SCHO poLl bE IgidIa ru
G ting to Michigan State
end, Michinan relinquished the
spat in the USCHO poll. The
,Lerines are now ranked third. Head
in ro see the rest of the top 10. THURSDAY h
higandaily.com /sports NOVEMBER 9, 2000
M' tops Miami, 4-3, in double OT
Blue set to pla undefeated, top-ranked Notre Dame on Saturday
By Rohit Bhave
uily Sports Writer
Four minutes into the second overtime, Michigan's grueling
NCAA first-round fight with Miami was finally settled. With an
Ppty net in front of her, senior captain
Kacy Beitel cashed in her golden
chance, vaulting Michigan into the sec- MtANII 3
and round of the NCAA Tournament MIuCtaAN 4
with a 4-3 victory.
As is the case with many overtime
games, a critical break keyed the final goal. At the top of the Miami
penalty box, Beitel deflected a clearing attempt by a Miami defend-
e onto the waiting foot of Michigan forward Stephanie Chavez.
Chavez gathered the fortunate bounce and fed a perfect pass to
eg wide-open Beitel. The senior wasted no time burying the ball
o the waiting net, ending the Redhawks' dreams.
The Wolverines' path to Sunday's second-round matchup against
No. I Notre Dame was not easy. While the impending challenge of
he Fighting I-ish seems formidable enough - Michigan lost to
hem 5-1 on Oct. 24 - the underdog Redhawks gave Michigan all
it could handle in this double-overtime thriller
"I really thought we were going to win,"' Miami coach Bobby
Kramig said. "We had a lot of success running at them with the
ball."
"We didn't have any pressure on us," added Miami forward
Danielle Berkemeier.
All game, a Michigan goal was resolutely answered by a Miami
equalizer, each team playing a game of can-you-top-this until regu-
lation expired. As soon as one team claimed the momentum, one
fantastic offensive play or a turnover would turn the tide of the game
once again.
With the game tied at two with 21 minutes remaining, their over-
worked legs burning with fatigue, and the red-clad Miami crowd
drowning out the home faithful, the Wolverines badly needed a
game-changing play.
They received one from Chavez. The sniper juked the entire left
side of the Miami defense out of position and scored what looked to
be the game-winner with just 13 minutes left.
Chavez's goal seemed to elevate the Wolverines, and they contin-
ued to attack the tiring Miami defense. With eight minutes left
See MIAMI, Page 14A
G
Michigan fought off a stiff challenge from upstart Miami and won yesterday, 4-3 in double overtime.
TEPHANIE
9FFEN
Stickers commence title quest against Tribe
By David Roth No. 14 William & Mary (12-7) has dropped four Tribe fell only 1-0 against No 3 North Carolina
1uls Sports Writer more games than Michigan (18-3), but when the Tribe whereas the Wolverines were beaten 4-0 by the Ta
has lost, it's only been against steep competition and the Heels.
a,
r
Sicous mids should
Ot be catered to Saturday
ome say the NFL result from the
Redskins-Titans Monday night
contest of a week ago will have a
et effect on this year's presidential
tion. If Washington had defeated
essee, we would be welcoming a
nocrat to the White House today.
since the opposite happened, a
c in Washington is inevitable. Or
say.
frecn times, the result of the
Iskins' final home game before the
tion has correctly predicted the out-
e of the race. How the Redskins
before election time falls under the
gory of"sports superstition."
re's another: The Detroit Lions
not won a championship since
7 so of course they will not win
' s season - despite The Sporting
bold projection that they would
the 2001 Super Bowl. And the
"hing change can't possibly help the
' most mediocre club.
ut on a more serious note, "sports
mstition" is found in everyday life.
1997, wore the same blue
ter to watch every Michigan foot-
game. And after the season I was
tive that it was my blue sweater that
won us the national championship.
- to wear that blue sweater to
the next season's opening loss to
e Dame. You can blame me for the
via e-mail.
efore every Michigan hockey game,
e Comrie was always the first one
ate away from the blueline after the
anal anthem was played. Some
ies hit both sides of the net before a
e begins. Most athletes have some
of pregame ritual, the same one
*each game.
me people develop their supersti-
is in the form of streaks. Currently,
Wolverines hold the win-win-loss
ak. This means that they are due for
in this Saturday. After a devastating
ito Northwestern last Saturday, if
superstition holds true, Michigan
i defeat both Penn State and Ohio
to before lositt the bowl game.
am an extremely superstitious per-
but this is one that I can't put may
. The only way the Wolverines
I win on Saturday is with heart.
ore the Michigan State game, the
yers asked the media and fans to
>w the records out the window and
said that the best team will win.
I ask the players to follow their own
advice. Throw out these streaks, throw
out the fact that Penn State has nothing
to play for. That is simply not true.
The Nittanv Lions have an incredible
aiount of pridec to play for. Not only
has Michigan won the last three meet-
ings between the two teams, but a vic-
tors would shed a bright spot on a dim
season for Joe Paterno.
This is why no superstition will mat-
ter on Saturday. This is the most
mediocre team I have witnessed in my
four years at Michigan. That may not be
a fair statement because I was here for
two straight Big Ten titles, a national
championship and a Orange Bowl wm.
But it is unfortunate that in my last
game in the Big house as a studenti
will be looking towards the Outback or
Alamo Bowl for the season's wrap-up.
This may be selfish, but the same can
be said for many of you -- including
14 members of Michigan's squad.
So for them and for every Michigan
senior on campus, all these sports
superstitions should be thrown out this
weekend. Signs may point to a victors
for the Wolverines, but unfortunately
nothing this season can be taken for
granted. If we learned one thing from
the loss to Northwestern, that is it.
No matter who wins the presidential
election, I doubt it is because of a
Redskins loss. Remember, they even
lost to the Lions this season.
The same goes for this weekend. If
Michigan manages to pull out a victory
it is not because of any streak or super-
stition, it is because this team finally
got the urgency and heart to win a
game - something that the Nittany
Lions may leave behind.
- Step/aie fetn can he reached ti
snffet(iviiwniich.edii.
William and Mary's men's tennis team won consec- losses have not been byn
utive NCAA championships in 1947 and 1948. Since "William & Mary is a
then, its stu- coach Marcia Pankratz sa
dents have SATURDAY ference and they've cert
had more schedule. They're chisele
success Win- WINSTON-SALEM, NC be a very difficult team ti
ning Ben Who: Michigan (1&3) vs. William & Mary Michigan's schedule h
S t e i n ' s (12-7) Wolverines have won fo
money than When:2 p.m. ranked teams.
o a r n e r i n g Latest: Defending NCAA runner-up Michigan "Weve got a lot of iv
begins first-round NCAA tournament play. Bg Ten tournameit," Pa
that resem- is ready."
bles an athletic title. Compare Michigan an
But don't expect the Michigan field hockey team to against current top-four to
have it eas when it takes on the Tribe in the NCAA 2-0 against No. 4 Wake
regionals at Wake Forest on Saturday at 2 p.m. play the Michigan-Willi
Wolverines beat State,
run win streak to thrfere
much.
averv good team," Michigan
aid. "Theyvplay in a tough Con-
ainly played a really difficult
c, they're prepared and they'll
o play against."
as been. rst as tough - the
ur straight games, all against
iomentum coning out of the
inkratz said. "I think the team
d William & Mary's showings
reams in the country. Each lost
Forest, the team expected to
iam & Mary winner. But the
But that doesn't scare the Wolverines.
"Scores really don't tell you that much, so we're not
aorried about that," Michigan co-captain Reran
Wulfsber' said
The hribes' other losses were all to top-15 teams,"ath
the exception of Duke, a squad that played Michigair
the same regional in Winston-Salem last sear.
Despite the rivalry the Wolverines seem to be build-
tig against Wake Forest, Michigan won't take Willim
& Marv for granted.
"We're not overlooking William & Mar," Wulfsbcrg
said. "We're definitely looking to be in the game on
Sunday, but we know we have to win on Saturday .so
that's what we're focusing oni.
"It was definitely a magical postseason last year , ad
By Richard Haddad
Daily Sports niter
State Pride lay just beyond the
Michian volleyball team's grasp, but it
achieved something of greater impor-
tance last
night- a-
victorv. M\1 .11 - N 2
At Cliff' "-'MRIs IAN5-
K e e n aL
Arena, the
Wolverines (6-9 Big Ten, 16-10 overall)
avenged an earlier loss to hated
Michigan State (7-8, 14-10) with an
exhausting five-game victory (15-13, 9-
15, 15-13, 7-15,15 -10).
The State Pride Flag, awarded annual-
ly to the winner of the rivalry ,will be
relocated to Last Lansing by virtue of the
Spartans' outscoring the Wolverines
128-120 over two matches this season.
But for No. 25 Michigan State, "The
loss hurts more than winning the flag,"
Michigan State's Angela Morley said. "I
didn't even know we won it."
"It's a little bit bittersweet" Michigan
coach Mark Rosen said. "It's a huge
rivalry and we wanted to win the flag,
but winning the match is a lot better
because the flag is just for pride. It does-
n't Let vou anythini."
A Big Ten victory over a ranked oppo-
nent, on the other hand, greatly improves
Michigan's NCAA Tournament hopes.
In a mirror-image of the Spartans'
five-game victory in East Lansing, last
night's match swung back and forth
throughout. Each team alternated
between erratic play and domination,
exchanging sideouts and extended vol-
leys at a feverish pace.
The match was marked by the intensi-
ty and emotion that characterizes this
rivalry regardless of the sport. Michigan
senior captain Sarah Behnke's smash
into a Michigan State player's face
injected the packed arena with energy.
Freshman Erin Moore duplicated the
feat minutes later, and the helpless vic-
tim of her fury hit the floor before the
ball did, further inciting the crowd.
BRANDON SEDLOFF/Daly
Alija Pittenger and the Wolverines spiked Michigan State last night.
Moore's performance on the evening of innocent aggressiveness."
epitomized the play Michigan is capable The victory - and Michigan's three-
of in its best moments. Painting the base- match winning streak - can be directly
line with a perfectly-placed finesse shot attributed to that aggressiveness. The
as often as she displayed her power, Spartans statistically dominated the
evere time Moore touched the ball it match, outhitting, outblocking and out-
found the Spartans' side of the court, as digging their counterparts, but "we won
evidenced by her match-high 19 kills. the key points in the match," Rosen said.
"Erin brings a competitiveness that is "I've always believed that the most
unmatched in the gym," Rosen said. aggressive team wins in rally scoring."
"The entire team draws from her attitude Yesterday night, it did.
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