Despite scheduling mistake, 'M' soccer still welcomes challengers

By T.J. Berka

Daily Sports Writer

Throughout the summer, the Michigan athletic department has been printing up soccer schedules that include the Michigan Challenge Cup, which is supposed to be played tomorrow and Sunday.

Well, the athletic department was wrong. There will be no cup to play for this weekend. The Michigan soccer team will play, though, and there will be plenty on the line. The Wolverines face Massachusetts tomorrow at 4 p.m. and Detroit on Sunday at 2 p.m.

"There won't be a cup being handed out, but we will be playing to win, which is motivation enough," Michigan coach Debbie Belkin said.

Tomorrow's game against the Minutewomen will be a chance for the 16th-ranked Wolverines to get a bit of revenge on Belkin's alma mater. Last September, Michigan traveled to Amherst, Mass., and fell to the Minutewomen 2-1.

The Minutewomen, ranked 15th when they took out the Wolverines last season, aren't exactly a force this go-around, having dropped their first two games. Michigan, meanwhile, has won its first two games, beating Butler and Dayton.

MALLORY S.E. FLOYD/Daily Junior midfielder Shannon Poole won't be able to hoist any cups this week - the scheduled Michigan Challenge Cup was cancelled - but the Michigan soccer team will still be busy this weekend when Massachussetts and Detroit come to Ann Arbor.

Despite the opposite records, Belkin is wary of her alma mater.

"They've got some good offensive players in Emma Kurkowski and Sophie Lecot," Belkin said. "We need to shut them down on defense and keep the ball moving. We can't afford to be bogged down."

Kurkowski has already made a name for herself as far as the Wolverines are concerned - she scored one of the Minutewomen's two goals in last year's contest.

To defend against a repeat performance, Michigan is looking for a big game out of the defense, which is led by junior Stephanie McArdle and senior Vanessa Lewis.

"We need to tighten up on defense as far as communication is concerned," Belkin said. "I expected good things out of our defensemen. They all have different strengths and playing styles."

While Michigan is concerned about the Massachusetts offensive attack, the Wolverines' offense is something for the opposition to be cautious about, too.

Junior Amber Berendowsky, Michigan's all-time leading goal scorer, and sophomore Kacy Beitel lead the attack. Both players have already registered goals this season, with Beitel scoring two against Dayton.

Berendowsky and Beitel "complement each other very well," Belkin said. "They play very different styles of offense and they are playing very well right now. When we get further into the season, they are the players that the opposing teams will be focusing on."

A common way to defend against skill players such as Berendowsky and Beitel is to try to intimidate them. While Detroit has a skillful goal-scorer of its own in Monica Kaltreiber, the Titans are known more for their aggressive defense then their scoring skill.

"Detroit is always a real physical team," Belkin said.

After winning the Big Ten tournament last season, the Wolverines have picked up where they left off, outscoring their opponents 5-2. Belkin, while realizing that the Wolverines have to improve as they go further into the season, is pleased with the way Michigan has started.

"I like the way we have been getting to the ball," Belkin said. "We have scored some very good goals and we have been fighting hard."

The Wolverines will continue to fight this weekend at the Michigan Soccer Field, even though there will be no cup for the winner. But if Michigan wins both games and improves its record to 4-0, Belkin might give the team a prize after all.

"You never know," Belkin said. "If we win I have a Big Gulp at home which I'm sure we could decorate."

09-10-98