Blast off! 'M' faces Rockets

The Michigan women's soccer team is hoping today's matchup with Toledo can serve as a launching pad to the remainder of the season.

The Rockets enter today's 4 p.m. game at Michigan Soccer Field on the heels of a 6-1 beating that came courtesy of Wisconsin on Sunday. The Badgers troubled Michigan a month ago, giving the Wolverines their first loss of the season.

Toledo, clinging to a 6-8 record in just its third season, has struggled to find its way against nonconference opponents. Should this trend continue, it may bode well for Michigan. Toledo has failed to pick up a win outside of the Mid-American Conference, despite a 4-3 mark in the league.

Michigan, meanwhile, has emerged from the bulk of its Big Ten season with a 4-3-1 league mark, and with only conference-worst Michigan State left to play this weekend, Michigan's fifth-place standing in the Big Ten has secured the team a spot in the Big Ten tournament.

"We're thankful that last weekend's wins gave us a spot in the Big Ten tournament," Belkin said, "But we're not going to take anything for granted. I mean that we're going to play the rest of our games just like we always have. We can't sit back and be content, because doing well will help us if we intend to make the NCAA tournament."

The Wolverines extended their overall record to 9-3-1 with shutout victories over Illinois on Sunday and No. 16 Indiana on Friday. Michigan soccer coach Debbie Belkin said she hopes that the pair of conference wins will give the squad the emotional boost it needs to close out the season.

"The Indiana game and the Illinois game were each well-played," Belkin said. "After Sunday, I don't think we're going to change a thing."

And that means relying on the stringent defensive effort that has allowed Michigan to hold its opponents to one goal in the past five games, Belkin said.

"Defense has been very key for us lately," Belkin said. "Hopefully that sort of play can continue. We're simply looking to improve some of the little things that still give us trouble without changing a lot."

Another thing Belkin said she has no desire to change is the recent offensive output from her talented crew of forwards.

Marshaling the late-season charge that has seen Michigan collect four wins in its past five outings has been junior Amber Berendowsky. The standout forward tied a Michigan record with goal No. 32 of her career after a pair of scores on Sunday.

"Amber Berendowsky has been playing great for us, and that has been real nice to see," Belkin said. "She has been scoring goals and playing her role."

But Belkin said that the Brighton native has not been alone. Teammates Kacy Beitel, who scored in both wins this weekend, and Jessica Limauro have also shouldered their share of the offensive burden, giving Michigan the balanced offensive attack that Belkin says is refreshing to see as her team eyes the Big Ten tournament.

"The combination of goal-scorers we have has really been working," said Belkin, "When one is off, the others have been picking up the slack and giving us what we need."

10-14-98