The Wolverine

Fall Sports Recap Women's Soccer Record: 9-2 The Wolverines stormed through the non-conference por- tion of the schedule, winning six of eight games. It was the best the team had done in the early season non-conference slate since posting a 6-1 record in 2002. The Maize And Blue have a perfect 7-0 record in the state conference in hitting percentage (.249) and ninth in kills (13.5 per set). Junior outside hitter Lexi Erwin leads the way for Michigan with 244 kills, an average of 3.9 per set, which ranks tied for sixth in the Big Ten. She has also notched 18 service aces. Men's Cross Country of Michigan, including a 3-0 home win over Indiana Sept. 15 in the first Big Ten game of the year. The Wolverines traveled to California for a tough two-game stretch Aug. 30, losing 1-0 to Cal State Northridge and 2-1 to No. 11 Long Beach State. Fifth-year senior goaltender Haley Kopmeyer has been sensational thus far, notching eight shutouts. She has al- lowed just one goal in all of Michigan's wins, a 2-1 overtime victory over Cal State Fullerton on Aug. 24. Michigan finished 10th in the Big Ten in goals last year, notching just 26 in 19 games (1.4 per game). The team has already netted 21 through 11 games this year. Junior Nkem Ezurike led the Wolverines in goals (five) and points (11) through Sept. 23. Freshman forward Corinne Harris has also been a big help offensively, ranking second in goals (three) and tied for second in points (eight). Field Hockey redshirt freshmen. This is obviously a young team — but head coach Marcia Pankratz is still building a winner. The Wolverines opened the season with a tough contest against No. 2 North Carolina, losing 5-1. The next day, they dropped a 2-1 decision to No. 13 Wake Forest. But the experience of playing some of the best teams in the country has helped the youngsters get into the swing of collegiate field hockey. On Sept. 2, Michigan toppled its first ranked opponent of the year, blanking No. 22 Maine 2-0. The Wolverines have also beaten No. 21 Albany 2-1 in overtime and No. 23 Fairfield 5-0. U-M opened the Big Ten season Sept. 23 with a hard- Record: 6-4 Of the 25 players on the roster, a whopping 14 are true or fought 4-3 loss at No. 6 Penn State in State College, Pa. Junior forward Rachael Mack led U-M in points (22) and goals (10) through Sept. 23. Redshirt junior goalie Haley Jones has posted 56 saves and a 1.60 goals-against average. Volleyball by sweeping two straight tournaments. They notched a perfect 4-0 record in the Missouri Tiger Invitational and a 3-0 mark in the Adidas/Michigan Challenge. Seven of Michigan's 13 wins have come in straight sets, but Record: 13-3 The Wolverines are off to a fast start, opening the season Freshman Shannon Osika was U-M's top finisher in each of its first two races, winning the Michigan Open Aug. 31 and placing third in the Spartan Invitational Sept. 14. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS the team has also proven it can win tight contests. In their last non-conference clash Sept. 15, the Wolverines traded sets with Duke and went into the final set knotted at two. The Blue Devils raced out to an 8-5 lead, but Michigan went on a run, eking out a 15-13 win in the set. There are still some concerns while Michigan heads into the tough Big Ten season. The Wolverines are ninth in the 80 THE WOLVERINE OCTOBER 2012 far. At the first race of the year, the Michigan Open, freshman Shannon Osika led the pack, winning the 5,000-meter race with a time of 17:58. Osika once again led the pack at the Spartan Invitational Women's Cross Country Michigan has participated in two non-scoring events thus The Wolverines' season will begin in earnest Oct. 12, when they travel to Madison for the Wisconsin Adidas Invitational. Michigan coach Alex Gibby has been using specific run- ning plans to test young, inexperienced runners in early non-scoring events. Middle-distance specialists ran in the Spartan Invitational Sept. 14 and will get more freedom in the Notre Dame Invitational Sept. 28. Distance specialists got their first big test Sept. 22 at the Virginia Panorama Farms Invitational, and the entire team will be together for the race in Madison. Sept. 14. She was the highest-placing Michigan runner, tak- ing third overall with a time of 21:23. The Wolverines put four runners in the top 10 at the event: Osika, senior Jillian Smith (fourth, 21:27), senior Lindsey Hilton (sixth, 21:28) and fifth-year senior Amanda Eccleston (seventh, 21:32). Michigan is gearing up for NCAA Pre-Nationals Oct. 13.

• Cover