Sports – Page 414 – North Platte Post Archive

Teen Football Player Dies After Injury during Game (Updated)

Posted on October 2, 2014October 2, 2014

ELWOOD, N.Y. (AP) — A high school football player has died after he collided with an opponent and collapsed during a game on Long Island.

Authorities say Tom Cutinella, a player for Shoreham-Wading River High School, died at a hospital Wednesday night after suffering a head injury during a game with John Glenn High School in Elwood.

A spokeswoman for the school districts tells Newsday (https://nwsdy.li/1rKBqSH ) that Cutinella had been in the intensive-care unit after undergoing surgery.

Suffolk County police say the collision happened about 6 p.m. Cutinella, a guard/linebacker, was injured during the third quarter of the varsity game.

Dozens of teammates, relatives and friends waited at the hospital for an update on his condition. As news of his death spread, two people fell to the floor weeping.

Update:

WADING RIVER, N.Y. (AP) — The superintendent of a New York high school district has called the death of a 16-year-old football player following an on-field collision a “freak accident.”

Steven Cohen says the death of Shoreham-Wading River High School junior Tom Cutinella is still under investigation, but it appears he died after a “freak football play.”

Cohen says Cutinella suffered a head injury after being hit Wednesday during the third quarter of the varsity game. He says Cutinella stood up but then collapsed. He was rushed to a hospital but died in the intensive-care unit after surgery.

The medical examiner, police and school officials are investigating.

Principal Dan Holtzman says counselors have been made available to students.

No. 8 Huskers Welcome No. 3 Penn State, Ohio State

Posted on October 2, 2014

The eighth-ranked Nebraska volleyball team (8-3, 2-0 Big Ten) will look to continue its unbeaten start to Big Ten play this weekend when No. 3 Penn State and Ohio State visit Lincoln. The Huskers are no strangers to big home matches, having already hosted Stanford, Texas and Florida State – who are a combined 34-0 and all ranked in the top five. Yet another top-five challenge lies ahead when the third-ranked Nittany Lions take on Nebraska Friday at 7 p.m. on BTN. Nebraska will have little time to regroup from that battle as an experienced Ohio State squad comes to town for a 5 p.m. match on Saturday on NET.

Media Information
Both matches this weekend will be carried live on television. Friday’s match against Penn State will air on BTN, while Saturday’s match against Ohio State will air on NET and be streamed online with a BTN Plus subscription. Fans can also listen to the action with John Baylor and Diane Mendenhall on the 25-station Husker Sports Network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and The Wolf 93.3 FM in Omaha. Fans inside and outside the state of Nebraska will also be able to catch the live audio feed on Huskers.com for free. Live stats will be available at Huskers.com as well.

Series History
Nebraska leads the all-time series with Penn State 13-9, but the Nittany Lions are 3-2 against the Huskers since Nebraska joined the Big Ten. Both Husker wins in the Big Ten era have been in five sets, while all three losses to Penn State have been in four sets. Last year, Penn State won the only matchup on Nov. 30 in Lincoln, 3-1 (22-25, 25-23, 26-24, 26-24). The teams split the regular-season series in 2012. Since 2012, eight of the 13 sets between the squads have been decided by two points.

The Huskers are 11-4 all-time against Ohio State. Nebraska has won nine of the last 10 matches dating back to 1992. The teams met once last year in Columbus with Nebraska posting a 3-1 victory (22-25, 25-12, 25-17, 25-19). Kadie Rolfzen had 16 kills and nine digs, while Cecilia Hall had one of the best matches of her freshman season with seven kills on 15 attacks. Kylie Randall had nine kills as a freshman against Nebraska.

Up Next
Nebraska heads to Michigan next weekend for a Friday match at Michigan State at 7 p.m. and a Sunday match at Michigan at Noon. The Michigan State match will air on BTN.

Noting the Huskers
• Kadie Rolfzen leads the Huskers with 3.51 kills per set and ranks fifth in the Big Ten. The 2013 AVCA All-American has three of Nebraska’s four double-doubles this season (Mary Pollmiller has the other). Rolfzen is second on the team in digs with 2.84. She has double-digit kills in eight of her last 10 matches. Over her last 10 matches, Rolfzen is averaging 4.0 kills per set and hitting .321.
• Nebraska ranks second in the Big Ten with 2.84 blocks per set. Meghan Haggerty is fifth in the Big Ten with 1.30 blocks per set. The Huskers have just four solo blocks against them all season. The next closest Big Ten team is Penn State at seven.
• Amber Rolfzen began Big Ten play on a strong note, posting 21 kills with just one error last week on 35 attacks, giving her a .571 hitting percentage in the two matches against Iowa.
• Justine Wong-Orantes leads the Big Red in digs with 4.03 per set and ranks ninth in the conference. She had a career-high 29 digs against No. 2 Texas on Sept. 20, the most by a Husker since Kayla Banwarth’s 32 against Baylor on Nov. 18, 2009.
• Mary Pollmiller, the Huskers’ lone senior, has 394 set assists for 10.37 per set. She also adds a defensive presence at the net with 28 blocks to rank tied for second on the team.
• Alicia Ostrander has found the form that put her in the starting lineup at the beginning of the season, posting double-digit kills in each of the last three matches with 14, 10 and 11, respectively. In her last four outings, Ostrander is averaging 3.23 kills per set.
• Melanie Keil posted a career-high 13 attacks in both matches against Iowa last week. Over her last three matches she is hitting .421 with 19 kills and 10 blocks.
• Nebraska is 8-0 this season when recording as many or more service aces than its opponent.
• The Huskers are 229-0 when hitting .300 or better under John Cook. Nebraska is also 371-15 when winning the first set under Cook.
• John Cook is 138-40 (.775) against ranked opponents at Nebraska. Just over one-third of Cook’s total victories at Nebraska (421) have come against ranked teams.
• Nebraska volleyball leads the nation with 208 consecutive sellouts, the longest sellout streak in the history of NCAA women’s athletics. NU owns a 192-16 record during the streak. The Huskers will be seeking sellouts No. 209 and 210 this weekend.

Scouting the Penn State Nittany Lions
No. 3 Penn State’s (14-1, 2-0 Big Ten) only loss this season came in five sets at Stanford. In its 14 victories, Penn State has dropped just two of 44 sets. The Nittany Lions started Big Ten play on the road last week with a sweep at No. 5 Wisconsin and a 3-1 comeback at No. 17 Minnesota. Freshman Ali Frantti leads the team with 150 kills (3.26 kills per set). Senior setter Micha Hancock is a two-time AVCA First-Team All-American and has 11.49 assists per set and a nation-leading 54 service aces. Hancock is coming off an AVCA National Player of the Week honor earlier this week. The Nittany Lions lead the conference in hitting percentage (.372) and opponent hitting percentage (.124). They are the only Big Ten team hitting over .300.

Scouting the Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State is 9-5 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten entering a match at Iowa on Friday. The Buckeyes took No. 17 Minnesota to the wire last week before getting swept at No. 5 Wisconsin. Erin Sekinger has a team-high 161 kills for an average of 3.16 per set. Middle blocker Taylor Sandbothe has 126 kills and and a team-high 61 blocks despite missing four matches. Ohio State is fourth in the Big Ten in digs (14.44 per set).

Trout Makes Playoff Debut when Angels Host Royals

Posted on October 1, 2014

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — When Mike Trout asked Albert Pujols for advice on his playoff debut, the veteran slugger with two rings told baseball’s best young player to keep the same swing that finally got the Los Angeles Angels back into the October spotlight.

After nearly three full years of electrifying play, Trout reaches the milestone he craves most Thursday night when he runs out to center field at the Big A for the Angels’ AL Division Series opener.

The Angels are facing the Kansas City Royals, who must concoct a quick encore to their incredible 12-inning comeback victory in the wild-card game. Manager Ned Yost thinks his club will respond swiftly against the majors’ best regular-season team.

Angels ace Jered Weaver starts against good friend Jason Vargas, who pitched for Los Angeles last year.

NFL Extends ‘Sunday Ticket’ Deal with DirecTV

Posted on October 1, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL has extended its contract with satellite provider DirecTV to carry the “Sunday Ticket” package, which allows viewers to watch out-of-market games.

The multiyear deal announced Wednesday expands DirecTV’s rights to stream the package live on mobile devices and online. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Commissioner Roger Goodell says in a release that DirecTV and the “NFL Sunday Ticket” package “have served our fans well for 20 years and continue to complement our broadcast television packages.”

Nebraska’s Randy Gregory Keeps Opponents Guessing

Posted on October 1, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s defensive coaches have kept opponents guessing when it comes to how they use Randy Gregory.

The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Gregory has been a down lineman at left and right end, he’s blitzed as a linebacker, he’s lined up as a stand-up rush end on the left side, he’s dropped into pass coverage.

And he just might do something new Saturday night when the No. 19 Cornhuskers (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) visit No. 10 Michigan State (3-1).

Gregory is back in top form after he tweaked an old knee injury in the season opener and had minor arthroscopic surgery Aug. 31. The 2013 Big Ten sack champion recorded two against Miami and 2 ½ last week against Illinois.

Extra Innings Boost Audience for AL Wild-Card Game

Posted on October 1, 2014

ATLANTA (AP) — Extra innings boosted viewership for the American League wild-card game.

The Kansas City Royals’ comeback 9-8 win in 12 innings over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday averaged more than 5.2 million viewers on TBS. The network said Wednesday that’s up 14 percent from the nearly 4.6 million for last year’s NL game between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh to open the postseason, a 6-2 Pirates win.

On Tuesday, the Royals trailed 7-3 after seven innings, but they scored three times in the eighth, tied the game in the bottom of the ninth, then rallied again from down a run in the 12th.

Viewership peaked at 6.5 million from 11:30-11:45 p.m. EDT during the ninth inning.

Pac-12 Notifies NCAA of its Proposal for Athletes

Posted on October 1, 2014October 1, 2014

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Pac-12 Conference has notified the NCAA of its proposal to provide more benefits to athletes under the new governance model for the five major conferences.

The Pac-12’s announcement Wednesday comes on the first day the NCAA established for the power conferences to offer suggestions. The league’s university presidents and chancellors first proposed their ideas in a letter to colleagues across the country in May.

The proposals include a stipend to cover the full cost of attendance, increasing medical support and reviewing the time demands for athletes.

The Pac-12 says its presidents and chancellors will explore how to implement the proposed reforms at its board meeting Oct. 27, including by each institution, conference-wide action or among the five major conferences.

Any rule changes that occur would not start until the 2015-2016 academic year.

Trips to Mound Limited in Arizona Experiment

Posted on October 1, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Teams will be limited to three trips to the mound by managers, coaches and catchers during a game, except for pitching changes, under experimental speed-up rules to be used during the Arizona Fall League.

The pace of game committee established last month by baseball Commissioner Bud Selig announced a series of initiatives Wednesday that will be tried in the AFL, which opens Oct. 7 and runs until Nov. 15. The three-trip limit will apply even if a game goes to extra innings.

The average time of nine-inning games in the major leagues was a record 3 hour, 2 minutes this year, up from 2:33 in 1981.

Huskers Journey to Michigan for Two Matches

Posted on October 1, 2014

The Nebraska soccer team (5-4-2) looks to ride momentum from last week’s victory when the Huskers takes a trip to the Great Lakes State to battle Michigan and Michigan State.

The Huskers face the Wolverines on Thursday at 2:30 p.m., at U-M Stadium in a Big Ten Network-televised game. On Sunday, NU squares off with the Spartans at noon at DeMartin Soccer Complex. Live stats for both games are available on GameTracker.

The matchup between Nebraska and Michigan will be the seventh meeting all time, with the Wolverines holding a 4-1-1 advantage. Michigan State leads the series against Nebraska, 2-1-0.

Last Time Out: Conroy Leads NU to Win, Tie
Nebraska got back to its winning ways on Sunday, Sept. 28 at the Nebraska Soccer Field as the Huskers posted a 4-3 overtime win over Maryland after tying No. 25 Rutgers on Thursday, Sept. 25.

Against the Scarlet Knights, senior Mayme Conroy scored in the 37th minute off a pass from Jourden Casey to tie the game at 1. Neither team scored for the remainder of the game, as goalkeeper Kelly Schatz registered a career-high seven saves.

Conroy scored two goals, including the game winner in the 96th minute, against Maryland in Sunday’s match. Caroline Gray and Jacyie Johnson also scored for the Huskers, and Casey earned two assists.

Scouting the Michigan Wolverines
Michigan is 8-3-0 on the season and holds a 4-1 record in the Big Ten. The Wolverines opened the season with wins over Cal State Northridge and Bowling Green before dropping back-to-back games against San Diego and San Diego State. U-M responded over the next five games with victories over Toledo, Central Michigan, Minnesota, then-No. 9 Wisconsin and Maryland before falling to Rutgers on Sept. 21. Michigan won its most recent game, a 2-1 triumph over intrastate rival Michigan State.

Nicky Waldeck leads the Wolverines in goals scored with five and has three assists as well. Ani Sarkisian has also a stalwart for the Wolverine offense, scoring four goals and adding six assists. Madisson Lewis (3 goals), Corinne Harris (2) and Taylor Timko (2) also have multiple goals for Michigan this season. Goalkeeper Megan Hinz has started eight games in net and holds a 7-1 record, while Taylor Bucklin has a 1-2 record in three games at goalie.

Scouting the Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State is 6-4-1 and still seeking its first Big Ten win after an 0-4-1 start. The Spartans have suffered one-goal losses to Michigan, Rutgers, Minnesota and Wisconsin, but tied Maryland on Sept. 21. MSU opened the season with six consecutive victories, three of which were shutouts.

Jamie Cheslik has led the MSU offense with six goals, while Mary-Kate Fiebernitz (3 goals), Allyson Krause (2), and Rachel Van Poppelen (2) have each scored multiple goals. Goalkeeper Courtney Clem has started all 11 games at net for the Spartains and has 59 saves, while surrending nine goals.

Conroy Collects Big Ten Honor
Senior forward Mayme Conroy earned Big Ten Offensive Player-of-the-Week accolades on Monday, Sept. 29, after scoring three goals in two games during the previous week.

Conroy, an Omaha, Neb., native, tallied two goals in Nebraska’s 4-3 overtime triumph over Maryland, including the game winner in the 96th minute. Her first score of the game came in the 22nd minute off an assist from Katie Kraeutner.

On Thursday, Sept. 25, Conroy delivered in the 37th minute against No. 25 Rutgers, helping the Huskers’ to a 1-1 tie at the Nebraska Soccer Field. She took three shots in 105 minutes of action while facing the Scarlet Knights.

Casey Provides Crucial Assists Over Weekend
Senior defender had a career day on Sunday, Sept. 28, against Maryland when she assisted on two goals, including the game winner in the 96th minute. Casey earned the first assist of her career in the previous game, a 1-1 tie against Rutgers on Thursday, Sept. 25.

Huskers Showing Ability to Score Late
Nebraska has scored in the 75th minute or later in seven of its 11 games this season. Jaycie Johnson has scored twice in the 75th minute or later, while Courtney Claassen, Caroline Flynn, Katie Kraeutner, Mayme Conroy and Sydney Miramontez have each added one during that time stretch.

The Huskers failed to score down the stretch against Wisconsin, Illinois, Oklahoma and Rutgers, but made late goals in each of their first four games of the season. Overall, NU is 5-1-1 when scoring in the last 15 minutes. The Huskers are 0-3-1 when they don’t.

Schatz Filling Goalkeeper Role
Sophomore Kelly Schatz has started all 11 games at goalkeeper for the Huskers this season, playing more than 1,009 minutes. Schatz has 32 saves and has earned two complete game shutouts. She also contributed to a third NU shutout as she played the first 48 minutes against North Dakota. Schatz has given up 17 goals on the season and holds a .653 save percentage.

Johnson Continues to Produce on Offense
Nebraska’s leading goal scorer from 2013, Jaycie Johnson, started 2014 where she left off from last season and has seven goals through 11 games.

Johnson scored two goals in each of the first three weekends, managing a pair of scores in both the Marquette and North Dakota matches. She scored once against SMU, DePaul and Maryland.

A Lake Winnebago, Mo. native, Johnson has taken 43 shots this season, 28 of which have been on goal.

Huskers Fall to No. 13 Wisconsin, 3-0
Nebraska outshot Wisconsin 10-7 at McClimon Soccer Complex in Madison, Wis., but fell by a 3-0 margin on Saturday, Sept. 20. The Badgers scored goals in the first, 20th and 86th minutes.

Jaycie Johnson (three shots on goal), Caroline Gray (two shots on goal), Mayme Conroy (one shot on goal) and Caroline Flynn (one shot on goal) led Nebraska’s offense.

NU Ties Big Ten Opener, Falls to Illinois
Nebraska opened its Big Ten season with a pair of home matches on Thursday, Sept. 11 and Sunday, Sept. 14. The Huskers tied Northwestern in the first game, 1-1, before dropping a 3-0 decision to Illinois.

Against the Wildcats, Northwestern’s Sami Schrakamp struck first in the 12th minute to put the Wildcats up 1-0. With time winding down in the game, Katie Kraeutner scored off an assist from Jaycie Johnson in the 88th minute to tie the game. Neither team scored in the extra time.

Against the Fighting Illini, the Huskers took six shots but failed to score in a 3-0 setback. Illinois’ Allison Stucky scored in the 40th minute, while Jannelle Flaws added two goals, scoring in the 71st and 80th minute.

NU Responds to 2OT Loss with 4-0 Win
Nebraska went 1-1 at home in its third weekend of play, falling to No. 20 Oklahoma in double overtime on Friday, Sept. 5, before dominating North Dakota by a 4-0 margin on Sunday, Sept. 7.

Against the Sooners, Katie Kraeutner scored in the sixth minute to put NU up early, but Oklahoma tied the score 1-1 in the 71st minute with Ayana O’Neal’s goal. Despite Nebraska controlling on offense to start the second overtime, Oklahoma’s defense managed to withstand the pressure and scored in the 107th minute for the win.

On Sunday, the Huskers outshot North Dakota 32-2, as Jaycie Johnson scored twice, and Mayme Conroy and Courtney Claassen each added one goal in the 4-0 win.

Both of Johnson’s goals came in the first three minutes of the second half. Conroy scored NU’s first goal of the game in the ninth minute. Claassen scored off a rebound in the 76th minute for her first career goal. Caroline Flynn recorded two assists.

Huskers Sweep Butler, Marquette
Nebraska took down Butler, 1-0, on Friday, Aug. 29 at the Nebraska Soccer Field before defeating Marquette, 3-2, on Sunday, Aug. 31 at Valley Fields in Milwaukee, Wis.

The Huskers outshot the Bulldogs 17-2, but it wasn’t until Caroline Flynn’s goal in the 83rd minute that NU got on the scoreboard. Flynn scored from 30 yards out to the top left corner of the net from the right side of the field. Goalkeeper Kelly Schatz earned two saves during the shutout.

Against the Golden Eagles, Nebraska trailed 2-0 before scoring three goals in the final 26 minutes en route to a 3-2 triumph. Jaycie Johnson scored twice, making her first goal in the 65th minute before adding the game winner off an assist from Caroline Gray in the 83rd minute. Mayme Conroy added a goal for the Huskers in the 69th minute.

Huskers Split Opening Weekend Games
Nebraska opened the regular season on Friday, Aug. 22 with a 4-0 victory over SMU before falling to DePaul, 2-1, on Sunday, Aug. 24 at the Nebraska Soccer Field.

Against the Mustangs, goalkeeper Kelly Schatz earned a shutout in her first career start at the position. She compiled five saves, four of which came in the second half. Caroline Gray, Caroline Flynn, Jaycie Johnson and Sydney Miramontez each scored for the Huskers in the home opener.

Against the Blue Demons, Johnson scored the lone goal for the Huskers in the 89th minute off an assist from Flynn, but DePaul had already built a 2-0 lead. Elise Wyatt scored for the Blue Demons in the 16th minute before Abby Reed added a goal in the 85th minute.

Final Season at Nebraska Soccer Field
The Huskers are in their 10th and final season at the Nebraska Soccer Field before moving into the Nebraska Soccer and Tennis Complex next season. Since moving to campus in 2005, NU has compiled a 67-27-14 record and has three home games remaining in 2014.

2014 Season Outlook
Nebraska’s 2014 team includes five seniors in Head Coach John Walker’s 21st season at the helm of the school’s soccer program. The Huskers also welcomed back All-Big Ten second-team member Jaycie Johnson, who is a sophomore in 2014 after leading the team with 17 goals last season. The Huskers added 12 newcomers in the offseason in addition to their 12 returning letterwinners from 2013.

Huskers Make Three BTN Appearances
Nebraska has appeared on the Big Ten Network twice this season and will make one more showing on Thursday at Michigan at 2:30 p.m. The Huskers appeared on BTN for their matches against Northwestern (Sept. 11) and Maryland (Sept. 28).

Green Selected for NWCA All-Star Classic

Posted on October 1, 2014

Senior 157-pounder James Green will face Kent State’s Ian Miller in the NWCA All-Star Classic at the Palestra in Philadelphia, Pa. on Saturday, Nov. 1.

Green, a three-time All-American, starts his final season in a Husker singlet at the event after earning a silver medal at the University World Championships in July. The Willingboro, N.J., native finished third at the 2014 NCAA Championships, dominating Miller by a 13-1 major decision in his final match of the tournament.

Green collected seventh-place NCAA finishes during his freshman and sophomore seasons at Nebraska. He also won the 2014 Big Ten title at 157 pounds, and finished his junior campaign with a 35-2 record, which included 10 major decisions, five pins and four technical falls.

For his career at Nebraska, Green is 94-17 in three seasons, and holds a 37-7 mark in dual competition. He seeks to become the second wrestler in Nebraska history to earn All-America honors on four occasions, a title currently owned by Associate Head Coach Bryan Snyder, who wrestled from 1999-2002.

Green’s opponent, Miller, went 31-6 last season on his way to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. He also won the 2014 Mid-American Conference title at 157 pounds after redshirting in 2012-13. Miller will be a junior in 2014-15.

Green becomes the 30th Husker wrestler to compete at the NWCA All-Star Classic and the first since 2009 when Jordan Burroughs, Stephen Dwyer and Craig Brester all competed.

The NWCA has already announced three other matches for this year’s event and will reveal six others over the coming weeks before the competition.

The Huskers open the season by hosting their annual Intrasquad on Friday, Oct. 31 at the Devaney Center at 5 p.m. Nebraska’s first dual is set for Friday, Nov. 7 at Wyoming, starting at 4 p.m. (CT).