With wins soccer could clinch title

The Michigan soccer team has risen to the top of the Big Ten, and has two regular-season goals left to achieve - an undefeated campaign and at least a share of the regular season title.

To achieve that, the Wolverines will have to win two road contests, against third place Minnesota on Friday and Wisconsin on Sunday.

The Golden Gophers have clinched a spot in the Big Ten Tournament, as have the Wolverines and Penn State, while the Badgers are fighting for the eighth and final position.

In the past, both teams have dominated Michigan. Minnesota is undefeated against Michigan and Wisconsin has won five out of seven meetings.

Minnesota should be the biggest challenge for the Wolverines this weekend. The Gophers went 2-0-0 last weekend and have quickly moved up in the Big Ten standings quickly.

DAVID ROCHKIND/Daily Marie Spaccarotella is looking to help lead the Wolverines to their first-ever Big Ten regular season championship. They will head to Minnesota and Wisconsin this weekend.

In six home games this year, Minnesota is 5-1-0, recording five shutouts. The Gophers are 4-0-0 with four shutouts in their Big Ten matchups. Goalkeepers Dana Larson and Julie Eibensteiner have split time in goal, and both have been effective. Despite the wall of defense that Minnesota has put up, Michigan coach Debbie Belkin has confidence in her forwards.

"We have an attack that can score goals," Belkin said. "We need to find ways to stop them and handle their forwards, that is their strength."

The strength of the Minnesota attack are forwards Nicole Lee and Laurie Seidl. They have combined to score half of the Gophers' goals this season.

Michigan will try to counter the Gophers' attack with its aggressive forwards. The Wolverines are on pace to break the Big Ten record for shots per game - so far they average 21.6 per game. Two Wolverines are on pace to break the single season shot record; both Emily Schmitt and Abby Crumpton are nearing teammate Amber Berendowsky's record of 63 shots.

"Our offense has been really productive, but it is definitely a team approach," Belkin said. "Everyone has been contributing, and anyone can put points on the board, whether they come off the bench or are starting."

The Wolverines' aggressive style has proven successful, pushing them to No. 14 in the NSCAA/Adidas national rankings, and second in the Great Lakes region. This comes as a result of six straight Big Ten wins, and a 9-1-1 record in their last eleven games. The only loss coming in a midweek game at Notre Dame.

If the Wolverines can get by Minnesota, they will be positioned to finish the Big Ten season undefeated.

Although Wisconsin has traditionally played Michigan well and started the season as one of the top ranked teams in the Big Ten, the Badgers have struggled to a 2-5-1 record in the conference. They are currently in ninth place in the Big Ten and are in danger of missing the Big Ten tournament.

Wisconsin has only scored in one of its last four games, a 4-0 victory over Purdue. Despite its struggles in the Big Ten, the Badgers still find themselves over .500, and will have all weekend to prepare for the Wolverines.

"Wisconsin is a very organized team," Belkin said. "They don't win big, but they know how to win. They are very well coached."

With two victories, Michigan will achieve one of its goals, a Big Ten title.

"It would be huge," Belkin said. "This has been our goal for our couple of years now, and it has happened because of great senior leadership and because we have a very mature team. It would be a big deal for all of us."

10-15-99