The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/90932
either. I am so impressed with the amount of grit they've shown and how hard they're willing to fight for each other every game." Despite missing the first four games of the season, Ezurike matched her career-high goal total from last season, netting 11 markers. She added one assist, bringing her point total to 23 this season. Ezurike was the offensive force be- hind the team's success this year. No other Wolverine scored more than four goals in the regular season. After the regular season, Ezurike ranked seventh in the Big Ten in points per game (1.64), eighth in goals (11) and fifth in goals per game (0.73). Ezurike was also clutch in pressure situations, scoring game-winning goals against Minnesota and Ne- braska, netting the final goal against the Cornhuskers in the 101st minute of a double-overtime thriller. Ezurike, not interested in high- lighting her own personal accom- plishments, focused on the team's postseason goals, instead. The Wol- verines are pleased with the strides they have made through the regular season — but there are bigger goals on the horizon. "We're happy, but we always want to strive for more," she said. "We have a big opportunity to do some- thing special." Ten Tournament, has a rematch with the Badgers Oct. 31. Beyond that, the NCAA Tournament looms large. "I want to go after that Big Ten championship," Zadorsky said. Michigan, the No. 3 seed in the Big record, with some encouraging results — such as a 2-1 upset of No. 11 Indiana Oct. 19 and a 1-0 loss to No. 3 Akron Oct. 16 — and some disappointing defeats, including a 2-0 loss to Bowling Green Oct. 23. Michigan has two home games to close out the regular season: Men's Soccer: As of Oct. 29, the Wolverines had compiled a 6-8-1 "Penn State, they have won the regu- lar season so many years in a row. I hope we can do it in the tournament, because now we have that opportu- nity ahead of us." Although postseason success would put an excellent cap on this season, the upperclassmen know how special a run it is. Kopmeyer saw just 10 total wins in her first two years in Ann Arbor — and every vic- tory this year tasted a little sweeter because of the ride she has been on. "Especially considering where we came from, this is kind of the dream senior season, by far the best season we have had since we've been here," Kopmeyer added. "It's been really great to see the program come full circle. To be where we are now is absolutely unbelievable." u Olympic Sports Postseason Outlook versus Detroit Oct. 30 and Michigan State Nov. 3. Regardless of the outcome of those games, the Wolverines will likely have to win the Big Ten Tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament. A win over the Spartans could vault the Wolverines into the No. 4 seed in the seven-team Big Ten Tournament, which was slated to begin Nov. 7. Volleyball: The Wolverines, sitting at No. 7 in the Big Ten stand- ings as of Oct. 29 with a 5-7 record in conference play, are hanging onto NCAA Tournament hopes. The Big Ten, with the addition of powerhouse Nebraska last season, is considered the toughest conference in the country, and it sent eight teams to the Big Dance last year. Michigan has eight matches left in the regular season. If the Wolverines beat the teams they're supposed to beat (Nov. 3 versus Iowa, No. 9 versus Wisconsin, Nov. 16 at Northwestern and Nov. 17 at Illinois), they will have, at worst, a 9-11 record in conference, which should be good enough to earn an at-large bid. They can improve their seeding with a win versus Nebraska (Nov. 2), against Minnesota (Nov. 10), at Michigan State (Nov. 21) or at Ohio State (Nov. 23). Field Hockey: Michigan bounced back from a 4-1 loss to North- western Oct. 5 to win the final six games of the regular season, including a huge 2-1 win at Iowa Oct. 26 to pull ahead of the Hawk- eyes in the Big Ten standings (both teams finished with a 4-2 record in conference, and the Wolverines hold the tiebreaker) and earn the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament (which was slated to begin Nov. 1). The Wolverines should easily earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, on the strength of their 13-5 regular-season. But the team has a great chance of winning the Big Ten Tournament, draw- ing No. 6 seed Ohio State (which it beat 3-1 in the regular season) before likely dates with Northwestern and No. 1 seed Penn State in the championship game. — Andy Reid 112 THE WOLVERINE NOVEMBER 2012 Redshirt junior Brittany Lee and the U-M volleyball team stood No. 7 in the Big Ten standings as of Oct. 29, and they still had hopes of earning an NCAA Tournament bid. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS