Michigan
Northwestern
Despite Early Lead, Wolverines Settle For Tie With Wildcats
10/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 4, 2009
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Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Complex)
Score: Michigan 2, Northwestern 2 (2OT)
Records: U-M (5-6-1, 0-1-1 Big Ten), Northwestern (4-6-2, 1-1-1 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Oct. 11 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), 1 p.m.
ANN ABROR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the second half but had to settle for a 2-2 with Northwestern on Sunday (Oct. 4) at the U-M Soccer Complex.
Senior Amy Klippert (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) tallied a goal and an assist in the effort. She was joined by sophomore Meaghan Hennessy (Westlake, Ohio/Magnificat) in the scoring column. Sophomore/freshman Haley Kopmeyer (Troy, Mich./Lasher) made six saves, including two in extra time.
Michigan jumped on the board in the 17th minute on Klippert's second breakaway of the frame. Sophomore Courtney Mercier (Erie, Pa./McDowell) chipped a pass over two NU defenders to Klippert, who sniped a shot to the center of the goal to put U-M up 1-0. The Wolverine lead extended to 2-0 in the 49th minute when Klippert stormed down the right side and into the box, feeding Hennessy with a short pass for the goal. The Wildcats wiped out the lead with two goals within five minutes of each other, scoring in the 50th and 55th minute to deadlock the score.
Kopmeyer kept things tied in the 72nd minute, fending off a pair balls en route to the net. The two teams battled back and forth through the first overtime, but it was not until midway through the second overtime that either team had a quality scoring chance. With five minutes remaining in the final extra frame, Michigan strung together four passes at the top of the box, but Klippert was hauled down before she could execute a shot from in close.
The Wolverines will look to remain perfect against intrastate rivals when they take on Michigan State on Sunday (Oct. 11) at 1 p.m. in East Lansing, Mich. The Wolverines are undefeated in seven games under Greg Ryan against teams from the Great Lakes state.
GAME SUMMARY
| By Periods | 1 | 2 | OT | OT2 | F |
| Northwestern | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Amy Klippert, 16:30 (Courtney Mercier)
2nd -- U-M, Meaghan Hennessy, 48:41 (Klippert)
2nd -- NU, Sam Greene, 49:08 (Caroline Dagley)
2nd -- NU, Jessica Palo, 54:47 (Caroline Dagley)
Shots: U-M 10, NU 17
Shots on Goal: U-M 3, NU 8
Saves: U-M 6 (Haley Kopmeyer), NU 1 (Carolyn Edwards)
Corner Kicks: U-M 2, NU 5
Fouls: U-M 17, NU 7
Cards: U-M, Klippert, 81:25 (Yellow).
N O T E S
• With the tie, Michigan's record against the Wildcats is 10-4-4 all-time and 4-1-3 at home.
• The Wolverines remained undefeated in their Big Ten home opener since 2000, going 6-0-3 during the span. U-M is 9-3-4 all-time in conference home openers.
• Michigan will carry a 4-1-1 record on competition field into the new U-M Soccer Stadium, which is set to open during the 2010 season. The team will move back to the west practice field for the remainder of the 2009 campaign to allow construction of the new stadium to get underway.
• Sophomore Meaghan Hennessy recorded her first career goal in the second half. The marker also represented her first career points.
• Sophomore/freshman Haley Kopmeyer played a career-high 110 minutes in the Michigan cage. Today's game was the first overtime contest of her career.
• Sophomore Courtney Mercier tallied her first career assist on Amy Klippert's first-half goal.
• Klippert recorded her first career assist on Hennessy's second-half goal.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Greg Ryan
On the game ... "I think we played some of the best soccer we have played all year. In the rain, it makes it a little more difficult because the ball is slipping all over the place. But I was really pleased; we possessed the ball better, we connect better, we were calmer. We have only scored two goals all year in the run of play and both of our goals today came off of run of play. This is only our third and fourth goals in the run of play, so that is a big improvement. We are good on set plays, we were close on a few and didn't quite get them in today."
Michigan Senior Midfielder Amy Klippert
On settling for the tie ... "It was really unlucky. We were definitely dominating the entire game, we just let down for 10 minutes. It only took them 10 minutes to score."
On her two-point game ... "It feels pretty good. On the assist, I was just glad Meaghan (Hennessy) was there to finish it because I whiffed (on the shot). I was just glad someone got to that ball. I like to do whatever I can for my team to win."
Michigan Sophomore Midfielder Meaghan Hennessy
On her first career goal ... "It was exciting. I wish we would have won, but it was exciting. I saw Amy (Klippert) going down the side and when she played it in I thought that (NU) was going to get it. But she lifted it and it was right in front of me so I took the shot. After I hit, I was just saying `please go in the goal!' After it went it, I was so shocked that it happened."
Contact: Ryan Sosin (734) 763-4423
