Seniors remain - Canton Public Library

C J. RISAK, EDITOR
313-953-2108
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18,1996
OBSERVER
SPORTS
SCENE
Local grads excel
The University of Michigan women's soccer
team ended its season Nov. 9 at the Big Ten
Conference Championships with a 2-0 semifinal
loss to top-seeded Wisconsin.
A pair of local graduates -- Mari Hoff (Plymouth
Salem) and Jori Welchans (Plymouth
Canton) — made strong contributions in the
Wolverines title run.
In the tourney opener against Ohio State University,
Hoff, a freshman midfielder/forward,
scored U-M's first goal in its 2-1 victory.
Facing the Badgers, ranked 10th in the country,
Welchans, a senior goalkeeper, replaced Jessica
Jones in the nets early in the game after
Jones suffered an injury on Wisconsin's first
goal. Welchans, who compiled a 2-1 record this
season, limited the Badgers to just one goal in
her 60 minutes of action.
Hoff was one of three Wolverines named All-
Big Ten, and one of only two freshmen in the
league to receive the honor. She finished second
on the team in points with 17, but recorded a
team-high eight goals.
The Wolverines finished 10-7-3 overall and 4-
4-1 in the Big Ten.
Lightning claim first
The '84 Plymouth Lightning, an under-13 girl's
soccer team, claimed first place in the Little
Ceasars Premier Soccer League by going undefeated
with a 9-0-3 mark.
The Lightning outscored their opponents 25-2
this season, which was their first in the league.
Earlier this fall, the Lightning took first in the
Waterford Cup Tournament.
Team members are: Nicole Anderson, Shanna
Barkume. Sarah Broniak, Arielle Bryant, Megan
Coultas, Cassis Earel, Megan Gourley, Shara
Huggins, Jenny LaMasse, Lindsay Lasher,
Nicole Marrone. Ashley Rosaen. Brittany Shepler,
Kelly Solano, Kristen Steineachs and Briana
Wolcott.
The team was coached by Brian LaMasse and
John Nickel, and conditioned by Dale Lasher.
Keeper records victory
The Eastern Michigan University men's soccer
team won its first Mid-American Conference
game of the season Wednesday as it defeated
Western Michigan 3-1.
Key to the win was the-play of goalkeeper
George Tomasso (Plymouth Canton) who stopped
ll-of-12 Bronco shots.
The Eagles improved to 6-11-2 overall and 1-3-
1 in tjie MAC.
Sills leads in blocks
Shellye Sills (Plymouth Salem), is making a
name for herself on the University of Toledo volleyball
team. The freshman middle blocker leads
the Rockets in blocks.
Sills has registered 29 block assists in the last
18 games for an average of 1.61 per game. She
ranks fourth in the Mid-American Conference
with 1.18 blocks in league play. Overall, she
averages .84 blocks per game.
The Rockets are 12-16 overall and 5-9 in the
MAC with three conference matches remaining.
Goalie stellar in nets
The Bowling Green State University hockey
team came one game short of setting the school
record for most victories to begin a year as it fell
to Michigan State University 8-2.
The Falcons, now 6-2, have received strong
play in goal from Canton-native Bob Petrie, who
has recorded three victories in his four starts.
The senior, who made 25 saves in the loss to
MSU, was credited with an assist on Bowling
Green's first goal.
Cheerleaders take first
The Steelers varsity cheerleaders fared better
recently than the Steelers football team.
The gridders were thwarted in their effort to
win a sixth Superbowl in seven years, losing to
the Ypsilanti Braves 31-16.
On Nov. 9, the Western Suburban Junior Football
League held their Cheerleading Rally and
the varsity Steelers posted the highest score of
the 42 teams who attended to win the gold
medal in the varsity division.
All three Steeler cheerleading squads were
Blue Ribbon winners.
Members of the varsity squad are: Courtney
Akers, Andrea Alberty, Kayln Angell, Kelly
Angell, Kayle Evans, Heather Flynn, Rachele
Frusti, Ann Gardner, Tricia Gardner, Kara
Gross, Rachel Hardy, Lindsay Heimerl, Chelsea
Jeflfery, Kristen Manoogian, Sarah Urban, Alix
Willman and Emmy Willman.
Caaey Gibson, Amanda Johnson and Christie
Nicoloff coached the team. Co-cheerleading
directors were Tanya Akers and Wendy Roberts.
"Voice of Drag" returns
Jon Lundberg, also known as "The Voice of
Drag Racing.* will be the featured speaker at 7
p.m. Nov. 20 at the Motors porta Hall of Fame in
Novi
The Speaker Series is held the third Wednesday
of every month at the Motor*ports Museum.
Admission is $6. Call 800-250-RACE for more
information.
i h c € ) b s e r u c r
SPORTS
INSIDE:
• «"» t L*)*
Boys cross country, C2
All-WLAA soccer, C12
c P/C
Sights are set
Madonna stars seek a fitting finish to careers
BY CJ. RlSAK
SPORTS EDITOR
So much has changed.
When Kelly McCausland and Julie Martin
joined the Madonna University volleyball program
more than three years ago, they were
quickly labeled prodigies. They would be the
key components in Madonna's search for
national prominence.
They met those lofty expectations in their
first seasons. They helped the Lady Crusaders
attain something that had previously eluded
them: a berth in the NA1A National Tournament.
There have been precious few detours for
either of them since. McCausland and Martin
have provided the foundation for Madonna's
program, serving as the propellant for a team
bordering on greatness. •
Now seniors, they have one remaining objective,
and it's one they will tell you quite frankly
— without hesitation, without blinking - they
fully expect to realize in the coming weeks
A national championship.
This has been a goal of mine since Fve been
here," said McCausland, a Redford Union graduate.
"Yeah, I want to go out with another
(national tournament) appearance. This is my
last chance to try this.
"And before, just making it was nice. But this
Late rally
beats PCA
Southfield Franklin Road
Christian rebounded from a 10point
deficit through three quarters
to overtake ~ and defeat —
visiting Plymouth Christian
Academy 27-26 Thursday,
PCA (10-10) outscored
Franklin Road 10-1 in the second
quarter to open up an 18-7 lead
at the half. They still led 23-13
through three quarters.
But Franklin (14-6) hit 6-of-8
from the line in its fourth-quarter
rally. Sarah Whitney, who led
Franklin with nine points, hit a
free throw with a minute left for
the game-winning point.
Elizabeth Pugno's 10 points
and 13 rebounds led the Esigles.
Last Tuesday, Pontiac Notre
Dame Prsp outscored PCA 22-8
in the second quarter en route to
a 59-41 triumph.
Sarah Sumner had 14 points
and eight rebounds for PCA. Bobbie
Bieszki's 13 points topped
Notre Dame (9-10).
/
Burr Psoras sr Box l
Driving forces: Julie Martin (above left and below) and Kelly McCausland
(above right) joined Madonna's volleyball team at the same time. In the four
seasons since, they have taken the Lady Crusaders to new heights.
year I think we can compete. It's not just getting
there anymore, it's coming home champions."
Added Martin, a Livonia Stevenson graduate:
•
"Everyone (on the team) wants to go all the
way. And we've got the talent to do it.
"As a freshman, going to nationals was very
big for me. Now Tm a senior, and we want to go
all the way.
"I feel this team is the best since I've been
here."
Considering that team their freshmen season
finished fifth at the NAIA Tournament, such a
statement seems overly zealous. But then
again, consider this season's team — 43-3 going
into last weekend's Great LakeB Sectional
Tournament and ranked 14th in the NAIA. >
Should the Crusaders reach the lofty heights
they're aspiring to, they will set a new record
for match wins in a single season.
But that's not surprising. Since McCausland
and Martin joined the program, one record
after another has tumbled.
Through this regular season, Madonna has
posted a 165-45 record when both are playing.
They have made two NAIA Tournament^-,
appearances, won one District 23 title (the dia-^
trict format was abandoned after their fresh- >*
men season) and made two regional appear- ^
ances, winning one. • S
They have been, according to Madonna coach
Jerry Abraham, the Crusaders' catalysts.
"When they signed here, I called them the
dynamic duo," he said. "Out of high school, I
thought' they could be two of the nation's best
middle hitters.
"We really built our program around them."
Knowing the two players who have been the
team's foundation for the past three years will .>
be around for just a few more weeks is not easy >
for Abraham to face.
"They're not only great players, but they're ;
great team leaders. They've worked all yeajv
round and they've been perfect people to coach. ^
"They have high expectations. The few^
matches we've lost, they take it real bad. Heck,^
they take it bad when we don't play well amjv
win."
Since coming to Madonna, McCausland and"*
Martin have provided a one-two punch mosi^i
teams find difficult — if not impossible -- to
counter.
"They're different types of players," said.
Abraham. "Julie's a power-type player. She.
plays high over the net.
"Kelly relies more on movement, a slide-v.
attack. She can hit from anywhere on the cou/lt^
and be effective. She's a bit more versatile.
See VOLLEYBALL, ^3
Quenching district thirsts
"OK, kid, what
would you like?,"
smiles the man
behind the counter
in the wire-rimmed
glasses.
"What kind of flavors
do you got?,"
the freckle-faced
youngster responds.
BRADEMONS Without going
through the list of
all those Faygo
Pops, it's a good bet you'll find at
least one flavor to your liking, you
know, the kind that's a "prodigious,
protation of sun-ripened citrus."
No red pop or rock & rye in this
group of girls basketball teams,
however.
Well stick mostly with the name
brands, the kind of stuff you like to
drink come girls basketball tournament
time.
November Madness is here once
again and I'm running out of ideas
for this twice-annual theme.
But here goes, time to give you a
few refreshments to wet your appettite
for this year's tournament
MOUNTAIN DEW
(my favorites)
wg— (14-»): The Spartan*
hava motivation, getting clipped >n last year's
state Claw C final by Lansing CathoHc Central.
Franfcenmuth. Lanting CC and Detroit DePorres
could be stumbling Mock*. But these girls hava
Man belt le-t est ed. •
Ptymovtti Saiani (17-J): Tha Western Lakes
Champa must gat through a tough district (Ply-
mouth CSMon and Northvtlie) and a maan regional
(Birmingham Marian looms), but this taam appaars
to ba up to tha taefc This could ba a breakthrough
year tor coach Fred Thomarm.
D*. PCPPCT
H — m Cmmm (1*4): A tat a-season taliapin.
dua to a lack or offense. coutd put theee guys out
early But with a waa* off. coach Bob Biohm coutd
gat thing• ironad out m tima for tha third and
dacKSng gams Wedneeday with rtvai Salem.
rent WILD CHOWY
Weywe M — g (IS*): Tha Zebras hava had a
nlca aaaaon. gaming a cotton of tha Maga Corv
torance-Rad OMeion tit la Tha Oardan City dMtnct
la vary wmnabM and a soot in tha regional ftnaH is
Panalagta* Mills Harris** (IS-7): Cams on
strong during tha I attar portion of tha aaaaon.
reaching tha WIAA championship gama Tha dis
tnct at BtoomftaW HW« lahaar la mtngwng. and
coach Pate Mantyla » Hawks are capable.
SUNKIST
Uvonia Ladywood (3-14): District champ.onarwp?
It's possible for tha Blazers at Southfleid>]ftjn
they can go home to the regional If oniy^B^i
Kennedy could suit up and shoot the three I'Z*
MINUTE MAID V !
Farmington HIHa Mercy (10-10): The Mwhos
hava a tough road to hoe m the Lahser dstnctViJh
Lahaar. West BioomfleW and Harrison, all Sacam
teams with good records. But who knows? *- _ •
FAYOO MOON MIST Y
Uvonia tons was a (S-U): The Spartans hafrerft
won a big gama all season, but Wednea(.
HAWAIIAN PUNCH
Lutheran Wnllart (1*1): Tha Warriors fajed
their aaaaon with a loee (Detroit BenetSclinSvSad
it could ba over tonight against state lafir^a
Rrverview Gatmei Richard. But whatever conwtaf.
a Mt of good happened in between tor coacMan
Genu's team.
Ms Store Thereto* (1*4* The Eagles tied *f