The Michigan women's soccer team will play its home opener today at 4 p.m. at Michigan Soccer Field against Toledo. The Wolverines (2-1), who are coming off an impressive 7-1 victory over Eastern Michigan on Sept. 10, have had a week to prepare and are excited to play their first home game of the year.
The Rockets are coming off an impressive 1-0 victory of their own over Ohio State. According to Michigan junior forward Ruth Poulin, Toledo figures to be a formidable opponent.
"(The Rockets) beat a very good Ohio State team that beat us last year," Poulin said. "We need to come out with a lot of intensity early if we want to win."
The Wolverines have had a light schedule so far this season, playing only three games in a two week span. That schedule starts to heat up, however, with three games in five days and the Big Ten opener coming up in just over a week. Toledo fields a tough, physical team this year. The Rockets, a Mid-American Conference squad, have proven themselves to be a Big Ten-caliber team with their win over Ohio State.
Unlike Toledo, the Wolverines are more of a finesse team, but according to the co-captain Debbie Flaherty, the Wolverines will be able to match up physically with the Rockets.
"The key to the game is putting the ball in the net," Flaherty said. "We have no problem creating opportunities to score, we just have to make sure that we capitalize on all of our chances."
The Wolverines have already been hit by the injury bug this season - two returning starters will be unable to play tomorrow. Jessica Limauro, a sophomore forward who scored two goals last Tuesday against Eastern Michigan, will be out of action tomorrow due to a broken nose. The Wolverines will also be missing Vanessa Lewis who is out with a possible fracture to her cheekbone. There is no word on when she will be back on the field.
Tomorrow's game at Michigan Soccer Field will be the first of a three-game home stand that lasts throughout the weekend. The Wolverines play Cal-Berkeley Friday at 4 p.m., and take on Kentucky Sunday at 1 p.m.
"We've been beating up on each other in practice," Poulin said. "We're real excited about the fact that we'll be playing more games starting this week."