0 8 - Tuesday, October 2, 2007 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Masse selve for remainder of season 0 By JACK HERMAN Daily Sports Editor Michigan tight end Mike Massey will miss the rest of the season after sustaining a knee injury in the third quarter of Saturday's 28-16 win over Northwestern. The senior will undergo surgery NOTEBOOK this week, Michi- gan coach Lloyd Carr said during his weekly press conference yester- day afternoon. "Massey was a wonderful com- petitor, a guy that brought a lot to our team," Carr said. "He was out- standing on our special teams, and he'd done a great job at tight end. We're going to miss him." Although Massey caught just four passes this season, his absence creates problems for an offense that frequently uses two tight-end sets. Likely replacement Carson Butler provides more of a receiving threat, but the team will still need help from that position. Yesterday's depth chart listed redshirt sophomores Butler and Chris McLaurin as possible start- ers with converted fullback Andre Criswell at third string. Carr also mentioned freshman Martell Webb could see more playing time. "We have some guys who are not as experienced, obviously, as Mike was, but they are all guys we can depend on as a team," Carr said. As for other injuries, Carr remained tight-lipped. He said he wouldn't know until today about the right guard situation or the status of starting linebackers John Thompson and Chris Graham. Butthe depthchartmightprovide a clue.At right guard, third-stringer Tim McAcoy - who left Saturday's game early - was still listed as the starter. Both Thompson, who didn't dress Saturday, and Graham, who also left the game early, graced the depth chart as starters. Special changes?: Kicker Jason Gingell has done everything to prove he's an excellent kicker in practice. Too bad he hasn't done the same in games. With Gingell just 3-for-9 on the year, Carr said he will give K.C. Lopata a shot to win the position this week in practice. Although sophomore kickoff specialist Bryan Wright was also listed as a possibil- ity on the depth chart, Carr didn't mention his name during his press conference. Gingell has struggled since his two blocked field goals - neither necessarily his fault -helped Appa- lachian State upset Michigan. He has missed his last three attempts and booted two wide right against Northwestern. Carr said he believes Gingell's confidence is the issue. "I have all the confidence in Gingell, and yet at every stage in (a player's) career, there are guys who struggle," Carr said. "You just have to dig deep and find a way to get your way out of it. As coaches and as teammates, we'll try to help him do that." Summer school blues: A Big Ten rule preventing early entrants from using summer-school grades to boost their first-senester grade point average cost freshman safety Artis Chambers his season, his high school coach said. Along with two other freshmen, Chambers enrolled at Michigan in the winter semester to join the team for spring practice. But because of Chambers's first-semester grade point average, Michigan tried to count summer-school classes toward his GPA. Although NCAA rules allow the use of summer-school grades toward eligibility, the Big Ten does not, Fort Wayne (Ind.) Snider coach Russ Isaacs said. "It's sad for everybody. It's unfor- tunate," Isaacs said. "I don't know (if) anybody's at fault - just a mis- understanding." Michigan reported the viola- tion to the Big Ten Thursday, immediately after catching it, Athletic Director Bill Martin said. The conference's Compliance and Reinstatement Subcommittee will make a decision about any penalties - including a possible forfeit of the Penn State game - within the next two weeks. Carr would not comment on the situation yesterday. 0 6 S RODd Tight end Mike Massey is helped off the field after his third-quarter season-ending knee injury. Massey played a crucial role in Michigan's two tight-end sets. Maravic hopes to pace M' By DAVID BRAID For the Daily With the season getting under- way, the Michigan men's tennis team is looking to build on its strong 2006-07 campaign. Last season, the Wolverines posted a 20-7 record en route to a second-round appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Michigan has eight return- ing players, including lone senior Matko Maravic. Maravic, Mich- igan's Most Valuable Player for the past three years, is coming off a career season in which he was selected as an International Ten- nis Association All-American in doubles. In addition to beingMich- igan's first All-American since Dan Brakus in 1994, Maravic also served his way to Michigan's first Big Ten Singles title in 10 years. Rewarded for his stellar year, Maravic will begin the season ranked No. 21 in the nation. He is the first player under Michigan coach Bruce Berque to crack the top 25. But for the Croatia native, his personal accomplishments and the team's success are one in the same. "We have progressed every year since my freshman season," Mara- vic said. "One of my personal goals this year is to take this team one step further and reach the round of 16 (in the NCAA Tournament)." Michigan has not advanced past the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 9 years, but it has its strongest incoming recruits in recent seasons. Jason Jung highlights the impressive class, which features two top-10 nationally ranked juniors. Jung, who was a blue- chip recruit and at one point No. 1 in tennisrecruiting.net's rankings, won the International Federation Hong Kong Open when he was just 14 year old. Through early practices, Jung is already earning praise from his 0i EMMA NOLAN-ABRAHAMIAN/Daily Freshman Amanda Bowery is leading a struggling Michigan offense in scoring with four goals this season. Blue offense led by-freshmen By HANNAH BENT For the Daily It's impressive to lead any Big Ten team in scoring. But it's even more so if you're a freshman. Rochester Hills native Amanda Bowery leads the Michigan wom- en's soccer team with four goals this season. She also shares the lead in shooting percentage (250) and boasts the highest number of shots on goal (nine). Bowery, a nominee for the Michigan Athlete of the Year Award in high school, now plays both forward and defender for the Wolverines. Her height (5- foot-11) and natural athleticism make her a dominating presence on the field. "She's pretty versatile," Michi- gan coach Debbie Rademacher said. "She's really comfortable anywhere on the field, and so I knew that we would be using her somewhere - if it wasn't up front it, might be somewhere else." Bowery isn't the only fresh- man goal-scorer who has serious- ly impacted the team's offense. Forward Stephanie 'Crawford has also helped jumpstart scor- ing opportunities. In high school at Novi, Crawford led her team to back-to-back state champion- ships. Her first career goal on Sept. 7 was a powerful one-touch ball that she shot past Cincinnati's keeper to secure a 3-0 the win. "She is quick, skillful and a pure goal scorer," Rademacher said before the season. In the past, Rademacher's pro- gram has consistently featured prominent freshman contribu- tors. "The goal every year is to raise the level of competition," Radem- acher said. "If we can bring in players that can push our return- ing players, and if they earn it, they will get (playing) time. I don't believe that we should sit freshmen just because they are freshmen." But while the freshmen haye excelled at scoring, Michigan has struggled to get the ball in the net this season. The Wolverines lead their opponents in shots on goal by 32, but have not often capital- ized on scoring opportunities. Despite offensive help from its freshmen, Michigan is just 2-6-1 this season. "We have had opportunities in every game we have played, so thatis encouraging," Rademacher said. "If we were sitting back and not generating anything, then we'd have to figure out different ways to get goals. But right now, we just need to get it going." Senir Matke Maravic looks to ad Michigan this year as the lone senior on the team. Maravic is the first Wolverine to crack the top 25 under Michigan coach Bruce Berque. captain. "In addition to pushing hard in practice, Jason hits the weight room on off-days," Maravic said. "He is very determined and has the potential to be a great (colle- giate) player." Joining Jung are Bloomfield Hills native David Streeter, a 2006 United States Tennis Association Midwest Indoor champion, and fellow Californian Christopher Madden, who was ranked as high as No. 9 nationally. Sophomore George Navas said that the transition from playing USTA tournaments in high school to playing college tennis will be a big change for the freshmen, but the former Florida state junior singles champion is confident they can positively contribute to the team this year. In his first season as a Wolver- ine, after a successful junior ten- nis career, Navas posted a winning record last season. He expects to have an even better upcoming year. "I loved every second of last season," Navas said. "I've learned a lot from the experience I had as a freshman and am ready to step up for this team." New coach hopes to bring winning ways By ERICA GELLER For the Daily At Florida International University, incomingMich- igan women's tennis coach . Ronni Bern- steinboasted an impressive .699 BERNSTEIN winning per- centage. Now, she's looking to bring her winning ways up north to help the Wolver- ines improve. "We train six days a week, and tennis i' year-round, so it is very demanding," Bernstein said. "I look forward to the season andthe challenge of taking the program to the next level." Though Bernstein admits she doesn't plan to alter Michigan's practice routine significantly, she said her simple method of work- ing hard but having fun is the best option for success. 0 Bernstein has made an impact in women's tennis since her days as a player, when she was named NCAA Senior Player of the Year in 1988 and won the doubles NCAA Nation- al Championship at Miami. She's now looking to bring her motiva- tion to succeed to the Wolverines, a team that finished No. 22 in the nation last season. "We (want) to improve on that," Bernstein said. "We have a very strong returning class and have added four talented freshmen." The team, which opened the season last weekend with the Wol- verine Invitational, hopes to start out strong and improve on its 17- 8 record with the help of its new coach and leadership from within the squad. Though Michigan has not yet named a captain, Allie Shafner is the only senior on the team, and so she will likely be the player the Wolverines look up to during the season. Bernstein said the team's close- ness will help to counteract having only one senior. "I can see there is a tight bond between them," Bernstein said. "We have a lot of talent on this team and each player will contribute and have their role." r