop
October 4, 2004

After ending its season in disappointing fashion, courtesy of a 5-0 loss to Minnesota-Duluth in the NCAA Tournament, the MSU hockey team believes that with its new focus and attitude, this could be the Spartans' year. "We're just trying to be focused on what we need to do to get back to where Michigan State hockey should be," junior defenseman Jared Nightingale said.

FOOTBALL

Missed assignments, 464 total yards equate to loss

Megan Homanick
October 4, 2004

Iowa City, Iowa - After completely dominating Indiana's offense in the second half last week, the MSU defense could not put on an encore performance at Iowa. The Spartans (2-3 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) gave up 464 total yards to Iowa (3-2, 1-1) - the worst offensive team in the Big Ten prior to this weekend. "As far as the defense is concerned, I don't think we played very smart today," senior linebacker and captain Ron Stanley said.