Heading into the Michigan women’s soccer team’s second exhibition game, graduate goalkeeper Allison Karpovich looked to make an impact for her new team. After spending four seasons at Virginia Commonwealth, Karpovich joined the Wolverines as a transfer this past May. Having never played a game with the team before, Karpovich got her first start in Michigan’s final preseason game against Pittsburgh.
Karpovich played the whole first half of the game before the Wolverines switched goalies at halftime. After a foul by sophomore defender Ellie Fife at the top of the box, Michigan handed a golden opportunity to the Panthers in the form of a penalty kick — which they promptly converted into the game’s first and only goal. But Karpovich bounced back, perhaps learning from the initial kick, and made saves on both of Pitt’s other shots on goal. Regardless, the time on the field with her new team was the highlight of her afternoon.
In her four seasons with the Rams, Karpovich saw game action in the last two, making 36 appearances with 117 saves. She cemented herself in the record books with the 10th-most saves of a goalkeeper at VCU. After graduating, Karpovich knew exactly why she wanted to join the Wolverines.
“I love the coaching staff,” Karpovich said. “I love the energy, the overall vibe of Michigan, how much they care about soccer. They breed excellent players, and I want to be one of those. … The team’s welcoming (and) the staff is great, so the transition’s been super easy.”
Not only has the transition been clean from Karpovich’s end, but Wolverines coach Jennifer Klein has also loved the addition to the team. Having played in college for four years already, Karpovich has experience and skill that she transfers to her new team, shown immediately by her mental fortitude to bounce back after allowing an early goal.
“She’s adjusted really, really well,” Klein said. “She brings such a professional approach to the way that she trains and how she goes about her business which has raised the level of the goalkeeper environment. … Her addition has provided really good, quality depth options within our goalkeeper unit, which is what we wanted in bringing in Allison.”
Growing up in Virginia and attending college there for four years, Karpovich noted the differences in nature and weather in her new setting. Moving from a city to a college town and attending a university with a larger enrollment, Karpovich entered unfamiliar territory. Although Ann Arbor is a very different environment than the one she grew up in, she doesn’t want to let that stop her from having a great season.
“(I want to) contribute as much as I can in every aspect,” Karpovich said. “Be a player, be a team player, push us as hard as we can and make it as far as we can. … From the first preseason game to this game, we’ve definitely improved, and we’re just going to keep the ball rolling.”
Although Pitt’s penalty kick proved to be the winning goal, Michigan saw improvement from its previous preseason game. And Karpovich got valuable reps with her new defense and is ready to make an impact in the regular season.
