Michigan Topples UW-Milwaukee in Season Opener

Friday, August 23

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:30 PM

Michigan

1-0-0

Milwaukee

0-1-0

UW-Milwaukee

Michigan

8/23/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Brad Rudner

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Score: #19 Michigan 3, UW-Milwaukee 0
Records: U-M (1-0-0), UWM (0-1-0)
Attendance: 835
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Aug. 25 -- vs. Oakland (U-M Soccer Stadium), 2 p.m.

• Boxscore (PDF) | Photo Gallery | Highlights

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Three second-half goals from three different players pushed the No. 19-ranked University of Michigan women's soccer team to a 3-0 victory over UW-Milwaukee on opening night Friday (Aug. 23) at U-M Soccer Stadium. Freshman Nicky Waldeck (Chicago, Ill./Western Reserve Academy [OH]), senior Nkem Ezurike (Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia/Sackville) and sophomore Christina Ordonez (Elmhurst, Ill./York) each recorded a tally, while freshman goalkeeper Taylor Bucklin (Greenwich, Conn./Brookfield) put up a shutout in her first collegiate start. Senior Shelina Zadorsky (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas) assisted on the first two goals.

The teams played a scoreless first frame. U-M led in shots, 7-1, but generated only one true scoring chance, which came early from Zadorsky. In the fourth minute, she sent a cross into the scoring area that was well over UW-Milwaukee goalkeeper Paige Lincicum. The ball glanced off the crossbar and was cleared, ending the early threat.

Michigan got on the board in the 61st minute, thanks to a well-placed header by Waldeck. A UW-Milwaukee defender was called for a handball about 20 yards out, giving the Wolverines a free kick. Zadorsky struck it with her left foot inside the penalty area and found Waldeck, who headed the ball in past Lincicum to put U-M up 1-0.

Though she eventually scored in the 73rd minute, Ordonez nearly scored eight minutes before. Zadorsky sent a free kick into the box to Ezurike, who got a head on the ball about 10 yards from goal. As it was still in the air, Ordonez got an additional header on it and put the ball on net, but Lincicum retreated just in time to make a diving save and rob Ordonez of a sure goal.

In the 71st minute, Ezurike gave the Wolverines a 2-0 lead after finishing a great run in behind the defense. Zadorsky sent a long ball over the top to a streaking Ezurike, who chipped her shot over Lincicum for the goal. A little more than two minutes later, Ezurike played a give-and-go with Ordonez on the right side, with Ordonez putting the ball just across the goal line into the side netting for the third and final goal of the match.

Bucklin did not have to make a save in the contest, earning the shutout. The Michigan defense allowed only four shots all night, none of which were on goal.

The Wolverines return to the field to conclude their first weekend of play on Sunday (Aug. 25), when they take on in-state foe Oakland at 2 p.m. at the U-M Soccer Stadium.

Game Summary

By Periods	1	2	F
UW-Milwaukee	0	0	0
Michigan	0	3	3

Scoring, Time (Assist)
2nd -- U-M, Nicky Waldeck, 60:19 (Shelina Zadorsky)
2nd -- U-M, Nkem Ezurike, 70:20 (Zadorsky)
2nd -- U-M, Christina Ordonez, 72:25 (Ezurike)

Shots: U-M 17, UWM 4
Shots on Goal: U-M 7, UWM 0
Saves: U-M 0 (Taylor Bucklin), UWM 4 (Paige Lincicum)
Corner Kicks: U-M 6, UWM 5
Cards: None

N O T E S

• Michigan is now 2-1-1 all-time vs. UW-Milwaukee.

• Michigan improves to 10-7-3 all-time in home openers.

• Taylor Bucklin, Madisson Lewis, Anna Soccorsi, Nicky Waldeck and Bailey Haydock made their collegiate debuts against UW-Milwaukee. Olivia Brannon also made her Michigan debut, earning the start after transferring from Virginia in the offseason.

• With her goal, Nkem Ezurike needs nine goals to become the program's all-time leader in goals. She is fourth on the list with 36 career goals. Kacy Beitel is atop the list with 44 goals. Additionally, Ezurike is now in sole possession of fourth on the school's all-time list for career points (82). She was previously tied with Therese Heaton (80).

• All three goals came within a 12:06 span (60:19 - 72:25).