Michigan
Minnesota
First Touch #6: Matches at Minnesota, No. 9 Wisconsin Up Next for U-M
9/19/2017 2:59:00 PM | Women's Soccer
» Michigan will compete in two road matches this week, playing at Minnesota on Thursday (Sept. 21) at 6 p.m. CDT and at No. 9 Wisconsin on Sunday (Sept. 24) at 1 p.m. CDT.
» The first RPI of the 2017 season was released this week and Michigan came in at No. 27.
» Michigan has allowed just six goals through nine games this season, which is tied for fourth in the Big Ten.
» The Minnesota match will be broadcast nationally on BTN, while the Wisconsin game will be streamed live on BTN Plus.
THIS WEEK
Thursday, Sept. 21 -- at Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.), 6 p.m. CDT
Live Stats | Live Video
Sunday, Sept. 24 -- at No. 9 Wisconsin (Madison, Wis.), 1 p.m. CDT
Live Stats | Live Video
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After starting 1-1 in Big Ten Conference play, the University of Michigan women's soccer team (4-2-3, 1-1 B1G) will hit the road for a pair of matches this week, playing at Minnesota (4-2-2, 0-1-1 B1G) on Thursday (Sept. 21) at 6 p.m. CDT and at No. 9 Wisconsin (7-1-0, 1-0-0 B1G) on Sunday (Sept. 24) at 1 p.m. CDT. The Minnesota match will be broadcast nationally on BTN and available on BTN2Go (cable subscription required), while the Wisconsin game will be streamed live on BTN Plus (subscription required).
WOLVERINE BITES
• Minnesota and Wisconsin faced off in the lone Big Ten match for both teams last weekend, with the Badgers earning a 1-0 win in overtime.
• Wisconsin will mark U-M's third ranked opponent of the season, as the Wolverines have previously faced No. 11 South Carolina (L, 2-1) and No. 17 Wake Forest (T, 0-0 2OT).
• With her assist on the game-winning goal against Indiana (Sept. 17), fifth-year senior Ani Sarkisian took sole possession of fifth place all-time at Michigan in career assists with 21. Amber Berendowsky (1996-99) holds the record with 33. Sarkisian needs one more assist to tie former teammate Corinne Harris (2012-15) in fourth place. Sarkisian's 12 assists during the 2014 season rank fifth all-time in Michigan's single-season records, while junior Reilly Martin's 10 assists in 2016 rank tied for seventh.
• The first RPI of the 2017 season was released on Monday (Sept. 18), and Michigan came in at No. 27. The Wolverines have faced seven teams in the top 45 in RPI through nine matches -- No. 1 South Carolina, No. 15 Wake Forest, No. 16 Washington, No. 22 Purdue, No. 30 Ole Miss, No. 42 Indiana and No. 43 Santa Clara. U-M has seven more top-100 opponents remaining on its schedule in No. 12 Wisconsin and No. 57 Minnesota this weekend, as well as No. 7 Rutgers, No. 25 Penn State, No. 48 Ohio State, No. 63 Nebraska, and No. 87 Michigan State. According to HERO Sports, Michigan ranks eighth in the nation in strength of schedule.
• Michigan has allowed just six goals through nine games this season, which is tied for fourth in the Big Ten. Rutgers has not allowed a goal this season, while Nebraska and Minnesota have given up four, and U-M, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Maryland have allowed six goals each.
• Senior goalkeeper Sarah Jackson ranks second the Big Ten in saves per game, as she has pulled in 28 saves in five matches played for a 5.6 saves per game average. Jackson's .903 save percentage is also second best in the conference.
• Michigan has scored the first goal in six matches this season and is 4-1-1 in those matches, while the Wolverines are 4-1 in games they led at halftime.
• Last weekend's Big Ten matchup with Indiana brought several firsts for Michigan. Reilly Martin scored her first goal of the season on an assist from junior/sophomore Katie Foug, which was the first of Foug's career. Freshman Nicki Hernandez recorded her first career goal that proved to be the game-winning goal.
• Through nine games, 10 different players have tallied points for Michigan, led by senior/junior Taylor Timko's eight points on three goals and two assists. Junior Abby Kastroll is second with two goals and two assists, while freshman Sarah Stratigakis (2g, 1a), Reilly Martin (1g, 3a), and sophomore Brooke Cilley (5a) have five points each.
• U-M head coach Greg Ryan is one of six Big Ten head coaches with at least 10 years of coaching experience in the Big Ten: Ryan (18th season, Michigan 2008-present and Wisconsin 1986-93); Tom Saxton, Michigan State (27th season); Lori Walker-Hock, Ohio State (21st season); Janet Rayfield, Illinois (16th season); Erica Walsh Dambach, Penn State (11th season); and Paula Wilkins (17th season, Wisconsin 2007-present and Penn State 2001-06).
OPPONENT PREVIEWS
Scouting Minnesota
Minnesota, which is led by sixth-year head coach Stefanie Golan, has an overall record of 4-2-2 and dropped its first match of Big Ten play to Wisconsin, 1-0. Senior Sydney Squires has 15 of the Gophers' 47 points this season on seven goals and one assist. Her seven goals are second in the Big Ten. Junior Kailee Sharp (2-1-2) and freshman Maddie Nielsen (2-1-0) have split time in goal, allowing just two goals each. Sharp's goals-against average of 0.36 is second in the conference.
Series vs. Minnesota: Minnesota leads the all-time series 14-8-4. The two teams met twice last season -- once during the regular season, when they played to a 0-0 draw, and once in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, when Minnesota won, 1-0. The last time U-M beat the Gophers was in 2014, when the Wolverines won 2-1 in overtime on a goal from Timko.
Scouting Wisconsin
Under the direction of 11th-year head coach Paula Wilkins, Wisconsin is 7-1-0 this season with its only loss coming against No. 2 Stanford, 5-0. Sophomore Dani Rhodes scored the game-winning goal in Wisconsin's Big Ten opener against Minnesota in the 97th minute (1-0). Rhodes leads the Badgers with five goals and one assist this season. Redshirt senior Caitlyn Clem has played all but 36 minutes in goal for UW, allowing six goals in eight matches and recording a .778 save percentage.
Series vs. Wisconsin: Wisconsin holds a slight edge in the all-time series over Michigan, 13-11-7. The two teams tied twice last season, meeting during the regular season and the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals. They played to a 1-1 draw during the regular season, and after playing to a 1-1 draw once again in the conference tournament, U-M advanced to the semifinals on penalty kicks, 4-2.
UP NEXT
Friday, Sept. 29 -- Iowa (U-M Soccer Stadium), 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 1 -- Nebraska (U-M Soccer Stadium), 2 p.m.
