'M' soccer faces first-year teams

Michigan women's soccer coach Debbie Belkin knows what it's like to be the youngest kid on the block.

She distinctly remembers the days when the Wolverines were the ones looking up at older, stronger teams in the Big Ten. In those days, Michigan received sound beatings almost every time it faced the bullies.

The Wolverines began their first season of play only four years ago - a daunting task to which Michigan's two upcoming opponents can relate.

Michigan will face a couple struggling, first-year Big Ten teams this weekend. The Wolverines host conference cellar-dweller Illinois (1-6 Big Ten, 6-7 overall) on Friday before traveling to Iowa (2-5, 5-8) on Sunday. If Michigan wins its final three games, the Wolverines could finish in second place in the Big Ten.

KEVIN KRUPRITZER/Daily Deb Flaherty played for the Wolverines in their first varsity season in 1994, and she can relate to the Fighting Illini and Hawkeyes.

"It's extremely difficult in their cases because when I started four years ago, the conference was very young," Belkin said. "Now there aren't really that many young teams. They're up against nationally ranked opponents."

Illinois and Iowa are feeling that heat. Before their first-ever conference victory against Northwestern, the Fighting Illini suffered through a seven-match losing streak in the middle of the season.

Entering this weekend the Hawkeyes have lost four straight matches.

Michigan is coming off two big wins against Wright State and Toledo a week ago. The Wolverines scored 11 goals last weekend and didn't let either opponent on the board. Michigan is used to blowing out weaker teams, so both matchups this weekend appear ripe for the picking.

"We should definitely get two wins out of it," Belkin said. "But it's not a weekend we can walk into and take for granted."

Numerous games separate the conference standings from top to bottom. But Belkin is hesitant to take any Big Ten team lightly. Illinois and Iowa have already beaten tougher conference opponents in their inaugural seasons.

The fifth-place Hawkeyes shocked defending Big Ten tournament champion Indiana, 3-0, on Oct. 3. The Fighting Illini also showed some ability to compete with the rest of the conference, upsetting Northwestern, 3-2.

Neither is in the race for a conference championship just yet. But both teams have shown signs of successful futures.

Illinois and Iowa are keeping pace with Michigan, considering the Wolverines won only one Big Ten match in each of their first two seasons. This year Michigan remained in the hunt for a conference title until last weekend.

10-16-97