Michigan
3-0-2
Dayton
0-2-2
Miler Tallies First Career Goal as Michigan Shuts Out Dayton
9/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Site: Dayton, Ohio (Baujan Field)
Score: Michigan 1, Dayton 0
Records: U-M (3-0-2), Dayton (0-2-2)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Sept. 10 -- Kentucky (Lexington, Ky.), 2 p.m.
DAYTON, Ohio -- Playing in only her fifth game on the varsity level, sophomore Katie Miler (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) scored the game's lone goal as the University of Michigan women's soccer team defeated Dayton 1-0 Friday afternoon (Sept. 8) at Baujan Field.
Miler, who joined the team in the spring season after playing for the U-M club team last fall, scored the game-winner at 28:34, and Megan Tuura's (Tucker, Ga./St. Pius X Catholic) three-save effort helped the Wolverines stay undefeated (3-0-2) with their fourth shutout in five games this season.
The Flyers gained two corners in the 14th minute for the first scoring chances of the day. Michigan's defense remained steady, however, forcing the attempts wide. U-M answered with a corner of its own in the 27th minute. Jamie Artsis (Chatsworth, Calif./Harvard-Westlake School) earned the chance off the corner, collecting a loose ball and sending a shot high over the bar.
Minutes later the Wolverines notched the only goal of the game as a shot by Melissa Dobbyn (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson) from the right side clanged off the post directly to Miler, who put back the rebound with a volley to give Michigan a 1-0 lead at 28:34.
The teams traded opportunities the rest of the half, but Tuura stood strong to knock away one of two saves she made in the first frame. Michigan earned a late corner as time expired and went into halftime up 1-0.
The Maize and Blue came close again in the 58th minute as Dobbyn found the post for a second time. The Wolverines were unable to capitalize before a Dayton clear. The Flyers began pressing offensively, forcing Tuura to come up with saves in 66th and 68th minutes. Tuura's dynamite play allowed Michigan to respond on an offensive rush as Judy Coffman (San Jose, Calif./Santa Theresa) fired a shot that had to be blocked away. U-M earned a corner off of the rush but was unable to add to the lead.
The Wolverine defense denied a Dayton corner in the 76th minute to preserve the lead and later defended the Flyers' final two shots on net to earn the triumph.
Michigan returns to the field on Sunday (Sept. 8) in Lexington, Ky., to take on Kentucky at the UK Soccer Complex. Game time is 2 p.m.
GAME SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Michigan | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Dayton | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Katie Miler, 28:34 (Melissa Dobbyn)
Shots: U-M 11, UD 11
Shots on Goal: U-M 3, UD 3
Saves: U-M 3 (Megan Tuura), UD 2 (Niki Reed)
Corner Kicks: U-M 3, UD 4
Fouls: U-M 11, UD 12
Cards: None
NOTES
• Senior captain Lindsey Cottrell played in her 50th career game. In her third season of eligibility, Cottrell has made 44 career starts.
• Junior Melissa Dobbyn extended her team-high point streak to three games with a helper on Katie Miler's first-half tally.
• Sophomore Katie Miler scored her first career goal for the game-winner. She becomes the seventh player this season to record at least one point.
• Sophomore Erica Gordy saw her first action of the season as reserve in the second half.
• Michigan continues to stifle opponents defensively this season, allowing just one goal in five games. The previous program low for goals allowed in the first five games of a season was four by the 1997 squad.
• For just the third time in program history, Michigan is undefeated after five matches. U-M began both the 1998 and 2002 seasons 5-0 before losing the sixth game each season.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Debbie Rademacher
On sophomore Katie Miler ... "She played well during the spring and had a great preseason so we are familiar with her as a player. She comes off of the bench, she's quick, and she gives us that spark we need."
On the factors leading to this season's 3-0-2 record ... "We are staying organized defensively much more than last season. We have added some speed in our backline. We can also attribute this success to the leadership from our captains. The team is very together right now and they are all contributing. We are not blowing anybody out by any means, but we are doing what is necessary to earn the victories."
Team Stats
Miler, Katie (1)
Assisted By: Dobbyn, Melissa
rebound off the left post
28:34
