Seniors Baffle Buckeyes with Shutout Victory

Saturday, November 2

Ann Arbor, Mich.

6:00 PM

Michigan

15-2-1, 9-1-1

Ohio State

10-6-3, 4-5-2

Ohio State

Michigan

11/2/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Brad Rudner

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Score: #8 Michigan 2, Ohio State 0
Records: U-M (15-2-1, 9-1-1 Big Ten), OSU (10-6-3, 4-5-2 Big Ten)
Attendance: 1,512
Next U-M Event: Wednesday, Nov. 6 -- vs. Iowa - Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals (Champaign, Ill.), 1:30 p.m. CST

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 8-ranked University of Michigan women's soccer team sent its seven-member senior class out with a victory on Senior Night (Saturday, Nov. 2), as seniors Shelby Chambers-Garcia (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) and Nkem Ezurike (Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia/Sackville) scored second-half goals in a 2-0 shutout of rival Ohio State at U-M Soccer Stadium. Freshman goalkeeper Taylor Bucklin (Greenwich, Conn./Brookfield) made seven saves in net for her ninth shutout of the season.

The win is Michigan's eighth in a row, a new program record for longest win streak. It is also the Wolverines' first win over Ohio State since 2008, giving this senior class its first triumph over their arch rivals.

Ohio State led in shots, 9-7, including four on goal, in the first half, but all were from distance and easily saved by Bucklin. The best chance for Michigan came in the 42nd minute, when Christina Ordonez (Elmhurst, Ill./York) sent in a cross from the far side that Ohio State goalkeeper Jillian McVicker punched out. As Ezurike was going for the loose ball, McVicker chased her, leaving the net open. Ezurike slotted the ball to senior Meghan Toohey (Philadelphia, Pa./Phil-Mont Christian), who fired a quick shot that was blocked.

The Wolverines then broke through in the 60th minute. Ezurike slipped a ball through the defense to freshman Madisson Lewis (Canton, Mich./Plymouth), who raced down the field toward the net. She put too much on the last touch before reaching the net but kept the ball in on the end line. Instead of shooting on a bad angle, she slotted a pass to Chambers-Garcia at the center of the six-yard box, where she rifled a shot past McVicker for a 1-0 lead.

In the 70th minute, the Buckeyes' Megan Fuller sent a service into the box off a corner kick, finding Marisa Wolf on the back post, but her header was pushed right to Bucklin, who made the save.

Less than two minutes after that, Michigan scored on a counterattack to open up a two-goal lead. With the ball in her half, senior Shelina Zadorsky (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas) booted a ball halfway down the field to Ezurike, who finished a run to get in behind the defense. With a defender draped all over her for 20-plus yards, Ezurike ran with the ball all the way to the net, finishing the scoring chance with a right-footed strike.

U-M begins the postseason next Wednesday (Nov. 6) at the Big Ten Tournament in Champaign, Ill. As the No. 2 seed, Michigan will play Iowa at 1:30 p.m. CST. The Wolverines defeated the Hawkeyes in the previous meeting this season, 2-1, on Sept. 22.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	F
Ohio State	0	0	0
Michigan	0	2	2

Scoring, Time (Assist)
2nd -- U-M, Shelby Chambers-Garcia, 59:29 (Madisson Lewis, Nkem Ezurike)
2nd -- U-M, Ezurike, 71:09 (Shelina Zadorsky)

Shots: U-M 10, OSU 19
Shots on Goal: U-M 4, OSU 7
Saves: U-M 7 (Taylor Bucklin), OSU 2 (Jillian McVicker)
Corner Kicks: U-M 4, OSU 5
Cards: None

NOTES

• Michigan improves to 13-11-2 all-time against Ohio State. The win snapped a five-match losing streak to the Buckeyes.

• It is the 50th win for this senior class. In addition, with Shelby Chambers-Garcia's second-half goal, every member of the senior class has scored at least one goal this season.

• The win is Michigan's ninth in Big Ten play this season, a new program record for most conference wins in a single season. It is also the team's 15th win this season, fourth most in a single season in program history. The Wolverines won 16 matches last season. The record is 18, set in 1997.

• Michigan has now won eight consecutive matches, a new program record for longest win streak. The previous record was seven, set Sept. 7-28, 1997. During the streak, Michigan has outscored opponents by a 16-3 margin, which includes five shutouts.

• U-M improves to 13-0-0 when it scores first. It has scored multiple goals in 13 of its 15 wins this season.

• With a goal and an assist, Nkem Ezurike is now six points away from becoming the school's career leader in points. She currently sits at 111 points after Saturday's match. The current record holder is Abby Crumpton with 116 (1999-02).

• Shelby Chambers-Garcia became the 13th different player to score at least one goal this season.

• Michigan's shutout streak currently stands at 336:59, not having allowed a goal since the 23:01 mark against Purdue (Oct. 20).

• On the season, Taylor Bucklin has nine shutouts, which rank fourth for most in a single season in program history. Former goalkeepers Suzie Grech (2001) and Haley Kopmeyer (2012) each recorded 11.

• Shelina Zadorsky recorded her eighth assist on the season, tying her with Melissa Dobbyn (2005) and Abby Crumpton (1999) for the sixth-most assists in a season all-time.

• The Wolverines will make their second consecutive appearance in the Big Ten Tournament for the first time since the 2005-06 seasons.

• Kayla Mannino started the match at forward. She was recruited as a forward but has played on defense since her sophomore season.