8 - The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - Monday, September 26, 1994 POVI LAITIS Continued from page 1 reasons," Povilaitis says. "I know U- M sports and I know that now that this is varsity, (the athletic department is) going to do everything (it) can. It's a great school -academically and ath- letically," Povilaitis says. She thinks that the team will attract many prep and ODP standouts in the years to come, possibly including one or two former teammates from her high school career. "Our starting lineup, a few of them are going to Division I colleges," Povilaitis says. Unlike many college athletes, however, Povilaitis also chose Michi- gan for its Engineering program. She participates in the Women in Science and Engineering program because of the academic support it provides. She is undecided between mechanical and electrical engineering, both top-rated BACH MAN Continued from page 3 Just think: At no other time in your life will you have access - free admission, events within walking distance - to the athletes you do now. Take advantage of it, or you might find yourself in a very long, expensive ticket line in Atlanta a few years from now. And in that line, there will be people who will tell you Michigan fans have a superiority complex. There will also be those who will tell you it is justified. They'll both be right. - Bach's Score appears in this space every other SPORTSMonday. programs nationally. Povilaitis is the type to set goals for herself, and she usually surpasses them. Just don't ask her to tell you so - her modesty gets in the way. Even though she was unanimously elected Miss Soccer, Povilaitis said she never expected it. "I didn't play to win any awards," she says, blushing, emphasizing that she played for her team, not herself. "When I set goals for my high school career, I said 'I hope I can make All-State first team."'But when she achieved that goal herjunior year, there was nowhere to go but up. "There were so many great for- wards, and rarely does the defense get credited," says Povilaitis, the first defender ever to win the award. Povilaitis knows the forward posi- tion too, from manning the post her first two years in high school before she was pulled back to sweeper. "I loved play- ing forward, scoring goals," she re- members. "I was nervous about (play- ing defense), but if they got by me, I knew I could get them on a sprint." Michigan coach Debbie Belkin shares her star defender's confidence, al- ways having Povilaitis mark the op- posing team's best forward. Because Povilaitis didn't try out for the Olympic Development team until her junior year, she was at a disadvantage. Even so, she made it onto the Michigan team, composed of "supposedly, the best players in the state," Povilaitis says, understating the honor. Then she tried for the re- gional team and competed on it. At the same time, she captained her high school team. Her senior year, she led the Colts to an undefeated season and the state championship, overcoming an 8-6-2 record from the previous year. A miracle? An all-state class of freshmen? No, says Povilaitis, just hope and team spirit and rock-solid determination. "I never even dreamt of going undefeated," she remem- bers. But Povilaitis and the other tri- captains wanted it all, and the enthu- siasm spread. That energy carried over to and if I'm upset Icanjust get itall out. I don't know what I would do without (soccer)." Amazingly enough, Povilaitis still makes time for her friends and her boyfriend, Mike Murduff, a student at Oakland Community College, who thinks Povilaitis deserves everything she's achieved and more. "You're tough when you play," he tells her. "You're like mean and people watch out for you," he says. Murduff is a kind of promoter for Povilaitis because she doesn't hype herself. It is ;'f .of Zhan last spring's Class A high schoo championship game, where Troy beaW Ross' almamater, Brighton. Ross and Povilaitis played on the Development team together. "We got to practice (at Michigan) and it was funny seeing each other. Now we're like good friends." In the first game this year, Povilaitis said she, "was so impressed with our play because we just steppe up a level." Povilaitis acknowledges her team's ability, and says that's not the weakness keeping their record (4-3- 1) from standing out. "We've been in every game and even dominated most of them," she says. Instead of naming play mistakes, Povilaitis blames mental errors and inexperience, which showed particu- larly against Minnesota. After a 1-0 lead at the half, the team gave up two goals and lost to the Golden Gophers, 2-1. "We deserved that game," Povilaitis says. "That game was ours-we dominated them. "Our inexperience showed (against Minnesota). We thought we could just coast through and we couldn't," she admitted, adding that the score was not reflective of t Wolverines' final efforts. "If you p us back in that game right now, every single one of us would have pushed harder and we would have won." She says the game against De- troit-Mercy was her favorite so far this season, because it was a physical game and the squad proved them- selves, 1-0, in overtime. Povilaitis said another motivating factor in her career was this summer World Cup tournament. Despite spend- ing most of her summer in ODP camps, she caught the first game in Detroit, Switzerland versus Team USA. At that game, Povilaitis had the most interesting conversation she has ever had. A Swedish reporter saw her name in The Detroit News as a mem- ber of the All-State team and found her in the stands. "Where he's from, soccer is lik the biggest sport," she says. "For here, it's growing. I think that (the World Cup) did a lot for soccer. It made a lot of people aware that soccer is such an awesome sport." The turf and the lights of the Pontiac Silverdome, where World Cup matches were played, is a bit more glamorous than Elbel Field, tem- porary home field for the Wolverine But Povilaitis has her head on straight, and doesn't play for the glamour. "Ijustplay because I love it. That's all." vS17Sr d~ . SEE YOUR JOSTEN'S REPRESENTATIVE TODAY! North Campus Commons Bookstore 10:00-3:00 Michigan Union Bookstore 11:00-4:00 Frankfurt $639* Mexico City $198* Tokyo 8 * Bangkok $1069* Faes a round trip from Detroit. Restictions apply, taxes are not included and faes aresubject to change. Call for ohe wordwide destinations. Counc'iltav 1220 S. University Dr. (Above McDonaids) 998-0900 Cl Tod FrAR Michigan's team. "With each game, we're getting better," she says. "With each game we get to know each other more, and we play that much better. I think now is the time. Things should start click- ing." Five of the team's next six games are away, and Povilaitis says she is worried about her classes during the second half of the season. School is tough, Povilaitis says, but soccer is helping her cope with the trials and tribulations of freshman year at Michigan. "For me, when I go out and play, if I'm happy I love playing KRISTEN SCHAEFER/Daily he who mentions that her Miss Soccer election was unanimous. Povilaitis says that although many of her friends enjoy playing soccer, it is much more than a hobby for her. "I love soccer to the point that I'm willing to give the time and effort to school and soccer, and that's a lot of time." Michigan's team has its share of devotees, including fellow freshman defender Jamie Ross, sophomore sweeper Kim Phillips, and freshman forward Betsy Axley. August 18, the start of the preseason, was not the first meeting for many of the girls. In fact, she met Ross on the turf of INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM 0 0 PHYSICAL! UPCOMING ACTIVITIES TENNIS GOLF (Two person Scramble) FLAG FOOTBALL (Pre-Season) TRACK & FIELD MEET Entry Deadline: Thurs 9/29 4:30pm IMSB Main Office Entry Fee: $5.00 for Sgls/$9.00 for Dbls Tournament Format: Double Elimination (dependent on#'s) Tournament Dates: Sat & Sun 10/1 & 10/2 (Palmer Courts) Entry Deadline: Thurs 10/6 4:30pm IMSB Main Office Entry Fee: $10.00 per team (excluding Course Fee) Tee Times: 9:00am - 3:00pm Tournament Date: Sunday 10/9 at U of M Golf Course Entries Taken: Mon 10/10 - Thurs 10/13 11am-4:30pm Entry Fee: $35.00 per team Manager's Meeting (Mandatory): Thurs 10/13 6pm IMSB Tournament Dates: Fri 10/14 & Sun 10/16 Entry Deadline: Mon 10/17 4:30pm IMSB Main Office Entry Fee: $5 for Individuals/$35 per team Manager's Meeting (Mandatory): Mon 10/17 6pm IMSB Meet Location: U of M Varsity Track beginning at 4:45pm t~ttI~1 I ~3t ~tt4~ Qo#~ or~y t<~OI ~ ~i~th ~oy othvr effo p ~o ) o v n to~ h o$2 n x r x "'" E _ .:, _... . , ... a I I I I I 0 4 ~ ~ 4 4 4 '4 '~ only Not <~Pd with ~ny other oil I 31