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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 2003)
Sports Editor: Hank Hager hankhager@dailyemerald.com -Oregon Dailv Emerald SPORTS Best bet NHL: Anaheim at N.Y. Rangers 4:30 p.m., ESPN2 Tuesday, October 28, 2003 Hank Hager Behind the dtsh Surgery gives new outlook on life What sociology Professor Ken Liberman has done by rehabilitating himself after heart surgery is nothing short of phenomenal. Just three years ago, he had his aortic valve replaced with a pig valve. Earlier this month, he won a body building competition. When the Hollywood, Calif., native e mailed me two weeks ago with the above information, I immediately became inter ested in his situation. I was intrigued by what he had done. 1 was intrigued because I also know what it's like to have to face a situation like his. Almost two years ago, I underwent a similar procedure. The only major differ ence between his surgery and mine is that 1 was able to keep my valve by having Gor tex'—‘yes, the material that is used in jack ets — patched into my valve. It will be two years on Dec. 7 since my surgery. While Liberman underwent his procedure in Eugene, I did mine at Stan ford Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif. Where it was done, though, means little. Regardless of where a patient resides for that long and mentally draining week, the after effects of the procedure are always intense. That's what makes Liberman's story so im pressive; it's so amazing that only individu als who are driven by an intense drive to suc ceed can do what he did. Turn to HAGER, page 6A First place for Panova at Stanford Junior Daria Panova captures the ITA Northwest Regional Championships on Monday By Alex Tam Sports Freelancer Daria Panova lived up to expectations on Monday as one of the best women's tennis players to come through Oregon. Panova triumphed over California's star freshman, Sasha Podkolzina, in three sets TENNIS Omni Hotel ITA in Palo Alto, Calif. Panova, a third-year Duck, will earn a spot at the ITA National Championships at Michigan on Nov. 6. "I've never been more proud of a player than Daria this week," head coach Nils Schyllander said. "She played very, very fo cused and took it to the level she needed to. We're very excited for her; it was a great — 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 — in the finals of the singles draw at the Northwest Region al Championships Turn to TENNIS, page 6A Tournament hopes still going strong After posting a shutout on Sunday, the Ducks are excited about the possibility of a postseason appearance By Jesse Thomas Sports Reporter ——— For the past seven years, Ore | gon's season has ended no later than Nov. 11. The first two weeks of November have always marked the end of regular season play. This year, the women's soccer team's regular season ends Nov. 9 against UCLA. After that, the first round of the NCAA tourna ment takes place Nov. 14-16 and ends with the championship game on Dec. 7. Oregon (8-8 overall, 2-3 Pac-10) desperately wants to play on Nov. 14. It would mark the first time in pro SOCCER 8ram historY __ that Oregon would com pete in postseason play. "Right now we look at the (NCAA) tournament as it's going to be difficult, but it's still doable," head coach Bill Steffen said. "And for us to say the tournament is still doable at this point in the season is a good thing." The younger Duck generation feels as if it owes the postseason to the veterans. "For our two seniors, especially Lindsey Werdell, she's been here for four years, and she's never been to the tournament," redshirt soph omore Nicole Garbin said. "That's one of our goals to get her there." No specific criteria could make or break Oregon's attempt at the postseason, Steffen said. The NCAA offers 32 automatic bids and the decision process includes how teams have competed against former tournament veterans. Oregon has four games left against the Arizona and Los Ange les schools. Arizona State, UCLA and USC have been NCAA quali fiers each of the past two seasons. If Oregon wins two of the next four, then "it's questionable," Stef Danielle Hickey Senior Photographer Oregon's Mele French (9) is confident that the Ducks will win at least nine games this season. fen said. If Oregon wins three of the next four, "we're in," he added. "To an extent, we control our own fate, but it's going to be diffi cult," Steffen said. Is this the best team in Oregon's history? Many coaches and players will say records and statistics don't re flea the true performance of a team. That is, unless the team is winning. With the 2-0 win over Cal on Sunday, the Ducks garnered their eighth win and tied the best record in program history — an 8-8-2 fin ish in 2001. Oregon is 2-3 in Pacif ic-10 Conference play. "The very first thing I said to them in August was that this team will win more games than any team in program history," Steffen said. "So far they've equaled it, and now they’ve got one more to go. It's a great testimony to their efforts and their abilities." One more win would statistical ly make this year's team look like the best in history. Another confer ence win would match the all-time best Pac-10 total after finishing 3 5-1 in 1999 and 3-6 in 1998. The Ducks are confident that they will make history in the next two weeks. "Yeah, we're going to pass it" soph omore forward Mele French said. Changing it up Oregon has been all about trying new things this season. In 16 games played, Steffen has put 12 different starting lineups on the field. The Ducks continue to show their depth by constantly rotating in fresh players. Friday's game against Stan ford marked the sixth time this year that at least 18 or more Ducks took the field in one game. Oregon has stayed true to its regular starting seven. That group includes goalkeeper Domenique Lainez, defenders Christine Mintz and Carlie Ashcraft, midfielders Cristan Higa and Werdell and for wards Garbin and French. Holding her own Mintz, a junior, currendy holds the longest starting streak for the Ducks at 34 games. The Vashon Island, Wash., native's streak extends through the beginning of the 2002 season, when she started every game. The Bellarmine Prep graduate played her first season for Oregon in 2002 after transferring from UConn. She played in 17 games for the Huskies, who advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2001. Contact the sports reporter at jessethomas@dailyemerald.com. Kevin Sullivan Orange County Register UCLA’s Drew Olson (14) went 5-1 as a starter, but backed up Matt Moore on Saturday. UCLA runs over Sun Devils; still tied with WSU for first The Bruins continue to surprise fans with a 4-0 conference record that puts them in a tie for the Pac-10 lead By Mindi Rice Senior Sports Reporter UCLA is still undefeated in the Pacific-10 Conference One sophomore, Matt Moore, is in at quarterback while another, Drew Olson, is out of the starting role. That didn't matter to the Bruins (6-2 overall, 4 0 Pac-10 ) on Saturday. Taking advantage of an injury to Arizona State starting quarterback Andrew Walter, UCIA featured a tail back who ran for 176 yards in a 20-13 win against the Sun Devils. True freshman Maurice Drew 's 18 carries for 176 yards included an 83-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. It was the longest run by a true freshman in UCLA history. "(Walter's injury) didn't change our game plan, but it changed theirs," Bruin head coach Karl Dor rell said Saturday. "It was unfortunate for Arizona State to lose their starting quarterback." Regardless, UCLA picked up a fourth Pac-10 win, tying its conference win total from the 2002 season. I was impressed that we generated some running game on offense, and that was probably the first time this season we were able to do some things pos itively on that side of the ball," Dorrell said. Moore, in his first start since the season opener, went 14 of 28 for 190 yards. He threw one touch down pass and two interceptions. Olson returned to backup quarterback after start ing six games, while Moore was out with in injured left tibia. "(Moore) is rusty," Dorrell said. "That was part of the process, whenever you miss a lot of time and you assume the role of being a starter again. ... It was good seeing him back in there." Ihe Bruins have won five straight games, but three of their remaining four contests are on the road. Turn to PAC-10, page 6A
