Wolverines Handed First Loss by No. 11 South Carolina

Sunday, September 3

South Bend, Ind.

2:30 PM

Michigan

3-1-2

South Carolina

5-1

South Carolina

Michigan

Jada Dayne

Wolverines Handed First Loss by No. 11 South Carolina

9/3/2017 5:55:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Whitney Vojtkofsky

» Michigan took an early 1-0 lead on a header from Jada Dayne in the eighth minute, but South Carolina scored goals in the 54th and 60th minutes to earn a 2-1 win and give U-M its first loss of the season.
» Michigan was outshot, 20-8, but allowed just eight shots on goal, six of which were saved by freshman goalkeeper Hillary Beall, giving her a new career high.
» Michigan will return home to host Wake Forest on Sunday (Sept. 10) at 2 p.m. in its second annual Military Appreciation Game.

Site: South Bend, Ind. (Alumni Stadium)
Event: Notre Dame Invitational
Score: #11 South Carolina 2, #23 Michigan 1
Records: U-M (3-1-2), USC (5-1-0)
Attendance: 1,302
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Sept. 10 -- vs. Wake Forest (U-M Soccer Stadium), 2 p.m.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The 23rd-ranked University of Michigan women's soccer team suffered its first loss of the season, as the No. 11 South Carolina Gamecocks edged the Wolverines, 2-1, Sunday (Sept. 3) in their final match of the Notre Dame Invitational at UND's Alumni Stadium.

Following a 1-1 tie against Santa Clara on Friday (Sept. 1), Michigan wrapped up competition at the four-team invitational with a 0-1-1 mark against teams that both reached the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals a year ago.

"I'm really proud of the kids -- they did really well playing against two teams that finished in the Elite Eight last year," said head coach Greg Ryan. "We got the tie against Santa Clara, where we played great and had lots of chances to win it, and today we had another fabulous effort by our whole team. We got up a goal early and then we made a couple uncharacteristic, fluky mistakes that cost us. But playing against teams of this caliber has really prepared this team for the rest of this season."

The Wolverines struck early, scoring the game's first goal in the eighth minute. Junior Reilly Martin's free kick from 35 yards was saved by South Carolina keeper Mikalya Krzeczowski, but sophomore Jada Dayne was there to head in the rebound for her second goal of the season, both of which have come on headers.

Michigan has scored in the first eight minutes of play in four of six games this season and has scored the first goal of the match in five of six games.

U-M's defense was busy for much of the first half but kept South Carolina (5-1-0) away from the goal. Michigan allowed eight shots, including just three on goal, which freshman goalkeeper Hillary Beall had to save.

South Carolina's Bianca Galassini capitalized on two missed clearances by U-M in the 54th and 60th minutes to give the Gamecocks a 2-1 lead at the 59:14 mark.

Senior/junior Taylor Timko tallied Michigan's only two shots in the second half, creating quality chances in the 75th and 77th minutes that went just wide.

Overall, Michigan was outshot 20-8, but U-M's team defending limited USC's quality chances in the attacking third. In her second start in maize and blue, Beall finished the game with a career-high six saves.

After a month of focusing solely on soccer, with team training, two exhibitions matches and six regular-season games, Michigan's 29 players will put the "student" back in student-athlete this coming week, as classes resume at Michigan for the 2017-18 academic year on Tuesday (Sept. 5).

"August is my favorite month of the year, when we get the kids without classes and they are just focused on soccer," Ryan added. "We do more development of players and as a team than any other time during the year, which is fantastic."

Michigan (3-1-2) will have a full week to prepare for its next match on Sunday (Sept. 10), when the Wolverines will host Wake Forest at 2 p.m. at U-M Soccer Stadium. That match will mark the women's soccer program's second annual Military Appreciation Day. All active duty and veterans can receive up to four free tickets to this game by using promotions code MILITARY at MGoBlue.com/tickets. All fans with tickets from the Michigan vs. Cincinnati football game can redeem their ticket stub at the U-M Soccer Stadium ticket office to receive free admission.