Michigan
16-6-1
Pepperdine
18-2-2
Heaton, Pesiri Score to Send U-M to NCAA Quarterfinals
11/23/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Field)
Event: NCAA Tournament (Third Round)
Score: Michigan 2, Pepperdine 0
Records: U-M (16-6-1), Pepperdine (18-2-2)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 30 -- at Santa Clara in NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals (Santa Clara, Calif.), 1 p.m. PST
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team earned a place in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals with its 2-0 win over Pepperdine this afternoon (Saturday, Nov. 23) at U-M Soccer Field. Freshman forward Therese Heaton (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South HS) and senior midfielder Michele Pesiri (New Hyde Park, N.Y./Sacred Heart HS) netted goals for the Wolverines, while junior goalkeeper Suzie Grech (Narberth, Pa./The Shipley School) posted her third shutout of the tournament to help Michigan advance into the fourth round.
Both teams began the game slowly in the first 20 minutes, testing the opposing defense for advantages. Pepperdine gained much of the early ball control, but the Wolverines had two quick opportunities for goals off the feet of Heaton and, later, from Pesiri at the doorstep.
Heaton put the Wolverines ahead for good at 26:57 with her 10th goal of the season and second game-winner of the postseason. Fielding a long pass out of the defense from Andrea Kayal (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills HS), Heaton ran down a seam at the center of the Pepperdine penalty area. With Wave goalkeeper Anna Picarelli rushing out of her net, Heaton slotted a low shot out of Picarelli's reach for score.
The Wolverines were able to move the ball with a one-goal lead, directing a total of eight shots at goal in the first half. Pepperdine had four shots and forced Grech to make two saves.
Kayal helped Michigan to a 2-0 lead nine minutes into the second half with a free-kick service into the 18-yard box. The ball hit the ground near senior forward Abby Crumpton (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams HS), who passed the ball three feet to her left where Pesiri was able to make a short run before shooting the ball into the left corner of the net.
Pepperdine managed four shots in the second frame. Its best opportunity came with a flurry of activity in the Michigan penalty area with just under 13 minutes remaining. Moving the ball along the left side, Megan Woods blasted a shot from 15 yards out that was blocked by Carly Williamson (Barrington, R.I./Barrington HS). Jenna Fodor got a foot on the deflection but her shot from 13 feet out went wide for a Michigan goal kick.
The Maize and Blue will take on defending NCAA champion Santa Clara (18-4-1) in the quarterfinal round on Saturday, Nov. 30, at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. The Broncos defeated Nebraska 3-2 in the third round.
MATCH SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Pepperdine | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Therese Heaton, 26:57 (Andrea Kayal)
2nd -- U-M, Michele Pesiri, 56:48 (Abby Crumpton, Kayal)
Shots: U-M 12, Pepperdine 8
Saves: U-M 2 (Suzie Grech), Pepperdine 4 (Anna Picarelli)
Corner Kicks: U-M 7, Pepperdine 5
Fouls: U-M 10, Pepperdine 16
Cards: Pepperdine, Tasha Spangler, 32:05 (yellow); Pepperdine, Kiley Hamilton, 48:14 (yellow)
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Debbie Rademacher
Opening statement ... "Obviously we're ecstatic to still be playing at this point in the season. It's something we've been shooting for, sort of that long-range dream goal, and now it's a reality. We get to practice another week."
On the team chemistry ... "Over the season we've faced all kinds of situations. We won a few in a row, we lost a few, but every time we go out there at practice we try to train the mental aspect of the game because it's big. As you learn from different situations and keep training with them you start to put things together. We talked a lot about peaking at the right time during the season and not getting down because you've lost a few. This is the time of year it should all be coming together and it has been for us."
On her team's attitude against Pepperdine ... "We had a lot of confidence going into the game. It's hard to say because we've never faced Pepperdine. They showed they were a very good team. They moved the ball. They're dangerous. I think we were well prepared and expecting that and we just found a way to get our goals and keep strong defensively."
On the weather conditions ... "I'd say maybe if they hadn't gone and played in Milwaukee last weekend that it might have been more of a factor, but they'd already been through it. I don't think it was as big a shock as it could have been. It was cold today, but the wind wasn't as bad as it was yesterday. It really didn't play too large a part for either team."
U-M Senior Defender Andrea Kayal
On staying alive in the NCAA Tournament ... "I think that our team has understood now for some time how important it is to stay focused for the full 90 minutes. The second half with a 2-0 lead is not something we relax with. We pretty much know that we need to keep the pressure on at that point."
On marking the Pepperdine forwards ... "It takes some time to adjust and know how someone plays and where their runs are going to be. After that first 20 minutes, we were able to tighten it up and put pressure on them. All of our players man-marked their players really well. We just wanted to step in and get the ball before they had a chance to receive it."
U-M Senior Midfielder Michele Pesiri
On her goal ... "It felt good. The goalie had made a really good save on me earlier in the game, so from that I knew I wanted to score. It was great. I usually don't score so I was pretty excited and a little shocked too. I don't really care who scores as long as someone does and we keep going."
Pepperdine Head Coach Tim Ward
Opening statement ... "I was a good match. Michigan is a good team. Their forwards were good, very mobile, very dynamic. Most teams that play with two up front aren't that dangerous. All the credit goes to them. Abby (Crumpton) was fantastic and Therese (Heaton) did a great job. They played very direct and very physical. Some people might say weather was a factor, but weather is not a factor. Both teams had to play in it. Early on I thought we had the majority of the possession, but I thought they had the majority of the better chances. In that time possession didn't lead to better chances. That was the difference, Michigan really was the more dangerous team in the final third of the field."
On Michigan's size ... "We've handled teams that are bigger than us in the past, but we did it by spreading them out and possessing. We did some of that today but we kind of got caught up. Going down a goal you have to be more direct and when you hit that back four they did a great job of stepping up. You really don't see that kind of intensity too often."
On switching to a 3-4-3 formation ... "When we made the switch to the 3-4-3 I thought we started to look pretty dangerous, but with 10 minutes left I decided to put in our seniors. It was really a testament to them, they've been so huge for us as far as their leadership and I wanted them to be on the field."
Pepperdine Freshman Goalkeeper Anna Piccarelli
On Michigan's possible matchup with the West Coast Conference's Santa Clara ... "I think that Santa Clara might have some trouble against a team like Michigan. They haven't run into anyone who plays defense like Michigan does and I think the size factor and that they go through every ball could be a problem for Santa Clara. But if Santa Clara is able to dribble, they could be successful."
Pepperdine Freshman Forward Jenna Fodor
On Michigan's defensive front ... "Their defense was good. They were strong and physical and didn't really let our forwards do anything before they would step in."
NOTES
• Suzie Grech has a three-game shutout streak in this year's NCAA Tournament and has not allowed a goal over the last 348:46.
• Therese Heaton now holds the third-highest freshman scoring mark in school history. Her 10 goals and four assists this season give her 24 points.
• Andrea Kayal notched her first two-assist game of the season. She now has four assists and six goals for a career-best 16 points this season.
• Michigan advances to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinal round for the first time in the nine-season history of the program.
Team Stats
Heaton, Therese (10)
Assisted By: Kayal, Andrea
16 yds; Just right of center
26:57
Pesiri, Michele (2)
Assisted By: Crumpton, Abby , Kayal, Andrea
8 yds; Right of center
56:48
