The 1996 presidential election might turn out to be like Michigan's 7-0 victory against Valparaiso on Sunday.
The Wolverines had easily won the game long before it officially ended.
When sophomore Jessica Limauro scored Michigan's fifth goal 4:29 into the second half, it was clear that Michigan (9-6-3 overall, 3-3-1 Big Ten) would extend its unbeaten streak to a team-record six games.
The Crusaders (1-16-1) were on the defensive the whole game as Michigan outshot them by a resounding 46 shots. Valparaiso managed to get off just two shots for the game, even though Michigan only had one defender playing back near the goal while the rest of the defense played at midfield most of the match.
Even senior Michelle Brach, who plays defense, almost managed to record her first goal of the season.
It was so rare to see the ball leave Valparaiso's side of the field that the Crusaders had little time or energy to regroup on offense after fighting off a barrage of shots.
Even Yogi Berra would agree that this one was way over before it was over.
Five different players found the back of the net as all of the dressed Wolverines played, with the exception of goalkeeper Jessica Jones. Senior Jori Welchans and freshman Lauren Clister divided the goalkeeping duties while Jones prepared for the Big Ten championship.
Freshman Marie Spaccarotella recorded the team's first-ever hat trick, while fellow freshmen Amber Berendowsky and Mari Hoff scored their team-leading seventh goals of the season.
Berendowsky's goal brought her point total to 19, the school's single-season record.
Sophomores Jessica Limauro and Nicole Savage each chipped in a goal of their own.
While the underclassmen shared the scoring spotlight during the game, Brach and Welchans were honored prior to the game as they played in their final match at Michigan Soccer field.
"Before the game as the band played, I just had chills," Brach said. "It has been just great playing for Michigan, and it has been a great experience."
Both Brach and Welchans transferred to Michigan after their freshmen years, when soccer became a varsity sport at Michigan. Both have been instrumental in laying the foundation for a rising program.
Brach has started all 37 games in her career as a Wolverine and ends her stay at defense with a goal and an assist. Welchans leaves Michigan as the current record holder for career (175) and single-season (85 in 1994) saves.
While varsity soccer is just three years old at Michigan, both veterans believe that Michigan is well on its way to becoming an elite program.
Looking back, Brach feels that the Wolverines have made giant leaps since she first arrived.
"I was here for the biggest turning-point in the program," she said. "When I first got here it was still a little low key, and then this year it has picked up tremendously, and I think it is just going to pick up from there."