Michigan
7-5-4, 3-2-2
Illinois
9-6-0, 5-2-0
Wolverines Upset No. 24-Ranked Illinois on Senior Day
10/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Katie Miler (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) scored the game-winner for the second straight contest to help the University of Michigan women's soccer upset No. 24 Illinois on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 15) at the U-M Soccer Field. Judy Coffman (San Jose, Calif./Santa Theresa) netted a penalty-kick marker and assisted on Miler's game-clincher in the 65th minute. Megan Tuura (Tucker, Ga./St. Pius X Catholic) made three key saves in the first half to keep Michigan in the game and finished with four stops on the day.
Melissa Dobbyn (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson) provided the first scoring chance for the Wolverines three minutes in when she created space with the dribble at the top of the 18-yard box and fired a shot inches wide of the left post. Tuura showed her senior leadership early on as she blocked two point-blank Illinois shots.
After Kylie Neschke (Still River, Mass./Tabor Academy) leaped and headed one high on a Coffman corner in the 28th minute, Tuura made her third amazing stop. During a corner-kick play for Illinois, a loose ball went directly to an Illini foot 10 yards out. Tuura challenged and stonewalled the chance.
Coffman and Dobbyn worked together in the final stages of the first half, attempting to give Michigan the lead, but they could not convert and the two teams entered halftime in a stalemate, 0-0.
Dobbyn collected another scoring opportunity immediately into the half second when Coffman raced down the sideline and fed a cross to Dobbyn, who put her shot wide. Michigan's hard work finally paid off in the 53rd minute when Coffman chipped a set piece to Dobbyn behind the Illinois defense. As the junior striker tried to corral the ball, an Illini defender took her down, resulting in a Michigan penalty kick, which Coffman converted with a shot low to the right corner to give U-M a 1-0 lead at 52:42.
Illinois got the equalizer minutes later on its own penalty-kick chance following a Michigan foul in the box. Mary Therese McDonnell connected on the try to tie the score at 54:03.
The Wolverines did not miss a beat and responded to the Illini score when Coffman ripped a cross from right to left that Illinois goalkeeper Lindsey Carstens appeared to gather. The ball slid under Carstens's hands, through her legs, and Miler raced in to tap home the game-winner at 64:38 and put Michigan up 2-1.
Michigan kept the pressure on the remaining minutes, earning the better of the scoring chances and defending three Illinois corners. Tuura came out to make a stop on a header on the Illini's final corner attempt in the 84th minute, icing the one-goal win on Senior Day.
U-M next travels to Minnesota for a Friday evening (Oct. 20, 7 p.m. CDT) affair at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.
GAME SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Illinois | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Michigan | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
2nd -- U-M, Judy Coffman, 52:42 (penalty kick)
2nd -- ILL, Mary Therese McDonnell, 54:03 (penalty kick)
2nd -- U-M, Katie Miler, 64:38 (Coffman)
Shots: U-M 16, ILL 15
Shots on Goal: U-M 4, ILL 5
Saves: U-M 4 (Megan Tuura), ILL 2 (Lindsey Carstens)
Corner Kicks: U-M 6, ILL 8
Fouls: U-M 16, ILL 17
Cards: U-M, Emily Kalmbach, 36:19 (yellow); U-M, Melissa Dobbyn, 87:11 (yellow); Mary Therese McDonnell, 89:40 (yellow).
Contact: Matt Baumer (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Coffman, Judy
MICH Coffman, Judy PENALTY KICK GOAL.
52:42
McDonnell, Mary T
ILL McDonnell, Mary T PENALTY KICK GOAL.
54:03
Miler, Katie (3)
Assisted By: Coffman, Judy
3 cross to 19, goalie miss play, 19 rebo
64:38
