2B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - March 10, 2003 CLUBSPORTSWEEKLY Club hockey fails to bury its chances at ACHA tourney ATHLETE OF THE WEEK By Maggie Adams Daily Sports Writer "They scored, we didn't." Those are the words of freshman forward Michael Periera, who commented on the Michi- gan club hockey team's performance at the Amer- ican Collegiate Hockey Association's national tournament two weeks ago. The team has been consistent contenders in the ACHA tournament since its first playoff bid in 1998-99, a short four seasons after the concep- tion of the team in 1994: From a field of more than 110 Division II teams, just 16 teams are invited to participate in the tournament - so the invite is quite an honor. Although the team lost in the finals to Georgia's Life University last year, the team was the top-ranked team going into the tournament this year. The team arrived in Anaheim, Calif. on Feb. 24, visiting Southern California's campus for the tournament. It spent Tuesday practicing and played the first game on Wednesday, against Vir- ginia's Liberty University. After a slow start, the team was down 5-2 at the end of the first period, but with the help of four powerplay goals from senior team treasurer Derek Schlonsky, it managed to tie the game at DALY SCOREBOARD six. Liberty managed to eke out another goal, and forced Michigan to begin tournament play with a loss. "We went into it thinking we were going to win, so we were pretty disappointed with that first loss," Periera said. "We got a little cocky." The second game was against Weber State. Again, the club was unable to pull through with a win, losing 4-2 to the eventual third-place finisher. "We were high in our region, and favored to win, but it was hard to prepare our rookies for the atmosphere at nationals," team captain and president John Nadzam said. "With about 14 rookies and three new goalies, the adjustment was tough." Michigan did manage a win in its final game against Penn State, beating the Nittany Lions 4-2, but it wasn't enough to land the team near the top of the pack. Only the top four teams get to move on from the round robin setup of the first half of the tournament to the bracket play of the final three games, so the Wolverines had to head home with a weak 1-2 record. "We told them all year that nationals are totally different, but they had to see it themselves," Nadzam said. "Our four seniors had 10 goals, but there just wasn't much production from the younger players. They weren't ready for the change from the regular league games." Regular season games are plated against the five other members of theGreat Midwest Hockey League. Two other members are Indiana and Michigan State. "In league play, we like to face Miami of Ohio, because they're a really clean team," Nadzam said. "When we played them in the regional championship there was only one penalty in the entire game. "We came back from a two-goal deficit in the last two minutes of the game, but eventually lost in overtime. Still, that was a great game to play in, loss or not." Despite the disappointing end to this season, Michigan is likely to be a heavy favorite at next year's nationals. The team is losing four seniors this year - including Nadzam and Schlonsky, who were both All-Americans last year - but is confident that its experience this year will help it overcome those key losses and regain its spot at the top of national rankings. "There were a whole- lot of positives this sea- son, a whole lot of fun," Nadzam said. "There are 20 guys coming back, and they've learned from this season. They're going to go into next season with a better mindset, in better shape, and I think they're going to do something great." Who: Sheetal Narsai Hometown: Commerce, Calif. Position: Driver Sport: Water Polo Year: Sophomore Why: Narsai was instrumental in the Wolverines' come-from-behind, 9-7 victory in overtime over arch-rival Indiana on Saturday. The sophomore tallied four goals - matching her career high - including the game- tying goal on a penalty shot with 38 seconds left in regulation. Narsal i NBA STANDINGS EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION NHL STANDINGS EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION M nine unable to take moad senies firom Sooners 'M'SCHEDULE Today W Golf at Coastal Carolina Invitational (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) M Golf at UC Irvine Anteater Invitational (Coto de Caza, Calif.) Friday, March 14 Baseball vs. Northwern Illinois, 2 p.m. W Tennis vs. Western Michigan, 6 p.m. Water Polo vs. Michigan State, 7 p.m. W Gymnastics vs. Nebraska, 7:30 p.m. Ice Hockey vs. Bowling Green, 7:35 p.m. M Basketball vs. Indiana or Penn State, 8:10 p.m. CST M Track/Field at NCAA Championships W Track/Field at NCAA Championships W Swim/Diving at NCAA Diving Zones M Swim/Diving at NCAA Diving Zones Saturday, Marchi 15 Baseball vs. Birmingham Southern, 11 a.m. M Tennis vs. Ohio State, 12 p.m. M Basketball at Big Ten Tournament semifinals, 3:05 p.m. CST Baseball at Winthrop, 5 p.m. W Tennis vs. Michigan State, 6 p.m. Ice Hockey vs. Bowling Green, 7:35 p.m. M Track/Field at NCAA Championships W Track/Field at NCAA Championships M Golf at El Diablo Intercollegiate (Citrus Springs, Fla.) Sunday, March 16 Baseball at Winthrop Tournament championship/consolation game, TBA M Basketball at Big Ten Tournament championship game, 2:30 p.m. CST Ice Hockey vs. Bowling Green (if necessary), 7:35 p.m. Feldkamps ow potential-CAAtie " 9 New Jersey Phildelphia Boston Orlando Washington New York Miami CENTRAL DIVISION w 39 36 36 33 30 28 20 W 39 38 36. 32 24 22 20 11 L 25 26 27 31 33 35 42 L 23 25 -28 31 39 42 40 52 Pct. .609 .581 .571 .516 .476 .444 .323 Pct. .629 .603 .563 .508 .381 .344 .333 .175 GB 2 2.5 6 8.5 10.5 18R New Jersey Philadelphia NY Islanders NY Rangers Pittsburgh W 39 35 30 28 25 GB Detroit Indiana New Orleans Milwaukee Atlanta Chicago Toronto Cleveland NORTHEAST DIVISION W Ottawa 42 Toronto 37 Boston 31 Montreal 24 Buffalo 21 SOUTHEAST DIVISION W Washington 32 Tampa Bay 30 Florida 21 Carolina 20 Atlanta 22 L 17 18 27 31 35 L 18 26 26 29 32 L 25 23 27 34 34 T 6 11 9 9 4 T 7 5 8 8 8 T 8 10 12 9 6 OL 5 3 2 2 5 OL 1 1 3 8 6 OL 5 5 9 6 4 PTS GF GA 89 178 140 84 158140 71 181188 67 186205 59 167211 PTS GF GA 92 216147 80 200176 73 203195 64 171202 56 151176 PTS GF GA 77 193186 75 185182 63 157 201 55 142193. 54 174234 1.5 4 7.5 15.5 18 18 28.5 By Josh Holman Daily Sports Writer After an improbable comeback in Friday's game in Norman, Okla., the Michigan baseball team appeared all out of rally magic yesterday and failed to convert on a bases-loaded situation in the top of the ninth inning, handing Oklahoma a 5-4 victory and the week- end series. Oklahoma relief pitcher Jarod McAuli- ff struck out the first two batters he faced in the ninth, but then proceeded to walk senior second baseman Jordan Canta- lamessa and hit junior designated hitter Jake Fox, sandwiching senior third base- man Brock Koman's single in between. Senior outfielder Mike Sokol stepped up to the plate, but struck out to end the game, dropping the Wolverines' record to 4-6 on the season. "This was a good game for us to win," Oklahoma head coach Larry Cochell said. "They played us tight all game, and it's good for us to play in tight games and learn how to win them." The difference in the game came in the bottom of the sixth inning when freshman pitcher Craig Murray loaded the bases. Oklahoma's Jay Yaconetti drove in Matt Arkinson on a slow ground ball. Murray earned the loss, although Arkinson's run was unearned after he reached base on a dropped fly ball. The Wolverines had the bats working on Friday, when they scored 12 unan- swered runs, including an eight-run sev- enth, to wipe away an eight-run deficit and come away with the 16-12 victory. Cantalamessa drove in seven runs on 4-for-6 hitting for the Wolverines while Fox added four RBIs on two home runs. "Michigan did an outstanding job of swinging the bats (Friday) and staying in the game," Cochell said. "We did everything we had to do to win the game today. We hit well, and we played good defense, we just didn't pitch well." Senior outfielder Gino Lollio ended up driving in the game-winning RBI with the score tied at 12-12 in the eighth inning. In Saturday's game, Sooner's pitcher Buddy Blair quieted the Wolverine line- up, striking out nine in the complete game, 5-2 victory. WESTERN CONFERENCE WESTERN CONFERENCE NORTHWEST DIVISION By Mustafizur Choudhury Daily Sports Writer CENTRAL DIVISION Dallas San Antonio Minnesota Utah Houston Memphis Denver W 48 43 41 35 32 21 13 W 45 40 35 33 30 28 20 L 14 18 24 27 30 41 51 L 19 22 26 29 33 33 42 Pct. .774 .705 .631 .565 .516 .339 .203 Pct. .703 .645 .574 .532 .476 -459 .323 GB 4.5 8.5 13 16 27 36 GB 4 8.5 11 14.5 15.5 24 Detroit St. Louis Nashville Chicago Columbus W L 38 17 35 19 27 25 24 29 24 33 NORTHWEST DIVISION W Vancouver Colorado Minnesota Edmonton Calgary 39 34 33 29 23 PACIFIC DIVISION Sacramento Portland LA Lakers Phoenix Golden State Seattle LA Clippers NBA GAMES L 18 16 24 23 31 L 14 25 31 28 31 T 9 8 10 10 7 T 11 11 9 8 10 T 15 8 4 8 6 OL 3 6 5 5 3 OL 1 7 1 8 4 OL 2 4 4 4 5 PTS 88 84 69 63 58 PTS 90 86 76 74 60 PTS 91 76 66 66 61 GF GA 216167 214178 165 165 160 174 175214 GF GA 218175 201165 160144 182187 154195 GF GA 207140 164166 18418 175 184 184 198 T-sirt desgnunveiled PACIFIC DIVISION W Dallas 37 Anaheim 32 Los Angeles 29 Phoenix 27 San Jose 25 By Seth Klempner Daily Sports Writer Yesterday's games NEW YORK 97, Washington 96 LA LAKERS 106, Phildelphia 92 San Antiono 94, BOSTON 78 DETROIT 107, Golden State 105 ORLANDO 111, Denver 98 Memphis 119, TORONTO 106 NEW JERSEY 102, New Orleans 92 MINNESOTA 105, Phoenix 98 SACRAMENTO 107, Indiana 88 Today's games LA Clippers at ATLANTA Utah at MIAMI Minnesota at DALLAS Tomorrow's games Miami at CLEVELAND New Orleans at INDIANA Orlando at WASHINGTON Memphis at NEW YORK San Antonio at MILWAUKEE L.A. Lakers at CHICAGO Toronto at DENVER Portland at SEATTLE Phoenix at GOLDEN STATE NHL GAMES Yesterday's games CHICAGO 8, Boston 5 Minnesota 6, ATLANTA 4 ANAHEIM 2, Detroit 0 OTTAWA 4, Pittsburgh 2 DALLAS 3, San Jose 0 Today's games Columbus at CAROLINA Florida at NY RANGERS Phildelphia at WASHINGTON Montreal at NASHVILLE Toronto at EDMONTON Phoenix at COLORADO Detroit ay Los ANGELES Tomorrow's games Boston at OTTAWA Dallas at COLUMBUS Atlanta at NEW JERSEY Edmonton at CALGARY N.Y. Islanders at VANCOUVER St. Louis at SAN JOSE 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 9:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m. 10:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 8 p.m. 9 p.m. 10 p.m. 10:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 9:30 p.m. 10:00 p.m. 10:30 p.m. David Porter was the winner of the athletic department's contest to design its inaugural season shirt. The industri- al and graphic design major modeled the shirt with the wing of Michigan's helmet on front in a borderless design, over a thin block 'M.' The junior kept the shirt yellow to remain consistent with the Maize Rage. He also placed several historical facts about the team on the back, sandwiched between lines reading, "Hail to the vic- tors" and "Welcome to the Big House." Football coach Lloyd Carr, Athletic Director Bill Martin, several members of the athletic department and groups of students from the Michigan Student Assembly, the Student-Athlete Adviso- ry Committee and last year's Blue, Out committee were involved in voting on the winning project. They selected Porter's submission from a pool of approximately 50 applicants. "I wanted to keep it simple," Porter said of his design idea. "Michigan football represents tradition, and I hoped to represent that in my shirt" Students can order the shirts along with their football tickets no later than March 21. The shirts will cost students $10 when ordered with season tickets, in addition to the $142 cost of season tickets. If not purchased with season tickets, the shirts can also be purchased for $15 at the M-Den. In reward for the winning design, Porter will receive free tickets for the 2003 season and have the opportunity to be on the field for a game next year.. This past weekend, six members of the Michigan women's track and field team made the trip to South Bend for the Alex Wilson Invitational to take a final shot at qualifying for the NCAA Championships, which take place this weekend. But of the six athletes, only one was able to provisionally qualify for the championship meet. Sophomore Theresa Feldkamp ran a provisional time in the 800-meter run for the second time this season with a fourth-place finish of 2:07.86. The time topped her previous sea- son-best mark of 2:08.32, her other provisional time from earlier in the season. Coincidentally, she earned both marks on the same track, with the first one coming at the Meyo Invita- tional, Feb. 7-8. Because she was unable to post an automatic qualifying time, Feldkamp and her coaches will have to wait until tonight to find out if her provisional time was low enough to give her a chance to compete in the national championships. "We won't know until (tonight), but we're planning to take her in any case," head coach James Henry said. "She ran her personal best. She's a young kid, she works very hard and she deserves a chance to go." Feldkamp, who usually crosses the finish line after Michigan's top 800- meter runner - senior tri-captain Rachel Sturtz - was pleased with her performance, but not astounded. "I had already had a provisional time very early in the season, so it wasn't really a big dea1,"Feldkamp said. "I was happy to get a new person- al-best time. It was a good way to end the indoor season and go into the out- door season." Henry has many expectations from this young athlete and sees her per- formance as an indicator of what to expect in the future. "She's done really well for us over the first couple years," Henry said. "I think she's going to be an outstanding athlete, not just for the outdoor season, but for the next few years." Feldkamp will join her teammates this weekend, as Michigan willbe sending six Wolverines to Fayetteville, Ark. to compete in the NCAA Cham- pionships. SPORTS BRIEFS Mhtocur- tesy Michi- gan athletic' department Merrimack goalie critical after injury BOSTON (AP) - Merrimack goalie Joe Exter was in critical condi- tion Saturday night, nearly 24 hours I I r, --N after he was hit in the head in a colli- sion with a Boston College player. Exter, a senior from Cranston, R.I., left the crease chasing a loose puck and was hit by Eagles forward Patrick Eaves in the third period of Friday night's game at Kelley Rink. "He started to go into convulsions and shake," Merrimack coach Chris Serino said. Exter was unconscious on the ice, but regained consciousness before being carried off the ice on a stretcher and taken to Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center, where he remained in an intensive care unit. He was listed in critical condition Friday night. He was upgraded to seri- ous condition earlier yesterday, but was returned to critical condition last night. "He has a serious head injury and is being monitored closely," hospital offi- cials said in a statement. The game was delayed about 20 minutes. Fights erupted between the two teams following the collision, but Seri- no said he didn't think Eaves' hit on Exter was a cheap shot. "Do I think Patrick Eaves tried to hurt Joe Exter? No I don't," Sering said. Boston College went on to win 4-1 in the first game of the best-of-three Hockey East quarterfinal series. The Eagles completed the sweep last night with a 2-1 victory. 6 6 -* -*- 6 A look at the I I my n rnatis* in o I