Michigan
10-7-6
Oakland University
15-5-1
U-M Gains Revenge Against Oakland in NCAA Opener
11/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The No. 24-ranked University of Michigan women's soccer team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament Friday (Nov. 14), defeating Oakland University 1-0 at Notre Dame's Alumni Field. Sophomore Katie Kramer (Andover, Mass./Andover HS) scored her team-leading sixth goal of the season midway through the second half to lead U-M to its sixth consecutive second-round appearance in the national championship. Freshman goalkeeper Megan Tuura (Tucker, Ga./St. Pius X Catholic HS) stopped five shots and collected her fourth shutout of the season. Oakland, which beat U-M 1-0 on Sept. 5 in Ann Arbor, finishes the season at 15-5-1.
| | Four of Kramer's six goals have been game-winners. |
Tuura was first challenged at 36:18, when Oakland's Erica Demers fired a ball from about 25 yards out, but her attempt was scooped up by U-M's keeper.
The Golden Grizzlies' best chance of the half came with 22 minutes left, as Marianne Samdal got ahead of the everyone and went one-on-one with Tuura. Fortunately, Tuura was able to come out and deflect the shot out of danger.
Michigan finished the first 45 minutes with a 9-5 advantage in shots. Tuura and Buckland both made three first-half saves.
The Wolverines were threatening with under 30 minutes left on the clock, as freshman Judy Coffman (San Jose, Calif./Santa Theresa HS) sent the ball to junior Laura Tanchon (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Dana Hills HS) at midfield. Tanchon took the pass and sent a through ball to a cutting Kramer. Buckland charged out of the net and tried to beat Kramer to the open ball, but Kramer was able to flick the ball under the OU goalkeeper and into the net to put Michigan on top 1-0 with 27:15 left in the game.
U-M looked to go up by two goals with just under 12 minutes remaining, as an Oakland player got in the way of Buckland as she was going for a ball in the air and the OU goalkeeper could only slap the ball out in front. Chavez capitalized on the mistake and shot the ball off one bounce but it sailed high of the upper left corner of the goal.
The Golden Grizzlies were given a golden opportunity to tie the game with three minutes left. Tuura was unable to clear a loose ball in front of the goal and Shelley Piccirillo got behind the goalkeeper and was all alone. Fortunately, junior defender Rachel Rothenbach (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) positioned herself in front of the net and blocked the attempt by Piccirillo to save the game for Michigan.
That would be the last chance Oakland would get, as U-M was able to keep the ball out of its end for the final two minutes.
The Wolverines (10-7-6) move on to face No. 4-ranked Notre Dame, a 5-0 winner over Loyola (Ill.) in Friday's second game, in the second round on Sunday (Nov. 16). Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Alumni Field.
GAME SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Michigan | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Oakland | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
2nd -- Katie Kramer, 62:45 (Laura Tanchon, Judy Coffman)
Shots: U-M 15, OU 14
Saves: U-M 6 (Megan Tuura 5, Team 1), OU 5 (Sarah Buckland)
Corner Kicks: U-M 2, OU 3
Fouls: U-M 11, OU 9
Cards: None
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Debbie Rademacher
On the game ... "There were some scary moments in the game. Rachel Rothenbach made a key save at the end to preserve the 1-0 lead. Oakland's a very hard team to play against and they're very hard to score on. I don't think we came out with a spark and I wasn't very happy with the way we played in the first half. In the second half, we turned it around and played much better."
On what the team needs to work on for the next game ... "I think we certainly have to be better defensively than we were today. We just have to be ready and give it everything we've got."
N O T E S
Katie Kramer notched her team-leading sixth goal of the season and her fourth game-winner of 2003. The goal moves her into a tie for the team lead in points with Stephanie Chavez (13). Kramer has scored five goals in Michigan's last eight games and has career totals of six goals and one assist for 13 points.
Laura Tanchon's assist was her first of the season. In 62 career games, Tanchon has compiled one goal and two assists for four points.
Judy Coffman's helper was her second of the season.
Megan Tuura has four shutouts on the year and moves her season record to 7-3-5.
Michigan has not allowed a goal in nine of 23 games this season.
The Wolverines improve their all-time record against Oakland to 5-1-1.
Michigan is 8-6 all-time in NCAA Tournament competition. U-M has advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship every season since 1998 (six seasons).
Today's win marks the ninth time in the program's 10-year existence that the team has won at least 10 games in a season.
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Katie Kramer (6)
Assisted By: Laura Tanchon , Judy Coffman
through ball under charging keeper
62:45
