Soccer points to NCAAs today

Blue hosts Miami in first-round matchup today

By Sam Duwe

Daily Sports Writer

It has been a season blessed with grace.

After a mediocre regular season, Michigan had an opportunity to regain everything in the Big Ten Championships, to prove the critics wrong, and to show that the Wolverines were the champions of the Big Ten.

A second chance.

But in the tournament final, Penn State beat the Wolverines 1-0 in a triple-overtime heartbreaker. The team's future hung in the balance.

And when all looked bleak, the NCAA smiled its benevolent smile and gave Michigan a berth in their tournament.

A third chance.

And to make things a little sweeter, Ann Arbor is the host for the first-round action.

The opponent is Miami (Ohio), the powerhouse of the Mid-American Conference. Winning its spot in the tournament by coming out on top in the MAC Championship by beating Bowling Green in double overtime, 1-0.

The RedHawks (13-7) have never played Michigan (12-8-1), and the Wolverines have only had the last couple frantic days to figure out a game plan.

"We don't know much about their team," coach Debbie Belkin-Rademacher said. "We know they play a three front offense, and that they have their key players in that offense.

"But we do know that they're going to try their hardest to upset us - beating Michigan is a big deal."

That means the Michigan defense has to be on its toes, something that was executed almost perfectly this past Sunday - until the lone game winning goal.

"This past weekend was great," Rademacher said. "The loss on Sunday was heartbreaking, but no one left the field knowing that they didn't play their hearts out."

Sunday night, the college soccer world held its collective breath for the NCAA Tournament schedule.

The fact that Michigan received a bid was a elating experience, one that even a confident coach couldn't mask.

"It was so relieving to know that we got an at-large bid," Rademacher said. "But how we played this past weekend, I think we deserved it."

Michigan is one of four teams in the tournament, which includes Big Ten season and tournament champion Penn State, and Wisconsin and Illinois.

This is the fourth-consecutive year that Michigan has participated in the NCAA Tournament. Last season, Michigan advanced to the second round, being eliminated at Wake Forest.

The old cliché, "take every game at a time," is the battle cry amongst the team. It has to be, because looking toward the future is too overwhelming.

The winner of today's game will advance to the second round - against top-ranked Notre Dame in South Bend.

"We have to focus on beating Miami," Rademacher said. "There will be no talk about Notre Dame."

The Irish destroyed Michigan earlier this year in a 5-1 victory.

But the second round is the holy grail, and if and when the Wolverines reach that point in their journey, it will be their chance to make their name in the soccer world.

One last chance.

DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily

Carissa Stewart and the Wolverines took second in the Big Ten Tournament.

Michigan soccer field

Today

Who: Michigan (12-8-1) vs. Miami (OH) (13-7)

When: 1:00 p.m.

Latest: The Wolverines will face Miami for the first time ever in the first round of the NCAAs. The winner faces No. 1 Notre Dame.