Sept. 20, 2009

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Complex)
Score: Michigan 1, Miami (Fla.) 0
Records: U-M (5-5-0), Miami (Fla.) (5-4-0)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Sept. 27 - at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 1 p.m.

• Boxscore

ANN ABROR, Mich. -- Staunch defense helped the University of Michigan women's soccer team hold its ground in a 1-0 victory over Miami (Fla.) on Sunday (Sept. 20) at the U-M Soccer Complex.

Freshman Holly Hein (Castaic, Calif./West Ranch) scored in the 45th minute and the U-M backline of juniors Jackie Carron (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester) and Sarah Stanczyk (Grosse Pointe, Mich./Grosse Pointe South) and sophomores Kim Siebert (Troy, Mich./Avondale) and Kara Koppinger (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Lahser) made that score stand up with a strong defensive effort. Sophomore/freshman Haley Kopmeyer (Troy, Mich./Lasher) made eight stops to extend her shutout streak to 188 minutes.

Hein converted on Michigan's second free kick in the final minute of the opening half to give U-M a 1-0 lead. Carron lofted a free kick into Hein at the far bar as the freshman tattooed a ball off the cross bar. Hein's header came bounding off the ironwork back to her shin guard and she directed the ball past the Miami goalkeeper into the net.

The Hurricanes pounded the Wolverines zone and generated two chances late in the contest but were met by heads up play from the U-M defense. Carron was called upon to make a quick clear in the 89th minute, guiding a misplayed ball to safety, and Siebert made a block in with 45 seconds remaining, stepping in the way of a ball labeled for the back of the net to preserve the victory.

Michigan embarks upon the Big Ten Schedule next Sunday (Sept. 27) at Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio.

GAME SUMMARY

N O T E S

• The Wolverines improved to 5-5-0, besting their win total of a season ago. U-M was 4-10-5 in its first season under head coach Greg Ryan.

• Michigan earned its first victory over an Atlantic Coast Conference team in program history. The Wolverines had previously only played Wake Forest, falling 1-0 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 13, 1999.

• The Wolverines recorded back-to-back shutouts for the first time since the first two games of the 2007 season. Michigan tied then-No. 2 Notre Dame, 0-0, on Aug. 31, 2007, before downing Cincinnati by a 3-0 tally on Sept. 7.

• Michigan posted back-to-back home shutouts for the first time since blanking the first three opponents of the 2006 season. U-M beat Detroit (3-0, Aug. 20, 2006) and Arizona (1-0, Aug. 27, 2006) and tied Western Michigan (0-0, Aug. 25, 2006).

• Junior Jackie Carron collected her sixth assist of the season, the most by a Wolverine since Melissa Dobbyn (2004-07) notched six to lead the Maize and Blue during the 2006 season.

• Sophomore/freshman Haley Kopmeyer recorded her second consecutive shutout. She has not allowed a goal in 188:15.

• Senior Amy Klippert drew her fifth yellow card of the season meaning she will not be available against Ohio State (Sept. 27).

Q U O T E S

Michigan Head Coach Greg Ryan
On the victory ... "Jackie (Carron's) service, all year long, has been phenomenal. She put it right on the money and there were two or three others that we could have scored on. Holly (Hein), is a gamer, if she gets chances, she sticks them in. Going into half time, up 1-0, I just tried to solidify the things we were doing well in the first half defensively and talked about looking for that second goal that never came. We were happy to end up 1-0."

On what they can take away from the game ... "What is so great about this team is that we can come out against a really talented ACC team and found a way to win. More than anything else, it means the girls can believe in themselves. Last year, our one win against a decent team was Ohio State and Miami is a much better than Ohio State was last year. Going into the Big Ten season, our team can say maybe the other team has more experience and more depth, but now we know we can beat these level teams if we play the right way."

On the team's key to success today ... "That was the difference all day, if somebody was making a mistake, somebody else was picking it up. That is what allowed us to have a shutout."

U-M Sophomore/Freshman Goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer
On the back-to-back shutouts ... "It says a lot about our back line and how we are working together as a whole. We are getting to know each other and covering for each other. There was one play where I couldn't hang on to the ball, and Kim Siebert came in and really saved me with an awesome play to get the ball out of there."

U-M Freshman Forward Holly Hein
On her goal ... "I was just focusing on getting the ball in the goal, mostly. Jackie (Carron) served up a great ball and it was right there. I got under it a little bit and it hit the crossbar. I saw it fall and they were struggling to get it out, so I just made sure it got in the goal."

U-M Junior Defender/Midfielder Jackie Carron
On the importance of the goal ... "That was a big play with 20 seconds left. We really needed to get that push before half time to get our confidence through to the second half."

On the play of Haley Kopmeyer ... "She was phenomenal back there. She came hard on two or three balls that just needed to get out of there. That last one with a minute left was amazing, she just cleared it right out."

On the magnitude of the win ... "It is really big. It gives us a lot more confidence going into the Big Ten season. We are ready to push hard and hopefully do well in the Big Ten season."

Contact: Ryan Sosin (734) 763-4423