Michigan to Return Home for Pair of Contests vs. Minnesota, Wisconsin

» Michigan will open its home season with a pair of games this weekend against Minnesota and Wisconsin.
» The Wolverines are 5-6-5 in home openers.
» U-M is 8-15-5 all-time against Minnesota and 13-14-7 all-time against Wisconsin.

THIS WEEK
Thursday, Feb 25 -- vs. Minnesota (Brighton, Mich.), 2 p.m.
Live Stats
Monday, March 1 -- vs. Wisconsin (Pontiac, Mich.), 11 a.m.
Live Stats
• Complete Game Notes (PDF)

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team (0-0-1, 0-0-1 Big Ten) returns to the Great Lakes State to open its 2020-21 home season with a pair of Big Ten contests. The Wolverines first take on Minnesota (0-0-1, 0-0-1 Big Ten) on Thursday (Feb. 25) at the Legacy Center in Brighton, Mich., at 2 p.m. before playing Wisconsin (1-0-0, 1-0-0 Big Ten) on Monday (March 1) at UWM Sports Complex in Pontiac, Mich., at 11 a.m.

Wolverine Bites

• Michigan is 15-6-5 in home openers and has won both home openers in the Jennifer Klein era, defeating Boston in 2018 and Marshall in 2019. Last season, the Wolverines defeated Marshall, 5-0, at U-M Soccer Stadium to kick off the 2019 campaign. With the season moved to the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, U-M will play its home opener at Legacy Center in Brighton, Mich.

• Freshman Sammi Woods made her presence known early as a new member of the Michigan roster, scoring the lone goal against Ohio State in the season opener. Woods collected her first collegiate goal in the 29th minute to give U-M an early advantage. The forward led the Wolverines with five shots, three of which were on goal, as she played 65 minutes in the double-overtime contest.

• Senior goalkeeper Hillary Beall kept the Wolverines in the contest against Ohio State after U-M went down to just 10 players in the 68th minute. Beall made a career-best 15 saves, seven of which came following the red card to Michigan. The senior's 15 saves surpass her previous career-high of 13 against Washington State in 2019.

• Sarah Stratigakis and Jayde Riviere have been impactful for Canada and the SheBelieves Cup. Stratigakis scored the game-winner in extra time against Argentina on Sunday night (Feb. 21), while Riviere started against the United States and came off the bench against Argentina. Former Wolverines standout Shelina Zadorsky also has started both games for Canada.

Opponent Preview

Minnesota
Michigan trails the all-time series, 15-8-5

The Wolverines and Golden Gophers will meet for the first time since the 2018 campaign with Minnesota holding a 15-8-5 advantage over U-M in the all-time series. Minnesota earned the win in head coach Jennifer Klein's first season, scoring the game-winner in double overtime at U-M Soccer Stadium. U-M is 4-7-2 all-time at home against the Golden Gophers with its last win coming in 2014. Minnesota is 0-0-1 on the season after playing to a double-overtime draw against Nebraska to start the season. The Golden Gophers outshot the Cornhuskers, 12-6, putting two shots on goal in the season opener.

Wisconsin
Michigan trails the all-time series, 14-13-7

In the last matchup between the teams, the Wolverines suffered a tough 2-0 loss on the road in 2019. Prior to that game, U-M picked up a big win over then-No. 17 Wisconsin in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines are 6-4-5 all-time against the Badgers when playing them at home. Wisconsin is 1-0 on the season after defeating Iowa in its season opener. However, the Badgers did not generate much offense outside of their lone goal, taking just three shots.

Up Next

• Thursday, March 4 -- at Iowa (Iowa City, Iowa), Noon CST
• Sunday, March 7 -- at Nebraska (Lincoln, Neb), Noon CST