Second-Half Scoring Spree Lifts U-M to Dominant Win at Northwestern

Friday, February 19

Evanston, Ill.

7:00 PM CT

Michigan

1-0-0, 1-0-0

Northwestern

0-1-0, 0-1-0

Michigan

Northwestern

Jackson Ragen (Northwestern Athletics)

Second-Half Scoring Spree Lifts U-M to Dominant Win at Northwestern

2/19/2021 11:02:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Brad Rudner

Site: Evanston, Ill. (Ryan Fieldhouse)
Score: Michigan 4, Northwestern 1
Records: U-M (1-0-0, 1-0-0 B1G), NU (0-1-0, 0-1-0 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Tuesday, Feb. 23 -- vs. Michigan State (Brighton, Mich.), 7 p.m.

EVANSTON, Ill. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team scored four second-half goals after falling behind early, opening up the 2020-21 season with a dominating 4-1 victory over Northwestern on Friday (Feb. 19) at Ryan Fieldhouse. Senior Marc Ybarra, sophomore Moshtaba Al-Hasnawi, junior Cameron Martin and senior Jackson Ragen each scored goals in the win.

The home side went ahead five minutes in on a goal from Joseph Arena, who beat Finnerty to the far corner. It was the Wildcats' lone opportunity, as Michigan dominated possession throughout the opening half.

The Wolverines settled into the match and found their footing, firing six shots on the Northwestern defense, but failed to find the back of the net. The best chance came in the 34th minute off the head of sophomore Inaki Rodriguez, but his chance in the box was saved by a diving effort from Northwestern goalkeeper Miha Miskovic.

It was a completely different story in the second half, as the Wolverines flipped the script over a six-minute span. Ybarra, one of the team's three captains, got the team's well-deserved equalizer in the 50th minute, curling a free kick into the top corner.

WATCH: Marc Ybarra nets the equalizer with this beautiful free kick. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/dyfyV8CVQB
— Michigan Men's Soccer (@umichsoccer) February 20, 2021

With the score level and with momentum, Michigan kept the pressure on -- and was rewarded. It went ahead not five minutes after Ybarra's goal through Al-Hasnawi, whose low left-footed strike beat Miskovic to the far corner. The Dearborn, Mich., native did not play last year as a freshman and came on as a substitute late in the first half. Junior Kevin Buca picked up the assist.

Less than two minutes later, it was Buca who got in behind the defense for a chance. His initial shot was saved by Miskovic, but the rebound spilled to Martin, who sidestepped two defenders and slotted it home to make the score 3-1.

The Wolverines capped the scoring in the 73rd minute after freshman Bryce Blevins was brought down inside the penalty area. Ragen stepped up to the spot and converted, putting Michigan ahead, 4-1.

The Michigan defense, after conceding that early goal to Arena, allowed only three shots the rest of the match. Sophomore Owen Finnerty started and played the full 90 minutes, making two saves.

"We got into the game pretty quickly. What woke us up was that we got scored on early and had to go to work," said head coach Chaka Daley. "The group didn't lose their way. They didn't get flustered. We have good maturity and good leadership. We made a mistake, but the mentality of this group is real positive. After that, we settled in, created some chances.

"Carlos (Tellez) started the second half very lively. Pressed the ball and upped the tempo. Marc and Cameron were excellent. They made us tick. Marc's free kick was different class. It gave the whole group a ton of belief. After that, we were on the right side of the game."

The Wolverines return to the field on Tuesday (Feb. 23), facing rival Michigan State in the first of two matches against the Spartans this spring. First touch is at 7 p.m. at the Legacy Center Sports Complex in Brighton, Mich.