Michigan
11-2-1, 5-1-1
Indiana
10-4-1, 3-4-0
Ezurike, Bucklin Direct Wolverines to Shutout of Hoosiers
10/18/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Score: #12 Michigan 1, Indiana 0
Records: U-M (11-2-1, 5-1-1 Big Ten), Indiana (10-4-1, 3-4 Big Ten)
Attendance: 1,165
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Oct. 20 -- vs. Purdue - Pink Game (U-M Soccer Stadium), 3 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Senior forward Nkem Ezurike (Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia/Sackville) scored the match's lone goal in the 75th minute, giving the No. 12-ranked University of Michigan women's soccer team a 1-0 victory over visiting Indiana on Friday night (Oct. 18) at U-M Soccer Stadium. Freshman goalkeeper Taylor Bucklin (Greenwich, Conn./Brookfield) made six saves in net, managing the Michigan defense for its second straight shutout.
Nkem Ezurike
The Wolverines outshot the Hoosiers, 10-4 (3-2 in SOGs) -- including six by Ezurike alone -- in the opening half. Ezurike's first attempt at goal came 59 seconds into the match, and she had five more before being given a breather in the 37th minute. In the 12th minute, senior Shelina Zadorsky (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas) launched a cross into the box that found Ezurike, but her header was a little high of the mark. Nine minutes later, freshman Madisson Lewis (Canton, Mich./Plymouth) slipped Ezurike a ball in behind the defense, but her shot went just left of the net. Despite the pressure, the teams went into the locker room scoreless at halftime.
Michigan had several golden opportunities in the 67th minute right in front of the net. Senior Meghan Toohey (Philadelphia, Pa./Phil-Mont Christian) was denied right at the goal line by Indiana goalkeeper Shannon Flower on a ball that came right into the dead center of the penalty area. The rebound trickled out, and Lewis put a touch that was destined for the back of the net until an Indiana defender at the near post put herself in front of the ball.
The Wolverines finally broke through at 74:36, when sophomore Corinne Harris (Chicago, Ill./Walter Payton College Prep) shielded off two defenders and slipped a through ball to a streaking Ezurike, who took two touches and blasted her shot over Flower's outstretched arms.
After the tally, Bucklin was forced to make only one save -- from distance in the final minute of play.
Michigan returns to U-M Soccer Stadium on Sunday (Oct. 20), hosting Purdue at 3 p.m. It is the team's annual Pink Game benefiting breast cancer awareness and will follow the men's soccer team's noon match.
GAME SUMMARY
| By Periods | 1 | 2 | F |
| Indiana | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
2nd -- U-M, Nkem Ezurike, 74:36 (Corinne Harris)
Shots: U-M 15, IU 13
Shots on Goal: U-M 6, IU 6
Saves: U-M 6 (Taylor Bucklin), IU 5 (Shannon Flower)
Corner Kicks: U-M 5, IU 3
Cards: U-M, Shelina Zadorsky, 69:18 (Yellow); IU, Rebecca Dreher, 73:59 (Yellow)
NOTES
• U-M improves to 14-4-3 all-time against Indiana. The Wolverines have won four straight over the Hoosiers and own a five-match unbeaten streak against them (4-0-1). In addition, Michigan has not conceded a goal to Indiana since 2010.
• It is Michigan's first win at home since Sept. 12 vs. Detroit (2-0), a span of 30 days. U-M had gone 0-1-1 in its previous two in Ann Arbor.
• Michigan improves to 6-2 in matches decided by one goal. After scoring multiple goals in each of its first nine wins, U-M's two matches -- both wins -- have been by a 1-0 margin.
• With her second-half goal, Nkem Ezurike is now two goals shy of becoming the school's all-time scoring leader. She has 43 career goals and is currently in a tie for second with Abby Crumpton (1999-02). Kacy Beitel (1997-00) is the current leader at 44.
• Nkem Ezurike had eight shots in the match, a new season high.
• Taylor Bucklin has recorded back-to-back shutouts for the second time this season (Sept. 6 vs. Pepperdine, Sept. 12 vs. Detroit). She has made 13 saves over the last two contests, which accounts for nearly one-third of her season total (42 saves). It is also her sixth shutout of the season.
• Corinne Harris recorded her third assist of the season. It is her first point since tallying two assists vs. Oakland on Aug. 25.
• Nicky Waldeck played for first time since Oct. 3 at Michigan State.
• Michigan failed to score in the first half for the third consecutive match. The Wolverines have scored 12 goals in each half (and one in overtime) but have scored just three first-half goals in conference play (Nkem Ezurike at Iowa on Sept. 22, Christina Murillo and Meghan Toohey at Michigan State on Oct. 3).
• The announced attendance of 1,165 is the third highest in the history of the U-M Soccer Stadium (for a women's match). Two of the three highest attendance figures have come this year: Friday night and Sept. 27 vs. Wisconsin (1,273).
Team Stats
EZURIKE, Nkem (8)
Assisted By: HARRIS, Corinne
Ball behind defense by 31 to 22
74:36
