The Michigan Daily - SportsWednesday - October 20, 2004 - 9B Feelin' Women continue to falter on offense Blue By Matt Singer Daily Sports Writer Goals have been in short supply lately for the Michigan women's soccer team. After putting up 13 tallies in a six-game stretch early in the season, No. 13 Michi- gan (6-2-1 Big Ten, 9-5-2 overall) has found it increasing-M GN ly difficult to tickle the twine. The Wol- verines have scored just four goals in their last six games, stumbling to a 2-3-1 record over that span. The trend continued Sunday, as the Wolverines rolled into Madison hoping to erase the memory of Thursday's crushing 1-0 loss to Oakland. Unfortunately, Wis- consin (5-4-1, 11-4-1) took a page out of the Grizzlies' book. Much like Oakland, the Badgers came out with more midfield- ers and defenders than usual - making life difficult for Michigan's forwards. Despite the defensive formation, the Badgers were aggressive on the counter- attack, putting in two goals in the first 20 minutes and handing the Wolverines their second Big Ten loss of the season, 3-1. "They came out ready to play, and we came out a little soft," senior Laura Tan- chon said. "By the time we started to fig- ure out anything together, it was already 3-0 and it was a little too late." While both teams produced early scor- ing chances, only the Badgers were able to capitalize. Wisconsin junior Amy Ver- meulen drilled a penalty kick home in the 12th minute. Six minutes later, fellow Badger Marisa Brown followed her own shot off the post and tapped it past Michi- gan keeper Megan Tuura to give Wiscon- sin a 2-0 advantage. "(The early goals) were disappoint- ing," Michigan coach Debbie Rademach- er said. "It was back and forth, back and forth, and then it just happened." The second half brought continued frustration. After the Badgers added an insurance goal with 28 minutes left, Michigan couldn't convert a penalty kick. Sophomore Katelin Spencer ended the Wisconsin shutout by netting her first goal of the season, redirecting a Tanchon cor- ner kick into the net. But the late goal didn't snap Michigan's recent offensive woes. Freshman Melissa Dobbyn and junior Therese Heaton, who poured in 13 total goals in their first eight games, have been held to just one in the eight games since. With the loss of senior foi ward Kate Morgan to injury, those two have been forced to shoulder all of the offensive burden - a task made all the more difficult by defenses designed spe- cifically to shut them down. "Other teams obviously know who our goal scorers are," Rademacher said. "They pay extra attention to Melissa and Therese." All teams, especially young ones, must endure some bumps along the regular-sea- son road. But Michigan's upperclassmen know that a few tough losses can help the team grow and lead to great things once the postseason rolls around. "I absolutely think regular-season adversity strengthens a good team," Tan- chon said. "Sometimes you need to lose to keep yourself honest and to let you know if you don't show up to play, you could lose the game and end your season early." The Wolverines will face a huge test Friday when they travel to Michigan State. A win would give them a chance to earn the second seed in the Big Ten Tourna- ment. "I think the best thing we can take from these games is to remember the disappointment we had at the end of the weekend," Tanchon said. "We need to carry that disappointment over to Friday and take that out on Michigan State." TOMMASO GOMEZ/Daily Michigan junior Adam Bruh hangs his head after the Wolverines were knocked off by Michigan State 3-2, in overtime Sunday. Men fall to Spartans in extra session By Dan Ketchel Daily Sports Writer The bad thing about an up-and-down game is that someone ends up being down. The Michigan men's soccer team was forced to endure that IG . feeling, after it lost a 3-2 heartbreaker at home to Big Ten rival Michigan State (2-2-0 Big Ten, 8-4-0 overall) on Sunday. The 22nd-ranked Wolverines had a victo- ry snatched from them just 2:34 into over- time in front of a record crowd of 2,306 people at Varsity Soccer Field. Michigan spent most of the match play- ing catch-up as the Spartans controlled the majority of the game, forcing Michigan junior goaltender Peter Dzubay to make a season-high eight saves. Trailing 2-1 at halftime, the Wolverines came out swinging to begin the second half with a golden opportunity in the first minute of play. Some quick footwork near the Michigan State goal allowed mid- fielder Adam Bruh to receive a pass from senior Mychal Turpin and push it across the net to forward Bobby Trybula. But Trybula couldn't finish the chance as he drove the ball just wide of the net. After some sporadic pressure through- out the half, the Wolverines finally capi- talized as a rocket from Bruh found the upper-right corner of the Michigan State goal to tie the game at two. Spartan midfielder Ben Pirmann blew his assignment on Bruh, allowing him to get free for an opportunity. Bruh received a pass just outside the 18-yard line from senior Karl Lopata and didn't hesitate - he promptly turned and fired the equalizing shot, which sent the game into extra time. Michigan coach Steve Burns felt that Bruh's first goal of the season was just what his team needed at that moment. "We allowed the game to stay open," Burns said. "Thinking that momentum was with the cimwd, the players on the bench and everyone on the field, it looked like it was going to turn our way." But after the tying goal, the game opened up for either team to take. Both teams had genuine scoring chances, including a one-on-one with the goal- keeper for Turpin, who pushed the ball just wide of the net. Things only got worse for Michigan as the Spartans controlled the ball for almost all of overtime and put the game away in the third minute of the extra session. Jordan Gruber, Michigan State's senior midfielder, found the net on a rip from 15 yards out to score the game-winning goal for the Spartans. "I thought we did a good job of crawl- ing back into the game," Bruh said. "We put away a couple of chances, and they just scored a great goal to beat us. You have to give them credit." Said Burns: "All in all, it was a game where I thought both teams played to their full potential. We had a lot of chances and certainly it is a difficult one to swallow, but we move on." Dzubay was beaten for the first time in the 19th minute of the first half, when a Michigan State corner kick was sent towards the near side. The cross found forward John Mingawa-Webster, who used his head to put the ball just inside the post, giving the Spartans a 1-0 lead. The Wolverines kicked it into gear and evened the score just six minutes later on a goal by veteran striker Turpin. His team- leading fifth goal of the season came after an assist by junior defender Ryan Sterba, who sent a far-side cross towards the net. The long ball caught Michigan State goal- keeper Jason Tillman out of position, and Turpin finished the play with a diving header to even the score at 1-1. Just before the end of the half, the Spar- tans pulled ahead 2-1 with yet another header, this time from junior Ryan McMa- hen. A flip pass from Gruber allowed McMahen to find the left side of the goal in the 44th minute, giving Michigan State the one-goal advantage at the half. Michigan (0-2-0 Big Ten, 7-4-2 over- all) will look to break even in the confer- ence with matches against Wisconsin and Northwestern this week. RYAN WEINER/Daily Sophomore Katelin Spencer scored Michigan's lone goal on Sunday. BEN AFFLECK JAMES GANDOLFINI CHRISTINA APPLEGATE CATHERINE O'HARA x3 is c % ' ': ..; Share the warmth. Surviving Ag"to"" m A"loeal "