The Daily Chronicle from De Kalb, Illinois • Page 13

DAILY CHRONICLE, Online at Nlsite.com and Friday, November 21, 2003 B5 Sports Diaz sets herself straight, Annika eyes comeback course from the hospital and found herself in trouble from the very start, when what looked like a gixxl drive kept drifting right, into a hazard. It took her five minutes to gut hold of a rules official, who told her where to drop, and the world's best player proceeded to make bogey. Sorenstam rallied for a 34 on the front, but missed a number of short putts probably because she couldn't see and shot 40 on the back, leaving herself a lot of work to defend her title here. lead over Lori Kane. Meg Mallon was another stroke back on a day in which only three players in the field of the LPGA Tour's top 30 money winners broke par.

Diaz credited some of her success to something she recently read: "You'll See It When You Believe It," (no kidding, Annika) a book that claims that, just through believing, you can "make your most impossible dreams come true," and "turn obstacles into opportunities." It's a timely topic for the 28-year-old, who entered the tournament ranked 29th on the money list a struggle by her standards. It took several months for Diaz to find a caddie, J.C. McGann, she was comfortable with after Thad Kael left her in March. Tougher to endure has been the pain in her left ankle, where she has torn tendons and will need surgery when the season is over, "It's been a real mental chal-' lenge for me because I have seen my hard work pay ofF in the past, she said. "And this year, I can't work as hard because I'm in pain with my ankle." For one day, at least, the pain didn't seem so bad.

One of her highlights came after she left an easy 90-yard sand wedge some 35 feet from the hole on No. 6, but made the putt for birdie to get into Loyola Unlvcrclty-Chlccgo ((H)) ct tforthzm Illinois Unlvcrclty ((H)) Tip-off: 7:05 p.m! Friday! Radio Coverage: WLBK-AM 13(50 khz) with 6:55 p.m. pre-game featuring Bill Baker and Sid Simmons. The Chalk Talk: No more preseason talk. No more exhibition games.

Now it's time for the real deal, games that count in the record book. The Northern Illinois University women's basketball season tips off Friday evening at 7:05 p.m. in the Convocation Center as the host Huskies welcome Ix)yola University-Chicago for the non-conference contest. After experiencing a disappointing 2002-03 season (12-16), NIU head coach Carol Hammerle and her team have their sights set on a much-improved campaign that features more depth, especially in the low post Senior forward Jennifer Youngblood (5-11, sr.) returns to lead the Huskies. The Rock Island native paced the Huskies last season with 13.5 poinUi per game and 8.3 rebounds per game.

Shell get relief under the basket this year from Jamie Wilson (6-0, Joi Scott (6-0, Jennifer Uptmor (6-3, and Kristin Wiener (6-2, Other seniors providing veteran experience along with Youngblood are Lindsay Secrest (5-11), Stephanie Smith (5-11), and Monique Davis (5-8). All four seniors are probable starters for the Loyola game along with Wilson, who returns after sitting out last season to recover from a knee injury. Northern Illinois played two exhibition games prior to the start of the official season, winning both contests an 81-47 decision over the Chicago Challengers and an 83-48 tally against The Odyssey Club. Loyola also played the same exhibition teams, the Ramblers beat Odyssey 80-49 and defeated the Challengers 75-66. NIU and Loyola used to be conference foes during the Midwestern Collegiate Conference days.

However, the Huskies left to join the Mid-American Conference while LU stayed in the MCC, which is now known as the Horizon League. In the last meeting between the two schools, Ioyola came out on top 75-69 on February 12, 1997. Northern Illinois holds a 9-5 overall series lead with the Chicago-based institution. Fifth-year coach Mary Helen Walker brings her team into DeKalb with a veteran group of guards led by junior Ciara Henderson, who averaged 13,0 ppg. last season and is a prolific three-point shooter.

LU's top defender is junior Meskhenet Lands. Senior forward Maggie Toczylowski was the team's leading rebounder last year and has three-point capabilities. Sophomore Danielle Lonie (6-1) is slated as the starting center. Loyola finished 12-17 last season and was fourth in the Horizon League with an 8-8 record. the red for the first time.

That was nice, very nice right there," she said. A few nice moments aside, it was. a grind of a day for everyone, and not just because of the way The Donald sets up his course, full of gnarled rough, for the annual season-ending tournament. Swirling windH gusted up to 25 mph and almost everyone paid the price. The average score on the par-72 course was 75.564.

Sorenstam came to the From page B2 free on a corner blitz and knocked the ball from Hassell. Rod Davis recovered at the TCU 11 with less than three minutes left. Momenta later, Anthony Harris bulled into the end zone from 2 yards out with 1:30 left. "Like our guys have done so many times before, when the game was on the line we found a way to make some plays when we had to," Golden Eagles coach Jeff who has led Southern Miss to three previous C-USA titles. Southern Miss has won five straight games and can earn a bid to the Liberty Bowl by winning at East Carolina on Nov, 29.

The Pirates have won just once. The win was the Golden Eagles' first ever against a ranked opponent at home, and the fans celebrated by taking down a goal post. "We went through hard times this season," Davis said. "We were 3-3. People shoved us away.

We kept fighting." Almond, who has thrown 12 TD passes since regaining the starting job five games ago, was 14-for-23 with an interception. Southern Miss jumped out to a 24-6 lead with the help of three big plays one by the offense, one bv the defense and one by special teams. The offense was first up as Almond and DaRon Lawrence took advantage of a fallen Earthquakes MO PLAYER POS GK 0 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 Jon Conway Eddie Robinson Chris Roner Ramiro Corrales Ronnie Ekelund Ian Russell Richard Mulrooney Brian Mullan 2003 10 Landon Donovan 11 Manny Lagos 12 Jeff Agoos 13 Jamil Walker 14 DwayneDeRosanoF 15 Roger Levesque Home Fire Home The to win TCU defender for a 50-yard touchdown pass that made it 7-3 in the first quarter. Midway through the second quarter the Golden' Eagles' defense struck. Etric Pruilt picked off Masscll's throw deep down the middle and returned it 32 yards to the Horned Frogs 24.

Five plays later, Harris spun out of the pile, just barely keeping his knee off the ground, and dived across the goal line for a i-yard TD to make it 17-6. Marvin Young capped the outburst with a 52-yard punt return TCU's 33. That set up Almond's 9-yard Tl) pass through traffic to Anwton Courington. It marked just the second time this season TCU was down at halflime, and it was by far the biggest deficit the Horned Frogs have faced at any point this season, But TCU wouldn't let its 12-game winning streak end without a fight. Kenny Hayter had two 1-yard touchdown runs in the fourth quarter for TCU, and Reggie Harrell had seven catches for 108 yards.

"In the second half we came back but we needed a lot more," said Robert Merrill, who ran for 132 yards on 16 carries. "We needed this win but we fell short." 2 0 0 3 Fire By Eddie Pells AP Sports Writer WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -While Laura Diaz was impressive in taking the lead at the LPGA Tour Championship, the fact that Annika Sorenstam was able to stay within striking range was close to mind-boggling. Dealing with a chronic bum ankle and playing a course she's never liked, Diaz used Borne of the lessons from a motivational book she just read to shoot a 3-under 69 Thursday. Five strokes back was Sorenstam, who took a trip to the emergency room in the morning, where doctors told her she had pink eye.

She finished Day 1 in a tie for 10th not bad considering she played the entire round without a contact in her right eye. "It was a pretty dramatic day," Sorenstam said. Sorenstam said shell finish the tournament, but probably won't be able to put the contact back in until next week. She contracted the infection while playing in a skins game in Singapore last week. "It's from shaking hands too much," she said.

While Sorenstam performed wonders with just one eye, Diaz used all her senses to persevere at the blustery Trump International Golf Club and take a one-stroke Dcfclii County DeKafcWrestfingClib's annual Turkey Raffle set The DeKalb Wrestling Club's Annual Turkey Raffle has been scheduled for Friday, Nov. 21 from 4-9 p.m. at Sullivan's Tavem. The DWC will be raffling off turkeys and other donated prizes. Tickets are $1 apiece or six for $5.

Anyone wishing to donate any items for the raffle should contact Terry McCoy at (815) 748-7364. DHS girls basketball a bins, friends have Nov. 28 invite DeKalb High School girls basketball coach Mark Sykes and the entire DHS girls basketball staff invite all almunoe and valued friends of the program to attend a reception in the south commons on Fri, Nov, 28 in conjunction with the Inaugural DHS Turkey Toas-Up Tournament Although the tourney begins on Nov. 22 and continues on the 24th and 25th, everyone is invited to a 4 p.m. reception with appetizers and refreshments in the south commons prior to the DHS contest on Nov.

28, which is a 6 p.m. meeting with Peru-St Bede High School. DHS girls basketball alum will receive free admission for the St Bede game. The rest of the Barbs' slate in the complete round-robin style event includes Nov. 22: Marengo High School, 3 p.m.; Nov.

24: Yorkville High School, 8 p.m.; Nov. 25: Belvidere High School, 8 p.m.; and Nov. 29: Dixon High school, 6 p.m. Alums and friends of DHS basketball are encouraged to cal coach Eric Benson at 181 5) 754-2249 or e-mail him atebensondist.428.org. Spectre Soccer CM units forming for spring DcKalb-based Spectre Soccer Club is looking to form new team for the spring of 2004 for boys and girls ranging in age from 7 to 19.

Trie '2004 registration is now under way with registration forms available on the organi-sation's website: www.SI'ECTRES(X CER.com, Spectre Soccer Club draws its players from throughout the north-em Illinois area including DeKalb, Sycamore, Rochelle, Elbum, Cortland, Shabbona and even Streator. Spectre Soccer Club offers licensed coaches', competitive league play, competitive tournaments, and additional training by former college players, along with special Events like visiting the Chicago Fire or European soccer tours. Kish Softball schedules Dec. Jan. camp dates Kishwaukee College is once again hosting the Kougars Winter Softball Camps for girls in grades 3-12.

The camps are held in the Kish gym on Sundays and are offered on a first-come basis for registration with no refund policy. Session 1 an All-Skills, Pitching and Hitting Clinic will be conducted on Nov. 9, 16, 23 and Dec. 7, 14, 21. Session 2 a Hitting, Pitching and Catching Clinic will be held Jan.

11, 18, 25 and Feb. 1, 8, 22. The otwt for the All Skills, Pitching and Hitting Camps is $45 per camp per session while the Catching camp is $30. There is a discount available if registering for more than one camp. For more information or to register, contact KChead coach Bill Becker at (815) 899-1511.

DeKab Park District sets indoor offerings Now is the time to get signed up for a plethora of indoor activities offered by the DeKalb Park District For more Information on indoor league opportunities, contact the DeKalb Park District by calling (815) 758-7756 or stop by the DPD Sports Recreation Center at 1765 South Fourth Street Registration is now under way for each of the following: DPD Adult Mens Basketball is a 13-game season with games played on Mondays and Sundays, starting as of Dec 29. The sponsor fee for teams is Kickin' it in Carson San Jose Earthquake or Chicago Fire will become jusl the second club to celebrate a second Major League Soccer championship. The only learn multiple MLS Cups is three-time champion C. United (1996, 1997, 1999). Sunday, Nov.

23 3:30 p.m. (EST) ABC The Home Depot Center Carson, Calif. Head-to-head (2003) GA MgQ Mgy31 Juy 35 at Chi at SJ atSJ 19 CH 0 CHI 4 SJ 0 43 SJ 0 i SJ 1 CHI 0 12 (2 0T) (2 0T) Earthquakes CK f4 1 NO PLAYER POS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Curtis Spiteri GK C.J, Brown Evan Whilfield Carlos Bocanegra Jim Curtin Kelly Gray DaMarcus Beasley Damani Ralph Ante Razov GK GK 11 NaleJaqua 12 Logan Pause 13 Henry Ring 14 Chns Armas 15 Jesse Marsch 16 Andy Williams 17 Dipsy Selolwane 18 ZachThornlon 19 Craig Capano 20 Orlando Perez 21 Justin Mapp 22 Jonathan Bolanos 24 Ryan Futagaki 28 Nick Walls Head coach: DaveSarachan 14 league the penalty spot). in the MLS Cup playoffs. AP 'Jr (averages per game) season records GP W-LT 30 15 30 15 14- 7-9 7-4-4 15- 7-8 10-1-4 Team comparisons Goals 15 scored 1.8 Goals 12 against 1 4 Total shots Shots on goal 3 Shooting accuracy 44 44 PTS OT GF 51 00-9 45 25 0-0-4 22 53 1-0-8 53 34 1-0-4 31 Sports flstos $350 per team with individual fees act at $20 per resident and $'10 per non- resident.

The registration deadline for Adult Men's basketball is Nov. 14, Coed Instructional Basketball is for boys and girls in 1st and 2nd grades with the purpose of teaching the fundamentals of dribbling, shooting, rules, and sportsmanship of the game. The instructors will be dividing the ckasea into teams to provide exciting game experiences. This is a program geared to prepare participants for the grade school leagues. The instruction is set for Saturdays from Jan.

3-Feb, 21 with SesBion am; Session II a.m.; and Session III: a m. Cost is $30 per resident and $40 for non-residents and the location is HaishGym. Sunday Adult Coed Volleyball is a 45-game league beginning on Dec 7 with a postseason tournament to follow. The registration deadline is Nov. 19 with the team sponsor fee at $175 per team and the individual fee at $20 for residents and $30 for non-residents.

The DPD Wanting Program is free for residents (must show proof of residency) and available Monday through Friday from October through May with scheduled times being a.m. and p.m. (time schedules can change according to availability). The DPD's large indoor turf is cushioned on a bed of tiny rubber pellets making for a comfortable walking surface. No bikes or strollers are allowed and young children brought in with parents must be supervised at all times.

A one mile distance is about seven full turns around the large room. NIU Huskie football volfey-ball media guides on sale Northern Illinois University's 2003 football and women's volleyball seasons have certainly been memorable ones. That's why true Cardinal and Black Huskie fans will want their own copy of the NIU 2003 Football or Volleyball Media Guide as a keepsake. NIU media guides can be purchased from the Huskie Office of Sports Informa-tion directly for 15 or by mail for $20 which includes the cost of postage and handling. Either stop by Room 209 in the Convocation Center or send a check made payable to Northern Illinois University to Sports Informa-tion, 209 Convocation Center, 1525 W.

Uncoln DeKalb, IL 60115 or call (815) 753-1706. In addi-tion, the NIU women's volleyball guide is for sale at a cost of $7 per cop. How to submit county notes Individuals Submitting items for the DeKalb County Notes section are asked to either fax (815 755059), e-mail or drop off (1586 Barber Greene Rd.) typed printed or legibly written submissions which should include all necessary information regarding dates, locations, times, contact persons and phone numbers for additional information. Space limitations determine how much info is used, how often the item may be published, and priority is given to items from the immediate locale and to those deemed to be of greater local interest Any questions, call the sports editor at (815) 7564841, Ext. 226y.

Daily Chronicle seeks sports correspondents The Daily Chronicle sports staff is seeking a few good women men to assist with coverage of high school sports in the Genoa-Kingston, Sandwich, Hinckley-Big Rock, Somonauk and Indian Creek areas. Successful applicants will be dependable, have good writing skills (basics of grammar and spelling), and the ability to meeet deadlines. Typing skills are a plus and familiarity with computers a help, but we're willing to train the right person(s). If interested, call (only after 1:30 p.m.) Sports Editor Steve Nemeth at (815) Ext 226, or stop by 1586 Barber Greene Road, DeKalb. Earthquakes Fire 16 Craig Waibel 1 7 Todd Dunivant 18 Pal Onstad 19 Troy Dayak 22 RodrigoFaria 25 Bnan Chlng 26 Arturo Alvarez 30 Josh Saunders Head co Frank Yallop Landon Donovan San Jose Earthquakes Enjoyed his most productive year with 12 goals, six over a four-match stretch, leading San Jose into the playoffs.

SOURCE Maiof League Soccer GK '11 12 6 T3 15.1 67 Ante Razov Chicago Fire Led the club with goals (five from adding two more 1 espite big changes, Fire keeps winning By Nancy Armour AP Sports Writer CHICAGO When the season began, few people would have been bold enough to predict the Chicago Fire would ho playing for the MLS championship Sunday. The Fire's players, coaches, staff, their families and friends, maybe. Anyone else? No way. And with good reason. The team had a major makeover after losing its coach and four top players.

In a league where the parity makes worst-to-first and vice versa routine, the Fire sure seemed primed for a stint at the bottom of the MLS standings. "Internally, we knew we'd ho competitive," first-year coach Dave Saraihan said. "How good would be determined as the year played out depending on the young playere, the health of the team and what kind of rhythm we got into." "We were quietly confident," he added. "But did I think we'd possibly win a triple? No, probably not." Yet that's just what the Fire are in line to do. If Chicago beats the San Earthquakes on Sunday, it would be the first U.S.

team to claim The Triple: U.S. Open Cup, MLS Supporters Shield and MLS Cup. In October, the Fire won their third U.S. Open Cup a tournament featuring more than 100 professional and amateur teams nationwide in single-elimination competition. They then earned the Supporters Shield by finishing with the Iwst record 15-7-8) in the regular season.

Last Friday the Fire beat New Kngland to claim the Eastern Conference title and advance to their third MLS Cup in six seasons. "It's been very gratifying," Fire captain Chris Armas said. "In a year where you don't know how it's going to unfold, we all set goals me personally, us as a team and we've reached every single one of them." Chicago has been one of the top MLS teams since it began play in 1998, reaching the playoffs each season and winning the league title its first year. But because of financial constraints, general manager Peter Wilt practically had to start over in the offseason. MLS gives each team about $1.7 million to spend on salaries, and Chicago was nearly 60 percent over budget when contract increases and bonuses for itw veteran team kicked in.

So Wilt dealt two-time All-Star Dema Kovalenko, ris. ing national team star Josh Wolff, veter-," an Hristo Stoitchkov and Peter Nowak: the franchise's original player. "We had to do some slashing and hack- ing, and unfortunately it led to some fan; favorites moving along," Wilt said. "Ther alternative would have been to trade one! of the Fire's younger stars, and that' wouldn't have been in the Fire's best long-term interests." The team also lost coach Bob Bradley," who took the MetroStars job so he could get back home to New Jersey. And the switched stadiums, playing all but the last two home games in suburban Chicago while' Soldier Field renovations were completed.

Despite the upheaval, the Fire' retained a solid core that included' Armas, a national team mainstay; DaMarcus Beasley, the youngest member of the 2002 World Cup team; Ante the Fire's all-time leading scorer; and See FIRE, page B7,.