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Show PAGE Thursday, October 9, EDITOR V B 1 2008 r Joey Beck, 586-548- 8 Golf team battles windy conditions at Desert Intercollegiate By JOEY DECK over pai, 227 over the stretch. Page, who has been the top finisher in all three tournaments, including a fifth place finish at the Oral Roberts Shootout, continues to be the most consistent golfer on the team. 54-ho- jbecksuujournal com Windy conditions and a strong field caused the SUU mens golf team to slip to 13th place this last weekend at the Wyoming Desert Inteicollegiate Tournament. For the third time in as many failed to place tries, the in the top nine in the team competition, as they placed 10th at the Air Force Invitational as well as the Oral Roberts Shootout. Senior Nate Page led the Birds, finishing in a tie for 30th place oveiall as 'an individual .shooting rounds of 77, 76 and total of 74 for a three-roun- d 1 1 Senior Matt McArthur junior joined Tai Reynolds for second on the squad and 65th overall, total of tallying a three-roun- d 235. Freshman Jeff Evans found himself in a tie for 71st, total recoiding a thiee-roun- d of 236, while fellow freshman Denny Job finished in a tie for 88th, shooting 242. SUU golf coach Richard Church said the course was playing tough but the Birds faltered down the stretch. We played okay the first day in the wind, On he said. the second day, when it calmed down, we didnt play up to our ability. Jeff and Nate played well in the final round, but didnt get much support from the other three. Page said the Classic Club golf course wasnt too difficult and the weather was the real It was an easy course with no rough and the fairways .vere hard and fast so there was nothing to stop the ball from going from one side to another, Page said. We had wind gusts up to 45 mph and water on the majority of holes made it tough. The struggles continued as they have been unsuccessful in putting together a complete team effort thus far. Page said the lack of steady play has kept the team from jumping to the top of the pack this year. Well have a few good rounds here and there and then a blow up round, he said. We need more consistency out of everybody. See GOLF, Page B2 challenge. RICHARD PAYSON UNIVERSITY JOURNAL Sophomore Chas Boorman watches his approach shot during a Sept. 23 practice at Cedar Ridge Golf Course. The will play host to Utah State starting Oct. 18th. Lamb making instant impact has instilled confidence in the players and it is apparent the players have bought into Lambs system and approach. The team is playing with a swagger many of us have never witnessed. The turning point in the season was when then No. 17 Northern Arizona came to town for Homecoming and the team found out they could play with anybody in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Birds squandered away a so soon. I expected the football team golden opportunity on the two to show plenty of signs that yard line and lost a barnburner. in the were headed right As the team vacated the field, things everyone in attendance, including direction, but the team is not only are they winning. the players, knew despite the loss, competing, If someone was to tell me two this team had been resurrected would into a respectable program. months ago the The staff continues to excel be .500 heading into conference in player development as well. play this weekend, I would have bet my tuition and every frozen I've always thought we have dinner in my possession against had the players and athletes to it. experience a higher level of success that The reality is the : $ what we were seeing. team is 3 with Great wide HUDDLE Sophomore West play just two days 7W receiver Tysson Poots away and a winnable and senior quarterback UC game against a Davis team awaits the Cody Stone are prime examples of this. Saturday. 29 had Poots Through six games for 423 receptions last season the Birds and three yards and had were touchdowns in all of been outscored by last season. In just six their opponents by games this season, 107 points; this season the big target has have been the 36 catches for 476 outscored by just 26 and yards and five JOEY BECK points and notched touchdowns. three Ws. Stone appeared in Lamb and his staff have done six games last season, racking an extremely good job putting up 15 interceptions to just the players in a spot where they seven touchdowns. Stone has can compete and win games, nine interceptions and eight something last years staff failed touchdowns this season. Stope d to do as the Wes has improved, immensely Birds lost four out of their first showing a knack for throwing six games by 20 points or more. an accurate deep ball and is Lamb and his staff have managing the game well enough improved in crucial statistical to give the Birds a chance to categories with virtually the win as he has a stellar defense to same roster and weapons as last rely on. Just six games into his headseason. Compared to the first six games coaching career, Lamb has of last season, the Birds have changed everything surrounding dramatically improved their the SUU program. Everything turnover ratio and are actually from the players sporting suit winning the turnover battle and ties prior to home games, and being more involved in the this year. Last year the turned over the ball 17 times community to actually producing on the field and winning football through six gan.s, and tallied just eight takeaways. This year games. Last spring Lamb told me he the team has surrendered 14 this team to compete for expects 15 while turnovers registering a conference championship, as I takeaways. thought to myself does he realize Although Lamb and his stall this team has lost 18 straight have done a great job turning games? But its becoming more things aiound m the win column and more apparent that this and on papet, that still isnt team has a legitimate shot of the biggest change the staff accomplishing this, and the first has accomplished. The staff step will be this Saturday at UC As we have watched the steady evolution of our football team growing up and progressing right in front of our eyes, I can only think one thing; what a difference a coach makes. When SUU football coach Ed Lamb took over the reins last spring, I had complete confidence that he and his staff would turn things around, but in no way did I expect Lamb and his staff to make such an impact s 3-- 2-- 0-- 6, ETHAN The SUU football team warms up before Tuesdays have won two straight games and practice. The are The team will begin Great West Conference 3-- 3. STEPHENSON FOR THE JOURNAL play this weekend when they travel to Davis, Calif, to play the UC Davis Aggies. The Aggies are 4 overall 2-- this season. Meier-coache- set to begin conference play T-Bir-ds By PRESTON HEATON pheatonsuujournal com This week the SUU football team will aim for three straight wins for the first time since 2000 when it takes on the UC Davis Aggies on Satuiday in Davis, Calif., in both teams Great West Conference openet. would also put the above .500 for the first time since midway through the 2006 season when they held a A win recoid of 3-- Last week the won their second straight game by beating Youngstown State 14-- 7 in a defensive struggle. Although being outrushed by 6 the penguins yards, the were able to establish the running game for the second consecutive week. SUU football coach Ed Lamb said running the ball helped the be successful the last 170-10- two weeks. The running game has been the biggest part of our success the last two weeks, he said. Our offensive linemen have improved in the face of and our (running) adversity backs are very talented. The defense was also a big part in last weeks victory. The Penguins marched down the field and scored a touchdown in their first possession of the then marched They game. into the red zone again when SUU junior defensive lineman Scott Larsen forced a fumble which was recovered by SUU senior nose tackle Austin Curtis; the Penguins would not score again. T-Bir- ds By PRESTON HEATON Curtis said that the defense e prides itself in its defense. is defense Our important to us, he said. Well sometimes bend but we wont break. The Aggies are coming off an exciting victory against the Not them Colorado Bears. The Aggies were on the Bears 38 yard line and trailed 8 with three by a score of seconds left on the clock. UC Davis sophomore quaiterback. red-zon- red-zo- 30-2- See DAVIS, Page B2 prep for annual pink game pheatonsuujournal.com g losses After suffering two last weekend to North Dakota State and South Dakota State, the SUU women's soccer team looks to rebound this Saturday when they play host to the Westminster Griffins in the annual Breast Cancer Awareness game. SUU soccer coach Brian Stock said that although his team played well, he was disappointed in the outcome of last weeks heart-bieakin- ETHAN STEPHENSON FOR THE JOURNAL soccer coach Brian Stock talks to the team before Tuesdays practice. SUU will play host to Westminster on Saturday for the Breast Cancer Awareness Game. SUU road trip. We did everything that we needed to do but the ball didnt bounce our way, he said. were riding a three-gam- e The until the North Dakota State streak winning last Bison ended it by defeating the Fiiday by the score of The Bison dominated the first half by scoiing a quick goal only four minutes into the game and adding to their lead with one 2-- mark. more at the The score was 0 at the half and would end that way as the played competitively in the second half. tried to rebound from their The loss to the Bison when they played the South Dakota State Jackrabbits last Sunday. The game was a defensive struggle with mark the only goal coming at the when the Jackrabbits put one past SUU senior goalkeeper Sutton Fox. The game could have been a lot worse as 24-Fox the Jackrabbits outshot the 2-- 2. recorded eight saves in the contest. The hope coming home will help them get back in the winning groove; all three of their victories this season have come at home. Stock said this game will help the prepare for their upcoming road trip next week. Weve got to play better this week and get ready for our next road trip, he said. for Besides breast cancer playing awareness, the Griffins will be looking for revenge against the Last season when the two teams the the embarrassed met, score the of with Griffins 5-- 0. See SOCCER, Page B2 |