All Blue Issue 0: For Lo, the Summer is Past

I first felt it when I was walking my dog the other morning. I stepped outside and immediately walked back inside to grab a (block-M emblazoned) sweatshirt. Yes, that fall chill is in the air and it is time for football season.

Oh right we're in America. Let's call it soccer season.

On Thursday, the 2023-24 Michigan Wolverines athletics season will open the way it always does, with a women's soccer game. The Wolverine women will kick-off in California, traveling to USC and Pepperdine. (Cue "Pepperdine to the Big Ten" rumors.) The men follow close behind, hosting Loyola Marymount. While my original plan was to launch next week, I thought this would be a good time to preview the soccer season.

But first, golf.

Hailey Borja at the US Women's Amateur Open

For the second consecutive year, a member of the Michigan women's golf team made the semifinals of the US Women's Amateur. Fifth-year senior Hailey Borja went on a run that ended just a few breaks short of making the final. Hosted at Bel Air Country Club, Borja put up an impressive -4 over two days in stroke play before the field was cut to 64 for the match play tournament.

Wolverine and 2023 US Women's Am runner-up Monet Chun missed the cut after stroke play, and Anika Dy lost in the round of 64, 5&4 to Duke's Andie Smith (that is, Smith had won five more holes than Dy with just 4 holes to play, rendering completion of the match unnecessary).

Borja's -4 in stroke play earned her the 7th seed in match play. In the first round, Borja withstood a back nine comeback from Megan Meng (Northwestern) before a par on the 18th sealed the deal. In the second round, Borja did the chasing, coming back from down two through 11 holes and winning with a birdie on 18.

Borja cruised to 4-up in her round of 16 match. USC's Bailey Shoemaker cut the lead in half by winning the 11th and 12th holes, but Borja kept her composure and sealed it with a par putt to win the 16th hole and the match. The quarterfinal and semifinal both started similarly, heading to the back nine within one. In the quarter, Borja shut down Oregon State's Kyra Ly, preventing her from winning a single back-nine hole and eventually winning 3&2.

In the semi, Megan Scofill's (Auburn) 14th hole eagle broke the match's final tie. Down two at the 17th, Borja's approach landed short of the green and, despite Borja's gorgeous chip to set up the par putt, Scofill was able to halve the hole and win the match. It was the fourth US Women's Am for Borja, and her best performance after previously topping out at the round of 16.

While I don't want to overshadow Hailey Borja's individual achievement, I'd be remiss if I didn't at least mention the impressive progression of women's golf under head coach Jan Dowling. When Dowling arrived in 2013, the Wolverines' last advancement past regionals was in 2002. Michigan has now qualified for four of the last six NCAA finals, won their first Big Ten title, and in consecutive years had golfers in the final four at the US Women's Am. The future is bright.

Women's Soccer

Last year: Just a year removed from a Big Ten Tournament title, the 2022 Wolverines did not quite meet the standard they had set for themselves. After a 6-2-2 start in non-conference play the Wolverines could not maintain the momentum in the Big Ten season, ultimately finishing 12th. Bright spots included a late-season win over #14 Rutgers.

Three Names:

• Sammi Woods: Senior captain Sammi Woods led the team in goals last year with 7, including three two-goal games. While Michigan likes to spread out the scoring, if Michigan is going to improve on its 5-goal performance in conference play, look for Woods to take her next step forward.
• Stephanie Sparkowski: After spending her first three seasons on a crowded goalkeeping depth chart, the time has come for the senior to take center stage. Sparkowski gave up one goal in her 135 minutes of play last year. A great keeper can win you games you shouldn't. Can Sparkowski propel the Wolverines to overachievement?
• Aniyah League: Michigan expected their backline to be anchored by Canada WNT-er Jayde Riviere (now with Manchester United, yes that Manchester United) last year. When Riviere went down with injury, League ably stepped up. As a freshman, she started all 15 matches she played in, with six 90 minute appearances. Now a sophomore, her play earned her a spot on the Big Ten Players to Watch list.

Three Games:

• at #5 Virginia, Thu. Aug. 24, 8:15p (all times ET, always): In just the third game of the season, Michigan will face one of its toughest tests. After playing Virginia in pre-season friendlies each of the past two years, its time to play the Hoos when it counts. If Michigan wants to prove they could surprise people, this is their first shot, and if you get ACC Network you should be able to stream it via ESPN.
• Boston College, Thu. Aug. 31, 7p: Michigan delivered Boston College their first loss of the season last year, 1-0 in the land of Dunkin'. The Eagles will look to return the favor on their trip to Ann Arbor. These are both teams that need to prove they are taking a step forward this year. I'm not calling this a must win before the season even starts, but Michigan has some tough games in non-con. Stealing an at-large berth to the NCAA Tourney might come down to winning enough of these coin-flips.
• #10 Penn State, Thu. Sep. 28, 7p: The fourth game of the B1G season comes against the conference favorites and defending B1G tourney champions. Who knows where they'll be ranked a month from now, but a chance to steal a win in friendly confines could give Michigan some badly-needed early cushion.

Outlook: Michigan lost two of their top four goalscorers in Meredith Haakenson and Lily Farkas, as well as their keeper Izzy Nino. But they return six of their top ten outfield players in minutes played, and their new backstop is a senior. The question for Jen Klein's team is simple: where do the goals come from? If they can answer that, they can make noise in Big Ten play. It would not be shocking to see a year that ends outside the Big Ten Tournament, but with some real bright spots among the young players and momentum built for next year.

Men's Soccer

Last year: I think it is fair to say that Chaka Daley's career has been up and down. He's delivered Michigan its only Big Ten regular season title, and as recently as 2019 got Michigan to the Sweet 16. Last year, Michigan posted one of its worse records of his tenure, and failed to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament. Doubt Shaka figuring it out at your own peril, but calling this a "prove it" year is not out of bounds.

Three Names:

• Nicholas Kaloukian: Kaloukian was one of Michigan's two Big Ten honorees last season, joining Nolan Miller on the All-Freshmen team. In some ways, its unideal when your leading goalscorer (at four goals) is a freshman but the good news is, he was our leading goal scorer and he was only a freshman! Time to take the sophomore leap.
• Bryce Blevins: As a junior, Blevins led Michigan in points despite scoring just one goal. His five assists (including 2 through Miller) led the team, and as a senior that distribution and leadership will be important if Michigan wants to stay in the hunt.
• Duilio Herrera: As an avid fan of the Detroit City Football Club, freshman Herrera is the most interesting newcomer to me. Herrera comes direct from the academy of USL's Rio Grande Valley Toros. He made 25 appearances over two years for the senior team (including a ten minute runout in Hamtramck earlier this year), racking up vital minutes against opponents that are largely better than what he'll see in college play. He even scored a goal last year against eventual champs San Antonio FC. If this may be a "get excited about the kids" season, this is who I'll be watching.

Three Games:

• #22 Akron, Fri. Sep. 10, 7p: Akron consistently punched above its weight as a MAC team, with a national championship in 2010 and more-recent semifinal appearances in 2015, 2017, and 2018. Michigan has lost to Akron three times in the NCAA Tournament, and the most recent matchup is an away draw in 2021's regular season. Akron moves to the Big East this year (just in soccer don't freak out). Can Michigan give them a taste of power conference life?
• Michigan State, Tue. Oct 10, 7p, BTN: I want the dang Bear back. While overall MSU has had the better of this rivalry, Michigan's streak of six games (five wins and a trophy-retaining tie) without losing the Big Bear Trophy was the longest of the rivalry's history until the Spartans took it 2-0 last September. On national television, in Ann Arbor, bring Big Bear home.
• Notre Dame, Tue. Oct. 17, 7p: The annual mid-season rivalry between Michigan and Notre Dame is always one to circle. It's a good chance to take stock of the season and get a look at a non-conference opponent that is usually in position to make the NCAA Tourney. This year its at home, and the Wolverines will look to grab their first win in the rivalry since 2019.

Outlook: The women's team's struggles last year felt like a blip. After four straight seasons with a worse winning percentage than the season prior, the men's team's struggles are starting to feel like a slide. There's nowhere to go but up, and with eight returners out of their top ten in minutes last year (including two underclassmen), there's plenty of hope that the team gels this year.

All Blue will return next week with our first normal-ish column of the year (or, uh, ever). Don't forget to subscribe, and follow me on Twitter. Go Blue!