'M' eyes twin titles

By David Roth (RCM, dd)

Daily Sports Writer

The Twix bar mentality sums it up for the Michigan field hockey team.

In a Twix bar, you get two delicious chocolate and caramel bars.

The newest Twix ad suggests to eat them both and not give one away, as the guy on the commerical selfishly declares - "two for me, none for you."

This parallels Michigan's outlook for the next two weeks.

The Wolverines want the Big Ten regular season championship, plus the Big Ten Tournament championship. And they don't want to share it.

"The team is so clear about its goals - to win the regular season championship outright," Michigan coach Marcia Pankratz said.

To win the regular season crown outright, No. 5 Michigan (15-3, 5-0 Big Ten) must defeat No. 19 Michigan State (10-7,1-4 Big Ten) tomorrow at 3 p.m. at Ocker Field.

The Wolverines have tied for the regular season crown, but have never won it exclusively.

They have won the Big Ten Tournament, but not in the same season that they won the regular season title. Last year, the Wolverines placed third in the Big Ten regular season when they won the tournament.

But Michigan is hungry for both, drooling over every Big Ten honor the conference offers.

If Michigan's eagerness to show the conference that they are the bullies of the Big Ten isn't enough motivation, playing an archrival, Michigan State, should fuel the fire even more.

Michigan would love to win the championship at home on Senior Day against its in-state foes.

"I expect our team to rise to the challenge of winning the championship," Pankratz said.

"This should be a dangerous game because Michigan State always brings their 'A' game when they come to play us," Pankratz said.

"This is a great rivalry."