Wednesday, September 29, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 3
Senior season worth wait, player says
Competition kept her on soccer team
By Chris Wristen sports@kanson.com Kanson sportwriter
Lindsey Loeffler's competitive attitude got the best of her.
Loeffler, a senior defender on the Kansas soccer team, came to Kansas with a plan. She was going to play soccer for two years and then go to nursing school.
After those two years were up, Loeffler made a change to her plans.
"I couldn't quit, I was just having too much fun," Loeffler said. "I love competing. Even now knowing that this is my last season, I just can't stop competing."
She continued playing soccer; continued competing and continued working to turn around the struggling program.
The program underwent many changes throughout Loeffler's career, the most significant were three coaching changes, all in an attempt to build a winning program. The first change, and the most emotional one for Loeffler, was losing Lori Walker, the Jayhawks' first coach coach and the one who recruited her. Loeffler said she was very upset when Walker left Kansas.
Then came Dan Magner, a coach who managed only 12 wins in two years at Kansas.
Senior defender Lindsey Loeffler is very serious about playing competitive soccer. After returning from Mexico this summer, Loeffler battled an injury to earn back a starting position on the team. Photo by Roger Nomer/KANSAN
"When you're a senior you think of familiarity, traditions and things you're used to," Loeffler said. "When you become a senior and everything's new again, you don't really feel like you're a senior. There's definitely been a new environment every year I've been here."
opportunity. While opening one door for her, the trip appeared to shut another one. She returned to Kansas to find that Mark Francis was coaching the team, and she was out of a starting job.
Loeffler, who started every game of her high school career and all but two games in college, only had missed starting because of injury or sickness before her senior season. Now she had to compete to win her job back — and it was an uphill battle.
"It was a big deal," Loeffler said. "I was devastated inside, but more than anything it was the biggest challenge for me to show him and prove to the rest of my teammates that that was my job to play marking back.
"I had to prove to myself that if I thought that I was the player that I think I am that I should be out on the field."
Loeffler said she worked vigorously to earn back her spot, but she battled an injured hamstring during the summer — an injury that reached its pinnacle during the first week of practice. The injury reduced her playing time immensely, but Loeffler refused to make excuses. She just worked harder.
"I felt it was my responsibility to be a leader (by showing) if I want to be out there, I've got to do something about it," Loefler said.
What Loeffler did was earn back her starting job and win the approval of her coach. She made her return to the starting lineup against 13th-ranked Georgia.
Lindsey's very competitive in everything we do in practice and on a daily basis," Francis said. "She doesn't like to lose. We need people on our team who have that attitude."
Since Loeffler won back her starting job, the team has gone 3-1, its only loss coming to Georgia. The defense has given up just one goal in its last three games, including two
shutouts.
stations. Loeffler said she hoped to help the team continue its success. The Jayhawks are attempting to achieve their first winning season and a first-ever berth in the Big 12 Conference tournament.
conference tour. "I think this season will be a great way to end my career at Kansas," Loeffler said. "With this group of girls and this coaching staff, I'm so happy I stayed and didn't go to nursing school after two years. I'm glad I waited it out, because I think this year I'll be a difference maker."
Reds win to take division lead
- Edited by Jamie Knodel
The Associated Press
HOUSTON — Pete Harnisch pitched eight strong innings and the surging Cincinnati Reds moved ahead of Houston for the National League Central lead, beating 20-game winner Jose Lima and the Astros 4-1 yesterday.
The largest baseball crowd in the history of the Astrodome, 54,037, saw the Reds win their sixth straight game and send Houston to its third loss in a row.
Despite the defeat, the Astros held their 1.5-game lead against the New York Mets for the wildcard spot. The Mets lost to Atlanta 9-3.
Cincinnati had not been in first place since Aug. 19 when it was tied with the Astros. Houston took the lead the next day.
Harnisch (15-10) helped the Reds improve to 5-0 in the Astrodome this season. Cincinnati leads the season series 9-3 going into tonight's
which matches Steve Parris again ist Houston's Mike Hampton.
Harnisch allowed four hits and moved to 4-0 against his former team this year. He struck out three and walked none.
Scott Williamson pitched the ninth for his 19th save.
Sean Casey hit his 25th homer
in the first, and the Reds added two more runs in the second against Lima (20-10) on singles by Eddie Taubensee and Pokey Reese.
Lima was in trouble again in the third. Taubensee's infield hit scored Barry Larkin for a 4-1 lead with two out. Lima walked Bret Boone to load the bases but Reese grounded out.
Lima lost his third straight decision since getting his 20th victory Sept. 11 against the Chicago Cubs. Lima went six innings, allowing four runs — three earned — and eight hits with eight strikeouts.
Craig Biggio hit a leadoff single in the Houston first, and Harnisch retired the next 12 batters. Biggio, however, scored on Jeff Bagwell's grounder.
Sosa wallops No.62 in win
The Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA  — Sammy Sosa hit his 62nd home run yesterday, taking the lead from Mark McGwire with five games left as the Chicago Cubs beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-2.
ossa was in an 0-for-9 slump and was 8-for-40 in the past 11 games when he hit a two-run shot off rookie Anthony Shumaker in the ninth inning. He became the first player in history to surpass 61 homers in consecutive seasons.
He homered for the first time since hitting No. 61 on Sep. 19 against Milwaukee's Hideo Nomo.
Dodger executive fired as team's dismal season closes
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — Bob Graziano was fired as president and chief executive officer of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who fell out of contention in June and never approached .500 again.
"While we feel a change is necessary at this time, I have discussed with Bob our interest in creating another position for him at Fox Sports Enterprises," said Rick Welts, president of Fox Sports Enterprises.
Welts said no timetable had
been established for selecting Graziano's successor.
The Dodgers are winding up a disappointing season.
The club started the year with one of baseball's highest payrolls, about $79 million and was favored to win the National League West after an off season of change that included the hiring of manager Davey Johnson and the signing of pitcher Kevin Brown to the richest contract in the history of the sport.
With six games remaining entering last night's contest at San Francisco, the Dodgers (74
82) already were assured of their first losing season since 1992.
Graziano, 41, was promoted to president and CEO on March 19. 1998 the day the sale of the team from Dodgers
to the Fox Group was finalized.
"For 14 years, I have played an integral role with the Dodger organization, from the early years with the O'Malley family until recently with Fox."
the team from the O'Malley family
Graziano said in a statement. "As a professional and unwavering Dodger fan, I will cherish those years."
A native of Los Angeles, Graziano joined the Dodgers on Jan. 1, 1986 as the team's director of financial projects. He was promoted to vice president, finance, on Oct. 28, 1987.
He was responsible for the day-to-day functioning of the business side of the team as executive vice president, a position he was appointed to on Feb. 13, 1997 and held until named president and CEO.
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