The Michigan Daily - Friday, October 25, 2002 - 9A
'M' stickers head East
. to face nation's best
Gators handle Blue
in first home meet
By Brian Steere
Daily Sports Writer
It's easy to see why Michigan field
hockey coach Marcia Pankratz believes
that this weekend is the most important
yet for her team,
This afternoon, the sec-
ond-ranked Wolverines
(5-0 Big Ten, 14-1 overall)
will take their 13-game
winning streak into State
College, where a victory
over No. 6 Penn State (3-
1, 13-2) would give them
sole possession of the reg-
ular-season Big Ten title
and the No. 1 seed in the
conference tournament.
STATE CO
Who: No. 2 Mich
5-0) vs. No. 6 Pe
(31,12-2), No.:
Dominion (14-2,E
When: 4 p.m. to
p.m. Saturday
Latest: With a wi
the Wolverines c
Big Ten title outri
"That's why we schedule Old Domin-
ion late in the year," Pankratz said.
"We're trying to prepare for the Big Ten
Tournament and the national tourna-
ment. And certainly, to win Big Tens on
the road against Penn State would be
well deserving. So, it's a great chal-
, lenge, and we're definitely
up for it."
)LLEGE Defeating the Nittany
igan (14-1, Lions would be particular-
nn state ly satisfying since they
1 old beat the Wolverines last
6-0 ECAC) year at the end of the regu-
night, 2 lar season, preventing
Michigan from winning a
in tonight, share of the Big Ten title
an win the with Ohio State and Michi-
gan State.
Last year's loss "is definitely on our
minds" junior Kate Dillon said. "We're
really gunning for Penn State right
now. They are a good team; they're
always a good team. Playing at their
field, we're looking at a tough week-
end in front of us."
Michigan has faced four ranked
opponents so far this season, and this
weekend adds two more to that total.
With such sound experience in marquee
contests, Dillon knows what Michigan
must do to be successful against Penn
State and Old Dominion.
"I really think it comes down to the
tactics," Dillon said. "Our coaches are
really good about preparing us, tactical-
ly - scouting the other team and bring-
ing us videotape which we watch?
By Chris Amos
For the Daily
Less than 24 hours later on the same .
field, Michigan will have to face No. 1
Old Dominion (6-0 Colonial Athletic
Association, 14-2), which just seized the
top ranking in the country last weekend
by toppling then-No. 1 Maryland.
"Michigan State was our biggest
weekend (prior to this one)," Pankratz
said. "But this is a double weekend
where we have back-to-back games,
and we're playing on the road - so
that's not easy. It will be a great chal-
lenge for us, and we're looking for-
ward to it."
The hallmark of any championship
team is the ability to win games against
the toughest competition. Pankratz
knows playing against the best will help
prepare Michigan for its postseason run.
Giants
take 3-2
series lead
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Teased
and taunted for tiptoeing around Barry
Bonds, the Anaheim Angels decided to
challenge him.
Whack! Bonds lined an RBI double
that sent the
San Francisco 2002
Giants zoom- er-d n 4
ing to a big
lead that not
even these ' w*
pesky Angels
could over- -r
come, win-
ning 16-4 in
Game 5 last
night to take GAME 5 -ANAHEIM 4,
a 3-2 lead in SNF~cso1
the World Series.
Jeff Kent sealed it with a pair of two-
run homers, starting the party in full
force at Pac Bell Park and putting the
Giants on the brink of their first World
Series title since Willie Mays & Co.
won it for NewYork in 1954.
Rich Aurilia's three-run homer in the
eighth gave the Giants the most runs by
a team in a Series game since the New
York Yankees walloped Pittsburgh 16-3
in 1960. It was the 17th homer overall
by the Angels and San Francisco, tying
a Series record.
Once again, it took only one big
swing by Bonds - Mays' godson -
to swing the momentum in this Series.
But, really, the Angels were caught in a
lose-lose squeeze from the start.
They pitched to Bonds in the first
inning, and the Giants got three runs.
They walked him in the second, and
San Francisco scored three more.
Halloween was still a week away, but
the big guy in orange and black had
plenty of tricks for Anaheim.
The Michigan women's swim-
ming team was swamped by Florida
last night at Canham Natatorium.
Florida swimmers took first place
in 10 of 14 individual events en
route to outscoring Michigan 173-
127 in both teams' first meet of the
season..
Michigan coach Jim Richardson
was especially impressed by the
Gators' performance.
"Florida was awesome," he said.
"Sara McLarty and several others
swam really strongly."
Richardson said the Wolverines
would benefit greatly from the
experience of competing against the
Gators' powerful swimmers.
"We set a high bar for ourselves,
but we expect it to pay dividends
later," Richardson said. "We wanted
to start against a top team, and
Florida is probably among the top
five teams in the nation. Our fresh-
men were really nervous, and this
should help them gain confidence
in the future."
Richardson cited several strong
showings by Michigan swimmers as
positives to build on in evaluating
the loss. He was particularly
impressed with the performance of
seniors Laura Kaznecki and Erin
Abbey, junior Anne Weilbacher and
sophomore Amy McCullough, who
combined to win the 400-yard
freestyle relay in a time of 3:30.13.
"They swam a faster time in an
opening meet than any other Michi-
gan team that I can remember, and I
have been here for some time," said
Richardson, who is in his 18th sea-
son at Michigan. Richardson was
also impressed with Weilbacher's
individual performance in the 200-
yard butterfly because she had not
competed in the race since her
freshman year. Weilbacher won the
event with a time of 2:04.83.
Other Wolverines placing first in
individual events included Kaznec-
ki, who won the 50-yard freestyle in
24.15 seconds and senior Julie
Kern, who took first place in the
400-yard individual medley with a
time of 4:34.97. Junior Tealin Kele-
men also won the three-meter div-
ing competition with a score of
325.85.
Richardson felt that the team's
overall performance was average,
but added that the team would
spend the next two weeks working
to improve its swimming tech-
niques. The Wolverines hope that
this work will lead to a better per-
formance in next month's meet in
Chapel Hill, N.C. against North
Carolina and Harvard.
"I saw a lot of good things
tonight," he said. "I like the team's
spirit, attitude and focus. I hope we
see better results next time."
Michigan sophomore midfielder Adrienne Hortillosa looks to help the Wolverines
this weekend, as they face the nation's No.1 team, Old Dominion.
"Then we work on specifics in prac-
tice of what they're going to do and
what we're going to need to bring to
beat their game plan. I think that's real-
ly what wins the game."
Should Michigan complete the
weekend sweep, it would likely garner
the No. 1 ranking in the country, the
first time in school history for the
Wolverines. While being the best in
the land is not an immediate concern
for the Wolverines, the achievement
would certainly be gratifying.
"We don't look at the rankings too
much because they don't really mean
that much until the end of the season,"
Dillon said. "But it would be nice to be
at the top for once."
'State pride' on the line as'
By Michael Nisson
Daily Sports Writer
After splitting two games for the second
consecutive week, the Michigan women's
soccer team looks to make like a janitor and
sweep its games this weekend. The Wolver-
ines head to East Lansing today
to take on the Spartans, and then
come back on Sunday to face E ST1.
Oakland at home. Who: Michiga
The game against the Spartans 12-4 overall)
will undoubtedly be a knee- State (5-3-1,
knocking battle for state Oakland 2-2M
supremacy. Coach Debbie When:3p.m.
Rademacher noted that this is a p.m. Sunday
good motivating factor for the Latest: The s
team. their last hom
"We're playing for state pride, Sunday.
playing Michigan State," she said. "We want
to be the best program in the state, so there's
a loe that we're playing for."
The game against the Grizzlies is equally
a
LAS
AR
an
vs.
11-
MC
. to
eni
me
important, but for a different reason. For the
seven seniors on this year's team it could
mark the last time that they will step onto
Varsity Field sporting the maize and blue
uniform.
The Wolverines (7-2-0 Big Ten, 12-4-0
overall) are still waiting to see if Ann Arbor
will be deemed one of the sites
for this year's NCAA tourna-
NSING, ment.
7-2 Big Ten, The 2002-2003 senior class has
Michigan compiled an impressive four-year
4-1) and record of 55-27-3, highlighted by
C, 6-10) trips to the NCAA Tournament in
day and,1 each of the last three years. They
are an amazing 31-7-1 at home
ors will play going into Sunday's game.
game on "Every senior class has a dif-
ferent personality," Rademacher
said. "The difference is there's a lot of them,
so obviously they're a core of the team. Six
of them are starting players.
Picking one player among the seniors who
' eyes sweep
stands out is often a challenging task, but
this year Abby Crumpton instantly comes to
mind. Crumpton, a forward, is at the top of
most of the offensive categories in the Big
Ten.
She is currently third in points and second
in goals all-time at Michigan. With three reg-
ular season games left, she has a very good
chance to become the all-time leader in both
categories.
"She's one of our best players ever to come
through the program," Rademacher said.
"She's done so much for us in terms of her
speed and athleticism.
"She's taken us to the next level, and we'll
definitely miss her when she leaves."
Crumpton noted that it will be hard finish-
ing out her career.
"I've enjoyed my four years here," she
said. "It's kind of sad."
"We set the standard for this program.
Ninth in the country - we've never been
ranked that high before."
- --W*wap va *"
ALYSSA WOOD/Daily
Carly Williamson fights for possesion against Notre
Dame on October 17.
Cameron to play for U.S. Under-20 team
r1
By Jake Rosenwasser
For the Daily
The Michigan men's soccer team will
have the luxury of playing with sopho-
more Knox Cameron for just three more
games in this year's regular season.
Cameron was recently selected to play
for the National Under-20 team. From
Nov. 4th to Nov. 18th, Cameron will be
training and competing in Charleston,
South Carolina at the CONCACAF
group B qualifying tournament.
"It's a great honor for him to play and
represent our country," Michigan coach
Steve Burns said.
Cameron will miss the last two
games of the regular season and the
entire Big Ten Tournament. Burns
would rather have Cameron with his
Wolverines, but he thinks the team can
overcome the loss.
"In the game of soccer, one player
does not make a team," Burns said. "It
takes 11 players working well together
to accomplish something."
Cameron has appeared in every one
of Michigan's 30 games the past two
seasons, registereing 13 goals and six
assists. His goal count makes him the
all-time leader in Michigan's brief soc-
cer history and his eight goals this sea-
son is one off the team lead.
Burns, whose team travels to Illinois-
Chicago and Northwestern this week-
end, is already thinking about
replacements for Cameron. Robert
Wurth and Mike White are possibilites
The conference tournament will be a
daunting task without Cameron's pres-
ence. The team needs an excellent show-
ing in the Big Ten Tournament to give
itself a shot at earning a bid in the
NCAA tournament. If Michigan should
earn a bid to the tournament, Cameron
would be back in time to play.
"We will have something to prove in
the Big Ten Tournament," Burns said.
"We want to show that we are more than
a one-player team."
Cameron's absence makes one won-
der if he will be around in the years to
come. Might Cameron be tempted to
turn pro and leave Michigan early?
Burns thinks that this scenario unlikely.
"With the poor salaries that soccer
players in this country make, it would be
wise for Cameron to stay and get his
degree," Burns said. "The advice he is
getting from home and from the coach-
ing staff is to stick around for the full
four years. He has a good head on his
CHICAGO
Who: Michigan (1-3 Big Ten, 5641 overall) vs.
Illinois-Chicago (3-2-1 Horizon, 76-2), and
Northwestern (0-3 Big Ten, 6-8)
When: 4 p.m. today and 3 p.m. Sunday
Latest: Knox Cameron plays two of his final
games before leaving for the National Team.
shoulders, and he should definitely be
-around in the future."
NANOOKS
Continued from Page 8A
"It means that you have programs like Michigan, Michi-
gan State, and Ohio State come up here," Alaska-Fairbanks
coach Guy Gadowski said. "And the hockey fans here just
eat that up."
What the CCHA got was a school, a town and a state that is
mad about hockey. College hockey is the top dog in Fairbanks,
where capacity crowds always fill Fairbanks' Carlson Center.
When the Nanooks started their 2002-03 season in an exhibi-
tion against Mt. Royal College, more than 4,000 fans showed
up - equivalent to one eighth of the non-student population of
Fairbanks. The mayor of Fairbanks and the governor of the
state even know the Nanooks on a first-name basis.
"It's such a hockey town," Gadowski said. "Our fans are
very knowledgeable; they really appreciate the finer points of
hockey as well. They're not just there to see goals and hits.
They're talking about your forecheck and your penalty kill and
things like that."
But with the notoriety also comes long road trips. When the
Nanooks have a Friday-Saturday road series, they have to leave
before eight in the morning on Wednesday. They fly from Fair-
banks to Anchorage to Detroit before busing to where they are
playing. They then spend Thursday practicing, adjusting to the
four or five-hour time change, and attending study tables to
make up for lost class time. This is all before they hit the ice on
Friday night.
"They have a lot of demands on their time," Gadowski said.
"But the travel is sometimes a great time to get caught up in
studies and rest, and it actually works out really well."
Having the Nanooks in the conference also gives the teams
of the league a chance to go to Alaska and bond as a team.
Berenson has always enjoyed breaking away from normal rou-
tines and traveling up north early in the season. This is the first
year the Wolverines have not gone to Alaska since 1995.
Anchorage native Jason Ryznar enjoyed going back to his
home state last year even though he got a little grief from his
teammates about his home state.
"People were saying 'How can you live here? How can you
be from this state?"' Ryznar said. "It brings the whole team
together, I wish I was going back this year."
I
SCRIMMAGE
Continued from Page 8A
preseason and it will give Michigan
fans a chance to get a sneak peak at
the Wolverines in a game situation.
From a game standpoint, tomor-
row will be the first opportunity for
highly touted freshmen, such as
officials and a crowd watching the
team, thecoaching staff is trying to
simulate a game setting and see
what effect it has on the Wolver-
ines.
"It is one of the earlier times our
kids can play in front of people,"
Amaker said. "It gives us a look at
players under game conditions."
CRISLER ARENA
What: Maize and Blue Scrimmage
When: 4 p.m.
Latest: The scrimmage is free of charge. Fol-
lowing the game, fans are invited to stay to
meet players and coaches.