The Wolverine

ties that will help attract top-flight recruits. But in order to take the next step, first-year head coach Chaka Daley is employing the same hard-nosed strategy. "We're looking for stability," Daley said. "As a program, we're 12 years old and we are the competing with programs that have been at the top of the sport for decades. So we have to work on building the soccer cul- ture at Michigan. Instead of dips and valleys, we want to be at the highest level every year." Former U-M head coach Steve Burns initiated the program at the varsity level in 2000, and he certainly coached some terrific seasons. In 11 years, the Wolverines went to four NCAA Tournaments, finished second in the Big Ten three times and won one Big Ten Tournament. However, consistency wasn't a strong suit of the program. Michigan went to back-to-back NCAA Tourna- ments just once (2003-04). And a year after reaching the national semifinals in 2010, the Wolverines struggled to a five-win season in 2011. Michigan and Burns parted ways after the season, and Daley took over the program. And like Michigan great Bo Schem- bechler, who pushed the Wolverines in his first offseason in 1969, Daley has taken a hardline approach with his first squad — which will certainly pay dividends. nior midfielder Latif Alashe said. "He's a pretty tough guy to play for. He really gets on everyone, from top to bottom, especially us captains. He yells at us all the time. Once we real- ized that it wasn't personal — that he wants to win and we all want to win — we could see the goal and we're starting to see differences." When the Wolverines saw Daley's expectations for the program, they rallied around them. "I think at first it was tough," se- team slowing and surely. The team has bought into what they're all about — creating a professional en- vironment and be a consistent top-25 team in soccer. We have been incon- sistent, but we want to be a top soc- cer program." Michigan notched a 2-4 record dur- ing the non-conference portion of its schedule, but it has played some of the best teams in the country — in- cluding opening the season with a 2-1 loss at No. 5 South Florida. "The first half against South Flor- ida was really tough for us," Alsahe said. "It was away, it was really hot played games of the season, and the wins will follow if they keep steadily improving. "We're definitely going to have to do a better job of finding goals," Alashe said. "The last two games, especially, against Marquette and Notre Dame, they were there for the taking. "We had a few chances — I know I had one against Notre Dame. But we just couldn't find that goal that we needed to push ahead or put the game out of reach. If we can find a way to get a few more goals in the next couple games, that will be in- Sophomore midfielder Tyler Arnone on the new coaching staff "The team has bought into what they're all about — creating a professional environment and be a consistent top-25 team in soccer. We have been inconsistent, but we want to be a top soccer program." out. But we got better in the second half, and I think we have gotten bet- ter each time we have played against tough competition. more of the mistakes we make that kind of cost us goals. Once we start to cut more of those out, I think we'll be more on the winning end of these results." The Wolverines have struggled to find the net in the early season. As of Sept. 23, they ranked seventh out of seven teams in the Big Ten in points (25) and sixth in goals (nine). It is a persistent problem that first "The next step is cutting out a few strumental in us getting the results we want." Redshirt sophomore goalie Adam Grinwis has been a saving grace de- fensively. A year after finishing fifth in the conference with 61 saves, he is playing even better this year, col- lecting 28 saves in seven games (.718 save percentage). "He's looking great. The kid has reared its head in 2011, after Mich- igan lost nearly all of its scoring from the 2010 team to graduation and departures. Last year, Michigan scored 22 goals in 20 games. "You are what you are, in that "I like him a lot because he knows how to ramp up the intensity and he does it in a respectful way," sopho- more midfielder Tyler Arnone said. "He's not screaming at you and being all negative. He gets a real message across, and all the players respond really well. You don't get much better than him. "You can definitely see Coach and his staff changing the culture of the regard," Daley said. "Our staff has not had a chance to alter that from a recruiting standpoint. There have been no big revelations from a scor- ing standpoint, because we have the weapons we have." But Michigan is close. incredible talent," Alashe said. "He's a crazy shot stopper. If you watch the games from last year to this year, he's a lot more confident. He is com- manding the guys in back and get- ting them in the spots he wants. I think he's only getting better. He's going to be great for us down the stretch of the season." Daley is optimistic about not only the future, but about the Wolverines' chances in Big Ten play, as well. "We're going to get to where we want to be, as a program." Daley said. "We have great facilities, and I can't say enough about the support the team has gotten from the athletic department. In back-to-back games in mid- September, the Wolverines lost 2-1 to No. 17 Marquette and 1-0 in double overtime to No. 8 Notre Dame. Although the goals didn't come, Michigan saw that it had chances — and now the offense just has to take advantage of them. Daley said the losses were the Wolverines' two best "The team is buying in. They're seeing the improvements. The next step is seeing the wins that will follow." And the Wolverines are following in his lead. "We competed well against some of the best teams in the country — I don't expect anything less when we get into the Big Ten season," Alashe said. u OCTOBER 2012 THE WOLVERINE 79

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