Weekly Release #10
10/19/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, Oct. 22 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), 3 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 28 -- vs. Notre Dame (U-M Soccer Field), 3 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 30 -- at Western Michigan (Kalamazoo, Mich.), 1 p.m.
This Week
The University of Michigan women's soccer team (9-5-2, 6-2-1 Big Ten) looks to get back on a winning track when it closes out its five-game road stretch at Michigan State on Friday (Oct. 22). The match with the Spartans is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start at Old College Field in East Lansing, Mich.
Scouting the Opponents
Michigan State -- The Spartans (9-7-1, 2-6-1 Big Ten) split their two road games last weekend, losing 1-0 at Wisconsin on Friday (Oct. 15) before a 3-2 win at Oakland on Sunday (Oct. 17). Emma Harris leads the team with 13 points on five goals and three assists, while Jenee Witherspoon and Maureen Pawlak have contributed 12 points apiece. Erin Carlson has made 17 starts in goal for MSU, accumulating 83 saves and allowing 20 goals for a 1.16 GAA. Head coach Tom Saxton is in his 14th season at Michigan State and holds a career record of 135-120-20 at the school. The Spartans return 17 letterwinners and six starters from last year's team, which finished 12-8 overall and 4-6 in the conference. The Wolverines hold an 8-2-2 advantage in the all-time series with MSU, including a 2-1 overtime victory in Ann Arbor in the last meeting on Oct. 24. Michigan State on the Internet: www.msuspartans.com.
Are You Up to the Challenge
The Wolverines have an opportunity to bring the University within a half a point of clinching the Pontiac Challenge Cup with a victory against Michigan State on Friday (Oct. 22). Michigan currently leads the Spartans 1.5-1 in the fall standings. Last season, the women's soccer team clinched the inaugural Challenge Cup after Stephanie Chavez (2000-03) scored in overtime to send the Wolverines to a 3-2 win (Oct. 24).
Last Week
The Wolverines suffered two straight losses for just the second time this season, falling 1-0 at Oakland on Thursday (Oct. 14) before a 3-1 loss at Wisconsin on Sunday (Oct. 17). Michigan outshot the Golden Grizzlies 14-4 and dominated the corner kick count by an 11-0 margin, but Kristi Swaving was able to find the back of the net in the 54th minute to send OU to the non-conference victory. Michigan allowed two goals in the first 19 minutes against the Badgers, and Wisconsin added one more score in the 65th minute to seal the win. Sophomore Katelin Spencer (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) scored U-M's only goal of the week against the Badgers, taking a corner kick from senior Laura Tanchon (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Dana Hills HS) and heading it home to cut Wisconsin's lead to two goals. It was Spencer's first goal of the season and the second of her career.
Big Ten Standings
Big Ten Pts. Overall 1. Penn State 0-0-0 27 13-1-1 2. Ohio State 6-0-3 21 10-2-3 3. MICHIGAN 6-2-1 19 9-5-2 4. Illinois 5-3-1 16 11-4-1 Wisconsin 5-4-1 16 11-4-1 6. Northwestern 5-4-0 15 9-6-1 7. Indiana 3-4-2 11 8-5-2 8. Purdue 3-6-0 9 7-8-0 9. Michigan State 2-6-1 7 9-7-1 10. Minnesota 1-8-0 3 5-10-0 11. Iowa 0-8-1 1 0-12-2
Michigan in the National and Regional Rankings
The Wolverines dropped out of the most recent NSCAA/adidas national rankings, released Tuesday (Oct. 19). It is just the second time this season that Michigan has not appeared in the national poll. U-M is listed at No. 5 in the association's Great Lake Regional rankings.
NSCAA/adidas National Rankings (10/19/04)
Rank, School W-L-T Prev 1. Notre Dame 15-0-0 1 2. North Carolina 14-0-1 2 3. Penn State 13-1-1 3 4. Portland 14-2-0 4 5. Virginia 11-2-1 5 6. Kansas 14-2-0 9 7. UCLA 10-4-0 8 8. Tennessee 11-2-2 12 9. Princeton 11-1-0 11 10. Duke 12-4-0 10 11. Santa Clara 9-4-2 17 12. Ohio State 10-2-3 16 13. Texas A&M 12-4-0 6 14. Florida State 11-3-1 14 15. Washington 10-3-1 7 16. West Virginia 13-3-0 18 17. Auburn 12-2-1 19 18. Stanford 9-3-2 15 19. Illinois 11-4-1 24 20. SMU 10-2-2 20 21. San Diego 9-6-1 25 22. Clemson 10-5-0 NR 23. Boston College 10-5-0 20 24. Connecticut 11-5-0 NR 25. Florida 10-3-3 23
U-M Listed in Soccer Buzz Regional Poll
With the two losses last week, Michigan dropped out of the Top 30 in the most recent Soccer Buzz national rankings, released Monday (Oct. 18). The Wolverines also dropped to No. 6 in the publication's Great Lakes Regional rankings.
On the Horizon ...
The Wolverines return to action next Thursday (Oct. 28) when they host No. 1-ranked Notre Dame in the final game at U-M Soccer Field this season. The match with the Fighting Irish is slated to start at 3 p.m.
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
