Wolverines to Host Blue Out vs. Spartans, Will Hit Road for Ohio State

Thursday, October 14

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:00 PM

Michigan

Michigan State

(Michigan Photography)

Wolverines to Host Blue Out vs. Spartans, Will Hit Road for Ohio State

10/12/2021 4:23:00 PM | Women's Soccer

By: Scott Kemps

» Michigan returns home for the first time in two weeks to host Michigan State on Friday before heading to Columbus on Sunday for the their final Big Ten regular-season road match.
» Thursday's match vs. Michigan State will feature a pair of sisters on opposite teams, with Dani Wolfe facing her sister, Andi, a freshman for Michigan State.
» The Wolverines are ranked No. 22 in the latest United Coaches Poll.

PROMOTIONS
• Oct. 14: Blue Out -- Dress in your Michigan Blue, Blue Out T-Shirt Giveaway -- The first 250 fans in attendance will receive a Blue Out T-Shirt.
• Full Promotions Schedule

• Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

The No. 22-ranked University of Michigan women's soccer team (9-2-3, 3-1-2 Big Ten) returns home for the first time in two weeks to host Michigan State (9-1-3, 4-4-1 Big Ten) on Thursday (Oct. 14) at 7 p.m. at U-M Soccer Stadium. The Wolverines will closes out its regular-season road slate, traveling to Ohio State (7-6-1, 2-3-1 Big Ten) on Sunday (Oct. 17) at 2 p.m. at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Thursday's match will be streamed via B1G+, while Sunday's matchup will be broadcast nationally on Big Ten Network.

Thursday's match against Michigan State is a Blue Out, as fans are encouraged to dress in blue to show support for the Wolverines as they take on their in-state rivals. The first 250 fans at U-M Soccer Stadium will receive a free Blue Out T-shirt.

Wolverine Bites

• A win this week over either Michigan State or Penn State would secure Michigan's third 10-win season in the tenure of head coach Jennifer Klein.

• Michigan recently concluded a four-match road trip with a 2-1-1 record and returns home for the first time since hosting Purdue on Sept. 30.

• With four matches left to play in the regular season, U-M is tied for fourth in the Big Ten standings (3-1-2, 11 points). Michigan State (4-1-1, 13), Ohio State (2-3-1, 7), Penn State (2-4, 6), and Maryland (0-4-2, 2) remain on the schedule.

• Michigan is ranked No. 22 in the latest edition of the United Soccer Coaches poll release Tuesday (Oct. 12), and is No. 16 in the latest NCAA RPI rankings. U-M is at No. 14 per the WoSo Independent Ranks and boasts a strength of schedule of 30.

• U-M has outshot opponents 274-138 and has outscored them 24-12. The Wolverines rank No. 16 in the NCAA in shots per match (19.57) and top the Big Ten in the category. Michigan is 8-1-2 on the year when outshooting teams.

• Seniors Nicki Hernandez and Raleigh Loughman are tied for the team lead in goals with five. Loughman and fellow senior Meredith Haakenson each boast four assists to tie for the team lead in the category.

• Senior center back Sydney Shepherd is the lone field player to start every match that they have played in, with 13 starting nods to her name. Shepherd also leads all field players with 1,118 minutes played.

• The contest versus the Spartans will be a family affair for the Wolfe family, as U-M junior Dani Wolfe will suit up for the Wolverines, while her sister, freshman Andie Wolfe, will suit up for the Spartans. Both attended Walled Lake Northern High School in West Bloomfield, Mich.

Opponent Previews

Michigan State
All-time series against the Spartans: U-M leads 15-7-7

Michigan State enters the matchup with a 9-1-3 overall mark and a 4-1-1 conference record. Most recently, MSU defeated Ohio State by a 1-0 score (Oct. 10) in East Lansing. The Wolverines will be the first ranked team MSU has faced on the campaign. Defense has been the calling card, as MSU has outscored opponents 23-8 and has allowed only 11.7 shots per match. Goalkeeper Lauren Kozal has six clean sheets on the year and ranks second in the conference in goals-against average (.585).

The Wolverines are on a three-match win streak against the Spartans, and have won seven of the last 10 contests. The in-state rivals last met during the 2020-21 season, when Michigan dominated its way to a decisive 7-3 victory. Hernandez and Haakenson walked away with two goals apiece, with three other players also finding the net for a season-high team goal total.

Ohio State
All-time series against the Buckeyes: U-M leads 15-12-5

Ohio State opens the week with a 7-6-1 mark and 2-3-1 conference record. Prior to hosting the Wolverines, the Buckeyes will host Purdue on Thursday (Oct. 14). The majority of OSU's goals have come from a trio of players, with Kailyn Dudukovich leading the team with six scores while Kalya Fischer and Emma Sears both have five. Fischer also leads the squad in helpers with six.

The rivals last met in Columbus to open the 2020-21 spring season, with the contest ending in a 1-1 double-overtime draw.

Up Next

Thursday, Oct. 21 -- vs. Penn State (U-M Soccer Stadium), 7 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 24 -- vs. Maryland (U-M Soccer Stadium), Noon