2B - The Michigan Daily - SportsWednesday - January 5, 2005 CLUBSPORTSWEEKLY Lacrosse eager for redemption By Sara Livingston Daily Sports Writer Coming into the 2005 season, the Michigan women's club varsity lacrosse team has just one goal in mind: winning the U.S. Lacrosse Wom- en's Division Intercollegiate Associates national tournament. With eight returning seniors - including the preseason player of the year in senior goalie Jackie Fu - and a No. 1 ranking, the Wolverines are confident that their goal will soon become a reality, and the only thing standing in their way is simply themselves. After losing in the quarterfinals of the WDIA tournament last year and ending the season ranked No. 3 in the country, the Wolverines all have a bitter taste in their mouths and are more than eager to uphold their preseason ranking. "We lost to ourselves in that game," Fu said. "It wasn't like we gave up. It was just one of those things where everyone wants it so bad that every- one tries to play their part, but the parts don't go. We just didn't have that mindset, and we got ner- vous, and we didn't perform up to our ability." But after seeing the team come together both on and off the field, Fu hopes the Wolverines won't cut their own season short again. "The only people we lose to are ourselves," Fu said. "I am so confident when I say that because this team, when we play together, it's just the most amazing thing ever. The ball just flows, and we think as just one single mind, and we can get any job done." Michigan rolled to a 21-2 regular season record last season. According to the players, the strong bond of the team led Michigan to that mark, and is a defining element of this year's squad as well. The seniors' desire to win a national champion- ship in their final year has motivated the team during their preseason practices to work harder and achieving their goal. "There are eight of us (seniors), and I have never been with such a great group of girls," senior Alana Rubin said. "All of us have the same mentality that we all want this so bad, and we are all working toward this now for three years." The unity of the team and its overall cohesive- ness is evident to the players, who feel as though this is truly their year. "When you walk into practice, you are with 23 of your best friends," Rubin said. "I have never been in an environment where I can just throw the ball and I know someone is always going to be there to catch it. "We are all working towards the same goal, and we all really want it. And I think it's defi- nitely obtainable this year." In addition to the strong senior core, the fresh faces on this year's squad may add that extra spark the team needs to go all the way. "We definitely have some outstanding fresh- men who came into tryouts and basically blew us away," senior Stephanie Betts said. "And it really looks like we are more of a cohesive unit and it's not going to take us as long to get work- ing as a team as it may have in the past. "Communication is always a big thing, espe- cially when you are playing against top-ranked teams who seem to click. And we need that click - and I think we really have that this year." Athlete of the Week Name: Ryan Churella Team: Wrestling Hometown: Northville Class: Junior Why: With No. 5 Michigan trailing No. 14 Central Michigan 9-0 on Sunday, Churella turned the Wolverines' fortunes around. Churella -No. 4 in the 165-pound weight class - scored a major decision 9-0 over No. 2 David Bolyard to lead Michigan to a come-from-behind victory, 24-15, in front of 1,236 fans at Cliff Keen Arena. 'M' SCHEDULE Date Event Location 1/5 1/6 1/7 1/7 1/7 1/7 1/8 1/8 1/8 1/8 1/8 1/8 1/8 1/8 1/8 1/8 M Basketball at Iowa W Basketball at Northwestern M Swim/Diving at Stanford W Gymnastics vs. Nebraska Ice Hockey vs. Western Michigan W Tennis at Michigan Invitational W Track/Field at Jack Harvey Invitational M Track/Field at Jack Harvey Invitational Wrestling vs. Nebraska Wrestling vs. Army Wrestling vs. Stanford at Lone Star Duals M Swim/Diving at California M Gymnastics at Windy City Invitational Ice Hockey at Western Michigan M Basketball vs. Fairfield W Tennis at Michigan Invitational Iowa City Evanston Palo Alto, Calif. Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Dallas Dallas Dallas Berkeley, Calif. Chicago Kalamazoo Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Time 9 p.m. 8 p.m. 4 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:35 p.m. TBA 9 a.m. 9 a.m. Boggs, NEW YORK (AP) - Wade Boggs was overwhelmingly elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eli- gibility yesterday, and Ryne Sand- berg made it with just six votes to spare on his third try. Boggs, a five-time American League batting champion for the Boston Red Sox, was selected by 474 of the record 516 voters who are 10- year members of the Baseball Writ- ers' Association of America. The 91.86 percent of ballots he received was the 19th-highest percent- age in Hall history, and he became the 41st player elected on his first chance. andberg elected to Hall 11 a.m. 1 p.m. 4 p.m. 7 p.m. 7:35 p.m. 8 p.m. TBA In total votes, Boggs trailed only Nolan Ryan (491) and George Brett (488). "It's mind-boggling to be put in the same category," said Boggs, who credited his success to his 79-year- old father, Winfield. "He coached me in Little League and sort of nurtured me along - was there every phone call in the minor leagues," Boggs said. Sandberg, the 1984 Nation- al League MVP for the Chicago Cubs, was picked by 393 voters. He appeared on 76.2 percent of ballots, just above the 75 percent cutoff (387). Sandberg received 49.2 percent of votes in 2003 and got 61.1 percent last year, falling 71 votes short. "There's been some tremendous, tremendous players who waited lon- ger than I had to wait to get into the Hall of Fame," Sandberg said. Reliever Bruce Sutter, appear- ing on the ballot for the 12th time, received 344 votes (66.7 percent), up from 301 last year but 43 shy of what was needed this time. He was followed by Jim Rice (307), Rich Gossage (285) and Andre Daw- son (270). "I'm not going to say I'm disap- pointed," Dawson said. Willie McGee, also on the ballot for the first time, received 26 votes, exactly at the 5 percent cutoff to avoid being dropped in future years. Darryl Strawberry got six votes in his first bid. Pete Rose, ineligible for the bal- lot because of his lifetime ban from baseball, received nine write-in votes, six fewer than last year and his lowest total. Rose, who admitted last year that he bet on the Cincin- nati Reds while managing them in the late 1980s, has been written in on 239 of 6,687 ballots (3.6 percent) over 14 years. He must be reinstated by late Novem- ber to appear on the ballot in 2006, the final year he would be eligible. Boggs, known for his array of pre- and post-game rituals, was a 12-time All-Star during an 18-year career, finishing with 3,010 hits. He won batting titles in 1983 and from 1985-88, becoming the first player to win the AL batting cham- pionship in four straight years since Rod Carew from 1972-75. Boggs, who hit .300 or higher 15 times, fin- ished with a .328 career average and was the only player in the 20th cen- tury with seven straight 200-hit sea- sons. He also became the first player to get 200 hits and 100 walks in four consecutive seasons. A two-time Gold Glove winner at third base, Boggs played for the Red Sox from 1982-92, then spent five seasons with the New York Yan- kees, helping the team win the 1996 World Series and riding a police horse around Yankee Stadium after the final victory. His final two seasons were with his hometown Tampa Bay Devil Rays. On Aug. 7, 1999, Boggs became the 23rd member of the 3,000-hit club, connecting off Cleveland's Chris Haney to become the first player to get No. 3,000 with a home run. After circling the bases, Boggs kissed home plate. Sandberg was a nine-time Gold Glove second baseman and a 10- time All-Star. He hit 277 homers, the most by a second baseman at the time of his retirement, and led the NL with 40 in 1990. His .989 fielding percentage is the highest at the position. "I think defense had everything to do with me getting into the Hall of Fame," Sandberg said. Boggs and Sandberg will increase the Hall of Fame's membership to 260, of which 102 were selected by the BBWAA. Induction ceremonies are July 31 in Cooperstown. Results of voting by the Veterans Committee will be released March 2. Gil Hodges, Tony Oliva and Ron Santo were among the 25 candidates on that ballot. Among the players eligible for the first time on next year's BWAA bal- lot are Orel Hershiser, Will Clark and Dwight Gooden. Dail s NBA Power Ba is NF16 Power It Rankings ills Rankings 2. Miami (25-8) As promised, Shaq is dominating the East, and the Heat have won nine of 10. 2. New England (14-2) " The road to the Super Bowl still goes through Brady's bunch. 4. Seattle (23-6) 4. Indianapolis (12-4) " Consistency has helped this * Peyton eclipsed Marino, but can he surprise team stay near the top. finally come through in the playoffs? Wade Boggs nabbed 474 votes and gained entry to baseball's Hall of Fame. 6. Sacramento (19-9) 0 The Kings areroiling, blah blah blah. Playoff collapse, here we come. 6. San Diego (12-4) *The Chargers are probably glad they didn't draft Eli Manning now. I Very We p I eHOfficials flexible scheduling rovide all training - Y Y Uniforms provided and y r Earn $7.00 an hour Meet new friends Training clinics begin on Wed, January 5th at 7:00 PM at the Intramural Sports Building. 3ickey Needed. :eH okey??? first time officials welcome ours to keep! Please contact David Siegle at 763-3562 for further information. versity of Michigan I 8. L.A. Lakers (16-12) * Kobe's last-second shot against the Heat fell short, but he should still carry them to the playoffs. 10. Minnesota (16-12) e The Wolves have struggled as of late, winning only four of 10. 10. Minnesota (8-8) * Backingintothe postseason is such a fashionable thing to do now. 0o 8. Green Bay (10-6) # The Pack have at least one game at Lambeau, which should mean at least one win. I- The Uni