U-M Sends Seniors Out with Triumph over No. 16 Illinois

Sunday, October 31

Ann Arbor, Mich.

3:00 PM

Michigan

10-3-4,5-2-2Big Ten

Illinois

12-4-1,5-3-1Big Ten

Illinois

Michigan

U-M Sends Seniors Out with Triumph over No. 16 Illinois

10/31/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Ryan Sosin

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Score: Michigan 3, #16 Illinois 2
Records: U-M (10-3-4, 5-2-2 Big Ten), Illinois (12-4-1, 5-3-1 Big Ten)
Attendance: 707
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Nov. 7 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), 1 p.m. (TV: Big Ten Network, live)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team picked up its second win over a ranked opponent in as many weeks with a 3-2 win over No. 16 Illinois on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 31) at U-M Soccer Stadium. The victory pushes the Maize and Blue, which knocked off No. 23 Minnesota on Oct. 22, to the 10-win plateau for the first time since the 2004 campaign.

Sarah Stanczyk

Six different Wolverines tallied points with each class represented on the scoresheet. Freshman Meghan Toohey (Philadelphia, Pa./Phil-Mont Christian) and senior Sarah Stanczyk (Grosse Pointe, Mich./Grosse Pointe South) both tallied goals to give U-M a 2-0 lead, before freshman Nkem Ezurike (Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia/Sackville) netted the game-winner at 76:18.

The Wolverines capitalized on one of their six first-half corner kicks to take a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute. Freshman Shelina Zadorsky (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas) set the goal in motion with a boot to the top of the box, where the ball bounced from the heads of junior/sophomore Clare Stachel (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central) to junior Courtney Mercier (Erie, Pa./McDowell) before settling at Toohey's feet. The Wolverine rookie got off a shot to the far post for her second goal of the weekend.

Michigan's lead expanded to 2-0 shortly after halftime on a Stanczyk goal in the 54th minute. Freshman Tori McCombs (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) shook off two defenders in the goal mouth to clear a passing lane back to Stanczyk eight yards out. A low shot beat the outstretched Illinois netminder.

Ezurike gave the Wolverines some breathing room, answering an Illini marker in the 74th minute with a score of her own three minutes later. Ezurike took a pass from junior Kristen Goncalves (Ann Arbor, Mich./Gabriel Richard Catholic) at the edge of the attacking third. The U-M freshman weaved through two defenders and unleashed a blast from the top of the box. The insurance goal proved useful as Illinois solved the Michigan defense with 1:12 remaining in the game.

The Wolverines will close out the 2010 regular season at Penn State on Sunday (Nov. 7) at 1 p.m. The game will be aired live on the Big Ten Network.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	F
Illinois	0	2	2
Michigan	1	2	3

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Meghan Toohey, 24:33 (Courtney Mercier, Clare Stachel)
2nd -- U-M, Sarah Stanczyk, 53:25 (Tori McCombs)
2nd -- ILL, Laura Knutson, 73:41 (Marissa Mykines)
2nd -- U-M, Nkem Ezurike, 76:18 (unassisted)
2nd -- ILL, Megan Pawloski, 88:48 (Vanessa DiBernardo)

Shots: U-M 18, ILL 13
Shots on Goal: U-M 9, ILL 7
Saves: U-M 5 (Haley Kopmeyer 4, Team 1), ILL 6 (Alexandra Kapicka)
Corner Kicks: U-M 10, ILL 4
Fouls: U-M 6, ILL 8
Cards: U-M, Sarah Stanczyk, 53:25 (Yellow)

NOTES

• The Wolverines reached the 10-win plateau for the first time since 2004 when they went 11-9-2. Michigan's five Big Ten victories are also the most since 2004.

• The Wolverines played in their sixth straight one-goal contest. Michigan is 5-1-0 during the string, which began on Oct. 14 against Purdue, a 2-1 win.

• Michigan improved to 11-6-1 all-time against Illinois.

• Senior Sarah Stanczyk's goal in the second half was the first of her collegiate career.

• Freshman Meghan Toohey scored her second goal in as many games. Toohey netted her first career goal on Friday (Oct. 29) against Iowa.

• Junior/sophomore Haley Kopmeyer improved to 10-3-4 on the season, moving into a tie with Carissa Stewart (10, 1997) for fifth on the U-M single-season wins list.

• Junior/sophomore Clare Stachel picked up her ninth point of the season, an assist on Toohey's goal. Stachel's three goals and three assists match her rookie season point total of two goals and five assists.

• Freshman Nkem Ezurike scored her third game-winning goal of the season. Ezurike leads the Wolverines with nine markers this season.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Greg Ryan
On the weekend ... "They worked so hard this weekend and played two very good teams, won two very tight games. They outplayed both opponents. They just need to rest and relax because they put so much into this weekend. This game very likely put us in the NCAA Tournament, regardless of next weekend. We knew we had to win this one. Penn State, right now, is just playing some fantastic soccer. It's going to be one heck of a game next week."

U-M Senior Midfielder Sarah Stanczyk
On Senior Day ... "My career has definitely had its ups and downs here. But overall it has been an amazing experience. I've learned so much from Greg Ryan. He has taught me so many things about soccer that I never thought I would be able to learn. The group of girls that I've gotten to play with has just been really special."