Midfielders Lead U-M Soccer Toward Postseason
11/2/1998 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
by Jay Levin, U-M Media Relations Student Assistant
The University of Michigan women's soccer program has been successful due in large part to the strong play of its midfielders. Midfielders have to do it all -- rush back and mark-up on defense, then switch to offensive mode and advance the ball up the field and create scoring chances for the forwards. They are always on the go. Bethany Greenblatt, Mari Hoff, Shannon Poole and Emily Schmitt have been the backbone of the Michigan midfield and are major reasons why the Wolverines are 12-5-1 and poised to make their second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.
BETHANY GREENBLATT
Bethany Greenblatt has been a strong defensive force for the Wolverines out of the midfield. A senior, Greenblatt has responded well either as a starter or a reserve off the bench. "She has played key games matching up with opponents speed," said head coach Debbie Belkin. "Her simple play with the ball has been an integral part on mounting our offensive attack."
Greenblatt is an accomplished all-around athlete. Through high school she competed in gymnastics and track as well as soccer. An All-State (1994) and three-time All-Northeastern Conference (1992-94) soccer selection, Greenblatt was also an award winner in gymnastics and track, drawing all-conference recognition as a junior and senior. She opted for soccer because she enjoyed the team atmosphere that soccer offered and preferred that over the individual nature of gymnastics and track.
Greenblatt came to Michigan from Salem, Mass. "My coach used to coach with Debbie (Belkin), so he connected her to me," explained Greenblatt. "(The Michigan soccer program) was starting out, so I figured I could contribute more than an already really developed school. I came to visit and I really loved the campus and I had fun. It's a great school."
The transition took some getting used to, but turned out for the best. "I'm glad I did it. I felt like I have grown more than I would have had I stayed home."
Greenblatt is an organizational studies major, tailoring her education to more of a psychology/business mix. Upon graduation she hopes to find a career in human resources.
MARI HOFF
The Michigan coaching staff has nothing but high praises for Mari Hoff, a junior from Canton, Mich. "Mari has a phenomenal way of setting her teammates up for dangerous goal scoring opportunities," said Belkin. "What she does with her vision and knowledge of the game makes her our true quarterback."
Midfield play has come naturally to Hoff. "Growing up I just always played midfield," Hoff said. "When I went to my club team in high school I played forward and I loved it. But then all the coaches knew me as a midfielder so they all put me back in the midfield."
Hoff started playing soccer when she was in the first grade. "I was really into sports. I played with my dad all the time. (My parents) just got me into whatever everyone was getting into at the time. I played softball and soccer growing up. Once I hit high school, my mom told me I had to decide upon one."
A talented player, Hoff has been involved in the United States Olympic Development program. She has seen action for the Under-16, Under-17, Under-19 and Under-20 National Teams. For her performances at Michigan, Hoff has twice earned Second-Team All-Big Ten recognition.
With an impressive prep resume, Hoff could have chosen any number of established soccer programs as her collegiate home but opted to stay in-state and play for the Wolverines. "I wanted to stay close to home and my mom came here. I used to go to all the football games when I was little. I was just looking for a close school and a good soccer program and I knew Michigan had been three or four years into building a program, so it was developing."
SHANNON POOLE
"Shannon Poole's ability to play a strong defensive role has added to our overall team defense," said Belkin. "As she wins the ball, her dribbling skills allow her to be as much of a threat as our high scoring forwards."
While she excels at her position now, Poole began her soccer career as a forward. "I got switched back to midfield my second year of high school," said Poole. "It's just a better position for me, I guess. I can play defense and offense."
The junior co-captain from Troy, Mich., netted two goals with one assist (five points) in earning Michigan's Most Valuable Player award during 1997 Big Ten championship season. She responded with one goal and one assist through 18 games this year.
Poole first started playing soccer when she was five. "My two older brothers played," Poole explained, "so I played all the time at home with them and I liked it a lot."
An Academic All-Big Ten honoree in 1997, Poole has balanced athletics and academics. She hopes to use her undergraduate studies in biopsychology as a springboard to physician's assistant school. "I've known I always wanted to do something in medicine or something like that. When I found out about the profession (around a year ago) I knew that's what I wanted to get into."
She decided upon the career route because it is a field where she would, "still be working in medicine, but it wouldn't be as stressful or as long hours as being a doctor."
Poole became a Wolverine because to the opportunity to start something special at Michigan. "There hasn't been a very established soccer program here. I knew that we could start something that could carry over."
EMILY SCHMITT
"You could easily label as the heart of the team," said Belkin of Emily Schmitt. "Her unselfish play extends anywhere from providing defensive cover to taking the ball endline and serving goal scoring opportunities for her teammates."
Schmitt, a native of Troy, Mich., enjoys the responsibilities associated with being a midfielder. "I pretty much played midfield my whole life," she said. "When I was little I played a rover position, because I always liked to run -- at least as much as you can like to. I'd always just run all over the field, so when I was in elementary school I was called a rover, and I was allowed to go whereever I wanted and it was pretty much midfield because it would be offense and defense. And I played a little forward in high school, but I've always pretty much been a midfielder."
She has been a steady contributor to the Michigan offensive attack, scoring five goals and two assists for 12 points in 23 games as a freshman, 5-1-11 in 20 games last season and five goals, two assists for 12 points through 18 games this year.
Schmitt nearly did not play soccer at the collegiate level. Through high school she had her heart set on basketball. "After my junior year in high school, basketball was the sport I that I thought I was going to play, the one I really wanted to play. I don't really know what happened. I think it mainly was I realized I could play soccer for a school like Michigan and I couldn't play basketball for a school like Michigan, so it became an easy decision for me."
Schmitt, an Academic All-Big Ten honoree last season, is majoring in sports management and communications. She hopes to translate her education and playing experience in a sports journalism career. "I really enjoy writing and I like to follow sports, and I thought that would be a perfect mix for me."
Contact: Jeff Conrad (734) 763-4423
