Weekly Release #6
9/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, Sept. 26 -- vs. Wisconsin (U-M Soccer Field), 4 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 28 -- vs. Minnesota (U-M Soccer Field), 1 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 3 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 7:30 p.m. EDT
Sunday, Oct. 5 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), Noon EDT
This Week
The University of Michigan women's soccer team (1-4-3) returns home for two matches at U-M Soccer Field this weekend. The Wolverines will host Wisconsin on Friday (Sept. 26) at 4 p.m. and conclude the weekend against Minnesota on Sunday (Sept. 28) at 1 p.m. The game against the Badgers will feature the Pepsi Soccer Slam. Pepsi will be giving away free Pepsi products, t-shirts and your chance to grab as many coupons as you can from the coupon machine!
Scouting the Opponents
Wisconsin -- The Badgers enter the match with a 5-3-1 record, including a 1-1 mark in the Big Ten Conference. Wisconsin split its first two conference games, earning a 2-0 shutout against Indiana last Friday (Sept. 19) and losing 1-0 to Purdue on Sunday (Sept. 21). Senior Jenny Kundert, who was named to the All-Big Ten first team in 2002, leads the Badgers with five goals and three assists this year, including a team-best three game-winning goals. Midfielder Kara Kabellis has had a stellar freshman campaign so far, recording three goals and two assists. Seniors Bethany Heine (two points) and Elly Patterson provide leadership in the backfield. Freshman goalkeeper Stefani Szczechowski has started nine games in net for Wisconsin, making 27 saves and allowing 10 goals for a 1.10 GAA. U-W returns eight starters and 18 letterwinners from last year's squad, which finished with a 13-9-3 record and a fifth-place finish in the Big Ten. Head coach Dean Duerst is in his 10th season at the helm of Wisconsin and has compiled a career record of 110-75-24. The two schools met once last season, with Michigan coming out on top 3-2 in Madison, Wis. U-M holds a 4-7-1 all-time record against the Badgers. Wisconsin on the Internet: www.uwbadgers.com.
Minnesota -- The Golden Gophers (4-2-1, 1-1-0) split their first two conference matches last weekend, defeating Indiana 2-1 on Sunday (Sept. 21) after losing 2-0 to Purdue on Friday (Sept. 19). Freshman forward Haley Lentsch leads the offense with four goals and one assist this season. Sophomore Becky Dellaria (seven points) and senior Amanda McMahon (six points) provide depth up front for Minnesota. Co-captain Jen Cressman (one point) returns to lead the defense. Sophomore Karli Kopietz has started all seven games in goal, making 35 saves and allowing nine goals for a 1.32 GAA. The Golden Gophers return seven starters and 16 letterwinners from last year's team, which ended 2002 with a 7-11-1 record and an 11th place finish in the conference. Barbara Wickstrand is in her fourth season as head coach and has collected a career record of 24-35-3. The Wolverines were upset by Minnesota last season, losing 4-0 in Minneapolis, Minn. The Gophers lead the all-time series 3-7. Minnesota on the Internet: www.gophersports.com.
Last Week
After winning the Rocky Rococo Wisconsin Invitational the previous weekend (Sept. 12-14), the Wolverines opened the Big Ten season on the road against Illinois and Northwestern. On Friday (Sept. 19), the Wolverines battled Illinois through two overtime periods, but neither team was able to find the net and the game ended in a 0-0 tie. It was Michigan's third double-overtime tie of the season. U-M's offensive struggles continued on Sunday (Sept. 21), as the Wolverines were held scoreless again in a 1-0 loss to Northwestern. It was the Wildcats' first win over Michigan since the 1998 season and also their first ever shutout of the Wolverines.
Workin' Overtime
The Wolverines have not had three games go into double-overtime since the 2000 season. U-M defeated Purdue (2-1) and Iowa (3-2) before tying Northwestern (0-0) in the regular season. The trend continued in the postseason, as the Maize and Blue lost 1-0 in three overtimes to Penn State at the Big Ten Tournament before defeating Miami (Ohio) 4-3 in double-overtime in the first round of the 2000 NCAA Tournament. Michigan's all-time record in overtime is 11-7-10.
Tuurning It Up a Notch
Freshman goalkeeper Megan Tuura (Tucker, Ga./St. Pius X Catholic HS) continued her stellar play in net, allowing just one goal in 200 minutes of action over the weekend. Tuura earned the first shutout of her career against the Fighting Illini (Sept. 19), posting two saves in the double-overtime tie. In seven games, Tuura has made 19 saves and has allowed just four goals for a 0.60 GAA.
Next Week
The Wolverines will hit the road for two conference matches next weekend. U-M will face Ohio State on Friday (Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m. EDT) at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Michigan will then finish out the weekend against Penn State on Sunday (Oct. 5, noon EDT) at Jeffrey Field in State College, Pa.
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
