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UIS drops exhibition game against
Illini
By Jason Stuebe
For the first time in 12
meetings, the Illini of the University of Illinois club team
finally got a win over the Prairie Stars in Saturday night’s
homecoming exhibition game, winning 2-0.
The Stars held their own
against the reigning NCAA National Club Champions throughout the
entire first half with both teams heading to the locker room 0-0
in a grudge match that appeared as if it would end in a draw.
Those hopes were dashed
when the Illini struck in the seventh minute of the second half
and then again on a break-away goal with just under 12 minutes
left to play.
The Stars never could get
anything going offensively against the Illini whose strong
defense inside the box shut-out the likes of UIS big men Todd
Pierce, Mauricio Lora, and Michael Hutchinson.
Because the match was
only exhibition it does not count against the Stars season
record and they remain 7-4 overall and 4-0 in conference heading
into last night’s game against the Columbia Cougars. The Stars
have now dropped to 0-3 in exhibition matches this season.
The Stars return to
Kiwanis Stadium on October 28th to face Madonna for
the final regular season match of the season. Kickoff is
scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Stars steal a victory from
Missouri Baptist
By Mark Brockett
After falling behind early in the
first half and having very little luck for the first 75 minutes
of the game, the UIS men’s soccer team fought back and scored
two goals in the final 15 minutes to take a nail biting 2-1
victory over Missouri Baptist last Wednesday night.
 The
Spartans were able to strike first with a goal by senior Rackley
Thomas off the rebound from a hard shot by fellow Spartan David
Kelley a little after ten minutes into the game. It was all
MoBap the rest of the way until the Stars found some motivation
from an unfortunate situation.
The turning point of the game
occurred when senior Paul Pianezza stole a pass by a Spartan
defensemen and attempted to kick in an easy goal from inside the
box after the goalie had came up and out. Pizza was robbed of
the opportunity when MoBap’s Thomas came from behind and slide
tackled the snot out of Pizza with both players going down hard
and leaving the near-capacity crowd seething.
Thomas was issued an immediate
red card and ejected for the dirty pool while Pizza was assisted
off the field. He would later return to the game.
The red card prompted a penalty
kick that was nailed by junior Michael Hutchinson making the
score tied at one-all.
The grudge match continued and
looked as if it was headed into overtime until senior Mauricio
Lora booted in a goal courtesy of a corner kick by junior Curt
Miller as the clock rolled down to a minute left in the game
sending the bench, the press box, and the stands into a frenzy.
The smile on head coach Joe Eck’s
face showed just how important the victory was for his team. “It
feels great,” said Eck. “We did not play well in the first half,
we were watching the game go by us, but in the second half we
picked up the intensity and played with some passion which was
evident with that play by Paul (Pianezza).”
The game-breaking play was
nothing more than a play to Pianezza, who has taken his fair
share of hits over the years. He expressed that it is the team
that gets the most credit. “It was great to get this win,” said
Pianezza. “I have a lot of faith in my team and my teammates.”
The Stars’ fifth consecutive win
put the team to 4-0 in the American Midwest Conference, all
alone in first place and 7-4 overall. Eck sees this win as a
confidence booster for the team as they played without two
starters in the game. “We proved we can do it with our entire
team this evening and I think we are a lot stronger ball club.”
Rumor has it...
By Jason Stuebe
As most of the campus community
knows, athletics here at UIS have grown tremendously in the past
three years. The addition of men’s basketball and women’s
softball, along with new personnel seems to have stimulated the
one time fledgling operation and the campus as a whole.
With growth however, comes
growing pains and while I am not defending potential misconduct
on anyone’s part, I do sometimes wonder if the Task Force
assigned to review the Athletics Department wasn’t merely on a
witch hunt.
The Task Force’s final report
which addressed athlete/staff conduct, the relationship with
Health Services, the budget, academic matters, and campus
governance raises interesting questions, responses, and
solutions but leaves an undoubted black eye upon the entire
department.
The black eye of which I speak
is the direct result of the fact that the final report contains
portions based on rumors. The report states that rumors were
floated around about the possible intoxication of Athletics
Staff at events. Quite frankly, this is absurd.
I simply don’t understand how it
is physically possible. The people in that office work from 9-5
with most events starting at 7:00 p.m., if not 6:00, and always
requiring an hour to an hour-and-a-half worth of preparation.
So where in the name of Big Ben did they supposedly find the
time to consume alcohol, let alone become inebriated?!
What’s even more shocking is the
fact that after finding no evidence whatsoever to support these
claims, the rumors remained in the report.
With all due respect to the
committee, rumors belong in super market tabloids, not Task
Force reports concocted by a slew of Ph.D.s.
After his own review into the
matter, Vice Chancellor Chris Miller said that the findings were
inconclusive. It is this type of response that is damaging to
the office and the university, as it will leave a shred of doubt
and never fully close the case.
With all due respect to Vice
Chancellor Miller, when a jury deliberates a defendant’s
innocence or guilt and does not find evidence to support a
guilty verdict, they do not come out and say the defendant’s
involvement was inconclusive, they say the defendant was found
not guilty.
This represents one of many
missteps taken by the Task Force and the administration in what
has been a public relations boondoggle from day one.
Perception is nine-tenths of the
law and right now the perception of the Athletic Department is
not good, thanks to the negativity of the report and the
administration. This is the first scenario I have seen in which
a university’s administration did not rally supportively
around a troubled entity.
What has transpired casts a long
shadow on the department and could have detrimental effects on
everything from recruiting to fundraising for quite some time.
While I like to think that everyone has the best interest of our
Athletics Department at heart, it is such actions like what has
been taken by the administration and the Task Force that leave
me to wonder. As always, go Stars!
Prairie Star of
the Week
By Jason Stuebe
Dial up
Domino’s and you get a pimply faced 17-year-old in a Ford Focus,
dial up soccer game excitement and you get Pizza. Strange how
the world works, isn’t it?
UIS
senior midfielder Paul Pianezza has been known as “Pizza” for as
long as anyone can remember and has been delivering up plenty of
excitement this soccer season.
What
Pianezza may not have in overall stats he more than makes up
with his determination and in your face style of play. To put
it another way, dynamite comes in small packages and this 5’4”
bundle can be underestimated by the opposition in a big way.
 While
last week’s barnburner between UIS and Missouri Baptist was a
total team effort in the last 20 minutes of the game, it was
Pizza and an unfortunate slide tackle from behind which robbed
him of his second goal of the season that fired up the Stars to
eventually pull out the win. It is this bravado that makes him
a game breaker.
Pizza’s
career at UIS hasn’t always been wine and roses, however. As
one of coaching legend Aydin Gonulsen’s final recruits at UIS,
Pizza suffered several debilitating knee injuries which led him
to the operating table and out of his sophomore season.
Nevertheless, he has bounced back in a big way and throws care
to the wind when he throws himself around the field much to the
delight of his adoring fan section.
In the
six games he has played in this year, Pizza has three shots, one
assist and one goal.
Pizza, a
communication major, can now add another stat to this year’s
book – one fresh out of the oven Prairie Star of the Week
delivered by the UIS Sports Writers and Broadcaster’s
Association.
You can
catch Pizza and the Prairie Stars (almost sounds like a lounge
band playing at the Ramada) on October 28th for the
final home regular season game against Madonna.
Snapshots
Women’s
Volleyball
UIS vs.
Hannibal-LaGrange (Hannibal, Miss.)
The UIS
women continued their winning ways after handing
Hannibal-LaGrange a 3-0 loss last Thursday night. The Stars won
the match 30-26, 30-21, 30-21. Serial killer Danielle Crossen
led the team with 14 kills while Megan Leonard was settin’ on
the job with 37 assists.
Conlin out
UIS senior
Gretchen Conlin’s injury sustained in the game against Columbia
has been determined as a ruptured ACL, taking her out for the
rest of the season. Everyone in Prairie Star land wishes Conlin
a speedy recovery.
Correction
Yeah,
Stuebe goofed. It was reported last week that Jennifer Poss
defeated Christine Tabayoyong 6-1, 6,0. Poss actually defeated
Tabayoyong 6-3, 6-3.
Condolences
The sports
staff sends its condolences to the family of Rodney
Dangerfield. As you may know, the comedian was mentioned in
Stuebe’s Sporting Goods two weeks ago and then passed away. It
is a new policy not to mention celebrities in Stuebe’s Sporting
Goods for fear of bad karma.
CAMPUS
RECREATIONAL SPORTS BRIEFS
INTRAMURAL
SPORTS
Flag Football
and Soccer both begin this weekend. Come out and cheer on the
teams! Games will be held at the Rec Park Field. For more
specific details, contact the CRS Office or check out the CRS
website.
The IM
Tennis Singles Tourney will be held on Sunday, October 24 at
the UIS Tennis Courts beginning at 1:00pm. Submit an entry form
in the CRS Office before 11pm on Wednesday, October 20. The
tournament will consist of Men’s and Women’s Open and Rec
divisions if enough entries warrant; otherwise play will be
mixed. Any current or former intercollegiate tennis athlete
must play in the Open Division. All participants must be at
least 18 years old or a UIS student. UIS students and Rec
Center Members with a valid i-card play for free. UIS
Community Non-Rec Center Members must pay $10 per division.
IM Badminton
Singles League
play begins Monday, November 1 in the UIS Gym. League play will
be scheduled according to players and facility availability.
The tournament will conclude before Thanksgiving Break. If
entries warrant, there will be a Men’s and Women’s Division;
otherwise play will be mixed. All participants must be at least
18 years old or a UIS student. UIS students and Rec Center
Members with a valid i-card play for free. UIS Community Non-Rec
Center Members must pay $10 per division. Submit an entry form
in the CRS Office before 11pm on Wednesday, October 27.
IM 4x4 Co-Rec
Volleyball Tournament
will be played
on Saturday, November 6 beginning at 1:00 pm in the UIS Gym.
Play will be mixed team. Teams consist of a minimum of 4 (two
women and two men) and a maximum of 6 players with no more than
two Non-Rec Center Members per roster. Only one present or last
year’s intercollegiate volleyball player is allowed per roster.
All participants must be at least 18 years old or a UIS
Student. UIS students and Rec Center Members with a valid i-card
play for free. UIS Community Non-Rec Center Members/Non-UIS
must pay $10. Non-UIS must sign a waiver form. Submit a team
entry form in the CRS Office before 11pm on Wednesday, November
3.
IM 2X2 Outdoor
Basketball Tournament Champions Declared
Sunday night
saw Aqueous Solutions defeating the Rec Center All-Stars 21-19
and United by Fate 22-17 to take the Intramural Championship.
Congratulations to winning team members David Lasley and Matt
Riedle. The Rec Center All-Stars came in second leaving United
by Fate with third place.
IM 6X6 Sand
Volleyball Champions Announced
Intramural sand
volleyball also wrapped up this weekend. Will Work For Sets
took first place this year defeating The Ramrods 30-29 and
30-21. Congratulations to James Brower, Brad Ward, Ben Owen,
LaTrice Nettles, Jen Davis, Betsy Fullerton, Alisha Backus,
Kaley Noel, Chad Eversgerd, Jeave Reserva, Audra Roach, and Matt
Wallace for their win!
FITNESS &
INSTRUCTIONAL
Registrations
are still being accepted in the CRS Office for the following
classes:
Toning &
Conditioning
classes are held October 11-November 19 in the UIS Gym on
Mondays and Fridays from 12:10-12:50pm. Amy Giles is teaching
the class.
Fencing Lessons
are
once again being taught by Dr. Larry Livingston on Wednesdays in
the UIS Gym from 12:10-12:50pm beginning this Wednesday, October
13.
Tennis Lessons
are being taught by Georgena Wulfers on Tuesdays & Thursdays
from 4-5pm at the UIS Tennis Courts.
SPORT CLUBS
The Men’s
Club Volleyball team is practicing Mondays and Thursdays
from 7-9pm and Fridays from 5-7pm in the UIS Gym. Any male UIS
student interested in competing extramurally with other college
or USVBA men’s club volleyball teams is welcome to join. Male
students may be undergraduate or graduate; full time or part
time. If interested contact Club President Jim Brower at
jbrow16s@uis.edu
The Frisbee
Enthusiasts Club practices every Thursday from 5:30-7pm and
Sunday from 3-6pm at the Sport Club Rec Field east of Kiwanis
Stadium. The club participates in Ultimate Frisbee as well as
Frolf (Frisbee Disc Golf). If interested contact Club President
Colin Cook at
ccook04s@uis.edu.
HOW CAN I LEARN ABOUT CAMPUS REC SPORTS NEWS?
(1) Send an
Email to RecSports@uis.edu
to be included in the 2004-2005 Campus Rec Sports News List to
receive personal up-to-date information about future events and
activities. (2) Click on “Public Folders>All Public
Folders>UIS>Announcements>Campus” on your UIS e-mail account and
read the e-mail announcements sent out by UIS Campus Rec
Sports. (3) Check out the website at
www.uis.edu/recsports/. (4) Contact the Campus Recreational
Sports (CRS) Office located in the Fitness Center (SLB 118) or
call 206-6658.
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