MICHIGAN WOMEN’S SOCCER SEASON PREVIEW
After steadily improving on its win total in the first three years of Greg Ryan’s tenure in Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan women’s soccer team looks to take its biggest step yet in 2011. The Wolverines went 10‐5‐4 last season, finishing fifth in the Big Ten (5‐3‐2), qualifying to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006. Youth will once again be prevalent in Ann Arbor, as 18 of the 24 players on the roster are freshmen or sophomores.
The Wolverines return 85 percent of their scoring from last year’s team, including sophomore Nkem Ezurike, who led the team in goals (nine) and points (19) en route to second team All‐Big Ten and All‐Big Ten Freshman team honors. Sophomores Kayla Mannino and Shelby Chambers‐ Garcia are expected to provide depth and experience off the bench, as each played in 18 games last season as freshmen. The strength of the Wolverines’ 2011 squad appears to be in the midfield, as all four of Michigan’s starters return this season, including sophomores Tori McCombs and Meghan Toohey. McCombs – who will also see time at forward – and Toohey started every match last season for the Wolverines as freshmen, combining for seven goals and five assists. In addition, senior Courtney Mercier and junior Holly Hein provide experience in the midfield. Mercier has played in 50 career games, while Hein returns after missing all but six games last season due to injury. Among the many freshmen mids on this year’s squad is Christina Murillo, a member of the Mexican U‐17 national team, and perhaps the class’ most decorated recruit (was rated as a four‐star recruit and ranked No. 36 on TopDrawerSoccer.com’s Girls Top 100 list.) After the departure of three starters on defense from last season’s squad, Michigan will continue to plug in defensemen with experience, filling the void with three seniors this season. The extremely versatile Clare Stachel figures to see time at right back after playing forward last season, and will likely be flanked by sophomore Shelina Zadorsky, while seniors Kristen Goncalves and Kim Siebert will patrol the middle. Among the freshmen that could make a splash early is South Lyon, Mich., native Chloe Sosenko, who has taken reps with the starters during camp. The defense is bolstered by the return of starting netminder Haley Kopmeyer. As one of the four captains this season, along with Stachel, Mercier and Goncalves, Kopmeyer has been nothing short of spectacular in goal for Michigan. She’s corralled 182 saves in her three seasons in Ann Arbor, with a save percentage of .824 (program leader) and a goals‐against‐average of 1.06 (second in school history). She also led the Big Ten in saves as a sophomore in 2009 (95). The Wolverines will take advantage of the sparkling U‐M Soccer Stadium this season – now in its second season since a $6 million renovation – hosting 11 home games, including six of their first eight. Perennial Big Ten powers Minnesota and Penn State travel to Ann Arbor during the conference slate, as well as 2010 national semifinalist Ohio State. Michigan opens the season on Friday, Aug. 19 against Akron
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