Weekly Release #12
10/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
2006 Big Ten Tournament Schedule
Thursday-Friday-Sunday, Nov. 2-3-5
Jeffrey Field State College, Pa.
Thursday, Nov. 2 Quarterfinals Final Big Ten Standings This Week
Game 1 -- #3 seed Purdue vs. #6 seed Ohio State, 10:30 a.m.
Game 2 -- #2 seed Illinois vs. #7 seed Wisconsin, 1:30 p.m.
Game 3 -- #1 seed Penn State vs. #8 seed Northwestern, 4:30 p.m.
Game 4 -- #4 seed Indiana vs. #5 seed Michigan, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 3 Semifinals
Game 5 -- Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 4:30 p.m.
Game 6 -- Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 4 Championship
Game 7 -- Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 1:30 p.m.
All times are Eastern Standard Time Big Ten Pct. Pts. 1. Penn State 8-1-1 .850 25 2. Illinois 8-2-0 .800 24 3. Purdue 6-3-1 .650 19 4. Indiana 5-4-1 .550 16 5. MICHIGAN* 4-3-3 .550 15 Ohio State 5-5-0 .500 15 7. Northwestern 4-5-1 .450 13 Wisconsin 4-5-1 .450 13 9. Michigan State 4-6-0 .400 12 10. Minnesota 1-8-1 .150 4 Iowa 1-8-1 .150 4
The Wolverines (8-6-5, 4-3-3 Big Ten) earned the fifth seed in the Big Ten Tournament after winning the tie breaker over Ohio State thanks to a 2-1 overtime win on October 22 in Columbus, Ohio. U-M is set to take on the No. 5-seeded Indiana Hoosiers on Thursday night (Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m.) at Jeffrey Field in State College, Pa. A Michigan win would set up a match against the winner of the Penn State vs. Northwestern contest that precedes U-M's night game. The winner of the conference tournament will earn an automatic birth into the NCAA Tournament.
Championship Final to be Broadcast on CSTV
The 2006 Big Ten Tournament championship final will be shown live on CSTV at 1:30 on Sunday (Nov. 4).
Scouting the Opponents
Indiana -- After starting out the season red hot to build an 8-2-3 record, the fourth-seeded Hoosiers (9-6-4, 5-4-1 Big Ten) finished 1-4-1 in their final six games and enter the Big Ten Tournament on a four-game skid. All but two of IU's wins and losses were decided by a goal. Carrie DeFreece finished the season as the team leader in goals (4) and points (11) with Lauren Lamping (nine points) and Christie Kotynski (four goals) not far behind. Stacy Van Boxmeer was among the leaders in the Big Ten in goals-against average (0.65) and shutouts (7). DeFreece (Sept. 11) and Van Boxmeer (Oct. 9) each earned conference Player-of-the-Week accolades during the season.
The Hoosiers, who bowed out of last season's conference tournament after a 3-0 loss to Michigan State, defeated the Wolverines 2-1 earlier this season, scoring the game-winner in the 75th minute. Michigan has fallen in its past two games against Indiana after going unbeaten in the previous 10, while not allowing an Indiana score in any of those contests. U-M holds a 9-3-1 record in the all-time series against the Hoosiers. The two programs have never faced one another in the Big Ten Tournament.
IU is coached by Mick Lyon, who is in his fifth season as head coach. Lyon has posted a 43-40-12 record during that span and holds a 150-105-30 career record.
Indiana on the Internet: www.iuhoosiers.com.
U-M Drops Regular-Season Finale at Michigan State
In a choppy, physical regular-season finale, the Wolverines earned five shots on goal and seven corner kicks, but allowed the game-winner at 62:06 in a 1-0 loss. Following MSU's game-winner in the 63rd minute, the Spartans packed in the defense for the remainder of the game, stifling Michigan's chance for the tying marker.
Michigan Set to Face Top Defense in Big Ten
The Wolverines, who allowed the fourth-fewest goals in the Big Ten this season, will face off against the leader in goals-against in the conference in Indiana. The Hoosiers allowed 13 in 19 games, while Michigan yielded 17 in 19 contests.
The Wolverines at the Big Ten Tournament
The Wolverines hold an all-time record of 17-10 at the Big Ten Tournament, having won the conference crown over Northwestern in 1997 and Penn State in 1999. Michigan advanced to the Big Ten Tournament final last season, but ran into a senior-laden Wisconsin squad on a chilly and windy afternoon. Tournament MVP Amy Vermeulen solidified the Badgers 3-1 win with two goals and an assist. U-M advanced past No. 1-ranked and undefeated Penn State in a shootout in the first round and ousted Illinois in a come-from-behind 2-1 victory in the semifinals.
Michigan Against the State of Indiana
The Maize and Blue owns a 23-18-2 all-time mark in games against programs from the state of Indiana. Michigan went 1-1-1 in such games this season, falling 2-0 to Notre Dame, defeating Purdue 2-0, and dropping a 2-1 decision to Indiana. All three games were played in Ann Arbor.
The Wolverines record by opponent: Butler (4-2-0), Indiana (9-3-1), Notre Dame (2-11-0), Purdue (5-2-1) and Valparaiso (3-0-0).
Spencer Takes Fourth in All-Time Starts
Senior captain Katelin Spencer (Brighton, Mich./Brighton), who has started all 85 games in her career, is currently in sole possession of fourth on Michigan's career games started list and trails third-place holder Kacy Beitel (1997-2000), who started 88 games in her illustrious career. Spencer is tied with fellow senior captain Judy Coffman (San Jose, Calif./Santa Theresa) for the active lead in career games played.
Tuura Tops Conference in GAA
Megan Tuura (Tucker, Ga./St. Pius X Catholic), who holds an 8-3-4 record this season, has allowed nine goals in 17 games played to post a conference-best 0.54 goals-against average while ranking third in the Big Ten in save percentage (.855). Tuura already holds the Michigan program record for lowest goals-against average in a season, posting a 0.74 mark in 2003 as a freshman. She also ranks second on Michigan's career list in GAA (1.15) and career saves (303) while ranking third in wins (34).
She remains one shutout from her single-season career high of seven, which she set in 2004 as a sophomore.
Coffman Continuing Exceptional Career
Judy Coffman (San Jose, Calif./Santa Theresa) finished the regular season with the team lead in goals (5) and runner-up in points (13). Coffman is currently one goal from equaling her single-season career best from 2005 and is two starts shy of 50 for her career.
Dobbyn Two Points From Sixth on Career Points List
Team-leading point scorer Melissa Dobbyn (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson), currently leading the Big Ten in shots with 84, is within two points of sixth on the program's all-time points list entering the Big Ten Tournament. Her four goals and six helpers so far this season push her career totals to 25 goals and 17 assists. The junior's 67 career points trail Ruth Poulin (1994-97), who collected 69 points in her career.
The Livonia, Mich., native also needs just two 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 apiece. In addition, Dobbyn surpassed Kacy Beitel for second on Michigan's career shots list as she went over 250 career attempts on goal after an eight-shot weekend. Dobbyn's career shot total reaches 260.
She currently owns the second and third spots on the program's list for most shots in a season after firing 87 as a sophomore and 89 as a freshman. Beitel holds the top spot with her 94 attempts in 2000.
Clutch Performers: Dobbyn and Miler Tie for Lead in Game-Winners
Melissa Dobbyn and Katie Miler (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) have each scored three game-winning goals this season. All three of Miler's scores on the season have come in the clutch, and all but one of Dobbyn's four scores has clinched a Michigan win.
Dobbyn has been clutch her entire career, having tallied seven game-winning goals and five postseason scores in her career. Two of her game-clinchers have come in overtime.
First-Half Defense Perfect at Home, Nearly as Tough on the Road
The Wolverines did not allow a goal in the first half in any home game this season. U-M will start the 2007 campaign with an 11-game regular-season streak, dating back to 2005. In additon, Michigan allowed just two first-half goals all season. The scores came at Penn State and at Ohio State
U-M Gaining on Goals-Against Record
Having allowed just 17 scores entering the Big Ten Tournament, Michigan continues to close in on the program record for fewest goals allowed in a season, 20, set in 1994 and 2002.
Two Scores Equal Win
The Wolverines hold a 5-0 record when scoring more than one goal in a game. The Maize and Blue defeated Oklahoma and Purdue by a 2-0 margin in September and dropped Iowa and No. 24 Illinois by a score of 2-1 in consecutive games in the final home weekend. Michigan then improved that record with a 2-1 overtime win at Ohio State.
Maize and Blue Stays at No. 9 in NSCAA/adidas Regional Poll
The NSCAA/adidas Great Lakes Region Poll, released Tuesday (Oct. 31), kept Michigan in the eighth spot after an undefeated weekend. Notre Dame is atop the national poll for the ninth straight week, sitting in a tie for first with North Carolina. Two Big Ten teams rank nationally -- Penn State (No. 12) and Illinois (No. 16) -- while one (Purdue) received votes.
Michigan Drops to No. 10 in Soccer Buzz Great Lakes Region Rankings
After a 1-0 loss to Michigan State last Friday (Oct. 27), U-M dropped from No. 6 to No. 10 in the most recent Soccer Buzz Great Lakes Region poll. The following Big Ten teams also rank in the regional poll: Illinois (No. 3), Purdue (No. 5), Indiana (No. 8) and Ohio State (No. 9). Penn State (No. 14) and Illinois (No. 23) rank in the national poll with Purdue earning votes.
On the Horizon ...
Michigan's chance to earn an NCAA Tournament bid hinges on its Big Ten Tournament performance. The first and second rounds will be played Nov. 10-12 next weekend at campus sites.
Contact: Matt Baumer (734) 763-4423
