Schmitt Powers Michigan Past Oakland in Opener

Sunday, August 29

Rochester, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

Oakland

8/29/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

By: Jay Levin

Site: Rochester, Mich.
Score: #15 Michigan 4, Oakland 1
Records: U-M (1-0), OU (1-1)
Next U-M Match: Friday, Sept. 3 -- vs. Vanderbilt at Nike Tiger Invitational (Columbia, Mo.), 2 p.m. CDT

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Senior tri-captain Emily Schmitt (Troy, Mich./Troy Athens HS) tied a career high with two goals and five points as the University of Michigan women's soccer team opened its season with a 4-1 victory at Oakland University. With the five-point performance, Schmitt became just the sixth Wolverine to eclipse the 40-point plateau for a career (17-7-41).

Michigan (1-0) controlled the game from start to finish, outshooting Oakland 31-6 for the game and 18-4 in the first half. The Wolverines tallied the only goal of the first period when Schmitt converted a pass from Marie Spaccarotella (Livonia, Mich./Churchill HS) at 22:43.

Early in the second half, Schmitt created Michigan's second goal with a shot from 20 yards out which was knocked in by sophomore Laurie Peterson (Del Mar, Calif./Torrey Pines HS). Spaccarotella scored a goal of her own off a through ball from Amber Berendowsky (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) before Schmitt closed the Wolverine scoring with her second of the game. Abby Tompkins (Grosse Point, Mich./University Liggett School) recorded her first collegiate point with an assist on Schmitt's second tally as Michigan grabbed a 4-0 lead.

Carissa Stewart (Topsham, Maine/Mt. Ararat HS) lost her bid for a shutout at 69:49 but still earned her 18th career win, just eight behind Jessica Jones (1995-98) for the Michigan record.

The Wolverines return to action next weekend (Sept. 3-5) when they travel to Missouri for the Ellis Copy Tiger Invitational. Michigan will face Vanderbilt on Friday (Sept. 3) at 2 p.m. CDT and Missouri on Saturday (Sept. 5) at 1 p.m. CDT.

GAME SUMMARY

Team	1	2	F
Michigan	1	3	4
Oakland	0	1	1

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Emily Schmitt (Marie Spaccarotella)
2nd -- U-M, Laurie Peterson (Schmitt)
2nd -- U-M, Spaccarotella (Amber Berendowsky)
2nd -- U-M, Schmitt (Abby Tompkins)
2nd -- OU, Kristen Luoma (unassisted)

Shots: U-M 31, OU 6
Saves: U-M 1, OU 14
Corner Kicks: U-M 6, OU 3
Fouls: U-M 16, OU 12
Cards: None

NOTES

• The Wolverines have won three consecutive season openers and are 4-1-1 all-time in season-opening games.

• Six freshmen made their Wolverine debuts: Abby Crumpton (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams HS), Andrea Kayal (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills HS), Michele Pesiri (New Hyde Park, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy), Amy Sullivant (Utica, Mich./Eisenhower HS), Vicky Whitley (Spring, Texas/Klein HS) and Carly Williamson (Barrington, R.I./Barrington HS). Crumpton, Kayal, Sullivant and Williamson started.