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…Wednesday PO* R TScigan Baiig sports.rmichigandaily.com sports@michigandaily.com 9 Cagers and 'Canes clash for NYC bid Sophomore Chad Kolarik and the Wolverines aren't expected to win this…

… Tournament. The Wolverines are the No. 3 seed. North Dakota is the host team for this regional, meaning Friday night's' game will be played on its home ice at Ralph Engelstad Arena. Michigan put up an…

…-67 road victory on Senior Day at Crisler Arena, claiming the Wolverines as their victims for the 10th straight time. Whereas the win might just be enough to catapult Indiana (9-7 Big Ten, 17-10 overall…

… Saturday. Although the group surely wants Horton, who turned in another great game for the Wolverines (34 points), it probably wishes the star senior could leave his teammates behind. Michigan set the…

…B -- - - -- ----- ------ -- ------------- - --- - - --- Michigan 74 Dee-sappointed Wolverines take iini down to the wire, but buzzer-beater rims out By Jack Herman Daily Sports Writer CHAMPAIGN - It was billed as a battle between two of the best guards in the…

… finished with a game-high 26 points. Horton had 19. And, in the end, it would come down to a clash between these two. With 13 seconds left, the seventh- ranked Illini held a 77-74 lead, but the Wolverines…

… the buzzer sounded at the conclu- sion of the second period on Saturday night, it looked bad for No. 6 Michigan. The Wolverines trailed 2-1 and could not get past the tough Ohio State defense. The…

… crippling for the Wolverines' postseason dreams. But something changed during the sec- ond period intermission. Actually, a lot changed. Even though the Wolverines scored five goals in Friday night's game…

… 22nd-ranked Wol- verines will send one diver and nine swimmers to compete and look to improve upon last season's 14th-place finish. The Wolverines will compete in all but one of the meet's 18 events…

… medley relay team. As the Wolverines prepare for the competition, they hope the thousands of training laps, early mornings and late nights will translate into success. The swimmer participating in the most…

… Lindsey Smith, who won three Big Ten Championships, enters the meet as one of the most decorated swimmers at Michigan. Smith, with four career All-Ameri- can honors - the most for any current Wolverine…

… game of the 2005 Women's College World Series that clinched Michigan's first national championship and sent the Bruins home disappointed. Perhaps it was too poetic. The Wolverines had all the momentum…

… long ball, blemishing an otherwise solid outing for Ritter (6-2) that featured 13 strikeouts, including the 850th of her career. Unlike UCLA (27-1), the Wolverines' runs came from both small . .....ball…

… for the Wolverines. The coaching staff even named Hunwick an alternate captain prior to the season. But last Saturday, it wasn't Hunwick the Yost Ice Arena crowd chanted for; it was his defensive…

… USA play. The game is a second- round match-up in the NIT. Three Keys for a Michigan victory KEEP TURNOVERS DOWN: The Wolverines have struggled to take care of the ball in their last few games. In…

… their first-round tournament loss to Minnesota in the Big Ten, three consecutive turnovers in the second half ultimately did Michigan in. The Wolverines have committed 45 turnovers in the past two games…

… against Minnesota on Feb. 15 to the porous defense that allowed Iowa, Michigan State, Ohio State and Purdue to score more than 80 points. In order for the Wolverines to defeat UTEP, they will need to play…

…. In the Big Ten Tournament first-round contest against Minnesota, the Gophers hounded Horton with Vincent Grier and make someone else have to win the game for the Wolverines. Many times this season…

… Wolverines' power play. BY THE NUMBERS Friday's Game LAKE SUPERIOR STATE 3 - MICHIGAN 2 (OT) Saturday's Game MICHIGAN 4 - LAKE SUPERIOR STATE 2 Splitting Headache Senior goalie helps to relieve teams woes…

… By H. Jose Bosch Daily Sports Writer Marty Turco. Josh Blackburn. Noah Ruden? He may not have had as illustrious a career as former Wolverine legends Turco or Blackburn, but Michigan senior goaltender…

… Noah Ruden may 4 6 Consecutive weekend series in which the Wolverines have failed to sweep the opposition. Number of power play goals in their last 71 chances for the Wolverines. This weekend Michigan…

… into the game, ta. ing advantage of two defensive lapses by th Wolverines to cut the score to 4-2 at the en ice. If I get my chances and we keep winning, hopefully I can fill that roll." PATIENCE IS A…

… as close as the Lakers would come. Senior goalie Noah Ruden rebounded from a frustrating Friday to preserve the two-goal margin. er The action slowed down after the first )- period, as the Wolverines…

… CAITLIN KLEIBOER/Daily : Ruden Is quickly emerging as this season's No.1 goalie at just the right time for the Wolverines. OVE: The Keebler Elf wasn't backing down against the bigger and more physical Mongo…

… Man. Power play is man disadvantage gfor M THE 'RED' LINE In a system named for legendary coach Red Beren- son, the Daily hockey writers grade the Wolverines on their performance in each of four areas…

…. (Graded out of 4 pucks) Mark Giannotto OFFENSE The six goals this week- end is a little bit mislead- ing. Besides the first period of Saturday's game, when the Wolverines notched four goals, the offense…

… those chances. No goals? Eight shots? Isn't this the Michigan team that led the nation in power play efficiency . through the first half of the season? JAM Up until Jan. 2, the Wolverines sat atop the…

… much better chances and prevented Lake E yes, can the Wolverines do in the meantime? Alternate captain Matt *Hunwick believes the key lies in getting the puck down into the opponents' zone. He thinks…

… immediately gave the puck right back. Kaleniecki skated in on West- ern Michigan goalie Daniel Bellissimo and slapped the puck over the Bronco's right shoulder to give the Wolverines a 4-3 lead. The goal proved…

… to be the game winner, and No. 6 Michigan went on to ambush Western Michigan 7-3 and end its three-game winless streak. Kaleniecki's goal put an end to a wild second period in which the Wolverines (10…

… Editor For the Michigan basketball team as a whole, last Wednesday's victory over Michigan State was a high point. But not every Wolverine was pleased with his per- formance against the Spartans. Daniel…

… Wisconsin, they did. The roommates stormed out of the gate and never N Mi n p rd N looked back, leading the Wolverines with a combined 41 points on 16-of-22 shooting. Their 72 percent shooting percentage…

… Jamelle Cornley. Sauer's back side to give the Broncos the game's first goal. And once Broncos defenseman Reid Yantzi gave his team a two-goal lead in the sec- ond, the Wolverines' self-destruction seemed…

…, Johnson maturely executed clean hits, keeping the puck out of the Broncos' hands on his way to a plus-three night. And the whole team reacted in the same fashion. The Wolverines real- ized that they were…

… Michigan's Angel Chan were tests for the Wolverine defense, then the Michigan women's bas- ketball team now looks like a straight-A student. That's because the Wolverines have always had an answer. All three…

… players posed threats to what was thought to be a mis- take-prone Wolverine defense. But in the end, they were all left scratching their heads, puzzled at how solid Michigan's defense actually was…

…. Meanwhile, the Wolverines walked away with three wins. Bishop, who was averaging 16 points a game, managed just five against the Wolverines. Massey came in scoring 20 per game, but that didn't matter either…

… choice has yielded positive results. Not factoring in last Saturday's ugly loss against No. S Duke, the Wolverines have allowed just 45 points per game - 11 less than they were averaging before the change…

… confident and reestablished what her long-term goals are," Michigan assistantcoach Stefanie Kerska said. As of Nov. 11, Smith swam in 14 events that the Wolverines finished first place in. Individually, she…

… spectacular The Wolverines sent a mes- first half, but he didn't catch any against Vanderbilt last week,- sage to their critics last week: after halftime. Not that Henne amassing 146 yards on 31 carries. This…

… year's defense is ready to should escape blame entirely: The junior tailback turned runs kick some butt. With six sacks, The Wolverines' signal caller that should have been stopped 11 tackles for loss…

…- battle shapes up: If the Chippewas hope to con- ming with confidence after its tamn a Wolverine passing attack standout dehut against Bostoi Michigan passing offense that is unquestionably itching to…

…. But last week, the fifth-year week was any indication, the senior struggled to simply catch the Wolverines may have finally ball. The Wolverines' kicking game found the recipe for containing wasn't much…

… - 731 days, to be exact. The game on Nov. 20, 2004, accomplished something the cur- rent Michigan roster might be a little unfamiliar with: a win over Michigan State. It's not like the Wolverines haven…

… those ended in a tie. Michigan's record in those con- tests is a disappointing0-3-5. This season, there's a whole group of Wolverines who don't want that trend to continue. "I hate green and white, and I…

… the RedHawks,thenlast week- end with unranked Northeastern. "We've got to continue for two games instead of just the one," Far- Senior forward David Rohlfs and his Wolverine teammates will take n…

…- experienced Wolverines have been a surprise story for the team. Their play in the midfield has been solid in the absence of starting midfielders Danelle Underwood and Jamie Artsis, both lost to sea- son…

… defenseman Jack Johnson, won't be on the ice tonight in East Lansing. The soph- omore received a game disqualifi- cation after confronting a Husky forward who charged Wolverine netminder Billy Sauer. Johnson…

…. He has played forward all season because of a wealth of defensemen. Senior Morgan Ward will occupy Cook's vacancy up front. The Johnson-less Wolverines want to stop that 731-day drought tonight - and a…

… weekend sweep wouldn't be too bad, either. "We haven't done as well as we want to do against Michigan State," Berenson said. "We've got to take a step forward." 4 Tennant, Wolverines redeemed with win…

…, the sophomore earned his chance to erase that bitter memory. And with the Wolverines fighting for an NCAA bid they can only receive if they win the tournament, the timing couldn't have been better…

… forward. Through thetfirst five games of the season, Amaker has empha- sized defense. And so far, the Wolverines (5- 0), who play Youngstown State tonight, have answered the call. Opposingteams have shot…

… just 34 percent from the field and the Wolverines have forced an aver- age of 18 turnovers per game. Much of it has to do with Michigan's athleticism around the rim. The Wolverines big men - Petway…

… by knocking off No. 19 Richmond 3-2 at Old Dominion. It was the Wolverines' second win in as many games after dropping the first four of the season. No. 20 Michigan earned a come-from- behind victory…

… when striker Kristen Tiner beat Spider goalie Becca Weaver to give the Wolverines a 3-2 lead at the 67:14 mark. It was her second goal is as many games. Michigan, outshooting Richmond 12-8, battled from…

… other Wolverine posted a score of 79 or higher. And besides Dore, Schaetzel and Rankin no other golfer for Michigan finished in the top 50 individually. "We can't control the opponent," Sapp said. "We can…

… went. After the Wolverines won the NIT during the seniors' second year, people expected big things. But two sea- sons later, there they were: back in the NIT. This season took that path too. Michigan…

…. Michi- On tap gan won four straight games, and it finally looked as if the pieces had been put together. But once again, the Wolverines folded. And boy, was it ugly. Daniel Horton, the second-best free…

… top-three finish in the event. At least that's what Michigan junior Carol MacNamara hoped after she posted the impressive score in the No. 9 Wolverine's opening event, vault. But the score didn't hold…

… competition." The night was not without its bumps in the road, but the Wolverines put up incredible performances under pressure that made those bumps nearly insig- nificant. After a fall in the fifth spot on…

… MacNamara's turn to take back the spot light. After an early fall in the floor lineup, every Wolverine had to be on target. MacNamara bested a string of clutch performances, earning her second 9.900 on…

… rou- tine than to have that all-around score." With three all-around competitors who posted scores of 39.500 or higher, Georgia is tough competition. But the Wolverines may have one more shot at the…

… hoped to continue her success. Unfortunate- ly, Schmucker fell short of her expectations. But, that didn't stop her from tying for ninth place and leading the Wolverines to a fifth- place finish (906…

…) is a player who has really come a long way for us," Teichert said. "She has really given us some good solid play. ... She brought it back today with a 74." The Wolverines have some time before they…

… Wolverines trotted into the locker room holding a 38-31 lead. "We pride ourselves on going into the half with the momentum," Horton said. "We've watched tape numer- ous times, and when we scored, teams walk…

… off the floor when they would normally sprint if they had the momentum. Things like that make a difference" Even though both dunks accounted for just four points on the scoreboard, the Wolverines used…

… to the Wolverine bench. With a little more than seven minutes left in the sec- ond half, Petway fell to the floor holding his hand over his mouth. He immediately walked off the court to the locker room…

…. Although many Michigan faithful had flashbacks to last season's injury-plagued campaign, both players seemed fine after the game. Following the Wolverines' struggles in their Big Ten home opener against…

…, the Wolverines appeared to come out of their funk when they notched three power play goals in an exhibition game against the U.S. National Development Pro- gram Under-18 Team. Prior to those three…

… tallies, Michigan had been scoreless on its previous 19 power play chances. But Tuesday, the power play failed to score goals and gave up one shorthanded goal. With the Wolverines trailing 1-0, junior…

… flicked the puck in the air to a streaking Bryan Lerg, who had snuck behind the Michigan defense. From there, Lerg had a breakaway on Wolverine goalie Noah Ruden. Lerg faked a shot, and Ruden bit, allowing…

… Sports Writer CHAMPAIGN - Michigan junior Courtney Sims had a rough start to the con- ference season, leaving many Wolverine fans wondering if he was up to the chal- lenges that face a Big Ten post player…

… that mat< and the Wolverines' game against due, combining for 11 points on just s attempted field goals. The game against the Illini, how provided a glimmer of hope for the of the year. Sims started off…

…. Wolverines wing Lester Abram d down the lane and got the ball to Sims, scored and drew the foul. Sims hit the throw, giving Michigan a 9-8 lead. Sims's finest play came when he gral the largest advantage the…

… Wolverines w « SINGER Continued from page 1B For the first - and perhaps only - time in my life, the thought flashed through my mind: Tommy Amaker is an offensive genius. The play worked, and Horton got the…

… Wolverines never surrendered. They responded to every vicious blow with an equal- ly nasty counter-punch and kept the champ on the ropes until the final bell sounded. But in the end, the conclusion was…

… history of the Michigan basketball program. Instead, with the rimming-out of Horton's shot, Saturday's game was just the latest example of a familiar pattern for the Wolverines. The close- but…

…. Undaunted, Horton responded with two consecutive triples of his own, draining the second one right in Brown's eye. While the rest of the Wolverines' offense stalled in the last few minutes, Horton shined…

…. ... Sims now places fourth in Wolverine history with 151 blocks. ... The game was sold out, with 16,618 fans in attendance. 0 PLAYERS OF THE GAME Daniel Horton Michigan Horton used 17 second-half points to…

… bring the Wolverines to a brief lead after they trailed by 11 at half- time. He finished the game with 19 points and a team-high five assists. Dee Brown Illinois Brown scored a game-high 26 points, making…

… mars weekend S By Nate Sandals Daily Sports Writer After a five-inning, 14-0 vic- tory over Purdue in the first game of yesterday's double- header, the Wolverines retreat- ed to their locker room. No…

…. 12 Michigan returned to Alumni Field 15 minutes later a differ- ent team. But the change was a negative one. Despite a seventh-inning rally, the Wolverines fell to Purdue, 5- 4 in the second game of…

… we have our energy up." But that's just the task that the Wolverines (8-8 Big Ten, 18-9 overall) face this Thursday at 2:30 p.m. when they square off against Min- nesota (5-11, 14-14) in the first…

… round of the Big Ten Tournament. Already, Michigan has defeated the Gophers twice, by a combined 38 points. On Jan. 21, the Wolverines traveled to Williams Arena and handed Minnesota a 71-55 loss. Then…

… South Bend, it banged seven pucks past Irish goaltender David Brown. And just for good mea- sure, the Wolverines tapped in an empty-netter to make it an even eight-goal night. But that was more than a…

… series for the seventh-ranked Wolverines. "They totally changed, as every- body can see," Michigan forward Danny Fardig said. "They're taking the country by surprise, but hope- fully we know what to expect…

… sophomore Andrew Cogliano - crashing oppo- nents' nets each night. But move back to Michigan's defense, and you won't find such a steady group. The Wolverine defensive corps is hurting, with senior Jason Dest…

…6B - The Michigan Daily - SportsTuesday - September 5, 2006 0 SCR Wolverines still struggling to score as winless streak continues By Jamie Josephson Daily Sports Writer The first two minutes of…

… at Old College Field in East Lansing this weekend, the Wolverines (1-3-0) came out of the gates against No. 3 New Mexico (1-1-1) with a taste for an upset. After earning its first win of the season…

… goal box that dropped on the foot of one Michigan's play- ers. Though he had time to clear, the Wolverine miss-hit the ball. It went just 18 yards out, right to New Mexico's awaiting attacker, David Gual…

… compared to the air game." In contrast to the 2005 season, when Michi- gan posted wins in four out of its first five con- tests, this year's batch of Wolverines is still working out the kinks. Though…

…Tuesday May 30, 2006 sports.michigandaily.com sports@michigandaily.com SPORTS 131 Rocky toppled Wolverines' repeat title bid halted in Tennessee By Amber Colvin Daily Sports Writer KNOXVILLE…

… the Volunteers clung to each other and jumped with delight, to their right stood a group of sweaty, dirty and worn Wolverines, silently consoling each other with tears. Facing a 1-0 deficit, Michigan…

…-14. The Wolverines turned the ball over 14 times. They grabbed 14 first-half rebounds, while the Spartans notched 14 offen- sive rebounds in the first half. And Liz Shimek, Michigan State's leading scorer…

… bench players played 10 more minutes than in the first half. Following "tag" logic, the chal- lenge is on the Wolverines to hold Illinois to a low-shooting clip. This final chance for a conference victory…

… this spring - behind Ohio State, Pur- due, and Minnesota - by both Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball. But ask any Wolverine if they'd be satisfied with that result, and you'll get a wide variety…

…- ers who hit above .350. The Wolverines no longer have three of them (Chris Getz, Kyle Bohm and Matt Butler). Louisville Slugger preseason All- America second-team catcher Jeff Kun- kel returns to anchor…

… under the ears," Hammond said. "The pressures of college baseball won't get to them. That's unusual, but these guys will step up." Of all of the young Wolverines, Put- nam arrives as the most highly…

…). Instead of signing with the Tigers, he joined the Wolverines. "I've lived here my whole life," Putnam said. "I believe in what coach Maloney is trying to do with this team, and I want to be a part of it…

…:' 0 0 ANGELA CESERE/Daily Sophomore Janelle Cooper and the Wolverines fell to cross-state rivals Michigan State last night even though Cooper led Michigan with 18 points. M WRESTLING Tournament…

… business. The Wolverines closed out their season with an unblemished record in league play and now look forward to the Big Ten tour- nament which will be held in Bloomington on March 4 and 5. "It's important…

… that we stay focused and put ourselves in position to win," Michi- gan coach Joe McFarland said. "There are some outstanding teams and everybody is trying to win." Under McFarland, the Wolverines have…

…. But the Wolverines do not see the tourna- ment as merely a stepping stone. They want to make a statement. "I've never won the Big Ten tournament since I've been here," McFarland said. "Obvi- ously, that…

… kind of picked up the slack for her, and we started making shots." The Wolverines (0-13 Big Ten, 6-19 overall) showed that they were ready to play right from the start, never allowing the Boilermakers…

… free throw from Gearlds, Michigan promptly went on a 6-0 run to tie the game. Soon after, the Wolverines took a 22-19 lead on a pret- ty spin move and jumper from Janelle Cooper. The sophomore - whom…

… to Michi- gan's upset bid. On Purdue's first posses- sion, Gearlds drilled a three from the top of the key. After a steal off a pass from Wolverine sophomore Melinda Queen, Purdue forward Aya Traore…

… Michigan softball program. The Wolverines reached new heights last season, becoming the first team east of the Mississippi River to win the Women's College World Series. "Regardless of what happened last…

… anything is deserved," Ritter said in the e-mail. "It's up to us to prove that we belong there." Michigan's top ranking shouldn't come as a shock to anyone. The Wolverines return all but one of their…

… and Alessandra Giampaolo and senior Stepha- nie Bercaw returning to left, center and right fields, respectively. The Wolverines lost some offensive pop with the graduations of shortstop Jessica Merchant…

… to help out," Ewing wrote in an e-mail. "There's no one better than Jess herself giving me advice." The Wolverines open the season at the GRU Classic in Gainesville,Fla. this week- end. They will face…

… - last start, Feb. 16, 2005. Hunter's performance left no room for second guesses. The senior sparked the Wolverines out of the locker room, launching them to a 35-6 lead. In total, Hunter scored of No. 1…

… and allowed us to get out of the box early." By early, Amaker meant 40 seconds into the game. Hunter justified his coach's decision on the Wolverines' first possession. He received a pass from Graham…

… going up and swinging away at it." Rood and her teammates need- ed a more controlled style against Iowa (1-6 Big Ten, 12-7 overall). The Hawkeyes were a shifty team compared to the Wolverines' pre- vious…

… a watershed moment for a team that has struggled with finishing games during the Big Ten season. In three of their losses this sea- son, the Wolverines (3-5, 16-5) have had a chance to put teams away…

… couldn't quite find her stride in her first six-kilometer race as a Wolverine, finishing 63rd (21:22.5). Redshirt sophomore Nicole Edwards's day also proved difficult, clocking a 21:24.9 for 67th, well off…

… Wolverines, finish- ing nine seconds behind the leader, North Carolina State's Julia Lucas. Webster's personal-best time of 20:10.2 was four seconds faster than her previous race and a 58-second improvement…

…," Field said. "A couple of ourtop girls had an off day, butthen others really stepped it up.I think it looks good" The Wolverines couldn't take control early in the race as they did in their victory at the…

… 30, any team is a threat. "This is the best the (Big Ten) has been since the 15 years I've been coaching," McGuire said. "If the conference is better, we need to be better." The Wolverines will put…

…Friday January 20, 2006 sports. michigan daily. com sports@michigandaily.com Phe OR'TSIgttiiu 4 8 . . ......... ........ 4 Gophers stifle Wolverines in lopSided win By David Murray Daily Sports…

… wasn't enough. With the help of five Michigan turnovers over the following four minutes, Minnesota (5-1, 12-4) went on a 9-0 run, giving the Wolverines the last look they had at a lead. Michigan held it…

… the shot clock. Minnesota's stifling defense also caused 16 first - half Wolverine turnovers. "If you know what caused turnovers, you obviously wouldn't do them as much," Dierdorf said. "I can't say…

… Writer After failing to shoot better than 38 percent in any Big Ten game so far this year, the Wolverines appeared to end their shooting slump in the first half of last night's game. They hit 61 percent of…

… their field goals in the period. The problem was that the team attempt- ed just 18 shots - exactly the number Minnesota knocked down in the half. The Golden Gophers stayed ahead of the Wolverines by…

… defense that other teams have used to successfully stifle the Wolverines. And Michigan couldn't handle the pressure. "Man-to-man pressure defense and keeping the ball on one side of the floor is our bread…

… the first half, the Wolverines had numerous posses- sions where the ball was still at the top of the key with just 10 seconds remaining. As the shot clock wound down, Michigan ended up forcing a bad…

… Wolverines take good shots but turnovers limit their opportunities. JUSTIN BASS/Daily Sophomore Katie Dierdorf's 12 points weren't enough to beat the Gophers momentum." The Wolverines kept it together…

… inevitable. During those five minutes, turnovers were once again the problem for the Wolverines, and the Gophers got nine of their 15 points from turnovers. Dierdorf scored in double-digits for the fourth…

… Wolverines have a chance to rewrite their season when they play Bowling Green in a home-and-home series - tonight's game in Ann Arbor and tomorrow's game at Bowling Green (7-10-1 CCHA, 11-13-1 overall). After…

… Wolverines are 2-for- 30 with the advantage. SATURDAY'S SCORING SUMMARY Alaska-Fairbanks 4, Michigan 2 Alaska-Fairbanks .................................... 3 1 0 - 4 Michigan.....................0 1 1-2 FIRST…

… is a true Wolverine who should never be messed with. "We're not here to win a fight," said Berenson of the entire ordeal. "Otherwise, we'd start a boxing team." Lost in the commotion was goalie Billy…

… defenseman David Rohlfs got a mouthful during Friday night's fight. The Wolverines got the final laugh, winning 4-2. - was hurting him. He was even able to notch an assist on Michigan's first goal. "I thought…

… third and skate a couple hard laps to see if I could go, but I just couldn't do it. It was too awkward and painful." THE PRODIGAL SONs: The Wolverines' spirits were lifted Friday when four of their…

… In a system named for legendary coach Red Beren- son, the Daily hockey writers grade the Wolverines on their performance in each of four areas. (Graded out of 4 pucks) The feeling of familiarity was…

… World Junior Championships, the Wolverines were cer- tainly not at full strength this weekend. Heading into Friday night's game, I recalled the season- series opener Oct. 29 in Fairbanks, where a travel…

…-weary Michigan team was out-hustled to every puck and sent back to the hotel with a 4-2 loss. Needless to say, I was wary of JA a repeat. But it wasn't to be. The Wolverines notched a 4-0 Z shutout victory in…

… Friday's game. Si At that point, Michigan had taken two in a row from the Nanooks, beginning with a 4-0 win Oct. 30 and the visions of the conference-opening October loss faded fast. The Wolverines are a…

… Michigan blanked Alaska-Fairbanks on the 30th, dominating much like the Wolverines did this past Friday. But it took just eight minutes for the Nanooks to revive October's frustration on Saturday. Before…

… Sauer out of a chance for vic- tory before it shored up its holes later in the game. Because the Wolverines have experienced the disappointment o traveling 3,000 miles for a Friday night loss, they must…

… had to play better defense. He said that senior Courtney Sims had to be more consistent. He said that the Wolverines would only go as far as their seniors took them. But it looked like the same old…

… to plan. In their first road game of the year, the Wolverines opened on a 16-4 run, which saw the Wolfpack lose its second-leading scorer and lone senior, point guard Engin Atsur to a hamstring injury…

… tutelage, the Wolverines have won three straight regular-season conference championships - three more than Amak- er has in his nine seasons as a head coach - and have finished top 10 in the nation six…

…." After working for seven years under his former coach, Dale Bahr, McFarland took the reigns at the beginning of the 1999 season, and the Wolverines haven't looked back since. McFarland's gritty attitude…

… last statement. After allowing 21 free throws and 40 first-half points, the defense clamped down, limiting Ath- letes in Action to just 22 points in the second. The Wolverine defense helped jump…

… the game, giving Michigan a 49-43 lead. Minnfield was a big reason the Wolverines went on a21-3 run to open the half. She scored eight points and notched three assists in the second frame. The point…

… guard also hit a key 3-pointer down the stretch to push the Wolverine advantage to 62-55 with just over two minutes remaining. But Athletes in Action wouldn't fall easily. Fol- lowing the Minnfield basket…

…Wednesday September 27, 2006 sports.michigandaily.com sports@michigandaily.com SPORT"S, I 0 4 1OA Senior goalie a calming force for Wolverines By Colt Rosensweig Daily Sports Writer, In eighth…

… line of defense, is a calming influence on her teammates. Always even-keeled and never panicky, Riley consistently keeps the Wolverines in games. She also tends to shut down other teams' attacks. In 70…

… pounds and ran a 49 40-yard dash. Not exactly blink-and-you'll- miss-him speed, but surprisingly fast for a man thatbig. Branch's quickness came in handy during his first two seasons as a Wolverine, when…

… Alan Branch notched his first sack of the se Wolverines' win over Wisconsin last Saturday. ting sacks. If that's the case, he must have been very happy with the switch on Saturday. Branch spent the…

… season, a second season." Michigan (0-1-0 Big Ten, 4-4-2 overall) hopes it fares better in its second season than its first. The Wolverines ended their noncon- ference schedule by losing three of four…

… Big Ten for the Wolverines. "It's so early in the Big Ten season that it's too early to think about the NCAA Tournament," Rademacher said. "We just need to focus on playing well and improving each game…

… said. "But our defensive presence is there, a total 180 from last year." With Tuura guarding the net, it's nearly impossible to score against the Wolverines. In her first seven . games prior to…

… the Wolverines' defense. Two days later, Michigan plays Indi- ana, which beat the Wolverines 2-1 last year. "The fact that we have them at home, two teams who are at the top of the Big Ten, there's a…

… are in the Big Ten," Tuura said. "That makes it more person- al. We also know them better and can prepare for them better." The Wolverines know the Big Ten season is what makes or breaks a team's season…

… once again added youth to its roster. But this time, it's in the coaching department. After employing first-year coach Aman- la Augustus on July 6th, the Wolverines recently announced the hiring of…

… always knew when her play- ing career ended that she wanted to be a coach; she just had no idea it would be at Michigan. It's clear why she is so excited about becoming a part of the Wolverine program…

… national recognition. Michigan proved it could beat up on less- er competition last year, going a remark- able 16-3 against unranked teams. On the flip side, the Wolverines also showed they weren't quite…

… where you don't have to be per- fect." - Fifth-year senior pitcher Paul Ham- mond on the Wolverines' early leads through- out the series. Hitters and pitchers combine to lead victorious Wolverines By…

… trying to mount a comeback, the Wolverines scored ° early and often. Ohio State held a lead for just half an inning over the entire weekend. Game two of Sat- urday's doubleheader epitomized Michigan…

…'s basketball team was asleep for the Big Ten season, losing all 16 games, and the bad dream concluded Thurs- day when Indiana dismissed the Wolverines 68-52 in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. Michigan…

…. The Wolverines never held a lead and trailed by double-digits for more than 30 minutes. The Maize and Blue went on a late sec- ond-half run to pull within 11 points, but that was the closest it came to…

… for Wolverine guards, but they were unable to capi- talize. Michigan made just 6-of-23 3-pointers. With few outside shots falling, the Wolverines leaned on freshman point guard Jessica Min- nfield…

…- ded the Wolverine's defense for 19 and 17 points, respectively. In addition, DeMuth made seven free throws, one more than the entire Michigan team, and Valentin also added eight assists - just three…

… they bring being seniors, and DeMuth being a fifth-year senior. We knew we had to contain them." Unfortunately, the Wolverines didn't con- tain anybody all year, going winless in the Big Ten for just the…

… juncture would prove to be decisive, and he won the 1,600- meter in 4:14.26, earning his first career Big Ten victory. Woods's win was one of the many high- lights for the Wolverines, who finished fourth at…

… he was taking notes during Ronald Reagan's presidency. The women's basketball team is almost as bad as the Knicks. Luckily, the Wolverines don't have a first-round pick to trade away. Excited about the…

…-No. 11 Michigan State and then-No. 23 Wisconsin, they Wolverines seemed guaranteed to jump from the receiving votes category into the actual top 25. The eight-year Wolverine absence from the polls stood as…

… about us a little more." The players enjoy the extra attention that the Wolverines (5-2 Big Ten, 15-3 overall) have * drawn from the national ranking, but they under- - " stand the real motivation for…

… this season, espe- RODRIGO GAYA/Daiy cially with trips to State College and Iowa City Senior Daniel Horton's great play has the Wolverines ranked in the top 25 for the first time in seven years. With…

… Maize and Blue. The Wolverines have gone 9-3-1 at Yost Ice Arena while going just 4-5-1 on the road. don Kaleniecki remaining in the lineup after a solid performance last weekend. Despite battling…

… Thom- as in the CCHA goal-scoring race and boasts the conference's best goals-per- game average. Walton also leads the league in power play goals, something the Wolverines hope to cut down on after…

… forward, and we'll look at him as a forward (tonight) and see how our (defensemen) do." Tonight's game is just the second weekday game the Wolverines have played this year. Ebbett said he hopes his…

… the Wolverines don't have the luxury of sitting on their national recognition, especially with the competitiveness of this year's Big Ten. Heading into the midway point of the Big Ten season, Michigan…

… Wolverines knock off two ranked teams last week and averaged 18 points and five assists. "I think it's a deserving honor," Amaker said. "I think he's played an incredible stretch of bas- ketball for us. It…

… a consummate teammate. The Wolverines first connected with Catrambone at one of the program's camps. Although Catram- bone - a high school junior at the time - would have been recruited regardless…

… his personality. The Wolverines can hope that young gymnasts will be attracted to Michigan for the same reasons as Catrambone, and his presence may clinch their decisions. "His disposition is very…

…- tion that he's so very good at." Throughout the game, Michigan switched between a zone and a man-to-man defense. In the zone, the Wolverines limited Grier's driving ability by collaps- ing down on him…

… Dion Harris said. "He was checking Grier, and he was the reason why Grier struggled offensively." FLY LIKE AN EAGLE: Michigan fans have seen it before. It's one of the Wolverines' favorite plays coming…

… second half. The Wolverine guards also stepped up on the defensive end. Abram shut down Minnesota's star small forward Vincent Grier for much of the first half, holding him to just two points. When Abram…

… win." Amaker stated Michigan planned on having Abram guard Indiana sopho- more Robert Vaden, who tore the Wolverines apart for 17 second-half points. But even though he admit- ted Abram's injury "didn…

… Wolverines' less-cel- ebrated senior forward, Graham Brown. The senior didn't put up offensive numbers like his backcourt teammates, but his effort on the glass led the Wolverines to a near upset of No. 16…

… underside of the crossbar and snuck into the net, giving the midfielder his first career goal as a Wolverine and Michigan a huge upset win against Kentucky, 2-1. "Here's Alex, and he's not a goal scorer…

… first upset against a top-15 team this year in its first overtime contest of 2006. The Wolverines also served Kentucky (5-1-1) its first loss of the season. "I think more than anything, the win reinforces…

… of the season gave the Wolverines a 1-0 lead. "Mauro is a goal scorer and one of the top three finishers on the team," Burns said. "Mauro had the keeper beat right when the ball left his foot. He…

… lucky to get one chance to shine. Last Saturday, senior line- backer Max Pollock got his opportunity. And he took advan- tage. With just under 12 minutes to go in the Wolverines' matchup against Central…

… Wolverines mobbed Pollock, celebrating a touchdown from the unlikeliest source. "I mean you always know you're going to get an opportunity some- time' Pollock said. "And you always just visualize something…

… in practice. Even the biggest, strongest and fastest Wolverine linebackers are amazed by Pollock's energetic attitude on the practice field. "He plays real fast, he plays hard," Crable said. "A lot of…

… the young Wolverines carry a heavy burden on their shoulders. "Our expectations are that we compete at a national level," Michi- gan coach Steve Burns said. "Look for this to be a breakout season, not…

…'t have a smooth path to the NCAAs lined up. Eleven of the 19 teams the Wolverines face this year competed in last year's tour- nament. But Burns said this year's team has already demonstrated an extremely…

… first place runner, South Alabama's Vincent Rono. Woods was the lone Wolverine to qual- ify automatically for the finals, but the team had some incredibly close finishes. After fighting an intense battle…

… the top five finish- ers were able to overcome. The Wolverine captain, who started his career as a walk-on and finished as a regional qualifier, said he was ecstatic with his performance. "If you would…

… actually did better than what she did at the Big Tens." On Friday, the big race for the Wolverines was the 5,000-meter run. Michigan saw Kohlmeier and Webster both qualify for the nation- al championships…

… seconds later (16:27.12). The Wolverines' domination of the 5,000-meters contributed to what McGuire called "an outstand- ing weekend." But Michigan does not plan to do anything special to prepare for…

… Dame this weekend during the second round of the NCAA tournament in South Bend. The only win for the Wolverines came from the No. 1 doubles team of junior Kara Delicata and senior Debra Streifler over…

… the Wolverines' season but also the career of Michigan coach Bitsy Ritt She will fill the role of associate athletic director at Michigan beginning this fall. Maravic and Hung lone bright spots for Blue…

…. PAGE 3B MEN's GYMNASTICS: Against two other top-10 teams, the Wolverines come up short. PAGE 6B SPORTS NDAY ---------- ---------- -- ------- ---- 1B RENEE= No. 16 MICHIGAN STATE 90, Michigan 71…

… Columbus was littered with new records, personal bests and NCAA qualifying times for the 22nd-ranked Wolverines. Michigan's brightest star, junior Katilyn Brady, was named the 2006 Big Ten Conference Swimmer…

…'s game echoed the sentiments of the phrase tattooed on his right arm: "No joke." Carrying the team on his back, Sims scored 10 of Michigan's final 15 points, and the Wolverines defeated Wisconsin…

… in the paint and the Wolverines' only consistent player. During the game's closing min- utes, there was no doubt Sims was getting the ball on the offensive side off the court. It was hard not to ignore…

… more successful than Michigan's last year; Pine-Bluff went just 6-21 and finished dead last in the Southwest Athletic Conference. But the Wolverines, seeking their firstwin since last December, will come…

…," Dier- dorf said. "Now that we have 14, we can sub a player in the second someone gets tired." ThoughtheGoldenLionsappear to be quicker than the Wolverines, Burnett is confident her team can play solid…

… additions to the Wolverines have officially one- upped their elders. With senior forward Brent Pet- way unable to play due to flu-like symptoms, the starters struggled to execute on offense. "We had some…

… senior Courtney Sims botched two easy layups. So perhaps a little nervous for their own playing time after watch- ing the kids play so well in the first period, the elder Wolverines came out after the…

… goal against Ohio State gave Michigan a 2-1 victory and four crucial road points for the weekend. Four of the Wolverines' previous six games have gone past regulation. Over that stretch, Michigan is 3…

… in its last eight games, the team could have thrown in the towel. But instead, the Wolverines clawed their way through the ele- ments until the bitter end - a 0-0 tie after double overtime. "When you…

… consecutive corner kicks in the second half, Ohio State (7-6-3, 2-2-1) was unable to break through the Wolverine wall. Michigan goal- keeper Patrick Sperry showed no fear in coming out ofthe net to chal- lenge…

…." Energized from several defen- sive stands, the Wolverines stepped up their attack. With just over 18 minutes left in the second half, sophomore Steve Bonnell carried the ball down the left side of the field…

… this season. Marosevic earned another scor- ing opportunity on the rightpost in this frame, but Latchem denied the rookie his glory. The game ended in another scoreless effort for the Wolverines. With…

… Wolverines back into the game, and Ohio State's final corner chance that ended it. Aftertakinga2-Oleadintohalftime, the Buckeyes nearly collapsed follow- ing a questionable call, shifting the game's momentum…

… and allowing the 18th-ranked Wolverines back into the match. About ten minutes after fresh- man Kelly Fitzpatrick cut the deficit in half, senior captain Kara Lentz found the back of the goal off a…

… minutes in to hand the Wolverines a deflating 3-2 loss. and deliver a crushing blow to the team's Big Ten title hopes. With the win, Ohio State ended Michigan's (3-2 Big Ten, 10-8 overall) bid for an…

… undefeated home record this season, dropping the Wolverines to 6-1 at Ocker Field. In each of Michigan's first seven losses, its opponent struck first. The eighthlosswasthesame,andCoxsaid shewas displeased…

… Wolverines' run defense has been. Even after counting the 108 yards amassed by the Gophers, Michigan has allowed just 182 net rushing yards this season. The Wolverines' 36.4 yards per game average continues to…

…'s squad. The Wol- games, the Wolverines are con- verines finished last season with fident they can stop opposing the nation's 41st-ranked run offenses when it counts. defense, yielding an average of "Last…

… newcomer is no stranger to currently leading the Wolverines with three goals. playing on a big stage. Before coming to Michigan, Marosevic played for the But in terms of navigating his way through the first…

… phenom had many choices on where to settle for his college for Michigan (3-3), including the eventual game-winner in the Wolverines' career, but he decided on Michigan after visiting. Since he rarely got…

… lonely figure in the end zone, and the Wolverines had their winning Spoints. Gregg Willner's conversion went wide, and the Wolverine lead was six, 20-14. After an exchange of punts, Mike Harden halted…

… into the end zone, where he received a golden dome in his midsection from Irish cornerback Dave Waymer. The finest Irish hit of the day came after a Michigan six-pointer. The Wolverines tried for two…

…, but Leach was sacked attempting to pass, and the lead was 12, 26- 14. The Wolverine defense, often criticized for its performance on real grass, then really started to put the Irish on the green. Mike…

… Play- er after hitting an extra-inning three- run home run to clinch the title for the Wolverines. Ritter carried the team in the circle all tournament long, earning a win in every one of the Wolverines…

… relationships that have been created, he replied simply: "Once a Wolverine, always a Wolverine." DAILY SPORTS. USING OUR SPACE AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE. . …

… performance and exactly one hundred years since its opening in 1906, Ferry Field remains the home of Michigan track and field and the site of countless accomplish- ments of Wolverine athletes. While Owens may…

… younger Wolverines stepping up, it seems the time is right for the veterans to leave. For the graduating seniors, the Len Paddock Invitational was their final opportunity to compete at Ferry Field in front…

… of a home crowd. Senior Darren Adams took third place in the high jump with a height of 2 meters in his last home meet as a Wolverine. "It's kind of sad," Adams said. "You hate to see it end, but you…

… four-place sweep in the 100-meter hurdles, the hurdlers solidified an already strong showing for No. 15 Michigan. The Wolverines were in control throughout much of the non-scoring meet, finishing first…

…. With the Big Ten championships less than a week away, the Wolverines already have high expectations for recapturing the conference title. After winning three straight Big Ten titles between 2002 and 2004…

… regionals - completed a 1-2 finish for the Wolverines, both with heights of 3.80. It was the first time Boyle quali- fied this season, after missing most of last season due to injury. The Wolverines also…

…'t too worried about the lack of distance titles. "We just wanted to get through thel meet without any unexpected injuries or setbacks," Henry said. The healthy Wolverines travel to East Lansing this…

… normally be easy outs. Her game-changing speed was on display last week. Against Western Michigan last Tuesday, the Wolverine bats were struggling to produce runs until Mil- ian stepped to the plate. She…

… Michigan baseball have in common? They take care of business. The Wolverines have won 10 straight midweek games against Mid-American Conference oppo- nents. Their last loss came against Eastern Michigan on…

… season - Central Michigan and Bowling Green - with solid pitching in both games. Against the Falcons, redshirt fresh- man Ben Jenzen tossed 3 1/3 score- less innings, and the Wolverines pulled away for a 7…

…-4 victory. A week later against the Chippewas, Michi- gan's bullpen combined to throw 6 1/3 innings, allowed just one run to go along with nine strikeouts. The Wolverines' pitching staff face a lineup that is…

… Wolverines will also have to stay on top of their offensive game. The Rockets are just eighth in the MAC in fielding, meaning the more Michigan puts the ball in play, the more likely Toledo is to make an error…

…. Mahler leads the Wolverine offense with a .352 batting average and 31 hits. The team also hopes getting hot at the plate today will carry over into this weekend's series against Ohio State. "(Playing well…

… kind of thing where you keep that momentum going into the weekend." But Mahler said the team isn't overlooking the Rockets. The Wolverines can gain momentum from a strong performance, but they can just…

… as easily lose it with a poor one. And with confer- ence-leading Ohio State around the cor- ToDAe TN A Freshman Mike Wilson is the projected starter for the Wolverines. He has made five appearances…