University of Massachusets Athletics
Women's Soccer Game Notes For UAB Nike Classic
September 11, 2002 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 11, 2002
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GAME-DAY ... This weekend, the Minutewomen travel to Birmingham, Ala., to participate in the UAB Nike Classic. First up will be the ninth-ranked Michigan Wolverines on Friday, Sept. 13 at 5:00 p.m. Michigan is off to a 4-0 start with all four wins coming at home. On Sunday, Sept. 15 at 2:00 p.m., Massachusetts takes on host-school Alabama-Birmingham. The Blazers are 1-2-1 after a pair of set-backs to Southeastern Conference members Vanderbilt and Auburn last weekend.
SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES ... Michigan enters the game with a 4-0 record and are ranked ninth in the latest NSCAA/adidas National Top 25. The Wolverines are led by Theresa Heaton, who has tallied eight points on three goals and two assists. Abby Crumpton has seven points on two goals and three assists, while Amy Sullivant has two goals and an assist for five points. Suzie Grech has played the majority of the minutes in net this season, compiling a 4-0-0 record with a 0.86 GAA and .812 save percentage. She has one shutout to her credit and has made 13 saves in 314:59. In 45:00, goalkeeper Rebecca Bald has made one save and has not allowed a goal.
SCOUTING THE BLAZERS ... The University of Alabama-Birmingham is 1-2-1 this season after a pair of losses last weekend to Vanderbilt and Auburn. Jenny Rynders and Jill Knottek lead the Blazers with four points apiece. Tara Kidwell and Jana Brauer both have three points. Lisa Nowoslawski has played all 380 minutes in the net and has compiled a 1.89 GAA and .778 save percentage. She has one shutout this season and has recorded 28 saves.
FAMILIAR FACE ... When the Minutewomen take the field against Michigan Friday afternoon, there will be a familiar face patrolling the Wolverines sideline. Former Massachusetts stand-out Debbie Belkin (now Rademacher) is the head coach at Michigan. The three-time All-America and All-New England defender has compiled a 107-59-11 record in eight-plus seasons at the helm of the Wolverines. The 1998 UMass Athletic Hall of Fame inductee was also a two-time Soccer America MVP and member of its Team of the Decade. Rademacher is one of three former UMass players who are now coaching teams on the Minutewomen's 2002 schedule. Nancy Feldman of Boston University and April Kater of Syracuse are the others.
LAST TIME OUT ... Tiffany Chag scored the game-winning goal in the 72nd minute giving the Boston University women's soccer team a 3-2 win over the University of Massachusetts before 1,558 fans on Rudd Field dedication day last Sunday.
Down, 2-1, UMass senior Martha Conover (Liverpool, N.Y.) received a pass from senior Alexi Rudd (Orinda, Calif.) and put it past BU netminder Jessica Clinton to tie the game with just 1:54 remaining in the first half. Freshman Morgan Czaja (Adams, Mass.) was also credited with an assist on the play.
Sophomore Erica Wideberg (Randolph, N.J.) scored an unassisted goal at the 36:32 mark to give the Minutewomen the 1-0 advantage. The goal, which was the first UMass score at the new Rudd Field, was also the first of the season for Massachusetts. A little over five minutes later, Rebecca Beyer tied the game for the Terriers. Less than a minute later, Meghann Cook gave BU the lead, but Conover's score sent the game into halftime at a 2-2 deadlock.
BU held the advantage in the second half, out-shooting the Minutewomen 17-6, but Massachusetts junior goalkeeper Kelly Nigh (Seattle, Wash.) made some big stops. In the 72nd minute, Chag beat Nigh with the eventual game-winner.
With the loss, Massachusetts drops to 0-3 on the season for the first time since 1998. BU improves to 2-1 with the win. Nigh finished the game with 12 saves, her third consecutive double-digit save performance. Clinton made six stops for the visitors.
Prior to the start of the game, there was a special ceremony honoring those who made Rudd Field possible. The field was then officially dedicated in honor of the contribution made by Andrew and Jinny Rudd, trustees of the Rudd Foundation.
TOP RECRUITING CLASS ... Soccer Buzz Magazine ranked the University of Massachusetts women's soccer recruiting class first in the Atlantic 10 Conference and 39th nationally. The 2002 UMass recruiting class was also picked fourth in the Northeast region.
DE-NIGH HER ... In just three games this season, Kelly Nigh has made 40 saves (13.3 per game) in 270 minutes. If Nigh continues on this pace, she will end up with 240, shattering the UMass single-season record of 141 set by Kelly Tuller in 1979. Nigh has already passed her career total of 33. This season, she has compiled a .816 save percentage.