The Michigan women's soccer team hopes to continue its two-game undefeated streak this afternoon against Michigan State in its last Big Ten match of the season. The game - which kicks off at 3 p.m. at East Lansing - will be a battle between the two teams bringing up the rear of the Big Ten.
After four consecutive losses - the longest losing streak in team history - the Wolverines (2-3-1 Big Ten, 5-6-3 overall) rebounded last weekend with strong performances against Northwestern and Wisconsin. Led by sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Jones, the Wolverines topped the Wildcats, 2-0, and battled to a 0-0 tie with the 10th-ranked Badgers, who have already clinched the Big Ten regular season title.
Jones, who had 15 saves in the 165 minutes she played last weekend, was named Big Ten Player of the Week. She earned one solo shutout and shared the Northwestern win with senior goalkeeper Jori Welchans. Jones has a 1.35 goals-against average on the season to go along with a 4-4-3 record.
"Jones has really stepped it up and had a good season, she's been consistent and solid," Michigan coach Debbie Belkin said. "She's been coming up with the big saves that keeps us in games."
The defense has been Michigan's strength all season. While the offense has had trouble finding the net, the defense has kept most of the Wolverines' games exciting.
"Our forwards have started to play better defense, and our midfielders are helping our backs," Belkin said. "There haven't been a lot of breakdowns."
Belkin points to the level of the competition as the reason for the offensive drop-off. At the beginning of the season, the defenses and goalies were not as strong as the ones the team is facing now.
"We've certainly had our chances," Belkin said, "but the goalkeepers came up big. We're playing much better teams."
The older players have been stepping up their play to provide the little scoring the Michigan offense has produced. Junior forward Ruth Poulin scored two goals against Minnesota on Oct. 13, and forwards junior Karen Montgomery and sophomore Jessica Limauro, each scored in the victory over Northwestern last Friday.
This afternoon could be when the offense wakes up. The Spartans (0-6, 2-12), last place in the Big Ten, have let up 32 goals in the 14 games they've played this season, an average of 2.21 goals per game. They have lost their last 11 games, and are trying to avoid going winless for the entire Big Ten season.
The Spartans are led offensively by Kristen Lester, a senior forward who has scored seven goals and added two assists. The Spartans weakness is goalkeeping, according to Belkin. Mara Lee, the Spartans top goalkeeper, is 0-7 on the season with a 2.19 goals against average.
The game could mean more for the Wolverines than just a contest against their intrastate rivals. While currently in seventh place in the Big Ten, a win could vault Michigan into fourth place going into the conference tournament. A loss would keep the Wolverines in seventh place.
The Michigan women's soccer team hopes to extend its two-game undefeated streak this afternoon at Michigan State.
MARK FRIEDMAN/Daily