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.