Michigan
Southern Cal
Michigan's Lead Erased by Two Late Goals in Loss to USC
9/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Site: Los Angeles, Calif. (McAlister Field)
Score: Southern Cal 2, Michigan 1
Records: U-M (3-5), Southern Cal (3-3)
Next U-M Event: Wednesday, Sept. 16 -- vs. Oakland (U-M Soccer Complex), 5:30 p.m.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team carried a 1-0 lead into the final 25 minutes but could not hang on in a 2-1 loss to Southern Cal on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 13) at McAlister Field. Sophomore Kristen Goncalves (Ann Arbor, Mich./Gabriel Richard Catholic) gave the Wolverines the lead in the 28th minute, while sophomore/freshman Haley Kopmeyer (Troy, Mich./Lahser) posted nine saves in the loss.
Kristen Goncalves
Junior Jackie Carron (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester) was once again at the center of the U-M offense. Michigan earned a free kick from 20 yards out, off a USC yellow card, to set up its goal. Carron sent a drive into the box that clipped Goncalves and hit the back of the cage.
The Wolverines held the Trojans, a NSCAA/adidas preseason top-10 team, at bay through the first 65 minutes of the contest. Kopmeyer stood tall through the first half and made a leaping save on a ball labeled for the upper 90 just over 10 minutes into the second half. The Trojans broke through to knot the game at 1-1 on a free kick of their own at the 65th minute and took the lead 16 minutes later on a cross play that went at the left post.
Michigan returns home for a midweek showdown with Oakland on Wednesday (Sept. 16) at 5:30 p.m. at the U-M Soccer Complex. The game is part of a doubleheader with the Michigan men's soccer team, which will play Detroit following the conclusion of the women's game.
GAME SUMMARY
| By Periods | 1 | 2 | F |
| Michigan | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Southern Cal | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Kristen Goncalves, 27:09 (Jackie Carron)
2nd -- USC, Brittany Kerridge, 64:29 (unassisted)
2nd -- USC, Marihelen Tomer, 81:45 (Carly Butcher)
Shots: U-M 7, USC 16
Shots on Goal: U-M 4, USC 11
Saves: U-M 9 (Haley Kopmeyer), USC 3 (Krisin Olsen)
Corner Kicks: U-M 0, USC 10
Fouls: U-M 8, USC 8
Cards: USC, Karter Haug, 27:08 (Yellow); USC, Samantha Johnson, 39:47 (Yellow); U-M, Amy Klippert, 57:22 (Yellow); U-M, Sarah Stanczyk, 81:43 (Yellow)
NOTES
• Sophomore/freshman Haley Kopmeyer established a new career high with five saves today.
• With her second goal of the season, sophomore Kristen Goncalves has set a new career high for scores in a campaign and matched her point total of a season ago with four.
• Sophomore Kara Koppinger (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Lahser) made her collegiate debut as a starter.
• Freshman Alyssa Engstrom (West Hills, Calif./Chaminade Preparatory) earned her first career start on the Wolverine backline.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Greg Ryan
On the game ... "The girls did great; they really fought hard. I looked up at the end and shots were close. Considering that we were playing that good of a team and we are that beat up, I was really proud of the girls."
On the role players stepping up ... "First of all, the whole team stepped up, which is fantastic. When you tell team before a game with USC that you are going with five or six girls who don't normally start, they could look at it as if we are throwing the game away or let's take the challenge and make something out of it. I was impressed with intensity and intelligence we showed. We played very, very, smart soccer. Kara Koppinger got her first minutes against one of the best teams in country. Alyssa Engstrom and Lindsey Thut played well in back and their performances kept us in the game. We know that Jackie Carron, Amy Klippert, with her intensity, and Courtney Mercier are going to play well, but those young players really stepped up and kept it close. Haley Kopmeyer made one really spectacular save that kept it at 1-0 for us."
