Box Score The Oakland University Golden Grizzlies women's soccer team ended their 2002 season Friday with a loss to the University of Michigan 1-0 in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Grizzlies represented the Mid-Continent Conference in the tournament after winning the conference championship last weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Grizzlies season record falls to 10-12-1 on the year, the lowest win/loss record Oakland has seen in its nine-year history and the first time the team has finished below .500. Oakland looked to seek revenge on Michigan who beat the Grizzlies 2-0 earlier in the season. However, the Wolverines would not give up a loss to the Grizzlies this year and Oakland will have to wait another season to defeat Michigan. The game started fairly even between both teams and was played to a draw throughout the first half. Michigan had the better of the chances of the two teams to score and Oakland looked to junior goalkeeper and Mid-Con Tournament MVP Sarah Buckland (Burlington, Ont.) to make some big stops in net for the Grizzlies. Buckland saved Michigan's first close opportunity off a shot from 18-yards out on which Buckland managed to push to the crossbar and catch her own rebound. On another Wolverine attack, a ball was slid through the midfield and OU's defense and Buckland came up big stopping a breakaway opportunity. Mid-Con Newcomer of the Year Kristi Swaving (Alburqurque, New Mexico) had Oakland's best chance in the half bringing the ball up the middle of the field but could not get a strong shot off in the 18-yard box and was stopped by Michigan keeper Suzie Grech. Michigan responded with yet another great opportunity to score when Big Ten Player of the Year Abby Crumpton had Buckland beat on a one-on-one opportunity. However junior defenseman Therese Bjorke (Lovenstad, Norway) stopped the ball from going past the goal line and kicked the ball out of bounds. It wasn't until the 60th minute of the game that either team was able to break the tie and put the ball in the back of the net. Michigan's Andrea Kayal finished a ball sent in off a free kick with her head to score the game-winning goal for the Wolverines. The free kick was taken at the half line after an OU player fouled Michigan. Michigan then passed the ball to Amy Sullivant who dribbled until about 30 yards out and served the ball into OU's 18-yard box, connecting with Kayal's head and into OU's net. OU was unable to reply and the score ended at 1-0 in favor of Michigan. Michigan outshot Oakland by a margin of 25-3, however did not outplay the Grizzlies who never gave up the entire game. Head coach of the Grizzlies, Nick O'Shea was disappointed at his team's first round loss in the NCAA Tournament for the second season in a row. "We're disappointed with the result," stated O'Shea. "We put up a fight and created some chances but couldn't convert on them. Again we let up a goal on a set play - this is something we worked on and prepared for going into today's game so it's a little frustrating that it's how they scored. But soccer's like that, it's the way the game goes." With the last game of the season, Oakland says goodbye to three seniors who have now finished out their careers at Oakland University - Debbie Cartmel (Merseyside, Eng.), Kim Moore (Georgetown, Ont.) and Christine Selesky (Warren, Mich.). "It's sad to see three seniors go out and finish their careers today," commented O'Shea. "They've come a long way at Oakland and have contributed greatly to our program. It's sad to see them go." With it's win over Oakland, Michigan now proceeds to Sunday's game against Miami (Ohio) to determine who will move onto the third round of the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA College Cup final will be played at the University of Texas at Austin on December 8.