Wolverines Unable to Solve Kopeitz in First Big Ten Loss

Sunday, September 29

Minneapolis, Minn.

1:00 PM CT

Michigan

Minnesota

Wolverines Unable to Solve Kopeitz in First Big Ten Loss

9/29/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team took three times as many shots as Minnesota but could not solve Gopher goalkeeper Karli Kopeitz in a 4-0 loss on Sunday (Sept. 29) at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium. The No. 14 Wolverines (8-2, 3-1 Big Ten), who suffered their first Big Ten loss of the season, took 26 shots, but Minnesota (6-4, 1-3 Big Ten) got more than enough offense from junior forward Rachael Roth's three-goal performance.

Sullivant

Michigan dominated play early, taking 11 shots in the first half to Minnesota's three. The Wolverines had their best scoring opportunity in the 23rd minute, when junior Erika Kleinholz (North Ridgeville, Ohio/Elyria Catholic HS) was taken down in the penalty area. Freshman midfielder Stephanie Boyles (Arvada, Colo./Pomona HS) took the penalty kick, but Kopeitz made the save to preserve the scoreless game.

Just minutes before halftime, however, the Maize and Blue fell behind 1-0 as Minnesota senior midfielder Kelly Dinse came up with the ball in the Michigan 18-yard box. Dinse knocked a defensive turnover into the back of the net to put the Gophers ahead at 42:48.

The Wolverines came out strong in the second half, led by senior Amy Sullivant (Utica, Mich./Eisenhower HS), who had two of her school record-tying 11 shots in the first 10 minutes. Minnesota put Michigan in a 2-0 hole with Roth's first strike of the game in the 60th minute.

The Maize and Blue kept sending the ball toward the net, taking 15 shots in the second frame alone, but Kopeitz remained strong with seven of her 13 saves in second half. Minnesota pulled away late in the game as Roth tallied goals at 79:22 and 89:28 to seal the Minnesota victory.

Michigan returns home for Big Ten contests against Penn State (Oct. 4) and Ohio State (Oct. 6). The Friday game against the Nittany Lions is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start, while the Buckeyes will kick off Sunday at 2 p.m. on the U-M Soccer Field.

GAME SUMMARY

Team	1	2	F
Michigan	0	0	0
Minnesota	1	3	4

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- Minnesota, Keely Dinse, 42:48 (unassisted)
2nd -- Minnesota, Rachael Roth, 59:48 (Tierne Palmer-Klein)
2nd -- Minnesota, Roth, 79:22 (unassisted)
2nd -- Minnesota, Roth, 89:28 (Amanda Edwards)

Shots: U-M 26, Minnesota 10
Saves: U-M 3 (Suzie Grech), Minnesota 13 (Karli Kopeitz 13, Marni Prall 0)
Corner Kicks: U-M 7, Minnesota 1
Fouls: U-M 15, Minnesota 19
Cards: U-M, Therese Heaton, 11:02 (yellow)

Q U O T E S

U-M Head Coach Debbie Rademacher
On the game ... "We really controlled play in the first half and had a chance to really take a hold on the penalty shot, but we didn't convert. They took a 1-0 lead just before the half, which isn't insurmountable, but Minnesota was able to make the most of our mistakes. Minnesota is a good, hard-working team, we gave them opportunities and they finished."

N O T E S

Senior defender Amy Sullivant tied a school record with 11 shots against Minnesota. Sullivant, whose previous career high was 10 shots against Ohio State Oct. 15, 2000, equaled Abby Crumpton's (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams HS) 11-shot performance against Oakland on Oct. 4, 2000.

Michigan's 26 shots are the most by the Wolverines this season.

Contact: Andrew Ladd (734) 763-4423