Offense Woes Continue for U-M in Loss to Southern Cal

Sunday, September 7

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

0-3-1

Southern Cal

2-1-1

Southern Cal

Michigan

Offense Woes Continue for U-M in Loss to Southern Cal

9/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Marc Ressler

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Field)
Event: Nike Challenge
Score: #15 Southern Cal 2, Michigan 1
Records: U-M (0-3-1), USC (2-1-1)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Sept. 12 -- vs. Nebraska at Rocky Rococo Wisconsin Invitational (Madison, Wis.), 5 p.m. CDT

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team suffered its third straight loss of the season, falling 2-1 to No. 15 Southern Cal Sunday afternoon (Sept. 7) in the Nike Challenge at U-M Soccer Field. USC got a leg up early in the game, netting a goal at 3: 51, and added the game-winner in the second half. Jessica Edwards scored both goals for the Trojans, while senior Erika Kleinholz (North Ridgeville, Ohio/Elyria Catholic HS) tallied Michigan's lone goal off a penalty kick with 10 minutes remaining in the contest.

The Trojans gained the early advantage, scoring their first goal nearly four minutes into the game. Edwards collected a deflection off a Michigan goal kick, brought it up the left side and crossed the ball into the lower right corner of the goal past a sprawling Megan Tuura (Tucker, Ga./St. Pius X Catholic HS). The Wolverines got their first scoring chance three minutes later, as Kleinholz beat a USC defender up the left side and made a nice cross to a cutting Therese Heaton (Wheaton, Ill/Warrenville South HS), who missed the net wide left.

Southern Cal looked to increase its lead with 33 minutes left in the first half, but Tuura was able to punch out a direct kick and scoop up a rebound shot by Edwards. Junior Laney Rosin (Potomac, Md./Thomas S. Wootton HS) provided Michigan with its final scoring opportunity of the half, collecting the ball on the right side and sending it high over the net and out of bounds.

Michigan came out in the second half and immediately pressured the Trojan defense, with junior Robyn Vince (Holt, Mich./Holt HS) making a cross to junior Kate Morgan (San Jose, Calif./Archbishop Mitty HS), who deflected it wide right of Southern Cal goalkeeper Julie Peterson.

USC went up 2-0 in the game at 55:49, as Rosa Anna Tantillo sent a pass through the center to Edwards, who as able to bring Tuura off her line before sending it over her head and into the net. Tuura prevented a three-goal cushion for the Trojans, making a diving save on a point-blank shot by Tina Sutorius with 31:29 remaining in the contest.

The Maize and Blue got its best chance at a goal with just over 10 minutes left, as Heaton collected a header by junior Theresa Dwyer (Metairie, La./Mount Carmel Academy) and sent it toward the net, but the shot hit the left post and was cleared out. The Wolverines were more fortunate about a minute later, with the USC committing a foul off a Michigan corner kick, resulting in a penalty kick. Kleinholz converted on the kick, sending it past Peterson on the left side with 9:52 remaining.

Southern Cal was able to fend off another offensive charge by the Wolverines and the Trojans prevailed with the one-goal victory.

Tuura finished the game with six saves, while Peterson made one stop. Michigan and USC were even in the shot count, recording 12 apiece.

The Wolverines (0-3-1) return to action next weekend at the Rocky Rococo Wisconsin Invitational in Madison, Wis. U-M will face Nebraska on Friday (Sept. 12) at 5 p.m. CDT and conclude the weekend against Iowa State on Sunday (Sept. 14) at 11 a.m. CDT. Both games will be played at the McClimon Soccer Complex.

GAME SUMMARY

Team	1	2	F
Southern Cal	1	1	2
Michigan	0	1	1

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- USC, Jessica Edwards, 3:51 (unassisted)
2nd -- USC, Jessica Edwards, 55:49 (Rosa Anna Tantillo)
2nd -- U-M, Erika Kleinholz, 80:10 (penalty kick)

Shots: U-M 12, USC 12
Saves: U-M 6 (Megan Tuura), USC 1 (Julie Peterson)
Corner Kicks: U-M 4, USC 2
Fouls: U-M 17, USC 17
Cards: None

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Debbie Rademacher
On the team's slow start ... "We're in the exact same position we were in 2000 and 2001 -- two 0-4 starts. We're young and inexperienced. If we could score a goal, then we could win games. We're making minimal defensive lapses that they're capitalizing on, but the bottom line is that we're not putting the ball in the net. It's not just defense, it's the attacking side of things. With the number of scoring opportunities we've had in the past three games, we should have gotten a win out of at least one of them. We've got some good players, they're just not sharp. We're getting there, we just need to learn as we go along because of that inexperience."

On the freshman players ... "The freshmen that are out there for a majority of the time, I would say that they're not playing scared by any means. They're just learning, and they're taking some licks sometimes, but they're doing pretty well."

On how the team needs to develop ... "I think as a team we need to develop more of a bite. We need to be more aggressive and we need to be a lot meaner, and that comes with experience. Scoring goals is a mentality; it's confidence, focus and concentration on the move. It will come, but we need to make that happen."

NOTES

• Erika Kleinholz now has four career goals at Michigan.

• Megan Tuura allowed her first goal in nearly 159 minutes of action this season.

• The last time the Wolverines lost three consecutive games was during the 2001 season, when U-M lost to Loyola Marymount 3-2 (Aug. 31), Cal 4-2 (Sept. 2) and Kentucky 2-1 (Sept. 7).

• Michigan falls to 0-2 all-time against USC.