Crumpton, Sullivant Help Wolverines Topple Illinois

Sunday, September 22

Ann Arbor, Mich.

11:30 AM

Michigan

7-1

Illinois

3-5

Illinois

Michigan

9/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team improved to 2-0 in Big Ten Conference play this afternoon (Sunday, Sept. 22) with a 4-1 win over Illinois at the U-M Soccer Field. Michigan got out to a quick start, netting all four of its goals in the first half. Seniors Abby Crumpton (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams HS) -- two goals and one assist -- and Amy Sullivant (Utica, Mich./Eisenhower HS) -- three assists -- led the way, as the Wolverines improved to 7-1 on the season.

Crumpton

The Wolverines took a 1-0 lead 13:19 into the game on a Crumpton goal. After intercepting a pass out of the midfield, Sullivant pushed the ball through the Illinois defense to freshman forward Therese Heaton (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South HS). Heaton drew the lone Illini defender with a run to the left of the goal before sending the ball across the penalty area to a wide-open Crumpton.

Illinois evened the score seven minutes later after Tara Hurless intercepted a Michigan clearance and chipped the ball right out of the reach of Suzie Grech (Narberth, Pa./The Shipley School) and into the net.

The score did not remain tied for long, however, as Crumpton knocked in her second goal of the day at 21:31. Following a second intercepted pass at midfield, Sullivant bent the ball over the Illini defense and into the run of Crumpton. Crumpton slid the game-winning goal past Illinois goalkeeper Leisha Alcia into the left side of the net.

Michigan increased its lead to 4-1 with two goals before the half expired. Freshman forward Stephanie Boyles (Arvada, Colo./Pomona HS) scored the Wolverines' third goal in the 26th minute following a nice combination play between Crumpton and Sullivant. Playing the ball out of the back, Sullivant served a ball into the left corner of the field, where Crumpton was able to send the ball across to Boyles.

Junior Stephanie Chavez (Shorewood, Wis./Shorewood HS) gave Mihcigan its three-goal cushion, firing a shot over Alcia from 23 yards out. Sophomore Kate Morgan (San Jose, Calif./Archbishop Mitty HS) knocked the ball into open space for Chavez's shot.

Michigan played strong defensively in the second half, keeping Illinois from creating offense inside the final third of the field.

The Wolverines travel to Madison, Wis., next Friday (Sept. 27) to play Wisconsin. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CDT.

GAME SUMMARY

Team	1	2	F
Illinois	1	0	1
Michigan	4	0	4

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Abby Crumpton, 13:19 (Therese Heaton, Amy Sullivant)
1st -- Illinois, Tara Hurless, 19:56 (unassisted)
1st -- U-M, Crumpton, 21:31 (Sullivant)
1st -- U-M, Stephanie Boyles (Crumpton, Sullivant)
1st -- U-M, Stephanie Chavez (Kate Morgan)

Shots: U-M 12, Illinois 10
Saves: U-M 7 (Suzie Grech 4, Annie Padrid 3, Rebecca Bald 0), Illinois 5 (Leisha Alcia)
Corner Kicks: U-M 3, Illinois 2
Fouls: U-M 16, Illinois 9
Cards: none

Q U O T E S

U-M Head Coach Debbie Rademacher
On being successful offensively ... "I think we had seven shots on goal and four of them were goals, so that was great. I think going onto the road, that's very important. We were on the road last weekend, and we had trouble finishing at the good times when opportunities presented themselves. I think this gives us some confidence. Illinois beat us twice last year, so we definitely had some motivation coming into this game."

On Amy Sullivant ... "Amy Sullivant came up with the ball all the time. Everywhere the ball was, she was there. She won the tackles and was serving great balls. She just had a great game."

On Abby Crumpton's game ... "Abby Crumpton, her style is creating things, and everybody was just working together and connecting on passes. Last year the same kind of thing happened with Abby. She'd have an assist here and there, but then she'd have this breakout game, and from then on she was putting them in."

Senior Forward Abby Crumpton
On finding space in the Illinois defense ... "It made it a lot easier, especially for me, because that's my game, playing through space. I think they left us a lot of room and we capitalized on it."

On losing to Illinois twice last season ... "That was a lot of motivation for us. We played the videos from the last games before we came out today. With the games that they beat us, they actually ended up scoring in the last 30 seconds. We used that a lot as motivation and I think it showed the way we came out in the first half."

On the team's play ... "I'm happy with the way I performed, and I'm happy with the way the team played. We had a really good weekend. We came out strong, we played fast, we got quick goals and I think getting quick goals is the difference between when we play well and when we don't."

N O T E S

Abby Crumpton's five-point game marks the most points scored in one game this season by a Wolverine.

Amy Sullivant set a career-high with three assists against Illinois.

Crumpton's game-winning goal, her third of the season, was the ninth of the senior's career, giving her sole possession of third place on Michigan's career list.

With her assist on Stephanie Chavez's goal, Kate Morgan tallied her first assist of the season.

Sophomore goalkeeper Annie Padrid (Chicago, Ill./University of Chicago Lab Schools) saw the first action of her career. Padrid made three saves in just over 10 minutes of play in the second half against Illinois.

Freshman Rebecca Bald played in the first Big Ten Conference game of her career. The goalkeeper played 9:09 against Illinois and faced no shots. Bald played the second half against Eastern Michigan (Sept. 8).

Contact: Andrew Ladd (734) 763-4423