U-M Opens Big Ten Play With Victory Over Northwestern

Friday, September 17

Ann Arbor, Mich.

2:30 PM

Michigan

4-2-1

Northwestern

4-3-0

Northwestern

Michigan

U-M Opens Big Ten Play With Victory Over Northwestern

9/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Marc Ressler

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Field)
Score: #25 Michigan 3, Northwestern 2
Records: U-M (4-2-1, 1-0 Big Ten), Northwestern (4-3, 0-1 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Sept. 19 -- vs. Illinois (U-M Soccer Field), 1 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 25 University of Michigan women's soccer team opened the Big Ten Conference schedule with a 3-2 victory over Northwestern Friday afternoon (Sept. 17) at U-M Soccer Field. The Wolverine forwards provided the offensive firepower once again, as freshman Melissa Dobbyn (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS), senior Kate Morgan (San Jose, Calif./Archbishop Mitty HS) and junior Therese Heaton (Wheaton, Ill./Warrenville South HS) all collected goals in the first half of action.

Michigan struck first with a goal in the ninth minute of play, as Dobbyn took the ball from Heaton and blasted a shot from just outside the 18-yard box past the reach of Wildcat goalkeeper Whitney Jones. Dobbyn nearly scored from the exact same position a few minutes after taking a pass from sophomore Katelin Spencer (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS), but her attempt was scooped up by Jones.

Northwestern found the back of the net at 14:20, when Ashleigh Gannon got a foot on a loose ball in front of the goal and snuck it past a diving Megan Tuura (Tucker, Ga./St. Pius X Catholic HS) to knot the game at 1-1.

Morgan scored the go-ahead goal just three minutes later, as she got behind the defense on the left side and took a long serve from freshman Kandice McLaughlin (West Hills, Calif./El Camino Real HS) before juking out Jones at the left post and sliding the ball into the right corner of the net to put U-M on top 2-1.

The Wolverines added to their lead with a goal off a set piece less than eight minutes after Morgan's score, with senior Laura Tanchon (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Dana Hills HS) placing a free kick at the right post, where Heaton took the ball out of the air and flicked it past Jones to give Michigan a 3-1 advantage.

Michigan looked to do further damage before the first-half clock expired. Sophomore Judy Coffman (San Jose, Calif./Santa Theresa HS) missed just high from outside the box with eight minutes left, while junior Katie Kramer (Andover, Mass./Andover HS) hit the post off the restart with three minutes remaining until the break. U-M nearly scored the insurance goal midway through the second frame, but Dobbyn's breakaway strike from inside the box was stopped by Jones.

Northwestern cut the deficit to one goal with just over 21 minutes left, as Kelsey Hans scored on a one-timer off a free kick by Shannon Schneeman. That would be as close as the Wildcats would get, as Michigan was able to control possession for a majority of the remaining minutes. Northwestern nearly tied the game with under three minutes left, but a goal was called back due to an offsides call.

The Wolverines (4-2-1, 1-0 Big Ten) return to action on Sunday (Sept. 19) when they host Illinois. The game is slated for a 1 p.m. start at U-M Soccer Field.

GAME SUMMARY

Team	1	2	F
Northwestern	1	1	2
Michigan	3	0	3

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Melissa Dobbyn, 8:25 (Therese Heaton)
1st -- NU, Ashleigh Garmon, 14:20 (unassisted)
2nd -- U-M, Kate Morgan, 17:00 (Kandice McLaughlin)
2nd -- U-M, Heaton, 25:27 (Laura Tanchon)
2nd -- NU, Kelsey Hans, 68:29 (Shannon Schneeman)

Shots: U-M 21, NU 7
Saves: U-M 1 (Megan Tuura), NU 9 (Whitney Jones)
Corner Kicks: U-M 4, NU 2
Fouls: U-M 13, NU 11
Cards: None

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Debbie Rademacher
On the game ... "The bottom line is that we gave up two set pieces that resulted in goals. Northwestern is notorious for executing on that and we've talked about that all week. It became a reality and it almost lost the game for us. That was a game that we had under our control, yet it ended 3-2, a scary score."

On what needs to change in the next game against Illinois ... "If we come out and play the way we did today and tighten up on the details, then we'll be fine. But today, we just got caught on things we knew Northwestern was strong on."

On scoring the three first-half goals ... "It puts you into a great position because you're able to start resting people. But it also might give you a sense of complacency. I thought we played a good game, execept for the set pieces."

NOTES

• Therese Heaton now has seven goals on the season and 19 for her career. She has scored a goal in six straight games and is the first U-M player to accomplish the feat since Abby Crumpton (1999-2002), who scored seven times over a six-game stretch during the 2001 season. Heaton leads the team in points this season with 15.

• Kate Morgan recorded her second goal of the season and the 11th of her career. In 65 career games, Morgan has collected 11 goals and three assists for 25 points.

• Melissa Dobbyn notched her fifth goal of the season and has now scored in five of Michigan's seven games this season. Dobbyn has totaled five goals and two assists for 12 points in her first year. She also matched a career-high with six shots against the Wildcats.

• Laura Tanchon earned her fourth career assist on Therese Heaton's game-winner. Both of Tanchon's assists this season have resulted in game-winning goals.

• Kandice McLaughlin earned her first career point at Michigan with an assist on Kate Morgan's goal in the first half.

• Michigan improves its all-time record against Northwestern to 9-3-1.