The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/589596
INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS 2016 SOFTBALL SCHEDULE OUT Carol Hutchins' softball crew took their national championship dreams all the way to the final contest of the 2015 season. Now, they're gearing up again with a 2016 schedule that involves 50 regular-season games, including 15 home dates at Alumni Field in the Wilpon Complex. U-M's schedule features 14 opponents from the 2015 NCAA Tournament, several will be involved in the Wolverines' early-season tournament action. Michigan opens at the USF Wilson-DeMarini Tournament Feb. 12-14 in Tampa, Fla. The Wolverines will also square off against two-time defending national cham- pion Florida at the South Florida tournament. Hutchins' team gets Florida State and Virginia twice each at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Feb. 19-21 in Tallahassee, Fla., then heads to California for several more contests, including the annual Judi Garman Classic March 3-5. Michigan opens at home March 16, hosting Eastern Michigan at Alumni Field. Northwestern comes in for the Big Ten-opening series, March 25-27. The Wolverines also face off against Ohio State (April 15-17) and Michigan State (April 19) at home. Hutchins, in her 32nd season coaching the Wolverines, returns four All-Americans from last year's team: senior centerfielder Sierra Lawrence, senior second baseman Sierra Romero, junior leftfielder Kelly Christner and junior pitcher Megan Betsa. — John Borton 1, 4, 23 & 43 The respective ranks for sophomore defenseman Zach Werenski, freshman forward Kyle Connor, junior center J.T. Compher and junior goalie Zach Nagel- voort among the top 50 players to watch in college hockey this season, accord- ing to The Hockey News. 3 Michigan players — junior tight end Jake Butt, redshirt junior defensive line- man Willie Henry and junior cornerback Jourdan Lewis — named to ESPN's Midseason All-Big Ten Team. 5 Overtime games, including four double-overtime affairs, the men's soccer team has played in this season out of 12 total contests. U-M is 1-3-1 in the extra sessions. By The NUMBERS