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(01/22/04 4:32am)
After Sunday's overtime win against Northwestern at Assembly Hall, junior guard Jenny DeMuth said she was dissatisfied.\nIt wasn't with her play.\nShe turned in her sixth double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds. \nDeMuth is concerned about the team's play on the road. \n"I think it was good we got a win at home," DeMuth said. "All Big Ten teams are supposed to win at home. Until we get a road win, I'm not going to be satisfied."\nThe Hoosiers (9-7, 2-3) have just three road wins all season but none in conference play heading into tonight's match-up at Illinois. \n"We have to be on top of our game," DeMuth said. "We can't come out and get down by five or 10 points in the first half. We have to get at it from the start."\nDeMuth has been at it all season long, averaging around 20 points and eight boards per game -- leading the team in points, rebounds and assists.\nCoach Kathi Bennett said she thinks part of the team's road woes is lack of experience. IU is the fourth-youngest team in the country with no active senior players and an average player age of 19. \n"We play different on the road compared to how we practice in terms of our energy," Bennett said. "The only thing you can do is play on and play through. That's what we have to do."\nThe Illini come in at 7-10 and just 1-5 in conference play, but the Hoosiers don't expect a cakewalk. Illinois has four players averaging double-digits, and senior forward/center Cindy Dallas is poised to take over Illinois' all-time rebounding record. \n"They're really athletic," Bennett said. "They get a lot of easy scores in transition. We have to set the pace."\nHelping to set that pace will be junior guard LeeAnn Stephenson. After a four-game hiatus from the starting lineup, Stephenson is back at point guard. The Garland, Texas native has only appeared in eight games, due to injury. She said she has the same mindset whether she starts or not.\n"I just have to go out, do my job, and take care of the ball," Stephenson said.\nTip-off is set for 7 p.m.\n--Contact staff writer Ryan J. Cost at rjcost@indiana.edu.
(01/16/04 5:16am)
The women's basketball team gets the privilege of returning home this weekend for a match-up with Northwestern on Sunday. \nAssembly Hall has been a stranger to the Hoosiers in recent weeks. IU has played just one home game since Dec. 22, a 60-39 rout of Wisconsin on Jan. 8. In that same frame, the Hoosiers have trekked to four different schools, including last night's contest at Iowa. \nNeedless to say, the team is eager to return. \n"We can't wait," freshman center Sarah McKay said. "It's going to be great."\nCoach Kathi Bennett echoed her team's enthusiasm.\n"Playing on the road is all part of the learning experience," Bennett said. "But it will be nice to come home. Our energy will need to be at an all-time high."\nBennett's club has performed well at home this year, with a 5-1 mark inside Assembly Hall. Overall, heading into last night's road contest against Iowa, IU sat at 8-6 with a 1-2 conference record.\nBennett said she is pleased with where her team is headed. \n"I think this team is getting better," Bennett said. "I think they're exciting, and the attitudes have been tremendous. I'm excited to see what can happen from here on out."\nOne reason for the Hoosiers' steady start has been the potent guard tandem of junior Jenny DeMuth and sophomore Cyndi Valentin. Together, they comprise the Big Ten's leading scoring duo (34.9 ppg), and both players are returning next year.\n"We've been playing together for two years now," Valentin said. "We're starting to click. We each know what the other is going to do."\nDeMuth is IU's leading scorer and rebounder, tabbing just over 20 points and almost 8 boards per game.\nThe Wildcats head into Assembly Hall with a 7-8 mark. After opening the season 7-4, injury and illness have plagued them into their current four-game slide. However, several key players who have been out of the lineup are set to return against IU, according to Bennett, namely All-Big Ten honorable mention center Sarah Kwasinski. Last year, the 6 foot 4 inch junior averaged 12 ppg.\n"(Northwestern), offensively, do things that bother us defensively," Bennett said. "They run the Princeton offense so there is a lot of movement. If they're shooting the ball well, they're really hard to match-up against."\nHelping the Hoosiers match-up will be the emerging freshman center McKay. Since she exploded her way into the lineup with a 19-point, 19-minute performance against Arkansas on December 20, McKay has earned herself five straight starts averaging 10.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and nearly three blocks per game in that span.\n"She has definitely gotten better," Bennett said. "It's because she works at it and really cares. I don't think she was used to the size and intensity level when she got here, but she has taken huge strides."\nTip-off is set for 2 p.m. Sunday.\n-- Contact staff writer Ryan J. Cost at rjcost@indiana.edu.
(12/12/03 6:45am)
The IU women's basketball team (4-2) will finally get to see some action on its home hardwood when it faces Maine (4-2) at 7 p.m. tonight in Assembly Hall. The game will end a 19-day absence for the Hoosiers from their home court. \n"It feels good," junior guard Jenny DeMuth said. "We have been on the road for a long time, and the traveling just gets to you. We're just happy to be back home."\nIU's homecoming does not last long, however, as the team will depart tomorrow for a Sunday match-up with North Carolina State.\nThe Hoosiers are coming off a 2-2 road swing that included a trip to the Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam Tournament over Thanksgiving break. Last weekend they had two wins on the road, highlighted by their comeback win against Georgetown Sunday. \nIn that game, IU erased a 14-point first half deficit to come back and dominate the Hoyas in the second half, outscoring them 44-27 in the final frame. \nFreshman guard Leah Enterline notched a career high 17 points in the contest and played great at critical times in the game, said IU coach Kathi Bennett.\n"I was able to get more time in the second half because (sophomore guard) Kali (Kullberg) went down with a knee injury," Enterline said. "I just tried to go out and distribute the ball as best I could to try and create scoring opportunities for my team." \nKullberg is expected back for this weekend's action. Enterline is averaging about 20 minutes per game this season, and she will continue to see playing time, according to Bennett. \n"Leah did a nice job at Georgetown," Bennett said. "More importantly, she has been a difference-maker defensively. I am excited to watch her develop."\nDeMuth is also playing well for the Hoosiers, Bennett said. The Highland, Ind., native leads the team in scoring average with 19.7 points per game. She has also grabbed 7.3 rebounds per contest. \n"Jenny is playing great," Bennett said. "She makes a huge difference every game. She's a special player."\nBoth coaches and players have echoed the need for better defense, specifically boxing-out and getting to the ball. \n"Our transition defense has gotten better, but we have to improve our box-outs," Enterline said. "We box-out fine, but then our opponents beat us to the ball, and we can't let that happen."\nBennett has preached defense all year and said they will have to play better defensively this weekend, especially against Maine.\n"Maine is a very good team," Bennett said. "It returns all five starters to a team that went 16-0 in its conference last season. We have to play with a sense of urgency."\n-- Contact staff writer Ryan J. Cost at rjcost@indiana.edu.
(11/21/03 6:44am)
On a team with no seniors and just two juniors, injury problems are the last thing a coach wants to see. But that is exactly what IU coach Kathi Bennett is facing heading into her squad's regular season opener against Cornell tomorrow night at 6 p.m. in Assembly Hall.\nIU's injury problems began earlier this fall when the team's only senior, forward Jamie Gathing, suffered ligament damage in her knee during individual workouts. This preseason, a host of Hoosiers have fallen victim to the injury bug. \nSophomore post players Brigett Branson and Angela Hawkins both missed significant preseason action, and freshman Jamey Chapman had to overcome an ankle injury to make her debut last week against the Reebok Lady Stars. \nTo make matters worse, junior guard LeeAnn Stephenson suffered a knee injury earlier this week in practice. Stephenson has an MRI scheduled for today to determine the extent of her injury, said Bennett.\nThis means that Bennett might be forced to start two freshman, if Branson's sore hamstring isn't better by game time. \n"Since LeAnn is out, we are going to go with (sophomore) Kali (Kullberg) at the point with (sophomore) Cyndi (Valentin), (junior) Jenny (DeMuth) and Jamey Chapman," Bennett said. "After that it's a question of who is healthy." \nBennett said that Branson will compete with freshmen Sarah McKay and Carrie Smith for the final starting spot. \nBranson was sidelined with a hamstring injury last week, but has practiced every day this week in preparation for this weekend.\n"Last week I sat out to let it heal and it feels a lot better," Branson said. "I still have some pain in it, but that is to be expected."\nHawkins was the team's leading rebounder last season as a freshman, hauling in nearly eight boards per contest. She grabbed 14 rebounds in IU's exhibition opener before injuring her knee the next week in practice. Luckily for the Hoosiers, Hawkins could return this weekend, Bennett said.\n"Angela should be back for us on Sunday," Bennett said. "We could even use her on Saturday, but on a need basis only because her knee is still sore."\nIf Hawkins remains sidelined, IU's post players will have to step up on the boards. One of those players is the Chapman.\nShe was a big bright spot for the Hoosiers in last week's win. The freshman forward notched 17 points and grabbed six rebounds in just 22 minutes of play against the Lady Stars. She said she is eager to begin the regular season.\n"The fact that the games mean something is exciting," Chapman said. "There's a little bit more pressure, which is good because I think this team plays better under pressure."\nPressure is something Bennett said she wants to see more of on defense. After the Athletes in Action smoked her squad in transition, Bennett has put an emphasis on defense at practice.\n"Our defensive positioning off the ball needs the most improvement," Bennett said. "Our transition defense has taken strides, but when teams screen us and work the weak side, we struggle." \nThis weekend's games are part of the Indiana Classic. Although it has had different sponsors, the classic has been in existence since 1980, and the Hoosiers are 34-7 in the season-opening tournament. \nIf IU wins against Cornell on Saturday night, it will play either Indiana State or North Texas on Sunday afternoon. The consolation game tips-off at 2 p.m. with the championship following at 4 p.m., both at Assembly Hall.\n"I think it's good timing with the football game on Saturday afternoon," Bennett said. "Hopefully we can get a big crowd in here and create a fun atmosphere."\n-- Contact Ryan J. Cost at rjcost@indiana.edu
(11/19/03 6:57am)
The power of tradition within IU basketball extends far beyond the realm of the men's program. IU women's associate head coach Trish Betthauser is proof enough of that.\nBetthauser has forgone high-paying jobs -- a teaching career and several Division I coaching opportunities -- to remain a part of women's basketball at IU. \n"Any field she wanted to do and be successful in, she could," IU coach and longtime friend Kathi Bennett said. "But she chose to do this and help kids, which I think is amazing." \nBetthauser and Bennett first met at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh where Betthauser played under Bennett from 1988-92 and helped lead the Division III Titans to three NCAA tournament appearances. \n"She was always the first one on the court, and the last one to leave," said Bennett. "She was real meticulous in her game. She did all the smart things that make you think, 'That kid is going to be a coach some day.'"\nBetthauser graduated from UW-Oshkosh in 1993 with a degree in chemistry and a minor in mathematics, and she chose to coach, passing on several lucrative jobs in the laboratory. \n"I was really influenced by Kathi," Betthauser said. "When I left the playing career at Oskosh, I really wanted to share what I had learned with other people. I just feel so at home within the lines."\nHome is where Betthauser has been since graduation.\nShe began her coaching career at UW-Oshkosh as a graduate assistant. Betthauser then moved on to a job where she could coach kids on the court and in the classroom as an assistant basketball coach and chemistry teacher at Stevenson High School in Illinois. \n"I loved teaching because it was a different thing every single day," Betthauser said. "Who knows? I don't know what's going to happen in the next 10 years. If that opportunity presented itself, I would definitely welcome it."\nBut when Bennett came calling again, Betthauser followed right behind. This time it was off to the University of Evansville to serve as Bennett's top assistant, the post she holds now at IU. \n"Her work ethic is unparalleled," Bennett said. "As an assistant coach, just her integrity and enthusiasm in which she approaches everything is amazing."\nBennett said she feels lucky to have her on her bench, especially considering several Division I schools have shown an interest in her long-time assistant. \n"I received a few interesting phone calls last year," Betthauser said. "I just wasn't interested in pursuing anything at that point." \nWhy would any long-time assistant pass up on a head coaching opportunity? Because of tradition.\n"I love what I'm doing here," Betthauser said. "There's nothing like being a part of Indiana basketball. It's a dream come true."\nBetthauser's players said they notice her dedication.\n"The first thing she says when we come in is, 'Get a ball,'" sophomore guard Cyndi Valentin said. "She's always willing to take time with us. She's always there."\nBetthauser was there in a big way for the Hoosiers in February of 2002 after Bennett suffered a broken neck in a car accident the day before IU was to square off against No. 7 Purdue.\nAs the acting head coach, Betthauser led the Hoosiers to a 2-1 record including an upset win over No. 15 Minnesota. That victory sparked a six-game winning streak, which culminated in a Big Ten championship just three weeks later.\n"I tried to be as confident with that team as I could to relieve any pressure they might have had," Betthauser said. "I wanted them to play free and within our style."\nThat style of basketball is what has kept Betthauser here at IU.\n"Everyone has their special thing that you can always go back to," Betthauser said. "For some people it's home. For some people it's family. But for me it's always been Kathi's style of basketball. Just having that stability and presence in my life has been really comforting. "\nWhat's comforting for IU basketball fans is knowing that Betthauser is here to finish what she's started -- a winning tradition.\n"I came here because I wanted to make a difference, and I want to see this program get a national championship," Betthauser said. "I don't want to leave until that's done."\n-- Contact staff writer Ryan J. Cost at rjcost@indiana.edu.
(11/19/03 6:56am)
Earlier this fall at Big Ten media day, IU coach Kathi Bennett proclaimed the Big Ten as the number one or two conference in the nation. Some coaches, namely Penn State's Rene Portland, didn't exactly agree with her statement. \n"I think we have some work to do still," Portland said. "We have performed well in isolated instances. We have to worry more about non-conference scheduling and recruiting."\nBut if preseason top 25 polls are any indication, Bennett was dead-on with her prediction. \nWith the exception of the Big 12, the Big Ten is the only conference in the country to field four or more teams in both the Associated Press Top 25 and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. In fact, the Big Ten fielded all four of its ranked teams within the top 15 of the coaches poll -- something no other conference can claim.\nPenn State is ranked seventh in the AP and eighth in ESPN/USA Today poll respectively along with Purdue, 7/9; Minnesota, 13/13; and Ohio State, 17/15. \nThe Nittany Lions, last year's regular season Big Ten champions, were pegged as the favorite by the Big Ten coaches. \nPenn State returns all of its starters, including three women who averaged double digits in scoring, to a team that went 13-3 in league play last season. \n"We really can't think about the Big Ten yet, although it will be a major focus down the road," said Portland. "We have to play three top 10 teams in our first four games."\nHelping the Lady Lions through that opening stretch will be the Big Ten Preseason Co-Player of the Year and preseason All-American, Kelly Mazzante. \nThe senior guard has a chance to become the conference's first four-time All-Big Ten first team selection, and if she duplicated her scoring her scoring output of 23.9 points per game from last year, Mazzante would shatter the Big Ten's all-time scoring record by nearly 500 points.\nAlso expected to be on the top of the heap with Penn State is Purdue, which was tabbed as a preseason frontrunner by members of the Big Ten media. \nThe Boilermakers are coming off an impressive 29-6 campaign that included 12-4 conference mark and a Big Ten tournament title. They advanced all the way to the Elite Eight before being knocked off by Connecticut, which went on to win the national championship a week later. \n"We're always picked to win the league, and those are the expectations you welcome," Purdue coach Kristy Curry said. "Whether it's in print or not, we always expect that." \nNot to be forgotten are Pam Borton's Golden Gophers, after a year in which her squad went 25-6, advancing all the way to the Sweet Sixteen. Leading the way for Minnesota will be the conference's other Preseason Player of the Year, Lindsay Whalen. The senior guard averaged 20.6 ppg last year while posting a solid field-goal percentage of .546. \n"I expect us to win the Big Ten championship and make a great run in the postseason tournament," Borton said. "The conference is wide-open."\n-- Contact staff writer Ryan J. cost at rjcost@indiana.edu.
(11/14/03 4:33pm)
The women's basketball team will look to grab its first win of the preseason at 7 p.m. tonight in Assembly Hall against the Reebok Lady Stars in its final tune-up before regular season action begins next Saturday against Cornell. \nAfter last Sunday's lackluster 82-69 loss to the Athletes in Action, the Hoosiers have concentrated more on defense in practice this week, said IU coach Kathi Bennett.\n"Our transition defense and our speed and quickness getting back to get matched up are our main areas of concern right now," Bennett said. "We really have to work on the communication." \nPoor communication Sunday gave AIA too many easy buckets and allowed them to shoot nearly 50 percent from the field.\n"We gave up a lot of easy looks in transition against (AIA)," IU assistant coach Trish Betthauser said. "We've been trying to not only run back harder and faster but to be a little bit smarter to find our players earlier and be in the right gaps."\nTo make matters worse on defense, IU's leading rebounder from a year ago, sophomore center Angela Hawkins, will not play against the Lady Stars due to injury. Hawkins, who averaged nearly eight boards per contest last season, pulled down 14 against AIA Sunday. \n"That's why we've really been working on our transition defense and rebounding," Bennett said of Hawkins' absence. "We're just going to have to do a phenomenal job of blocking out."\nOn a brighter note, the Hoosiers' offense was solid in the second half Sunday. After shooting just nine of 25 from the field and 1-8 from three-point range, IU shot 45 percent from the floor and knocked down six treys in a 43-point second half.\nSophomore guard Cyndi Valentin led the charge, scoring all 17 of her points after halftime. \n"My teammates were finding me more, and I started hitting open shots," Valentin said. "I was more aggressive to the basket in the second half than I was in the first. I just relaxed more."\nIn other news, Bennett inked an impressive recruit of her own Wednesday in 5-9 guard Nikki Smith out of Northview High School in Sylvania, Ohio. Smith averaged 20 points per game last season as a junior, on her way to her second consecutive league player-of-the-year award. \nBennett said she was excited about the signing.\n"She's a really sound player, and I feel like we need that," Bennett said. "Her feel as far as passing is good, and that is also an area we need to address. She really makes defenders respect her because she's got great range on her shot."\nSmith will join a 2004-2005 IU team that will remain completely intact if injured senior forward Jamie Gathing is granted a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA.\n-- Contact staff writer Ryan J. Cost at rjcost@indiana.edu.
(04/25/03 5:50am)
While the Little 500 may grab the headlines this weekend, the baseball team also has some tough competition to take care of as it hosts first-place Minnesota in a four-game series that kicks off today at Sembower Field.\nThe Hoosiers come into the game with an overall mark of 26-12 and 9-7 in the Big Ten, trailing the league leading Gophers by four games.\nIU will host Minnesota (24-13, 12-2) on the heels of a disappointing non-conference loss to Miami (Ohio) earlier this week. \n"(Wednesday) I was disappointed in our performance," coach Bob Morgan said. "Midweek games are hard to get back up for, but we only have 18 or 19 games left."\nThe Redhawks put IU in a hole early, scoring all eight of their runs in the first three innings. The Hoosiers mounted a small comeback, but it wasn't enough to escape the 8-5 road defeat.\n"We need a little more energy and enthusiasm," Morgan said. "We got behind and I don't think we really battled as hard as you need to try and get back and maybe win the ball game. I was disappointed from that standpoint."\nOne bright spot of the game was senior Kenny Marrs' continued success from the lead-off slot. When senior Mark Calkins went down with a pulled hamstring before last weekend's Ohio State series, Morgan inserted Marrs at the top of his lineup. The senior has responded with a 7 for 15 spurt that has included a home run, five RBIs and five runs scored. \nMarrs attributes his success to hard work and to IU hitting coach Tony Kestranek.\n"Coach (Kestranek) has been working with me a lot to shorten my swing down. For some reason, this off-season or in the beginning of the year my swing had gotten long," Marrs said. "Coach K has gotten me to get my swing more compact and a lot quicker to try and put the ball in play rather than hit it out of the park."\nThe Hoosiers will need Marrs' hot bat again this weekend against a first-place Minnesota club that leads the league in batting average (.333), hits (419), and on-base percentage (.419).\nAfter facing a bear of a non-conference schedule that included games against Notre Dame and Nebraska (both College World Series participants in 2002), the Gophers have mopped up in conference play. They opened league play with a 10 game winning streak and currently own a 12-2 conference mark that places them three games in front of Ohio State and four in front of the third place Hoosiers. \n"The focus is on the weekend. We've got Minnesota, a first-place team coming into town so we're going to have to play well," Morgan said. "We need some good performances pitching-wise."\nOne pitcher looking for a good performance will be senior Jacob Cary. After opening the season with a perfect 7-0 mark and five straight complete games, Cary faltered last Friday against the Buckeyes, surrendering 11 hits and nine runs in 5.1 innings.\nBut the senior knows what he needs to do differently this time out.\n"Keep the ball down. Try to keep it in the park," Cary said. "They really don't have a lot of power so I just have to throw ground balls. They're a quick team. They like to steal and that's what I like to throw against."\nCary will get the nod this afternoon on the mound. The Hoosiers will then probably follow with juniors Chris Behrens and Adam Pegg, with the other start going to freshman Josh Lewis.\nMorgan said that he thinks it is possible for his team to take three of four from the Gophers.\n"Sure it's feasible, but the goal is really to play as well as we can possibly play with good energy, enthusiasm and focus for the whole weekend," Morgan said. "That will give us a chance to be successful against a good ball club"
(04/18/03 5:33am)
The baseball team takes to the road this weekend against Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio, trailing the second place Buckeyes by just one game in the Big Ten race. The Hoosiers head to the unfriendly confines of Bill Davis Stadium after receiving quite a scare from non-conference opponent Wright State on Wednesday night.\nThe Raiders grabbed an early 8-1 lead on the strength of a seven-run second inning before IU could muster a substantial rally in the top of the sixth.\nThe five-run Hoosier sixth was highlighted by back-to-back RBI triples from seniors Brad DeStefano and Vasili Spanos, but it was junior Kevin Mahar who provided the real heroics.\nWith the Hoosiers trailing 9-8 in the eighth, Spanos was intentionally walked with two on and one out. After freshman Ryan Parker struck out, Mahar made the Raiders pay, finding nothing but green grass with a bases clearing double to put IU up for good 11-9. \nMahar finished three for five with a game high five RBIs. \n"I was just trying to get my hands going. I just felt good, and I was seeing the ball really well," Mahar said. "I was just hitting the ball really well yesterday."\nCoach Bob Morgan said he was pleased with his club's comeback victory.\n"We got down 8-1, and we showed some perseverance. We were persistent," Morgan said. "We hung in there, swung the bats and were able to pull out a victory."\nBut it is no secret the Hoosiers will have to perform much better if they want to see success this weekend against the Buckeyes. \nOSU sports a standout pitching staff that is aced by sophomore Scott Lewis. The left-hander is fresh off a school record 20 strikeout performance against Iowa last weekend. Lewis' amazing feat was precluded by senior Greg Prenger's perfect game against Oakland in the nightcap of a double-header last Wednesday.\nTo put Lewis' dominance into perspective, he leads the Big Ten in strikeouts with 78. The closest pitcher to him is Northwestern's J.A. Happ who has fanned only 49.\nMorgan said he knows his team has a tough road ahead. \n"They have excellent pitching. They aren't quite as good of a hitting team as they've been in the past, but they're a very good team," Morgan said. "We know it's a tough chore." \nSurprisingly the Buckeyes don't own the Big Ten's best earned-run average. The top spot belongs to IU whose staff owns an impressive 3.50 ERA. OSU follows with a 3.74 ERA but does showcase a league leading .241 batting average against. \nA big reason for the Hoosiers' statistical prominence is their relief pitching. IU's main relief staff of freshmen Chris Hynes and Austin Rhoads along with seniors Kevin O'Brien and Ryan Smith have combined to give up just 26 runs in 93.1 innings of work, for an average ERA of 2.75. \nMorgan said his pitchers, especially the youngsters, will have to be ready to provide quality innings this weekend.\n"All the young pitchers have to be ready to give us some innings," Morgan said. "Right now Hynes is a freshman, and he's doing a real good job for us. He's been out there quite a bit already."\nHynes (2-0, 2.08 ERA) said the relievers aren't worn down because they rest their arms during the week.\n"We want to take three out of four," Hynes said. "Obviously we just want to come out and play good baseball."\nGood baseball is certainly what the Hoosiers will need if they want to take a series from an OSU team that has won seven straight.\nThe series opens under the lights at 6:30 p.m. on Friday night that will be followed by a double-header on Saturday and the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m.\n"We're going over to a hostile environment. Their fans are tough on the players, and they draw a lot of people. But we just have to control what we can control and how we play," Morgan said. "We can't let the environment or the fans or anything distract us. Our main focus has to be on playing as well and as hard as we can"
(04/14/03 6:11am)
The Hoosier baseball team entered this weekend's four-game set with one goal in mind. They wanted to take at least three of four games from Michigan State and gain some ground in the Big Ten standings.\nInstead, IU split the home series with the Big Ten bottom-dwelling Spartans and are now tied with Ohio State for second in the conference with Illinois and Purdue looming just one game back. The Hoosiers now stand at 22-9 overall and 7-5 in the Big Ten, four games back of Big Ten leader Minnesota, which still owns an unblemished conference mark of 10-0.\n"You'd like to win three out of four at home, but baseball is a funny game," coach Bob Morgan said. "Give them credit. They swung the bats and made a run at us."\nIU rode to a 4-2 win in the series opener on the back of its ace, Jacob Cary. The senior hurler tossed his fifth straight complete game, scattering eight hits and surrendering just two runs. Cary now posts a perfect 7-0 record with an impressive 2.25 earned-run average. \n"I felt good coming in, and I was throwing the ball really from the start," Cary said. "I kind of slumped off in the fourth, fifth and sixth but the defense has always kept me in games. We're never off on the same day."\nThe Hoosiers dropped the first game of Saturday's double-header and used some late inning heroics to salvage the split on day two of the series.\nJunior pitcher Adam Pegg had another rough outing on the mound in game two. Pegg gave up five runs on five hits and walked three in three innings of work as the Spartans won 6-1. He is 2-3 on the year and his ERA has ballooned to 7.39. \nIt looked as if the Hoosiers would drop game three as well. MSU led 5-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh and closer Ryan Golem retired the first two Hoosier batters with ease. But senior Mark Calkins sparked a two-out rally with a base on balls that was followed by base hits from senior Vasili Spanos, sophomore Corby Heckman and the eventual game-winner from junior Kevin Mahar.\nSpanos also smacked two home runs in the the 6-5 win finished the day four for seven with four RBIs and three runs scored.\nSpanos picked up right where he left off Sunday drilling a solo shot to left field in the third inning to put the Hoosiers up 1-0 in game four. IU held that lead until the top of the seventh when junior starter Chris Behrens' game was spoiled by an eight-run output from the Spartans. \nMSU third baseman James Moreno reached on Heckman's second error of the day to open the inning. Behrens then gave up consecutive singles before he was taken out in favor of senior reliever Kevin O'Brien. With the bases loaded, O'Brien struck out MSU outfielder Jim Deliz but then surrendered four straight singles that plated four Spartan runs.\nSenior Ryan Smith was brought on to minimize the damage, but his first offering was sent to the gap in left by Moreno, scoring three more runs. \n"Chris pitched well. He was throwing strikes and that was his big goal today was to get after people," junior catcher Cody Wargo said. "Our goal coming in was definitely to win three out of four, and it's upsetting that we took a split. We had that game, we just had one bad inning."\nThe Hoosiers mounted a small comeback in the late innings but fell short 8-5. They take on Wright State in a mid-week match-up before heading to Ohio State next weekend for a huge series with the Buckeyes, who they are tied with in the conference standings. \n"Minnesota is out in front, but it looks like things are starting to bundle up in the middle with us and Ohio State," Wargo said. "Next weekend is going to be a huge series especially since we can take sole possession of second place"
(04/10/03 4:29am)
Prior to Wednesday's game against Valparaiso, coach Bob Morgan said his young pitchers had to step up if IU was to stop its two-game non-conference losing streak. They must have been listening.\nThe Hoosiers (20-7) utilized six strong innings from two pitchers in a 7-2 win Wednesday. \nFreshman Troy Ragle got the nod and gave up just one run in 3.2 innings of work. Sophomore Brian Lortz came in and went 2.1 innings, earning his first victory as a Hoosier. \n"(Ragle) is getting better, and that all comes with experience," Morgan said. "The young guys are improving."\nEarly on the Hoosier bats were as cold as the 30-degree temperatures at Sembower Field. The offense mustered just two hits through the first five innings but took advantage of crucial Crusader mistakes, scattering four unearned runs between the third, fifth and seventh innings. \n"It was not a hitter's day, and we did not swing the bat well early," Morgan said. "They helped us out with a couple wild pitches and passed balls, and we were very fortunate to score some runs early and then extend the lead later on."\nThe Hoosiers tied the game at one on a passed ball in the third, then went ahead for good in the fifth when junior David Hughes scored on a wild pitch.\nThe Hoosiers added three insurance runs in the seventh and eighth to pad their two-run lead. Senior Vasili Spanos delivered a two out, two RBI single to center field to put IU on top 7-2 in the eighth, and senior Ryan Smith came in to close out the ninth.\n"The wind was gusting in so it was a pretty tough day to hit," Spanos said. "They gave us a few runs, but if those pitches would've been strikes, they might've been hits too. We played well"
(04/04/03 5:35am)
The baseball team takes to the road again this weekend for a four-game series with Big Ten opponent Iowa.\nThe Hoosiers (16-6, 2-2) will visit Iowa City following a disappointing midweek loss at home to Indiana State. The Sycamores capitalized on three Hoosier errors and favorable winds, smacking five home runs in their 11-9 victory.\n"We didn't pitch well enough and we hurt ourselves defensively," coach Bob Morgan said. "Good ball clubs take advantage of that and that's why we lost."\nOne positive to pull from Wednesday's game was the recently unseen spark from the IU offense. After opening the season with a solid .281 batting average, the Hoosier bats fell suddenly silent last weekend against Illinois. IU batted a league-low .204 in Champaign, tabulating just 12 runs and 21 hits in four games.\nBut yesterday the Hoosiers were explosive at the plate.\n"We've struggled a little bit offensively early in the season and it was good to see we had 13 hits and nine runs," junior outfielder Ryan Donley said. "We were putting good moves on the ball all day."\nIt was Donley who brought the Hoosiers within striking distance on Wednesday with a monstrous three-run shot to center field. Senior Vasili Spanos also had a bang-up performance going 3-5 with a home run, two doubles, and five runs scored. \nBut as good as the offense was they still failed to seize run-scoring opportunities late in the game. IU loaded the bases in the fifth, producing only one run, and they put the lead-off hitter on in the ninth only to ground into a double play. \n"We squelched some opportunities late, and that's unfortunate," Morgan said. "We still need to get better in certain situations."\nThe consensus goal of the team for this weekend is to take three of four from the Hawkeyes.\n"Our overall goal is we need to at least take three out of four," junior pitcher Chris Behrens said. "That would be a real spirit booster for our team."\nBut if the Hoosiers are to achieve their goal, they will need more quality starts from their pitching staff, which has been roughed up as of late.\nAfter ending the non-conference season as the Big Ten leaders in team ERA, the Hoosiers faltered last weekend, posting a 5.88 ERA in the four game set with the Illini. \n"Last time out was kind of rough," said Behrens, who gave up five earned runs on five hits in two thirds of an inning against Illinois. "I just have to come out with a better attitude. I have to know that I can do it and that I have a good team behind me that can help me out whenever."\nIU will begin the series against Iowa tonight at 6 p.m. and is scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 4 p.m. The series wraps up on Sunday at 1 p.m.\n"We need to go there and win three out of four. We split last weekend and I definitely think Iowa is a team we can take three of four from," Donley said. "Anytime you split or get wins on the road in the Big Ten it's huge. The goal is to win the series right now"
(04/02/03 5:48am)
The Hoosiers return to Sembower Field today to take on in-state rival Indiana State. IU will host the Sycamores on the heels of a four-game series split in its Big Ten opening weekend against Illinois.\nSenior hurler Jacob Cary led the Hoosiers to victory in the series opener, tossing his third straight complete game. Cary is 5-0 with a 2.25 earned-run average on the season and has notched 13 straight scoreless innings. \n"We split on the road and Illinois is a very good baseball team," coach Bob Morgan said. "I would have liked to have won three of four, but it was a decent weekend."\nIU dropped games two and three of the series in Champaign, receiving lackluster outings from starters Adam Pegg and Chris Behrens. The Hoosier bats also fell silent in the middle of the series as IU recorded only nine hits in games two and three.\n"Our starters just have to get focused," Morgan said. "Sometimes guys just psyche themselves out and try and do more than they have to do."\nThe Hoosiers did bounce back nicely in game four with a 4-3 comeback victory that was highlighted by junior outfielder Seth Bynum's two out, three run long ball in the top of the sixth inning.\n"I was just trying to keep my swing short and I got the pitch I wanted," Bynum said. "We've been working on our situational hitting every day in practice because it can really be the difference between a win and a loss." \nThe Sycamores are also coming off a four-game conference split this weekend. ISU captured the final two games of its series against Southern Illinois with dominant pitching performances. On Saturday junior Matt Samuels tossed a complete game five-hitter in the nightcap of a double header, and on Sunday the Sycamores utilized eight scoreless innings from junior Matt Zaleski, taking the series finale, 6-1.\n"These games are a tuneup for Big Ten play, but Indiana State is a very good team," Morgan said. "They don't play in the conference this weekend which means we'll be seeing their best pitchers. So hopefully, our younger guys can step up and give us some good innings." \nFreshman Troy Ragle (0-0, 1.42 ERA) is expected to get the nod on the mound today, just his second of the season. Ragle's other start came against Wright State last Wednesday when he went four solid innings giving up four hits and one unearned run in IU's, 7-6, loss. The freshman also made a relief appearance in the Hoosiers' 12-2 victory over Valparaiso on March 1, surrendering just one run on three hits in three innings of work. \n"I just have to go out, throw strikes, and hit my spots," Ragle said. "I've been having some problems keeping the ball down, so if I do that then I'll be fine." \nThe Hoosiers own a 38-31 edge in the overall series against ISU, which dates all the way back to 1914. But ISU took last year's game, 5-4, in Terre Haute. \nFirst pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Sembower Field.
(03/31/03 5:17am)
After a home loss and a postponed game on Friday, IU baseball coach Bob Morgan finally snatched his elusive 1,000th career victory this weekend becoming the 12th active coach and just the 26th in Division I history to reach the 1,000 win plateau. The Hoosiers split the four game series with Big Ten foe Illinois and now stand at 16-5 on the season. \nIU's 4-0 victory in the series opener solidified Morgan's spot on the prestigious list.\n"It's a great milestone to accomplish, and it is a tribute to the great people that I've had around me. It's not a one-man show," Morgan said. "But it certainly means a lot to me." \nSenior pitcher Jacob Cary was remarkable on the mound in the opener. He hurled his third straight complete game, giving up just five hits while walking one and striking out three. On the season, Cary is a perfect 5-0 with a 2.25 earned run average, and a solid three to one strikeout to walk ratio.\n"It was just one of those things where I didn't even realize what kind of game I was throwing," Cary said. "Hopefully when coach Morgan thinks of this game he'll think of me."\nUnfortunately, Morgan didn't have much time to cherish the milestone victory. Due to inclement weather on Friday, the Hoosiers were forced to play back-to-back double-headers with the Illini on Saturday and Sunday. \nThe Hoosiers fell in Saturday's nightcap, 9-2. Junior pitcher Adam Pegg was tagged for four runs off of five hits in just 1.2 innings of work while three Illinois pitchers combined to silence IU's bats to the tune of just two runs on three hits.\nSunday saw the Hoosiers splitting another double dip. They faltered, 7-2, in the opener but turned around to win the series finale, 4-3, on the strength of a three-run sixth inning. \nIn game three, starter Chris Behrens allowed five runs in just 2/3 of an inning while Illinois pitcher Joe Ziemba tossed a complete game.\n"We just didn't get good starts in games two and three," Morgan said. "It put us in a hole early, and it really hurt us."\nIU sent freshman Josh Lewis to the mound in game four in just his second career start. Lewis pitched four strong innings surrendering two runs on four hits. \n"We weren't really sure who we were going to pitch in game four," Morgan said. "We started Josh Lewis and as a freshman he had a great start for us."\nRecently Morgan has stressed IU's need for better situational hitting. Junior Seth Bynum must have been listening.\nThe Hoosiers trailed, 2-1, in the top of the sixth inning when Bynum stepped up to the plate. With runners on first and second the shortstop smashed a clutch home run to left field, putting IU on top for good. \nSenior Ryan Smith pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief to pick up his fourth save of the season.\n"Everyone is very happy that we at least got out of there with a split," Calkins said. "That's important to do especially on the road."\nMorgan, whose career record now stands at 1,001-508-6, said he was satisfied with his team's first conference weekend.\n"We would have liked to have won three out of four," Morgan said. "But if you get a split on the road in the Big Ten against a good team like Illinois, you certainly haven't hurt yourself"
(03/28/03 5:54am)
The IU baseball team begins conference play this weekend fresh off a disappointing home loss to Wright State that denied coach Bob Morgan his 1,000th career victory.\nThe Hoosiers (14-3) are headed west to take on the Fighting Illini of Illinois in a four-game series that begins today at 4:05 p.m.\nAside from Wednesday's back-and-forth 7-6 shortcoming, IU has been nothing short of spectacular in the early going.\nMorgan's club is batting a solid .281 as a team and posts a league-best 2.64 earned run average, just a hair better than their weekend opponents who come in with an ERA of 2.65.\nSophomore Corby Heckman heads to Champagne, Ill., with the league's fifth-best average, batting .418, and junior pitcher Chris Behrens (2-0) comes into the game with the Big Ten's lowest ERA at 0.92.\nBut recently Morgan has been more vocal about his team's inability to score runs when they get runners on base.\n"When we get to Big Ten play, we're going to have to have better situation hitting then we have had," Morgan said. "Hopefully that will come in time."\nBut the Hoosiers did show some signs of improvement in Wednesday's game.\nSenior Brad DeStefano singled to lead off the fifth, then advanced to third on an error and a passed ball. Senior Mark Calkins then stepped up and delivered a routine ground ball to the right side of the infield that scored Destefano from third. \n"It's definitely something we have to work on, but I think it will come around," DeStefano said. "It's still early in the season, but we need work on it especially heading into Big Ten play because those games are always so close and competitive."\nThe Fighting Illini stand at 10-3 heading into conference play. Richard "Itch" Jones' club boasts the Big Ten's fourth-best batting average at .301 and are place second in the league with 12 home runs. \n"We're going to play a very good team this weekend so hopefully we can win three out of four. That's our goal," Morgan said. "It's going to be a tough series on the road so we'll have to play well and give ourselves some opportunities."\nFifth-year senior and team leader Ryan Smith (3-0, 1.46 ERA) said the team is ready start the conference schedule.\n"During a Big Ten weekend, it's four games right in a row and they are all very big games," Smith said. "It's a battle every time. We really need to focus, stick together as a team, and I think we'll be okay"
(03/26/03 6:03am)
IU coach Bob Morgan nabbed win 999 of his career on Tuesday as his Hoosiers continued their early season success with a 4-3 comeback win over Saginaw Valley State at soggy Sembower Field.\nSophomore Corby Heckman double plated senior outfielder Mark Calkins in the bottom of the ninth to give IU the victory. Earlier in the inning, it was Calkins who tied the game at three with an RBI double of his own. \nHeckman has begun the 2003 season on an absolute tear. He was batting .396 coming into the game and then proceeded to go 3-5 with two RBIs including the game-winner.\n"The pitcher was up 0-2 and he hung a slider," Heckman said. "I was looking for it and I got lucky."\nFreshman Josh Lewis pitched adequately in his first start as a Hoosier. The Mt. Airy, Md. native went four innings, giving up three runs on five hits. Lewis walked one and struck out three.\nJunior Cody Wargo caught Lewis and said he had a good outing. \n"(Lewis) threw well. He just had one bad ball that got taken out," Wargo said. "Most of his pitches were right around the strike-zone."\nThe molehill grew into a mountain for the Hoosiers when a breaking ball that didn't break was belted over the right field wall by Cardinal outfielder Mike Crawford in the fourth inning. Crawford's longball gave Saginaw Valley a 3-1 lead that held until the eighth when the IU comeback began.\nHeckman reached on an error to begin the eighth. Senior Vasili Spanos then smacked a double off the wall in right to score Heckman and make the score 3-2.\nThe win went to senior closer Ryan Smith (3-0) and the loss was pegged on Joe Kramer (1-1) who gave up two runs in the ninth. \nMorgan said he was happy with the win, but concerned about his club's lack of situational hitting.\nThe Hoosiers had runners on second and third with no outs in the fifth and came up empty and then left the bases loaded in the sixth. Overall, IU left 10 runners stranded. \n"It was good to come back and get the win, but we've had some situations that we are just not doing the job in," Morgan said. "We need to move people and score people when we have the chance and it almost bit us in the foot today."\nMorgan goes for his 1,000th career victory against Wright State today at Sembower field, but he is humble about his accolades. \n"It just means I have had great players because players win games, not coaches," Morgan said. "But it would be nice to be in that upper echelon of college coaches."\nMorgan currently ranks 20th with a .662 career winning percentage and if IU wins today he will join a group of just 11 active Division I coaches to have posted 1,000 career victories. \nTo get the victory, IU will have to edge a Wright State squad that is just 4-11 on the year. It will be the Hoosiers' final tune-up before heading into conference play this weekend with a road series against Illinois. \n"It was good to get this game in and get a victory," Wargo said. "We are definitely ready to get into Big Ten play"
(03/07/03 7:34pm)
The role of a closer has been one of the more ambiguous positions to define throughout baseball history. Major league closers of the past like Sparky Lyle and Lee Smith used to pitch three and four innings to rack up their saves. But ever since Dennis Eckersly redefined the closer's role in the late '80s as a one-inning stopgap, coaches and managers of every level have searched thoroughly for that ninth inning hurler to seal victories for their ball clubs. \nThe Hoosiers have found theirs. \nFifth-year senior Ryan Smith didn't always close games. He fulfilled a starting role throughout his career for coach Eric Lentz at Westfield High School in Carmel, Ind. \n"For the most part I was a starter, and I played other positions as well," Smith said. "I played third base and a little bit of outfield, but I was always a starting pitcher. I was never really a closer."\nBut after changing Smith's delivery and tweaking his mechanics, coaches at IU saw something different in him. \n"When he was throwing over the top, his fastball was very straight," coach Bob Morgan said. "After we switched him to a sidearm delivery, he was really able to get a lot more movement from all of his pitches, and that has made him an effective closer."\nThe change in Smith's delivery sparked rapid improvement in the reliever's overall performance on the mound. After appearing in 14 games and posting a lackluster 6.48 ERA in 2001, his junior year saw his ERA plummet to a superb 3.06. In 26 appearances, he also posted an IU single season record 9 saves and a solid 4-1 strikeout to walk ratio.\n"He lost some velocity on his fastball, but now he can make his pitches go where he wants," Morgan said. "He has confidence, and that's why he is such a good closer."\nConfident and composed on the field, Smith is caring and down-to-earth away from the diamond, his teammates said. \n"Ryan has a personality that doesn't come along very often," senior outfielder Kenny Marrs said. "He is the nicest guy I've ever met, and everyone on the team respects him."\nSmith said his goals for this year are to get back to the Big Ten tournament and lead his team to a Big Ten championship. Thus far, the senior has done his part.\nDuring the Hoosiers' 3-0 start, Smith has pitched five innings in two appearances without giving up a run and has struck out seven of the 16 batters he has faced. Smith earned a victory in the season opening extra inning win against Findlay and notched his first save of the young season last Monday against Boston College.\n"I think our success from last season and our quick start will carry through," Smith said. "Our success has made us hungrier, and we are going to work extra hard to get back to the tournament and win a championship this year."\nSmith will need to continue his prowess on the mound if the Hoosiers are to get back to the tournament. The team has already lost its top starter in senior Nick Vitielliss, who will miss the entire season because of a torn tendon in his elbow.\nBut Smith's teammates aren't worried.\n"Everyone respects Ryan," Marrs said. "For him to be our closer is the perfect role for him because he is so dependable"
(02/21/03 6:14am)
The IU baseball team will have to wait at least another couple days to start their season. The squad had been scheduled to play Morehead State over the weekend in Morehead Ky., but rain, snow and ice canceled the season opener. \nCoach Bob Morgan said before the cancellation he thinks his team is ready to play.\n"We just want to go out and play a game," Morgan said. "We need to assess where we are as a team right now."\nIU is coming off a 2002 campaign where they defied forecasters, finishing 35-20 at 4th place in the Big Ten, which earned them a spot in the conference tournament for the first time in five years. \nMorgan, commencing his 20th season at the helm of Hoosier baseball, said he hopes to build on that success, although he'll have to wait until at least Tuesday when IU is scheduled to host DePauw.\n"We had a solid season last year, and we have a good group of guys returning as well as some promising newcomers," Morgan said. "I am looking forward to seeing how it will all come together."\nThe most prominent returning starter is pre-season All-American candidate Vasili Spanos. The accolades came pouring in for the River Forest, Ill.-product after a season in which he smashed 16 long balls, knocked in 65 runs and led the Big Ten in both slugging (.782) and on-base percentage (.509). \nBut Spanos is humble about his accomplishments. \n"It means a lot to me and it's a great honor, but it's just baseball," Spanos said. "I'm just ready to go out and have another good season and help this team win." \nWith help from Spanos' monstrous .385 batting average, the Hoosiers ranked as the 12th best hitting team in the nation last season, batting .330 as a team. \nThe senior 3rd baseman said he thinks hitting will again be a forte for the Hoosiers, who return four starters to their batting order. \n"I think we'll be a good hitting team like last year," Spanos said. "And it looks like we have some good young pitchers as well."\nThe pitching staff returns six players this season, one of whom was supposed to be senior Nick Vitielliss coming off a stellar junior campaign. After going 8-1 with a 3.58 ERA in 74 innings, the senior was slated to be IU's number one starter. But coaches learned this week that Vitielliss must undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery on his throwing arm. The surgery will replace a torn tendon on his throwing arm.\n"We've had some injuries, and Nick is going to be a big loss for our club," Morgan said. "But that just means our senior leaders and younger pitchers will have to step up and fill the role." \nOne pitcher looking to do that is junior Adam Pegg. After a solid year in which he went 5-4 with a 3.34 ERA in a relief role, Pegg could earn more starts this year. \n"I want to get more starting opportunities and be a leader," Pegg said. "Our pitching has to come along. We have guys hurt and we'll just have to battle through."\nNo makeup date has been scheduled yet for the Morehead State games. If the season opener is rescheduled, IU will face a team returning 19 players that went 29-27 last season. The Eagles' season was already underway. They were swept by Tennessee two weeks ago and outscored 37-5 in the three game set.\nThe cancelled games may not have much of an impact on the team. Morgan said before the announcement that he isn't concerning himself or his team with just Morehead State.\n"I'm not going to worry about Morehead State or any other team we play this year as much as I am going focus on us as a team," Morgan said. "It's a long season. We play 56 games and I just want to see where we stand as a team."\nIU is now scheduled to open their season at home Tuesday at 3 p.m. against the Tigers.
(11/08/02 5:28am)
In what could be its last game of the season the field hockey team heads to Columbus, Ohio this weekend for the Big Ten tournament. The Hoosiers will take on the Michigan State today at 10 a.m. If the 7th seeded Hoosiers don't pull off an upset, their season is over.\nIU is coming off of a 1-1 weekend where they fell to Northwestern, then turned around the next day to defeat Colgate, 1-0. \nCoach Amy Robertson knows how dangerous MSU is, especially on offense.\n"(MSU) has a lot of skill all over the field, they can move the ball with a lot of speed, they hit the ball really well, they spread out of the attack," Robertson said. "(MSU) is just a great team in the attacking circle. They are very tenacious."\nThe Hoosiers experienced all of these attributes in their first meeting with the Spartans this season. Michigan State leveled IU 5-0 on their way to an 18-2 record with their only losses coming to No. 1 Old Dominion and No. 2 Michigan.\nThe Spartans are currently ranked fifth nationally and are seeded second in the Big Ten Tourney with a 5-1 conference record. \nThe Hoosiers know they face a daunting task but Robertson stresses the need to adhere to the game-plan. \n"We have to try and break up their rhythm and play a little chess with them," Robertson said. "It's postseason, it's another chance and we'll be looking to make something happen any way we can." \nThe Hoosiers will also need to generate more offensive opportunities this time around against MSU to compete. In their last match-up on Oct. 12, the Spartans out-shot IU 31-2 and won the battle of penalty corners, 19-0. \nSophomore midfielder Kayla Bashore said she doesn't think the team needs to do anything differently.\n"I don't think we need to prepare any differently, it is just a matter of if and when this preparation will be used," Bashore said. "We need to just go out there and prove to everyone that we deserve to win."\nThe Hoosier defense will also have its hands full with Michigan State's offensive attack. They are ranked fifth nationally in scoring offense with 3.77 points per game, and sophomore midfielder Annebet Beerman is 12th in the nation with 36 points. \n"We need to use our transfer more effectively because so far this year we haven't really trusted it," sophomore midfielder Ryan Woosley said. "We have really been concentrating on that in practice." \nWin or lose, however, Robertson is satisfied with her team's overall performance on the season.\n"I am very happy with our overall performance this year," Robertson said. "I am pleased with some of the success that has come our way because we have definitely earned it." \nThe Big Ten Tournament Runs today through Sunday and the winner of the IU-MSU match-up will face the victor of the Penn State-Northwestern contest Saturday.
(11/01/02 5:48am)
The Hoosiers take back to the road this weekend for their final two contests of the regular season. IU faces Northwestern today and Colgate (at Northwestern) on Saturday. \nTheir two game stint at Northwestern comes on the heels of a .500 home-stand, in which the Hoosiers posted a 2-2 record. \nCoach Amy Robertson was satisfied with her squad's efforts but is still waiting for them to take the next step.\n"I was happy with our play because we are finding results under adversity and the force of a tough competitor," Robertson said. "But our progress was rather lateral. We haven't gone forward from how we played against Ohio State and Michigan and I think that is the next step in finding the right formula."\nThe Hoosiers will keep searching for that formula with some added incentive this weekend. The last two games will determine the bottom-dweller of the Big Ten, which, in turn, will determine the seeding for the Big Ten Tournament that begins next weekend in Columbus, Ohio. \nNeedless to say, these games are big and the Hoosiers know it.\n"This weekend is huge!" Robertson said. "The importance that is going to be placed on these last games is immense and we need to step it up."\nThe Hoosiers will need to utilize their team speed against the physical Wildcats. Speedsters Nikki Orciuch and Jaime O'Pray will see time on the attack. \n"Northwestern tends to be a physical team so we are not looking to take them on or go through them," Robertson said. "We need to move the ball and involve as many people in our attack as possible and utilize the space on the field."\nThe Wildcats are 4-12 and sit in last place in the Big Ten, and the Hoosiers are ready to grasp their second conference victory of the season. \n"Northwestern is a beatable team," Big Ten saves leader Molly Pulkrabek said. "We just need to keep our team unity on the field and play like this is the only thing we want in the world for those 70 minutes."\nThe Hoosiers' match-up against Colgate also proves to be important, especially if they drop their game against Northwestern. If IU loses to Northwestern then the tiebreaker in determining the seeds for the two teams is their overall records. \nColgate stands at 6-9, having won their last contest over Rider University, 3-1. \nFreshman forward Morgan Albini said she knows her team needs to step it up this weekend.\n"We need to try and get off the plateau we have been on and live up to our potential," Albini said. "We need to play the best games we possibly can and have fun doing it"