Michigan
11-7-6
Notre Dame
20-3-1
Chavez, Tuura Key Upset of Irish in NCAA Second Round
11/16/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The No. 24-ranked University of Michigan women's soccer team upset No. 4 Notre Dame 1-0 Sunday afternoon (Nov. 16) at Alumni Field to advance to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Senior Stephanie Chavez (Shorewood, Wis./Shorewood HS) scored the lone goal of the game in the second half to send the Wolverines to their second victory over Notre Dame (20-3-1) this season. Freshman goalkeeper Megan Tuura (Tucker, Ga./St. Pius X Catholic HS) made six saves for her second straight postseason shutout. The Irish, the No. 2 seed in the 64-team field, outshot Michigan 13-3 but fell victim to five crucial offsides calls and 20 fouls, including four yellow cards.
| | Chavez's last four goals have been game-winners, with two coming against Notre Dame. |
Any chance at a Notre Dame goal was either stifled by an offsides call or a clearout by Michigan. The Wolverines were able to prevent any scoring opportunity on two Irish first-half corner kicks and did a nice job of marking up on Notre Dame's set pieces. Tuura made two saves in the first half for U-M.
Michigan had a difficult time moving into the Irish end, getting off just two shots the entire half. Notre Dame keeper Erika Bohn did not have to make a stop on either attempt.
The Fighting Irish came out of the break with a greater sense of urgency and immediately put pressure on the Wolverine defense. Melissa Tancredi took the ball up the left side and crossed to Katie Thorlakson. Tuura came off her line and made the save to keep the game scoreless.
The Wolverines earned their first corner kick with just under 39 minutes left in the game. Junior Robyn Vince (Holt, Mich./Holt HS) took the kick and placed the ball right at the far post. Chavez came up with the loose ball, turned and quickly put it past Bohn, who was blocked by a scramble of players in front of the net. Chavez's sixth goal of the season put Michigan ahead 1-0 with 38:22 remaining in the game.
Notre Dame looked for the equalizer just three minutes later, as Tancredi got ahead of everybody and went in all alone toward the right post. Tancredi shot the ball toward the upper left corner of the net, but Tuura made a huge diving save to her right and slapped the ball out of danger. On the ensuing Irish corner kick, Christie Shaner's header was sailing toward the goal, but Kim Carpenter also got her head on the ball and redirected the shot out of bounds.
The Maize and Blue had a great chance to increase its lead to 2-0, but freshman Katelin Spencer's (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) through ball to Chavez on the left side was called offsides.
Notre Dame stepped up the pressure in the waning minutes of the game, but the Michigan defense continued to clear out the loose balls, while Tuura kept coming up with the necessary stops. As time wound down, the Wolverine bench ran onto the field to celebrate the victory.
Michigan (11-7-6) will travel to Connecticut for the NCAA third round next weekend (date TBA). The Huskies defeated Central Connecticut State 3-2 in double overtime Sunday in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
GAME SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Michigan | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Notre Dame | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
2nd -- U-M, Stephanie Chavez, 51:38 (Robyn Vince)
Shots: U-M 13, UND 3
Saves: U-M 6 (Megan Tuura), UND 0 (Erika Bohn)
Corner Kicks: U-M 0, UND 8
Fouls: U-M 12, UND 20
Cards: UND, Katie Thorlakson, 22:07 (yellow), UND, Vanessa Pruzinsky, 61:20 (yellow), U-M, Katie Kramer, 63:25 (yellow), UND, Kim Lorenzen, 79:01 (yellow), UND, Christie Shaner, 86:08 (yellow)
N O T E S
Stephanie Chavez notched her sixth goal of the season and is tied for the team lead with Katie Kramer (Andover, Mass./Andover HS). In 84 career games, Chavez has totaled 23 goals and 13 assists for 59 points. It was her fourth game-winning tally of the year.
Robyn Vince collected her team-leading sixth assist on the goal.
Megan Tuura collected her fifth career shutout, with three of them coming in this year's postseason.
The Wolverines handed Notre Dame its third loss in 33 postseason games at Alumi Field.
Michigan has not allowed a goal in 10 of 24 games this season.
U-M has a record of 3-3-3 against opponents ranked in the Top 25 this year.
Michigan improves its all-time NCAA Tournament record to 9-6.
Michigan moves its record against Notre Dame to 2-7.
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Stephanie Chavez (6)
Assisted By: Robyn Vince
one-time loose ball off CK
51:38
