8A - Friday, September 6, 2013
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Stakes on Pepperdine Lewis wins Big Ten
By JASONwRUBENSTEIN g U Freshman of Week
Daily Sports Writer g r - rAs or n f ~ e
The abundance of talent on
the 2013 Michigan women's soc-
cer team was evident to head
coach Greg Ryan before this sea-
son started. And though it's still
early in the season - only four
games in - Ryan is glad to see
all that talent materializing into
results.
The 11th-ranked Wolverines
remained unbeaten after dis-
mantling No. 23 San Diego State,
3-1, Sunday. The Aztecs (1-2-1)
were Michigan's highest ranked
opponent to start the year.
"We have a great balance with
a team that defends very well
and attacks really well," Ryan
said. "We have a lot of depth, and
eight of our 14 goals have been
scored by players coming off of
the bench."
Now, Michigan (4-0-0) will
look to earn its fifth straight win
when it squares off against No.
22 Pepperdine Friday.
In the preseason, Ryan rec-
ognized that certain freshmen
would contribute to the team's
success and he hasn't been dis-
appointed thus far. Freshman
Madisson Lewis' three goals are
tied with senior Nkem Ezurike
and sophomore Christina
Ordonez for most on the team.
But Lewis has scored her goals
with less playing time coming off
the bench.
Lewis has been critical in
drawing defenders away from
Ezurike, who is on pace to be
Michigan's all-time leading goal
scorer. Lewis' efforts led her to
be named the Big Ten Freshman
of the Week.
"(Lewis) is a very gifted ath-
lete," Ryan said. "She is excep-
tionally fast, and any ball that is
played behind the defense, she
has the pace to get to. Some of
her goals have been very high-
level finishes and she is putting
her whole game together."
By JUSTIN MEYER
Daily Sports Writer
The No. 11 Michigan wom-
en's soccer team broke open
the 2013 season with a flurry of
goals, thanks to outbursts from
freshman forward Madisson
Lewis and her fellow under-
classmen.
In the first four games of the
year, Lewis netted three goals
and two assists, which led to
her first Big Ten Freshman of
the Week award.
"It was totally out of the
blue," Lewis said.
But Michigan coach Greg
Ryan said that superb play by
underclassmen players includ-
ing Lewis, freshmen forward
Nicky Waldeck, freshmen for-
ward Anna Soccorsi and soph-
omore midfielder Christina
Ordonez is no surprise.
"We really saw it before,"
Ryan said. "We knew that we
would have so much talent and
so much depth, and that the
freshman class was going to be
very, very talented."
Lewis attributed her early
season success to the experi-
ence of her teammates.
"To play with those kind of
players that we have, it makes
it really easy for me to jell with
them," Lewis said. "They give a
lot of direction on the field."
The work ethic and skill
Lewis brings to the field is what
Ryan said sets her apart. A track
athlete in high school with dev-
astating finishing touch, Lewis'
hustle and speed off the bench
have allowed her to put the ball
in the back of the net so effec-
tively this season.
"Madi's a tireless worker,
she's constantly moving," Ryan
said. "She's got so much pace
that she just blows the doors
off of most players. Most teams
aren't used to seeing a player
that has that kind of pace."
Lewis, a former Plymouth
High School standout and two-
time Gatorade State Player of
the Year, said the atmosphere of
collegiate soccer appeals to her.
"We're all on the same page
with our goals," Lewis said.
"For high school, it wasn't real-
ly like that because people were
playing for different club teams.
"This team, we have similar
goals and we all want to go to
the same place."
Though Lewis has made her
impact coming off the bench as
a reserve in this early part of
the season, Ryan said that could
change.
"We have started with four
veterans," Ryan said. "That's
been a good formula for us, but
now the young kids are going
to win more and more playing
time if they continue to be as
productive as they are.
"Don't be surprised to see
them in the starting lineup,
rather than coming off the
bench, if we think that they can
help us to do better right from
the very beginning."
The Wolverines play No. 22
Pepperdine, a talented team
fresh off a road win at No. 19
Texas A&M, at home Friday.
Ryan said the game will test his
team.
"We've been preparing for
Pepperdine all week," Ryan
said. "We know we're going to
have a great challenge in front
of us (Friday)."
Lewis, who put the clinch-
ing goal away against No. 21
San Diego State last weekend,
seemed unfazed.
"We think we're pretty pre-
pared," Louis said. "That's our
main goal ... to keep a high pres-
sure on the other team and to
attack."
I
I
PATRICK BARRON/Daily
Sophomore midfielder Christina Ordonez is tied for the team lead in goals with three early on in the season.
Ezurike and Lewis will look
to continue their scoring ways
against Pepperdine. The Waves
are coming off a 3-1 road win
over No. 19 Texas A&M.
"They're an outstanding team
that has no problems playing on
the road," Ryan said. "I think
they are much better than their
ranking. They have one of the
best forwards in the country."
Lynn Williams, the reigning
National Soccer Coaches Asso-
ciation of America Player of the
Week, scored two goals in two
minutes against the Aggies to
secure the win.
"You can't stop her with one
player; you have to play great
team defense," Ryan said. "It is
going to take a great team effort
to stop Lynn Williams from
scoring. She will be a challenge
for us, but it is one we're excited
about."
One of the biggest story-
lines before Friday's match is
the return of junior midfielder
Christina Murillo who repre-
sented Mexico in Tuesday's
international friendly against
the United States. Though Mex-
ico lost 7-0, the junior had the
opportunity to face international
superstars such as Abby Wam-
bach and Alex Morgan.
"I am really excited for
(Murillo)," Ryan said. "We were
able to get through the weekend
without her, but it wasn't easy.
We definitely missed her, but if
you want to have national play-
ers on your team, you have to let
them represent their country."
Michigan won both of its
games in Murillo's absences,
though Ryan knows her impor-
tance as she will be looked to
anchor an already solid midfield.
Perhaps Murillo's best skill is her
ability to help the Wolverines
control possession.
"She is one the most talented
players on the team," Ryan said.
"She's a very good possession
player with great skills. She
serves a fantastic ball on our set
plays and defends very well and
helps us build our offense."
Pepperdine might give the
Wolverines their biggest test
of the season to date, but Ryan
knows his squad can counter.
"They are a very dynamic and
skillful team that's talented in all
facets of the game," Ryan said.
"It's going to be a huge challenge
for us against a very talented
team."
I
Athletic Department
hires Skorich as an
associate AD
NIGHT GAME
From Page 1A
The band practiced in the sta- own - nerves that, in a night- section and less than 10 percent
Pasquale. But for his 405 musi- dium Thursday night and will do time setting, can be intensified. of Michigan Stadium's capacity.
cians, Saturday is going to be a so again Friday night to incorpo- He described the atmosphere at For this year, he expects the
long day. It'll begin at 8:30 a.m., rate elements that Pasquale said the 2011 Under the Lights game same atmosphere - possible
when the band gathers to play on "have to do particularly with the as "so loud it was nauseating." even more intense because of the
College GameDay, and won't end evening." He chose not to dis- His freshmen band members comments made by Notre Dame
until about 15 hours later. close these additions, only add- come from high-school bands coach Brian Kelly earlier this
"We tell them to take it easy ing, "It'll all make sense when comprising between 100 and 200 week. Kelly said that he doesn't
and hydrate as much as possi- you're in the stadium." members who are used to play- consider Michigan to be a great,
ble," Pasquale said. "With those Pasquale knows that, like the ing for a maximum of 10,000 historic Fighting Irish rival
thick uniforms on, it gets a little football team, his pupils will people - -the equivalent of one- before going back on those com-
warm." have to deal with nerves of their third of the Michigan student ments later in the week.
F -
I
By JEREMY SUMMITT
Daily Sports Editor
The newest face of the Ath-
letic Department is now Pete
Skorich.
Thursday, Athletic Director
Dave Brandon announced that
Skorich was hired as senior
associate athletic director for
communications, broadcast,
multimedia and creative ser-
vices. The position is newly cre-
ated and will allow Skorich to
report directly to Brandon and
serve on the Athletic Depart-
ment's leadership team.
Along with media services,
creative services and video pro-
duction, Skorich will be a liai-
son between the department
and the networks for broadcast
and 2007.
His prelude to that role con-
sisted of five years as the orga-
nization's vice president of
broadcasting and multimedia.
His most recent title with
the Pistons was executive vice
president for Skorich's final five
years.
He reported to the team's
presidents and managed all
broadcasting and multimedia,
brand marketing, website con-
tent and the creative design
team for the Pistons, Palace
Sports and Entertainment and
DTE Energy Amphitheater.
Additionally, Skorich acted as
the chief communications and
content officer, overseeing the
television, radio, web, print,
brand marketing, advertising
operations and game-
due to his day areas.
experience "I am
as an access "...M ichigan thrilled
screener for . to join the
the National is an iconic Michi-
Basketball ...." gan athlet-
Association institution... ics team,"
and its TV Skorich said
partners, in a state-
ESPN, ABC ment. "I
and TNT. am looking forward to telling
"Pete is an excellent addition stories about the more than
to our Michigan athletics team 900 student-athletes that par-
and will provide senior-level ticipate on our 31 teams. The
leadership to a growing area University of Michigan is an
of our organization," Bran- iconic institution with fans all
don said in a statement. "Pete over the world that have an
brings a wealth of experience insatiable appetite to follow
from professional sports and their teams across all media
the entertainment industry and platforms. I am excited at the
will help us create innovative opportunity to help deliver this
content for distribution on mul- coverage."
tiple platforms. His expertise Skorich has racked up count-
will be a great asset to our Ath- less awards along the way.
letic Department." While leading the broad-
Skorich spent the bulk of cast department with Palace
his career working with the Sports and Entertainment, his
Detroit Pistons from 1981 until team won more than 30 Emmy
2011 while climbing up the cor- Awards. Skorich received seven
porate ladder, spending seven National Golden Matrix and
years as the senior vice presi- two National Telly Awards.
dent of broadcasting and mul- He's been a member of the
timedia for Palace Sports and National Academy of Television
Entertainment between 2000 Arts and Sciences for 23 years.
Michigan fans enjoyed the celebration "Under the Lights" in 2011, but there is a lot more that goes into the preparation of a night game than meets the eye.