Timko, Sarkisian Score Early to Lead U-M Past Nebraska in B1G Lidlifter

Friday, September 18

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:00 PM

Michigan

6-3-0, 1-0-0B1G

Nebraska

4-3-0, 0-1-0B1G

Nebraska

Michigan

Timko, Sarkisian Score Early to Lead U-M Past Nebraska in B1G Lidlifter

9/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

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By: Whitney Dixon

» Michigan scored goals at 6:27 and 7:03, and the 2-0 lead held for nearly 83 minutes until the final buzzer.
» Michigan outshot Nebraska, 24-8, and held a 12-2 advantage in corner kicks.
» U-M has now won each of its last five Big Ten openers and is now 5-0 against Nebraska since the Cornhuskers joined the Big Ten in 2011.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Score: Michigan 2, Nebraska 0
Records: U-M (6-3, 1-0 Big Ten), NEB (4-3, 0-1 Big Ten)
Attendance: 824
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Sept. 20 -- vs. Iowa (U-M Soccer Stadium), Noon

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team used a pair of goals in the first eight minutes to win its fifth straight Big Ten Conference opener, defeating Nebraska, 2-0, on Friday (Sept. 18) at U-M Soccer Stadium. The Wolverines converted on their second and third shots of the night to take a quick 2-0 lead and held on to that lead for nearly 83 minutes, outshooting the Cornhuskers by a total of 24-8 on the night.

Michigan's win came after a 2-0 loss at No. 13 Notre Dame (Sept. 13) to wrap up non-conference play. The Wolverines have not lost consecutive matches this season, and that held true tonight.

"My message to the team before the game was that they have to decide what they want to do this season because they've been playing well and not winning the big games. I told them they've got everything they need and now they have to bring all they've got, and I thought they did that tonight."

Michigan came out of the gates with its eye on the goal, scoring a pair of goals in the first eight minutes, separated by just 36 seconds, to take an early 2-0 lead.

The first goal came at 6:27 when senior Christina Murillo played a ball up the field to senior Corinne Harris, who knocked a ball into the left side of the penalty box for Timko to run onto. Timko took a touch and beat Nebraska keeper Erika Johnson far post for her seventh goal of the season.

Seconds later, Murillo contributed to another Wolverine goal as she played a long ball on a free kick from the top of the opposite penalty box to the top of Nebraska's 18. The ball took one big hop and a Nebraska defender got a head on it, but it fell right to the feet of junior/sophomore Ani Sarkisian, who one timed the ball off the bounce into the left side net to put U-M up 2-0 at 7:03.

"Honestly, I was just listening to what Greg (Ryan) was saying," said Murillo about U-M's second goal. "Corinne was able to block her play away and Ani was super composed. I have to give the credit to my teammates, I was just the one who kicked it and they finished it."

Michigan outshot Nebraska 16-2 in the first half and produced several other dangerous chances, but maintained its 2-0 advantage heading into the locker room at the half.

"Nebraska is fantastic team and at halftime all we talked about what keeping the pressure on them," said head coach Greg Ryan. "We didn't want to sit on two goals -- we wanted to keep pressuring and keep attacking and make them defend us and I thought we did a very good job of that."

The Wolverines dominated play again in the final 45 minutes, but shots were more evenly matched, as U-M held a slight 8-6 advantage. However, Michigan's defense limited Nebraska's quality chances all night, allowing just one shot on goal in each half. Corner kicks were 6-1 in Michigan's favor in both halves, giving U-M even more opportunities in the penalty box.

"I think what we've been doing well is always being composed on the ball and maintaining our game," said Murillo. "But what we need to work on is finishing our chances because our stats in terms of shots are far greater than most teams, we're just not finishing as many opportunities as we'd like."

Sophomore/freshman goalkeeper Sarah Jackson earned her first career start and played all 90 minutes in goal for the Maize and Blue. The Southborough, Massachusetts native, made two saves and a handful of other keys plays on the ball to keep Nebraska scoreless and earn her first career shutout.

"This is a huge game for us to get off on the right foot in the Big Ten and it will also help our RPI because Nebraska has some quality wins over some good teams," added Ryan. "We just have to take this win and take the next step in the right direction."

The Wolverines will wrap up its Big Ten-opening weekend hosting Iowa on Sunday, Sept. 20, at noon at U-M Soccer Stadium. The match is a doubleheader with the U-M men's soccer team, as the men take on Northwestern at 3 p.m. Fans who attend the women's match will be able to stay for the men's game free of charge. The doubleheader is a maize out and all fans are encouraged to wear maize to the games.