Wolverines head into 2017 

with talented, deep roster

Nearly nine months after a 

penalty shot grazed off the post to 
end the Michigan women’s soccer 
season, they are set to retake the 
field as the Wolverines embark on a 
new season.

Memories of the 2-2, 5-4 penalty 

kick loss against Illinois State 
will be long in the rear view when 
Michigan takes the field for its 
exhibition opener against West 
Virginia at U-M Stadium Monday. 

And it will have to — this team is 

too talented to linger in the “what 
ifs” of 2016.

Spearheaded by a star-studded 

group 
of 
upperclassmen 
and 

supplanted by a solid crop of young 
talent, this team brims with the 
potential to exceed last year’s first 
round NCAA tournament exit — the 
first such appearance for the team 
since 2013. 

Michigan returns three of its 

top four offensive producers from 
a season ago, only losing forward 
Nicky 
Waldeck 
to 
graduation. 

Goalkeeper Sarah Jackson — who 
won Big Ten defensive player of the 
week twice last season — is also set 
to return between the posts for her 
senior campaign. Jackson posted 
six shutouts last season and finished 
fourth in the Big Ten in saves.

Jackson and senior forward 

Ani Sarkisian will be two of the 
presumed 
leaders. 
In 
addition 

to being the focal point of the 
Michigan attack, Sarkisian has 
already received the nod as a team 
captain for the second consecutive 
season. Losing Waldeck, the team’s 
leading goal scorer a year ago, will 
place much of the goal-scoring onus 
on Sarkisian, who scored six goals 
last season and was named to the 
second team all-Big Ten in her own 
right.

But Sarkisian won’t be short on 

help up top. Lost to a knee injury for 
all of 2016, redshirt junior forward 
Taylor Timko makes her triumphant 
return, and will likely assume a 
starting role. The Rochester Hills 
native netted seven goals and 
started 18 games two years ago as a 
sophomore. 

There were positives to be 

taken away from last season’s 
heartbreaking NCAA tournament 
loss. At the top of that list? The 

emergence 
of 
centerback 
Jada 

Dayne. Dayne showed a flare for the 
dramatic when she netted a second-
half equalizer in the tournament 
game, and displayed an ability as a 
dominant centerback at times last 
season. Dayne started all 19 games 
last season as a freshman for the 
Wolverines and will undoubtedly be 
counted upon to anchor a backline 
that lacks experience. 

But what it lacks in experience 

it makes up for in talent. Alongside 
Dayne, 
the 
team 
expects 
to 

get 
redshirt 
sophomore 
Sura 

Yekka back, after the Canadian 
international spent the 2016 season 
preparing for the U-20 World Cup 
for her country. Yekka played in all 
21 games in her first season with the 
program two seasons ago and was 
named to the all-Big Ten freshman 
team.

Senior defender Alyssa Dillon 

— a team captain — will likely 
compete for a starting spot despite 
playing in just 17 games in her three 
seasons with the program. Dillon 
did, however, see an uptick in her 
playing time last season, playing in 
10 games as a substitute.

But the engine of this team — as 

it was a year ago — will run through 
the midfield. A year after leading the 
team in points with 24, junior Reilly 
Martin returns as one of the premier 
players in the conference. Her 10 
assists last season were good for a 
tie atop the Big Ten. Combined with 
junior Abby Kastroll, the two make 
up one of the most talented midfield 
tandems in the country, sure to give 
the Big Ten defenses fits. Given their 
pace and creativity, both Martin and 
Kastroll figure to be potential first 
team all-Big Ten players in 2017. 
Meanwhile, 
incoming 
freshman 

midfielder Alia Martin has a chance 
to make an impact from day one. 
Martin is ranked No. 36 overall in 
the 2017 recruiting class by Top 
Drawer Soccer.

In total, the team welcomes 

11 freshmen as it replenishes the 
roster after losing seven seniors to 
graduation a year ago.

If Michigan coach Greg Ryan 

is able to find a stable backline 
to complement the plethora of 
attacking options, this figures to be 
the most talented Wolverines team 
in several years. They head into 2017 
unquestionably as one of favorites in 
a competitive Big Ten.

MAX MARCOVITCH

Daily Sports Writer

The string of commitments for 

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and 
his staff continued Monday, as four-
star linebacker Cameron McGrone 
announced 
his 

intention to play for 
the Wolverines.

McGrone 
is 
the 

14th ranked outside 
linebacker in the 2018 
class, according to the 
247Sports composite 
rankings. He becomes 
the 
12th 
commit 

in Michigan’s 2018 class thus far, 
in what is widely expected to be a 
smaller class, given the larger classes 
the Wolverines took in 2016 and 2017. 
247Sports, however, actually ranks 
McGrone as the 40th best player in 
country in their own (non-composite) 
rankings, far and away his highest 
ranking among any of the major 
outlets.

McGrone held offers from a 

plethora of other Big Ten schools 
in addition to other high-majors, 
including Notre Dame and Tennessee, 
before ultimately choosing Michigan.

He is known as a speedy, athletic 

linebacker who should fit well into 

defensive coordinator Don Brown’s 
blitz-heavy scheme. Brown appears 
to have been a major factor in 
McGrone’s decision.

“Coach Brown, his knowledge of 

the game is so great,” McGrone told 
Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports. “When 

I got the offer, I sat 
down and watched 
film with him and he 
showed me exactly 
how I was going to 
play in the defense and 
I was able to visualize 
myself at the MIKE 
position.” 

In six games in his 

junior season, McGrone totaled 52 
total tackles including 15.5 tackles 
for loss. Last season, the Wolverines’ 
defense finished second in the nation 
with 121 total tackles for loss.

His commitment comes over 

ten months after McGrone tore his 
anterior cruciate ligament in his 
team’s regular season finale, though 
he has worked out in several events 
since then and attended the Michigan 
football barbeque at the Big House 
this past week. His rebound appears 
to be proceeding on schedule. 

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Michigan earns commitment from 2018 
four-star linebacker Cameron McGrone 

MAX MARCOVITCH

Daily Sports Writer

McGrone is 
known as a 

speedy, athletic 

linebacker.

AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily

John Beilein had to replace two members of his staff this offseason after Billy Donlon and Jeff Meyer took jobs elsewhere.

Read more at MichiganDaily.com

11

Thursday, August 3, 2017

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com SPORTS

