01 Page 12-The Michigan Daily- Wednesday, November 13,1991 Keeper Kuiper says god-y Graduating field general gave direction to 'M' teammatesx z by Shawn DuFresne Daily Sports Writer When Michigan soccer goal- keeper Marc Kuiper was four years old, his parents wanted him to be involved in an organized sport. So they told him to choose one. "I picked soccer because I thought it would be a fun sport," Kuiper said. Ever since then, soccer has been a part of his life. He has just com- pleted his final season as goalkeeper for the men's soccer club, a position he has held for the past four and a half seasons. At Troy High, Kuiper was an all- League and all-County goalkeeper during his junior and senior years. He was also selected to the all-State Class A honorable mention team his junior season. Kuiper had to share time at goal- keeper his senior year, hurting his recruiting potential. Still, Harvard and Michigan State showed interest in him. Kuiper's high school coach, a friend of Michigan soccer coach Mike Ruddy, told Ruddy about Kuiper. Ruddy immediately began recruiting Kuiper, who decided to come to Michigan primarily because of its strong engineering program. Kuiper shared the goalkeeping duties initially but became the full- time starter midway through the season. After Ruddy retired as coach at the conclusion of Kuiper's third sea- son, he praised the goalie he was leaving behind. "The best thing that ever hap- pened to Michigan soccer was that Marc's high school coach didn't play him more his senior year (thus he was not highly recruited and Michigan had a chance to get him)," Ruddy said. Three coaching changes in five years have taken its toll on Kuiper. "Although I've started the past few seasons, I've had to prove my- self three times here because of coaching changes," Kuiper said. Kuiper is a vocal goalkeeper, con- stantly barking out commands to his players. "He takes control of the game, and makes it known to his team- mates where he wants them," said Michigan midfielder Rob Albrit- ton. "He's very intense, and the de- fense definitely benefits from him." Kuiper's influence is felt by all of his teammates. "Marc is very outspoken, and a definite motivator," Michigan co- captain Dick Hillary said. "He's very competitive, and he hates to lose. Even when we win by a slim margin, it bothers him because he believes we could have scored more."~ Kuiper describes himself as a "field general." "I'm one of the 'coolheads' on the team, so sometimes I have to calm down players when tempers flare,"' he said. While he may guide his team- mates on the field, Kuiper looks to his father for. his own guidance. "He listens to my concerns, and analyzes the team. If we lose, he takes the brunt of the punishment from me because I let all my' emo- tions out on him," Kuiper chuckled. Kuiper has tried to make soccer a varsity sport here at Michigan. "We're not part of the Big Ten Soccer Conference (which is com- posed of six Big Ten teams, includ- ing Penn State) because we're not a varsity squad," he said. "It's the only Big Ten conference in which Michigan does not have a varsity representative." "If Michigan had varsity soccer, it could recruit top players in the nation because of its strong sports tradition. I would like to be the last 'club' goalkeeper here." Nevertheless, Michigan has fared well against varsity squads with Kuiper in the net. Earlier in the sea- son, the Wolverines lost to No. 11 Wisconsin in a close 1-0 match. Though his efforts went in vain, Kuiper considers the game one of his most memorable. Kuiper also has fond memories of an indoor game with Indiana two years ago. The Wolverines strug- gled to a 2-2 deadlock against the Hoosiers, who had won the NCAA Division I championship the previ- ous fall. A fifth-year senior, Kuiper graduates in December with a degree in mechanical engineering. He has squeezed in job interviews this fall between classes and soccer matches. The soccer club will definitely miss his presence on the field. "When someone is an anchor to a team like Kuiper is, it's difficult to see him leave," Hillary said. "It will be hard to replace him." HEA IIHEHl LUWVMAiNIL~aiiy Michelle Horrigan, who posted five kills, nine digs, and a service ace, was , one of few bright spots for the Wolverines against Penn State. RESULTS Continued from page 10 abandon" playing style. Michigan stumbled at Penn State and Wisconsin, but started a four- match roll against Illinois. How- ever, the undefeated Buckeyes played spoilers again. Everyone was expect- ing Michigan to get back on track at East Lansing. But the Spartans stole the first two games and the match from the Wolverines. "Michigan State played with nothing to lose, very aggressively - with reckless abandon, and you know that is one of my favorite words," B radley-Doppes said. "At first, (the team) got angry at them, like Who do they think they are?' But then it turned into frustration, and instead of getting even, we got scared." Michigan did come back hard that match in games three and four, but couldn't sustain the momentum through the fifth game. The scene repeated itself twice Saturday night. In games two and three, the KHrIUPtM R iJLLETTIt Marc Kuiper has played under three Wolverine coaches in five years. SEA R!Al®3 presents TH Wolverines fought back from 7-1 and 9-2 deficits, respectively, only to allow the Lady Lions to take each game. Against Illinois, a 9-2 deficit in the second game led to a dramatic Michigan comeback for the game, giving the Wolverines the momen- tum and, eventually, the match. "We never got on an emotionaP' high the whole game," outside hit- ter JoAnna Collias said of the Penn State match. However, make no mistake. This year has clearly been a great turn- around for the volleyball program. The Wolverines have 16 victories overall and seven Big Ten victories, a school record. Two of the three. losses on the current three-game skid have been to Top 20 teams. The six remaining matches are time enough for a comeback, but only if the team can refocus. "We kill for it?" must once again become "We kill for it!" Only then can the Wolverines' sea- son go out like it came in - in a blaze of glory. E ring Your pkks tp 420 Mfayard by ?±.prm. ridykro atchanh t . win $1 gftcriiaet .: Suflvans Eatary andPub '[1 Eian vs.. lioisi 2, . Mi.arri vs,. Fori::a S E17 Wahngtn vs. regon St.:. 6< Ariona St. vS Caifrnia>>< . Aabamra vs lyemphis St ..:.. SArkantsas v ecs . . 1l.tMssissippivs.,Tennessee;:: f'f..Kansas vs.. Colrado :. 12 M11aryl and vs. Clemson 13. I Croina vs.1/a Tech 1.6 csstn cllege sSrause 15 . arolina St.. suke 16. Okfa. St.vs. fOklahoma... 17. lowae vs. Nocrthwestern :1~ W1isconsin vs..: Mnnesta,::. Newsletters' Newsletters Newsletters Newsletters Big savings on newsletters for all clubs, businesses, and organizations. sewiESERpROCS NEW' WORD PROCESSOR WITH PULL DOWN MENU AND DUAL SCREEN CAPABILITY Easy read 5 X 9-in. CRT display Uses standard 3.5-in, floppy disks Urmarhc includes 70,000 word "wordspell;' redundancy check, more Double column printing 4per month 4A009 $ on Sears- Charge PLUS .. ;:..;....: ...r:" .,, .. :::.::. ::,:.:.::::. ..........:....,........,. .... ... ... ... ... .. ;:. is ?%. .:r ;::.. ...... ::: .. . t ... .............::.....::....... ..... ?: