The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, September 4, 2002 -17 Veteran defense brings leadership and maturity By Albert Kim Daily Sports Writer The Michigan women's soccer team's seven seniors offer the Wolverines an advantage most schools do not have. It would mean nothing, though, if the seniors were not leaders. Fortu- nately, each of them brings something to the table that will help the team. SOCCER "It helps any team to have Notebook senior leadership, not just seniors," Michigan coach Debbie Rademacher said. "All seven are con- tributors in their own way." The Wolverines are going with a tri-captain system this year, and it is no surprise that all three are seniors. Defenders Andrea Kayal, Carly Williamson and forward Abby Crumpton will be expected to provide leadership and speak for the team, but all of the seniors will be looked up to. "There is no substitute for experience," Rademacher said. "The type of competition that all the seniors have faced the last four years has made them more prepared and even more mature." On the field, the seniors will be expected to score big goals and keep the team poised and motivated. Both of these things happened this past weekend against both Florida and Brigham Young. In each game, the team showed desire and mental toughness. Crumpton scored the game- winner in Sunday's come-from-behind victory against Brigham Young. "I'm pleased with our intensity and work rate throughout the games," Rademacher said. "We seem more mentally prepared." This helped the team get off to a good start to the season, something that has been lacking in recent years. "It's the first time in a couple years that we've started with strong teams and come out 2-0, as opposed-to 0-2," Rademacher said. This season, it appears that defense will be the Wolverines' strength. The defense boasts four seniors, including Amy Sullivant and Vicky Whitley, in addition to Kayal and Williamson. Through two games, the defense has given up just one goal. Crumpton will lead the offense, while sen- iors Tammy Mitchell and Michele Pesiri will help hold down the midfield. Having experi- ence on the field will be especially important in a few weeks when the Big Ten season gets underway. The Big Ten season promises to be a big test for the Wolverines. Penn State, along with Michigan, is ranked among the top 25 in the nation. The Wolverines have stayed healthy thus far, but will need to work on a few details. "We'll work on our fitness and work on our finishing," Rademacher said. "We need to make sure we put them all away." It will be up to the seniors to help the team develop that scoring mentality. Seniors are only an advantage if they grab the role of lead- ers. For Michigan, it's something that shouldn't be a problem. IN WITH THE NEW: Michigan's seniors were not the only one's to help carry the team to vic- tory this weekend. The Wolverines received two goals from freshman Therese Heaton in a 2-0 win over No. 13 Florida. The Wheaton, Ill. native was rewarded for her performance by being named the Big Ten Conference's offensive player of the week. Heaton's Michigan career got off to a fast start on Friday, when she scored her first goal just 36 seconds into the first half by lofting the ball over Florida's charging goaltender..The goal set a school record for quickest score, breaking the previous mark by six seconds. Heaton wasted little time in getting her Sec- ond mark on the board. She scored her second goal fewer than five minutes later. Michigan junior forward Stephanie Chavez will have the luxury of seven experienced seniors leading the way this season, but she ws expected to serve as an example for younger players. Youth leading the way for Blue By Gennaro Filice Daily Sports Writer Senior leadership. In the last decade, the simple phrase has fre- quented college sports. Ask most coaches about the importance of the two words and they will recite a speech of Biblical proportions. Many people in college athletics feel a strong senior presence is the most important aspect of a team. But this year, Michigan men's soc- cer coach Steve Burns and the Wolverines are trying to prove everyone wrong. Robert Turpin is the only senior on the 2002 Michigan roster. As a two-time captain, he instantly gains respect and adoration from his peers. "Younger guys look up to (Robert) like a grandfather. He is a great leader and everyone looks to him on the field as well as off of it," Burns said. Although Turpin is the team's lone senior, Burns has a hard time believ- ing that the team will lack guidance. "People think that the best leader- ship is seniors, which may or may not be true," Burns said. "I think that juniors are just as strong of components of leadership." If Burns' "junior hypothesis" is correct, the Wolverines are loaded with possible leaders. Michigan boasts 11 juniors, including Mike White and Joe Iding, who share the captain duties with Turpin. Burns feels that these two juniors can fill any void left by a lack of seniors. "Mike is a guy that speaks his mind. He's always willing to step up and challenge teammates and coach- es in a respectful way," Burns said: "And Joe is everything you want from an athlete. He is 100 percent committed to the program." Talented defender Kevin Taylor returns for his junior year after earn- ing All-Great Lakes Third Team honors in 2001. While the upperclassmen on the team look to offer leadership and experience, the best raw talent for the Wolverines this season lies in their younger players. Sophomore Knox Cameron has been unstoppable with four goals in the first two contests this year. Cameron is coming off a marquee year in which he earned many acco- lades, including being named to Soccer America's 11-member All- Freshman Team. Cameron also tuned up his game over the summer on the US Under-20 National Team. Another offensive weapon and "super soph" for Michigan is Mychal Turpin, who earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors last year. Sophomore netminder Joe Zawacki had a sound performance against Wright State with five saves, and could be the factor on the team. Many players from the class of 2006 are also brewing excitement"'for the Maize and Blue faithful. In August, College Soccer News ranked the incoming freshman class of 2002 No. 27 in the nation. Adam Bruh has already turned heads by becoming the fastest Wolverine to accumulate three assists in team history. With a very deep team, the Wolverines have set their sights high. They're looking to contend for the Big Ten title and an NCAA bid. Although Michigan only has one senior, they are talent-ridden, and Burns thinks his players have the drive to take their game to the top. "The team wants this to be a breakout year," Burns said. 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