Michigan
Indiana
Crumpton's Hat Trick Leads Michigan Past No. 23 Indiana
10/12/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team earned its fifth consecutive home victory with a 4-2 win over No. 23-ranked Indiana University Friday (Oct. 12) at the U-M Soccer Field.
Forward Abby Crumpton (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams HS) netted her first career hat trick, staking the Wolverines to a 4-0 lead before a shocked Hoosiers team rallied with two late second-half goals to make the final score respectable.
Indiana entered the game ranked 23rd in the NSCAA/adidas Coaches Poll and appeared hungry for a victory in the first five minutes of the game, applying constant pressure to keep the ball inside Michigan's zone. However, the game was moments away from becoming a Michigan route.
At 6:49 into the game Kate Morgan (San Jose, Calif./Archbishop Mitty HS) corralled a loose ball and led Crumpton with a pass beyond the Hoosiers' back two defenders. IU's goalie, sensing the galloping Crumpton would beat her to the ball, attempted to dive at it and cut off any angle Crumpton would have, but Crumpton reached the ball first and shifted it to the side of the laid-out IU goaltender. With only a tough angle opposing her, Crumtpon slid the ball along the ground and into the bottom right corner to open the scoring.
With the wind at their backs the Wolverines continued to mount offensive scoring chances. Amy Sullivant (Utica, Mich./Eisenhower HS) and Crumpton played give-and-go to find an open lane for Sullivant to shoot but her kick sailed just over the crossbar.
Crumpton's second goal came off a tumultuous pass from Sullivant at 23:36 into the game, but to the surprise of IU defenders Crumpton was able to tame the ball quickly and anchor it out of the air. Without hesitation, Crumpton, whose back was to the goaltender, spun, shot and scored.
Michigan's third goal of the game, at 36:23, came with just less than 10 minutes to go in the first half and demoralized the Hoosiers. Theresa Dwyer (Metairie, La./Mt. Carmel Academy) rocketed the ball inside the left side of the net, inches out of the grasp of the IU goalie, for the commanding three-goal lead.
Michigan continued its offensive pressure early in the second half. Crumpton, smelling a hat trick, used her blazing speed to outrun a Hoosier defender to the ball. With seemingly no place to shoot, she dipped her shoulders to trick the IU goalie into thinking the shot was imminent and after a pause aimed for the lower left corner, scoring her third goal at 55:01 into the game.
Though Michigan's offense snatched the early spotlight, it was the fortified wall the defense built around goalie Suzie Grech (Narbeth, Pa./The Shipley School) that frustrated Indiana, limiting to Hoosiers to one shot on goal in the first 45 minutes. Carly Williamson (Barrington, R.I./Barrington HS) played brilliantly, out-hustling IU forwards to every loose ball. With the aid of defender Andrea Kayal (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills HS), the two stayed one step ahead of the Hoosiers.
At the half Michigan coach Debbie Rademacher substituted goalkeeper Bre Bennett (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) for Grech to give her some game experience. Indiana staved off a shutout with a goal at 63:38. IU's second goal was a matter of contention between referee Tom Landi and Rademacher. A distant shot by Hoosier Kara Kornfeld sailed with the wind into the backpedaling arms of Bennett, who appeared to make the save and keep the ball out of the net even as her body passed the goal line. However Landi ruled that the ball and her body had crossed, giving Indiana its second goal at 75:07.
The goal awakened the Wolverines, snapping them back to their earlier pace, halting IU from generating any more scoring chances.
U-M is home for a match Sunday (Oct. 12) against Purdue at 1 p.m.
GAME SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Indiana | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Michigan | 3 | 1 | 4 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Abby Crumpton, 6:49 (Kate Morgan)
1st -- U-M, Crumpton, 23:36 (Amy Sullivant)
1st -- U-M, Theresa Dwyer, 36:23 (unassisted)
2nd -- U-M, Crumpton, 55:01 (unassisted)
2nd -- IU, Emily Hotz, 63:38 (Carrie Fry)
2nd -- IU, Kara Kornfeld, 75:07 (unassisted)
Shots: U-M 15, IU 10
Saves: U-M 5 (Suzie Grech 4, Bre Bennett 1), IU 5 (Shaunna Daugherty 2, Kristin Pimlott 3)
Corner Kicks: U-M 2, IU 4
Fouls: U-M 7, IU 9
Cards: None
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Debbie Rademacher
On using a large number of substitutions ... "With two big games this weekend it was important to keep people fresh. I might need them to play 90 minutes one game so it's good to give them a break when I can."
On grabbing a 3-0 lead ... "It was huge. If that third goal is by them and it's 2-1 then they can get back in the game. But I think a 3-0 lead is mentally crushing."
On Indiana's controversial second goal ... "It didn't look like the entire ball crossed the line. Our goalie's body was in the net but it didn't look like the ball was."
On Michigan's chance to be ranked in the Top 25 ... "I'm not too concerned about it. Rankings really have nothing to do with the NCAAs. If we stay focused on the Big Ten and do good then we'll see the reward in the NCAAs."
Junior Defender Amy Sullivant
On the defensive mentality with a big lead ... "It was huge. Against Penn State (Oct. 7) I think we were a little intimidated by their early success. But when we play good defense like we did today then I think we feel unstoppable."
On contributing offensively ... "We use a system that tries to spring our outside backs up the field for chances. We did that very well today. I like playing both offense and defense. I like getting to take shots. It's fun."
Junior Forward Abby Crumpton
On her first goal ... "On breakaways I tend to kick the ball right into the goalie so today I tried to go around her and then take the shot."
On playing with a more aggressive attitude ... "I didn't feel like I was playing up to my potential. I wanted to show Indiana, but more importantly my team and coaches, that they could expect more out of me."
On her knack for breakaways ... "I think I've got a quick first few steps. I think it's just about speed."
On giving a full effort defensively too ... "My defense says I can help them reset and organize themselves if I put pressure on the opponent. I just try to force them to react earlier than they'd like. I want to win as much as my teammates and I know applying a defensive attitude in addition to my offense will help us do that."
On whether the team is looking ahead ... "One of our goals is to make the NCAA Tournament but all we're thinking about is the next game."
Contact: Karen Simpson (734) 763-4423
