The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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big ten/NCAA championships: women's soccer Michigan Avenges Big Ten Loss With NCAA Blowout Win The goal, of course, is always to win. But sometimes, a loss can lead to greater results. If the Michigan women's soccer team continues its run through the NCAA Tournament and qualifies for its first-ever College Cup Final Four, the Wolverines might look back at their first-round exit from the Big Ten Tournament Nov. 6 (a 1-0 loss to Iowa), after entering as the No. 2 overall seed with a 9-1-1 regular-season league record, as a blessing in disguise. "Our team philosophy all year has been to be relentless," fifth-year senior defender and team captain Holly Hein said. "That loss to Iowa, we weren't happy about it. "[Coach] Greg Ryan talked to us about it, and we got back to work. We weren't satisfied with what happened there. We wanted to come out hard against Milwaukee, and I think we did." Michigan did what it was supposed to do against an overmatched opponent, knocking off Milwaukee 4-0 in openinground play of the NCAA Tournament Fifth-year senior defender Holly Hein Nov. 16. With the win, 11th-ranked U-M and the 11th-ranked Wolverines improved to 16-3-1 overall and moved blanked Milwaukee 4-0 in the opening on to a second-round matchup with Il- round of the NCAA Tournament Nov. linois State Nov. 22, and a potential third- 16. photo courtesy michigan round battle Nov. 24 against the winner of athletic media relations the Notre Dame-Western Michigan game. Both games would take place at U-M Soccer Stadium in Ann Arbor. While the loss to the Hawkeyes robbed the Maize and Blue of one team goal — winning a conference crown — it did allow the Wolverines to set themselves up for the NCAA Tournament. "It gave us a chance to rest — we had three recovery days there at the start," Ryan said. "That was so important. Teams that often win the Big Ten Tournament don't particularly do well because it's three games in five days.