First Touch #8: U-M Set for Road Tests vs. Ranked Foes PSU, OSU

» Michigan is coming off a two-point weekend, with double-overtime draws with Iowa, 2-2, and Nebraska, 1-1.
» Michigan will face a pair of ranked opponents this weekend, playing at No. 14 Penn State on Friday (Oct. 6) at 7 p.m. and at No. 17 Ohio State on Sunday (Oct. 8) at Noon.
» Junior Reilly Martin has had at least one point in each of the last five matches and leads Michigan with 13 points on four goals and five assists.

THIS WEEK
Friday, Oct. 6 -- at No. 14 Penn State (State College, Pa.), 7 p.m., BTN Plus
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Sunday, Oct. 8 -- at No. 17 Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), noon, BTN
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Following a pair of draws last week, the University of Michigan women's soccer team (5-2-6, 2-1-3 B1G) will hit the road looking to get back in the win column, playing at No. 14 Penn State (7-3-1, 3-1-1 B1G) on Friday (Oct. 6) at 7 p.m. and at No. 17 Ohio State (9-2-1, 4-1-0 B1G) on Sunday (Oct. 8) at noon. The Penn State match will streamed live on BTN Plus (subscription required), while the Ohio State game will be broadcast nationally on BTN and available online on BTN2Go (cable subscription required).

WOLVERINE BITES

• Michigan is unbeaten in its last five matches (2-0-3). The Wolverines have gone to overtime in seven of their last 11 matches, including each of the last four, with a 1-0-6 record in extra minutes. U-M has already tied a program record for most overtime matches in the regular season with seven (2003, 2006).

• Michigan earned two points in a pair of overtime matches at home last weekend. The Wolverines played to a 2-2 draw against Iowa as junior Reilly Martin scored two goals, which upped her total to four on the year. U-M then tied Nebraska on a game-tying goal from senior/junior Taylor Timko in the 50th minute.

• Michigan is seventh in the Big Ten standings with nine points. Purdue (13 points) and Ohio State (12) are ranked Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, while Rutgers, Minnesota, Penn State and Northwestern are in a tie for third place with 10 points each.

• U-M came in at No. 22 in this week's NCAA Women's Soccer RPI. Through 13 games, the Wolverines have faced eight teams in the top 50 in RPI -- No. 1 South Carolina, No. 17 Wake Forest, No. 25 Ole Miss, No. 26 Wisconsin, No. 27 Washington, No. 28 Purdue, No. 33 Santa Clara and No. 48 Minnesota (current rankings, not at the time of the match). This week's opponents reside in the top 25, with Penn State at No. 20 and Ohio State ranked at No. 21. According to HERO Sports, Michigan ranks eighth in the nation in strength of schedule.

• Through 13 games, 10 different players have tallied points for Michigan, led by junior Reilly Martin's 13 points (four goals, five assists). She has had at least one point in each of the last five games, tallying 10 of her points in those outings. Freshman Sarah Stratigakis has 11 points (3G, 5A) and has had at least one point in each of the last four games. Senior/junior Taylor Timko (4G, 2A) snapped a nine-game streak without a point, when she scored U-M's goal against Nebraska.

• Michigan has allowed 12 goals through 13 games this season for an average of 0.92 goals per game. The Wolverines have recorded four shutouts and held six opponents to just one goal.

• Senior goalkeeper Sarah Jackson leads the Big Ten in saves per game, averaging 6.3 per outing, and is second in the conference in save percentage at .862. In 735 minutes of action, Jackson has allowed eight goals, made 50 saves and contributed to two shutouts en route to a 1-1-4 record this season.

• Michigan has scored the first goal in nine of 13 matches this season and is 5-1-3 in those contests, while the Wolverines are 5-1-2 in games in which they are leading at halftime.

• Michigan has just one regular-season home game remaining, as the Wolverines will host Illinois for the program's senior day on Saturday, Oct. 21, at 7:30 p.m.

OPPONENT PREVIEWS

Scouting Penn State
Led by 11th-year head coach Erica Dambach, Penn State is 7-3-1 with a 3-1-1 mark in Big Ten play, including a recent 1-0 loss to Ohio State. The Nittany Lions have allowed just two goals in their last five matches, recording three shutouts during that stretch. Emily Ogle is pacing Penn State with 10 points on four goals (on just five shots on goal) and two assists, while Charlotte Williams (2G, 5A) has nine points. Goalkeeper Rose Chandler has played the majority of time in goal and has amassed a record of 7-3-0. Chandler has made 24 saves and recorded a goals-against average of 0.91. Penn State is undefeated (5-0) at home this season, including wins over No. 6 North Carolina and No. 8 BYU in non-conference play.

Series vs. Penn State: Penn State holds the advantage over Michigan in the all-time series, 20-4-7. The Wolverines have defeated the Nittany Lions just once in State College, Pennsylvania, a 1-0 win in 2013.

Scouting Ohio State
Under the leadership of 21st-year head coach Laurie Walker-Hock, Ohio State is 9-2-1 overall and 4-1 in Big Ten play. Ohio State has shut out its opponent in each of the last three matches and has blanked seven opponents so far this season. The Buckeyes rank second in the Big Ten in total points (77), second in assists (27) and third in goals (25). Sammy Edwards leads Ohio State with 17 points, on six goals and five assists. Goalkeeper Devon Kerr has played in every game for the Buckeyes this season, making 37 saves and recording six shutouts, which are tied for second in the Big Ten.

Series vs. Ohio State: Michigan holds the slight edge in the all-time series against the Buckeyes, 13-11-4. The Wolverines are 1-1-1 in the last three meetings, with all three being played in Ann Arbor. U-M is in search of its first win in Columbus since 2006.

UP NEXT
Saturday, Oct. 14 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 21 -- Illinois (U-M Soccer Stadium), 7:30 p.m.