Michigan
5-3-3, 2-1-2
Rutgers
6-4-1, 2-3
| Team | 1 | 2 | OT 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RU | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wolverines Fall to Rutgers in B1G Overtime Affair
10/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
» Rutgers' Jason Wright had the lone score of the matchup in the 93rd minute.
» The Wolverines owned a 14-13 shot advantage in the match, as well an 11-4 advantage on corner kicks.
» U-M suffers its first overtime defeat this season (1-1-3).
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Score: Rutgers 1, Michigan 0 (OT)
Records: U-M (5-3-3, 2-1-2 B1G), RU (6-4-1, 2-3-0 B1G)
Attendance: 829
Next U-M Match: Tuesday, Oct. 13 -- vs. Duquesne (U-M Soccer Stadium), 7:30 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team, which dominated possession the vast majority of the day, fell to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 1-0, on Saturday (Oct. 10) in overtime at U-M Soccer Stadium. Rutgers' Jason Wright had the lone marker in the match at the 92:37 mark, as U-M suffered its first Big Ten defeat this season.
Despite seeing relatively little of the ball, the Scarlet Knights had the first chance of the match in the ninth minute. A loose ball fell right to the feet of forward JP Correa, who found himself wide open in front of the Wolverines' goal. Correa's shot went well wide of the net, however, and Michigan escaped an early breakdown.
As the half progressed, the Wolverines began to control the ball more and more. In the 18th minute, senior William Mellors-Blair broke free in the Rutgers box and was dragged down from behind by a slide tackle. He appealed for a penalty, but the official waved him off.
Michigan had another appeal for a penalty in the 44th minute when freshman Francis Atuahene used a quick skill to get inside the box, only to be knocked off balance by a slide tackle. The Wolverines' calls for a penalty when unheard again, and the teams went into halftime locked at 0-0 with few chances between them.
The second half began in similar fashion as the first with Michigan dominating possession. Its best chance of the match came in the 52nd minute when Mellors-Blair drove a low cross from the right wing toward the feet of Atuahene, who was standing alone six yards from the Scarlet Knights' goal. Just before Atuahene could tap the ball home, a Rutgers defender managed to get a toe on the ball and deflect it out of play.
Five minutes later, freshman Ivo Cerda nearly put the Wolverines ahead with an acrobatic bicycle kick. He managed to get solid contact on the ball and beat the keeper, but the ball bounced just wide of the post.
The Scarlet Knights had a chance of their own off the counter a minute later, driving down the left wing and into the box. Sophomore Evan Louro came up with a huge save on the ensuing shot to keep the game level.
Michigan kept up the pressure, winning six of its 11 corners in the second half but could not find the net. Junior Rylee Woods fired a free kick just over the bar in the 65th minute, and senior Colin McAtee missed with a close-range header four minutes later.
Neither team mustered a definite scoring chance in the final 20 minutes of regulation, and the teams headed to overtime still tied, 0-0.
The Wolverines had the first chance in overtime after junior/sophomore Tyler Anderson earned Michigan its 11 corner, but the Rutgers backline kept its composure to clear the line.
The Scarlet Knights finally found the game's first and only goal in the 93rd minute. Miles Hackett broke forward on the counter attack and found Wright all alone on the left side of the box. Wright collected the ball in stride and calmly finished with his right foot to seal the win for Rutgers.
U-M returns to action Tuesday (Oct. 13) at 7:30 p.m., hosting the Duquesne Dukes from U-M Soccer Stadium.
Postgame Notes
• Saturday marks the Wolverines' third straight overtime match. U-M's extra-time record now stands a 1-1-3 on the year.
• U-M has outshot teams on eight occasions this season and has won the corner kick margin in nine matches.
• Michigan has never played Tuesday's opponent, Duquesne.
Team Stats
Wright, Jason
Assisted By: Hackett, Miles
cross inside six, lower left finish
92:37
