With shots booming and goals piling up, the Michigan women's soccer team has turned it up to full throttle.
"Once we get the all important first goal of each game out of the way, it takes a lot of the pressure off," Michigan coach Debbie Belkin said.
It took three games for the floodgates to open, but since the season's first week, goals have come gushing in. The result has been two lopsided victories for Belkin's team.
Coming into this weekend's matchups against California and Kentucky, the Wolverines are riding a program-high-three-game win streak, in which they've outscored opponents, 14-1.
But these next two games will be tougher than any previous ones. Today, at 4 p.m. at the Michigan Soccer Field, Michigan takes on California, which is ranked ninth in the west region.
"(The Golden Bears) have an older program than us, so it'll be a challenge," Belkin said.
Women's soccer at Michigan, only in its third year of existence, has not faced a lot of top-notch competition.
This weekend, the Wolverines will see how they match up against that kind of competition. Sunday's opponent ,Kentucky (1 p.m. at the Michigan Soccer Field), was ranked 16th before losing to No. 8 Florida last week.
"I've seen Kentucky on tape," Belkin said. "They're physical and very experienced."
Experience may be the key this weekend. Michigan has played only four games, with a number of freshman seeing action. But with each contest, the team has been more cohesive.
Fortunately, Michigan will probably have the services of two players who were injured last week. Sophomore Vanessa Lewis will be back on defense today. She sat out against Toledo with an injured cheekbone.
Another sophomore, Jessica Limauro, will be back Sunday, possibly today. She went down with a nose injury. Limauro, last year's third-leading scorer for the Wolverines, is a crucial part of Michigan's high-powered offense.
"We've got four forwards who all contribute, in a rotational basis, so it would be nice to have her today," Belkin said.
Michigan's front line includes Limauro (two goals), junior Ruth Poulin (one goal) and freshmen Amber Berendowsky and Mari Hoff (three goals apiece).
Goalie Jessica Jones has fully recovered from wrist injuries that kept her out against Butler, the Wolverines' only loss. Barring something unforeseen, she has the nod as the starting keeper the rest of the season.