14 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, September 29, 1998 Victory over Spartans breathes life into football seasoi f' A L") V Continuedfrom Page13,i WVith a trip to low~ a looming this wekend, the WVolverines arc about to hit a critical stretch one that will determine whether or not the rest of the season will be spent in pursuit of aBig Ten title The date with the Hawkeyes is especially bigw A Michigan win would make it possible for the Wolverines to host Penn State with a .5-0 Big Ten record (assuming no slip-ups against Northwestern, Indiana or Minnesota - granted, an enormously huge assumption). A Michigan loss would put the team in the bottom half of the con- ference. And the trip to Kinniek Stadium will be a new~ one for most of the Wolverines Just two current players - uaquin [cazel and Kraig Baker naxe been to the stadium. Only Baker has played there. Feazel said that he didn't remem- ber much about the stadium - his x st was during his freshman sea- son, which he eventally r dshirted But arr' been there plenty of1 times,. "I think it's a great place to play because it's not an easy place to play." C'arr said. "It's a great stadi- rim. The fans are really right on top of you, very close to the action"- One M ichigati player who won't be close to the action anytime soon. liioiever. is Chris Zienann. The junior offensive lineman broke his leg agamnst \ichiizan State. and is likely lost f or the season. (arr said i was atremendous loss for'' the \\oh erines. '1arr said that the void would be fil d by Aaim Adkin and Jaon Brooks, a pair of sophomores who would "both receiv e an opportunity to mov e in there" ' arr also said that had the rest of the line not stepped up in /iemann's absence, Michigan would haxe been in trouble against the Spartans. "JefT Backus had his best game at Michigan, lie said. "He was out- standing in there " There awere others who played their "best game at Michigan" this past weekend. 'arr said. He included Clarence \iliams and Jay Feely (three field goals from 51, 45 and 38 yards) in that group. ecely. however, didn't seem as surprised by his per- formance as you might think he'd be, gven the team's kicking troubles thus far- "We let the team down against Notre Dame," he said "We kne"w that we'd hae to make up for it every game atier that. I jst had the focus in my m'nd that I had to make the kick. So when I went in to kciyck the 51 -yarder k new that I iust had to make it. I w as v ery on fid ent" What they're saying... "We let the team down against Notre Dame. WA knew we had to make up for it every game after that." - Jay Feely Michigan kicker "Jef Backus had his best game at Michigan* He was outstanding out there. - Lloyd Carr. Michigan coach "Hopefully (the game) will be a momentum builder for us ... We needed a win against a good football team." - Carr On Saturday, Anthony Thomas busted through a large hole behind the Michigan offensive line and changed Michigan's for- tunes. He galloped 69 yards into the open field, tying the game at 10. Michigan never trailed again in the game, rolling to a 2917 victory over the arch-rival Spartans. soccer plans to kick its way back into race ByGeoffGagnion For the Daily When last year's Michigan soccer team knocked off Northwestern in the Big Ten tournament cham- pionship game, it not only captured Michigan's first ever conference title and NCAA tournament bid, but it also helped propel the program into national spotlight. "Last year, in winning the Big Ten what we were able to do was turn a lot of heads," Michigan coach Debbie Belkin said. "Everyone knows Michigan for football or other sports, but what we accomplished was really putting ourselves on the map as a pro- gram." The only problem that Belkin and her squad are noticing with this new exposure is that the opposition knows right where to find them. Most notably thus far, conference opponents have been taking aim at the Wolverines. And so far, their aim has been finding its mark. Michigan began its defense of the Big Ten title by dropping its first two conference contests, 1-0 at the hands of Wisconsin and 4-2 to Northwestern, two teams that now find themselves atop of the confer- ence rankings. "We sure have started the season by placing our- selves in a big hole," Belkin said. "But we have capa- bility of playing better and that is what we are going to have to do." r And Tea Pa r Lea Please at Thursday Michi If the team's 5-0 non-conference start was any indication of things to come, a second straight Big Ten title banner could have been ordered after the team downed Eastern Michigan. The win came on the heels of Michigan's ascent to a No. 10 national ranking, the highest in school his- tory. But how could things have gone so wrong for the Wolverines when they started the season so right? "We didn't play as well as we could have to start the Big Ten season," said Belkin. "We have to play our game, do what we need to win and hope some teams get knocked off." If the Wolverines, who are now in fifth place in the Big Ten standings, should hope to return to the top of the conference they will need some outside help. "Anything can happen, any team is capable of beating any team in the conference right now," Belkin said, "So who knows whates going to hap- pen? We are certainly not sitting back watching things occur, we know that we control our dstirny and we'll control our future from here on out. If the Wolverines make another run at the Big Ten title, Sunday's win over Ohio State might be looked upon as a catalyst. "Sunday's game was great, I mean it was a well played, hard fought contest," said Belkin "Hopefully, it can be something that we can build on." It was Sunday's standout around whom tie squai has been building this season. Instrumental in last year's conference totrnament run. Jessica Limauro has made her preseice known already this season The senior forward from Troy tallied both Michigan goals in a shiutlout victory over Ohio State as the team noched its first mark in the con- ference win column for the season. Her heroics wvere nothing new to Limauro. who netted iight goals hie connecting for three assists this eek l.imauros noteworthy feats earned her a shae Big Li Player of the Week lon- ors this week. "Jessica has ahways been a real powerful force for 1us:' Belkin said of the 5-foot-2 oflnsive jggeriaut. "It is very nice to see her comning together like this in her final y a, she's been very valuable to us." Limauro 's importance should be seen in the coim- ing weeks ats she and hcr Michigan teammates enter the final stretch ot their conference season this week- end as they host lowa on Friday and Minnesota on Suiiday. 'We ari inxious to get a chance to play the rest of the Big len, said Belkin "Iowa will be tough, they're very young but talented and we've never beaten Minnesota. they are always good" Belkin contends that the teami is still eaer to achie e the same goals that they set out to meet at the begiiining ot the season. including returning to the pinniacle of the conferice. 'I AF V ---as - JOSH KLEINE3AU k The eighth-ranked Michigan field hockey team is flying high halfway through it season, as it has racked up eight wins in its first 10 games. Fwia hckey bs miwayr point in strid( ersen Consulting and ch For America: 'tnering to Recruit iders of Tomorrow tend our Information Session y, October 1, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. gan Union, Room 2105-B By Stephanie Offen Aftier conipleting half of its schedule, the Michigan field hockey team is on top of the polls and still climbin . The eighth-ranked Woelines are 10 games into their 1998 saon. nishing the first half with a record of 8-2, Michigan started their 1998 season in Australia, playing some of the best com- petition in the world. "The trip put us in playing shape:, Michigan assistant coach Peggy Storrar said. "Instead of running, the athletes were able to play their way into shape." Along with the trip down under, the be inning of the season brought a No. 11 ranking to the Wolverines.The ranking rose ater Michigan beat then tenth ranked Ba IState. "Ball State is in our region, and beat- ing teams within the region will help you in the national rankings." Michigan assistant coach Tracy Fuchs said. But the first Big Ten match-up for Michigan against Michigan State proved to be the best point so far in the season. "Even though Michigan State is not ranked it's still an in-state rival," said Fuchs. "We were able to beat them in overtime, which was a good stepping stone for us in the Big Ten.. Along with the big wins, there were :ome players who stepped up and helped the Wolverines to those victories in the first half of the season. Fuchs stated that one of the things the team was striving for this season was to give up very few goals, and so far that being accomplished. Kati Oakes, one of the Michigan goa tenders was named Big Ten defensi player of the week for two weeks in row. She was the first Wolverine ever accomplish that feat. "This is Kati's first year starting a she has really solidified the defense said Fuchs. "We also have a very expe enced backfield of Ashley Reiche a and Erica Widder, who are both ju rs Fuchs also added that Reichenba has been the player thats helped the tea the most in the first half of the season. "She has really helped the team, es cially with communication," Fuchs sai "She has six defensive saves already th season But, looking back on the first hal Storrar sees things that still ne improvement. "We still need to improve on scori goals," Storrar said. "That will al help." Storrar added that the low point so has been the loss to Maryland in ov time, who was ranked sixth. "We outplayed them and we shou have won." Storrar said. "They won on controversial call." Maryland and No.7 Boston Coll are the only teams that have defeated t Wolverines so far, but the Big Ten&. will produce tougher competition "Four Big Ten teams are ranked in top 20,' Fuchs said. "The next few wee are going to be the real test for us"' 1. Where you work should be a place that inspires the mind.