Weekly Release #9
10/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Thursday, Oct. 14 -- at Oakland (Rochester, Mich.), 4 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 17 -- at Wisconsin (Madison, Wis.), 1 p.m. CDT
Friday, Oct. 22 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), 3 p.m.
This Week
The No. 13 University of Michigan women's soccer team (9-3-2, 6-1-1 Big Ten) continues its five-game road stretch with a mid-week meeting at Oakland on Thursday (Oct. 14) before finishing out the weekend at Wisconsin on Sunday (Oct. 17). The Wolverines take on the Golden Grizzlies at 4 p.m. at the OU Soccer Field in Rochester, Mich., and the Badgers at 1 p.m. CDT at the McClimon Soccer Complex in Madison, Wis.
Scouting the Opponents
Oakland -- The Golden Grizzlies (6-7-0) earned a split in their two home matches last weekend, defeating Western Illinois 3-0 on Friday (Oct. 8) before falling to Valparaiso by the same score on Sunday (Oct. 10). All Mid-Continent Conference selection Kristi Swaving leads Oakland with four goals and five assists for 13 points. Jessica Howard has made 11 starts in net for OU this season, allowing 17 goals in over 954 minutes for a 1.60 GAA. Head coach Nick O'Shea is in his 11th season at the helm of the Oakland soccer program and has compiled a career record of 134-56-8 at the school. The Grizzlies return five starters and nine letterwinners from last year's squad, which finished 15-5-1 overall and in first place in the conference at 6-0. Oakland will look to avenge its season-ending 1-0 loss to Michigan in the first round of the 2003 NCAA Tournament in South Bend, Ind. (Nov. 14). The Wolverines lead the all-time series 5-1-1. Oakland on the Internet: www.ougrizzlies.com.
Wisconsin -- The Badgers (9-4-1, 3-4-1 Big Ten), who will host Michigan State prior to their match with the Wolverines, also split two home matches last weekend, losing 2-1 to Minnesota on Friday (Oct. 8) before rebounding for a 2-0 win over Iowa on Sunday (Oct. 10). Amy Vermeulen spearheads the Wisconsin offensive attack with a team-leading 25 points on 10 goals and five assists. Lynn Murray has made 12 starts in net for the Badgers, allowing 18 goals in over 1,098 minutes for a 1.47 GAA. Dean Duerst is in his 11th season as head coach of Wisconsin and has collected a career record of 124-85-26. The Badgers, who return nine starters and 17 letterwinners, finished last season at 10-9-2 overall and ended their year with a 1-0 loss to Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals. However, Wisconsin still holds a 7-6-1 advantage in the all-time series. Wisconsin on the Internet: www.uwbadgers.com.
A Familiar Badger
Former U-M assistant coach Carrie Barker will be on the sidelines coaching for Wisconsin on Sunday (Oct. 17) against her former team. Barker is in her first season as an assistant coach for the Badgers after serving as Michigan head coach Debbie Rademacher's top assistant for the previous seven years.
Last Week
The Wolverines kept their Big Ten regular season championship hopes alive with a pair of 1-0 conference road victories last weekend. On Friday (Oct. 8), senior Laura Tanchon (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Dana Hills HS) scored the lone goal of the game on a penalty kick in the first half to send Michigan to a 1-0 road victory over Purdue. On Sunday (Oct. 10), junior Therese Heaton (Wheaton, Ill./Warrenville South HS) scored just 1:46 into the contest as the Wolverines completed a weekend road sweep with a 1-0 shutout of Indiana. Sophomore Megan Tuura (Tucker, Ga./St. Pius X Catholic HS) made a combined nine saves over the weekend to secure her fifth and sixth shutouts of the season. Following the weekend, Michigan sits just two points behind leader Penn State in the Big Ten Standings.
Big Ten Standings
Big Ten Pts. Overall 1. Penn State 7-0-0 21 11-1-1 2. MICHIGAN 6-1-1 19 9-3-2 3. Ohio State 4-0-3 15 8-2-3 4. Illinois 4-3-0 12 10-4-0 5. Indiana 3-3-1 10 8-4-1 Wisconsin 3-4-1 10 9-4-1 7. Purdue 3-4-0 9 7-6-0 Northwestern 3-4-0 9 7-6-1 9. Michigan State 2-5-1 7 8-6-1 10. Minnesota 1-6-0 3 5-8-0 11. Iowa 0-5-1 1 0-9-2
Tuura Earns Third Career Weekly Conference Award
Megan Tuura was named the Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Week Monday (Oct. 11). It marks her second conference weekly award this season and the third of her young career. Tuura was honored by the league after allowing no goals and making nine saves in 180 minutes during the Wolverines' two roads wins over Purdue and Indiana last weekend. Tuura joins fellow goalkeeper Suzie Grech (2000-03) as the only Wolverines to earn the conference award three times in a career. Tuura was previously named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week earlier this season on Sept. 13 and during her freshman campaign on Sept. 29, 2003.
LT Nets PK
With the game-winner off a penalty kick against Purdue (Oct. 8), Laura Tanchon recorded her first goal of the season and the second of her career. Michigan's last goal off a penalty kick came against Southern Cal on Sept. 7, 2003, as Erika Kleinholz (2000-03) scored the Wolverines' lone goal in a 2-1 loss to the Trojans in the Nike Challenge at the U-M Soccer Field. In 78 career games, Tanchon has totaled two goals and five assists for nine points.
Defense Paving the Way
Michigan's recent success can be largely attributed to the Wolverines' strong defense corps, anchored by senior Rachel Rothenbach (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy), sophomore Brenna Mulholland (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) and freshman Kandice McLaughlin (West Hills, Calif./El Camino Real HS). The Maize and Blue have allowed just two goals in the past seven games and have already posted six shutouts this season. Michigan's back line is among the best in the Big Ten, as the Wolverines rank second in conference goals allowed with just four in eight games.
Heaton Hits Half-Century Mark
With her game-winning score against Indiana (Oct. 10), Therese Heaton reached her 50th career point at Michigan. In 63 career games, Heaton has totaled 20 goals and 10 assists. She is currently tied with Emily Schmitt (1996-99) for ninth place on U-M's all-time goals list and needs two more points to break into the top 10 on Michigan's all-time points chart. Heaton leads the team this season with eight goals and three assists for 19 points. She ranks fourth in the Big Ten in overall goals (eight) and third in game-winning goals (three).
Dobbyn Continues to Make Impact
Freshman Melissa Dobbyn (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS) tallied her third assist of the season on Therese Heaton's game-winner against Indiana (Oct. 10). Dobbyn ranks second on the team in points this season with 15 (six goals, three assists) and is now tied for the team lead in assists with Heaton, Laura Tanchon and sophomore Katelin Spencer (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS).
Michigan in the National and Regional Rankings
The Wolverines moved up two spots to No. 13 in the most recent NSCAA/adidas national rankings, released Tuesday (Oct. 12). Michigan is the top conference team ranked in the poll behind No. 3 Penn State. U-M is listed at No. 2 behind Notre Dame in the association's Great Lake Regional rankings.
NSCAA/adidas National Rankings (10/12/04)
Rank, School W-L-T Prev 1. Notre Dame 14-0-0 1 2. North Carolina 12-0-1 2 3. Penn State 11-1-1 3 4. Portland 11-2-0 4 5. Virginia 10-1-1 6 6. Texas A&M 12-3-0 7 7. Washington 9-2-1 4 8. UCLA 9-3-0 8 9. Kansas 12-2-0 10 10. Duke 10-3-0 9 11. Princeton 9-1-0 12 12. Tennessee 9-2-2 13 13. MICHIGAN 9-3-2 15 14. Florida State 10-3-0 17 15. Stanford 8-2-2 16 16. Ohio State 8-2-3 19 17. Santa Clara 7-4-2 18 18. West Virginia 11-3-0 20 19. Auburn 10-2-1 23 20. Boston College 9-4-0 22 21. SMU 8-2-2 21 22. USC 8-3-1 NR 23. Florida 9-3-2 14 24. Illinois 10-4-0 23 25. San Diego 7-6-1 NR
U-M Listed in Soccer Buzz National and Regional Polls
Michigan jumped up five spots to No. 17 in the most recent Soccer Buzz national rankings, released Monday (Oct. 11). The Wolverines also moved up to No. 2 behind Notre Dame in the publication's Great Lakes Regional rankings.
On the Horizon ...
The Wolverines finish out their five-game road stretch with a match against Michigan State next Friday (Oct. 22). Game time is set for 3 p.m. at Old College Field in East Lansing, Mich.
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
