Michigan Dominates Michigan State in High-Scoring Rivalry Match

Friday, March 12

Brighton, Mich.

11:00 AM

Michigan

3-1-2, 3-1-2

Michigan State

1-4-1, 1-4-1

Michigan St.

Michigan

Nicki Hernandez (Michigan Photography)

Michigan Dominates Michigan State in High-Scoring Rivalry Match

3/12/2021 1:59:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore Photo Gallery

By: Megan McIntosh

» The Wolverines scored seven goals in a match for the first time since 2015.
» Meredith Haakenson and Nicki Hernandez both scored a pair of goals and had an assist each.
» U-M outshot MSU, 22-7, with 14 shots on goal.

Site: Brighton, Mich. (Legacy Center)
Score: Michigan 7, Michigan State 3
Records: U-M (3-1-2, 3-1-2 B1G), MSU (1-4-1, 1-4-1 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Thursday, March 18 -- at Maryland (College Park, Md.), 3 p.m.

BRIGHTON, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team netted a season-high seven goals to earn a decisive 7-3 victory over in-state rival Michigan State Thursday afternoon (March 12) at the Legacy Center.

The Wolverines (3-1-2, 3-1-2 B1G) scored seven goals for the first time since 2015 when they earned an 8-1 win over Eastern Michigan. Furthermore, this is the second time in the coach Jennifer Klein era that Michigan has scored six or more goals (6-1 vs. Central Michigan in 2018).

Senior Nicki Hernandez had a big day on offense for the Maize and Blue, taking seven shots and putting six on frame. After putting multiple shots on net in the first half, Hernandez found the back of the net twice in the second stanza and assisted on junior Meredith Haakenson's game-winner. Haakenson also scored two goals for the Wolverines and added an assist as she and Hernandez both ended the day with five points.

Freshmen Kacey Lawrence and Sammi Woods each added their second career goals with Lawrence scoring for the second straight game, while Sydney Shepherd notched her second straight game with a header goal off a corner-kick assist from Raleigh Loughman.

In all, six Wolverines had at least one point against the Spartans as Jayde Riviere also had an assist. Michigan's aggressive offense continued as it outshot Michigan State, 22-7, putting 14 shots on frame.

Hernandez had two early chances that were saved by Lauren Kozal before a shot from Sarah Stratigakis led to a U-M corner kick in the 16th minute. Loughman sailed a ball to the far side of the box onto the head of Shepherd, who put the ball down and into the bottom right corner of the net to give the Wolverines the 1-0 lead over the Spartans.

MSU knotted the score 10 minutes later, and Michigan responded in less than a minute as Hernandez once again tested the keeper and Woods fired another shot that hit the post. As the ball bounced off the post, Woods gave chase and slid in to bury the ball into the bottom left corner and put Michigan up 2-1 in the 26th minute.

Trailing 2-1 to start the second half, MSU knotted the score in the 61st minute, but once again the Wolverines had a response as Lawrence fired a shot inside the 18-yard box in the 66th minute. Lawrence's goal was the start of a 5-0 U-M run, as Hernandez and Haakenson each scored a pair within an 11-minute span to put Michigan up 7-2.

MSU was awarded a penalty kick in the 85th minute due to a Wolverines handball and converted to close the scoring.

Michigan will be back in action Thursday (March 18) when it travels to College Park, Md., for a 3 p.m. contest against the Maryland Terrapins.