Crumpton Delivers Michigan a 2-1 Win

Friday, September 17

Columbus, Ohio

5:00 PM

Michigan

Ohio State

9/17/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Abby Crumpton (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams HS) stole the show for the Michigan women's soccer team, scoring two goals as the Wolverines downed Ohio State 2-1 in U-M's Big Ten Conference opener at Jesse Owens Stadium. Crumpton opened the game's scoring in the first half and then added her second goal midway through the second half and barely missed on two opportunities for a hat trick.

Crumpton

Crumpton's second goal, the game-winner, came with the Wolverines (4-2-0, 1-0-0 Big Ten) applying solid pressure off a corner kick. Emily Schmitt (Troy, Mich./Athens HS) triggered the play by sending the corner kick high into the center of the box. Laurie Peterson's (Del Mar, Calif./Torrey Pines HS) header attempt was punched to the right corner of the box, where Mari Hoff (Canton, Mich./Salem HS) drove a low, hard ball at net. Hoff's shot was saved out to Crumpton at the right post, and she directed the ball under the goalkeeper for her team-leading fourth goal of the season.

Ohio State (4-2-1, 0-1-0 Big Ten) nearly tied the game late in the second half. In the 79th minute Lindsay Eckles, who scored the Buckeyes' goal in the first half, blasted a shot from the right corner of the box, but Carissa Stewart (Topsham, Maine/Mt. Ararat HS) made a diving save to punch the ball wide and out of bounds. The Wolverine defense cleared the corner kick to end the threat.

Michigan controlled most of the early play, drawing four quality scoring chances in the first 15 minutes of play, but was unable to score until the 16th minute, when Crumpton netted her third tally of the season. Hoff opened the play from the center circle by sending a lead pass into space along the left wing. Schmitt ran the ball down around the end line and sent a centering pass into the box for Crumpton, who volleyed the ball off her thigh and into the net.

The Buckeyes tied the game in the 34th minute off a throw-in. Elisa Hamilton's throw-in pinballed around in the box before Eckles one-touched the loose ball inside the right post to tie the game 1-1.

Kacy Beitel (Midland, Mich./H.H. Dow HS), a hero last weekend with two goals against Utah (Sept. 12), played another strong game. In the first half alone, Beitel generated four high-quality scoring opportunities, heading two balls off the post and forcing the Buckeye goalie to save another over the crossbar.

The Wolverines return to action at 1 p.m. on Sunday (Sept. 19) when they travel to No. 4 Penn State.

GAME SUMMARY

Team	1	2	F
Michigan	1	1	2
Ohio State	1	0	1

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Abby Crumpton, 16:07 (Emily Schmitt, Mari Hoff)
1st -- OSU, Lindsay Eckles, 34:21 (Elisa Hamilton)
2nd -- U-M, Crumpton, 63:23 (unassisted)

Shots: U-M 18, OSU 12
Saves: U-M 4, OSU 8
Corner Kicks: U-M 6, OSU 3
Fouls: U-M 10, OSU 14
Cards: U-M, Amy Sullivant (yellow); U-M, Emily Schmitt (yellow)

GAME NOTES

-- Michigan opened the Big Ten season with a win for only the second time program history (won 1-0 at Indiana in 1997).

-- Abby Crumpton recorded her first collegiate multi-goal game, though she did record a hat trick in Michigan's 3-1 exhibition win over Clemson (Aug. 21).

-- The Wolverines outshot the Buckeyes 18-12 and have now outshot all six opponents this season.

Contact: Jay Levin (734) 763-4423