Michigan
Purdue
Michigan Falls Short in Upset Bid at No. 18 Purdue
10/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Site: West Lafayette, Ind. (Varsity Soccer Complex)
Score: #18 Purdue 1, Michigan 0
Records: U-M (5-7-2, 0-2-2 Big Ten), Purdue (8-3-3, 3-1-2 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Oct. 18 -- vs. Indiana (U-M Soccer Complex - Competition Field), 2 p.m.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team moved the ball well all day but could not solve No. 18-ranked Purdue, falling 1-0 on Thursday (Oct. 15) at the Varsity Soccer Complex. The two teams were evenly matched, producing four shots on goal apiece.
Courtney Mercier
Sophomore/freshman Haley Kopmeyer (Troy, Mich./Lahser) made three saves in the loss, while sophomore Courtney Mercier (Erie, Pa./McDowell) led the Wolverines with two shots, both on goal.
There was no shortage of chances for Michigan in the first half. Just six minutes in, Mercier dumped a shot from 30 yards out that handcuffed the Purdue netminder. Sophomore Meaghan Hennessy (Westlake, Ohio/Magnificat) came charging in on the prone netminder and ripped a point blank shot right into Jenny Bradfisch's stomach. Junior Sarah Stanczyk (Grosse Pointe, Mich./Grosse Pointe South) got a shot inside five yards at the end of a sustained Michigan attack late in the half, but Bradfisch recovered to make the save. U-M tempted fate one too many times in giving Purdue space in the box and fell behind, 1-0, in the 40th minute. The Purdue attacker in the middle sent a pass to a player on a run at the right post, giving her the space needed to send a shot inside the far bar.
The two teams traded off extended periods of offensive pressure in the second half. Michigan had two outstanding chances wiped out by the offside flag in the latter half of the frame. In the 65th minute, Michigan drew a free kick just before midfield. Junior Amanda Bowery (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester) booted the ball, aided by the heads of two teammates, to sophomore Kelsey Rogind (Emerald Hills, Calif./St. Francis), who flipped an over-the-shoulder pass to an offside Wolverine crashing the net. Ten minutes later, sophomore Kara Koppinger (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Lahser) thought she had found freshman Holly Hein (Castaic, Calif./West Ranch) all alone on the left side, but the rookie forward was a step too fast and was whistled down.
Michigan returns home for a conference showdown with Indiana, currently ranked No. 22, on Sunday (Oct. 18) on the main competition field of the U-M Soccer Complex. The game will air on the Big Ten Network on a tape-delay at 4 p.m.
GAME SUMMARY
| By Periods | 1 | 2 | F |
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Purdue | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- PUR, Jessica Warren, 39:24 (Jessica Okoroafo)
Shots: U-M 6, PUR 15
Shots on Goal: U-M 4, PUR 4
Saves: U-M 3 (Haley Kopmeyer), PUR 4 (Jenny Bradfisch)
Corner Kicks: U-M 2, PUR 4
Fouls: U-M 3, PUR 12
Cards: PUR, Remi Gibba, 87:06 (Yellow)
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Greg Ryan
On the pressure put on Purdue ... "The girls, collectively, decided that they wanted to play soccer. It is something we have been working at, and they made the decision that they were going to support each other, communicate and keep possession of the ball. At the end of the day, they did a great job -- it was the best soccer I have seen since I got here. I want to give all the credit to the players. A coach can draw up the scheme, but it's the girls that are doing the job."
On the defensive effort ... "Not only did we have a great offensive performance where we possessed the ball, the really clear chances in the game were one-to-one. We had one chance where we didn't finish and they had one that they did finish and that was the difference in the game. But if you looked at us from the defending side of the ball, I thought we were fantastic. Kristen Goncalves and Kim Siebert covered the flanks exceptionally well. Jackie Carron, Amanda Bowery and Kara Koppinger did a great job in the middle and then Haley Kopmeyer had her best game of her career by far."
On the play of Haley Kopmeyer ... "I told her it was the most complete game I have ever seen her play; she controlled her penalty box, helped us keep possession by playing with her feet, she communicated with the backline and made great decisions on when to come to the ball and saves that she needed to save. On a day like today when it is raining and it is wet, it is hard for the goalkeepers, but Haley smothered everything. Haley was just as sharp as I have ever seen her."
