Early Goals Help Michigan Blank Washington in Opener

Friday, August 18

Ann Arbor, Mich.

8:00 PM

Michigan

1-0-0

Washington

0-1-0

Washington

Michigan

Sarah Stratigakis

8/18/2017 11:14:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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By: Whitney Vojtkofsky

» Michigan scored two goals in the first 16 minutes of play, and U-M's 2-0 lead stood until the final buzzer.
» Freshman Sarah Stratigakis earned her first career start and scored U-M's first goal of the season just 7:15 into the season opener. Taylor Timko added the second goal in the 16th minute.
» U-M goalkeepers Megan Hinz and Sarah Jackson split time in goal, recording two and seven saves, respectively, to earn the shutout.
» The Wolverines are back in action Sunday (Aug. 20), hosting Idaho State at 2 p.m. to wrap up their opening weekend.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Score: Michigan 2, Washington 0
Records: U-M (1-0-0), UW (0-1-0)
Attendance: 587
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Aug. 20 -- Idaho State (U-M Soccer Stadium), 2 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Despite being outshot 22-7, the University of Michigan women's soccer team posted a 2-0 shutout victory over the Washington Huskies in its 2017 season opener on Friday (Aug. 18) at U-M Soccer Stadium.

The first half saw the Huskies outshoot the Wolverines, 9-4, but it was Michigan that capitalized on its chances in the early going.

U-M wasted no time tallying its first goal of the 2017 season. Junior Abby Kastroll took the ball to the touch line and played a low cross back to the middle of the box, where junior Reilly Martin ran on and played the ball across the face of the goal to freshman Sarah Stratigakis, who punched it home from short range at the back post. The goal came just seven minutes and 16 seconds into Stratigakis' first game as a Wolverine.

Eight minutes later, the Maize and Blue increased its lead to 2-0. Sophomore Brooke Cilley took a shot from long range that was initially saved by Washington goalkeeper Sarah Shimer, but she could not corral the ball and senior/junior Taylor Timko was there to clean up the rebound. Timko, who missed the 2016 season due to injury, combined to score five goals in Michigan's two exhibitions games last week, although those goals do not officially count.

In the 38th minute, Washington earned a free kick from 25 yards out and Shaye Villanueva put it directly on target, forcing Hinz to tip it over the bar. That save was one of Hinz's two stops in the first half.

Senior goalkeeper Sarah Jackson came on to defend the goal for Michigan in the second half. Michigan's defense was busy in the final 45 minutes, facing 13 Husky shots, including seven that Jackson was forced to save. Credit to U-M's defense, the majority of UW's shots came from long range, giving Jackson more time to make the clean saves.

The Wolverines were unsuccessful on their three shot attempts in the second half, but their defense held steady to preserve the clean sheet. Hinz, who started 19 games in 2015, earned the start and the win tonight.

Newcomers Stratigakis, Lauren Long and Alia Martin earned their first career starts in maize and blue, while fellow freshmen Emma Cooper and Samantha DeVecchi also made career debuts in tonight's match.

Michigan will continue its opening weekend at home when it hosts Idaho State on Sunday (Aug. 20) for a 2 p.m. matchup. The first 500 fans at Sunday's game will receive a free Michigan tambourine, and members of the team will be signing autographs following the game. Individual and group tickets are available for all remaining home games. To purchase tickets or learn more about women's soccer tickets, visit the women's soccer ticket page.