Big Tens provide women with 'new season'

By Rohit Bhave

Daily Sports Writer

With all the mad twists and turns of its Jekyll-and-Hyde season, the Michigan women's soccer team's (6-3-1 Big Ten, 10-7-1 overall) NCAA tournament hopes come down to this -the Wolverines' defense of their Big Ten tournament championship.

"We look at (the Big Ten tournament) as a whole new season," Michigan coach Debbie Belkin Rademacher said.

Last year, Rademacher took her second-seeded Michigan squad to the Big Ten Tournament championship, waxing Penn State - an NCAA final four team - 4-2 in the final.

"To win, you have to have your best performances in a very short amount of time," Rademacher said.

Starting today, the top eight teams in the Big Ten will butt heads to determine a champion. With the exception of undefeated Penn State, parity rules in the conference - the other seven teams in the three-round tourney were separated by merely two games in the regular season.

Michigan had its share of tight games. Three of its Big Ten contests went into overtime, and four others were either decided by one goal or ended up tied. In the first round, the Wolverines face Iowa, a team that took Michigan into double overtime before falling 3-2. Michigan has also been in nailbiters with its two possible second-round opponents, losing to second-seeded Wisconsin 1-0 and beating No. 7 seed Purdue 2-1 in double overtime.

Because of Michigan's tendency to play close games, the Wolverines must bury their chances. The quick Wolverines have had few problems getting scoring chances this year -Michigan has outshot seven of its 10 conference opponents.

Unfortunately for Rademacher's squad, it was haunted in crucial losses to Wisconsin and Michigan State by a failure to capitalize on golden scoring opportunities.

Forwards Abby Crumpton (seven goals, five assists) and Stephanie Chavez Chavez (five goals, six assists) have to get untracked. Their speed causes problems for slower defenders, allowing midfielders like senior captain Kacy Beitel and freshman Amber Wilson to find space in the middle. Beitel and Wilson like to mix it up in the box, giving Michigan a physical element to go along with Crumpton and Chavez's finesse.

Scoring goals "is a focus issue, and a confidence issue," Crumpton said. "We can't worry about the goalie catching the shot or about shooting it over the post."

Although the Wolverines have been inconsistent at finishing chances, their goal-keeping has been solid all year. Freshman Suzie Grech has alternated in goal with Michigan's career saves leader senior Carissa Stewart.

Grech's outstanding play has forced the platoon - she has posted three shutouts along with a 1.4 goals-against-average.

"We've had good performances in goal this season," Rademacher said. "It's nice to feel comfortable about that position."

Michigan's skill level has never been questioned this season. But, the Wolverines' youth has led to lapses in concentration during the long season.

With the intense, single-elimination nature of the Big Ten tournament, the young Wolverines appear ready to take advantage of their final opportunity to earn an NCAA tournament bid.

"We're a lot more focused," Crumpton said. "This is our last shot to get into NCAAs."