Wolverines Topple Unbeaten Iowa in Big Ten Opener

Sunday, September 22

Iowa City, Iowa

Noon CT

Michigan

7-1-1

Iowa

8-1-0

Michigan

IOWA

9/22/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Brad Rudner

Site: Iowa City, Iowa (Iowa Soccer Complex)
Score: #15 Michigan 2, Iowa 1
Records: U-M (7-1, 1-0 Big Ten), Iowa (8-1, 0-1 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Sept. 27 -- vs. Wisconsin (U-M Soccer Stadium), 7 p.m. (Big Ten Digital Network)

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The No. 15-ranked University of Michigan women's soccer team got goals from seniors Nkem Ezurike (Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia/Sackville) and Kayla Mannino (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Avondale) to knock off Iowa, 2-1, on Sunday (Sept. 22) at the Iowa Soccer Complex.

Kayla Mannino

Play was even between both sides through the first 20 minutes until the Wolverines broke the scoreless tie in the 22nd minute. On a goal kick, freshman goalkeeper Taylor Bucklin (Greenwich, Conn./Brookfield) launched the ball down field. Mannino and an Iowa player went up for the ball, which eventually bounced to the feet of Ezurike. She corralled the ball at her feet, turned to square up towards net and fired a shot from a little more than 20 yards out into the upper-right corner. It was one of two shots by the Wolverines in the opening 45 minutes.

Each team had one good scoring chance in the opening 11 minutes of the second half. In the 48th minute, Iowa forward Cloe Lacasse cut inside of the Michigan defense and put a shot on net that bounced off the crossbar. In the 56th minute, Michigan senior Shelby Chambers-Garcia (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) got the ball at the top of the 18-yard box, but her shot glanced off the post. The rebound popped out to Ezurike, who appeared to be taken down in the box, but there was no call by the referee, giving Iowa a goal kick and ending the scoring threat.

The Hawkeyes tied up the score in the 69th minute on a goal from Bri Toelle, who crossed the ball in from the left baseline that Bucklin got a piece of, but it went through the goalkeeper's hands and into the side net.

The Wolverines quickly answered off the restart in the 70th minute. After an Iowa foul, senior Shelina Zadorsky (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas) sent a free kick into the box that was flicked on by Ezurike. Mannino beat an Iowa defender to the ball and volleyed a shot on goal from near the far baseline that went into the side netting to put Michigan back in front for good, 2-1, with 20 minutes to play. The Wolverines withstood a couple Iowa corners and set plays down the stretch to secure the victory.

Bucklin made two saves in the victory. Iowa held the edge in shots, 12-7.

The Wolverines return home for a quick two-match homestand, beginning Friday (Sept. 27) vs. nationally ranked Wisconsin. The match will begin at 7 p.m. and will be streamed online via the Big Ten Digital Network.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	F
Michigan	1	1	2
Iowa	0	1	1

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Nkem Ezurike, 21:35 (Kayla Mannino, Taylor Bucklin)
2nd -- Iowa, Bri Toelle, 68:20 (Ashley Catrell, Cloe Lacasse)
2nd -- U-M, Mannino, 69:19 (Shelina Zadorsky, Ezurike)

Shots: U-M 7, Iowa 12
Shots on Goal: U-M 4, Iowa 4
Saves: U-M 3 (Taylor Bucklin 2, Team 1), Iowa 2 (Hannah Clark)
Corner Kicks: U-M 2, Iowa 4
Cards: Iowa, Alex Melin, 21:50 (yellow)

NOTES

• Michigan is 14-2-2 all-time against Iowa.

• The Wolverines improve to 9-8-3 all-time in Big Ten Conference openers and 5-7-1 in Big Ten openers that have come on the road.

• Kayla Mannino became the 10th different player to score a goal this season.

• Taylor Bucklin became the 15th different player to record at least one point this season.

• With her first-half goal, Nkem Ezurike now has 41 career goals, putting her into third on the school's all-time list. She surpassed Amber Berendowsky (1996-99) for the spot on the list. Ezurike has 97 career points.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Greg Ryan
On responding to Iowa's goal with the game-winning goal ... "It was one of the weirdest coaching situations I've ever been in. To give up a goal then go into a two-minute timeout knowing that we need to score another goal, we had to change the system. Win or lose, we were going to change, but it's a risky play against Iowa. Once we went up, we changed again and got more defensive, dropping several players to really try and limit Iowa's opportunities. I thought our defense did a great job of not giving away chances over the last 20 minutes once we had the lead. I was pleased with how the team organized themselves and defended over the last 15 to 20 minutes. They were sending everyone, and our backline and midfield did a fantastic job."

On the performance of the seniors ... "Going back to the Pepperdine match, our seniors have really stepped up in terms of performance. I'm giving them a lot of minutes, and they performed so well. They are the ones making the difference on this team and showed tremendous heart today."

On the result ... "We always say that when we step out onto the field, we're going for three points. We're pleased with the result, but we have to take it one match at a time. Give a lot of credit to Iowa, too. They are a very talented, very organized team and I think they'll do well in the Big Ten."

U-M Senior Kayla Mannino
On preparation during the week to prepare for Iowa ... "We knew we needed to come out strong after last week. Our focus this last week was on our preparation and performance, and I definitely think we executed that well throughout the whole match. After they tied it, to be able to come back and hold on to the lead was big for our growth."

On what was said in the huddle after Iowa tied the match ... "Everything that was said was positive. I think everyone knew we were going to come back and win. With that mentality, we were able to get the next goal and hang on to it. When we are up, we're focusing on defense. We make it a point to never stop playing our game regardless of what the score is."

U-M Senior Nkem Ezurike
On rebounding after last week's loss ... "It was really important to get our confidence back. Iowa is a very tough team to play against, so to play well against them is a positive. To start the conference slate with a win and get three points on the road is huge for us."

On how the team responded after Iowa scored ... "I felt like we just need to get focused again. They had a few attacks coming, so it was important for us to get our shape, get in-sync and go forward. We told each other we had to get forward and get chances on goal in order to put pressure on them."