Weekly Release #2
8/28/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Upcoming Schedule ...
Sun-Mon., Aug. 31-Sept. 1 -- at Michigan State Invitational (East Lansing, Mich.)
Aug. 31 -- vs. No. 22 Loyola Marymount, 2:30 p.m.
Sept. 1 -- vs. Xavier, 2:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 5 -- vs. Dayton (U-M Soccer Field), 6 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 7 -- vs. Evansville (U-M Soccer Field), 4 p.m.
This Week ...
The University of Michigan men's soccer team opens regular-season play as the Wolverines travel to East Lansing, Mich., to participate in 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. 22 Loyola Marymount. The Wolverines follow up with a Monday afternoon (Sept. 1) affair with Xavier at 2:30 p.m. It will mark the first time Michigan will face either team.
Scouting the Opponents ...
No. 22 Loyola Marymount -- The Lions had one of their best seasons ever in 2002, advancing to the second round of the College Cup following a 1-0 home victory over Cal State-Northridge in the first round. Loyola Marymount fell to eventual national champion UCLA in the round of 32 by the score of 4-2, ending its year with a program-best record of 15-4-2. Sixth-year head coach Paul Krumpe looks for similar results in 2003. Though the Lions lost their two All-Americans to graduation, 2002 leading scorer and second-team All-West Coast Conference performer Kevin Novak returns for his senior season. As a junior last year Novak tallied nine goals and six assists for 24 points. Krumpe also returns starting goalkeeper Adam Sthay, who earned All-WCC honorable mention status in 2002 while compiling a record of 11-3-1, including six shutouts in 16 starts. LMU on the Internet: www.lmulions.com.
Xavier -- Under 12th-year head coach Jack Hermans, the Musketeers posted an overall record of 10-7-2 and a sixth-place finish in the Atlantic 10 with a league record of 5-4-2 in 2002. Xavier enters the 2003 campaign without its three leading scorers from a year ago. Senior Charles Morgan returns as the Musketeers leading scorer, having posted six points on three goals last year. Xavier does have strength between the pipes in junior goalkeeper Brian Schaeper, who as a sophomore last year posted a record of 9-6-2 with a goals-against average of 1.13. Xavier on the Internet: athletics.xu.edu.
U-M at the Michigan State Invitational ...
This marks the third consecutive year the Wolverines open their season over Labor Day Weekend at the Michigan State Invitational in East Lansing, Mich. In two years of competition at the two-day event, U-M has posted a record of 3-1, with wins over Robert Morris (2-1, 9/1/01), Wisconsin-Green Bay (1-0, 9/2/01) and Wright State (3-1, 9/2/02). Michigan's lone loss came last year against UC-Santa Barbara (9/1/02) when the Wolverines fell 5-2.
Michigan Against Ranked Opponents ...
The Wolverines have faced ranked opponents on seven occasions, posting a record of 1-6. The sole victory came on Nov. 2, 2001, when U-M defeated then No. 14 Ohio State 1-0 in Columbus, Ohio. Later that season the Maize and Blue pushed then No. 4 and eventual national runner-up Indiana to triple overtime before falling 1-0 in the semifinal round of the Big Ten Conference Tournament.
In Action Last Week ...
The Wolverines traveled to South Bend, Ind., for thri only exhibition contest of 2003 and came away with a 1-1 tie against preseason No. 12 Notre Dame last Monday (Aug. 25) on Alumni Field. Junior Mychal Turpin (Plymouth, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit) continued where he left off last season, scoring the equalizing goal for the Maize and Blue in the 47th minute of the match. Sophomore Peter Dzubay (Sylvania, Ohio/Northview HS) and senior/junior Joe Zawacki (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS) spilt time between the pipes with Dzubay getting the start.
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 appearance in the championship game. Since Burns took the helm in 2000, the 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 begins the home portion of its 2003 schedule next weekend when the Wolverines welcome Dayton and Evansville to the U-M Soccer Field. U-M will face Dayton in the home opener Friday (Sept. 5) at 6 p.m. then return to the pitch Sunday (Sept. 7) for a 4 p.m. matchup with Evansville.
Contact: Gene Skidmore (734) 763-4423
