The Michigan Daily - Friday, October 20, 2000 - 13 .Physical opener ahead for icers By Joe Smith IDailSports Writer Michigan senior defenseman Bob Gassoff will tell you about the brand of physical and chippy hockey that is expected when the fourth-ranked Michigan hockey team (2-0-2) travels o Bowling Green (0-2-0) tonight in the first test toward defending its CCHA conference title. He doesn't mind because that's his style - gritty, physical and not afraid of THIS W defending one of his BGSU IC teammates if things get ugly during a game. Bowling Green (C Much like two years When: 7:05 p.m. ago - when Bowling p.m. Sunday Green took some cheap Latest: Defending hots at Michigan assis- on Michigan ope tant captain Bobby play against a te Haves near the oppos- swept by Alabam ing bench at the end of Michigan's 9-3 playoff win. Gassoff took matters into his own hands in a fight with Falcon Dennis Williams - receiving a game disqualification and a two-game suspension for his troubles. "That'll stick in their minds too," Gassoff said. "That if they want to play *hippy they'll think twice about going over the limit." Although emotions will be flaring in a hostile road environment, the players know they have to play their game and stay out of the box in order to take the home crowd out of it early on. After their first two penalty-ridden games in the lee Breaker Tournament - resulting in six goals for their oppo- nents - the Wolverines realized the error of their ways and were far more disciplined, taking only seven penalties last weekend in two games in Alaska. "If they take themselves out of the game with penalties, then we have to bury them on the power play," said Michigan senior Josh Langfeld, who EEKEND E ARENA igan (2-0-2) vs. 0-2-0) tonight,7:05 g CCHA champi- ns conference am that was na-Huntsville. seems to be a Falcon killer with 12 career points against the confer- enee foe. While many pick Michigan to repeat as conference champs, the coaches picked the Falcons to finish ninth in the preseason poll. Bowling Green got shut out in consecutive The Wolverines will also have to go into battle without their captain on Friday night, as senior Geoff Koch is battling an ankle injury and has missed practice this week because of a death in his family. Michigan won without Koch or Jeff Jillson in the lineup against Merrimack last Friday, but will definitely welcome their All-American defenseman back tonight. Jillson is a "kid that should be a dom- inant defenseman in this league," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "So we need to see him play at his best." After Friday's game. the Wolverines will make the 75-mile trip back home for a rest before returning to play Bowling Green again on Sunday night. Normally the games are played on con- secutive days, but the Falcons arc host- ing a football game on Saturday night - giving both teams a chance to regroup. Berenson said he welcomes the break because it will give his team a "reprieve" from a busy week that included many make-up exams and not much sleep for his players. The jet- lagged Wolverines returned from a four-day Alaskan trip late Sunday night, and he said the extra day will be bene- ficial. "Its time to send a message around the CCHA," Gassoff said. "That this team is for real and we're going come to play every night" :" .; . Junior Jeff Jilison returns to the Michigan lineup tonight against Bowling Green after sitting out last weekend's road trip to Alaska due to injury. BRANDON SEDLOFF! Daily Gak . S a games - for the first time in 31 year program history -- this past weekend against unranked Alabama-Huntsville. But coaches and players alike refuse to take their opponents lightly, as the Falcons always seem to get up for Michigan - beating the Wolverines twice last year. "It doesn't matter if you're playing the first or last place team," Gassoff said. "The bottom line is that when you're Michigan, you're going to get everyone's best game." INDEPENDENT "It says something about individuals, and institutions. As the only law school in Boston not affiliated with a university, New England School of Law is able to focus all of its resources on your legal education. Located in the heart of Boston's legal community, the school offers innovative $18!! CAP AND GOWN at GRADWEAR.COM NO TAX! U. of Michigan $35 plus Same Quality, Better Price Money Back Guaranteed programs including the War Crimes Prosecution Project, opportunities for overseas study, a business law center and coursework on Internet Law. The results speak for themselves-91% of 1999 graduates were employed within nine months. Don't follow. New England School of Law will help you lead." AA-ICll'ile New England School of Law - Lisa Michaud, Class of 1999 Associate Nutter; McClennen & Fish, LLP 154 Stuart Street Boston, MA 02116 (617) 422-7210 admitCadmin.nesl.edu www.nesledu A/ember of the Association of American Law Schools $4.75 Kids & Seniors all shows $5.75 with Studenit ID $5.75 bIate Shows Fri & Sat' 0 No passes or Tuesdav discounts Unlimited Free Drink Refills & .25f Corn Refills BRENDAN O'DONNELL/Da y Despite not having lost a race since Sept. 5 when he finished second to teammate Mike Wisnewski, junior Mark Pilja is never satisfied with his own success. 1 a ulet leads harners b example, Des ite success this season, junior teach es teammates never to be satisfied By Job Singer Daily Sports Writer The Michigan men's cross country team has vet to elect a captain, but once the gun goes off it's been clear that junior Mark Pilja is the leader. Pilja has won every single race he has run since Sept 5. On Sept. 5, in s most disappointing finish of the eason; Pilja came in second to his own teammate, redshirt Mike Wisnewski. One would expect Pilja to be satisfied with the way the sea- son has gone. But that is not how Pilja works. "Looking at each race individually, I've always found something that I could do better," Pilja said . "The same goes for every practice. I can evcr think of a time that I was total- v satisfied," Over the course of his career, Pilja's accomplishments have includ- ed five state titles, a third-place fin- ish in high school nationals and an All-Big Ten second team perfor- mance last vear to tro alone with the ing up on Oct. 29, it is vital that the rest of the team does a good job of keeping pace and running in a pack. "They've been packing it up in practice and I think they will do so in Big Ten's," Pilja said. "The guys won't be intimidated by the situa- tion." Part of the issue for the Wolverines is that they are a young team. The freshmen have likely never endured the level of intense training which is expected of them at the college level. But, they can not use their first year as a transition period because many of them are among the fastest runners on the roster. Mason Ward, John Hughes, David Sage and Thomas Greenless have finished in the top five during various races this season. "This freshman class is the best that I've seen since I've been here," said Pilja. "David Sage is suprising a lot of people with his strong run- ning." Comparing the times of these freshmen to when Pilja was a fresh- man. it is evident why Pilia is sining FALL MATINEES! SATURDAY & SUNDAY 10&14 AM THOMAS & THE MAGIC RAILROAD (G) 0 LEGEND OF DRUNKEN MASTER (F) FR I'SAT LS 11:40 O PAY IT FORWARD PG-13) FRI 11 35,1 10. 2 15 4 15. 4:50. 7:00, 1:30, 9:30 1 00 SAT.SUN 1105. 11;2 , 1:1. 2:15. 4.15. 4:50. 7:00, 709 30. 10.101 FRISAT LS 12:0? 0 LADIES MAN (R) FRI 12:45. 2:45, 4:45. 7:30, 9:40 SAT/SUN 11:00. 1245. 245.4:45. 7:30, 9:40 FRItSAT LS 11:25 0)DR T. AND THE WOMENR) 1 145, 2:10, 4:40, 7:10 945 - FRItSAT LS 1200 BEST INSHOW 12:05.2:20.4:35, :05 ,20 FRISAT LS 11:30 O THE CONTENDER tR 11.30,2004:30,7:00,935 FRItSAT LS) 2:00 O LOST SOULS (R) 12:30, 2:404:50,.7:15. 9:25 FRI/SAT LS 11:25 MEET THE PARENTS (PG-13) 12:00. 2:30. 5:00. 7:20, 9:413 FR ISAT LS 11:50 WINDING ROADS (NRI 11 50,2:06.4:106:45 910 FRItSAT LS 11:10 DIGIMON: THE MOVIE (PG) FRI 1:26, 3:15, 505 SAT/SUN 11:25, 1:25. 3:15. 5:05 REMEMBER THE TITANS (PG, 12:10, 1:00 225 310 45,5:20, 6:55, 7:35, 9:00, 9:50 FRISAT LS 11:00, 11:55 EXORCIST (R) FRI 1:45,4:20,6:50. 9:30 SAT/SUN 11:05, 1:45. 4:20, 6:50, 9:30 FRI/SAT LS 11:55 ALMOST FAMOUS (R) FRI 1.50, 4:15, 6:40, 9:05 SAT/SUN 11:15,11:50, 4:15.6:40,9:05 FRI/SAT LS 11:35 NURSE BETTY (R) 4:30, 9:20 FRISAT LS 11:40 BRING IT ON .P.-13) 12:05, 2:20 7:20 IUAT 1190 I SCU mrI1 n It 1 . F I VE mINm - -