Coffman Scores Late in One-Goal Victory Over Wildcats

Friday, October 7

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:00 PM

Michigan

6-4-2, 2-3-3Big Ten

Northwestern

7-5-1, 0-4-1Big Ten

Northwestern

Michigan

Coffman Scores Late in One-Goal Victory Over Wildcats

10/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Matt Baumer

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Field)
Score: Michigan 3, Northwestern 2
Records: U-M (6-4-2, 2-2 Big Ten), Northwestern (7-5-1, 0-4-1 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Oct. 9 -- vs. Wisconsin (U-M Soccer Field), noon

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team won a 3-2 thriller against Northwestern on Friday (Oct. 7) in a chilly mist at U-M Soccer Field. Judy Coffman's (San Jose, Calif./Santa Theresa) goal at 86:19 clinched the win for the Wolverines. Therese Heaton (Wheaton, Ill./Warrenville South) also scored for the Wolverines and Melissa Dobbyn (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson) added a goal and two assists. Goalkeeper Megan Tuura (Tucker, Ga./St. Pius X Catholic) earned her fifth win of the season, making nine saves.

The Wildcats took advantage of an early corner kick try to take a 1-0 lead at 18:56. Katie Wright headed the corner kick attempt by Jeanette Lorme past Tuura. The Wolverines tied the game less than four minutes later at 22:19. Brenna Mulholland (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) fed a ball through the Wildcats' defense to send Dobbyn on a breakaway, and Dobbyn placed one low to make the score 1-1.

Coffman nearly gave Michigan the lead minutes later as she created room with the dribble, but her shot attempt sailed high. The two teams went to halftime tied 1-1.

Heaton broke the 1-1 tie at 51:28 on a breakaway feed from Dobbyn. Heaton beat Northwestern goalkeeper Whitney Jones to the free ball and shot it into the vacated net to give the Wolverines a 2-1 lead. Jamie Artsis (Chatsworth, Calif./Harvard-Westlake School) nearly gave Michigan a two-goal lead with 18 minutes to go but her point-blank shot was denied by Jones.

Following the Artsis attempt, Northwestern took the ball down the field and Jenny Dunn sent a cross into the Michigan box to Alex Covington, who tipped one past Tuura falling down at 74:00 to tie the game 2-2. With less than four minutes remaining in the game, Coffman took a pass from Dobbyn just outside the box, deked a Northwestern defender and rocketed a low shot into net at 86:19 to give the Wolverines the win.

The Wolverines return to U-M Soccer Field on Sunday (Oct. 9) to take on Wisconsin at noon.

GAME SUMMARY

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

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- NU, Katie Wright, 11:56 (Jeaneatte Lorme)
1st -- U-M, Melissa Dobbyn, 22:19 (Brenna Mulholland)
2nd -- U-M, Therese Heaton, 51:28 (Dobbyn)
2nd -- NU, Alex Covington, 74:00 (Jenny Dunn)
2nd -- U-M, Judy Coffman, 86:19 (Dobbyn)

Shots: U-M 17, NU 18
Saves: U-M 9 (Megan Tuura), NU 3 (Whitney Jones)
Corner Kicks: U-M 4, NU 7
Fouls: U-M 7, NU 11
Cards: None

NOTES

• Therese Heaton scored her 26th career goal at 51:28. Heaton is four goals shy of Ruth Poulin (1994-97) for fifth place all-time in goals by a Wolverine with 30. She is also just two points shy of Poulin for fifth place in all-time points with 69.

• Megan Tuura made her 200th career save. Her 208 saves are 10 shy of Jessica Jones (1995-98) for third place in all-time saves in the Michigan record book. Tuura's nine saves are her second highest total of the season. She had 12 saves at Kansas in the season opener.

• Tuura won for the 24th time in her career. She needs just two more wins to tie Jones' 26 career wins for third place all-time at Michigan.

• Judy Coffman scored the first game-winning goal of her career. Her goal at 86:19 was her third of the season. She also tied for the team lead with four shots.

• Brenna Mulholland recorded her first assist of the season and second of her career on Melissa Dobbyn's first-half goal.

• Melissa Dobbyn earned her first career two-assist game, while also chipping in a goal against Northwestern (Oct. 7). She is one goal short of tying her 2004 goal total (9). She surpassed her assist total (3) 2004 with a helper on Therese Heaton's second-half goal. This also marks the third time in five games this season that Dobbyn has tallied four or more points.

• Dobbyn is the only Wolverine player to record a shot in every game this season. She tied for the team lead with four shots in the game.

• Sarah Banco tied a career high in shots with two. She had a goal on two shots against Ohio State on Sept. 23.

• The Wolverines improved to 4-0-1 at home this season.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Debbie Rademacher
On the rivalry with Northwestern ... "Our games with Northwestern for the past 12 seasons have been tight, and it's a really good rivalry we have. They're a good team. They're always well prepared, well coached and they play hard. We knew that is was going to be a battle, especially with both of us needing wins in the Big Ten, and that it would be a tough game."

On the speed of Northwestern ... "We know that that's the strength of their team and we feel like our offense is the strength of us too. We needed to counter offense with offense. Our defense played tough. They were really put to the test and they did a good job."

On freshman defender Erica Gordy ... "Erica has good speed. She is good in the air. We wanted to give Katelin (Spencer) a little time in the midfield, as well as Lindsey Cottrell needing to come out. We gave her some time and she does a good job in there."

On winning the game late ... "It's the first time we've scored that late in the game. We tend to score early and early in the half. To give up a lead and then come back and not have to go to overtime is really kind of a breakthrough for us."

U-M Junior Forward Judy Coffman
On the game ... "I feel like we played a complete game for 90 minutes. It was just really relieving to actually get the ball into the back of the net because I feel like we dominated the game as a team. It was nice to get the job done and come out with a win."

On scoring the game-winning goal ... "I was frustrated all game because I feel like our offense was very creative and we weren't getting the ball in the net. I had more than enough opportunities throughout the game, and it was very relieving individually to get the goal finally. Scoring the winning goal is such an awesome feeling especially for your teammates."