Weekly Release #5
9/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, Sept. 21 -- vs. Miami (Ohio) (U-M Soccer Field), 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 23 -- vs. No. 22 Southern Cal (U-M Soccer Field), Noon
Friday, Sept. 28 -- at Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.), 7:00 p.m. CDT
Sunday, Sept. 30 -- at Iowa (Iowa City, Iowa), 1:00 p.m. CDT
Maize and Blue Round-Out Non-Conference Schedule
The University of Michigan women's soccer team has a two more challenges before the Big Ten schedule kicks off. Miami (Ohio) comes to Ann Arbor Friday (Sept. 21) for a 7:30 p.m. contest on the U-M Soccer Field. No. 22 Southern Cal will come knocking Sunday (Sept. 23) for a noon start. Michigan is 0-0-1 against ranked opponents this season; it tied No. 2 Notre Dame in the season opener.
Promotions
This weekend, Michigan women's soccer will be celebrating youth soccer weekend. Friday night will feature free sno-cones, pizza and t-shirts and Sunday boasts free cotton candy, sno-cones, pizza, inflatable rides and t-shirts. All teams must register at the marketing table.
U-M Women's Soccer on the Big Ten Network
The Big Ten Network will air two Michigan home games this season. The Wolverines make their BTN debut against Indiana on Thursday, Oct. 4th, at 8 p.m. Two weeks later, U-M will once again grab the national spotlight as the network showcases its match with Northwestern Friday, October 19th, at 5:30 p.m.
Launched in August, the Big Ten Network provides unprecedented access to an extensive schedule of conference sports events and shows, original programs in academics, the arts and sciences, campus activities and associated personalities. The Big Ten Network is a joint venture between subsidiaries of the Big Ten Conference and Fox Cable Networks. For more information regarding the Big Ten Network, visit www.BigTenNetwork.com.
Corner Kicks: Miami (Ohio)
Miami (1-2-2, 0-0-0 MAC) is looking to find its rhythm after it lost the 2007 MAC Player of the Year and two all-conference second team members. The freshman class has done its part to fill the void, led by Sara Lund and Julie Thompson. Lund, a Sweden native, has three goals and two helpers this season, while Thompson has dented the twine on four occasions. Sophomore Krista Pace returns in net and has been strong, making 24 saves in five games to boast a 1.48 goals-against-average. Pace earned All-MAC Freshman team honors in 2006 when she assumed the starting role following non-conference play.
Head coach Bobby Kramig is in his 10th season as head coach of the RedHawks program. The Wolverines are 2-1-0 against Miami, with MU taking the last game in Oxford, Ohio, in 2005. Then-freshman Danelle Underwood (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern) had a career-high six shots -- a mark she has tied twice but is yet to surpass -- in the meeting. Miami on the Internet: www.muredhawks.com .
Corner Kicks: Southern Cal
The 22nd-ranked Trojans (4-1-1, 0-0-0 Pac-10) bring a diverse offense to the table, led by a pair of freshmen in Megan Ohai and Alyssa Davila. Ohai is averaging a goal every-other game, while Davila has five points to her name. Junior Lauren Brown, a 2006 All-Pac-10 honorable mention honoree, has picked up where she left off with five points, and junior Amy Rodriguez is dangerous up front with 14 career goals. Junior Meagan Holmes, a 2005 All-America honorable mention, leads a veteran defense that returns all of the starters from a year ago, including Kat Stolpa who worked her way back after two torn ACLs. Sophomore Kristin Olsen has played all six games for the Trojans, posting a 4-1-1 record with three shutouts.
Head coach Ali Khoroshahin is in his first season as head coach of the Trojans program. Khoroshahin came to USC after he spent six years as the head women's coach at Cal State Fullerton. Michigan has never beat Southern Cal, holding an 0-2-0 all-time record. The teams last met in 2003 at the Nike Challenge as the then-No. 15 Southern Cal edged out the host Wolverines, 2-1. Southern Cal on the Internet: www.usctrojans.com.
The Week That Was
Michigan finished the LMU/Four Points Sheraton Culver City Classic winless over the weekend, suffering a 1-0 loss to Oregon State before it fell to host Loyola Marymount 3-0. The Wolverines out shot their opponents in both games, but were stopped by hot goalkeepers. Despite the losses, junior goalkeeper Madison Gates (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) made five saves in two games.
Leaders and Best
Through five games, freshman Amanda Bowery (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester) leads the Wolverine offense with three points. She is joined by freshman Stephanie Crawford (Novi, Mich./Novi) and fifth-year senior Emily Kalmbach (Coto de Caza, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic) for the team lead in goals, as each have one score on the season. Five players currently have one assist. Melissa Dobbyn (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson) has taken the most cracks at the net with ten shots, while senior Katie Bohard (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) and Bowery lead the way with four on goal. Madison Gates has shouldered the load in goal, playing 457-plus minutes with a 1.18 goals-against average.
First-Half Defense Perfect at Home
The Wolverines did not allow a goal in the first half in either home game this year -- a streak that now spans 13 regular-season games. U-M started the 2007 campaign with the string of stingy defense at 11 regular-season games, dating back to the 2005 campaign. Michigan returned its entire backline: Defensemen junior Skylar Andrews (Dallas, Texas/Plano West Senior), graduate-senior Lindsey Cottrell (Kalamazoo, Mich./Central), fifth-year senior Emily Kalmbach and sophomore Amy Klippert (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) while adding freshman Jackie Carron to the mix for 2007.
Dobbyn Approaching Career Shots and Points Records
Senior Melissa Dobbyn, who fired off a program record 95 shots in 2006, currently trails Abby Crumptons (1999-2002) career record of 300 by 19 strikes. The senior forward averages 90 shots-per-season and just more than four shots-per-game.
Dobbyn currently sits one point shy of sixth place all-time in program history. With 68 career points to her name, Dobbyn needs just one point to tie Ruth Poulin (1994-97). Jessica Limauro (1995-98) is next on the list in fifth-place with 79 career points, and Therese Heaton (2002-05) in fourth has 80 points. Crumpton holds the top spot on the list with 116 points.
Other categories in which Dobbyn is near the top five include goals (25, five short of fifth place) and assists (18, one short of fifth place).
U-M Listed No. 5 in Big Ten
The Wolverines earned a No. 5 ranking in the Big Ten Conference preseason poll released Friday, Aug. 17.
2007 Big Ten Preseason Coaches Poll (8/17/07)
1. Penn State 2. Illinois 3. Purdue 4. Ohio State 5. MICHIGAN 6. Indiana 7. Wisconsin 8. Michigan State 9. Northwestern 10. Minnesota 11. Iowa
Upcoming Opponents Ranked in NSCAA National Rankings
Michigan will suit up against three teams from the NSCAA/adidas national rankings: at No. 15 Purdue (Oct. 7), No. 17 Penn State (Oct. 14) and against No. 22 USC (Sept. 23). Michigan is 0-0-1 against ranked opponents this season; U-M tied No. 2 Notre Dame, 0-0, in the Wolverines' season opener (Aug. 31).
Rank Team Previous Record 1. Stanford 1 6-0-0 2. Santa Clara 3 4-0-1 3. Portland 4 5-1-0 4. Texas A&M 5 4-1-1 5. Texas 7 4-1-0 6. UCLA 6 3-1-1 7. Virginia 10 4-1-1 8. North Carolina 2 4-2-0 9. Boston College 8 5-0-1 10. South Carolina 16 7-0-0 11. Florida State 12 4-2-0 12. Florida 9 4-2-0 13. Tennessee 15 4-1-1 14. Rutgers 12 4-2-0 15. Purdue 22 6-1-1 16. Oklahoma State 21 5-1-0 17. Penn State 20 3-2-1 18. West Virginia 18 4-2-0 19. California 14 5-1-0 20. Clemson 17 5-1-0 21. Notre Dame 11 2-3-1 22. Southern Cal 24 4-1-1 23. Connecticut 23 4-2-0 24. Marquette 25 7-0-0 25. Brigham Young RV 4-0-1On the Horizon
With the non-conference schedule wrapping up this weekend, the Wolverines will head to Minnesota to open the Big Ten docket on Friday night (Sept. 28) at 7 p.m., before traveling to Iowa on Sunday (Sept. 30) for a matinee game at 1 p.m.
Contact: Ryan Sosin (734) 763-4423
