16 The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, November 16, 1999

Soccer seniors pass torch to youth*
Berendowsky ends career of Ruthian numbers with disappointing season end

By Matthew Barbas
Daily Sports Writer
The 1999 season for the Michigan soc-
cer team marked the culmination of a great
senior class and the start of the school's
most heralded freshman class.
"This was a year to pass the torch,"
Michigan coach Debbie Belkin said. "This
year's senior class accomplished more than
any other."
The season ended last Saturday when the
Wolverines (9-1-1 Big Ten, 17-6-1 overall)
lost to Wake Forest, 1-0, in the second
round of the NCAA Tournament. The sud-
den end was especially hard on the seniors.
"I am extremely sad that the season is
over," senior captain Emily Schmitt said.
"However, it does not take away from what
this season has meant to me. Because of
my teammates, I enjoyed every second of
it."
Despite ending the season with the same
result as last year, this year's team raised
the level of the program.
"Last year, Notre Dame dominated our
second-round matchup," Belkin said.
"This year, the game could have gone
either way."
At the beginning of the season, the team
set three goals: first, win the Big Ten reg-
ular season championship; second, win the
Big Ten Tournament; and finally, make
some noise in the NCAA Tournament.
"We fell a little short of reaching our
potential in the NCAA Tournament,"
junior Kacy Beitel said. "But, we are still
very proud of our season record and our
tournament success."
Michigan entered its final Big Ten game
tied with Penn State for first place in the
DAVID ROCHKIND/Daily conference. But the conference title
slipped away after a painful loss to

Wisconsin. However, the team made
amends in the Big Ten Tournament finals,
dominating Penn State in a 4-2 victory.
The team began the season ranked
15th. The Wolverines' non-conference
schedule fielded five competitive teams.
Michigan tnanaged a 3-2 record entering
the Big Ten season.
"In the beginning of the season, we
were feeling each other out," Belkin said.
"We had a young defense."
Sophomore sweeper Alissa Shaw coordi-
nated a defense on which she was the only
veteran. Along with Andrea Kayal, Amy
Sullivant and Carly Williamson, freshman
striker Abby Crumpton brought an excit-
ing flavor to the starting lineup.
During the preseason, senior captain
Stephanie McArdle suffered an injury that
ended her season. Despite her injury,
McArdle remained a part of the team, trav-
eling to numerous road games.
In the first game of the season,
Michigan's all-time leading scorer, Amber
Berendowsky, fell victim to an ankle
injury that kept her out until the middle of
the season.
The losses did not prevent Berendowsky
from setting the Big Ten conference record
for career assists (33) and becoming the
fourth on the all-time Big Ten points
record (113) though.
Crumpton made a name for herself in
the first six games by tallying four goals.
The Wolverines' seventh game against
No. 5 Penn State ended in a scoreless tie.
Big Ten player and freshman of the year
Christie Welsh was unable to solve the
developing Michigan defense. In the next
four games, the Wolverines allowed only
one goal.
Junior ' goalkeeper Carissa Stewart

"This was a year to
pass the torch"
- Debbie Belk
Michigan soccer coach
earned praise across the country. Her six
saves against Penn State earned her a spot
on Soccer America's team of the week.
Michigan's midseason game against No.
E Notre Dame gave ,the Wolverines the
opportunity to avenge their 3-0 NCAA
loss. However, the Irish continued their
domination of the Wolverines with a 40
victory.
The Wolverines got right back on track
in the Big Ten, decisively winning their
next three games. Michigan's loss against
Wisconsin would prove the only blemish
on its Big Ten record.
Michigan struggled in its opening match
of the Big Ten Tournament. But, in -the
finals, the Wolverines convincingly beat
Penn State.
"Winning the Big Ten Tournament w
the high point of this season," Beitel said.
Unable to earn a first round bye, the
Wolverines dominated Wright State, win-
ning the opening round of the NCAAs, 5-
0.
The Wolverines could not capitalize on
their opportunities and lost to Wake Forest
in the NCAAs second round, 1-0.
Before letting go of the torch, Schmitt
had one last bit of advice for the freshmen.
"I loved every second of playing so
cer," Schmitt said. "I just hope that yd
can be as lucky and realize what you have
before it is gone,"

Michigan senior Shannon Pool ended her Michigan soccer career on Saturday, too.
BOSTON 
Continued ftom Page 13