Shutouts nice twice for Michigan: Hoosiers, Illini blanked

A perfect weekend - that's what the Michigan soccer team can rightfully boast of after shutting out both No. 19 Indiana and unranked Illinois en route to a pair of 2-0 victories.

Traveling to Champaign for the first time in program history yesterday, the Wolverines (4-3-1 Big Ten, 9-3-1 overall) boosted their Big Ten record a notch above .500 for the first time this season.

Michigan took control of Illinois at 16:50 as sophomore Kacy Beitel notched her second first-half goal in as many games.

With just five minutes remaining in the game, junior Emily Schmitt delivered the security goal for the Wolverines, her fourth goal of the season.

The shutout of Illinois, the Wolverines' third in five games, was attributed to senior Jessica Jones. She turned away all 14 of the Fighting Illini's shots on goal.

Marie Spaccatorella helped her

Friday's blanking of Indiana at Michigan Soccer Field was Michigan's first victory against a ranked opponent this season.

The Wolverines set the tone for the game early in the first half. Following a crisp pass from standout midfielder Mari Hoff, Beitel sent a blast beyond the reach of the Hoosiers' goalkeeper at the 14:42 mark to put Michigan up 1-0.

"The early goal really gave the team a sense of confidence that seemed to last throughout the entire game," Michigan coach Debbie Belkin said Friday.

Beitel's goal came on one of 16 shots the Wolverines sent toward the goal. The Hoosiers' offensive output, on the other hand, was severely hampered by the Michigan defense, which allowed only eight such shots.

Denying those eight shots on goal for the Wolverines was sophomore goalkeeper Carissa Stewart. The shutout was Stewart's first of the season.

The Wolverines' defensive effort was especially commendable because they silenced the foot of Tracy Grose - one of the nation's most dangerous forwards.

Grose, a junior at Indiana, is not only the current Big Ten player of the week, but is also ranked third in the conference in scoring. Her 23 points have her 16th in the country, based upon her goal-a-game average.

"Our defense does well because we are very experienced with juniors and seniors in nearly every position," Belkin said. "As for stopping Grose, Shannon (Poole) played really well against her."

The highlight of the game came in the second half, when junior Amber Berendowsky scored her 23rd career goal, tying the Michigan record. Career goals is the only offensive record which Berendowsky does not own outright.

Berendowsky's unassisted blast from thirty yards out soared into the upper left-hand corner of the goal beyond the reach of the diving Hoosier goalie.

The cushion goal hit the net 78:54 into the game and seemed to simultaneously take all the enthusiasm from Indiana with it.

"A 1-0 lead is never enough," Belkin said. "Our second goal really seemed to take the wind out of their sails."

The victory over Indiana was success from every angle for the Wolverines and revealed the potential that lies within the '98 squad.

"That is our kind of game," defensive standout Vanessa Lewis said. "That shows how well we can play. We have had great spurts like that throughout the season. I only hope we can maintain that level of intensity for the rest of the season."

teammates shut out two Big Ten opponents this weekend, including a 2-0 blanking of No. 16 Indiana at home Friday.

DANA LINANNE/Daily

10-12-98