Michigan
Marquette
First Touch #2: Michigan Continues Home Stretch with Marquette, Louisville
8/22/2018 11:33:00 AM | Women's Soccer
» Michigan is 2-0 overall after opening the 2018 campaign with wins over Boston University and Western Michigan.
» Marquette leads the all-time series with the Wolverines, 4-1, and U-M will be looking for its first win since 2001.
» Sunday's meeting will be the first between Michigan and Louisville
» Six Wolverines tallied points in the first two matches with Nicki Hernandez earning a team-best five points (2 goals, 1 assist).
THIS WEEK
Thursday, Aug. 23 -- vs. Marquette University (U-M Soccer Stadium), 7:30 p.m.
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Sunday, Aug. 26 -- vs. Louisville (U-M Soccer Stadium), 2 p.m.
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The Michigan women's soccer team continues its season-opening homestand Thursday (Aug. 23) when it welcomes Marquette for a 7:30Â p.m. non-conference contest at U-M Soccer Stadium. The Wolverines close out the weekend with a Sunday afternoon (Aug. 26) match against Louisville at U-M Soccer Stadium. First touch against the Cardinals is slated for 2 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY WITH WEEKEND OPPONENTS
Michigan and Marquette meet on the pitch for the sixth time in program history with the Golden Eagles leading the all-time series, 4-1. The Wolverines have lost four straight against Marquette. U-M's lone win in the series came in 2001when it picked up a 1-0 victory on the road. Sunday's contest against Louisville will be the first time that the Wolverines and the Cardinals meet on the pitch.
SCOUTING MARQUETTE
The Golden Eagles are in search of their first win and goal of the 2018 season after playing to a scoreless draw against Cal Poly and falling to Wisconsin, 2-0. MU is averaging 10 shots per game, putting six on frame in the first two matches of the season. Senior Jamie Kutey has been the closest to a goal this season, testing the keepers twice, while Briana Jaegar has put three of her four shots on goal. In net, Maddy Henry has play all 200 minutes, making two saves and carrying a 0.90 goals-against average.
A QUICK GLANCE AT LOUISVILLE
Louisville is 2-0-0 overall this season and will meet up with Dayton on Thursday (Aug. 23). After two matches, the Cardinals have scored 10 goals after an 8-1 victory over Wright State and a 2-1 overtime win over Xavier. Louisville's 10 goals tie for second nationally, while its five goals per contest tie for third nationally. Maisie Whitsett leads the Cardinal attack with seven points on the season (three goals, one assist) and Allison Whitfield has helped on three goals this season. The Cardinals have had two goalkeepers in net this season with Gabby Kouzelos playing a majority of the minutes and starting both matches. Kouzelos and Lana Batson have each made one save on the season and Kouzelos has let in two goals.
WOLVERINES OPEN 2018 WITH A PAIR OF WINS
Michigan opened its 2018 season with a 3-1 victory over Boston University that included goals from Nicki Hernandez, Abby Kastroll and Alia Martin. The Wolverines scored all three of their goals before the Terriers netted a late goal in the second half to cut the U-M victory to two goals. Michigan returned to the field Aug. 18 when it picked up its first shutout of the season, seeing goals from Nicki Hernandez and Sarah Stratigakis, while Izzy Nino earned her second win between the pipes.
HERNANDEZ EMERGES AS OFFENSIVE LEADER FOR MICHIGAN
Sophomore Nicki Hernandez earned five points in her first two appearances of the 2018 season for the Wolverines. Hernandez netted Michigan's first goal of the 2018 season when she scored off a rebound from just two-yards out on the right side of the net. Hernandez followed up with the game-winning goal and an assist against Western Michigan.
NINO STEPS UP IN GOAL
Sophomore Izzy Nino made her first career appearances for Michigan, earning the start in both contests for the Maize and Blue. Nino made a clutch save in the 16th minute for the Maize and Blue to keep the match scoreless against Boston University. Michigan would go on to score three goals and Nino would give up just one to allow the Wolverines to take a 3-1 victory in the season opener. Nino followed up the performance with her first career shutout, making one save against Western Michigan in the Wolverines' 2-0 victory.
STRONG BACKLINE TO PROTECT THE KEEPER
The Wolverines have put together a solid backline in the 2018 season that in anchored by Brooke Cilley. The junior played all 180 minutes on the pitch, allowing Boston University to reach net just three times and Western Michigan to get just on shot on net. Freshman Janiece Joyner has also been a huge asset to the Michigan defense as she played all 180 minutes in the first two matches of her collegiate career.
HAAKENSON LENDS A HELPING HAND
Freshman Meredith Haakenson made her first collegiate appearances donning the Maize and Blue, coming in off the bench against Boston University and Western Michigan. Coming in late in the second half, Haakenson connected on a pass to Alia Martin that would lead to the final goal of the game for Michigan against Boston University. Haakenson also contributed on the game-winning goal against Western Michigan when she found Nicki Hernandez for the first goal of the match, tallying her second assist of the season.
TICKET INFORMATION
Individual and group tickets on are sale for all 2018 home matches. For group experiences such as high five tunnel, halftime mini games and more, please call (734) 647-1268 or email gobluegroupsales@umich.edu. For more information on purchasing tickets, please visit the U-M women's soccer ticket page.
NEXT TIME OUT
Michigan will hit the road for the first time in the 2018 season when it heads to Wake Forest on Thursday, Aug. 30 for a 7 p.m. contest in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Wolverines open the month of September on the road when they play Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday, Sept. 2 at 1 p.m. in Fort Myers, Florida.
