Women's soccer race too close to call

By Jeff Phillips

Daily Sports Writer

The Big Ten season is reaching its end and the race is in full swing.

"All of the (Big Ten) teams are good," Michigan coach Debbie Belkin Rademacher said. "You don't go into a game saying 'We're going to win this one.'"

How close is the Big Ten race?

The Michigan women's soccer team is now 5-2 and has earned a tie for second place with Purdue and behind undefeated Penn State. The Wolverines have won two double-overtime games - away at Iowa and Purdue. Two wins that could have gone the other way.

But both of their Big Ten losses were by the identical score - one to zero. Two losses that could have gone the other way.

"In the Big Ten every game is going to be a challenge," senior Kacy Beitel said. "It is a quality league and you have to be disciplined."

The depth of a league is often shown in the difference between the haves and the have-nots.

Northwestern and Ohio State are currently ninth and 11th in the league with just one win apiece. Combined, one goal has decided nine of the teams' 13 games.

They aren't the only teams playing close games.

At fifth, Wisconsin is 5-3, with seven of their games being decided by one goal. Two of the Badgers losses have come in the final ten seconds of the game.

The Big Ten "is still up for grabs," sophomore Abby Crumpton said. "Anyone can beat anyone on any given day."

With the exception of Penn State - who has a commanding two-game lead over Michigan and has had just two close games - this has truly been the case.

Iowa was pummeled 5-1 by Minnesota, who in turn was beaten by Michigan 4-0. But the Hawkeyes defeated the Badgers.

Michigan State fell to Illinois, who was embarrassed at home by Michigan.

The Big Ten Tournament begins Nov. 2, less than a month away and every team is down to their last few conference games.

How close is the Big Ten?

All but two of this weekend's ten conference games were decided by just one elusive goal.