8A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September18, 2003 Senior Carlton brings new approach to links Turpin's ability to finish biggest factor in success By Matt Venegoni For the Daily Chris Perry, Daniel Horton, and Eric Nystrom. All coming from Michigan's big three sports, these players are quasi rockstars on campus. They're noticed every time they have lunch in the Union. But there are many other hard-working University student-athletes. That said, it TiIS V is time to get acquainted with Scott Carlton, a fifth- year senior on the Michigan Tre S men's golf team. The man who would play a round with Bill Murray if " he had the chance has a dif- ferent college routine than most stu- dents. Although his classes usually start in the evening, Carlton is up by 8:30 a.m. so he can lift and run before his 2:30 p.m. practice. The practices always have to be during the mid-afternoon, so the Wolverines can maximize playing time in unpredictable Michigan weather. Carlton is a graduate student in the Sports Management program and has earned Academic All-Big Ten honors the past three years. He has excelled at both school and the links (three finishes in the top-20 and one in the top-10). After a disappointing eighth-place showing last spring in the Big Ten Championships, the entire team has r been dedicated to becoming a contender by the time the Big Ten Championships hit Ann Arbor in May. "There are many reasons to be opti- mistic about this upcoming season," Carlton said. "The team returns every- one from last year and has a couple freshmen who look very good." In addition, this is Michi- gan coach Andrew Sapp's E EKEND second year with the team, so all the lessons and expe- rience it gained last year should show up on the scorecard. Having only one other senior on the team, Dave Nichols, Carlton believes that he has to lead By Jeremy Antar Daily Sports Writer Junior Mychal Turpin's performance Sunday was special. He set a school record by netting four goals in a game, climbing to the top of the all-time scoring list with 19 career goals. He became the first Wolverine to rack up two natural hat tricks. But most importantly, Turpin propelled the Michigan men's soccer team to a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory over JUNC Greensboro. "Mychal Turpin is finding open space behind our opponent's defense and we are finding him with the ball," coach Steve Burns said. "He is such a dangerous player that once we find him with the ball, he finishes the play." Turpin's strength is his ability to score. He has the skill to dribble through a defense and create shots for himself. But most of the time, Turpin can focus on finding a crease and slip- ping through the defense without the ball. His teammates make this possible by knowing how and when to get it to him. Teamwork and the ability to find the open man have become the bread and butter of this team. "These guys have a good under- standing of how to open up spaces and find each other," Burns said. One of the best connections on the team is between Turpin and senior tri- captain Mike White. Having played together the last three seasons, White and Turpin have developed great chem- istry. "When we're in a game, I usually know what Mychal is going to do," White said. "What runs he's going to make, when he's going to lay it off, so I can base my play off of him." White, who has piled up the third- most assists in team history, is entering his second season as a captain. He is aware of his leadership responsibilities, saying he tries to be a vocal leader in the lockerroom, but prefers to let his play on the field do the talking. g YANrsWgINEsrgaiy Michigan's Mychal Turpin has been Michigan's main scoring threat this season. vocally, but more importantly, by exam- ple. "All the words in the world don't mat- ter if you don't put up the scores," Carl- ton said. In order to be a leader on the team, Carlton has changed his attitude toward the game. In the past, he thought he was too rigid, leading to difficult rounds. But he now has a more laid-back approach. To him, golf used to be the end-all, be-all. Now, even in his final season and with the Big Ten Champi- onships being held on the Michigan Golf Course, there is no sense of urgency; he is confident that he and the rest of the team can play. "I think I am more of a leader by example," White said. Part of the reason why White and Turpin have been successful early in the season is attributed to playing together over the summer. Burns said the dedication of his players to play soccer year-round has them playing great unusually early in the season. "Normally in a college soccer sea- son, you're going to come together hopefully by the middle of October, then there is still four weeks left in your season," Burns said. "The team is com- ing together ahead of schedule." So while no one on the team is ecstatic about a 4-2 record, the players and coaches know that better days lie ahead of them if they continue to per- form in unity. "When 11 players are all in form and the team's in form, it's a pretty special feeling how you can move the ball around and defend as a unit and ulti- mately win games over ninety min- utes," Burns said. Lucky number three? 'M' spikers believe By Brad Johnson After losing two of its first three matches, Michigan Daily Sports Writer has won five out of six and is starting to hit its stride. "We didn't play well at all that first weekend," Whether you believe in superstition or not, it is hard Rosen said. "We're back to the form that I expected us I to deny the importance of the number three for the Michigan volleyball team this season. The Wolverines (6-3) enter this week- end's tournament at Cliff Keen Arena on a three-game winning streak, and will be looking to capture their third straight tournament championship of the year. Senior Erin Moore also received her third career MVP honor last weekend at the Toyota LV Classic. "Erin has had a whole lot less (pres- >' { Wi~E, ' Mcia s -r to be at in this point of the year. I think that first week was more unusual than anything." The team's senior leadership has been a big key to its resurgence. The team returns five of its six starters from last year, which certainly doesn't hurt. The Wolverines' freshmen have been crucial during their winning streak. In fact, freshman Meghan Bowman current- ly leads the Big Ten in blocking. "It seems like (Meghan) gets better day" Rosen said. "The Tennessee match tor offensively early. But she ended up getting better and better and ended up with a career high for kills." Bowman and the rest of the team will need to con- tinue their inspired play if they hope to compete when Big Ten play rolls into town next weekend. Rosen knows that the intensity level and the quality of play will only increase. "Penn State will be on a caliber that will be equi- table to Kansas State (the No. 10 ranked team in the country)," he said. "Ohio State seems to be a little up and down, but does have one of the best players in the country in Stacey Gordon. We will need to find some answers for her." Before they get too ahead of themselves, the Wolver- ines will need to find some answers for Central Michi- gan and Valparaiso. All three teams will compete in the Michigan/Nike Challenge this weekend, giving Michi- gan one last shot to gear up for conference play. a sure) on her shoulders, and I think that's why she has done a good job so far" coach Mark Rosen said. every single was a great example where she wasn't much of a fac- Hurricane Isabel delays matchup with Terps By Megan Kolodgy Daily Sports Writer anytime, all season long for just Things to pack: stick, jerseys, mouth - $229 per person when you sign guard, shin guards, cleats and hurricane survival kit. up in groups of four! And, new Though this is a fictitious packing C RY S TA L this season, experience Crystal's list, it'could easily belong to any mem- M O U N T A I N ber of Michigan's field hockey team. North Face, with I I new slopes The No. 6 Wolverines (4-2) are flying and quad lift.That's 45 runs into Washington, D.C., later this week, total! Crystal Mountain®, 28 and they are already anticipating an Order your pass online at unfriendly welcome. This will not come www.crystalmountain.com miles SW of Traverse City. from a pack of sneering Maryland Ter- or call 1-800-968-7686. * Offer ends October Ist. rapins, but rather Hurricane Isabel. This category-two storm is predicted to hit Cape Hatteras, N.C., and then work its way up the Eastern shoreline this week. "I just hope I don't get blown into the ocean," senior tri-captain April Fron- zoni said. Though Michigan is concerned about what the inclement weather might mean for its gameplan, it has its sights set on weathering a different kind of storm. On Saturday, Michigan will take on No. 3 Maryland in a rematch of the 2001 NCAA national championship game. The game, originally slated for tomorrow, was moved to Saturday morning due to the impending storm. While several of the names on the roster have changed since that fateful season, the team dynamic for the Wolverines remains strong. "This team has great chemistry," head coach Marcia Pankratz said. "That's one of our greatest strengths. Even through adversity, we've remained connected." There are some players who recall that national championship game firsthand. "After that game, I learned what being on a team was all about," junior forward Adrienne Hortillosa said. "I was just a freshman then, and I'd never been on a winning team in high school. We learned to stick together." Fronzoni feels that she's come a long way since that game. "I think we've taken what we learned that season, in terms of leadership and field hockey skills, and not only main- tained them, but also built on them," Fronzoni said. "I've gotten stronger mentally and physically since 2001." A sense of urgency that accompanies her senior status also fuels Fronzoni's determination. "It's the last time I get to come out and do a lot of things," Fronzoni said. "I just cherish each day, and I'm enjoying the responsibilities that come along with being a captain. I feel that the team and the three captains have been work- ing really well together." It may, however, take more than chemistry to defeat the Terrapins on their home turf. "They have a couple of key European players that are really strong, so match- ing up with them will be important," Pankratz said. "Their corner is also dan- gerous, so we have to make sure that we scout that out and cover it." Hortillosa is taking this game in stride. "We've definitely learned to adapt and use our resources;" she said. "We've been through some difficult times already this season with our first two games, and we've fought through the adversity. We're just taking it a game at a time." It is this attitude, as well as the confi- dence garnered by four consecutive wins, that will carry the Wolverines through a trying few days. Several hope to re-live that 2001 vic- tory. Others look to extend their streak to six wins. And some are simply praying they won't get blown into the ocean. As an engineer in the U.S. Air Force, there's no telling what you'll work on. (Seriously, we can't tell you.) United States Air Force applied technology is years ahead of what you'll touch in the private sector, and as a new engineer you'll likely be involved at the ground level of new and sometimes classified developments. You'll begin leading and managing within this highly respected group from day one. Find out what's waiting behind the scenes for you in the Air Force today. To request more information, call 1-800-423-USAF or log on to airforce.com. 0 * 0 <_ ::.