Michigan
7-6-6
Notre Dame
18-1-1
Tuura, Wolverines Stun No. 2 Notre Dame in South Bend
10/29/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team shocked the college soccer world and staked its claim to an NCAA Tournament bid Wednesday (Oct. 29), upsetting No. 2-ranked Notre Dame 3-2 in its regular season finale at Alumni Field. The Wolverines spoiled an unbeaten season for the Irish (18-1-1), as senior Stephanie Chavez's (Shorewood, Wis./Shorewood HS) goal early in the second half proved to be the game-winner for U-M. Freshman Megan Tuura (Tucker, Ga./St. Pius X Catholic HS) played outstandingly in net, making a career-high eight saves en route to her fourth win of the season.
| | Tuura withstood the Irish's powerful offense, notching seven of her career-best eight saves after halftime. |
The Fighting Irish took little time to even the score. Less than one minute after Kramer's tally, Amanda Guertin's shot from inside the box ricocheted off the crossbar and back into play. UND's Christie Shaner corralled the rebound and put another shot on net, but her attempt was blocked by a Michigan defender. U-M was unable to clear the open ball out and Vanessa Pruzinsky fed it back into the box, where Guertin side-stepped Tuura and put the ball in goal from about 10 yards out to knot the score at 1-1.
Freshman Judy Coffman (San Jose, Calif./Santa Theresa HS) responded with a shot from the left wing, but Bohn was in position for her first save of the game. Ten minutes later, Tuura made a big save of her own, this time on a shot from inside the box by Maggie Manning. The Wolverines were then able to work the ball down toward Notre Dame's goal, where junior Robyn Vince (Holt, Mich./Holt HS) took U-M's first corner kick of the game from the left side. Vince's ball sailed toward the front of the cage, where sophomore Therese Heaton (Wheaton, Ill./Warrenville South HS) got a foot on the pass and put it past Bohn to give Michigan the 2-1 edge at 31:43.
The Irish stepped up the intensity toward the end of the first half, recording three shots in the final 10 minutes. However, each attempt was either high or wide and the Wolverines went to the locker room with the one-goal advantage.
The Wolverines came out of the break and immediately took charge. Two minutes into the half, Vince was set to take another corner kick for U-M. Freshman Katelin Spencer (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) got to the ball and put it on target, but the shot was deflected by Bohn. After Chavez's rebound attempt was blocked by an Irish defender, the senior midfielder kept with it and eventually put the ball in the back of the goal to give the Wolverines a 3-1 lead at 48:12.
Notre Dame reeled off four shots on goal in the next 15 minutes, with Tuura making stops on all four attempts. The Fighting Irish eventually put one past the U-M goalkeeper, as Katie Thorlakson took a pass in the box from Amy Warner and blasted a shot into the back of the net to cut the U-M lead to 3-2 with more than 20 minutes remaining.
The Irish put pressure on the Michigan's defense the rest of the way, but Tuura continued to come up big, making three saves to send the Wolverines to victory.
Michigan (7-6-6) has a week off before heading to Madison, Wis., to compete in the Big Ten Tournament. U-M, the No. 4 seed, will take on fifth-seeded Ohio State in the first round on Thursday (Nov. 6). The match is slated to begin at 4:30 CST at the McClimon Soccer Complex.
GAME SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Michigan | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Notre Dame | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Katie Kramer, 11:07 (unassisted)
1st -- UND, Amanda Guertin, 12:08 (Vanessa Pruzinsky)
1st -- U-M, Therese Heaton, 31:43 (Robyn Vince)
2nd -- U-M, Stephanie Chavez, 48:12 (unassisted)
2nd -- UND, Katie Thorlakson, 68:23 (Amy Warner)
Shots: U-M 6, UND 19
Saves: U-M 8 (Megan Tuura), UND 3 (Erika Bohn 2, Team 1)
Corner Kicks: U-M 2, UND 4
Fouls: U-M 14, UND 13
Cards: None
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Debbie Rademacher
On the game ... "I thought it was important for us to get on top early and hold them. That's exactly what we did. I think the way we were playing gave us a lot of confidence. We played good pass-and-play soccer. We never stopped battling and I think that is what made the difference."
On the mood of the team after the win ... "We came into the locker room knowing that we played hard and that we played well. We've been trying to beat Notre Dame for 10 years now and those girls knew that it was going to be tough. We were not intimidated and we fought hard."
On the play of Megan Tuura ... "Megan played solid all day. She didn't give up any rebounds and she stayed active the entire game. She didn't let go of any balls and was really aggressive inside the box."
On the recent play of Stephanie Chavez ... "She's been known to score game-winning goals throughout her entire career. She's picked up her game ever since Kate Morgan went down with an injury. Stephanie is playing great, she wants the ball and she's just feeling good out there. I think its a great way for her to finish out her senior season at Michigan."
N O T E S
With the victory, head coach Debbie Rademacher reached her 125th career win at Michigan. In 10 seasons, Rademacher has collected a career record of 125-72-19.
Katie Kramer scored her third goal of the season. She ranks fourth on the team in points this season (seven).
Therese Heaton tallied her second goal of 2003 and ranks fifth in points this season (six). She has career totals of 12 goals and six assists for 30 points.
Robyn Vince notched her team-leading fifth assist of the season and is sixth on the team in points this season (five).
Stephanie Chavez scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season and leads U-M with 13 points in 2003. In 79 career games, Chavez has 22 goals and 13 assists for 57 points.
The three Michigan goals are the most the Irish have allowed in a game this season. Coming into the match, Notre Dame had only given up five goals in 19 games this season.
Katie Kramer's goal in the first half was the first goal that Notre Dame allowed since Sept. 28, when the Irish defeated Texas 8-1 (10-game span).
The win marked Michigan's first win over a Top 25 opponent this season.
Michigan earned its first win over Notre Dame in eight tries.
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Katie Kramer (3)
Chips 12 yard crossing shot in.
11:07
Amanda Guertin (10)
Assisted By: Vanessa Pruzinsky
Fed into box, side-steps keeper, from 10
12:08
Therese Heaton (2)
Assisted By: Robyn Vince
Scored off of corner kick from left
31:43
Stephanie Chavez (5)
3-shot sequence off corner kick
48:12
Katie Thorlakson (6)
Assisted By: Amy Warner
Sliding shot on left end-line cross
68:23
