Weekly Release #5
9/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, Sept. 17 -- vs. Northwestern (U-M Soccer Field), 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 19 -- vs. Illinois (U-M Soccer Field), 1 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 24 -- at Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.), 7 p.m. CDT
Sunday, Sept. 26 -- at Iowa (Iowa City, Iowa), 1 p.m. CDT
This Week
The No. 25 University of Michigan women's soccer team (3-2-1) opens its Big Ten Conference schedule this weekend with a pair of matches at the U-M Soccer Field. Michigan will host Northwestern on Friday (Sept. 17) at 2:30 and finish up against Illinois on Sunday (Sept. 19) at 1 p.m.
Scouting the Opponents
Northwestern -- The Wildcats (4-2) are coming off a pair of 1-0 victories over Samford and Southeast Missouri State last weekend. Freshman Kelsey Hans leads the offensive attack with five goals and one assist for 11 points. Sophomore goalkeeper Whitney Jones has allowed just five goals in over 533 minutes for a 0.66 GAA. Northwestern, which finished last season with a 7-10-1 record and a ninth-place finish in the Big Ten, is led by fourth-year head coach Jenny Haigh. The Wildcats return eight starters and 14 letterwinners from the 2003 squad. Northwestern earned a 1-0 home victory over Michigan in the last meeting on Sept. 21, 2003, but the Wolverines still hold an 8-3-1 advantage in the all-time series. Northwestern on the Internet: www.nusports.com.
Illinois -- The No. 11-ranked Fighting Illini (5-0), who visit Michigan State prior to the match with Michigan, defeated Wright State, 2-0, and Miami (Ohio), 3-1 last weekend. Senior Tara Hurless has recorded three goals and two assists for eight points to lead the offense, while 2003 All-American Leisha Alcia has let in just one goal in almost 419 minutes for a 0.21 GAA. The Illini are led by third-year coach Janet Rayfield, who guided Illinois to a 16-4-2 record and a Big Ten Tournament championship in 2003. The Wolverines last faced the Illini in last year's conference tournament final (Nov. 9), where Illinois came out on top with a 2-0 victory to claim the title. U-M still leads the all-time series 6-3-1. Illinois on the Internet: www.fightingillini.com.
Last Week
The Wolverines came away with a victory and a tie last weekend as the host of the Michigan Classic at the U-M Soccer Field. On Friday (Sept. 10) against Syracuse, Michigan struck first with a goal in the 52nd minute from junior Therese Heaton (Wheaton, Ill./Warrenville South HS), but the Orange netted the equalizer with 25 minutes left in an eventual 1-1 double-overtime draw. The Wolverines came out on Sunday (Sept. 12) and handed then No. 22-ranked Boston University a 3-0 loss behind two goals from Heaton and four saves from sophomore goalkeeper Megan Tuura (Tucker, Ga./St. Pius X Catholic HS).
Tuura Earns Conference Accolade
Megan Tuura was selected as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for her performance in net last weekend against Syracuse and Boston University. Following a six-save effort in 110 minutes of action against the Orange, Tuura collected four stops against the Terriers for her first shutout of the season and the sixth of her career. It marks Tuura's second career conferance award, as was previously named the Big Ten co-Defensive Player of the Week during her freshman campaign on Sept. 29, 2003.
Five and Counting ...
Therese Heaton, who collected six points on three goals over the weekend, has now scored a goal in five straight games and is the first U-M player to accomplish the feat since Abby Crumpton (1999-2002), who scored seven times over a six-game stretch during the 2001 season. With two scores against Boston U., Heaton now has two multi-goal games in her career. She previously recorded a pair of goals during her freshman season against Miami (Ohio) in the second round of the 2002 NCAA Tournament. Heaton, who has tallied 18 goals and seven assists (43 points) in 55 career games, leads the 2004 Wolverines with 12 points.
No Stoppin' Dobbyn
Freshman Melissa Dobbyn (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS) has already made her mark on the Wolverine soccer program after totaling 10 points in just six career games. Dobbyn, who collected a goal and an assist in Michigan's shutout victory over Boston University, is second on the team in points this season with four goals and two assists.
Dynamic Duo
Therese Heaton and Melissa Dobbyn have combined to score 10 of Michigan's 11 goals this season and have accounted for 22 of the Wolverines' 29 points.
Wildcat Reunion
U-M interim assistant coach Aileen Guiney is quite familiar with Northwestern women's soccer program, as she was a four-year letterwinner for the Wildcats from 2000-03. Guiney finished her collegiate career with 20 assists, which is second on NU's all-time list, and eight goals for 36 points.
Rademacher Earns 150th Career Win
Michigan head coach Debbie Rademacher collected her 150th career coaching victory with the 3-0 win over Boston University. Rademacher, who has posted a 132-76-20 record in 11 seasons at Michigan (1994-present), held an 18-12-4 record during her two-year tenure at Fairfield University (1992-93).
Wait Until Next Year
The Wolverines received word that sophomore defender Lindsey Cottrell (Kalamazoo, Mich./Central HS) will be lost for the season after suffering a torn ACL in just the third game of the season against Kentucky (Sept. 3). Cottrell, who was a member of the Big Ten All-Freshman team in 2003, is now the third Wolverine to be sidelined for the remainder of the year. Senior Theresa Dwyer (Metairie, La./Mount Carmel Academy) and junior Stephanie Boyles (Arvada, Colo./Pomona HS) also went down with ACL injuries during summer club competition.
Big Ten Standings
Big Ten Pts. Overall Wisconsin 0-0-0 0 6-0-0 Illinois 0-0-0 0 5-0-0 Michigan State 0-0-0 0 6-1-0 Penn State 0-0-0 0 5-1-0 Indiana 0-0-0 0 4-1-0 Northwestern 0-0-0 0 4-2-0 Ohio State 0-0-0 0 4-2-0 Purdue 0-0-0 0 4-2-0 MICHIGAN 0-0-0 0 3-2-1 Minnesota 0-0-0 0 3-2-1 Iowa 0-0-0 0 0-3-1
Michigan in the National and Regional Rankings
The Wolverines claim the No. 25 slot in the most recent NSCAA/adidas national rankings, released Tuesday (Sept. 14). Michigan began the year as the No. 20 team in the association's preseason national rankings. U-M is tied for the fourth spot with Ohio State in the NSCAA/adidas Great Lakes Regional poll.
NSCAA/adidas National Rankings (9/14/04)
Rank, School W-L-T Prev 1. North Carolina 5-0-1 1 2. Notre Dame 6-0-0 2 3. Washington 5-0-0 4 4. Virginia 6-0-0 9 5. Penn State 3-1-0 5 6. Portland 5-1-0 8 7. Tennessee 2-1-2 17 8. Kansas 6-0-0 21 9. Florida 4-1-1 11 10. Clemson 5-1-0 7 11. Illinois 5-0-0 13 12. Pepperdine 5-0-1 19 13. West Virginia 5-1-0 16 14. California 4-1-1 NR 15. Texas A&M 4-2-0 15 16. Wisconsin 6-0-0 18 17. Princeton 3-0-0 20 18. Florida State 4-1-0 6 19. Yale 5-0-0 NR 20. UCLA 3-2-0 3 21. SMU 3-1-1 24 22. Ohio State 4-2-0 NR 23. Texas 3-2-0 10 24. Rutgers 4-2-0 NR 25. MICHIGAN 3-2-1 NR
U-M Listed in Soccer Buzz National and Regional Polls
The Wolverines are listed No. 5 in the Great Lakes Region in the most recent Soccer Buzz rankings, released Monday, Sept. 13. Michigan dropped out of the top 25 but did receive votes in the publications's national poll, where it began the year listed at No. 25.
On the Horizon ...
The Wolverines continue conference play next weekend on the road. Michigan will visit Minnesota on Friday (Sept. 24) at 7 p.m. CDT in Minneapolis, Minn., before traveling to Iowa City, Iowa, on Sunday (Sept. 26) to face Iowa at 1 p.m. CDT.
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
