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Saturday, 7:00 PM – (3) Michigan vs Wisconsin-Milwaukee

They haven’t quite hit the heights expected of them before the season, but Michigan enters the NCAA Tournament as another threat to finally make the big breakthrough and get to the College Cup. Greg Ryan’s side started out strongly (albeit against a non-conference schedule that was pretty tame when all was said and done) before hitting a mid-season rut that may have cost the club silverware and a high national seed. The still finished out the regular season with eight straight wins though, making their Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal defeat to Iowa that much more shocking. Despite the defeat, Michigan’s streak of having not conceded multiple goals all season survived, making it nineteen in a row this year without shipping more than one goal a game. Taylor Bucklin’s been solid in goal this season as a rookie, avoiding many of the yips some of her rookie compatriots have suffered through. It also helps though to have the likes of Shelina Zadorsky and Holly Hein in front of you. Zadorsky’s already shown why she may have a future with the Canadian WNT, while Hein’s stock may have increased as much as anyone’s in the nation this year after some impressive displays at center-back. The defense might have to lead the way, because, despite the talent here, Michigan has at times looked like they couldn’t hit water if they fell out of a boat offensively. The steady stream of goals speaks more to the rate of chances created rather than chances converted, as this Wolverines side can be guilty of some stupefying misses in front of goal when the attack doesn’t have its shooting boots on. The attack is all about big Canadian Nkem Ezurike, as effective a target forward as there is at this level. Rookie Madisson Lewis and veterans Tori McCombs and Meghan Toohey can all play their part as well, but it’s highly unlikely the Wolverines are going to be making extended progress if Ezurike isn’t firing true. The draw is certainly doable, probable up until the Elite Eight, but watching this Michigan side, you can’t help but get the feeling their sometimes erratic offensive displays are going to catch up with them sooner rather than later.

Wisconsin-Milwaukee comes into this one hoping that they can give a better account of themselves than in the season opener, when they lost to this same Michigan side in Ann Arbor, 3-0. It was part of a rather dreadful start to the season, as the Panthers struggled against some trying opposition. UWM ended up losing their first five and won just one of their first eight. Thankfully, the Panthers ended up learning from their struggles out of conference and had few troubles in league play, losing just a single game in the Horizon League in the regular season to bring in another title. There wouldn’t be any slips in the conference tournament either, as the Panthers sealed a miraculous comeback against Oakland in the final to reach the promised land once again. The powerful duo of Krissy Dorre and Kelly Lewers, the latter winning just about every individual award in the Horizon League this season, combined for nineteen goals but face a very daunting task to overcome a tenacious Michigan defense on Saturday night. If talented midfielder Kelsey Holbert can win some of the battles in midfield, it’d certainly help her side’s cause immeasurably. Defense? Not so great. The Panthers may have held their own for much of the league season, but they were hammered by many of their non-conference opponents, not keeping a single clean sheet outside of the Horizon League. The Panthers managed to hold out for an hour in the first meeting with Michigan, but they still shipped three, being outshot 17-4 on the evening and 7-0 in shots on goal. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the Panthers have improved defensively, but they still are going to have trouble containing the Wolverine attack, even if they have misfired at times this season.

Prediction: Michigan 3 – 0 Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Wisconsin-Milwaukee Tournament Prediction – First Round
Michigan Tournament Prediction – Sweet Sixteen

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