The Michigan Daily - Thursday, October 11, 2001- 9A Kickers eye crucial game vs. Spartans By Chris Burke Daily Sports Writer Women focus on defense as they prepare for Big Ten 'M' tries to avenge loss and contend for conference The Michigan men's soccer team will take the field on Sunday afternoon in East Lansing against archrival Michigan State with more on the line than meets the eye. First and foremost, the Wolverines will be attempting to even their Big Ten record at 2-2 on the year, as they try to improve their posi- tion for the Big Ten Tournament to be held Nov. 8-10 in Madison. In addition to that, there is the battle for control of the state, as Michi- gan hopes to convince all potential in-state recruits that the true local soccer power resides in Ann Arbor. "Every recruit looks at the score of this game," Michigan coach Steve Burns said. "We want to make sure that we bring in the very best and brightest athletes from our state, and a win in this game would help us say that we are the better team." The two teams boast a combined total of 33 players from the state of Michigan - 19 on Michigan State's roster and 14 for Michigan. Along with the general rivalry between the two schools, it took no time for this game to become an important one on both team's schedule. Last year's meeting -- the first matchup since Michigan's soccer team gained varsity status - was an epic battle. In front of a Michigan record crowd of 2,173, the two teams traded blows all game until the Spartans A LYSSA WOOD/ Daily Freshman Knox Cameron (10) and the rest of the Wolverines eye a big game with Spartans. But before Michigan takes on its archrival, it has to avenge last year's loss to Bowling Green. By Jim Weber Daily Sports Writer Last Friday, the Michigan women's soc- cer team set a team record with its fourth consecutive shutout in a 4-0 victory over Ohio State. But the team is back to practicing defense this week after Sunday's loss to eighth-ranked Penn State. The Nittany Lions defeated the Wolver- ines 6-2 in State College as two-time Big Ten Player-of-the-Year and All-American Christie Welsh scored four goals and assist- ed on two others. "I'm trying to think of a good reason, but there is no possible reason for why we got scored on so many times," goalie Suzie Grech said. This weekend's opponents, Indiana (3-1- 1, 6-2-1) and Purdue (2-2-1, 6-4-1), don't have a player like Welsh. But her individual performance left the Wolverines with much to work on. Head coach Debbie Rademacher said Welsh was allowed too much room during the game and has made adjustments accord- ingly. Captain Andrea Kayal said the team is currently working on "tighter team defense and making sure your player doesn't get the ball and turn with it." The mental lapses that have plagued the team all season also reappeared against Penn State as Michigan allowed two goals to be scored within a minute on separate occasions. "We had some weaknesses in recovering ' after being scored on - staying into the game" Grech said. Grech and Kayal both said that the team might have been intimidated by the. Nittany Lions, - the highest ranked team the Wolverines have faced all season. Michigan might face Penn State again in VARSITY SOCCER FIELD Who: Michigan (4-2 Big Ten, 6-4 overall) vs. No. 23 Indiana (3-1-1, 6-2-1) and Purdue (2-2-1, 64-1) When: 4 p.m. tomorrow,1 p.m. Sunday Latest: coming off of last Sunday's loss to Penn State, the Wolverines need to win both conference games to contend for the Big Ten Title. The Wolverines are playing two teams that are neck-to-neck with them in the conference stand- ings, making these two games vital down the stretch run. If they can get past Indiana and Purdue, the schedule may be in Michigan's favor to run the table. the Big Ten Tournament, which starts in a month. Kayal said that if there is a next time, they will be ready for the challenge and won't be intimated by Penn State. "You know who they are and accept that. We just have to play hard and capitalize on their weaknesses," she said. Though the Wolverines remain confident they will win the Big Ten Tournament championship, odds of a regular season conference title now seem bleak. With a win at Penn State, the Wolverines would have taken the Big Ten lead. Now Michigan (4-2, 6-5) is a point behind Penn State (4-0-1) in the confer- ence, and Penn State has played one less game. "It will be very difficult for us to win because we have two losses in the Big Ten," Grech said. "The most we can do right now is win each and every game." - After playing Indiana and Purdue this weekend, Michigan's remaining games in the conference are Minnesota (2-4) and Michigan State (2-3-1). In the Big Ten standings, they place eighth and tied for sixth, respectively, leaving Michigan confi- dent they can win the rest of their games in the Big Ten. "No doubt, we certainly can," Rademach- er said. ELBEL FIELD Who: Michigan (1-2 Big Ten, 7-2-1 overall) vs. Bowling Green (1-3 MAC, 341 overall) When: 7:30 p.m. tonight Latest: With a huge game against Michigan State in East Lansing looming on Sunday, the Wolverines will have to work hard to avoid looking past Bowling Green. I notched the game-winner on an own goal - meaning a Wolverine player inadvertently knocked the ball into the Michigan net - in the 106th minute of play to record the 2-1, double-overtime triumph. Michigan State thus became the first owner of the traveling trophy given to the winner of the in-state game. "I had the idea for the traveling trophy because it really gave us something to play for against Michigan State right out of the gate," Burns said. "The rivalry is 100 percent intact - we know the significance of this game." Burns' biggest worry for this week, though, was trying to force his players to avoid looking past tonight's home game against Bowling Green. The Falcons shut out Michigan 2-0 in the 2000 campaign, and will be looking to repeat the feat. Add in the fact that Michigan will play without leading defender Kevin Tay- lor, who was red-carded late in last Sunday's loss to Indiana, and the Wolverines have a dif- ficult task waiting. "One of the goals is to get our players to know that this Bowling Green team wants to beat us," Burns said. "They beat us badly last year, and we really need to focus." As important as a win against Bowling Green would be for this year's Michigan team, there is little doubt that a win over Michigan State would help the future of the program more. "Right now, Michigan State has more kids on their team that opted to play there because we weren't able to make a good enough offer to them for whatever reason," Burns said. "But for their bunch of guys and'for the few on our team that State couldn't bring in, there's always that drive to play well so you can sort of say to the other team 'You made a mistake letting me go."' I ote Wek RA Rt Sponsored byD'Amato's Italian Restaurant r - su n--- Study Tibet May 9, 2002 - July 9, 2002 This exceptional Summer Study Abroad program' in Tibet provides a comprehensive nine-week, six credit program for the study of Tibetan language, history and culture, run entirely in Tibet. 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