Weekly Release #11
11/7/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Wednesday, Nov. 8 -- vs. Miami (Ohio) in NCAA Tournament First Round (U-M Soccer Field), 1 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 12 -- Michigan-Miami winner vs. Notre Dame in NCAA Tournament Second Round (South Bend, Ind.), 1 p.m.
This Week
The No. 25-ranked University of Michigan women's soccer team received an at-large bid to compete for the 2000 NCAA Women's College Cup. Michigan will face Miami (Ohio) University on Wednesday (Nov. 8) at the U-M Soccer Field at 1 p.m. Ticket prices are $7 for adults and $5 for seniors, children and students with ID. The winner of that match will travel to South Bend, Ind., to take on top-ranked Notre Dame on Sunday (Nov. 12) at 1 p.m.
Scouting the Opponents
Miami -- Miami University finished the regular season with an overall record of 13-7-0. The Mid-American Conference Tournament champion RedHawks defeated Bowling Green in the MAC final 1-0 in double-overtime. The Wolverines and RedHawks have never met before in soccer competition. Miami has outscored its opponents 41-24 during the regular season. The team's leading scorer, Andrea Cunningham, has accounted for 16 goals and six assists. Miami on the Internet: www.muredhawks.com.
Notre Dame -- The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame are the No. 1-seeded team in the NCAA Tournament and hold an undefeated record of 20-0-1. In the Wolverines' last meeting with Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish defeated the Wolverines 5-1 in Ann Arbor (Oct. 25). Michigan became only the sixth team all season to score on Notre Dame when senior Marie Spaccarotella (Livonia, Mich./Churchill HS) found the net in the second period. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 5-0. Notre Dame on the Internet: www.und.com.
Michigan's History in the NCAA Tournament
This is the fourth consecutive year that the Wolverines have made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Michigan lost in the first round in 1997 but advanced to the second round in both 1998 and '99. This marks the third year in a row that Michigan has hosted a first-round match.
Triple OT -- Oh My!
At 120:31, the Wolverines' game against Penn State on Nov. 5 was the longest soccer game in Michigan women's soccer history.
Hitting the Top
Michigan is ranked No. 25 in the latest NSCAA poll (Nov. 26). With a record of 12-8-1, the Wolverines broke into the Top 25 after finishing third in the Big Ten Conference regular season and runner-up in the Big Ten Tournament.
Last Week
The Wolverines competed in the Big Ten Tournament in Champaign, Ill., (Nov. 2-5) on the University of Illinois campus to defend their Big Ten Title.
Michigan vs. Iowa -- Big Ten First Found: Freshman Amber Wilson (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West HS) notched two goals in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament (Nov. 2) to give the Wolverines a 2-0 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes. Giving Wilson the assists were senior midfielder Kacy Beitel (Midland, Mich./H.H. Dow HS) and sophomore defender Andrea Kayal (New Hyde Park, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy).
Michigan vs. Wisconsin -- Big Ten Semifinal: Four Wolverines scored goals in a physical win over the Wisconsin Badgers on Nov. 3. Michigan received goals from senior Marie Spaccarotella, freshman Stephanie Chavez (Shorewood, Wis./Shorewood HS), senior Kacy Beitel and sophomore Michele Pesiri (New Hyde Park, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy). Vicky Whitley (Spring, Texas/Klein HS), Beitel and Spaccarotella each added an assist in Michigan's win over the Badgers.
Michigan vs. Penn State -- Big Ten Final: The Wolverines fell to the No. 7-ranked Nittany Lions 1-0 in triple overtime in the Big Ten championship game (Nov. 5). Carissa Stewart (Topsham, Maine/Mt. Ararat HS) was solid in goal, stopping 11 potential game-winning shots. Penn State finally put the game away at 120:31, with a shot from Shari Pickett.
All-Big Ten Wolverines
Three members of the Michigan soccer team were honored at the Big Ten Banquet in Champaign, Ill., on Thursday (Nov. 2). Senior midfielder Kacy Beitel and sophomore midfielder Amy Sullivant (Utica, Mich./Eisenhower HS) gained All-Big Ten first team honors, while sophomore forward Abby Crumpton was named to the All-Big Ten second team. Beitel made her second consecutive appearance on the All-Big Ten first team. Sullivant made her first All-Big Ten team and Crumpton, a member of the 1999 first team All-Big Ten team, was named to her first second team.
Beitel Bits
Senior All-America candidate Kacy Beitel set a school record with eight points and tied another with three goals in the Wolverines' 7-1 win over the Butler Bulldogs on Oct. 29. Beitel scored three goals and added two assists for her eight points, one better than the previous record set by Amber Berendowsky (2-3-7) in 1997. Beitel leads the team with 28 points. Her hat trick makes her the first Wolverine to accomplish the feat more than once in a career.
Freshman Pointers
Two of Michigan's freshmen are making their mark on the Wolverine record book. Amber Wilson has moved into third place for most points in a season by a freshman. With her two goals in the Big Ten first round game against Iowa, Wilson accumulated 22 points, moving her within one of former Wolverine Amber Berendowsky. Teammate Stephanie Chavez has also crept into the records, landing comfortably in fifth place with 18 points with her goal in the semifinal game of the Big Ten Tournament vs. Wisconsin.
Most Points (Freshman Season)
| | Player | Points | Year |
| 1. | Kacy Beitel | 33 | 1997 |
| 2. | Abby Crumpton | 32 | 1999 |
| 3. | Amber Wilson | 22 | 2000 |
| 4. | Stephanie Chavez | 18 | 2000 |
| | Amber Berendowsky | 18 | 1996 |
Big Ten Conference Standings (through Nov. 6)
Big Ten Pts. Overall 1. Penn State 10-0-0 30 20-2-1 2. Wisconsin 7-3-0 21 16-6-0 3. MICHIGAN 6-3-1 19 12-8-1 4. Illinois 6-4-0 18 13-7-0 5. Michigan State 5-4-1 16 12-6-2 6. Iowa 5-5-0 15 11-9-0 Purdue 5-5-0 15 12-7-0 Minnesota 5-5-0 15 8-10-1 9. Northwestern 2-7-1 7 3-12-2 10. Indiana 1-8-1 4 8-9-1 11. Ohio State 1-9-0 3 6-13-0
Contact: Valerie Perkin (734) 763-4423
