Statement win for Michigan against No. 24 Alabama

With six losses under its belt, the Michigan women’s soccer team was on a poor run of form. On Sunday, the Wolverines looked to gain some momentum and enter their upcoming Big Ten campaign on a high note.

 Michigan’s (1-5-1) solid defensive structure and ability to control the transitions helped it defeat No. 24 Alabama (6-2-0) in a 1-0 victory.

The Wolverines started strong, enjoying the majority of possession and controlling the tempo of the match. However, the Crimson Tide frequently ran the channels and created opportunities, forcing Michigan into a low block. This set the stage for graduate goalkeeper Stephanie Sparkowski and her backline to put their defensive acumen on display. 

“How can we be disciplined, getting numbers behind the ball and then finding opportunities to press and be a bit more aggressive higher up the field,”  Michigan coach Jen Klein said. “Being disciplined allows us to do that,” Klein said,  about her team’s low block. 

While the defensive efforts were firing on all cylinders, the attempts on target were not materializing at first. However, in the 43rd minute, freshman midfielder Adi Walick whipped in a dangerous ball which freshman forward Elle Ervin met with a towering header, giving Michigan the 1-0 lead right before halftime. This was the catalyst for the end-to-end game that was to come in the second half.

During the second half, the Crimson Tide came rolling out with a wave of runs in behind led by forward Gianna Paul. This offensive onslaught was snuffed out by the Wolverines’ defensive resilience. Alabama’s direct approach to equalizing also left it stretched. The Wolverines picked up pockets of space between the Crimson Tide’s lines and played quickly through the channels causing them problems. With both teams pushing for a goal, the importance of transitions became apparent. 

“I think transition is still an area that we need to firm up,” Klein said. “How are you cool, calm, and collected in the moment of chaos?”

Michigan found that calm through senior midfielder Avery Kalitta whose ability to win duels and slow the tempo helped the Wolverines maintain control of the match. This defensive stability allowed for the fullbacks to play more freely and keep Alabama’s defense honest with runs in behind.

“When we are cool, calm and collected, then we are able to have success on both sides, whether it’s transitioning to attack or transitioning to defend.” Klein said.

As the match wore on, the importance of Michigan’s defensive’s structure became evident. The way in which Sparkowski commanded her box was a testament to experience and leadership that she has developed in her time with the Wolverines. More importantly the overall defensive stability of Michigan slowed down the tempo of the game allowing it to apply more pressure on the Crimson Tide.

“I had to keep myself locked in all game…making sure we were organizing the back, and I was owning my box as much as possible,” Sparkowski said. “Today was a good showing of the chemistry that we built as a back five.”

That back five as well as the super freshman duo of Ervin and Walick was the difference for the Wolverines. After an eye-catching second half, the final whistle blew, giving Michigan its first win of the season heading into its first conference match.

The Wolverines’ defensive structure won them the game on Sunday. To be ready for the commencement of Big Ten play they will have to continue to display their adept defensive capabilities. On Sunday, Michigan brought the feeling of winning back to the team.

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