Sports - The Daily Cardinal

SPORTS

Column: MLB postseason set for unpredictable ride

By Ted Porath | Oct. 4, 2012

If you’re in the playoffs, then you’ve got a shot. This is the motto for a lot of teams and their fans heading into the MLB postseason. Just ask the St. Louis Cardinals from last year, who made a miraculous run just to sneak into the NL Wild Card spot and rode that hot streak all the way to the franchise’s 11th World Series Championship. Just get in, and anything is possible.

COLUMNS

Column: Kansas’ Self earns extension after forging his own path

By Vince Huth | Oct. 3, 2012

Lost in the thick of the regular NFL refs returning and a slew of wild college football games this weekend was a significant development in college basketball: Kansas head coach Bill Self extended his contract with the school through the 2021-’22 season.

FOOTBALL

Badgers aim for four quarter performance

By Ryan Hill | Oct. 3, 2012

The Wisconsin Badgers football team (0-1 Big Ten, 3-2 overall) suddenly has another mantra besides the “1-0” approach to add to its arsenal.

COLUMNS

Column: Defensive presence waning in modern college football

By Matt Masterson | Oct. 2, 2012

Defense wins championships. This antiquated cliché and go-to slogan for mediocre sports commentators is believed to still be relevant in today’s NCAA, but if you watched any college football last weekend, you saw that offense has taken over.

SPORTS

Column: U.S. soccer popularity on the rise

By Matthew Kleist | Oct. 1, 2012

Anyone who knows me knows that I am not particularly a fan of the English Premier League. In fact, I just do not like the EPL.

SPORTS

Badgers avoid early-season upset bid

By Rex Sheild | Oct. 1, 2012

In the first weekend series of conference play, the No. 2 Wisconsin women's hockey team (1-0-1-1 WCHA, 1-0-1 overall) narrowly escaped an upset bid at the hands of Minnesota State on Friday (0-1-1-0 WCHA, 0-1-1 overall). The Badgers tied the Mavericks, 2-2, before winning a shootout, 3-2, to gain an extra point in the conference standings. On Saturday, the Badgers got two goals from senior forward Brianna Decker and outlasted the Mavericks, 3-2.

SPORTS

Wisconsin grabs first home win of season

By Jonah Beleckis | Oct. 1, 2012

The Wisconsin men's soccer team (0-1-0 Big Ten, 3-4-3 overall) won its first home game this season against Cleveland State Saturday night. Two first half goals were enough for the Badgers to hold on and beat the Vikings (4-5-1 overall), 2-1. The first goal came from a far post shot by senior midfielder Jerry Maddi, and the second from a finish by freshman midfielder Drew Conner. These were the only two shots by the Badgers in the first half.

VOLLEYBALL

Top teams spoil Wisconsin's conference home opener

By Cameron Kalmon | Oct. 1, 2012

The Badger women’s volleyball team (1-3 Big Ten, 13-4 overall) hosted No. 1 Penn State (4-0 Big Ten, 14-1 overall) Friday night in what was sure to be one of its toughest matches of the season. Unfortunately for Wisconsin, it ended with a three-set sweep by the Nittney Lions (25-19, 25-21, 25-7).

SPORTS

Column: NCAA penalties miss mark

By Max Sternberg | Sep. 28, 2012

Penn State more than deserved the punishments that were handed down against its beloved football program. Say what you want about jurisdiction and the slippery slope, but the bottom line is that the NCAA needed to come down strong on PSU to show that nothing is right with a culture and a football program that values winning over the protection of children’s safety.

SPORTS

Badgers face tough tests at conference home opener

By Taylor Valentine | Sep. 28, 2012

The Wisconsin volleyball team (1-1 Big Ten, 13-2 overall) is slated for what may prove to be its toughest weekend of the season as it takes on No. 1 Penn State Friday and No. 22 Ohio State on Saturday night at the UW Field House.

SPORTS

No. 2 Badgers open season at Minnesota State

By Rex Sheild | Sep. 27, 2012

The college hockey season is finally upon us. Coming off a WCHA conference regular season crown and runner-up finish in the 2012 NCAA Frozen Four, the Wisconsin women's hockey team embarks on a new season this weekend as it takes on conference foe Minnesota State in the conference-opening series for both teams.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Minnesota rallies to top Badgers

By Benji Pierson and Christian Blatner | Sep. 27, 2012

The No. 23 Wisconsin women’s soccer team (7-4-0 overall, 1-3-0 Big Ten) opened up a two-game road trip Thursday evening as it faced off against Minnesota (6-6-0 overall, 2-2-0 Big Ten).

SPORTS

Badgers fall in OT to Marquette

By Jonah Beleckis | Sep. 26, 2012

The Wisconsin men's soccer team (2-4-3 overall) had little time to recover after a loss last Friday's as they faced Marquette (9-0) Wednesday night. An equalizer by junior midfielder Nick Janus in the 78 minute was not enough as the undefeated Golden Eagles netted the game winner in the 108th minute to win the game 2-1.

FOOTBALL

UW prepares for Martinez

By Ryan Hill | Sep. 26, 2012

The amount of criticism senior Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez received last year was arguably at its peak after their 48-17 defeat in Camp Randall Stadium on Oct. 1st, 2011. His one-and-a-half quarters of solid play was short-lived to say the least. The Cornhuskers jumped out to a 14-7 lead just five seconds into the second quarter, but by the time “Jump Around” came on, the game was already decided.

SPORTS

Column: Business comes before football for the NFL

By Parker Gabriel | Sep. 26, 2012

My sports fanhood has changed quite a bit over the last four-plus years.

SPORTS

Column: NFL loses credibility, but replay officials make right call

By Vince Huth | Sep. 26, 2012

If you haven’t stopped reading already, thanks!

FOOTBALL

Badgers prepare for tough test in Lincoln

By Whitney Newman and Peter Geppert | Sep. 24, 2012

For the Wisconsin football team (3-1 overall), the quest for their third straight conference championship begins this week when they open up Big Ten play.

SPORTS

Saints’ poor start highlights coaching importance in NFL

By Matt Masterson | Sep. 24, 2012

As long as sports have been around, there has been a “chicken or the egg” type argument about who really makes a team, the players or the coaches. Is it the coaches’ preparation, motivation and schemes that set up a team for victory, or does on-the-field talent truly trump all else?

VOLLEYBALL

Wisconsin Press Conference Recap

By Paul Blazevich | Sep. 24, 2012

Women's Hockey

FOOTBALL

Badgers’ backfield carries team to win

By Ryan Hill | Sep. 24, 2012

No Montee Ball? No problem for the Wisconsin Badgers (3-1 overall).