Weekly Release #1

Upcoming Schedule ...
Monday, Aug. 25 -- at Notre Dame (South Bend, Ind.), 7 p.m. EST/CDT (exhibition)
Sun-Mon., Aug. 31-Sept. 1 -- at Michigan State Invitational (East Lansing, Mich.)
   Aug. 31 -- vs. Loyola Marymount (2:30 p.m.)
   Sept. 1 -- vs. Xavier (2:30 p.m.)

This Week ...
The University of Michigan men's soccer team begins its fourth season as a varsity program this week as the Wolverines head to South Bend, Ind., for its only exhibition game of the season when they face Notre Dame on Monday (Aug. 25) with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. EST/CDT at Alumni Stadium. It marks the third consecutive year the two teams will meet in preseason play. Notre Dame holds a 2-0 advantage in the series.

Scouting the Opponents ...
Notre Dame -- The Fighting Irish enter the 2003 season as the No. 12 team in the nation according to the preseason NSCAA/adidas poll released Tuesday (Aug. 19). Selected to finish second in the Big East Conference, the Irish will be led by junior Chris Sawyer, who was named the preseason Big East goalkeeper of the year, along with seniors Justin Detter and junior Jack Stewart, both of whom also earned preseason all-Big East honors. Sawyer finished the 2002 season with an 8-4-3 record and 0.99 goals-against average. Detter and Stewart look to increase their offensive numbers this season, as each has moved one position closer to the opponent's goal. Stewart will be converting to midfielder from defender, while Detter is on the move to forward from midfielder. Notre Dame on the Internet: www.und.com.

Welcome Back ...
Michigan returns 18 letterwinners and 10 starters from their 2002 roster, which posted a program-best 11 wins last year. Those returning to the offensive side of the ball hope to continue their explosive play from last year, as the Wolverines were among the league leaders in nearly every offensive category. Leading the attack in 2003 will be seniors Mike White (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS) and Kevin Robinson (Caro, Mich./Faith Baptist), juniors Knox Cameron (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman HS) and Mychal Turpin (Plymouth, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit) and sophomore Adam Bruh (Roslyn Heights, N.Y./Wheatley HS).

The defensive side of the ball looks equally as strong with five returning starters led by senior tri-captains Joe Iding (Lansing, Mich./Catholic Central HS) and Kevin Taylor (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep). U-M's other three returning backfield starters are junior Dawson Stellberger (Crested Butte, Colo./Crested Butte Academy) and sophomore Chris Glinski (Rochester, Minn./Lourdes HS) and Ryan Sterba (Westlake, Ohio/St. Ignatius HS). Goalkeeping duties will fall on the shoulders of sophomore Peter Dzubay (Sylvania, Ohio/Northview HS). As a freshman in 2002, Dzubay was twice selected as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week and in 11 starts posted a record of 8-2-1 with a 0.82 goals against average and four shutouts.

And You Are ...
The Wolverines welcome five new faces to the 2003 team as Ryan Bennett (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS), Kevin Hall (Kalamazoo, Mich./Portage Central), Brian Popeney (Canton, Mich./Plymouth Salem HS), Kevin Savitskie (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth Salem HS) and Bobby Trybula (Loveland, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller) will add immediate depth to an already deep and experienced team.

I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends ...
Michigan ended the 2002 season as one of the most dominant offenses in the Big Ten Conference, as the Wolverines led the league in five of six offensive categories. U-M totaled 136 points on 45 goals and 46 assists in 20 games. Michigan ended the season as the conference leader in points (136), goals (45), assists (46) goals per game (2.25) and assists per game (2.30).

The Book on Burns ...
Head coach Steve Burns is 27-24-3 in three seasons as the leader of Michigan's varsity program. Last season Burns guided the Maize and Blue to a No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Conference Tournament and its first ever appearance in the championship game. Since his taking the helm in 2000, Burns' Wolverines have bettered their record in each of his first three years. In the program's inaugural season of 2000, U-M finished with a 6-10 record, while in 2001 his club put together a mark of 10-7-1. Prior to Michigan soccer being granted varsity status on March 26, 1999, Burns was the head coach of the Michigan club team since 1993. Under his leadership, Michigan posted a 121-51-26 mark (.677 winning percentage) and made six consecutive appearances in the national club championship tournament. The team won back-to-back national championships in 1997 and 1998.

On the Horizon ...
Michigan opens regular-season play next week, as the Wolverines travel to East Lansing, Mich., for the Michigan State Invitational (Aug. 31-Sept 1) on Old College Field. Michigan will kick off the season Sunday (Aug. 31) at 2:30 p.m. against No. 12 Loyola Marymount. The Wolverines follow up with a Monday afternoon affair with Xavier at 2:30 p.m. It marks the first time Michigan will face either team.

Contact: Gene Skidmore (734) 736-4423