Weekly Release #9
10/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
2006 Weekly Release #9
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, Oct. 13 -- vs. Iowa (U-M Soccer Field), 7 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 15 -- vs. Illinois (U-M Soccer Field), 1 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 20 -- at Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.), 7 p.m. EDT
Sunday, Oct. 22-- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 1 p.m. EDT
This Week
The University of Michigan women's soccer team (5-5-4, 1-2-2 Big Ten) plays its final regular-season home games of the season this weekend, battling Iowa on Friday night (Oct. 13, 7 p.m.) and Illinois on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 15, 1 p.m.). Both games will be played at the U-M Soccer Field, and a Senior Day presentation will occur before Sunday's match.
Promotions
Pizza will be given away to anyone with an MCard on Friday night. Mini-soccer balls will also be given away. On Sunday, in addition to the Senior Day presentation, post-game autographs will be available.
Game Highlights Available on Michigan All-Access
Michigan women's soccer highlights from home matches against LMU, Oakland and Purdue can be viewed on Michigan All-Access. All highlights, except U-M's game against Loyola Marymount, require subscription. Michigan All-Access is available via the link on the MGoBlue.com home page. Highlights from U-M's game against Illinois will be available following Sunday's match.
Scouting the Opponents
Iowa -- The Hawkeyes (5-8-1, 0-5-0 Big Ten) have one win in their last seven contests after beginning the season 4-2-1. Iowa finished 3-12-4 (1-7-2) last season, but have since brought in new head coach Rob Rainey, who spent the past seven seasons at Ball State. His record in nine career seasons is 90-65-21.
Iowa returned 18 letterwinners to a squad featuring just one senior in Ball State transfer goalkeeper Ali Becker. Becker has seen the majority of time in net for the Hawkeyes, playing nine games and posting a 1.18 goals-against average, 39 saves and one shutout. Lindsey Boldt has also seen action, recording two shutouts and 31 saves in approximately 150 minutes fewer than Becker. Stephanie Hyink (2 g, 4 a) and Kelsie Full (2 g, 3 a) lead a young Iowa offense.
The Wolverines hold a 10-0-0 record in the all-time series between the two programs, winning the last meeting 4-1 in Iowa City, Iowa in 2005.
Iowa on the Internet: www.hawkeyesports.com.
Illinois -- The Fighting Illini (8-5-0, 4-1-0 Big Ten) went 1-1 this past weekend after ending Penn State's 31-game winning streak in Big Ten play. Illinois returns 21 letterwinners and seven starters from 2005, when they went 12-7-3 (6-3-1 Big Ten) and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to No. 11 Florida State, 2-1. Head coach Janet Rayfield is in her fifth season at Illinois, where she's posted a 53-28-3 record.
The Illini are led by a trio of double-digit scorers in Chichi Nweke (5 g, 3 a), Jessica Bayne (5 g, 2 a) and Ella Masar (3 g, 5 a). Lindsey Carstens has played all but 140 minutes in goal, posting 36 saves, a 1.11 goals-against average and four shutouts.
U-M went 1-1 against Illinois last season, losing 3-2 at Illinois in the regular season before ousting the Illini in a come-from-behind 2-1 win in the second round of the Big Ten Tournamnet in Ann Arbor. Michigan owns an 8-4-1 record in the all-time series.
Illinois on the Internet: www.fightingillini.com.
U-M Earns Two Tough Road Points in Conference Play
Michigan remained at .500 after playing to two draws this past weekend. On Friday evening at Wisconsin (Oct. 6), the Wolverines held a 1-0 lead late into the game, but had to settle for a 1-1 tie. Judy Coffman (San Jose, Calif./Santa Theresa) broke the scoring open, one-timing a feed from Melissa Dobbyn (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson) from the top of the 18-yard box into the back of the net. Michigan played with the lead until the Badgers netted the tying marker in the 76th minute following a restart kick.
The Wolverines faced a tough task in Evanston on Sunday (Oct. 8), playing without Amy Klippert (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) due to a red card on Friday, as well as Danelle Underwood (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern) and Jamie Artsis (Chatsworth, Calif./Harvard-Westlake School), who both did not play due to injury. Michigan carried the play offensively, while stopping Northwestern to zero threatening offensive attacks throughout the game. The best scoring chance for the Maize and Blue came on a breakaway pass from Coffman to Dobbyn, but the junior striker slid her shot just wide of the post. U-M led the shot advantage 13-9, including a 7-1 margin in the first half. The Wolverines defended the Wildcats' offensive chances in overtime, resulting in a scoreless deadlock.
Spencer Entering Special Territory in Career Games Started
Senior captain Katelin Spencer (Brighton, Mich./Brighton) is displaying her consistency, as she will end the weekend in sole possession of sixth place all-time in career games started in U-M program history. Her 80 career games started remain one behind three players for sixth place on Michigan's career games started list. Andrea Kayal (1999-2002), Mari Hoff (1996-99) and Emily Schmitt (1996-99) each own 81 career games started. Spencer is Michigan's active leader in games played, along with fellow senior captainJudy Coffman.
The Brighton, Mich., native is also displaying offense this season since moving to midfield from defender. Her goal in the second half against Indiana (Oct. 1) gives her two for the season, which matches her career total entering the 2006 campaign. Spencer tallied one score in both her freshman and sophomore seasons.
Brick Wall: Tuura Leads Big Ten in GAA
Megan Tuura (Tucker, Ga./St. Pius X Catholic) has posted a 0.44 goals-against average this season, leading the Big Ten in the category. She stoned opponents this past weekend, recording seven saves while allowing just one goal. Earning her fifth shutout of the year, the 18th of her career, the senior now ranks third in the Big Ten in shutouts this season. In addition, her .868 save percentage in 12 games is second only to Lindsey Dare (.938) of Minnesota, who has played in just eight contests.
Tuura, who also passed 1,000 minutes played for the season, became the program's all-time minutes-played leader (6,196) after playing 110 in both games this past weekend. Her career goals-against average of 1.18 ranks second all-time in program history.
Dobbyn Nearing Sixth in All-Time Points
Owning the second-highest shot total in the Big Ten, Melissa Dobbyn (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson) also needs just six points to tie Ruth Poulin's (1994-997) 69 career points for sixth place on Michigan's career points list. After earning an assist on U-M's lone goal on Friday (Oct. 6), Dobbyn increased her career point total to 63 (24 g, 15 a).
The junior striker needs just four more assists to crack the top five in career helpers at Michigan. Debbie Flaherty (1994-97) and Emily Schmitt (1996-99) currently hold the fifth spot with 19.
Stellar First-Half Defense for Maize and Blue
The Wolverines, who have not allowed a score in the first half in any game at home this season, have also allowed just one first-half score all season. The goal came at Penn State, who also scored the last regular-season goal in the first half at U-M Soccer Field on Oct. 21, 2005. The streak spans nine regular-season home contests.
Defense on a Record Pace
U-M's 13 goals allowed through 15 games puts the program's record of 20 goals allowed in 1994 and 2002 in serious jeopardy as this year's Wolverines, who have a team GAA of 0.86, have five remaining regular-season contests.
2006 Campaign Sees Shutouts
Michigan is nearly on pace to equal the program record for shutouts in a season. U-M has blanked its opponents seven times, which is second-most in the Big Ten through 14 games. In 2001, the Wolverines posted eight blankings through 14 contests, ending with a program-record 12 at the end of the campaign with 10 of the shutouts coming during the regular season.
Multiple Goals is the Answer
Michigan has tallied multiple scores in two games this season, and has come out on the winning end in both contests. U-M defeated Oklahoma 2-0 on Sept. 1, and took down then No. 19 Purdue (Sept. 29) by the same score.
Other Notables
Danelle Underwood will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a season-ending knee injury.
Judy Coffman has scored three of Michigan's past six goals after netting U-M's only marker of the weekend at Wisconsin. She has also earned points in four of the past six games, scoring in three of the past five. The senior needs one point for 30 in her career.
After teaming up for the lone goal of the weekend at Wisconsin, Judy Coffman (4 g, 2 a) and Melissa Dobbyn (3 g, 4 a) became the first Wolverines to reach double digits in points with 10 apiece.
Melissa Dobbyn has led the Wolverines in shots 11 times this season. On three of those occasions, she was tied with one or more other U-M players.
Erica Gordy recorded her first career shot in the second half at Wisconsin. She also made her first start of the season on Sunday at Northwestern.
Kristin Thomas made the first start of her career at Northwestern.
Five of the Wolverines' seven shutouts have come on a Friday.
Michigan has outshot its opponent 197-158 this season, and holds a 72-57 advantage in shots on goal.
Wolverines Remain Steady in NSCAA/adidas Regional Poll
The NSCAA/adidas Great Lakes Region Poll released Tuesday (Oct. 10) still ranks the Wolverines ninth after two ties this past weekend. Illinois, who holds the fourth spot in the region, is the only remaining U-M opponent to be recognized in the national poll at No. 24.
2006 NSCAA/adidas National Rankings (10/10/06)
RANK, SCHOOL W-L-T PREV 1. Notre Dame 13-0-0 1 2. North Carolina 14-1-0 2 3. Santa Clara 11-2-0 3 4. UCLA 11-2-0 4 5. Portland 11-2-1 6 6. Florida State 9-1-2 5 7. West Virginia 11-1-2 7 8. Texas A M 10-3-1 8 9. Wake Forest 12-2-0 9 10. Boston University 11-2-2 12 11. Penn State 8-3-3 13 12. Oklahoma State 11-2-1 13 13. Utah 9-4-0 19 14. Texas 10-3-1 22 15. Virginia 8-4-2 16 16. Indiana 8-2-4 RV 17. BYU 10-2-1 15 18. William & Mary 10-1-2 18 19. Boston College 8-4-1 NR 20. Louisville 10-2-1 19 21. Florida 8-4-2 21 22. California 7-2-3 11 23. Villanova 13-0-2 NR 24. Illinois 8-5-0 10 25. Colorado 7-4-2 17
U-M Stays at No. 11 in Latest Soccer Buzz Great Lakes Region Poll
The Wolverines two-draw weekend kept them at the No. 11 spot in the latest Soccer Buzz Great Lakes Region Rankings, released Monday (Oct. 9). Michigan opponents hold the following spots in the poll: Illinois (No. 4), Ohio State (No. 7), and Minnesota (No. 12). Illinois received votes in the magazine's national poll.
On the Horizon ...
The Wolverines hit the road for two of three conference matches that will finish the Big Ten slate. U-M takes on Minnesota next Friday (Oct. 20, 7 p.m.) at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium, and Ohio State next Sunday afternoon (Oct. 22, 1 p.m.) at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
Contact: Matt Baumer (734) 763-4423
