Michigan
4-2-1
Oakland
3-4
Offensive Explosion Lifts Michigan to Road Win at Oakland
9/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
» After being tied 1-1 in the 19th minute, U-M outscored the Grizzlies 3-0.
» U-M outshot the Grizzlies, 21-7, including 11-3 in the second half.
» The last time U-M scored more than three goals in a match was vs. Loyola (Ill.) on Aug. 30, 2013.
Site: Rochester, Mich. (Oakland Soccer Stadium)
Score: Michigan 4, Oakland 1
Records: U-M (4-2-1), Oakland (3-4)
Attendance: 803
Next U-M Match: Sunday, Sept. 27 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), 2 p.m.
ROCHESTER, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team defeated the Oakland Grizzlies, 4-1, Wednesday (Sept. 24) at Oakland's Soccer Stadium behind goals from freshman Ivo Cerda, junior/sophomore Michael Kapitula, freshman Francis Atuahene and senior William Mellors-Blair.
Michigan (4-2-1) got on the board first in the 15th minute, as fifth-year senior TJ VanSlooten drew a foul just outside the 18 on the left side of the box endline. The ensuing short corner was whipped in by the left foot of junior Rylee Woods, who found the head of Cerda at the top of the six. Cerda headed the attempt home for the second header goal of his career.
The lead was short-lived, however, as Oakland's Gerald Ben darted inside the area and was taken down for the penalty-kick attempt. He went on to beat U-M goalkeeper Evan Louro right down the middle of goal to knot the match at 1-1 in the early going.
U-M regained the lead just before the half in the 41st minute, as sophomore defender Billy Stevens played a long ball from the right flank across midfield to Atuahene inside the area on the left side of the box. He then took a touch and played a low cross that found Kapitula, who finished to give U-M the 2-1 advantage heading into the half. Michigan held a 10-4 advantage on shots after 45 minutes.
After a slow start to the second half for both sides, U-M padded its lead in the 64th minute, as Atuahene darted down the left flank with possession. After the ball was poked away momentarily, he collected himself and took an ambitious shot from a near-impossible angle no more than a yard away from the touchline.The shot came off the outstep of his right foot and was neatly tucked to the back right post to give U-M the 3-1 lead on his fifth goal of the season.
The Wolverines put the finishing touches on their best offensive output of the season in the 85th minute, as Atuahene fed William Mellors-Blair with a cross-field service at the top of the box. Mellors-Blair took a touch with his right foot and then took a strike that found the lower right corner for his second goal of the season.
Michigan will return to conference play on Sunday (Sept. 27), as the squad travels to No. 21 Penn State for a 2 p.m. matchup in State College, Pennsylvania.
Postgame Notes
• Lars Eckenrode and Andre Morris wore the captain's armband for the first time in their U-M careers.
• The assist for Billy Stevens was the second of the season.
• Jack Brown made his season debut, playing six minutes.
• Michael Kapitula's goal in the 42nd minute gives him goals in back-to-back matches.
Team Stats
Cerda, Ivo
Assisted By: Woods, Rylee
Headder from cross into left upper 90
15:59
Ben, Gerald
OU Ben, Gerald PENALTY KICK GOAL.
18:44
Kapitula, Michael
Assisted By: Atuahene, Francis , Stevens, Billy
Shot from cross, lower left side, 10 yar
41:47
Atuahene, Francis
Shot low through left side from 5 yards
63:12
Mellors-Blair, Will
Assisted By: Atuahene, Francis
lower right finish
84:29
