'M' eyes Wildcats in Big Ten finale

By Sam Duwe

Daily Sports Writer

One has to fight the little koopa-troopas before they get to Bowser - it's just how the game works.

The Michigan women's soccer team takes on Northwestern and Wisconsin-Milwaukee this weekend, which are relatively easy opponents compared to next Tuesday's monster - undefeated Notre Dame.

But nobody ever likes to think ahead in the world of athletics. They're always "taking it one game at a time." Besides, even the little turtles can be dangerous if not kicked right.

But that being the case, the Wolverines plan to win.

Why? Because they have to.

"We have to play with the intensity that we are capable of," assistant coach Carrie Maier said.

"We have to play this game like it's our last."

Which is funny, because in a sense, it is. Northwestern (1-4 Big Ten, 2-7-1 overall) is the last game of the Big Ten season and Michigan needs a win to clinch a tie for second place in the conference.

The Wolverines also need to beat the nonconference Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers (8-7-1).

And they need to look good going into their match with the Fighting Irish - if Michigan can topple Notre Dame, an NCAA playoff spot looks feasible.

"If we win the game against Northwestern and Minnesota beats Wisconsin, we have a shot at getting a good seed in the NCAA tournament," Maier said.

And it all could work, depending on which team Michigan sends out to the field. They have two - the pretty good one and the great one.

It's the better of the two that needs to show up now - the one that scores quickly and maintains consistent pressure for the entire 90 minutes.

If that happens, fear might replace the sparkle in the Notre Dame leprechaun's eyes - or at least the sight of Michigan's leading scorers Stephanie Chavez and Kacy Beitel will.

But neither game this weekend can be written off as an easy victory. Michigan leads the all-time series with Northwestern 5-2, but two goals or fewer decided the last four games.

"Northwestern has always been a big rival every year, regardless of how they do," Maier said. "They'll play us hard, and we have to do so in return."

The Panthers have never played Michigan before, but they are a perfect 4-0 in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference and earned a spot in the NCAA tournament last season.

ALYSSA WOOD/Daily

Coming off of a weekend in which it split two games, the Michigan women's soccer team is looking to close out the Big Ten season in style against Northwestern.