The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Thursday, September 27, 2007 - 9A
* Blue bounces back,
blanks Grizzlies
By ANDY REID
Daily Sports Writer
It took just seven minutes for the
Michigan men's soccer team to for-
get last weekend's heartbreaking tie
to Wisconsin.
At the -
seven- MICHIGAN 2
minute OAKLAND 0
markoflast
night's contest at Oakland, fresh-
man Tex McCullough fielded a pass
from sophomore Mauro Fuzetti and
scorched the net by sneaking the
ball into the lower right corner of
the goal. McCullough's first-career
goal ended up being the game win-
ner in the Wolverines' 2-0 blanking
of the Golden Grizzlies.
After an emotional game against
the Badgers, a mid-week con-
test against a team like Oakland
could've been tricky. But Michigan
coach Steve Burns said his team was
focused squarely on the Grizzlies.
"I was interested to see how we
would bounce back from the Wis-
consin game," Burns said. "But see-
ing the players' attitudes at the team
dinner and inthe locker room before
the game, I was very confident that
they would perform well."
That attitude resulted in two
goals in the first 20 minutes,
which helped the Wolverines (8-
0-1) dictate the flow for the rest of
the match. Junior Steve Bonnell
launched a shot from about 20 yards
outtonotchthe secondgoal. Fuzetti
tallied his second point of the match
with an assist on Bonnell's goal.
On the other side of the field,
Michigan's defense remained iron
tight, allowing Oakland (3-2-2)
just eight shots. And when goal-
keeper Patrick Sperry actually had
to defend the net, he continued the
dominance he has displayed all year
long.
Sperry deflected every shot sent
his way, tallying five saves in the
process. It was his sixth shutout of
the season, a Michigan single-sea-
son record. That's quite a feat, con-
sidering the Wolverines have nine
regular-season games remaining.
The aggressiveness of Michigan's
play on both sides of the ball helped
it pitch the shutout.
"Obviously it's a goal in any sport
to start out the aggressor," Burns
said. "But I think we really put it
together out there today and got
right in our comfort level."
After registering their eighth win
of the season, the Wolverines have
already matched last year's win
total. But with the meat of the con-
ference schedule coming up, Michi-
gan still has a lot of work to do this
season, starting with a tough home
matchup against Indiana Friday
night.
"It's goingto be a great game with
a great crowd," Burns said through
the athletic department. "Indiana is
starting its Big Ten season with us,
and we know how important it isnto
get the Big Ten season off to a good
start. I just encourage everyone to
come out and support us because
it's going to be a fantastic environ-
ment."
Junior Steve Bonnell scored the Wolverines second goal last night against Oakland. The win was huge for Michigan, helping it
rebound from atie with Big Ten rival Wisconsin last weekend.
Conference supremacy on the
line in weekend's key games
Sophomore Paige Laytos was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after her stellar play against lowalast week,
where she played both forward and midfield.
Laytos thinks of'M' first
By CLAIRE ABRAHAM
For theDaily
The confidence and intensity
Paige Laytos exudes during some-
thing as routine as daily practice is
an indicator of her commitment to
the Michigan field hockey team.
Last Sunday, Laytos was named
Big Ten Conference Defensive
Player of the Week.
The sophomore didn't expect
the recognition, even after playing
a key role in the team's comeback
against Iowa last Friday.
"I was playing a forward posi-
tion, and there were times when I
was a (midfielder)," Laytos said. "I
never thought I would get defen-
sive player (of the week)."
It wasn't just the defensive
nature of the award that caught
Laytos off guard.. She thrives on
the team-first philosophy empha-
sized by Michigan coach Naicy
Cox.
Cox describes Laytos as "the
consummate competitor."
"I just try to give 100 percent on
and off the field in everything I do
and just hope that people can see
that and (my teammates) can feed
off of that," Laytos said.
Laytos is a self-proclaimed
"lead by my intensity on the field"
kind of player.
The Lititz, Penn., native began
playing field hockey in fourth
grade at a summer camp. After
doubting whether she wanted to
continue playing in middle school,
she moved on to play for War-
wick High School and enjoyed her
experience. She credits her mom
for making her stick with it.
"(My favorite part-of playing.
for Michigan is) how rich in tradi-
tion it is, how everybody loves the
sports and everyone supports each
other," Laytos said. "Michigan has
a great balance of everything I was
looking for, and it actually exceed-
ed my expectations."
Cox credits Laytos as being all
about the team. This dedication,
along with her outstanding indi-
vidual efforts, makes Layton such
a special player.
"This team, to me, means abso-
lutely everything; I love every sin-
gle one of them," Laytos said. "I'm
an only child, but it's like I have 22
sisters. It's the coolest feeling."
By H. JOSE BOSCH
Daily Sports Editor
"I have an important question."
"Go ahead."
"What is Britney doing with her
life?"
That classic exchange between
ESPN commentators Mike Patrick
and Todd Blackledge during the
final moments of the Georgia-Ala-
bama game almost made it worth
picking Alabama to win the game.
This weekend's picks may
feature some excitement - two
games boast four top-25 teams
while a third features two tradi-
tional Southeastern conference
powerhouses. As always, here are
my picks: so wrong, they must be
right.
No.5 West Virginia at No.18
South Florida, Friday, 8 p.m.
- ESPN 2
Be honest: You miss having a
meaningful football gametowatch
every Friday night. But going to
a high school football game now
would just make you a creepy col-
lege student. Fortunately, the Big
East has you covered. The two-
headed monster of Pat White and
Steve Slaton has basically had
its way with opposing defenses.
The two have amassed 1,405 total
yards and 21 touchdowns. That's
an average of 7.4 yards per play.
But the Mountaineers square
off against one of two teams that
beat them last season. The Bulls
somehow found a way to stifle the
White-Slaton duo en route to a 24-
19 win on the road. The major dif-
ference between this year and last
year is the Bulls are ranked and
at home. Not only will Tampa be
rocking for a nationally televised
night game, but South Florida will
want to prove last season's win
wasn't a fluke.
No. 18 South Florida 28,
No. 5 West Virginia 24
No. 6 California at No. 11 Oregon,
3:30 p.m. - ABC
SEC or the Pac 10? If you watch
the World Wide Leader, you'd
think this was the greatest sports
debate of all time. So if you buy into
this fruitless argument, this game
will surely provide evidence for
Pac-10 supremacy. While South-
ern Cal is the cream of the crop,
the Bears and Ducks are a close
second and third. Not to mention,
the winner will have an inside
West Virginia quarterback Pat White leads the Mountaineers into South Florida for
a pivotal Big East matchup on Friday.
Charges dropped against Graham
track to dethrone the Trojans.
Neither team has an official Heim-
man hopeful, but Oregon's Dennis
Dixon and California's DeSean
Jackson could make good cases.
And neither team enjoys play-
ing defense. The Ducks are ranked
78th in the nation, and the Bears
look imposing by comparison at
No. 54.
California and Oregon have had
similar schedules thus far and each
team has taken care of business.
But this will be the first real road
test for the Bears, and they haven't
faced a quarterback as talented as
Dixon. Bears' coach Jeff Tedford
may be a favorite in the "Who will
replace Lloyd Carr?" rumor mills,
but his luster will dull a bit.
No.11 Oregon 45,
No. 6 California 43
Auburn at No. 4 Florida, 8 p.m.
- ESPN
If I bring up the great confer-
ence debate, I can't offer one mar-
quee conference matchup without
offering another. Last season, this
game was a bit more intriguing.
The Tigers were 11th in the polls
and hosted the second-best team
in the country. Despite trailing
17-11 at the half, Auburn managed
to blank a potent Gator offense
and win 27-17 to provide the lone
stumble during Florida's national;
title run. This year's game may not
be as interesting.
The Tigers aren't ranked. Two,
losses - at home, no less - against'.
South Florida and Southern Miss:,
are proof that this year's team,
shouldn't be feared much.
Plus, the game is in "The.
Swamp," one of the most difficult
places to win on the road. Add
on the fact that the Gators are'
going for a school record-tying
12th straight win, and it's easy to
see the cards are stacked against,
Auburn.
But don't feel too bad for the,
Tigers. Nose tackle Josh Thomp-;
son proposed to his girlfriend fol-
lowing last week's 55-0 drubbing
of New Mexico State and she said
yes! So, you know if the season
goes south after this game, at least
his teammates will have an open
bar to go to during the reception.
No 4. Florida 37, Auburn 17
By SCOTT BELL
Daily Sports Editor
Brandon Graham's short-lived
legal woes have come to an end.
The sophomore defensive end,
who had a bench warrant out
for his arrest issued last week,
had disorderly conduct charges
against him dropped, according
to the Detroit News.
The bench warrant has also
been terminated.
"It was our position all along
he was misidentified," Jim Acho,
Graham's
attorney, told
the News. "So
the charge
will be dis-
missed in 60'
days."
According
to the News,
Graham was GRAHAM
ticketed for playing loud music
from his car in July.
He pleaded not guilty the fol-
lowing month on those charges,
but failed to appear in court on
Sept. 18, when the bench warrant
was issued.
Graham, astarter for the Mich-
igan football team, has collected
five sacks in his last two games.
The Detroitnativehas emerged
as an essential cog in the Wol-
verines' recent resurgence on
defense.
CLI4MSY LOVERS
Frid6, S&ptember 28, 8 p.m.
not another one!"
Michigan Head"- Pain &S4 Neurological Institute
is conducting an in-clinic research study evaratinig an
investigational use of an inhaled medication for' igrtines.
' Participants must Ise I Ito 65 years old and experience
one toeightvheadaches per month.
A lolal of lirec clinic visits is required.
' Visit 2 is , lottr- to five- hour treatnist visit while having
an acute headache.
Participants must be available to come to the clinic douring
normal business hours (8 a.m. to ur vi.).
eou will be compensated up to $300 for your time and travel
expenscvs. For more information, please call a study coordinator
at (7>>4) 677-6000,,.vioirir4.
Do you have
Acne?
If you have acne you may qualify fora
research study at the Universty of Michigan
Department of Dermatology.
If you are interested i participating, call the
University of Michigan Department of
Derato y find out more.
~'Compensation maybe provided.
The number is (734) 764-R.
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