10 - The Michigan Daily -,Tuesday, November 7, 1995
Lack of scoring results in missed
expectations for women's soccer
By Donald Adamek
Daily Sports Writer
The Michigan women's soccer team
failed to achieve-its goals for the 1995
season mostly because it could not score
enough.
The Wolverines headed into their sec-
ond varsity season with reason to be
optimistic. They were returning 13 play-
ers, including their top five scorers, from
a team that had posted an 11-7-1 record.
"I will go into this year with the same
expectations as last year," Michiganhead
coach Debbie Belkin said before the
season."With a little higherexpectations
on the close games we lost last year."
The team did not reach Belkin's ex-
pectations. Innine games decidedby less
than two goals, Michigan only won two.
"I just want to set goals for every game
and improve on every game," Belkin had
said. "Hopefully, we'll improve our re-
sults."
Offense turned out to be the biggest
problem for Belkin's team. Michigan
only scored two or more goals in nine
games, and was shut out five times.
The Wolverines scored 13 goals in
a two-game stretch against Creighton
and Valparaiso. Those 13 goals rep-
resented over a third of Michigan's
season total (37). Excluding those
two games, the Wolverines averaged
1.5 goals a game.
Michigan was stronger on defense,
however, holding its opponents to 1.65
goals per contest. The Wolverines shut
out their opponents four times.
The season started with a 2-0 victory
over Wisconsin-Green Bay. Two days
later, Northern Illinois beat Michigan,
and the Wolverines lost any momentum
that remained from the close of the pre-
vious season.
Michigan next headed to the Adidas
Women's Soccer Cup, and lost a pair of
games to Dartmouth and Hartford.
The Wolverines' first venture into the
Big Ten was no more welcoming. Ohio
State's victory over Michigan gave the
Wolverines their fourth straight loss, the
longest losing streak in school history.
Michigan's first game at home ended
its losing streak as it tied Buffalo. But the
Wolverines remained winless in five
games.
Michigan finally earned its second vic-
tory of the season when it defeated Texas,
2-1. However, its success was short-lived.
The Wolverines were once again sent
back down, this time at the hands of
Minnesota. The Gophers' 5-0 win was
the worst loss Michigan suffered.
With 10 games still left on the slate,
losses to Northwestern and Detroit gave
the Wolverines seven defeats, matching
their total from the previous season.
Michigan put on its most impressive
run of the season at this point. Its 5-0 and
8-0 victories over Creighton and
Valparaiso set the stage for the game-of-
the-year against Wisconsin.
Michiganjumped to a2-0lead overthe
nationally ranked Badgers. The defend-
ing Big Ten champions were only eight
ticks away from a 2-Iloss, but Wisconsin
came back to hand Michigan its eighth
loss, andguaranteed the Wolverines would
finish under .500 in the conference.
Penn State rolled over Michigan two days
later, as the Wolverines looked like they
were still in shock over their previous game.
Michigan's biggest comeback of the
year came in its next game, against rival
Michigan State. The host Spartans took a
two-goal lead early. But the Wolverines
fought back and the game ended in a tie.
It was the only game this season that
Michigan gave up the first goal and did
not go on to lose.
Ruth Poulin came back from her ankle
injury to net two goals in each of the next
two games - a 3-2 loss to Butler and a 4-
0 victory over Eastern Michigan.
Michigan's next game was its
Ten victory of the season. Fresh
sica Limauro scored the only gc
game as the Wolverines beat In
Michigan's win over Wrig
only Big
man Jes-
oal of the
diana.
ght State
ended the regular season with the Wol-
verines riding their longest winning streak
as they headed into the Big Ten tourna-
ment.
In the tournament's first round, top-
seeded Minnesota beat the Wolverines to
end Michigan's season at 7-11-2.
Belkin credited three main factors to
the losing record.
"First, weplayedamuchtoughersched-
ule," she said. "Also, all the Big Ten
schools got better, including us. And six
freshmen started for us, seven if Jessica
Jones played goal. We had a pretty inex-
perienced crew."
Many individuals stood out for the
Wolverines.
Sophomore Debbie Flaherty tied the
school record for points with 17. The
midfielder was the first Michigan player
ever selected to the First Team All-Big
Ten. Her five assists led the team, and
were two short of her own school record.
Poulin ledthe team ingoals with seven,
despite missing eight games. The sopho-
more was plagued by an ankle injury that
kept her one goal shy of breaking Kim
Phillips' school record.
Limauro was one of six freshmen to
start. Her 14 points were one less than the
record for a Wolverine freshman.
Freshman Jessica Jones and junior Jori
Welchans split time in goal and com-
bined to set a team record for saves per
game (5.65).
Michigan set many team records, most
notably, goals (37) and points (101).
Finally, the Wolverines broke several
game marks, including goals (8 against
Valparaiso), margin of victory (8 against
Valparaiso) and saves (10 against Michi-
gan State).
NM_.
WALKERC VAN DYKE/Da
The Michigan field hockey team started the season strong, but finished 10-8 overall.
Field hockey players look backon
reglr seaon withfew regretsvli
Griddes!
Drop off your picks at The Michigan Daily sports desk at 420 Maynard by 4 p.m. Friday The most accurate prognosticator will
receive a $15 gift certificate to Steve and Barry's University Sportswear. Contestapts are limited to five entries per week.
By Mary Thewes
Daily Sports Writer
One word sums up the Michigan field
hockey team's season: teasing.
But you won't find any member of
that team who is ashamed to admit it.
"Our season was the best ever," se-
nior Aaleya Koreishi said.
The Wolverines started out with an
incredible record. They were 9-3 after
the first 12 games, and owned a five-
game winning streak at one point.
"We saw a lot of potential in the
beginning," Koreishi said. "Midway in
the season, we were at a high."
That high faded quickly, though.
The second half of the season resulted
in a series ofheartbreaking losses as leads
taken early on were snatched away from
the Wolverines in front of their eyes.
"The losses hurt," senior Sherene
Smith said, "because they were always
so close."
Michigan players could only scratch
theirheads as they watched their once
promising season disintegrate.
"We improved," junior Bree Derr
said. "We just weren't making jumps
as big as the rest of the teams."
Yet the Wolverines never gave up,
practicing and playing harder than ever.
"(The losses) were never from lack
of effort or trying," Smith said.
The Wolverines finished up the sea-
son 4-7 in the Big Ten and 10-8 overall
- a huge letdown since they were al-
most a lock to be contenders in the Big
Ten at the outset of the season.
"I think that pretty much everyone is
disappointed," Smith said."Wehadhoped
to go further in the Big Ten tournament
and have a better Big Ten record."
Throughout most of its season, Michi-
gan was ranked No. 8 in the NCAA
Division I Field Hockey Poll.
"Being ranked in the top ten for the
majority of the season was abig step for
the program," Derr said.
Michigan had never been ranked as
high before. Such an improvement was
due, in part, to cooperation.
"We had more team elements in the
game," Derr said.
A new assistant coach may have
played a role in the team's success, too.
"Jon (O'Haire) made a big impact on
the program," Koreishi said, "and he'll
continue to help next year."
Speaking of next year, Michigan i
planning on continuing to improve.
"We're looking to turn the potentia
that this team has into something more,
Derr said.
That potential is indeterminable, bu
there are definite strengths to considei
"This is still a young team," Smiti
said.
Like this season, continuing to pla:
as a team unit will help next year, toc
"There wasn't one player that hel
the team together-it was everybody,
Smith said.
But that's next year. The Wolver
ines may have ended the regular sea
son, but winter play is ahead on thei
schedule.
"We're going to be in some touma
ments," sophomore Julie Flachs sa
"We're excited to work on ou
strengths."
So even though the season was
tease for both the playerseand the fans
the Wolverines had those fans on the
edge of their seats.
Flachs agrees. Her word for describ
ing the season?
"Exciting," she replied.
1. Purdue at Michigan
2. Michigan State at Indiana
3. Illinois at Ohio State
4. Iowa at Northwestern
5. Wisconsin at Minnesota
6. Nebraska at Kansas
7. Florida at South Carolina
8. Florida State at North Carolina
9. Southern Cal at Oregon State
10. Kansas State at Iowa State
11. Missouri at Colorado
12. Texas at Houston
13. Washington at UCLA
14. Texas A&M at Rice
15. Mississippi State at Alabama
16. Oregon at Arizona
17, SW Louisiana at Arkansas
18. Virginia at Maryland
19. Auburn at Georgia
20. Oklahoma State at Oklahoma
21. Texas Christian at Texas Tech
22. Columbia at Cornell
23. Pennsylvania at Harvard
24. Yale at Princeton
25. Brown at Dartmouth
Tiebreaker - Purdue at MIchigan,
total points:
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