Michigan
3-5-3, 1-0-1BigTen
Minnesota
11-1-0, 1-1-0BigTen
Michigan Falls Short in Loss to Minnesota
9/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Site: Canton, Mich. (PCEP Varsity Soccer Field)
Score: Minnesota 1, Michigan 0
Records: U-M (3-5-3, 0-1-1 Big Ten), MINN (11-1-0, 1-1-0 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Oct. 4-- at Purdue (West Lafayette, Ind.), 4 p.m.
Boxscore| Photo Gallery
CANTON, Mich. -- The University of Michigan womens soccer team came up short in a 1-0 loss to Minnesota to open the 2008 Big Ten slate on Sunday (Sept. 28) on the PCEP Varsity Soccer Field.
The U-M defense was under pressure all game, yielding 15 shots overall with five on goal. Senior Madison Gates(Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) made four stops in the effort.
The Wolverines had to contend with heavy pressure from the Golden Gophers as they got inside the Wolverine defensive third to post 10 first-half shots. Despite the pressure, Minnesota could only sneak one shot past the U-M defense, going up 1-0 in the 22nd minute. The Golden Gophers continually crossed the ball back and forth seeking an open shooter when Kaitlin Wagner got just enough time -- despite having junior Amy Klippert(Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) bearing down on her -- from outside of the box to send a low shot past a diving Gates inside the left post.
The pace decreased significantly in the second half, with both teams' opportunities coming more sporadically. Michigan had a golden chance to level the score in the last five minutes when sophomore Amanda Bowery(Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester) got a pass behind the defense and beat a retreating Golden Gopher but her shot was stopped by the charging keeper's slide tackle.
Michigan continues with its Big Ten slate with Purdue on Friday (Oct. 3) in West Lafayette, Ind. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m.
GAME SUMMARY
| By Periods | 1 | 2 | F |
| Minnesota | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- MINN, Kaitlin Wagner, 21:54 (Kelsey Hood)
Shots: U-M 6, MINN 15
Shots on Goal: U-M 1, MINN 5
Saves: U-M4 (Madison Gates), MINN1 (Lindsey Dare)
Corner Kicks: U-M 4, MINN 6
Fouls: U-M 10, MINN 10
Cards: MINN, Hood, 73:45 (Yellow); MINN, Krystle Kallman, 76:29 (Yellow); U-M, Natalie Horner, 84:22 (Yellow).
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Greg Ryan
On today's game... "In the first half, we were unable to control the ball up front so we were unable to attack. They only had three defenders and they had four forwards and our four forwards couldn't track the ball. So what would happen is we would be constantly defending. I thought the backs and the holding midfielders played great because they were outnumbered in the first half and we never had the ball in the first half. In the second half, we had a little bit more of the play and we played a little bit better. But when we countered and got the ball behind their defense, we didn't settle the ball and we did not finish."
On Minnesota's goal... "It was great defending (by Michigan). They had the ball, knocked it across two or three times and kept finding a loose extra player. The shot was from outside the box, under pressure and she hit the side pocket. That is great defending -- you cannot stop every ball. Amy Klippert just busted it across to get to that player and get a foot (on the ball) and get pressure but you can't stop them from getting shots off. All you can do is get them under pressure. She dinged it right in the corner, it would have been a very difficult save for Madison (Gates) to make because she had to cover the near post, so the back post is a little open and a little exposed. It was great defending, but again, you can't defend all day."
Contact: Ryan Sosin (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Wagner, Kaitlin (3)
Assisted By: Hood, Kelsey
shot from 10 yds left bar low
21:54
