Catching Up with Coach Ryan
10/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 8, 2015
Greg Ryan
With six games remaining in the regular season, MGoBlue.com caught up to with head coach Greg Ryan to talk about how his team is progressing through the Big Ten season, as well as the upcoming alumni weekend.
On going 1-0-1 on the road at Maryland and Rutgers ... "I thought we played well throughout both of those games. We found the goal against Maryland; I thought our possession was great; we defended really well. Against Rutgers, I thought our team defending was outstanding; our determination; our work rate was all great. We knew it would be difficult for us to find goals and it was hard for them as well. I was really pleased with getting four points on the road."
On the team going to overtime just once this season ... "Our kids are working so hard, anytime we can avoid overtime it's great for the legs. The Rutgers game was tough -- 110 minutes of soccer is a lot of wear and tear, but we'll recover and rebound this week."
On Abby Kastroll winning Big Ten Freshman of the Week ... "Abby brings so much energy and enthusiasm and fire. This kid just works so hard. She's athletic, she's intense, she's a winner and she brings that every time she steps on the field. I'm very proud of her and pleased for her to be recognized by the Big Ten."
On the strength of Michigan's defense ... "That has become our priority as the season has gone on and the girls are really embracing that. We just can't concede anything and the way they're playing they're making it very difficult for teams to score on us -- we just have to continue that if we want to win in the Big Ten. And it's not just our back line, you don't do it without the team. Every player on our team has specific roles and responsibilities in terms of our team defending. Right now our strikers are executing it, our midfield is executing, our back line is executing and our goalkeeping has been stellar."
On preparing for the remainder of the Big Ten season ... "The main focus is getting ready for the next game and understanding your opponent and getting after it. We're not looking at any other game but the one ahead of us. We'll be prepared for Northwestern, the girls are going to put in a fantastic effort, and then we'll prepare for Illinois. That's how you win in the Big Ten is you don't worry about any game except the one right in front of you."
On welcoming back alumni to campus this weekend ... "We're excited to have them all back this weekend and to really initiate that process of bringing them back each year. I'm so excited -- I've been here eight years now and to see so many of the kids I've had the opportunity to coach come back is wonderful. It's wonderful for me to see them, it's wonderful for them to reconnect with the program and we're all excited to continue to follow what they're doing in their lives after Michigan."
On the current-athletes having alumni of the program as role models and mentors ... "It's fabulous -- we have Clare (Stachel Braun) right here in our own athletic department and our players can connect with her. We also have lots of kids who have played professionally and overseas so our current student-athletes know that if they want to pursue that, there are people they can talk to. If they're interested in medicine or business school or becoming a lawyer, they have alumni they can connect with. And we have our recruits connect with our current players for the same reasons. It's a continuous network that really benefits the individuals in our program."
Communications Contact: Whitney Dixon (734-636-1104)
