SPORTS
- Inside the Huddle
- Women's soccer works out early kinks Renee Robarge
- Cross country wins race Lori Bero
- Men's soccer wins season opener Kaelena Incinelli
- Labor Day tournament shows team there is still work to do John Weidner
- Research shows moderate exercise works better than marathon Joe Miller
- Osprey rivals Kaelena Incinelli
Inside the Huddle
 Kevin Campbell Volleyball Head Coach |
 Lisa Hamilton Women's Soccer Head Coach |
 Dusty Rhodes Baseball Head Coach |
 Jacque Strappe Baguette Fencing Aficionado |
| Question 1: What is the biggest collegiate upset you have ever been a part of? | |||
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N/A. Editors Note: Did not respond because it was her first year at UNF. |
When Connecticut beat North Carolina with five minutes left in the game. We came back and beat them in the NCAA Tournament Final. | Boise State beating Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl last year. With the limit of 20 hours practice a week for each school, we are going to see more upsets like these. | When the new UNF fencing club defeated me at their scrimmage. I was so depressed, I ate my entire baguette. |
| Question 2: What UNF athlete do you feel is primed for a breakout session? | |||
| Kavie Sturch [Junior outside hitter]. | It's tough to tell this early. I think the potential is there for anyone on this team to step up. | Ty Pryor. He has been drafted three times, and he's capable of dominating games. For us to be successful, he's the guy. | Marshay Greenlee, the volleyball player featured in the Spinnaker. She leaps like a French ballerina. |
| Question 3: Jacksonville Jaguar head coach Jack Del Reo cut his starting quarterback right before their season opener. How much does the timing affect a team? | |||
| Any decision will affect the team. It's how the team responds and perseveres that makes the difference. | I think the timing of that depends on how secure the team is. One person in a team sport doesn't necessarily make or break a team. | The timing makes it impossible for the players to think about it. They have to prepare to play. The Jaguars have our city's name on it, and the city needs to get behind them. | I am the only man on my team, so if I cut myself, I would say it would be painful. |
| Question 4: What has been the most difficult part of the transition to Division I? | |||
| Competition is a much higher level and we travel farther. | That we're not eligible to compete in the conference tournament until 2010. | I've been here 20 years, and we've beaten big schools. If we start thinking like a D-I school, then all of the athletic success will follow. | The new standards, which are as high as the Eiffel Tower. |
Women's soccer works out early kinks
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Jessica Jowers heads the soccer ball against Georgia State University in 2006. She had an assist in University of North Florida's tie against Florida International University Aug. 31. |
The University of North Florida women's soccer team kicked off the 2007-2008 season with a 1-1 tie against Florida International University and a 13-0 victory over Alabama State University, at the Embassy Suites Kick-Off Classic in Fort Myers, Aug. 31 and Sept. 2.
After settling with a tie against FIU, the lady Ospreys showed no mercy in a near-record-breaking victory against Alabama State University.
The season opener started off strong with looks at the net, including a corner kick in the 24th minute by senior midfielder Jessica Jowers, who set up junior midfielder Elizabeth Gowan for a UNF score.
"I am impressed with the level of intensity that we came out with in the first half," said head coach Linda Hamilton. "With this being our first real game of the season, it was a great test for us to see how far we have come since preseason."
The Ospreys continued their first half charge with a quick shot attempt by freshman forward Tiffany Wiggen.
The Ospreys managed to tame the Panthers until the 40th minute, when a late FIU goal sent the game into sudden-death overtime.
The first overtime began the battle of the goalkeepers, who protected several shots on goal, resulting in a final score of 1-1 after the second overtime.
"We would have liked to have gotten a win, but this is a great way for us to start the season," Hamilton said. "We are very proud of the way the team handled the pressure and was able to come together and play as a team."
The Ospreys' new coaching staff and roster were all prepared for the second game of the season Sunday.
In the Alabama State shutout, UNF utilized 18 of the 19 players present.
Scoring started quickly in the second minute of play, when sophomore forward Katelin Swift dribbled passed the Alabama goalkeeper for her first score of
the season.
Nine different players had a chance to score, including junior goalkeeper Rachael Howard, who also kept her net spotless for the duration of the game.
"It was good for us to be able to give everyone a chance to play," Hamilton said. "We had several players step up and show that they deserve to be on this team."
The game's leading scorer was freshman midfielder and forward Angela Passafaro, with the first of three goals in the
17th minute.
Passafaro raced to chalk up her last two scores before halftime, but not before junior midfielder Elena Luzins netted her first two goals of the season moments before the whistle.
The Ospreys had an 8-0 lead by the end of the first half.
"I am happy with the team's effort," Hamilton said. "We were able to use this game to work on the little mistakes we made in our first game."
The second half began much like the first, with a free-for-all of UNF goals.
Freshman defender Tiffany Wiggen scored in the 45th minute off sophomore defender Lauren Maze's cross. Two more UNF scores followed shortly after.
The Ospreys saw the back of the net two more times before the game was called in the 70th minute due to Alabama's insufficient roster. The Ospreys return to the field on Sept. 7 for the Miner Classic in
El Paso, Texas.
Contact Renee Robarge at sports@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Cross country wins race
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Amanda Davey leads the pack in the 2006 season Gator Invitational. |
Victory opened the season for the University of North Florida men's and women's cross-country teams at Jacksonville University in the JU Short Course Duals
Aug. 31.
Despite the heavy thunderstorms leaving standing water over most of the one-mile course, senior Amanda Davey and sophomore Sammy Palmer each finished in first place, leading both UNF's women's and men's cross- country teams to a win.
"This meet was good for us," head coach Mark VanAlstyne said. "It helped the team build confidence, which we will take into our next meet."
Davey finished in first place for UNF by one second in the women's 3-K race. She took the race in the last 100 meters after being challenged by a JU freshman early on. Sophomore Hillary Adams also finished in the top five.
A time of 16 minutes, 40 seconds gave Palmer a first place finish in the men's 5-K race, while sophomore Craig Sinbine took third place for UNF with a time of 17 minutes, 3 seconds.
Also helping UNF clinch a victory were senior Marvin Moore, junior Jeff Auletta and junior John Bruno, who took fifth, sixth and seventh respectively.
"They have become very team-oriented and motivated to help each other out in each and every race," assistant coach Julie Stackhouse said. "Everybody is excited to try and do what they can to help the team win."
UNF will compete in the Gator Invitational Sept. 7 in Gainesville, Fla. The meet is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Contact Lori Bero at uspinnak@unf.edu -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Men's soccer wins season opener
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Oscar Ortiz hustles toward the ball from his midfield position. Ortiz participated in the Aug. 31 win over Georgia State University. |
Two goals early in the game against Georgia State University brought the University of North Florida to a 2-1 victory Aug. 31.
With 13 minutes, 46 seconds on the clock, GSU was the first to score.
"We came out flat and went down a goal," head coach Ray Bunch said. "We gave Georgia too much confidence after their win over Clemson [University] last week."
The Ospreys tied the game at 1-1 in the 18th minute of play, with a goal by redshirt freshman forward Akil DeFritas.
Freshman forward Adam O'Neill scored the game-winner with an assist from senior midfielder Oscar Ortiz.
"We got a couple of quick goals," Bunch said. "I'm surprised we didn't go up by a bigger margin."
The scoring ended for the game with only 21 mintues, 26 seconds on the clock.
Both the Panthers and the Ospreys registered seven shots in the second half, but were unable
to convert.
Freshman goalie Andrew Calise had his first career start against GSU and tallied four saves.
Calise gave the team the confidence they needed in the backfield, Bunch said.
The Ospreys used their confidence in defense to take offensive strikes. Making nine shots on goal, UNF outshot GSU 16-12.
The soccer team traveled to Missouri State University on Sept. 4 and will travel to Longwood University in Virginia, Sept.7.
As MSU is in the top 25, Bunch said the game will be a good examination of his players.
"It's no doubt traveling is a challenge," Bunch said, "especially in only the second week of school, but these are good boys."
Soccer scheduled several early-season away games because of the construction of the track around UNF's field.
The Ospreys will return to their home field in the end of September.
Contact Kaelena Incinelli at sports@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Labor Day tournament shows team there is still work to do
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Top: Maegan Weisert plays offense at the net in game against UCF in 2006. Bottom: Bary Rasmussen sets herself up on defense against Mercer University in 2006. Both played in the Labor Day tournament. |
University of North Florida Volleyball was unable to register a win in their two matches of the 12th Annual Labor Day Classic Sept. 1.
In game one of their first match of the tournament against the University of Texas at San Antonio, the Ospreys took the lead early in the game, mounting a 10-4 lead on a run that featured two kills by junior outside hitter Kavie Sturch, who tied her season high with nine kills. However, the Roadrunners turned things around on a six-score run, tying the game at 12. With the game tied at 14, UTSA went on a 9-2 run and UNF was unable to come back.
The second game of the match went back and forth early in the game, until the Roadrunners created separation by taking a 15-11 lead. Late in the game, with the score 26-19 in favor of the Roadrunners, junior middle blocker Bary Rasmussen aided the Ospreys by laying down two consecutive service aces. But UNF could not make any more of a comeback and allowed UTSA to take a 2-0 game lead.
Freshman blocker Kaley Read's kill early in third game gave the Ospreys a 2-1 lead, which would be their only advantage of the game. The Ospreys pulled within two points late in the game, at 28-26, after being down by nine points earlier. Yet seconds later, UTSA's Cristina Almeida wrapped up the game and match with a final kill.
The Ospreys were close to a win in each of their losses to UTSA, losing 30-26, 30-24, and 30-26. Senior outside hitter Amy Stroder led UNF in kills, with 10, while freshman setter Madeline Belvin led UNF with 19 assists. Senior outside hitter Maegan Weisert, who recorded a career-high 25 digs, led the Ospreys
on defense.
The Ospreys faced off against the mammoth height of the Wildcats of Weber State University, who had eight players that were at least six feet tall. Their final match of the tournament saw a loss to Weber, falling 30-22, 30-18, 30-12 in three games.
Things stayed tight early in the first game until the Wildcats went on an 8-2 run to take a 20-13 lead.
The Ospreys momentarily snatched back momentum with a six-point run of their own, making the score 23-21. However the Wildcats turned back around, going a 7-1 run to win game one.
After having a 5-3 lead early on in the second game, the Ospreys made two attack errors, which allowed the Wildcats to take a commanding lead on an 8-2 run, which helped set them up for their second win.
In the final game of the match, the Wildcats took off early and didn't give any slack to the hard-hitting UNF squad the rest of the way en route to their third and final win.
Sturch led the Ospreys with eight kills and six digs, while Belvin totaled 11 assists. Rasmussen led UNF in hitting percentage at .417, which included six kills.
"Weber is a strong, consistent team," said head coach Kevin Campbell after the match. "We played well in spurts tonight. I'm very encouraged for our development and growth as we form together as a team."
Volleyball takes on the University of Central Florida at 1 p.m. Sept. 6, in the first game of the UCF Invitational.
Contact John Weidner at sports@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Research shows moderate exercise works better than marathon
Bike shop owner Kevin Coggins wasn't surprised by a study released this month by the Duke University Medical Center, which showed that not only is moderate exercise good, in some instances it may be even better than more vigorous workouts.
In the 90s, everyone wanted a mountain bike to go powering through forests on narrow trails.
During Lance Armstrong's reign over the Tour de France, from 1999 to 2005, everyone wanted to capture the road bike experience, pedaling for miles and miles.
What's selling today?
Hybrids, that mix of road and mountain bike made for a more recreational, round-the-neighborhood-and-down-the-greenway-with-the-kids experience.
"Moderate exercise is as good as strenuous exercise," says Coggins, who once raced bikes and has owned The Spin Cycle in Cary, N.C., since the mid-1990s.
So does a portion of the study by researchers at Duke, who found that low-intensity exercise "dramatically lowered" triglyceride levels. Triglycerides are those pesky particles that lug fat around the body. Reducing their numbers can reduce the risk of both heart disease and diabetes.
The Duke study joins a growing body of evidence suggesting that you don't have to ride 2,200 miles around France to enjoy good health.
Regular rides through the neighborhood will do just fine.
The Duke study involved 240 middle-age, sedentary types who were divided into four groups and studied over eight months.
Three groups exercised, doing time on the treadmill, elliptical trainer and stationary bike.
One group exercised a lot and did so with great intensity, one group also exercised with great intensity but not as much, and the third group exercised in moderation.
A fourth group, the control group, retained its sedentary ways.
To the researchers' surprise, it was the modest exercisers who showed the most change in terms of triglyceride levels.
The study - part of an ongoing fitness and activity study at Duke called Studies of a Targeted Risk Reduction Intervention Through Defined Exercise - also found that the positive effects of exercise lasted longer for the modest exercisers than for the more intense exercisers.
"More is generally better than less when it comes to exercise," cautions Cris Slentz, an exercise physiologist at Duke and lead author of the study.
Contact Joe Miller at uspinnak@unf.edu -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Osprey rivals
Every team has a competitor it really wants to beat. For the University of North Florida, it is often Jacksonville University. We compete with our cross-town rivals each year to win the coveted "Suntrust Old Wooden Barrel." Even though the players and fans get pumped to beat JU, there are other universities on the "must beat" list. Players from volleyball, men's and women's soccer gave their opinion on the team to beat for the fall 2007 season and how they get pumped up for a victory.
Men's
Soccer
Matt Hollyoak is the captain and sophomore defender for the men's soccer team. He takes responsibility as the captain for the team by motivating them for big games.
One big game to Hollyoak is against Stetson. They were on top last season, and UNF wants to bring their A-game to the field against them for the fall 2007 season.
The UNF Soccer team gets stoked for their game against JU every year.
"We all want to win that game because of the rivalry," Hollyoak said.
Hollyoak also hopes to beat Missouri State University and show everyone who they are.
"We want to put some goals up against them," Hollyoak said.
When men's soccer prepares for a big game, they arrive at the field early, listen to music and focus on the work to come.
Hollyoak also suggests the team gets good sleep, trains well and is not influenced by outside factors before important games.
The soccer team strives to prepare well for every game because every game means something, Hollyoak said."A win is a win," Hollyoak said. "We all represent the University of North Florida, and it feels good to be a part of a winning team."
Women's
Soccer
Women's soccer senior defender Lisa Potoka gave the Spinnaker the inside scoop on the big games of the soccer season. Kennesaw State University is a main competitor for the UNF. The Ospreys faced the Owls in the Peach Belt Conference of Division II - and now in
Division I as well.
Being in the same conference, UNF plays KSU twice a year and meets them in the playoffs.
Potoka said she really wants to beat JU this year because it's her last game and soccer's senior night. It would be big victory, she said.
As a senior, Potoka feels a responsibility to inform the younger girls about the big rivalries and to get them excited for the games. She said they prepare to play extra-hard because the games are must-wins.
Before a big game, the soccer team has a "pump-up party." They all get together at a player's house and have a team meal, make posters and T-shirts, and just go crazy,
Potoka said.
"Attitudes are contagious," she said.
Regarding how it feels to win a big game, Potoka said it is a different feeling from any other game.
"You feel more accomplished and the celebration is better," she said.
Volleyball
Bary Rasmussen is a junior middle blocker for the volleyball team. She shared some of her past experiences and hopes for future games. One of volleyball's main rivals is Florida Gulf Coast University. They are new to the Atlantic Sun Conference, and UNF had a tough loss to them in the JU tournament, Rasmussen said.
Personally, Rasmussen wants to beat Stetson University after the Ospreys' loss to them in the season opener. The team did not play well and she wants to prove to the Hatters they can win.
In preparation for a big game, the volleyball team has huge energy during warm-ups. This motivates the team because when they have high energy, everything else falls into place Rasmussen said.
Head coach Kevin Campbell also provides the team with an extensive scouting report to study before the game. During practice, half of the team sets up as their competition would and they have a mock game so they will know what to expect when the real
game comes.
Contact Kaelena Incinelli at sports@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE