Minnesota Sports Briefs: Gopher grids heavy underdogs against Michigan State

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MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota football team is still searching for respect, even after last weekend's victory over Iowa.

Minnesota is at No. 16 Michigan State this Saturday for an 11 a.m. contest and will enter the game as a 28-point underdog to the Spartans. Jerry Kill's Golden Gophers practiced yesterday and will work out again today at their on-campus practice facility. Minnesota is 2-6 on the year, while Michigan State is 6-2.

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Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier says if his team had any hope of playing meaningful games in December, it had to win last Sunday's game at Carolina. With the victory, Minnesota enters its bye week with a 2-6 record and slim hopes of playing important games next month, but Frazier says the victory gave them at least a shot. The coaches are conducting some self-scouting sessions this week at Winter Park, making sure they are not falling into predictable habits on both sides of the football. The Vikings next play on Monday Night Football against the Packers on November 14th.

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The NBA season remains on hold with owners and players still at an impasse in labor negotiations. Last night was to have marked the start of the regular season with a trio of games, including the Dallas Mavericks raising their championship banner at home against the Chicago Bulls. The Timberwolves were to have opened the season tonight at home against Atlanta. The first month of the season has been cancelled as the league and union have been unable to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. Labor talks broke off last week with the sides arguing over the split of basketball-related income. No new labor talks have been scheduled at this point.

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The MIAC is out with weekly award winners in soccer. The men's Player of the Week is Bethel goalkeeper Leif Sundberg of Mahtomedi. The senior recorded a pair of shutouts last weekend. Concordia-Moorhead senior Kelsey Swagger of Burnsville is the women's Player of the Week after registering assists on both Cobber goals in a win over St. Ben's on Saturday.

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The Big Ten Conference has named University of Minnesota women's soccer player Taylor Uhl of Eden Prairie its Freshman of the Year award Uhl finished the regular season ranked in the conference's top ten in seven statistical categories, leading Minnesota in points and goals. She notched four game-winning goals during the season. She is the first Golden Gopher to win the award since Laurie Seidl won it in 1997. Gopher Josie Solie of Mahtomedi was named second-team all-Big Ten, while Becca Roberts of Lino Lakes made the league's all-freshman team, along with Uhl.

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Here is today's schedule of first-round games in the Big Ten Women's Soccer Postseason Tournament in Evanston, Ill.:

Michigan State vs. Iowa, 10:30am

Illinois vs. Ohio State, 1:30pm

Penn State vs. Northwestern, 4:30pm

Minnesota vs. Wisconsin, 7:30pm

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Here is today's schedule of first-round games in the NSIC Women's Soccer Postseason Tournament:

Bemidji State at Minnesota State-Mankato, 1pm

Augustana at Minnesota-Duluth, 1pm

Upper Iowa at Winona State, 5pm

U-Mary at St. Cloud State, 5pm

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Here is the schedule/results for the 2011 Class 2A Minnesota Girls' State High School Soccer Tournament at the Metrodome:

Monday: Burnsville 5, Centennial 2 (final)

Monday: Wayzata 1, Lakeville North 0 (shootout final)

Championship Game: Wayzata vs. Burnsville, Thursday, 5:30pm (Metrodome)

Here is the schedule/results for the 2011 Class 1A Minnesota Girls' State High School Girls' Soccer Tournament at the Metrodome:

Monday: The Blake School 2, Rochester Lourdes 0 (final)

Monday: Benilde-St. Margaret's 3, Totino-Grace 0 (final)

Championship Game: The Blake School vs. Benilde-St. Margaret's, Thursday, 12:30pm (Metrodome)

Here is the schedule/results for the 2011 Class 1A Minnesota Boys' State High School Soccer Tournament at the Metrodome:

Monday: Benilde-St. Margaret's 1, St. Paul Academy 0 (final)

Monday: Prairie Seeds Academy 2, Rochester Lourdes 1 (overtime final)

Championship: Prairie Seeds Academy vs. Benilde-St. Margaret's, Thursday, 10am (Metrodome)

Here is the semifinal schedule for the 2011 Class 2A Minnesota Boys' State High School Soccer Tournament at the Metrodome:

Tuesday: Eden Prairie 2, Maple Grove 0 (final)

Tuesday: Eastview 2, Minneapolis Southwest 0(final)

Championship: Eden Prairie vs. Eastview, Thursday, 3pm (Metrodome)

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