2B - October 8, 2012 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 28 - October 8, 2012 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Minnesota flies past Michigan in straight sets in Minneapolis The Michigan footbaliteam trounced Purdue on Saturday, but the Boilermakers still have a legitimate shot at the Big Ten Leaders Division crown this season. Big Tgen has a long way to go ST LAFAYETTE - Trees blanket the horizon beyond the eastern border of Ross-Ade Sta- dium, stretching endlessly, inter- rupted only by the smoke stacks and wind turbines that soar sky- ward in the distance. It's a picture of the Midwest. Expanses of nature and rem- nants of an industrial age stand side by side in the land of the blue-col- lar. Cropped close to that backdrop, the brick, steel and grass of STEPHEN J. Ross-Ade Stadium NESBITT straddle that line. The tapestry is built for Big Ten football, stitched together for blue-collar men and a blue- collar game. The conference has historically been big, brawny and bruising. But this fall, the Big Ten foot- ball programs have failed again and again on the national stage. Respect in college football isn't just given, it's earned. Right now, the Big Ten deserves none. On Sunday, the USA Today coaches poll was released and, for the first time in its history, no Big Ten teams were ranked among the top-25 teams in the nation. (Ohio State is undefeated but ineligible for ranking while serving punishments for the program's 2011 sanctions.) During the non-conference slate this fall, the 12 Big Ten teams posted a combined 34-13 record. Those losses can't be chalked up to strength of sched- ule, either. Just five of those losses were to ranked teams, and only one win was over a team in the top-25. The powerhouse programs plummeted early. Ohio State and Penn State entered the season crippled by sanctions. Neither is in conten- tion for a bowl appearance, a national ranking or a stab at the Big Ten championship. Wisconsin began the year ranked No. 12 before a tumultu- ous three-week stretch against consecutive unranked oppo- nents - a five-point win over Northern Iowa, a three-point loss to Oregon State and a two- point win over Utah State. Michigan lost to No. 2 Ala- bama in the season opener, barely escaping with its dignity in a nationally televised blow- out. Michigan State snuck by No. 24 Boise State in week one and climbed the polls. Then the Spartans lost to No. 20 Notre Dame, who then beat Michigan the following week. The Leaders Division has become a two-horse race between Purdue and Wisconsin. And neither team is a thorough- bred. The Legends Division crown is expected to go to Michigan, Michigan State or Nebraska at season's end. All three teams have two losses on their sched- ule, with the Spartans and Cornhuskers already losing a Big Ten game. Now nobody can crack the nation's top 25. C'mon, even teams you barely recognize made the top 25. Iowa State? Louisiana Tech? Cincinnati? The Big Ten can't stand up to the rest of the nation. It's become a bit of an embarrass- ment for a once-proud confer- ence. And it's nothing new. The discussion rises up every winter when bowl games come and go: How does the Big Ten stack up with the SEC, the ACC, the Pac-12? The truth is that it doesn't. Not right now. It's not only the teams that haven't kept pace in college football this fall, it's the Big Ten's headlining players too. Michigan senior quarterback Denard Robinson, Wisconsin running back Montee Ball, Michigan State running back Le'Veon Bell and Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead all entered the season with Heis- man hype. Bell, averaging 129 rushing yards per game, is the only one putting up the numbers expect- ed of him, but he's nowhere near the Heisman frontrunners after six weeks. The Big Ten just doesn't make a lot of sense. That brings us back to West Lafayette and Michigan-Pur- due, a game in which the Wol- verines rolled to a 44-13 victory in front of a crowd of less than 50,000 scattered throughout the Ross-Ade Stadium horseshoe. It really was never close. The scary part is that Purdue has a legitimate shot at a Big Ten division crown - ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit even called Purdue a Big Ten favorite prior to the game. The blue- collar conference is one marred by futility. And national respect isn't easy to get. It's the big life, big stage, big problems. - Nesbitt can be reached at stnesbit@umich.edu. All volley going differ hill fi the la ing ee In ably strong confe in th went, straig sin in 20-25 "I r well a Mark repre; way a nots that I perfo near our h that's tratin notju player us as too." Th 14-6o the fi mulat Ne swing to be; Michi sin wi verin lead o block returi play.I Big T a 5-0 reach Cro on th player for M upper last s sized1 «W a way said. really holdix By GREG GARNO need to play a little bit more free, Daily Sports Writer play volleyball and have fun." Michigan fell behind 9-3 early season long, the Michigan in the second set, but fought 'ball team has talked about back to tie the set at 11 on an ace through the Big Ten season from freshman outside hitter ently than last year's down- Kelly Murphy and a Wisconsin nish. But after losing four of service error. The Badgers went st five games, 2012 is look- on a 6-1 run, though, forcing the rily similar to 2011. Wolverines to take a timeout argu- with the score 17-12. Wisconsin the MICHIGAN o slowly worked its way to a 23-16 gest MINNESOTA 3 lead - its largest margin for the rence set. e country, the Wolverines Michigan hit a meek .079 in on the road for their fourth the set while the Badgers ended ht game, losing to Wiscon- with a strong .355. Once again, straight sets 20-25, 18-25, the Badgers used an early lead in Madison on Sunday. to capture the final set, but never eally didn't think we played amounted more than a 3-0 run. it all," said Michigan coach Trailing 4-1 at the beginning Rosen. "I didn't feel that we of the set, the Wolverines tied sented our abilities in any the game at 12, but Wisconsin all today.rIt certainly was put together another run to a match _______ move ahead I felt we 20-14 - its rmed "We just need to largest lead of close to the game - evel and figure out a way to before coasting frus- to victory. g. It's play our game." "I don't st on the think they're rs, but on going in not coaches wanting to play well," Rosen said. "I didn't think e Wolverines (2-4 Big Ten, we let ourselves play tonight on iverall) were out hit 15-10 in either side of the ball. We have rst set, struggling to accu- to continueto set extremely high e more than 13 in aset. standards and that our players ither team was able to are preforming at the level, but momentum in their favor we have to execute in matches." gin the first set, but with The Wolverines struggled igan ahead, 11-10, Wiscon- defensively on Sunday, a trend in ent on a 4-0 run. The Wol- many games this season, totaling es rallied to take a 16-15 just six team blocks and 38 digs. in a kill from junior middle They had 58 in Wednesday's loss er Jennifer Cross, and against Minnesota. Sophomore ned to the back-and-forth setter Lexi Dannemiller led the Tied at 19, the Badgers (2-4 team with 27 assists while fresh- en, 14-5 overall) went on man libero Tiffany Morales led run to put the set out of the team with 12 digs. . Rosen was adamant that his ss had a team-high 10 kills team, including coaches, needed e day, and was the only to regroup at the beginning of r to reach double-digit kills the season, but refused to blame Michigan. One of the few tough competition for the recent 'classmen to play through trend. eason, Cross too, empha- "I never try and compare her team's frustration. year to year," Rosen said. "We're e just need to figure out playing good teams and the Big to play our game," Cross Ten is full of good teams, but we "We've been practicing expect to be one of those good well, but it's like we're teams. It's not going to get any ng on to something. We easier so it can't be an excuse." Grinwis stands tall Ezurike scores twice, Kopmeyer in 1-1 draw vs. PSU posts shutout in visit to Evanston By DAN HARTLEP For the Daily After stunning Ohio State last week with ashot from midfield by freshman midfielder Jack Brown early in the second overtime, the Michigan men's soccer team looked to keep the momentum rolling on Saturday against Penn State. PENN STATE 1 The MICHIGAN 1 Wolverines raced out to an early lead, but failed to keep Penn State from scoring as the teams fought to a 1-1 draw. The Wolverines (1-1-1 Big Ten, 3-5-1 overall) had the upper hand offensively in the early minutes of the match, scoring in the fourth minute off the head of junior for- ward T.J. Roehn. After a strong cross into the goal boxby redshirt freshman midfielder Colin McA- tee to a streaking Roehn, the ball slid underneath the left arm of the Nittany Lion goalkeeper for Roehn's second goal of the year. "Colin McAtee had a great game," Roehn said. "He sent in a great low ball and I got my head on it and beat the (keeper) near post." From that point on, it was all Penn State. The Nittany Lions (1-1-1, 6-3- 2) threw everything they had at redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Adam Grinwis, who had a career- high 13 saves. Grinwis and the Wolverines'backline consistently kept the Penn State out of the net with the help of the hard-nosed play of junior defender Ezekiel Harris. Harris made several key defensive stops when the Wol- verines needed them most, as the Nittany Lions continued to bring pressure. By the end of the match, Penn State had recorded 26 shots. First- year Michigan coach ChakaDaley praised the play of his keeper, but recognized that having a career day from a goalie is often times a sign of defensive turmoil. Lineup changes stemming from injuries and suspensions have prevented the Wolverines' defensive four from becoming familiar with each other this sea- son. The number of scoring chanc- es that the Wolverines allowed would come back to haunt them in the 82nd minute. The Nit- tany Lions found an equalizer from defender Akil Howard, who tapped in a low line drive from the right edge of the goal box. After two overtime periods of evenly matched play and equal scoring opportunities, the two squads settled for a draw. Looking to get the season back on track, Roehn had only positive things to say after the game. "Getting an early goal in a game like this was crucial," he said. "We would have liked to get the win, but we'll take the point." The result ties Michigan with Penn State for third place in the Big Ten. The Wolverines next take the pitch Wednesday against undefeated Oakland University at the U-M Soccer Complex. Daley said he knows what his team needs in order to be ready for the Grizzlies. "From here on out, there isn't much training," Daley said. "It's pretty much just about resting and getting yourself ready emo- tionally for the next big game." ByALEJANDRO ZUNIGA Daily Sports Writer Junior forward Nkem Ezurike struck twice for the No. 23 Uni- versity of Michigan women's soc- cer team, leadingthe Wolverines over Northwestern, 2-0, in Evan- ston on Sat- urday. MICHIGAN 2 The N'WESTERN 0 Wildcats' defense could do little to slow down an overpowering Michigan attack. The Wolverines (5-0-1 Big Ten, 11-2-1 overall) controlled possession from the opening whistle, generating a barrage of offensive opportunities. Despite being outshot 8-1 in the first fif- teen minutes, Northwestern goalkeeper Rachel Bergman held strong and kept Michigan off the scoreboard. The Wolverines finally capital- ized 17 minutes into the contest. Junior midfielder Tori McCombs headed a ball toward net that was misplayed by a defender, and Ezurike took advantage of the mistake. Alone against the goal- keeper, the forward lifted a shot over Bergman and into the back of the net, breaking the scoreless draw. A humble Ezurike refused to take credit for the tally. "It's totally agroup effort," she said. "I wouldn't get those goals without the team." The goal seemed to awaken Northwestern (0-6, 4-8-2) which began creating its own scoring chances. Junior forward Kate Allen, the Wildcats' greatest offensive threat, fired a strong shot on goal in the 27th minute, but fifth-year senior goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer corralled the 0 PATRICK BA RON/Daily Junior forward Nkem Ezurike scored twice against Northwestern to give the Wolverines a 2-0 Big Ten victory. effort. That attempt was North- western's last on target, but Michigan's offense wasn't done -the McCombs-to-Ezurike com- bination soon struck again for Michigan. Just six minutes into the sec- ond half, McCombs curled a low cross into the 18-yard box. The ball landed perfectly at the feet of Ezurike, who had made a long run from midfield. The forward poked a shot past Bergman for her eighth tally in six games. Ezurike said she understood the importance of the 2-0 lead, since itvirtuallyassured a Michi- gan victory. "We have to win every game from here on out," she said. "Each game we play is like a Big Ten championship to us." The result temporarily pushed Michigan into first place in the Big Ten. Conference-leading and 4th-ranked Penn State (5-0, 11-2) had the night off, and will face Indiana on Sunday afternoon. If the Nittany Lions win, they will regain sole possession of first place; a tie would put them even with the Wolverines. Once Michigan took a two- goal lead, the defense did the rest, holding an opponent score- less for the tenth time this sea- son. The back four surrendered eight shots, but just two threat- ened Kopmeyer. The Wolverines' fifth clean sheet in six confer- ence games dropped their goals- against average to 0.36. Michigan coach Greg Ryan has been impressed with his defense all season long, and Sat- urday night was no different. "The back four were great," Ryan said. "There were very few chances (for Northwestern) throughout the game." The victory in Evanston helped the Wolverines match a program record with four con- secutive road wins. But facing a quick turnaround before a crucial midweek game against Michigan State, Ryan has moved on. "Tonight's win was nice," he said. "I'm already focusing on Michigan State."