Weekly Release #7
9/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, Oct. 1 -- vs. Penn State (U-M Soccer Field), 4 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 3 -- vs. Ohio State (U-M Soccer Field), Noon
Friday, Oct. 8 -- at Purdue (West Lafayette, Ind.), 3 p.m. EST/CDT
Sunday, Oct. 10 -- at Indiana (Bloomington, Ind.), Noon EST/CDT
This Week
The No. 13 University of Michigan women's soccer team (7-2-1, 4-0 Big Ten) looks to extend its five-game winning streak and remain atop the Big Ten Conference standings when they host Penn State and Ohio State at the U-M Soccer Field this weekend. The Wolverines will take on the Nittany Lions on Friday (Oct. 1) at 4 p.m. before a noon meeting with the Buckeyes on Sunday (Oct. 3). U-M will honor each athlete's parents before the PSU game, while Senior Day festivities are scheduled prior to the OSU contest.
Scouting the Opponents
Penn State -- The No. 5-ranked Nittany Lions (7-1-1, 3-0 Big Ten) also have an umblemished conference record after earning home victories over Indiana, 1-0, and Purdue, 3-1, last weekend in University Park, Pa. Junior Tiffany Weimer an NSCAA All-American and M.A.C. Hermann Trophy finalist in 2003, is on her way to another stellar season 10 goals and four assists for 24 points. Junior goalkeeper Erin McLeod has made seven starts and has allowed just three goals in over 668 minutes for a remarkable 0.40 GAA. Head coach Paula Wilkins is in her fourth season at Penn State and has collected a career record of 66-12-6 while leading the Nittany Lions to three Big Ten regular season championships and one league tournament title. Penn State, who has finished atop the conference standings six of the past 10 years, finished last season with a 19-3-3 record and an appearance in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. They return 18 letterwinners and six starters from last year's squad. Michigan trails 8-4-3 in the all-time series and dropped an 2-0 decision to PSU in the last meeting on Oct. 5, 2003. Penn State on the Internet: www.gopsusports.com.
Ohio State -- The No. 21-ranked Buckeyes (5-2-2, 1-0-2), who visit Michigan State prior to their match with Michigan, are coming off a 1-0 victory over Purdue and a 1-1 draw against Indiana last weekend. Junior Danielle Dietrich paces the OSU offense with a team-leading 13 points on five goals and three assists. Senior goalkeeper Emily Haynam has made four starts in between the posts and has let in just three goals in over 423 minutes for a 0.64 GAA. Head coach Lori Walker is in her eighth season and has compiled a career mark of 78-63-11 at the school. Ohio State, which finished the 2003 season at 13-5-3, return 22 letterwinners and all 11 starters from last year's squad. Michigan holds a 9-4-1 advantage in the all-time series after defeating the Buckeyes 2-1 in double overtime last season in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament (Nov. 6). Ohio State on the Internet: www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
Last Week
The Wolverines remained perfect in Big Ten action with a pair of road victories against Minnesota and Iowa last weekend. After 100 minutes of scoreless action against the Gophers on Friday (Sept. 24), freshman Kandice McLaughlin (West Hills, Calif./El Camino Real HS) collected a rebound off a corner kick and put it in the back of net to give U-M the victory. Michigan kept on rolling against the Hawkeyes, as the Wolverines exploded for four second-half goals, including a hat-trick by freshman Jamie Artsis (Chatsworth, Calif./Harvard-Westlake School), in a 4-0 win on Sunday (Sept. 26).
Artsis Named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week
Jamie Artsis was selected as the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for the first time after a seven-point performance in the Wolverines' victories over Minnesota and Iowa last weekend. After collecting her first career point with an assist on the game-winning goal in double overtime against the Gophers, Artsis scored the first three goals of her collegiate career to lead Michigan past the Hawkeyes. Her hat trick was the first by a U-M player since Abby Crumpton's (1999-2002) three-goal performance during a 3-2 victory at Wisconsin on Sept. 27, 2002. Artsis is the just the fifth athlete and the third freshman in Michigan history to accomplish the feat.
Dobbyn Selected to Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week
Freshman Melissa Dobbyn (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS) was picked to Soccer Buzz's National Elite Team of the Week following a two-goal performance in Michigan's home wins over Northwestern (Sept. 17) and Illinois (Sept. 19). Dobbyn, who ranks second on the team with 14 points (six goals, two assists), set a school-record with 13 shots during U-M's 1-0 victory over Minnesota on Friday (Sept. 24).
McLaughlin Nets First Career Goal
Kandice McLaughlin recorded her first career goal as a Wolverine in dramatic fashion, as she put home the game-winner in early in the second overtime period to defeat Minnesota, 1-0. McLaughlin, who also finished with a career-high three shots against the Gophers, has totaled three points (one goal, one assist) in 10 games this season.
Kramer Earns First Goal of 2004
Junior Katie Kramer (Andover, Mass./Andover HS) tallied her first goal of the year in the 87th minute of Michigan's 4-0 win over Iowa. Her insurance score was the seventh of her career. Kramer has 15 points (seven goals, one assist) in 31 career games.
Coffman Tallies First Point of 2004
Sophomore Judy Coffman (San Jose, Calif./Santa Theresa HS) notched her first point of the year with an assist on Katie Kramer's goal against Iowa. Coffman has three points on three assists in 33 career games.
Lending a Helping Hand
With an assist on Jamie Artsis' final goal against Iowa, senior Laura Tanchon (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Dana Hills HS) moved into a tie for the team lead in assists (three) with sophomore Katelin Spencer (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS). In 74 career games, Tanchon has totaled seven points on one goal and five assists.
Shutout After Shutout
Sophomore Megan Tuura (Tucker, Ga./St. Pius X Catholic HS) continued her remarkable career last weekend by holding her opponents scoreless in over 190 minutes of action while making seven saves. Tuura, who has posted three straight shutouts and nine blankings in her career, has allowed just 24 goals in over 2,520:80 career minutes for a 0.86 GAA.
All Good Things Must Come to an End
Junior Therese Heaton's (Wheaton, Ill./Warrenville South HS) point streak ended at seven games after she was held without a point against Minnesota. Prior to that match, Heaton found the back of the net seven times and assisted on two goals in seven of Michigan's first eight games. She has career totals of 19 goals and nine assists for 47 points in 59 games.
Offense Wins Games ...
The Wolverines are dominating the offensive charts in the early stages of Big Ten play, leading in points (25), goals (nine), shots (83) and corner kicks (26). Melissa Dobbyn is the conference leader in shots (29) and shots per game (7.25), while Laura Tanchon ranks first in assists (two) and Jamie Artsis ranks second in goals (three).
But Defense Wins Championships
Michigan is also making its presence felt on the other side of the field after allowing just two goals in four Big Ten games. The Wolverines lead the league in shutouts (three), while Megan Tuura is tops among goalkeepers with three blankings in four contests.
Big Ten Standings
Big Ten Pts. Overall 1. MICHIGAN 4-0-0 12 7-2-1 2. Penn State 3-0-0 9 7-1-1 3. Indiana 2-1-1 7 6-2-1 Michigan State 2-1-1 7 8-2-1 5. Illinois 2-1-0 6 8-2-0 Purdue 2-2-0 6 6-4-0 7. Ohio State 1-0-2 5 5-2-2 8. Northwestern 1-2-0 3 5-4-1 9. Wisconsin 0-3-1 1 6-3-1 Iowa 0-3-1 1 0-6-2 11. Minnesota 0-4-0 0 3-6-0
Michigan in the National and Regional Rankings
The Wolverines jumped up three spots to No. 13 in the most recent NSCAA/adidas national rankings, released Tuesday (Sept. 28). Michigan, who was listed No. 16 in last week, is preceded by Penn State (No. 5) in the poll. Notre Dame, U-M's opponent on Oct. 28, holds down the top spot for the second straight week. The Wolverines listed at No.2 behind the Fighting Irish in the association's Great Lakes Regional rankings.
NSCAA/adidas National Rankings (9/28/04)
Rank, School W-L-T Prev 1. Notre Dame 10-0-0 1 2. North Carolina 9-0-1 2 3. Washington 8-0-0 3 4. Virginia 9-0-0 4 5. Penn State 7-1-1 5 6. Portland 8-2-0 6 7. UCLA 6-2-0 9 8. Florida 7-2-1 7 9. Texas A&M 7-3-0 14 10. Califorina 7-1-1 13 11. Princeton 6-1-0 17 12. Kansas 9-2-0 8 13. MICHIGAN 7-2-1 16 14. Florida State 7-2-0 12 15. Santa Clara 6-2-1 15 16. Stanford 7-2-0 20 17. SMU 5-2-1 17 18. Villanova 9-1-0 NR 19. Tennessee 5-2-2 21 20. Auburn 7-2-0 NR 21. Ohio State 5-2-2 NR 22. Duke 8-2-0 NR 23. Nebraska 7-3-0 NR 24. West Virginia 8-2-0 11 25. Pepperdine 6-2-1 24
U-M Listed in Soccer Buzz National and Regional Polls
After a pair of conference road victories last weekend, Michigan has jumped back up to No. 22 in the most recent Soccer Buzz national rankings, released Monday (Sept. 27). The Wolverines also hold down the third spot behind Notre Dame and Illinois in the publication's Great Lakes Regional rankings.
On the Horizon ...
The Wolverines begin a five-game road strech next weekend at Purdue and Indiana. The Boilermakers will host Michigan on Friday (Oct. 8) at 3 p.m. EST/CDT in West Lafayette, Ind., before U-M visits the Hoosiers on Sunday (Oct. 10) at noon in Bloomington, Ind.
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
