Michigan
1-1-0, 0-0-0
Gonzaga
0-2-0, 0-0-0
Pulselli's Late Tally the Difference in Michigan Shutout of Gonzaga
8/28/2022 4:52:00 PM | Men's Soccer
» Christian Pulselli netted the game-winning goal in the 82nd minute, the second goal of his career.
» Jason Bucknor tallied the third assist of his career.
» U-M outshot Gonzaga 14-6 in the win.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Score: Michigan 1, Gonzaga 0
Records: U-M (1-1-0), GU (0-2-0)
Next U-M Event: Thursday, Sept. 1 -- at Duke (Durham, N.C.), 5 p.m. (TV: ACC Network Extra)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Senior Christian Pulselli buried a shot off a pass from sophomore Jason Bucknor in the 82nd minute to seal a 1-0 University of Michigan men's soccer team victory over Gonzaga on Sunday afternoon (Aug. 28) at U-M Soccer Stadium.
The Wolverines (1-1-0) took possession of the ball in their defensive end of the field and lifted it up to Bucknor, who was streaking down the right side of the pitch. Bucknor took a few touches before slipping the ball to Pulselli, who broke through the middle of the box and ripped a one-touch shot up over the keeper's head for what was the eventual game-winning goal against the Zags.
The goal was the second career tally for Pulselli, while Bucknor added his third career assist in the win. As a team, Michigan outshot Gonzaga 14-6 with graduate student Kevin Buca taking three shots and both senior Inaki Rodriguez and freshman Nolan Miller taking two. Sophomore keeper Hayden Evans made one save on the day, earning the win between the pipes.
U-M edged out Gonzaga (0-2-0) in time of possession as it controlled the ball 57 percent of the time and took 10 corner kicks compared to the Zags' one.
Rodriguez found the first opportunity of the match when he fired a shot inside the 18-yard box that was blocked on a slide tackle from the Gonzaga defense in the 15th minute before Buca and Pulselli fired off back-to-back shots, with Buca's going off the right post in the 24th minute.
Michigan tallied seven shots in the first half, but headed into the locker room locked in a scoreless tie with Gonzaga after 45 minutes.
The freshman duo of Nicholas Cassiday and Miller looked to put one on the board in the 56th minute as Cassiday had a good attempt from the right flank and Miller headed a ball down off a corner kick, but neither tested the keeper as the match remained scoreless.
The Wolverines continued to press as time on the clock dipped below 10 minutes. Gonzaga dumped a ball onto its offensive end as Michigan worked it between defenders and up to junior Quin Rogers. He turned and sent the ball up field to Bucknor, who gave chase and brought it down the right flank before he passed it into Pulselli for a goal.
The U-M defense allowed just two final shot attempts from Gonzaga, both of which were off target, as Michigan earned the victory.
Michigan hits the road for the first time this season when it travels to Durham, N.C., for a match against Duke on Thursday (Sept. 1) at 5 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
Team Stats
Christian Pulselli (1)
Assisted By: Jason Bucknor
GOAL by MICH Pulselli, Christian Assist by Bucknor, Jason.
81:08
