Second-Half Markers Stymie Wolverines in Big Ten Opener

Friday, September 28

Minneapolis, Minn.

7:00 PM CT

Michigan

2-5-0

Minnesota

5-3-1

Michigan

Minnesota

Second-Half Markers Stymie Wolverines in Big Ten Opener

9/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Ryan Sosin

Site: Minneapolis, Minn. (Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium)
Score: Minnesota 2, Michigan 1
Records: U-M (2-5-1, 0-1 Big Ten), Minnesota (5-3-1, 1-0 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Sept. 30 -- at Iowa (Iowa City, Iowa), 1 p.m. CDT

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Two quick goals erased a first half lead for the University of Michigan women's soccer team, as the Wolverines fell in their Big Ten Conference opener to Minnesota, 2-0, Friday (Sept. 28) in Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium. The Maize and Blue carried a 1-0 lead into the second stanza, but the Gophers scored two goals -- four minutes apart -- in the middle of the second half to take control of the game.

Freshman forward Amanda Bowery (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester) scored Michigan's lone goal in the first half, while junior goalkeeper Madison Gates (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) made three saves in net for the Wolverines.

Michigan netted a goal late in the first half off the foot of Bowery to take a 1-0 lead into the break. Senior Sarah Banco (Medfield, Mass./Noble and Greenough School) shuffled the ball to Bowery, who carried it in by herself through the heart of Gopher territory and deposited it into the bottom-right corner. The marker at 42:06 was her fourth goal on the year.

Michigan's lead lasted until just less than twenty minutes into the second stanza, when Minnesota tied the game up at 1-1 in the 64th minute. Katie Bethke lofted a shot over the head of Gates from 20 yards out into the back of the cage.

Minnesota quickly took a 2-1 advantage four minutes later on a goal from Kelly Wepking. Molly Rouse set up Wepking with a good cross that the Gopher goal scorer simply had to tap in, giving Minnesota the late advantage.

The Wolverines will seek their first Big Ten win Sunday (Sept. 30) when they venture to Iowa City, Iowa, to play the Hawkeyes at 1 p.m. CDT.

GAME SUMMARY

Team	1	2	F
Michigan	1	0	1
Minnesota	0	2	2

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Amanda Bowery, 42:06 (Sarah Banco)
2nd -- MIN, Katie Bethke, 63:46 (unassisted)
2nd -- MIN, Kelly Wepking, 67:40 (Molly Rouse)

Shots: U-M 8, MIN 6
Saves: U-M 3 (Madison Gates), MIN 2 (Chelsey Turner)
Corner Kicks: U-M 5, MIN 6
Fouls: U-M 9, MIN 6
Cards: None.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Debbie Rademacher
On the Minnesota goals ... "It was one-two and then, unfortunately we were playing catch-up and trying to press to get something going. Our best chances came before that, in the first half and before the goals in the second half."

On the U-M offense ... "We got our one goal, but we need to be able to keep scoring. We need to be able to win games 1-0, too. It was encouraging to get a goal in the first half, something that we don't do that often C so that was a good thing."

On the low shot totals for both sides ... "They had a lot of players in midfield and they kind of sat back and hit long balls forward, so they didn't get that many shots close up. For us, we had to make sure we matched up at midfield. We didn't have as many offensive shots as we've been having, but that was what the game dictated.