Weekly Release #15
11/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
NCAA Tournament
Saturday, Nov. 30 -- NCAA Quarterfinals at Santa Clara (Santa Clara, Calif.), 1 p.m. PST
Friday, Dec. 6 -- NCAA Semifinals (Austin, Texas)
Sunday, Dec. 8 -- NCAA Championship (Austin, Texas)
This Week
The University of Michigan women's soccer team (16-6-1) advances to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament to face defending NCAA Champion and No. 6 seed Santa Clara on Saturday (Nov. 30) at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. The 1 p.m. PST game will be the first time in the Wolverines have played in the fourth round of the NCAA Tournament in six appearances.
GameDay Audio and Live Stats on the Internet: www.santaclarabroncos.com.
Scouting Santa Clara
The Broncos (18-4-1) advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals with a 3-2 home win over Nebraska last Saturday (Nov. 23). Santa Clara got out to an early lead with the help of a Husker own goal. Nebraska tied the game 28 minutes later, before Santa Clara recaptured the lead 2-1 with Chardonnay Poole's first goal of the season. Three minutes after the Cornhuskers knotted the match at two, SC's Devvyn Hawkins headed in the game-winning goal to give the Broncos a quarterfinal berth. Santa Clara advanced through the first and second rounds with a pair of 5-1 wins over Creighton (Nov. 15) and Arizona State (Nov. 17). The Broncos are led by senior midfielder Aly Wagner, a 2001 Honda Award winner as women's collegiate Player of the Year. Wagner has accumulated 24 points (eight goals, eight assists) this season, despite missing stretches of the season to play with the U.S. women's national team. Sophomore Leslie Osborne leads the team with 32 points on 11 goals and 10 assists. Junior forward Kristi Candau leads the team with 13 goals, while her point total of 28 is second. Sophomore forward Megan Kakadelas rounds out a dangerous Bronco attack with seven goals and 14 assists (28 points). Sophomore goalkeeper Alyssa Sobolik has allowed only 0.77 goals per game with 12 goals-against and 34 saves this season.
History Lesson
Saturday's game will be the first meeting between Michigan and Santa Clara. This season, the Broncos have faced three common opponents, going 1-1-1 in those games. SCU earned their first win of the season with a 4-0 win against Notre Dame (Sept. 6). The Broncos were less successful in a 2-2 tie against Florida (Sept. 20) and a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Pepperdine (Oct. 25). Michigan built a 2-1 record against those teams, earning a 2-0 win against Pepperdine last weekend and a 2-0 victory against Florida at the start of the season (Aug. 30), with the Wolverines' lone setback coming in a 1-0 loss to Notre Dame (Oct. 17).
The Rest of the Field
Eight teams remain in contention for a spot in the NCAA semifinals at the 2002 College Cup. All four games will be contested on Saturday (Nov. 23), with No. 2 seed North Carolina hosting Texas A&M in the lower half of Michigan's bracket. Top-seeded Stanford hosts eighth-seeded Portland, while Penn State travels to No. 4 Connecticut in the remaining quarterfinal matchups.
Tickets!
Ticket prices for Saturday's NCAA Tournament quarterfinal game will be $8 for adults and $6 for students, children under 18 years old and senior citizens. Tickets will be sold in advance though the Santa Clara Ticket Office at (408) 554-4660 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST. On game day, tickets will be sold beginning one hour prior to match time at Buck Shaw Stadium.
Last Week
Michigan defeated No. 3 seed Pepperdine (Nov. 23) 2-0 at the U-M Soccer Field to advance to the NCAA quarterfinals. Freshman forward Therese Heaton (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South HS) scored her second game-winner, and third goal, of the tournament at the 26:57 mark to give the Wolverines the lead for good. Senior midfielder Michele Pesiri (New Hyde Park, N.Y./Sacred Heart HS) took advantage of an open opportunity from eight yards out to give Michigan its 2-0 lead at 56:48. Junior goaltender Suzie Grech (Narberth, Pa./The Shipley School) extended her tournament-long shutout streak to a season-high 348:46 with two saves in the match.
Michigan in the NCAA Tournament
Michigan is making its sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and has advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in program history. The Wolverines are 7-5 all-time in NCAA competition following last weekend's win against Pepperdine.
U-M's NCAA Results
| Date | Opponent | Outcome | Score |
| 2002 | |||
| Nov. 15 | vs. Oakland | W | 1-0 |
| Nov. 17 | vs. Miami (Ohio) | W | 4-0 |
| Nov. 23 | vs. Pepperdine | W | 2-0 |
| 2001 | |||
| Nov. 16 | at Marquette | W | 1-0 |
| Nov. 18 | vs. Dartmouth | L | 0-1 |
| 2000 | |||
| Nov. 8 | vs. Miami (Ohio) | W | 4-3 ot |
| Nov. 12 | at Notre Dame | L | 1-3 |
| 1999 | |||
| Nov. 10 | vs. Wright State | W | 5-0 |
| Nov. 13 | at Wake Forest | L | 0-1 |
| 1998 | |||
| Nov. 11 | vs. Xavier | W | 4-2 |
| Nov. 15 | at Notre Dame | L | 0-3 |
| 1997 | |||
| Nov. 16 | at Nebraska | L | 0-5 |
A Poor Host
Michigan has defeated the visiting team in all six of its NCAA home games, including its 2-0 win over Pepperdine in the third round last weekend. This season, U-M has home playoff wins against Oakland (Nov. 15) and Miami (Ohio) (Nov. 17). In past tournaments, the Maize and Blue defeated Xavier in 1998, Wright State in 1999 and Miami (Ohio) in 2000 to advance to second-round road contests. U-M was 12-1-0 at home in 2002.
Some Kind of Season
Abby Crumpton has the second-best season point output in Michigan history with 35 points this season, surpassing Kacy Beitel's (1997-2000) 34-point output in 1999 with an assist against Pepperdine. Crumpton still trails Amber Berendowsky (1996-99), whose 53-point season in 1997 ranks as the best individual season by a Wolverine in the nine-year history of the program. Crumpton has compiled 11 goals and a career-high 13 assists this season to lead the team in both categories.
Heaton Up the Record Book
Freshman forward Therese Heaton has already begun to leave her mark among Michigan's leaders. With 24 points this season (10 goals, four assists), Heaton holds the third-best freshman-season point total. Scoring the game-winning goal against Pepperdine, Heaton jumped over Amber Wilson's (2000) total of 23 points and teammate Stephanie Chavez's (Shorewood, Wis./Shorewood HS) 22-point freshman campaign (2000). Kacy Beitel (1997-2000) set the freshman scoring mark with 33 points during her first season with the Wolverines.
Most Points (Freshman Season)
| | Player | Points | Year |
| 1. | Kacy Beitel | 33 (14 goals, five assists) | 1997 |
| 2. | Abby Crumpton | 32 (12 goals, eight assists) | 1999 |
| 3. | Therese Heaton | 24 (10 goals, four assists) | 2002 |
| 4. | Amber Wilson | 23 (nine goals, five assists) | 2000 |
| 5. | Stephanie Chavez | 22 (eight goals, six assists) | 2000 |
| 6. | Amber Berendowsky | 19 (seven goals, five assists) | 1996 |
Kayal's Postseason Drive
Senior defender Andrea Kayal (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills HS) has helped the Wolverines to three wins in the NCAA Tournament with strong defensive play and a dangerous offensive punch. Kayal is the Wolverines' second-leading NCAA Tournament scorer with four points, including the game-winning goal against Oakland (Nov. 15) and two assists against Pepperdine.
Return to the Winner's Circle
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. Grech has 10 shutouts this season, extending her school-record career shutout total to 24.
Pesiri Provides the Insurance
Midfielder Michele Pesiri's goal against Pepperdine to give Michigan a 2-0 lead was the senior's second goal of the season, and first since she scored against Massachusetts Sept. 13. Pesiri has six goals and six assists in her career (18 points).
Sully Starts Again
Only one players in Michigan history has started more games than Amy Sullivant (Utica, Mich./Eisenhower HS). Earning her 88th start against Pepperdine in the NCAA Tournament, Sullivant trails only Shannon Poole (89, 1996-99) for the program's lead in career starts. Sullivant is currently tied with Kacy Beitel (1997-2000). Sullivant has started 21 games this season, missing two contests with an ankle injury, and has played in 90 career games, which is the second-most in program history.
A Michigan Hero
Senior forward Abby Crumpton became Michigan's all-time leading point-scorer with her 115th point, an assist to Vicky Whitley (Spring, Texas/Klein HS) in the second half against Miami (Ohio) (Nov. 17). Crumpton then extended her point lead to 116, two points ahead of Kacy Beitel's (1997-2000) 114, with her third helper of the postseason against Pepperdine. In her career with the Maize and Blue, Crumpton has scored 43 goals and has 30 assists.
All-Time Points Leaders
| 1. | Abby Crumpton (1999-present) | 116 (43 goals, 30 assists) |
| 2. | Kacy Beitel (1997-2000) | 114 (44 goals, 26 assists) |
| 3. | Amber Berendowsky (1996-99) | 113 (40 goals, 33 assists) |
M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Candidate Abby Crumpton
Senior forward Abby Crumpton is the first Michigan player to be a finalist for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, presented annually to the top Division I soccer player. Crumpton, the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year, was one of the award's 15 female finalists. The honor, voted on by the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America, will be awarded Dec. 12 in Dallas, Texas, prior to the men's College Cup. Past winners include current U.S. women's national team stars Mia Hamm and Cindy Parlow.
Rhode Scholar
Rhode Island native Carly Williamson (Barrington, R.I./Barrington HS) was named to the Verizon District IV Academic All-America second team. Williamson, who is a senior graphic design major at U-M, was Academic All-Big Ten in 2001 and has earned three U-M Athletic Academic Achievement awards in her career with the Wolverines in addition to earning 65 starts in 86 career games. Williamson has started every game over the past two seasons, earning consecutive All-Big Ten second team selections.
I Like Goooooals!
Michigan greatly improved its chances of winning by scoring two goals against Pepperdine. The Wolverines are now 16-1-1 when scoring at least one goal this season, with the lone loss coming in penalty kicks to Ohio State (Nov. 11) at the Big Ten Tournament. The Maize and Blue has allowed more than one goal in only two games, yielding two at Wisconsin (Sept. 27) and four at Minnesota (Sept. 29).
Home Girls
Michigan has broken a school record with its 12 home victories this season. The previous high was nine home wins during the 2001 season. Michigan is 21-2 at home over the past two seasons, during which time the Maize and Blue built a 17-game unbeaten streak at the U-M Soccer Field, the longest in school history. After losing their first home game of 2001 against Kentucky (Sept. 7), the Wolverines rebounded with a 1-0 win over Dayton (Sept. 9) and went on to earn nine more home wins. Before their first home loss this season on Oct. 17, Michigan had gone 8-0 at home in 2002. Michigan's previous longest home unbeaten streak was 14 games from Oct. 27, 1996, through Oct. 4, 1998, during which Michigan went 12-0-2.
In the Polls
The NSCAA did not release a poll this week after the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The next NSCAA/adidas Coaches' Poll will be released following the NCAA College Cup (Dec. 10). Here is how Michigan has fared in the national polls this season.
Poll Date National Region Aug. 25* 18 4 Sept. 2 9 2 Sept. 9 9 T-1 Sept. 16 14 2 Sept. 23 14 T-1 Sept. 30 13 1 Oct. 7 9 1 Oct. 14 13 T-1 Oct. 21 21 3 Oct. 28 21 3 Nov. 4 24 3 Nov. 11 RV^ 3 * Preseason poll ^ Received votes
On the Horizon
Should Michigan defeat Santa Clara in the quarterfinals, the Wolverines would advance to the 2002 College Cup hosted by the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. The Michigan-Santa Clara winner will face the North Carolina-Texas A&M winner in the NCAA semifinals Friday, Dec. 5.
Contact: Andrew Ladd (734) 763-4423
