Page 10 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, April 11, 1990

Lacrosse club seeks opposition,

wins

Higgins to announce
plans for next season

I

by Matt Dodge
Daily Sports Contributor
The Michigan's women's
lacrosse team may be behind the
scenes, but it is not behind the
times. The Wolverines begin the
season with their first coach in their
six year history.
Though the team lost its opening
two games in Chicago last weekend,
it is optimistic about its prospects
for the remainder of the season.
Michigan will play in several
tournaments, as well as Ann Arbor
Pioneer High, according to senior
tri-captain Karen Greenstein.
Since the Wolverines are a club
sport, does not belong to an
organized conference. It must play a
wide range of opponents in out-of-
the-way venues. The season began
last weekend with a stark contrast in
competition in a Chicago
tournament. Michigan lost the first
disappointing game, 10-6, to Wake
Forest; although Engel felt
Michigan could have beaten the
Deacons.
The high point of the tourney
arrived in the second half of a loss to
Northwestern. In that half, the
women were outscored 5-3 by the
Wildcats, raanked fifth nationally.
Engel was satisfied, despite the
loss. "They really rose their level of
play. It was a moral victory, and it
was nice to play against a varsity
team."
The relationship between the
youthful Engel and the team is

unique. Greenstein calls it a
"democracy." The coach, a junior
from Birmingham, is a former
lacrosse player at Michigan. He
broke his neck in a tournament,
which ended his playing days. The
goalie coach is Pete McPartline.
This season Engel became the
first coach in the six-year history of
the women's team. His players refer
to him as a "helpful and objective"
coach - one who brings a new level
of expertise to the team.
The team will travel to
Bloomington for a tournament this
week with several Midwest teams.
The first home encounter at Tartan
Turf will not be until April 21, at 1
p.m.
The lack of ability to contract
teams to play often leads to no-
shows. Last weekend, Purdue refused
to travel to Chicago for a scheduled
game with the Wolverines. "It's very
frustrating," said Greenstein. It is
even more difficult to get teams to
come to Ann Arbor. "We were also
supposed to play Kenyon. It's hard
to get people to travel," said Mary
Hampton.
The future of the program is
uncertain. The difficulty in lining up
willing foes is a problem. A
women's lacrosse team conference
has been proposed for next year.
This would encompass other club
teams such as Wisconsin, Indiana,

and Purdue.
The club is always eager to
accept new members. "We encourage
beginners," Greenstein said, "and
they will get playing time."
The secret is out. The

Wolverines' arrival in Indiana this
week will create neither the pomp of
Bob Knight, nor the circumstance of
Dan Quayle. But it is expected to
bring the women's lacrosse team its
first win of the season.

'M' takes fourth at
Purdue Invitational
by Andrew Brown
Daily Sports Writer
When discussing the men's golf team, a good question to consider is
what has been worse: the play of the team each week or the weather
conditions? This past weekend it was definitely the accompanying weather
conditions.
What was supposed to be 54 hole tournament, the Purdue Invitational,
was shortened to 36 due to rain and cold weather, with 18 holes played on
both Saturday and Sunday. But the weather did not seem to affect the
Wolverines as they turned in their most impressive effort of the season.
The tournament was comprised of 12 teams, six of them from the Big
Ten. Michigan placed fourth with a combined score of 596 (301-295), while
Wisconsin took first with a 589.
"This was our best showing of the year," coach Jim Carras said.
Among the leaders for the Wolverines was newcomer Dennis Sikkala and
captain Tom Paton, who finished with scores of 146 each. Sikkala scored a
71 and a 75 , while Paton shot two 73's. Anthony Dietz followed with a
152 (79-73). Pat Moore and Chris Pond rounded out the field with scores of
153 and 158, respectively.
"We have definitely improved each week, and I am very optimistic about
the upcoming tournaments," Carras said. "If we played on Saturday like we
did on Sunday we could have won the thing.
"Dennis showed that competitiveness we've been looking for all season,
and this was Tom Paton's type of course. He utilized the strengths of his
short game to the fullest." Carras added.
Paton agreed with Carras. "I've been working on my set up and my
balance," he said. "I also got my confidence back this week and it made for a
big improvement."

by Taylor Lincoln
Daily Basketball Writer
Michigan forward Sean Hig-
gins has called a press conference
for 10 a.m. today to announce
whether he will stay in school or
pursue an NBA career. The
conference will be held in'
Detroit's Omni Hotel.
Because Higgins called the
press conference himself and
because it is in Detroit, rather than
in Ann Arbor, the speculation is
that he has decided to forego his
college eligibility.
Michigan coach Steve Fisher
said that he talked to Higgins a
few days ago, then spoke with
him again yesterday. He said that
Higgins was pretty certain of his
decision during their first meeting
then told Fisher his final decision
yesterday.
"I'm going to let Sean talk
about (the decision) first, then I'm
going to talk about it," Fisher
said.
Many have expressed the

opinion that it would be in
Higgins' best interest to stay in
school for his senior year,
including several NBA scouts,
Higgins' father, Earle, and Fisher.
But Higgins has reportedly
leaned towards the NBA ever since
this past basketball season ended
with a 149-115 loss to Loyola-
Marymount in the second round of
the NCAA tournament.
Should he elect to stay at
Michigan, Higgins would have the
benefit of showcasing himself as
the Wolverines' likely top scorer.
Conversely, in light of the lack of
returning players, he might have
to face double-team defenses.
If Higgins does leave, it will
mean that none of Michigan's
starters from the beginning of the
1989-90 basketball team will
return next year. Higgins was a
starter until sidelined with a foot
injury. When he returned, he was
relegated to coming off the bench
- a circumstance that he was
reportedly displeased with.

S
S

Red Sox defeat Tigers, 4-2

BOSTON (AP)- Detroit manager
Sparky Anderson's strategy worked,
but the end result was all too
familiar.
Anderson ordered Wade Boggs
walked intentionally three times,
tying a major-league record, but
Tony Pena singled home two runs in
a four-run third inning Tuesday,

leading the Boston Red Sox to a 4-2
victory over the Tigers.
It was Boston's tenth victory in a.
row over the Tigers.
"I'll do it every time the situation
occurs,' Anderson said after the Red
Sox stranded eight runners after the
walks to Boggs.

;i

.1


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