2B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - September 8, 2003 CLUBSPORTSWEEKLY Michigan club polo has one elusive goal By Jamie Josephson For the Daily Splashing into its fall campaign with the return of experienced veterans and the addition of fresh talent, the Michigan men's water polo club is no longer set- tling for second best. The past three years have been marked by heart- breaking losses in the finals of the Big Ten Champi- onships. And each season, the difference has been a single goal. Molding a comfortable home at the run- ner-up position, Michigan polo came up short against the Spartans twice and Purdue once. "We've been working harder every year, and right now, we are in the best shape we've ever been in," said president and captain Dean Malmgren, who is looking to take that extra step this season. Kicking off its crusade at the Michigan State tour- nament this past weekend, the team's impressive first-place performance set the tone for its champi- onship campaign. Taking home the bacon against Purdue in the finals (9-5), the squad also destroyed MSU B (16-8), Illinois (18-4), and Indiana (14-6) along the way. Malmgren says the squad's strategies to achieve first place glory included staying consistently moti- vated for every tournament. Drowning its opponents in a 2-2 split last year at the Claremont Convergence Tournament against four Division III Varsity teams, the club is looking forward to returning to Southern California Oct. 9-14 to prove its championship potential. Entering the season with all but one player return- ing, the team's cohesion will be one of its strengths. "We are here because we want to be; we simply love this sport," senior holeset Rich Magner said. Malmgren insists that digging for the extra edge in the close games is the main focus. The nail-biters will no longer be about physical ability, but rather mental endurance. As one of the smallest squads physically in the Big Ten, Malmgren insures that what the team lacks in size, it will make up for in speed and skill. Looking to a talented incoming freshman class as a welcom- NFb Lions let loo DETROIT (AP) - Joey Harrington made sure Steve Mariucci's debut with the Detroit Lions was a good one. Harrington threw a career-high four touchdown passes to lead the Lions past the Arizona Cardinals 42-24 Yes- terday, spoiling Emmitt Smith's first game with his new team and Anquan Boldin's record-setting day. "Everyone wanted to see what would happen with Coach Mariucci handling things," Harrington said. "I don't think it could've been much better." Boldin caught 10 passes for 217 yards, a record for a rookie in his debut, and two touchdowns. Boldin, a second-round pick from Florida State, broke the record set by Washington's DMSCHEDULE 42 Hugh Taylor, who had 212 yards against Philadelphia on Sept. 28, 1947. "Right now, I don't think I can enjoy it," Boldin said. "I would give those stats back for the win." Lions defensive end Robert Porcher said if he were Smith, he would've retired in Dallas after breaking Walter Payton's NFL rush- ing record last year. Smith may have thought the same thing after he gained just 4 yards on his first five carries without a blue star on his helmet. He is playing on a poor team after winning three Super Bowls, one MVP award and one Super Bowl MVP trophy in 13 seasons with the Cowboys. Smith ran for 64 yards on extending his rushing record "I don't like to talk abou Smith said. "This is a team g It was a close game for a; quarters between two team to be among the NFL's wor Lions scored three TDs - punt return, another on an i return - in about seven min Mariucci has created e after returning to his hom lowing his firing in SanF where he was 60-43 with t off wins over six season was 5-27 under Marty Mo for the worst two-year ma history. "This is the beginning have spent the last seven m ing for," Mariucci said. "It be home." Harrington was 17-of-3 yards and no turnovers. pick in last year's draft i Lions quarterback to throw since Scott Mitchell again in 1996. Rookie Charles Rogers receptions for 38 yards and t one on a highlight-worthy was fully extended on a 13 from Harrington to putt ahead 14-7 early in the secon Detroit made Rogers tb selection overall this year,] would be the big-play thr lacked since Barry Sandersi before the 1999 season. ing addition, the team president regarded these new assets with high expectations. "We freshmen look to make any kind of impact we can from the bench," freshman addition Jon Thomas said. According to Malmgren, the raw enthusiasm and encouragement from these newcomers can push the team that much further. Vice president Larry Kennedy explained that the squad's "club" status provides another means to achieving its first-place goal. Club athletes' egos are in check and their label causes them to work that much harder to earn respect. Sponsoring fundraising events from can drives to selling t-shirts offer hum- bling experiences for the athletes. Though Big Ten glory and national recognition would be undeniable achievements for the club, Magner acknowledged that having more than half the team attend pre season was a true victory in the sense of athletic commitment. "Polo may not be our whole life, but it is a close second," Magner said. ie r 24 13 carries, After Yesterday's game, Rogers was [to 17,226. sporting one of Sanders' No. 20 jer- ut myself," seys. game." "I'm not going to say I'm the next Imost three Barry Sanders," Rogers said. "I'm just s expected going to be the best Charles Rogers st until the can be." - one on a The Lions missed James Stewart, nterception out for the year with a dislocated lutes. shoulder. xcitement Rogers, who ran for 12 yards on an e state fol- end-around, was Detroit's leading rush- Francisco, er until Olandis Gary gained 19 yards :hree play- late in the game. s. Detroit Arizona's Jeff Blake, who replaced ornhinweg Jake Plummer, was 28-of-46 for 363 rk in team yards with three TDs. But he had an interception returned for a score and a of what I fumble that set up another TD. onths wait- The Cardinals took a 21-14 lead on 's great to the first drive of the second half on a short pass to Boldin, who juked Andre 0 for 195 Goodman, then raced 71 yards. The third Detroit's Eddie Drummond returned s the first a punt 57 yards to tie the game at 21. four TDs The Lions went ahead on Harrington's st Chicago 8-yard pass to a wide-open Cory Schlesinger late in the third quarter. had four Bill Gramatica kicked a field goal two scores, on the next possession, but then y dive. He Blake's turnovers ended Arizona's -yard pass hopes. the Lions After Blake fumbled, Harrington nd quarter. showed poise on a 5-yard TD pass to he second Bill Schroeder. On the ensuing pos- hoping he session, Detroit's No. 1 free-agent reat it has acquisition, cornerback Dre' Bly, retired just returned an interception 48 yards to end the scoring. AMERICAN LEAGUE Eastern Division New York Boston Toronto Baltimore Tampa Bay Central Division Chicago Sox Minnesota Kansas City Cleveland Detroit West Division Oakland Seattle Anaheim Texas NATIONAL LEAGUE Eastern Division Atlanta Philadelphia Florida Montreal New York Central Division Houston Chicago Cubs St. Louis Pittsburgh Milwaukee Cincinnati West Division San Francisco Los Angeles Arizona Colorado San Diego L 56 59 70 77 84 L 66 66 69 82 105 L 59 61 74 79 L 53 64 65 72 79 L 67 67 69 77 79 81 L 55 66 70 79 84 Pct .600 .589 .504 .454 .400 Pct .532 .532 .511 .434 .262 Pct .592 .577 .486 .451 Pct .627 .549 .542 .503 .440 Pct .528 .528 .517 .457 .440 .433 Pot .614 .529 .507 .455 .408 GB Indianapolis S Houston - Tennessee 3 Jacksonville 15 39 GB 2.5 13.5 20.5 28 GB 2 15 20 GB 11.5 12 18.5 27 GB 2 10.5 13 14.5 GB 11 14 22.5 29 North Pittsburgh Baltimore Cincinnati Cleveland West Denver Kansas City Oakland San Diego NATIONAL CONFERENCE East ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Who: April Fronzoni Sport: Field hockey Hometown: Larksville, Pa. Year: Senior Position: Forward Why: Fronzoni scored five goals in two games over the weekend for the Wolverines, including three in the first 20 minutes against Boston Col- lege. She also scored the game winner against the Eagles, capping off an incredible weekend for the All-American and Honda Award candidate. DSonzon DAMY SCORE BOAR D MLB STANDINGS Buffalo Miami New England NY Jets South W 1 0 0 0 w 1 1 0 0 W 1 0 0 0 W 1 1 0 0 NFL STANDINGS AMERICAN CONFERENCE East T 0 0 0 0 T ,0 0 0 0 T 0 0 0 0 T 0 0 0 0 T 0 0 0 0 T 0 0 0 0 T 0 0 0 0 T 0 0 NY Giants Washington Philadelphia Dallas South Atlanta Carolina Tampa Bay New Orleans North Detroit Minnesota Chicago Green Bay West San Francisco Seattle St. Louis Arizona w 1 1 0 0 W 1 1 0 0 W 1 1 0 0 W 1 1 0 0 PF 31 30 0 13 PF 9 21 0 23 PF 34 15 10 6 PF 30 27 0 14 PF 23 16 0 13 , PF 27 24 0 10 PF 42 30 7 25 PF 49 27 13 24 PA 0 10 31 16 PA 6 20 0 24 PA 15 34 30 9 PA 10 14 0 27 PA 13 13 0 27 PA 13 23 0 27 PA 24 25 49 30 PA 7 10 23 42 I Friday. Sept.:12 Field Hockey vs. Ohio State, 1 p.m. Volleyball v. East Tennessee State at Knoxville, 5 p.m. M Soccer at North Carolina, 7:30 p.m. W Soccer v. Nebraska at Madison, 5 p.m (CDT). Saturday Sept.13 W Cross Country at Miami Invitational, 10:15 a.m. Football v. Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. Volleyball v. Cal State Fullerton at Knoxville, 11 a.m. Volleyball at Tennessee, 7 p.m. Sunday. Sept.:14 M Soccer at North Carolina, 12 p.m. W Soccer v. Iowa State at Madison, 11 a.m. (CDT) Field Hockey v. New Hampshire, 1 p.m. MLB SCORES Yesterday's games NY Yankees 3, Boston 1 Toronto 8, Detroit 0 Tampa Bay 11, Oakland 2 Baltimore 2, Seattle 1 Chicago Sox 7, Cleveland 3 Minnesota 5, Texas 4 Kansas City 3, Anaheim 0 Atlanta 2, Pittsburgh 1 Florida 3. Montreal 1 Chicago Cubs 10, Milwaukee 2 ST. Louis 9, Cincinnati 0 Los Angeles 6. Colorado 2 Arizona 9, San Francisco 6 San Diego 7, Houston 1 NY Mets at Philadelphia, Inc. Today's games Toronto at NY Yankees, 1:05 p.m. Chicago Cubs at Montreal, 6:05 p.m. Boston at Baltimore, 7:05 p.m. Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, 7:10 p.m. Florida at NY Mets, 7:10 p.m. Philadelphia at Atlanta, 7:35 p.m. Minnesota at Chicago Sox, 8:05 p.m. Houston at Milwaukee, 8:05 p.m. Colorado at St. Louis, 8:10 p.m. Los Angeles at Arizona, 9:35 p.m. Anaheim at Oakland, 10:05 p.m. Tomorrow's games Boston at Baltimore, 7:05 p.m. Detroit at NY Yankees, 7:05 p.m. Chicago Cubs at Montreal, 7:05 p.m. Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, 7:10 p.m. Florida at NY Mets, 7:10 p.m. Toronto at Tampa Bay, 7:15 p.m. Philadelphia at Atlanta, 7:35 p.m Minnesota at Chicago Sox, 8:05 p.m. Cleveland at Kansas City, 8:05 p.m. Houston at Milwaukee, 8:05 p.m. Colorado at St. Louis, 8:10 p.m. Los Angeles at Arizona, 9:35 p.m. Anaheim at Oakland, 10:05 p.m. Texas at Seattle, 10:05 p.m. San Francisco at San Diego, 10:05 p.m NFL GAMES Thursday's game Washington 16, NY Jets 13 Yesterday's games Buffalo 31, New England 0 Denver 30, Cincinnati 10 Indianapolis 9, Cleveland 6 Kansas City 27, San Diego 14 Houston 21, Miami 20 NY Giants 23, St. Louis 13 Pittsburgh 34, Baltimore 15 Detroit 42, Arizona 24 Minnesota 30, Green Bay 25 Carolina 24, Jacksonville 23 San Francisco 49, Chicago 7 Seattle 27. New Orleans 10 Atlanta. 27, Dallas 13 Oakland at Tennessee, Inc. Today's game TampaBay at Philadelphia, 9:00 P.M. Next week's games Washington at Atlanta, 1 p.m. Detroit at Green Bay, 1 p.m. Tennessee at Indianapolis, 1 p.m. Pittsburgh at Kansas City, 1 p.m. San Francisco at St. Louis, 1 p.m. Houston at New Orleans, 1 p.m. Miami at NY Jets, 1 p.m. Buffalo at Jacksonville, 1 p.m. Cleveland at Baltimore,1 p.m. Seattle at Arizona, 4:05 p.m. Carolina at Tampa Bay, 4:15 p.m. Denver at San Diego, 4:15 p.m. New England at Philadelphia, 4:15 p.m. Cincinnati at Oakland, 4:15 p.m. Chicago at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m. Dallas at NY Giants, 9:00 p.m., 9/15 I 0 DD D DO .0 All clinics are held at the Intramural Sports Building. 6 ----I The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan presents :> : .J