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Show A7 WWW.NETXNEWS.NET MONDAY • OCTOBER 30 • 2006 UVSC Soccer struggles Webster's Wisdom Young grapplers look to make an imact Jack Jared Waters Sports Writer Ben Webster Sports Editor NBA season is here Because there is so much going on at this time of the year the NBA sneaks up on sports fans every season. It comes out of nowhere and this year is no different. The NBA on Halloween, how does that sound? While the die-hard Jazz fan has been counting down the days until the NBA starts play, the average sports fan has been too consumed with football, baseball and more to even realize that tip-off is here. Instead of worrying about the tricks or treats and the costumes fans can enjoy the last day of October watching the NBA. . The NBA champion, Miami Heat, will face the Bulls with big Ben Wallace on the opening night of the NBA regular season Oct. 31 along with a playoff rematch between Suns and the Lakers. The opening night is opening to all.kinds of new things this year, including a new ball, new rules, new coaches and old faces in new places. Although the NBA has lost some of its flare and flavor since the late 90s the league is picking up their image and getting back to an exciting brand of hoops that hasn't been seen since the Jordan years. The league is loaded with young talent from coast to coast with Dwade in Miami, to Lebron and Carmelo, to Chris Bosh. It may have sneaked up on us but the NBA season should be full of action, intensity and drama. We may have to wait until January to see the thick of it though. Every game counts but honestly !3S who is .watching the NBA right now. With the World Series wrapping up days before the NBA starts maybe a few more fans are tuned in but there will be more later on in the year. See NBA-A8 . . . . " , / " >'.v, ••-:-::•... Jamie Teerlink /NetXNews Sophomorejenni Wright controls the ball during the Wolverines final home game. The UVSC women's soccer team lost in their home finale but bounced back two days later with a win Jason Adkins Sports Writer The women's soccer team was able to bounce back from a 1-0 loss against South Dakota State to a thrilling comeback in a 3-2 overtime victory over Southern Utah. The loss in the final home game against the Jackrabbits was a tough one to swallow for the team, as they only put up five shots in the entire match with no great chances to score. "There are times when it just is not your day. We did not get the ball down, we couldn't play and we couldn't connect passes," Wolverine Head Coach Brent Anderson said. During the first match against South Dakota State, both teams had to put up with the afternoon's cool and windy conditions. The wind kept all attacking play confined to the ground, as any ball that was off the ground was caught by the wind and blowrf off its intended target. Freshman forward Jenni Wright took on three defenders but had no teammates to pass the ball to and the ball was eventually stolen from her in the middle of the penalty area. The Jackrabbits broke through in the 25 t n minute of the match when Kellyn Farrell passed the ball up the middle See SOCCER* A9 UVSC hockey's winning ways Ba sports Women's basketball exhibition against Dixie State, 4:30 p.m. Jamie Teerlink/NetXNews Metro State's goalie sprawls out in failed attempt to save a shot from UVSC. UVSC gets close win over Metro State Wrestling wrestle off, 7 p.m. Dave Gillespie Sports Writer Women's volleyball against Montana State, 7 p.m. «4 Women's volleyball against Texas Pan Am, 7 p.m. With lead changes occurring throughout the night, the UVSC men's hockey team reached a point where their defense needed to step up and pull the team to victory. They did in the 7-6 win. For the last eight minutes of the game, while holding a 6-5 advantage, backup goalkeeper Mike Davis and the Wolverine defense stopped shot after shot to preserve the victory and improve UVSC's overall record to 4-2. That final period had Head Coach Matt Beaudry' s approval, "We got a lot of guys that just don't quit and have a lot of heart. These guys never quit. . . never gave up on themselves. We were focused and sharper in the third period." Defensive Coach Kevin Cook added, "That determination and effort was very impressive. They dug in deep. That means a lot to me as a coach." See HOCKEY- A8 i Utah Valley State College's wrestling team is going into its fourth season of NCAA competition, and a youth movement hopes to surprise the competition. With 14 freshmen on the roster, UVSC has one of the youngest teams around. Highly recruited, threetime Utah State Champion and National Champion Ben Kjar (125 lbs.) chose UVSC, and will red shirt his freshman year. Also among the freshmen is Idaho's three-time State Champion, DustinOlsen(l65 lbs). Utah Valley State College is represented well with local talent. They have 16 wrestlers from Utah high schools on the roster. As the only collegiate, wrestling team in this state, UVSC has a great opportunity to get local talent. Utah has always been able to produce some of the best wrestlers in the nation. With newly-hired Coach Greg Williams, the Wolverines will be able to learn from a man with over 20 years of coaching experience. For the last 13 years, Williams has been the owner and coach of the "Elite Wrestling Club." Coach Williams said, "I am excited about the future of UVSC wrestling. We have brought in a great group of young talent. This is a hard working group. They are dedicated to reaching their potential." He went on, "We want to get involved more with high school and youth wrestling in Utah. There is a great potential of talent in this state and we want to help build it." Utah Valley State College is now in the Western Wrestling Conference, which is in its inaugural season of competition. The WWC is a seven-team NCAA Division-I wrestling-only conference. Other members of the Western Wrestling Conference are: the United States Air Force Academy, the University of Wyoming, North Dakota State University, the University of Northern Iowa, South Dakota State University and the University of Northern Colorado. Utah Valley State College begins with the annual wrestle-off on Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. here in Orem. On Nov. IK the Wolverines then open up their season in Laramie, Wyoming at the Cowboy Open. WWC action will begin in January, when UVSC hosts Northern Colorado in the Shurian Family Activity Center on Nov. 13. The season ends with fierce conference competition, with duals against Wyoming (2/3), UC Davis (2/10) and Air Force (2/17), all here at UVSC. netxnews.net |