4
Page 8 - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, November 13, 1986
Dynamic
Duo
Essensa and Foster share common goal for Michigan State
,,, ..
By DARREN JASEY
Through the years many great
personalities have come in pairs.
There's Batman and Robin, Swann
and Stallworth, and Sampson and
Olajuwon. In college hockey,
there's Foster and Essensa.
The Michigan State goaltending
duo of Norm Foster and Bob
Essensa have been keeping pucks
out of the Spartan net at an
alarming rate for the last three
years. This Friday they lead their
team into Ann Arbor to face the
Wolverines.
Now seniors, Foster and Essensa
have combined for a 114-28-2
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record and a goals against average of
less than 2.80. They've helped lead
the Spartans to three NCAA
tournaments. And with a 9-1 record
this year, roomates Foster and
Essensa are the major force behind
Michigan State's quest for a second
straight national championship.
"T H E Y' V E established
themselves as excellent
goalkeepers," said Michigan State
head coach Ron Mason. "The way I
look at it is that we've got two
goaltenders who can do the job."
' "You're not going to find a
better duo in college hockey,"
Illinois-Chicago head coach Val
Belmonte said."
Foster and Essensa are a
continuation of a Spartan
goaltending tradition that Mason
started when he took over as head
coach in 1979. In 1980 Mason
brought in Ron Scott, who went on
to become one of the school's all- -
time greats.
"Initially having Ronnie Scott
helped us," Mason said. "When he
set the example, fortunately we
were able to pick up two good
uj""
t
coaches argue that a two-goalie
system is ideal.
"The way the game is played
right now if you have a pair of
goaltenders like (Foster and
Essensa) and can rotate them, that's
just a blessing in disguise," said
Belmonte. "It allows the
goaltenders to keep fresh and
competitive."
"IT'S LIKE being married,"
said Miami head coach Bill
Davidge. "If they let you have two
wives, then wouldn't you? If one
doesn't do it, then the other does
the job."
"That was my ploy originally,"
said Mason. "With hockey the way
it is today, it's tough to come back
two straight days. If they can share
the load, both can do better."
Foster and Essensa both agreed
that their split duties have helped
the team. They proved it in last
year's championship game when
Michigan State beat Boston
College in the final, outscoring
them 6-4 and 4-2.
"When you get to the NCAA
tournament those games take a lot
out of you," said Foster. "When we
played Boston College, their
'~.
Foster Essensa
The one-two punch in the Spartan crease.
goaltenders in Foster and Essensa."
AMAZINGLY, the 56-25-3
record and two NCAA tournament
berths during Scott's last two years*
didn't satisfy Mason. So the
Spartan head coach decided to bring
in two top-notch goaltenders.
Since their first year (the '83-'84
season) Essensa and Foster have
grown accustomed to splitting
weekend duties. But with Essensa
injured in the 1985 NCAA final
against Providence, Foster played
both games and the heavily-favored
Spartans lost the series. Said
Essensa, "Norman had to play two
games and that's something he
wasn't used to."
Whether or not they are familar
or comfortable with it, most
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goaltender (Scott) Gordon played
the entire series. He got tired toward
the end of the season."
IN STAYING fresh the entire
season, however, Foster and
Essensa have eluded the glory of a
goaltender who occupies the top
spot.
"It does have its drawbacks,"
Essensa said. "When the writers
choose the (all-CCHA) squad,
they're going to look at the goalie
who plays all the time and gets the
25 wins."
Still, Foster and Essensa have
received a healthy share of
attention. But playing behind an
excellent Michigan State defense
has instilled doubts in some
people's minds about the
goaltending tandem's talent. Said
Michigan defenseman Jeff Norton,
"Most goalies on a good team are
overrated."
Brad Jones, Michigan's leading
scorer, agreed. "There's the old
cliche: a goalie is only as good as
the team in front of them," he said,
"but if it comes down to a one-on-
one, you're going to have to beat
them (Essensa and Foster) with a
good shot."
GRIDDE PICKS
For those of you looking to
warm up a little bit, try Griddes,
and win a hot, free pizza from Pizza
Bob's.
Turn your picks into the
Michigan Daily, 420 Maynard, by
midnight Friday.
.1. Minnesota at MICHIGAN
(pick total points)
2. Michigan State at
Northwestern
3. Illinois at Indiana
4. Purdue at Iowa
5. Ohio State at Wisconsin
6. Penn State at Notre Dame
7. Rutgers at Pitt
8. Syracuse at Boston
College
9. Clemson vs. Maryland at
Baltimore
10. Virginia at North
Carolina
11. Georgia at Auburn
12. LSU vs. Mississippi
State at Jackson
13. Kansas State at Iowa
State
14. SMU at Texas Tech
15. Oklahoma at Colorado
16. UCLA at Washington
17. California at USC
18. Oregon State at Brigham
Young
19. Michigan Tech vs.
Northern State, S.D. at
Minneapolis
20. Fogged in at DAILY
LIBELS
Hicks on
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By SHELLY HASELHUHN
Mother Nature took her tollon
the IM football playoffs last
Sunday with big gusts of wind and
frigid temperatures nipping and
numbing fingers and other exposed
body parts. Here's how the teams
fared:
Cherry Busters 8,
Who Cares 0
The PITiful team Who Cares
just couldn't stand against the
Cherry Buster defense, which proud -
ly stated that they haven't given up
a point all season. Linebacker John
Danielski led the defense.
Quarterback Dave Martin ran the
ball in for the lone touchdown, then
threw to Glen Mezzatesta for the
two-point conversion.
"First of all," said Buster
manager "Woody" Willmer, "it was
freezing out there! We're psyched
about playing the semis in 'Bo's
Building' where it's warm."
Bruise rs
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over Sig Eps
P hi
by
Berkey's Team 0
The Bruisers cut Berkey's team
down with a tag in the endzone for
a two- point safety.
"The reason for the low scoring
was that wind blowing across the
field. We couldn't get the ball in
and score," said Bruiser Gary
Venable. The weather didn't seem
to affect Jon Gant, though. He
sacked the Berkey's quarterback and
led his team in rushing.
Kelsey 'A' 14,
Buttheads 0
Despite its 4-1 record, Kelsey
struggled in the cold to wipe out
the Buttheads, 14-0. The hot play
of the game came with just seconds
remaining and on a busted play
with Ted "Special" Kolias leading
the way to victory. Manager Jehad
Antakli named Scott Clement the
Outstanding Defensive Player of the
game.
MEOW
penetration
Sig Eps sweltered beneath the
AD Phi heat in an overtime
penetration. In the last minutes,
Rob Gardner sacked the Sig Eps
quarterback for a 10-yard loss. Then
the AD Phi defense took over from
there, holding them on their 40-yard
line for the win. George Piccard and
Tim Donovan of the winning team
each contributed a sack.
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(continued from Page 7)
right now. People are playing with
different people every week. When
the door stops swinging, we will
become stronger."~
With his career on an upswing,
Hicks is optimistic. "Our defense is
not bad," he said. "We held Miami
and (quarterback Dan) Marino to
only 17 points. That is one of the
best offenses in the league.
"My goal right now is to get
back to my Pro Bowl form of two
years ago, and offer some
experience to the younger players."
q
I
The Student Alumni Council
proudly presents:
r"
TRU
B LU
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DA
"
!o
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14
featuring:
* Michigan Trivia Contest
Fikanl 10-3 n m
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