Michigan
8-8-4
Illinois
11-6-3
Michigan Downs Illinois, Gains Spot in Tournament Final
11/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team advanced to the Big Ten Tournament final with a 2-1 win over fourth-seeded Illinois on Friday (Nov. 4) at the U-M Soccer Field. Junior forward Judy Coffman's (San Jose, Calif./Santa Theresa) goal at 57:10 proved to the game-winner as Michigan held on for the remainder of the game despite being outshot 12-4 in the second half.
| | Half of Judy Coffman's six goals scored this season have been game-winning tallies. |
Tuura kept the seventh-seeded Wolverines in the game early as Illinois created two good chances in the first 20 minutes of the game, but Tuura made two diving stops from in close to keep Illinois off the board. Eva Strickland gave Illinois a 1-0 lead at 24:12. Jessica Bayne sent a cross into the the box to Strickland, who headed it toward the far post past Tuura.
Michigan's first scoring chance came on a corner kick attempt minutes after the Illinois goal. Coffman sent the ball into the box, and it was cleared right to Jamie Artsis (Chatsworth, Calif./Harvard-Westlake School) at the top of the box, but her shot attempt sailed inches over the bar. The Wolverines were not to be denied and tied the score at 29:43. Following an Illinois foul, senior midfielder Stephanie Boyles (Arvada, Colo./Pomona) quickly sent a free kick over the Illinois defense to Dobbyn, who sprinted free just as the ball was kicked. Dobbyn went in alone on goal, deked past Illinois goalkeeper Rachel Frank, and put the ball into the open net to move the score to 1-1.
Freshman midfielder Danelle Underwood (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern) almost gave Michigan the lead with seconds left in the half as she created room at the top of the box with the dribble, but Frank made the save and the teams went to half tied 1-1.
Tuura stepped it up once again to begin the second half when she stoned Strickland just over two minutes in. Illinois nearly took the lead in the 52nd minute as Bayne dribbled in at the top of the box and ripped a low shot, but Tuura came out aggressively and made a sprawling save.
Michigan took advantage of the Tuura's excellent play with the go-ahead goal in the 58th minute of the game. Coffman fired a free kick toward the middle of the goal that sailed over Frank's head and into the back of the net to give Michigan the lead, 2-1, at 57:10. Coffman almost got another one 10 minutes later in the 68th minute, but her shot from the left side of the 18-yard box hit the outside of the post.
Michigan's defense stepped it up in the final 10 minutes of the game, blocking six shots, including three in succession during a scrum at the top of the box with less that two minutes to play.
The Wolverines will face No. 8 seed Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament championship game at noon Sunday (Nov. 6) at the U-M Soccer Field. CSTV will televise the game live, and the winner will earn the Big Ten's automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.
GAME SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Illinois | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- ILL, Eva Strickland, 24:12 (Jessica Bayne)
1st -- U-M, Melissa Dobbyn, 29:43 (Stephanie Boyles)
2nd -- U-M, Judy Coffman, 57:10 (unassisted)
Shots: U-M 11, ILL 24
Saves: U-M 7 (Megan Tuura), ILL 2 (Rachel Frank)
Corner Kicks: U-M 2, ILL 4
Fouls: U-M 17, ILL 12
Cards: None
Contact: Matt Baumer (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Strickland, Eva (5)
Assisted By: Bayne, Jessica
cross by 9 to head by 21
24:12
Dobbyn, Melissa (12)
Assisted By: Boyles, Stephanie
free kick through ball to 13
29:43
Coffman, Judy (6)
free kick, high over goalie
57:10
