Michigan
5-0-0
Massachusetts
0-4-0
Crumpton Leads Late Three-Goal Flurry in Michigan Win
9/13/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Massachusetts' goalkeeper Kelly Nigh appeared unbeatable through the first 75 minutes of action. The junior successfully defended 25 Michigan shot attempts before Crumpton put away the game's first goal. After taking a diagonal pass out of the midfield from Stephanie Boyles (Arvada, Colo./Pomona HS), Crumpton moved the ball through the left side of Massachusetts' 18-yard box before firing a shot from 12 yards out. The ball beat Nigh, breaking the scoreless tie with just over ten minutes to play.
Michigan kept the pressure on Nigh and the Minutewoman defense, netting two more tallies before the final whistle. Michele Pesiri (New Hyde Park, N.Y./Sacred Heart HS) scored the Wolverines' second goal at 87:40, putting away a rebound following a nice combination pass from Crumpton to Therese Heaton (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South HS), which freed Heaton for a shot on net.
Boyles gave Michigan its third goal with only two minutes remaining in the game, converting a penalty kick after sophomore midfielder Liz Dosa (Piedmont, Calif./Piedmont HS) was fouled inside the 18-yard box.
Massachusetts made the most of its three shots and nearly took a 1-0 lead in the first half when the Minutewomen flighted a pass over the top of Michigan's defense, sending junior forward Erin Lilly in alone on goaltender Suzie Grech (Narberth, Pa./The Shipley School). Grech came up with the big save, preserving her second shutout of the season.
The Wolverines will look to gain a school-record sixth victory to begin the season against Georgia Sunday (Sept. 15) in the a second match at the UAB Nike Classic in Birmingham, Ala. The game is scheduled to begin at noon.
GAME SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Massachusetts | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
2nd -- U-M, Abby Crumpton, 76:59 (Stephanie Boyles)
2nd -- U-M, Michele Pesiri, 87:40 (Therese Heaton, Crumpton)
2nd -- U-M, Boyles, 88:00 (penalty kick)
Shots: U-M 29, UMass 3
Saves: U-M 2 (Suzie Grech), UMass 9 (Kelly Nigh)
Corner Kicks: U-M 9, UMass 0
Fouls: U-M 9, UMass 9
Cards: none
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Debbie Rademacher
On the game ... "It was one of those games where we needed to sharpen our finishing. We had a lot of chances but weren't able to make them count. Kelly Nigh (Massachusetts goalie) was amazing. She was able to shut us down from everywhere. Luckily, once we were able to put one away the floodgates opened."
On keeping positive in a scoreless game ... "At the beginning the field was very wet and played really fast. UMass played us tough and physical, but we were able to govern the play. With so many good opportunities being stopped, we just had to hope that one would go in."
On the play of the outside midfielders ... "Liz Dosa and Michele Pesiri played really well for us. Dosa got some quality minutes and we were able to make use of her speed. She did a great job getting the ball to the end line and then across. Michele's play on the other side of the field helped us a lot."
N O T E S
At 5-0, Michigan is tied for its best start in the nine-year history of the program. The Maize and Blue began its 1998 season with five wins before its first loss.
Michele Pesiri scored her first goal of the season.
Just one game after scoring her first career goal, freshman forward Stephanie Boyles put away Michigan's first penalty-kick goal of 2002.
The win over Massachusetts was the Wolverines' first road win of the season.
Contact: Andrew Ladd (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Crumpton, Abby (3)
Assisted By: Boyles, Stephanie
shot from 15 yards
86:59
Pesiri, Michele (1)
Assisted By: Heaton, Therese , Crumpton, Abby
rebound, 22 found 18 for orig. shot
87:40
Boyles, Stephanie (2)
pen. shot, 20 (Dosa) fouled in box
88:00
