Here we go with my thoughts on how things are looking this year for our Fall non-revenue sports teams. It's really long, sorry. I'd be happy to answer any other questions people have about the teams after reading this too. Also, I know there are people more knowledgable about these teams than me, so feel free to chime in with your own input. Hope you enjoy the read...constructive criticism is welcome.
Women's Soccer:
Strengths:
- Sophomores Jada Dayne (Daughter of Ron) and Sura Yekka should be a very strong anchor in the middle of the Michigan defense. Both have the ideal size and skill combo.
- Lots of experience up front with 4 players (Sarkisian, Martin, Timko, Kastroll) at the forward/attacking-mid positions that have 3 or more years with the team
- Bringing in the #6 recruiting class in the country, including the top goalie in the nation, Hillary Beall
? Marks:
- Who are the left and right side defenders? Whoever it is, they will have little to no experience.
- Can the team score? Despite having plenty of individual talent, the team struggled to put it together and find the back of the net consistently last year. Hopefully, the new assistant coach (who's job description can basically be summed up as...Get the team to score more) has a positive impact here.
- Depth. Almost all of our bench will be very young and inexperienced.
Best Case Scenario: Beall lives up to her lofty ranking, and along with Dayne and Yekka they make the defense impenetrable, while the offense takes advantage of their experience and scores the big goals when needed. The team has a shot at the Big Ten title coming into the last weekend of the season, is ranked around the top 10 and is a real threat to make a deep run in the tourney.
Worst Case Scenario: There are issues all year with the defense on the flanks, and the offense still can't consistently score, leaving the team on the wrong side of the bubble for the 3rd time in 4 years.
Prediction: Finishes 3rd in the Big Ten and is a coin flip to make the Sweet 16 or lose in the 2nd round. A good season that sets the stage for a big run next year when almost everyone is back.
Men's Soccer:
Strengths:
- Francis Atuahene. The junior is an incredible talent with blazing speed and a great finishing touch. Could be an All-American.
- Several experience midfielders and forwards that should keep teams from solely focusing on Atuahene.
? Marks:
- Goalkeeping and defense. They lost a lot at these positions, and will be VERY inexperienced back there.
- Can they buck recent history. This team has seemed on the verge of breaking through for a few seasons now, but something always goes wrong. Last year it was losing a ton of games in overtime.
- Coaching. I want to like the guy and his emphasis on defense, but 4 or 5 years in a row without making the tourney is a negative. He's on the hot seat this year.
Best Case Scenario: Francis is one of the top scorers in the country, and the team finally has a year where they get the breaks. Top 3-4 in the Big Ten and a return to the national tourney.
Worst Case Scenario: The defense is a sieve all year and they can't overcome that with only 1 truly gifted offensive player. Team finishes below .500 and looks for a new direction after the season.
Prediction: Sigh. I want to believe, but after several years it's hard to be optimistic. I expect another season around .500
Women's Volleyball:
Strengths:
- A future star at setter in sophomore Mackenzi Welsh. Could be one of the best in the Big Ten this year.
- One of the best liberos in the conference in Jenna Lerg (Libero = tiny person who makes the digs on the back line)
- A wealth of veteran attackers at the outside hitter and middle blocker positions.
? Marks:
- Who can be a great attacker? Michigan has several players who have good careers at the attacking positions, but none that have been great yet. They need 1-2 to make that leap and have a really great year. Best bet - Carly Skjodt at the Outside Hitter position or Claire Kieffer-Wright at the Middle Blocker spot.
- Can they survive the Big Ten? This conference is loaded. There will probably be 8-9 teams ranked to start the season. Have to bring it every night as there are only a few easy wins (looking at you Rutgers).
Best Case Scenario: A couple of attackers make a leap, and Welsh plays at an all-American level. Team breaks into the top 4 in the Big Ten (a major accomplishment) and is at least a Sweet 16 team, maybe more.
Worst Case Scenario: No one breaks through on the outside, either Lerg or Welsh gets injured and the brutal Big Ten saps the team's confidence. They finish around 10th and just miss out on a tourney invite.
Prediction: 6th place in the Big Ten and they make it to the Sweet 16. Will need a big recruiting year this year to offset losing several seniors after this year.
Field Hockey:
Strengths:
- Best goalie in the country in senior Sam Sweson (great British accent to boot)
- One of the best center defenders in the country in senior Katie Trombetta.
- Depth. This team will sub early and often and run waves of players at you.
? Marks:
- Can they score? Unless there is a surprise breakthrough, this team will once again not have an elite goal scorer. Can goal scoring by committee provide enough consistent offense?
- Question mark #2 - See Question Mark #1. This team will play great defense and coach Marcia Pankratz will always get this team to play their asses off. It's just a question of whether they can consistently create offense against good teams.
Best Case Scenario: Defense is best in the country and Swenson is even more dominant than before. Team gets enough timely goals to win a lot of 2-1 and 1-0 games, upsets Maryland to win the Big Ten title and is a serious contender for the national tournament.
Worst Case Scenario: The team just can't find a way to score and it wears down the defense. Team loses a lot of 2-1 and 1-0 games and finishes middle of the pack with no tourney invite.
Prediction: 2nd place in the Big Ten and they make it to the 2nd round of the tourney. Swenson and Trombetta are both All-Americans who are sorely missed next season.
This leaves Men's and Women's Cross Country which I admittedly don't know much about. Other than the fact that the Men are a top 20 team and the women finished 2nd in the nation last year, missing a national title by .1 seconds. Maybe someone else can chime in on these teams?
Women's Soccer:
Strengths:
- Sophomores Jada Dayne (Daughter of Ron) and Sura Yekka should be a very strong anchor in the middle of the Michigan defense. Both have the ideal size and skill combo.
- Lots of experience up front with 4 players (Sarkisian, Martin, Timko, Kastroll) at the forward/attacking-mid positions that have 3 or more years with the team
- Bringing in the #6 recruiting class in the country, including the top goalie in the nation, Hillary Beall
? Marks:
- Who are the left and right side defenders? Whoever it is, they will have little to no experience.
- Can the team score? Despite having plenty of individual talent, the team struggled to put it together and find the back of the net consistently last year. Hopefully, the new assistant coach (who's job description can basically be summed up as...Get the team to score more) has a positive impact here.
- Depth. Almost all of our bench will be very young and inexperienced.
Best Case Scenario: Beall lives up to her lofty ranking, and along with Dayne and Yekka they make the defense impenetrable, while the offense takes advantage of their experience and scores the big goals when needed. The team has a shot at the Big Ten title coming into the last weekend of the season, is ranked around the top 10 and is a real threat to make a deep run in the tourney.
Worst Case Scenario: There are issues all year with the defense on the flanks, and the offense still can't consistently score, leaving the team on the wrong side of the bubble for the 3rd time in 4 years.
Prediction: Finishes 3rd in the Big Ten and is a coin flip to make the Sweet 16 or lose in the 2nd round. A good season that sets the stage for a big run next year when almost everyone is back.
Men's Soccer:
Strengths:
- Francis Atuahene. The junior is an incredible talent with blazing speed and a great finishing touch. Could be an All-American.
- Several experience midfielders and forwards that should keep teams from solely focusing on Atuahene.
? Marks:
- Goalkeeping and defense. They lost a lot at these positions, and will be VERY inexperienced back there.
- Can they buck recent history. This team has seemed on the verge of breaking through for a few seasons now, but something always goes wrong. Last year it was losing a ton of games in overtime.
- Coaching. I want to like the guy and his emphasis on defense, but 4 or 5 years in a row without making the tourney is a negative. He's on the hot seat this year.
Best Case Scenario: Francis is one of the top scorers in the country, and the team finally has a year where they get the breaks. Top 3-4 in the Big Ten and a return to the national tourney.
Worst Case Scenario: The defense is a sieve all year and they can't overcome that with only 1 truly gifted offensive player. Team finishes below .500 and looks for a new direction after the season.
Prediction: Sigh. I want to believe, but after several years it's hard to be optimistic. I expect another season around .500
Women's Volleyball:
Strengths:
- A future star at setter in sophomore Mackenzi Welsh. Could be one of the best in the Big Ten this year.
- One of the best liberos in the conference in Jenna Lerg (Libero = tiny person who makes the digs on the back line)
- A wealth of veteran attackers at the outside hitter and middle blocker positions.
? Marks:
- Who can be a great attacker? Michigan has several players who have good careers at the attacking positions, but none that have been great yet. They need 1-2 to make that leap and have a really great year. Best bet - Carly Skjodt at the Outside Hitter position or Claire Kieffer-Wright at the Middle Blocker spot.
- Can they survive the Big Ten? This conference is loaded. There will probably be 8-9 teams ranked to start the season. Have to bring it every night as there are only a few easy wins (looking at you Rutgers).
Best Case Scenario: A couple of attackers make a leap, and Welsh plays at an all-American level. Team breaks into the top 4 in the Big Ten (a major accomplishment) and is at least a Sweet 16 team, maybe more.
Worst Case Scenario: No one breaks through on the outside, either Lerg or Welsh gets injured and the brutal Big Ten saps the team's confidence. They finish around 10th and just miss out on a tourney invite.
Prediction: 6th place in the Big Ten and they make it to the Sweet 16. Will need a big recruiting year this year to offset losing several seniors after this year.
Field Hockey:
Strengths:
- Best goalie in the country in senior Sam Sweson (great British accent to boot)
- One of the best center defenders in the country in senior Katie Trombetta.
- Depth. This team will sub early and often and run waves of players at you.
? Marks:
- Can they score? Unless there is a surprise breakthrough, this team will once again not have an elite goal scorer. Can goal scoring by committee provide enough consistent offense?
- Question mark #2 - See Question Mark #1. This team will play great defense and coach Marcia Pankratz will always get this team to play their asses off. It's just a question of whether they can consistently create offense against good teams.
Best Case Scenario: Defense is best in the country and Swenson is even more dominant than before. Team gets enough timely goals to win a lot of 2-1 and 1-0 games, upsets Maryland to win the Big Ten title and is a serious contender for the national tournament.
Worst Case Scenario: The team just can't find a way to score and it wears down the defense. Team loses a lot of 2-1 and 1-0 games and finishes middle of the pack with no tourney invite.
Prediction: 2nd place in the Big Ten and they make it to the 2nd round of the tourney. Swenson and Trombetta are both All-Americans who are sorely missed next season.
This leaves Men's and Women's Cross Country which I admittedly don't know much about. Other than the fact that the Men are a top 20 team and the women finished 2nd in the nation last year, missing a national title by .1 seconds. Maybe someone else can chime in on these teams?
