icers adjusting
to tighter calls
The Michigan Daily - Thursday, October 28, 2004 - 11A
Tankers cruise in
first Big Ten meet
By Ian Herbert
Daily Sports Writer
During Saturday's 5-2 win over
Lake Superior State, Michigan senior
alternate captain Brandon Rogers
spent six minutes in the penalty box
- four for interference and two for
holding the stick. As a defenseman
- and more specifically, as a defen-
seman who often plays against other
teams' best scoring lines - Rogers
has been one of the Wolverines most
harshly affected by the NCAA's new
rule-enforcement policy.
"(The new rule enforcement) doesn't
help," Rogers said. "But we just have
to do a better job of staying out of the
box. Most of them aren't very good
penalties."
In August, the commissioners of all
the college hockey leagues and Ty Hal-
pin, associate director of playing rules
administration for the NCAA, met just
outside of Boston to discuss the new
rules initiative for this season. They
decided that the number of penalties
that were going uncalled was getting
out of hand, and all six conference
commissioners agreed to crack down
in a few specific areas: holding along
the boards, hooking and holding at
center ice.
Earlier this week, the commission-
ers gathered once again to discuss the
effectiveness of the rules so far this
season, as well as the plans for the
rest of the season. They said that the
new initiative is good for the game and
insisted that they would stick with it
throughout this season, into the post-
season and on through next year.
"What we're experiencing here is
that we've gotten to a point where we
have let the game go," said Joe Ber-
tagna, commissioner of the Hockey
East. "Guys are just so used to doing
so many things that are illegal and
getting away with it because of the
game, the score and where the ref
was, that the rulebook became a book
of suggestions, as opposed to hard
and fast rules."
The new rules enforcement initia-
tive has caused an increase in penal-
ties called around the country. So far
this season, there have been an average
of 20.39 penalties per game. This is up
from an average of 14.80 per game
over the same time period last season.
Despite this increase, the players and
coaches in the Michigan hockey pro-
gram say that the new initiative is good
for the game, but they admitted that it
is going to take some adjustment. Sat-
urday was the third multi-penalty game
for Rogers this season, but he said that
the new rules enforcement was not to
blame for his time in the box.
After last week's game at Lake
Superior State, junior Brandon Kalen-
iecki complained that it was difficult
to get into the flow of the game.
"It's tough," Kalenieci said. "You
get a little bit of momentum going and
you take a penalty that you aren't very
happy with and it obviously slows you
down. It slows down the game, slows
down the momentum and a lot of guys
can't really get into the game because
all you're doing is penalty-killing.
You're not getting five-on-five shifts."
TONY DING/Daily
Defenseman Brandon Rogers and the Wolverines have had a hard time adjusting to
the new system for calling penalties, as they feel it slows down the game.
The commissioners said that they
are aware of players' complaints of
not being able to play the game the
way they played previously. Bertagna
responded by saying that they sim-
ply need to learn how to play without
hooking and grabbing.
"These are already illegal actions,"
Bertagna said. "These are the penalties
that have been on the books for years.
So I have no sympathy for the players
who basically are whining that the ille-
gal acts that they've gotten away with
in the past, they are now being penal-
ized for."
One of the added benefits of the
increased number of penalties so far
this season has been increased offense
due to more odd-man rushes and power
plays. Even-strength goals are actually
Spikers let another match s
down, and goals per game is up just a
fraction - up to 6.22 from 5.95 during
thesame period last year. But scoring
chances per game are up to 16.17 from
11.12. The commissioners said that
they like the excitement of the new
game filled with scoring chances, but
added that increased offense was not
why they implemented the new rules
initiative.
"We don't want people to miscon-
strue that this is the end all for creating
more offense," said Tom Anastos, com-
missioner of the CCHA. "But yeah,
we're hoping that it will free up more
space on the ice to create offense.
"We think that if we have a high-
er quality product. The fan, as much
as anybody, will be the biggest ben-
eficiary."
;lip away
think you have to give them credit. But
at the same time, we had our chances.
We were up 2-1 and we tied it at 14 in
the fifth game. We had our shots, but we
didn't take advantage of them. They did
a better job in those situations."
Both teams were sharp at the start of
the first game, leading to a back-and-
forth pace with 18 ties and eight lead
changes. Then with the score tied at
18, Michigan regained service and had
a chance to pull away. But the Wolver-
ines committed four attack errors dur-
ing a 12-5 Spartan run. Michigan State
recorded a season-high .469 hitting per-
centage in the 30-23 win.
"We have to execute," Rosen said.
"There are no simple answers - there's
no genie in a bottle that we can pull out.
We have to dig down there in the trench-
By Jack Herman
Daily Sports Writer
EAST LANSING - Although most
Michigan teams would be ecstatic after
defeating Michigan State, the No. 16
Michigan women's swimming and diving
squad was rather placid after its 159-133
victory over Michigan State last night at
Charles McCaffree Pool.
"It was a good win for the middle of
the week," sophomore Susan Gilliam
said. "And it's always good to get a win
in the Big Ten."
The score may not fully show it, but
Michigan (1-0 Big Ten, 1-1 overall) domi-
nated the meet en route to its first victory
of the season, taking first place in every
event except the backstroke and diving
events. Towards the end of the meet,
Michigan coach Jim Richardson began to
swim his team as nonscoring competitors
to keep the score a bit closer.
The Michigan team was led by sopho-
more Kaitlyn Brady, who took first place in
the 100-yard backstroke (57.33), 200-yard
backstroke (2:03.31) and 100-yard butterfly
(57.20). Brady also assisted the Wolverines
as a member of both the first- place 200-
medley and 200-yard freestyle relays.
"It's exciting to beat Michigan State,
but we work just as hard as any other
meet," Brady said.
Gilliam won two events for the Wolver-
ines, placing first in both the 1,000-yard
freestyle and 500-yard freestyle. Her time
of 9:52.62 in the 1,000-yard freestyle set
the new McCaffree pool record, held pre-
viously by Michigan's Amy McCullough
with her 2002 time of 10:00.97.
"It's a good first meet to get the ball
rolling," Gilliam said. "And it's always
nice to set a record."
Sophomore Lindsey Smith took first in
both the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard
freestyle. The Wolverines were also aided
by fifth year senior Erica Watts, who won
the 200-yard butterfly and senior Tracy
Egnatuk, who won the 50-yard freestyle.
Freshman Justine Meuller won the 400-
yard individual medley, although by that
time, she was swimming as a nonscorig
competitor.
Despite this seemingly perfect effdrt,
Richardson felt the team still has quite a
bit of work to do.
"I don't think we're a good team yam'
said Richardson. "I worry less about wns
and losses as I do about preparation."
Richardson felt that there were soniw
high points in the meet - such as Gilliam
breaking the pool record and the perfor-
mances of Brady and Smith - but still
feels Michigan did not perform its best..
"I don't think our walls or turns were
good," Richardson said. "It's something
we need to work on."
His main concern is that many of the
freshman Wolverines are not ready to
handle the physical work that the swigin-
ming team demands. He said the team
may not have performed up to its poten-
tial because it is not use to the tough prae-
tice schedule.
"They're about two months away
from being physically the swimmers
they can be," Richardson said. "Mon-
day and Tuesday were excellent prac-
tices, but yesterday we had a very harel
dry land (practice) and many of the girls
were sore and tired."
Richardson did say he was pleased with
how the hard work in practice and that he
expects big things if the team keeps it
up. He feels that if the team continues to
work at this pace, by January, it will br
performing at the highest level.
Despite some disappointment, he said
he is glad the team got to beat Michigan
State as he feels the competition between
the two schools is very beneficial.
"There isn't anybody you enjoy com-
peting with more than your close friend,"
Richardson said. "It's fun but you still
want to get your hand out and touch the
wall first."
By Stephanie Wright
Daily Sports Writer
EAST LANSING - Leading 4-1 at
the start of the decisive fifth game at
Michigan State last night, the Michigan
volleyball team was poised to take con-
trol of the match.
But, as has happened so often in the
past few weeks, it couldn't hold on.
Tied at eight, the Spartans took their
first lead of game five with a resounding
block by freshmen Maggie Griffin and
Meghan Schoen, rattling the Wolverines.
Following a Michigan timeout, Schoen
and senior Kim Schram came back with
two strong kills to give Michigan State
an 11-8 advantage. Michigan freshman
Katie Bruzdzinski then recorded three
of her team's next six points, propelling
Michigan to a 14-14 tie.
But undisciplined play caught up with
the Wolverines, who allowed the Spar-
tans to score three straight points and
win the game, 17-15.
Michigan (5-6 Big Ten, 15-7 overall)
dropped its second straight match, and
fifth out of its last six, losing 3-2.
"In game five, there were criti-
cal points where we were right there,"
Michigan coach Mark Rosen said. "But
we didn't execute because we had little
breakdowns - breakdowns in our
system and breakdowns in individual
players. That's continuing to get us in
trouble."
Sloppy play plagued the Wolverines
throughout the match, as Michigan
players were frequently scrambling
in response to the Spartans' confi-
dence and crisp offensive play. Down
5-7 in the fourth game, the Wolverines
allowed Michigan State to score five
straight points, including decisive kills
by Schoen, Schram and senior Diana
Steplyk. After fighting back to notch
commanding wins in games two and
three, the Wolverines lost some of their
composure, committing nine attack
errors in the 30-19 loss.
Although Michigan's mistakes con-
tributed to the loss, Michigan State (3-8,
8-11) played well throughout the match.
The Spartans outhit the Wolverines .271
to .191, and recorded 15 blocks - four
higher than their season average. In the
fourth game, Michigan State's defense
shut Michigan down, holding the Wol-
verines to a negative .053 hitting per-
centage and just seven kills.
"(Michigan) State came out and
played phenomenal," Rosen said. "I
ALEX DZIADOSZ/Daily
Junior Carolina Sierra was part of Michigan's winning 200-yard medley relay team.,
'I
SHUBRA OHRI/Daily
Senior Jennifer Gandolph and the Wolverines couldn't edge the Spartans last night,
and have dropped five of their six Big Ten matches.
HUNT
Continued from page 10A
scape of college football. While the Big XII and SEC
already had 12 teams, the addition of a third major con-
ference championship game makes it the norm. Now
three of the five biggest football conferences (not includ-
ing the decimated Big East) have conference champion-
ship games.
Sooner rather than later, rising athletic department costs
will force the conference to give into the estimated $500,000-
plus per-team payout that the game will provide. Heck, Michi-
gan almost slapped a name on the Michigan-Ohio State game
for half that much.
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said two weeks ago that
the ACC has changed things significantly. He feels it is
just a matter of time before a 12th team is added to the
conference.
"There is just too much money out there for it not to
happen," Carr said.
But don't get lost in the money. It's about deciding it
on the field.
Bob Hunt
*0 RED SOX
Continued from page 10A
worked the eighth and Keith Foulke fin-
ished it off for his first save.
Even before Doug Mientkiewicz
caught Foulke's toss on Edgar Renteria's
grounder for the last out, the Red Sox
were rushing out of the dugout. Boston
players streamed in from the bullpen,
and they all came together in a pulsating
pile between the mound and first base.
With flashbulbs popping, the hug-
ging and jumping was electrifying. And
why not? The day that would never quite
come for a generation of Red Sox play-
ers and fans had arrived.
Now the Red Sox get to raise the
World Series banner next April 11 in
the home opener at Fenway Park, with
the dreaded Yankees in town forced
to watch. No telling who will be there
- 18 Boston players are potential
* free agents, including Pedro Martinez
inning of Game 4 in the ALCS that
began the comeback against Yankees
closer Mariano Rivera.
And while second baseman Mark
Bellhorn was born in Boston, no one
else on the roster came from anywhere
near Beantown. And the only home-
grown players on the team are Nixon
and rookie Kevin Youkilis.
No matter, this win might make all of
them as much a part of New England lore
as Plymouth Rock and Paul Revere.
"All of our fans have waited all their
lives for this night, and it's finally here.
These guys did it for you, New England,"
Red Sox owner John Henry said.
The Boston win also left no doubt
which city is now the most jinxed in
baseball. It's Chicago - the Cubs
last won it all in 1908, the White Sox
in 1917.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals team that
led the majors with 105 wins never
showed up. The timely hitting, solid
can be reached at bobhunt@umich.edu.
didn't play good enough."
Ramirez, put on waivers in the offsea-
son and nearly traded to Texas for Alex
Rodriguez, was 7-for-17 (.412) with a
homer and four RBIs. The left fielder's
biggest contribution came in Game 3,
when he bounced back from a couple of
errors to throw out a runner at the plate
and end an early St. Louis threat.
Lowe was loose from the start.
While the Cardinals took batting prac-
tice, he sat alone in the Boston dugout,
his hat backward and singing the little
ditty, "If you're happy and you know it,
clap your hands."
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