Wolverines Upset No. 24-Ranked Illinois on Senior Day

Sunday, October 15

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan

7-5-4, 3-2-2

Illinois

9-6-0, 5-2-0

Illinois

Michigan

Wolverines Upset No. 24-Ranked Illinois on Senior Day

10/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Matt Baumer

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Field)
Score: Michigan 2, #24 Illinois 1
Records: U-M (7-5-4, 3-2-2 Big Ten), Illinois (9-6, 5-2 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Oct. 20 -- at Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.), 7 p.m. CDT

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 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' 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)

NOTES

• Michigan ends the season without allowing a first-half goal at home. The Wolverines will enter the 2007 with a streak of 11 home games without yielding a score in the beginning frame dating back to 2005. Overall, U-M has allowed one first-half score all season.

• U-M improved to 9-4-1 in the all-time series against Illinois with today's triumph.

• The Wolverines are 4-0 when scoring multiple goals. In addition, Michigan scored multiple goals in back-to-back games for the first time this season.

• The Maize and Blue won for the first time on a Sunday since Aug. 27, when Michigan upset Arizona 1-0 in double overtime for the first win of the year.

• Michigan tallied its third win against a ranked opponent after going 0-2-3 in such games last season. U-M is 3-2 in games with a ranked adversary.

• The Wolverines earn back-to-back victories for the second time this season and collected their first two-win weekend. Michigan is also unbeaten in the last four matches, posting a 2-0-2 record over that span.

• Brenna Mulholland made her first start of the season on Senior Day.

• Katelin Spencer, who sang the national anthem prior to kickoff, moved into a tie with Debbie Flaherty (1994-97) for fifth place all-time on Michigan's career games started list. The Brighton, Mich., native has started all 82 games in her career.

• Judy Coffman netted her team-leading fifth goal of the season on a second-half penalty kick. She is one score shy of her 2006 goal total. The senior captain also scored Michigan's last penalty-kick try in a 4-1 win at Iowa last season.

• Katie Miler's three goals this season have all been game-winners. She also tied a career high with four shots in today's contest.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Debbie Rademacher
On earning two wins this weekend ... "It is such a positive for us. We have players contributing and playing really well that didn't have the chance to early on. We keep plugging away. The big thing is that the team is playing together and for each other. We are in a good place right now."

On sophomore forward Katie Miler ... "She is a fighter and never quits. She has been impact and we are lucky to have her."

On senior Judy Coffman's chip pass to junior Melissa Dobbyn to set up the penalty-kick score ... "It is certainly something we have not practiced, but that is two experienced players that play well together. They gave the nod to one another and each was ready for it. It was a great heads-up play and idea on their part."

U-M Senior Forward Judy Coffman
On her chip pass to junior Melissa Dobbyn to set up her penalty-kick score ... "We practice free kicks and penalty kicks a lot. That is a play we haven't actually practiced. But Dobbyn and I talk a lot and have the same mindset and creativity. When Dobbyn and I are together, we venture off and do plays out of the book. I am happy with how it worked out. Dobbyn and I were on the same page."

On scoring four goals this weekend ... "We should have more than four goals, but with the shots, it shows we are attacking well. If we can put away some more of the shots, it would help us out a little bit more. Our defense is staying strong and our attack is trying to improve the shots-to-goals percentage."

On upsetting No. 24 Illinois ... "We need to assure that we get a spot in the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament. Any team that we can beat along the way is only helping our confidence and helping our record. Today was a big win for us."

U-M Senior Goalkeeper Megan Tuura
On winning her final game at the U-M Soccer Field ... "It was awesome. I was a little nervous because it is my last game on this field. I wanted to end on a good note. You come here thinking in four years you are going to build up everything, and to end it like this is awesome. You look back on how hard you have worked every single practice and outside of practice during the summer. This is amazing."

On upsetting No. 24 Illinois ... "We can compete with the best teams. We are a great team. We just have to play our game and we will do great."

U-M Sophomore Forward Katie Miler
On scoring two game-winning goals this weekend ... "We were having a little trouble putting goals away. This last weekend we came up big and were able to put away the goals when we needed them. I was happy to be able to do that for the team."

On taking punishment to set up her scores ... "It was a good feeling, but the punishment is worth it. It is part of the Big Ten and something I knew coming in. It's something you have to fight through and deal with. As long as I am getting the calls for the team, it is worth the battle."

On upsetting No. 24 Illinois ... "We are fighters. I think that is the most important thing. We can battle with the best and we put anything on the line. That is what has enabled us to beat ranked teams."