Weekly Release #8

Upcoming Schedule
Friday, Oct. 12 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 14 -- at No. 10 Penn State (State College, Pa.), Noon
Friday, Oct. 19 -- vs. Northwestern (U-M Soccer Field), 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 21 -- vs. Wisconsin (U-M Soccer Field), 1 p.m.

Momentum Wielding Wolverines Hit The Road
The University of Michigan women's soccer team (2-6-3, 0-2-2 Big Ten) will look to carry the momentum of last weekend's performances into match-ups with Ohio State and No. 10 Penn State. Michigan will head to Columbus, Ohio, on Friday (Oct. 12) for a 7 p.m. game. Sunday's (Oct. 14) itinerary takes the Wolverines to State College, Pa., for a noon contest with Penn State.

Northwestern Game Slated for the Big Ten Network
U-M will once again grab the national spotlight of the Big Ten Network. BTN will showcase Michigan's match with Northwestern Friday (Oct. 19th) on the U-M Soccer Field at 5:30 p.m. Dan Gutowsky will have the call, with Ellen Weinberg providing the color analysis.

Launched in August, the Big Ten Network provides unprecedented access to an extensive schedule of conference sports events and shows, original programs in academics, the arts and sciences, campus activities and associated personalities. The Big Ten Network is a joint venture between subsidiaries of the Big Ten Conference and Fox Cable Networks. For more information regarding the Big Ten Network, visit www.BigTenNetwork.com.

Corner Kicks: Ohio State
The Buckeyes (7-5-0, 1-2-0 Big Ten) are coming off a tough weekend, suffering back-to-back shutouts at the hands of Wisconsin and Northwestern. Ohio State is a perfect 7-0 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, including a 2-1 victory over Illinois in OSU's lone conference game on friendly soil. Senior Lara Dickenmann, who is on the Hermann Trophy watch list, leads the Buckeye offense with four goals and 10 points in 12 games. Senior tri-captain Keiana Mitchell and freshman Lauren Hallauer anchor the defense. In net, Lauren Robertson has blanked four opponents and posted a 1.29 goals-against average. Head coach Lori Walker is in her 11th year at the helm for the Buckeyes.

Michigan owns an 11-5-2 edge in the all-time series between the two squads. Senior Melissa Dobbyn (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson) has four goals against the Buckeyes in her career, scoring in each of the last three meetings. The Wolverines took the 2006 match in Columbus, 2-1, on an overtime winner from Dobbyn. Sophomore Kristin Thomas (Centennial, Colo./Cherry Creek) scored the game-tying goal -- her first career marker -- in the fleeting seconds of the first half, and Thomas added a helper on the winner. Ohio State on the Internet: www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com.

Corner Kicks: Penn State
No. 10 Penn State (9-2-1, 3-0-0 Big Ten) will be the third NSCAA top 10 team to try and knock off the Wolverines. Michigan has yet to relent -- let alone allow a goal -- in two ties against top-10 foes this season. Sophomore Katie Schoepfer is coming off of her second conference player of the week laurel -- a result of her four point weekend that extended her point streak to eight games. Schoepfer and senior Aubrey Aden-Buie share the team lead with seven goals apiece. Sophomore goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher has continued where she left off during her first season when she earned a spot on the All-Big Ten Freshman squad. The Nittany Lion keeper has a 0.64 goals-against average and five shutouts this season. Erica Walsh -- the third coach in program history -- is in her first season as head coach of Penn State.

Penn State beat U-M twice in 2006 by a combined score of 6-1 -- which could have been revenge from 2005, when the Wolverines advanced past the then-No. 1 Nittany Lions in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals in a shootout (4-2), putting the first blemish on PSU's perfect record. Penn State on the Internet: www.gopsusports.com.

The Week That Was
The Wolverines silenced the Big Ten's top offense to earn a 0-0 tie against No. 8 Purdue Sunday (Oct. 7) on the U-M Soccer Field. Michigan used strong and smart defense to keep the Boilermakers' scoring threats outside of the 18-yard box, snapping Purdue's 11-game winning streak in the process. Junior goalkeeper Madison Gates (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) made six saves in the effort, earning her second shutout of the season against a team ranked in the top 10 of the NSCAA poll.

With a national audience watching on television, the Wolverines battled back to tie Indiana, 1-1, Thursday (Oct. 4) on the U-M Soccer Field. Michigan tied the game -- which marked their debut on the Big Ten Network -- in the 53rd minute, and U-M held on to preserve a seven game unbeaten streak in conference home openers. Senior forward Sarah Banco (Medfield, Mass./Noble and Greenough School) scored the game-tying marker for the Wolverines on an assist from graduate-senior defender Lindsey Cottrell (Kalamazoo, Mich./Central). The Wolverine defense held Indiana without a single corner kick, and U-M limited the Hoosiers' usually potent offense to just two shots on goal.

Leaders and Best
Through 11 games, Amanda Bowery (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester) leads the Wolverine offense with 10 points. Bowery also shares the team lead in assists with Katie Bohard (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central), as each Wolverine has two helpers on the season. Melissa Dobbyn and Bowery have taken the most cracks at the net with 26 shots apiece. Madison Gates has shouldered the load in goal, playing 1023-plus minutes with a 1.14 goals-against average. Gates has two shutouts for the season, and played the majority of two combined-shutouts with Lindsay Yakel (Shelby Township, Mich./Utica).

Cottrell, Dobbyn and Kalmbach Putting In Their Time
Lindsey Cottrell, who has started all 11 games this season, is now tied for 12th on the U-M career starts list. Cottrell made her 72nd start on Sunday against Purdue (Oct. 7), tying her with Therese Heaton (2002-05) on the all-time list. Melissa Dobbyn tied Limauro for 14th place with her 69th career start against Iowa (Sept. 30).

Cottrell is also climbing the U-M all-time minutes played list. She currently sits fourth with 6,360 minutes logged. Dobbyn is fifth with 5,824 minutes. Fifth-year senior Emily Kalmbach (Coto de Caza, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic) moved to ninth all-time at 4,533 minutes after she played all 200 minutes this past weekend. Goalkeeper Suzie Grech (2000-03) is the career leader with 11,826 minutes, while the 7,130 minutes played by Katelin Spencer (2003-06) tops the list for field players.

Dobbyn Approaching Career Shots and Points Records
Senior Melissa Dobbyn leapfrogged Ruth Poulin (1994-97) into sixth place on the U-M all-time points list. Dobbyn now has 70 career points and needs nine more to catch Jessica Limauro (1995-98), who is next on the list in fifth place with 79 career points. Abby Crumpton (1999-2002) holds the top spot on the list with 116 points.

Dobbyn currently trails Crumptons career record of 300 shots by three strikes. The senior forward averages 90 shots per season and just less than four shots per game.

Dobbyn is also near the top five in goals (26, four short of fifth place) and assists (18, one shy of fifth place) on the U-M career list.

Upcoming Opponents Ranked in NSCAA National Rankings
Michigan will suit up against another team from NSCAA/adidas national rankings at No. 10 Penn State on Sunday (Oct. 14). Michigan is 0-1-2 against ranked opponents this season; U-M tied No. 2 Notre Dame, 0-0, in the Wolverines' season opener on Aug. 31, lost to No. 22 Southern Cal on Sept. 23, and tied No. 8 Purdue, 0-0, on Oct. 7. Madison Gates is yet to allow a goal against a team ranked in the top 10 of the NSCAA poll this season in 220 minutes played. Check out the full rankings at the NSCAA site.

On the Horizon
The Wolverines return to the U-M Soccer Field Friday (Oct. 19) to take on Northwestern in front of the Big Ten Network's national audience at 5:30 p.m. Wisconsin travels to Ann Arbor Sunday (Oct. 21) for Michigan's final Sunday home game of the year on the U-M Soccer Field. The match against the Badgers begins at 1 p.m.

Contact: Ryan Sosin (734) 763-4423