14A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 11, 1997 M soccer brings winning ways home for first time this season * By Andy Latack !I ) n, 5ports Wntcr [Home sweet home. With the promise the Michigan soc- cer team has shown over the last week, opposing teams aren't going to be very anxious to come to Ann Arbor. After a set of impressive road swings, the 22nd-ranked Wolverines (3-1) return to Ann Arbor for their home open- er against Butler (2-1) on Friday. Followed by a match against Eastern Michigan on Sunday, the home games should be a welcome change for the young Wolverines. "We're looking to go into these matches and continue to play well," Michigan coach Debbie Belkin said. "We want to win and keep improving." The team stirred up some anticipation for the brief homestand with a inspired performance last weekend. Michigan rebounded from a heartbreaking loss at Massachusetts to pound New Hampshire, 6-0. Belkin talked about the weekend and its impact on this young team. "We kind of let the UMass game get away from us," Belkin said referring to the Wolverines' 2-1 defeat at the hands of the No. 15 Minutewomen. "We could have come out less enthusiastic at New Hampshire, but instead, we really got up for the game. "It shows that we can come back from a loss without let- ting our level of play go down." The Wolverines hope to build on this experience Friday, when they host Butler, a team which they have never beat- en. Belkin is preparing the team for the Bulldogs' up-tempo style. "They play a very high-pressure game, locking you into double teams and trying to cut off passes," Belkin said. "We have to be ready." Belkin also stressed the importance of defense and d cipline, characteristics that were lacking in the lossy Massachusetts. When Eastern Michigan comes to town on Sunday, the Eagles will be sporting a familiar look. Many of the cur- rent Wolverines and Eagles know each other from playing club soccer together. Michigan won't have much time to catch up with their neighbors from the East, however, because as soon as the Eagles leave town, the Wolverines must prepare for the looming Big Ten season. Belkin realizes the importance of playing well thj weekend and heading into the conference slate w W momentum. "We need to continue to play the way we have been playing," Belkin said. "Every Big Ten game will be tough,' because there are no standout teams. Everybody can beat everybody on any given day." Michigan travels to Bloomington on Sept 19. for the Wolverines' conference opener against Indiana. MARGARET MYERS/Daily Sophomore Marie Spaccarotella and the rest of the Michigan soccer team open with its first homestand of the season this vwekend. The Wolverines host Butler and Eastern Michigan before they begin conference play next Friday. TIGER Continued from Page 13A Mendoza with a daunting task. Michigan's catalyst has played almost every minute of every game and must continue to do so if the .Wolverines hope to win this year. Mendoza has been spending time recooperating since her injury. "I think resting my body this week will help," Mendoza said. "Luckily, we didn't have that many games last weekend.The week before was much rougher." Despite her aches and pains, Michigan's co-captain will continue to play through fatigue and five-set matches. She plays too big of a role to sit on the sidelines and watch. Mendoza's teammates won't exactly be taking a laid-back approach, either. Wolverines may be smaller than alligators, but they've never been known to chicken out of a good fight. Freshmen will have to step up for women's golf By Evan Braunstein Daily Sports Writer When half of a team's starting roster are freshmen, it would be understandable to be a little worried going into the first tournament of the season. It seems no one told Michigan women's golf coach Kathy Teichert, because she is showing no signs of ineasiness. Michigan heads to East Lansing this weekend for its season opener, the Spartan Fall Invitational. The 16-team tournament draws four Big Ten teams, including Indiana and Iowa. Other notables include Notre Dame, Bowling Green and Cincinnati. The Wolverines should have the upper hand facing many smaller schools, but pre- dieting where they will place is not an easy task. "Right now I'm hoping that we will finish in the top three," Teichert said. "Indiana will be up there, and you always have to give Michigan State a look because it's on their home course. "It's really hard to say because we have such a new team. But I have a lot of confidence in these players, so I would think we will do very well." The new team Teichert spoke of con- sists of three returning Wolverines and three rookies. Junior Sharon Park leads the returning corps and paced the team in scoring average last season. Park is joined by fellow junior Nicole Green and senior Laura Hess, both of whom competed in the majority of last year's tournaments. The three upper- classmen give the team some much needed experience. Complementing these veterans is the raw talent of three freshmen - Amy Talbot, Amy Balliet and Trish Watkins. This will be the first collegiate event for all three, and in order to achieve Teichert's goal of a top-three finish, the Wolverines will need strong play from more than one of these novices. "They need to focus in on each shot and play their own game," Teichert said. "I think they will do well. They're all really competitive and have had a lot of playing time over the summer." Park has been playing well lately, shooting a 75 in her last practice round at the Michigan course. But even if Park has a great tournament, the pressure will be on the freshmen to pick up any slack left by their older teammates. "There isn't any more pressure on them versus any other member of the team," Green said of the freshmen. "Everyone is expected to perform. But because they are 50 percent of what we're taking, we need them to be there and perform just as well as everyone else. "How well we do at this tournament is going to depend on how well the fresh- men adjust themselves. Hopefully tl*j will do it quickly." The tournament will be held at the par 72 Forest Acres golf course- one with which Park, Green and Hess are all familiar. This advantage should help the veterans as well as the freshmen. "All three upperclassmen have had experience playing this golf course. They know where to be and where not to be," Teichert said. "Hopefully, they will g a lot of advice to the new kids. "It's early and it's the first tournament so there is going to be a lot of excitement and a lot of nerves. But (the team) is going to settle down quickly." MORRISE September24 7:30pm Hill Auditorium Ann Adior Michigan Union Ticket Office & all TicketMaster outlets. Charge at 313/763-TKTS or online at www.ticketmaster.com Concert info at http:// www.umich.edu/-mevents Presented by UM Major Events' Division of Student Affairs w ~"1 i "S. " Ii1ulerPriiitsi ". Your Source for the Best Intemt Prints and Posters WWW.INTERPRINTS.COM Prices Below Retail!! See and Choose from 100 Different Prints and Posters Perfect for the Dorm, Apartment, or as Gifts Credit Cards Accepted Shipped Direct SMASH YOUR WAY ONTO LATE NIGHT TELEVISION! Win a trip to NewYork in the Conan O'Brien College Band Search! COME JOIN US FOR PRAISE ANL WORSHIP EVERY SUNDAY! I Please call 973-KNOX for more information and/or directions. I A What's the gig? Make a five-minute video (no longer!) of your band, VHS only. 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