12 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, October 11, 1996 Big Ten's rough road to title goes though Iowa City, Evanston By Richard Shin Daily Sports Writer For the Michigan field hockey team, back-to-back victories this weekend would give the Wolverines their first four-match winning streak. To achieve Wolverines will have to defeat two nationally- ranked oppo- nents, No. 12 Northwestern and No. 2 Iowa. For the u n r a n k e d Wolverines, the task may not be easy. this, however, the This weekend Who: Michigan vs. No. 2 Iowa and No. 12 Northwestern When: Iowa, today, 3 p.m.; Northwestern tomorrow, noon Where: Iowa City and Evanston Notable: Iowa is first in the Big Ten the Wildcats have dropped their last three matches, including a 3-2 loss to Iowa on Sept. 28. The Wolverines are coming off an emotional victory over cross-state rival Michigan State and a convincing 6-1 drubbing of New Hampshire last week. "(Against Michigan State), we played hard and played well together," Michigan attacker Michelle Smulders said. "We played beautiful hockey, and we put the ball in the net." Iowa, too, has found the net this sea- son, averaging 3.9 goals per game through I1 games. Iowa goalkeeper, Lisa Cellucci, has been stingy in the goal, allowing a little over a goal per game. The Hawkeyes are led by Diane DeMiro and Kristen Holmes. DeMiro has a team-high nine goals and leads the team with 24 points. Holmes has eight goals on the year and is tied for the team lead in assists with DeMiro with six. Michigan's defense has been tough as well in its past two games, giving up only four goals. Northwestern has not fared as well as Iowa this season. Although the Wildcats are ranked 12th, they. are 0-3 in the Big Ten and have struggled to a 5-6 record. The Wildcats are led by Ellie Karvoski, who has scored nine goals and has 19 points on the year. Wins this weekend would move the Wolverines toward their first confer- ence title in Michigan history. Although the Wolverines have won two matches in a row, their last victory came over a New Hampshire team that entered the game with only one win. Michigan coach Marcia Pankratz did not think that the big victory would result in a letdown against Iowa, but she expressed some concerns. "It's good and bad," Pankratz said. "It's great for their confidence, but sometimes you get away with some things that you can't get away with against Iowa. (The match against the Hawkeyes) is going to be extremely difficult. They are the No. 2 team in the nation. "We have our work cut out for us." Iowa (3-0 Big Ten, 10-1 overall), Michigan's opponent on Saturday, has \won its last three matches, all of which were against ranked conference foes. Michigan then faces a Northwestern team that is heading in the opposite direction. In contrast to the Hawkeyes, FILE PHOTO/D~aily Like Julie Flachs, the rest of the Wolverines will have to stay a step ahead this weekend. Michigan has two tough Big Ten road games, one in Iowa City, the other in Evanston. w - 'M' faces ranked foes Nittany Lions, Gophers to take on Blue w o j. A ! 1 1 ' n By Josh Kleinbaum For the Daily Coming off only the second ever back-to-back shutout losses in its histo- ry, the Michigan women's soccer team is looking to turn things around at home this weekend as it jumps back into the Big Ten schedule. It'll be a tough weekend for the Wolverines (1-1 Big Ten, 4-4-2 overall), as they play their third and fourth con- secutive ranked teams. Michigan plays No. 13 Penn State (1-1-1, 7-2-2) at 4 p.m. this afternoon, then No. 17 Minnesota (1-2, 8-3) at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Both games are at Michigan Soccer Field. The Wolverines are coming off two difficult defeats, having lost to both Washington and Portland, 3-0. After this weekend, seven of Michigan's 11 opponents will have been ranked in the top 25. The Wolverines record against ranked teams is 0-3-2. Penn State relies on junior forward Rachel Hoffman for leadership. Hoffman has scored six goals and added seven assists on the season. "They have very strong forwards, so we have to make sure that we mark them up tight," Michigan coach Debbie Belkin said. "We have to hold off Rachel Hoffman, one of the top for- wards in the Big Ten." The Nittany Lions also depend on the goaltending team of Robyn Van Pragg and Dara Christante, who have com- bined for a L.14 goals-against average and have had four shutouts. Carol Dutchka should also be a factor for th Nittany Lions. The sophomore forward was named Big Ten Player of the Week two weeks ago after she scored the game winning-goal against Minnesota: on Sept. 22. This game is the sixth of seven con- secutive games on the road for the Nittany Lions. Meanwhile, the Wolverines return home, where they arc undefeated this season. Penn State log to No. 5 Maryland last Sunday, 3-1. The 17th-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers have had a rough start in the Big Ten, already suffering two losses, and they look to rebound against the Wolverines. The Gophers only lost one Big 'Ten game all of last season en route to win- ning the conference title. "Minnesota is a really tough team," Belkin said. "They play good teanm defense and have the top center mid fielder in the conference." That center midfielder is All- American Jennifer McElmury, who already has seven goals on the season. The Gophers are also lead by midfield- er Erin Hussey and forward Nicole Lee, who have scored seven goals each. Teresa O'Hearn and Dana Larson have been stellar in goal this season, com- bining for six shutouts and a 0.91 goah against average. "We have to contain their center mid- fielder," Belkin said of McElmury. 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