Michigan
11-5-6, 4-1-3
Wake Forest
15-4-2, 6-2-0
Michigan Bows Out of NCAA Tournament with Defeat at Wake Forest
12/1/2019 7:24:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Site: Winston-Salem, N.C. (Spry Stadium)
Event: NCAA Tournament, Third Round
Score: #9 Wake Forest 3, #17 Michigan 1
Records: U-M (11-5-6), WF (15-4-2)
Next U-M Event: Season Completed
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The No. 13-seed and No. 19-ranked University of Michigan men's soccer team saw its second-half comeback fall short, ending its season with a 3-1 loss to No. 4-seeded and No. 9-ranked Wake Forest in the Sweet 16 on Sunday (Dec. 1) at Spry Stadium. Sophomore Derick Broche scored the team's lone goal in the 77th minute, while freshman Owen Finnerty made three saves.
It was another great season of progress for Michigan (11-5-6), which won double-digit matches and made their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. The Wolverines reached their first Sweet 16 in nine years and also made the Big Ten Tournament final for the second consecutive year. Additionally, the Wolverines matched last year's season record for fewest goals allowed in a season (18).
» The No. 13-seeded Wolverines made it a one-goal match late, but fell to No. 4-seed Wake Forest, 3-1, in the Sweet 16 on Sunday (Dec. 1) in Winston-Salem, N.C.
» Derick Broche netted the team's lone goal, while Owen Finnerty made three saves in the first half.
Both teams had chances in the first half, but it was dominated by great goalkeeping. The first great chance of the match came in the ninth minute to the home side, but Finnerty made a diving save to prevent the goal.
The Wolverines had a beautiful opportunity in the 24th minute when senior Jack Hallahan freed graduate student Nebojsa Popovic in behind the defense. With a one-on-one opportunity with Wake Forest goalkeeper Andrew Pannenberg, Popovic tried to tuck it into the lower-left corner, but Pannenberg got a hand on it for the save. Michigan was awarded a free kick just outside the box in the 33rd minute, but the left-footed attempt from Hallahan was scooped up by Pannenberg at the near post.
Wake Forest (15-4-2) nearly went in front before the break, but Finnerty was there again. A deflected cross fell to Bruno Lapa inside the six, but Finnerty, who was moving to his left, stuck his right hand out to make deny the goal. The teams were scoreless at the interval.
The Wolverines had the first chance of the second half. In the 48th minute, junior Umar Farouk Osman squeezed the ball through the Wake Forest back line to junior Mohammed Zakyi, but his near-post shot was stopped by Pannenberg. Two minutes later, Wake Forest scored, going up, 1-0, on a header goal from Kyle Holcomb at the back post.
Michigan had a golden chance to level the match in the 68th minute. Freshman Christian Pulselli played a great through ball behind the defense to Broche, who was in on Pannenberg, but he pushed his attempt wide of the net. The Demon Deacons extended their lead to 2-0 on a penalty kick from Lapa in the 70th minute.
The Wolverines made it a one-goal match late thanks to Broche. Off a corner kick, Wake Forest attempted to clear the box but got only as far as Popovic, who rifled a shot that took a deflection at the goal line. It spilled to Broche, who cleaned it up to make the score 2-1.
Wake Forest answered right back, though, as Holcomb netted his second at the near post in the 83rd minute to cap the scoring at 3-1.
Team Stats
Kyle Holcomb (9)
Assisted By: Machop Chol
Header from left side of the box after long cross from #21
49:26
Bruno Lapa (8)
WAKE Bruno Lapa PENALTY KICK GOAL.
69:43
Derick Broche (7)
Assisted By: Nebojsa Popovic
One-timer off initial rebound
76:50
Kyle Holcomb (9)
Assisted By: Justyn Thomas , Tater Rennhack
One-timer off long cross
83:00
