U-M Unable to Hold Two-Goal Lead in Loss at Wisconsin

Thursday, October 15

Madison, Wis.

7:00 PM CT

Michigan

10-5-1, 5-2-1

Wisconsin

9-4-3, 6-1-1

Michigan

Wisconsin

Ani Sarkisian

U-M Unable to Hold Two-Goal Lead in Loss at Wisconsin

10/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Whitney Dixon

» U-M held a 2-0 lead in the 61st minute, before Wisconsin scored three straight goals to earn the comeback win.
» Ani Sarkisian scored Michigan's first goal and now has four goals in the last two matches.
» Sarkisian's goal in the first half marks the first time Wisconsin had allowed a goal since Sept. 17.

Site: Madison, Wis. (McClimon Track/Soccer Complex)
Score: Wisconsin 3, Michigan 2
Records: U-M (10-5-1, 5-2-1 Big Ten), WIS (9-4-3, 6-1-1 Big Ten)
Attendance: 590
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Oct. 18 -- at Minnesota (Minneapolis), 1 p.m. CDT

MADISON, Wis. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team held 2-0 second-half lead but gave up three straight goals to drop a 3-2 match at Wisconsin on Thursday (Oct. 15) at McClimon Track/Soccer Complex. U-M and Wisconsin were tied for second place in the Big Ten heading into tonight's match, and with the win, the Badgers jump to a tie for first place in the Big Ten with Penn State, while the Wolverines slip to fourth place.

The Maize and Blue held a 15-9 advantage in shots and a 6-3 edge in corner kicks, but Wisconsin capitalized on three of its five shots on goal.

"I thought it was a fantastic effort by both teams the whole night," said head coach Greg Ryan. "I think it was one of the best played soccer games I've seen all year from two teams. I thought we created great chances that we didn't put away, and that was the difference in the game was that they had a few chances, and they took their chances very well."

With the Wolverines leading 1-0 at the start of the second half, junior Jessica Heifetz increased U-M's lead to two goals in the 61st minute. A corner kick by senior Christina Murillo was batted down by Wisconsin goalkeeper Caitlyn Clem, and Heifetz was there to knock it in off her left thigh. Murillo was credited with the assist on the goal.

That lead held for just five minutes as Wisconsin's McKenna Meuer scored off a Badger corner-kick situation, striking in a loose ball from the top of the six-yard box to make it 2-1 at 65:45.

In the 80th minute (79:08), Badger senior Kinley McNicoll tied the game, 2-2, as she settled a cross from the right corner and beat U-M keeper Megan Hinz to the far post. Less than two minutes later, Victoria Pickett dribbled down the middle of the field and slotted the ball into the right side of the box, where Nikki Greenhalgh fired a shot inside the near post. Hinz got a glove on the ball but could not keep it out of the goal. Wisconsin's go-ahead goal came at 81:05.

The Wolverines nearly netted the equalizer in the 86th minute when Nicky Waldeck's rebound shot off a corner kick was saved by Clem, and Taylor Timko's follow up inside the six-yard box was denied by the cross bar.

In the first half, Michigan was playing into the wind, making it difficult to get forward, but the Wolverines overcame the wind and scored the lone goal in the opening half in the 20th minute. Junior/sophomore Ani Sarkisian received the ball just before midfield and dribbled through five Badger defenders before pulling the trigger just inside the penalty box. The shot busted through the hands of Clem and trickled into the goal to give Michigan the 1-0 lead at 19:52. Sarkisian's goal marked the first time the Badgers had allowed a goal since Sept. 17.

"The wind was strong against us in the first half, and that's why you saw them running at us more, and the wind died in the second half, so it wasn't really an advantage to us," Ryan added. "But I told the team after the game that if they play this well in every game, you're going to win almost all your games. I really felt our effort, our energy and our organization was outstanding tonight, but the chances we didn't put away are the ones that will haunt you. We'll take this same level of intensity and quality of plan into Minnesota, and if we do that we'll continue to get good results."

The Wolverines will remain on the road to face No. 11 Minnesota on Sunday (Oct. 18) at 1 p.m. CDT. The Golden Gophers fell, 1-0, to Michigan State tonight (Oct. 15), dropping from first to third place in the conference standings. The Michigan-Wisconsin match will be streamed live via BTN Plus.