Coffman's OT Tally Gives U-M Upset of No. 17 Arizona

Sunday, August 27

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

1-0-1

Arizona

1-1-0

OT 3

OT 4

Arizona

Michigan

8/27/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Matt Baumer

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Field)
Score: Michigan 1, #17 Arizona 0 (2OT)
Records: U-M (1-0-1), Arizona (1-1-0)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Sept. 1 -- Oklahoma (Norman, Okla.), 7:30 p.m. CDT

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Judy Coffman (San Jose Calif./Santa Theresa) scored in the second overtime at 106:27 to propel the University of Michigan women's soccer team over No. 17 Arizona 1-0 on Sunday (Aug. 27) at U-M Soccer Field. The Wolverines earned their first win of the season and second straight shutout. Megan Tuura (Tucker, Ga./St. Pius X Catholic), who assisted on the game-winning score, made three saves, including a point-blank diving stop with 19 minutes left in regulation to help preserve her first shutout of the season.

Coffman's tally -- Michigan's first goal of the season -- came off an innocent set piece with just four minutes to play. Tuura launched the free kick from just outside her box. Neither team could get a touch on the ball as it bounced at the 18-yard box to Coffman, who had snuck behind the Arizona defense. The senior captain took a touch and sent a sliding left-footer into the net to begin the celebration.

Michigan carried play to create several scoring opportunities in the first half. Danelle Underwood (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Haven) struck a shot from 25 yards that Wildcats goalkeeper Chelsea McIntyre snared. Melissa Dobbyn (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson) generated the best chance 20 minutes into the contest. Dobbyn dribbled through the Arizona defense and ripped one on goal from 12 yards away, but McIntyre squared up and grabbed it.

Michigan outshot Arizona 10-3 in the first period but had to settle for a 0-0 score heading into halftime.

Second-half conditions brought a pouring rain that handcuffed both sides. Jamie Artsis (Chatsworth, Calif./Harvard-Westlake School) nearly put U-M ahead when Katelin Spencer (Brighton, Mich./Brighton) sent her free on goal. Artsis' attempt from 10 yards was deflected away by McIntyre.

Tuura saved the game for Michigan following a Wildcats corner in the 72nd minute. Arizona's Jasmine Namdar collected a Michigan clearing attempt at the top of the 18-yard box and sent a low shot through traffic to Tuura, who dove and grabbed the attempt. U-M defended an Arizona corner -- the fifth of the half for the Wildcats -- in the 86th minute to force overtime.

In the first overtime, Arizona earned a quick corner and Michigan generated two shots, but neither team could net a score. Each side entered the second overtime exhausted, and the Wolverines took advantage of an Arizona offensive-zone foul in the 107th minute to set up the eventual game-winner.

Next up for the Wolverines is a four-game road trip that begins in Oklahoma next weekend. Michigan takes on Oklahoma on Friday (Sept. 1, 7:30 p.m. CDT) in Norman, Okla., before heading to Stillwater, Okla., to battle Oklahoma State on Sunday (Sept. 3, 11:30 a.m. CDT).

GAME SUMMARY

Team	1	2	OT	OT	F
Arizona	0	0	0	0	0
Michigan	0	0	0	1	1

Scoring, Time (Assist)
2OT -- U-M, Judy Coffman, 106:27 (Megan Tuura)

Shots: U-M 23, UA 16
Shots on Goal: U-M 8, UA 3
Saves: U-M 3 (Megan Tuura), UA 7 (Chelsea McIntyre)
Corner Kicks: U-M 2, UA 8
Fouls: U-M 5, UA 15
Cards: UA, Jasmine Namdar, 96:55 (yellow)

NOTES

• The Wolverines improve to 2-0 all-time against the Wildcats.

• Michigan earns its second straight shutout and third straight regular-season shutout dating back to last season's finale against Michigan State when the Wolverines played the Spartans to a 0-0 draw. The last time the Maize and Blue played two straight double-overtime contests came in October of 2004 when the Wolverines lost to No. 5 Penn State, 1-0, and tied No. 21 Ohio State in subsequent games. U-M also produced three straight shutouts in September of 2004.

• The Wolverines last earned back-to-back shutouts also in October of 2004 when U-M claimed two straight 1-0 shutouts over Purdue and Indiana.

• Judy Coffman's game-winning score is her second straight in a Michigan win and the fourth of her career. Coffman tallied the game-winner in U-M's last victory of 2005 against Illinois in the semifinal round of the Big Ten Tournament.

• Melissa Dobbyn's nine shots led the Wolverines for the second straight game. The junior forward notched a team-leading 10 against WMU on Friday (Aug. 25).

• Megan Tuura's shutout drops her career goals-against average to 1.22, which propels her to second all-time in career GAA. She is three saves shy of tying Suzie Grech (2000-03) for second place all-time in career blocks.

• Michigan's last three scores have come via set pieces. U-M's lone score today followed a Megan Tuura free kick. The Wolverines' used a Danelle Underwood set piece to score their lone goal in the 2005 Big Ten Championship against Wisconsin and sent the game-winner into the net in the second round of the same conference championship against Illinois via a Judy Coffman free kick.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Debbie Rademacher
On today's overtime win ... "We feel really good. Arizona is a quality team and they have some special players. I thought we played really well through many momentum changes. Megan Tuura came up big for us and we were able to hold them defensively to change the momentum. We found the opportunity and finally put one away. Opening weekend at home, you want to be able to come out on top and start off on a strong note against a quality team like Arizona. We needed that win going on the road the next two weeks."

On senior captain Judy Coffman's clutch play ... "She is a senior. Judy knows you take your half-chances and to keep plugging away. She can manage frustration as an experienced player whereas a younger player when things aren't going your way, you may have checked out. She stayed with her game and got the goal for us."

On the play of the defense ... "Megan (Tuura) played well. It's soaking wet and she is hanging on to balls with no rebounds. That was huge for us. Our defense was playing against fast forwards and they stayed organized and did a good job."

U-M Senior Captain Judy Coffman
On her overtime game-winner ... "I knew we were all tired. It was a long game and it was the second overtime game we have played this weekend. A goal was due coming from our game on Friday night when we had 33 shots to six. That is a huge percentage of shots to not score on. To get out of that slump and to get the team over that hump is excellent. The entire team helped to put the ball in the net because we were so exhausted; it was a relief. I am just so happy we were able to come out of this with an overtime goal."

On scoring a game-winner after leading the team in that category in 2005 ... "There are a lot of leaders on this team. I know (Melissa) Dobbyn has a lot of responsibilities put on her individually every game. I feel it's my role to help Dobbyn with that responsibility and share that responsibility a bit. When it comes down to the last moments of the game, you get more motivation and adrenaline. My main goal is to beat my individual scoring record and assists record to try and help our attack more than I did last year."

On winning today's game ... "For this being our opening weekend, I am very proud of our team. We worked hard especially with two overtimes. This really shows a lot of the character on our team; showing we are fit enough to go through two overtimes in a weekend. Arizona is a great team, and to be able to come out with a win is awesome. We needed that win because if we were to come out of this weekend with two ties it would not have been a good start to the season. To end this weekend with a win, it helps with the confidence and the way we are going to train next week."

U-M Freshman Defender Amy Klippert
On today's game ... "We played awesome. We started off slow, but our team connects well and we really got into the game."

On starting the first two games of her career ... "It's an honor. It is a huge accomplishment. It's definitely tough. It's much more of a physical game. In club I was one of the taller players, but not here. That is hard to transition."