Weekly Release #3

Upcoming Schedule
Friday, Sept. 1 -- at Oklahoma (Norman, Okla.), 7:30 p.m. CDT
Sunday, Sept. 3 -- at Oklahoma State (Stillwater, Okla.), 11:30 a.m. CDT
Friday, Sept. 8 -- at Dayton (Dayton, Ohio), 2 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 10 -- at Kentucky (Lexington, Ky.), 2 p.m.

This Week
The University of Michigan women's soccer team (1-0-1, 0-0 Big Ten) takes to the road this week, traveling to the state of Oklahoma for two matches. U-M is slated to take on Oklahoma at John Crain Field in Norman, Okla., on Friday (Sept. 1) at 7:30 p.m. CDT. The Wolverines will then take a short jaunt to Stillwater, Okla., to face Oklahoma State at the Cowgirl Corral on Sunday (Sept. 3) at 11:30 a.m. CDT.

Scouting the Opponents
Oklahoma -- The Sooners (0-2) face Michigan for the first time in program history following two losses in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Washington (2-1) and Hawaii (1-0). OU posted a 13-6-1 record in 2005, including a 5-4-1 mark in conference for a seventh-place Big 12 finish. The Sooners welcome back 17 letterwinners and nine starters from last season. Savannah Scott, who tallied 16 points (7 g, 2 a) in 2005, is the top offensive returnee. Jennifer Nichols also returns after playing every minute in net last season, when she accumulated 89 saves, seven shutouts and a 1.26 goals-against average. Coach Randy Evans is in his eighth season and holds a 64-58-12 career record over that span. Oklahoma on the Internet: www.soonersports.com.

Oklahoma State -- The Cowgirls (2-0) enter this weekend with two wins under their belt after disposing of Texas State (10-0) and Missouri State (2-1). OSU finished 10-6-3 last season (3-6-1 Big 12). Senior Jesyca Rosholt returns to lead the attack after scoring 12 times and adding five helpers in 2005. Senior goalkeeper Jeanne Rankin backstops the Cowgirl defense. Rankin earned a 6-5-3 record last season with a 1.43 goals-against average, four shutouts and 49 saves. Karen Hancock is in her 11th year as head coach of the Oklahoma State women's soccer program. Hancock owns a 93-86-16 mark at OSU and a 114-99-18 record in her collegiate head coaching career. Oklahoma State on the Internet: www.okstate.com.

The Wolverines in Road Openers
Michigan is even in its first road games of the season all-time, posting a 5-5-2 record in road openers. U-M fell in its first road opener in 1994 before going .500 from 1995-96. Michigan then reeled off three straight victories from 1997-99, including its only win against a Big 12 opponent in a road opener (5-1, Missouri). Dropping the next two contests, Michigan picked up its last win in a road match in a 3-0 shutout over Massachusetts in 2002. The Wolverines have a loss and two ties in the past three road openers, including a 1-1 draw with No. 23 Kansas in 2005.

Michigan All-Time vs. the Big 12 Conference
The Wolverines own a 6-5-3 all-time record against the Big 12. Michigan holds winning records against Iowa State (1-0-0), Missouri (2-1-0), and Texas (2-1-0), while playing .500 against Nebraska (1-1-1). U-M is 0-1-1 against both Kansas and Texas A&M. The Maize and Blue has never faced Oklahoma or Oklahoma State. Michigan is 1-1-1 in road-opening games against the Big 12.

U-M Scheduled for Two Live Television Games on Comcast
Comcast is scheduled to televise Michigan home games against Notre Dame (Sept. 17, 1 p.m.) and Indiana (Oct. 1, 1 p.m.) live on Comcast Local.

U-M Content After a Win and a Tie in Opening Weekend
Beginning the season at home for the first time since Michigan's inaugural season in 1994, Michigan looked to the field against Western Michigan Friday evening (Aug. 25) at the U-M Soccer Field. Michigan produced numerous near misses and held a 33-6 shot advantage but could not bury a score and settled for a 0-0 draw to mark the second straight regular-season contest the Wolverines have finished tied 0-0. Megan Tuura (Tucker, Ga./St. Pius X Catholic), who played the first half, and Madison Gates (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker), who played the second half and both overtime frames, combined for the shutout.

The Wolverines rebounded on Sunday (Aug. 27) with a clutch 1-0 upset over No. 17-ranked Arizona on a rain-soaked U-M Soccer Field. A back-and-forth game again went into overtime scoreless. In the second overtime, Judy Coffman (San Jose, Calif./Santa Theresa) snuck behind the defense after a long free kick from Tuura. Coffman gathered the loose ball and slipped the game-winner into the net at 106:27 to clinch Michigan's triumph over the Wildcats. The helper was Tuura's first of her career and the first by a Wolverine goalkeeper since Suzie Grech recorded two in the 2001 season.

Tuura Saving at a Record Pace
Megan Tuura made three saves in a 1-0 shutout over No. 17 Arizona on Sunday (Aug. 27) and is now within three saves of Suzie Grech (2000-03) for second place all-time in career saves. Tuura's 253 career blocks trail Grech's 256.

Dobbyn Climbing the Record Mountain
Melissa Dobbyn (Livonia, Mich./Livonia) enters the playing week with 53 career points, which puts her three points behind Mari Hoff's (1996-99) 56 points for 10th place all-time at U-M. After posting 32 points last season, Dobbyn could potentially hop to fourth place all-time if she reaches or surpasses her 2005 point total.

Just Call Her Clutch Coffman
Judy Coffman's goal at 106:27 in overtime to beat No. 17 Arizona on Sunday (Aug. 27) is the fourth game-clincher of her career. Coffman led the Wolverines with three such scores in 2005 and has now scored a game-winner in each of Michigan's past four wins dating back to last season. Coffman tallied game-winners in 2005 against Illinois in second round of the Big Ten Tournament (Nov. 4), Iowa (Oct. 16) and Northwestern (Oct. 7).

Debuts, Debuts, Debuts
Freshman Amy Klippert (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) made her first career start in her first career game against Western Michigan (Aug. 25), while sophomore Katie Miler (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) and freshman Kylie Neschke (Still River, Mass./Tabor Academy) saw their first career action in reserve. Freshman Brittany Magee (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) made her Michigan debut on Sunday (Aug. 27) against Arizona in reserve.

Michigan Voted Sixth in Preseason Big Ten Poll
U-M earned a No. 6 ranking in this season's Big Ten preseason poll. Favorite Penn State tops the list followed by Illinois (No. 2), Purdue (No. 3), Ohio State (No. 4), and Michigan State (No. 5). Minnesota (No. 7), Wisconsin (No. 8), Indiana (No. 9), Northwestern (No. 10) and Iowa (No. 11) round out the bottom five.

U-M Opponents in NSCAA National Rankings
Michigan's remaining games feature four teams that are listed in this year's NSCAA/adidas preseason national rankings: Penn State (No. 3), Notre Dame (No. 5), Illinois (No. 13) and Purdue (No. 21). U-M defeated No. 17 Arizona in double overtime on Sunday (Aug. 27).

2006 NSCAA/adidas Preseason National Rankings (8/15/06)

RANK, SCHOOL W-L-T PREV 1. Portland 23-0-2 1 2. UCLA 22-2-2 3 3. Penn State 23-0-2 2 4. North Carolina 23-1-1 5 5. Notre Dame 22-3-0 6 6. Florida State 20-4-1 4 7. Santa Clara 17-5-1 7 8. Virginia 18-6-1 8 9. Texas A&M 18-4-2 11 10. California 16-4-2 9 Boston College 13-6-2 10 12. Duke 14-6-1 16 13. Illinois 12-7-3 20 14. Tennessee 15-6-2 15 15. Cal State Fullerton 19-4-0 12 16. Connecticut 15-5-2 25 17. Arizona 11-8-3 17 18. West Virginia 12-6-3 19 Florida 13-6-1 24 20. Pepperdine 15-4-3 18 21. Purdue 11-7-2 RV 22. Vanderbilt 17-3-3 NR 23. Yale 15-4-1 13 24. Wake Forest 9-9-1 NR 25. Marquette 19-4-1 14

Soccer Buzz Ranks Maize and Blue Eighth in the Region
After a 1-0-1 weekend, Michigan moved to eighth in the Soccer Buzz Great Lakes Region poll released Monday (Aug. 28). The following U-M opponents rank in the poll: Notre Dame (No. 1), Illinois (No. 3), Purdue (No. 4), Minnesota (No. 6), Ohio State (No. 7), Michigan State (No. 10), Wisconsin (No. 12), Dayton (No. 14) and Northwestern (No. 15).

Introducing the Captains ...
Seniors Judy Coffman, Lindsey Cottrell (Kalamazoo, Mich./Central) and Katelin Spencer (Brighton, Mich./Brighton) along with junior Sarah Banco (Medfield, Mass./Noble and Greenough) will captain the 2006 Wolverines. Spencer wears the honor for the second straight season, while Coffman, Cottrell, and Banco hold the honor for the first time.

The Leaders of the Wolverines
Head coach Debbie Rademacher is in her 13th season as head coach of the Michigan women's soccer program. A United States National Team member from 1986-1991, Rademacher has posted a 149-92-26 record at U-M, including a 59-37-13 record in Big Ten play and two Big Ten championships. Over that stretch, the Wolverines' program has exhibited steady growth; from an impressive Big Ten Conference Tournament semifinal finish in the inaugural 1994 season, to a pair of conference tournament titles in 1997 and 1999, the Maize and Blue has begun to expect success on the national level, with eight consecutive NCAA Tournament trips from 1997-2004, including a trip to the Elite Eight in 2002 and the Sweet 16 in 2003. Rademacher has coached four National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Americans, 20 NSCAA all-region honorees, 37 All-Big Ten first- or second-team picks and 93 Academic All-Big Ten recipients.

Dan Dalzochio, who is in his fifth season as an assistant, and Aileen Guiney, who is in her third season as an assistant, each join Rademacher. Dalzochio, a USSF "A" goalkeeper licensed coach, works mostly with Michigan goalkeepers. He has worked with both the men's U-18 national team and the girls U-16 and U-21 women's national teams in addition to six years of professional playing experience in the NPSL and A-League. Guiney's responsibilities include organizing and implementing training programs in addition to on-field duties. Guiney obtained her NSCAA National Diploma this past summer.

On the Horizon ...
The Wolverines head on the road again for next week's set of games. U-M plays Dayton on Friday (Sept. 8, 2 p.m.) in Dayton, Ohio, and will take on Kentucky on Sunday (Sept. 10, 2 p.m.) in Lexington, Ky.

Contact: Matt Baumer (734) 763-4423