Michigan
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Western Michigan
Michigan Defeats Western Michigan Behind Pair of Woods Goals
9/10/2023 4:07:00 PM | Women's Soccer
» Senior Sammi Woods scored twice, giving her the fifth multi-goal match of her career and the 19th and 20th tallies of her Wolverine career.
» U-M's streak of not allowing a goal was snapped after 431 minutes in the 38th minute of the match. Stephanie Sparkowski once again surpassed her career high in saves with nine.
» The result concludes the non-conference portion of U-M's season with a 4-1-2 record.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team defeated Western Michigan 3-2 on Sunday (Sept. 10) at U-M Soccer Stadium in the Wolverine's final non-conference match.
Senior Sammi Woods notched a brace, with goals coming in the 38h and 56th minutes, to give her the 19th and 20th goals of her career and her fifth multi-goal game.
Western Michigan (4-2) came out of the gate strong, outshooting U-M 6-0 over the first 19 minutes of the match. Senior goalkeeper Stephanie Sparkowski was up to the task early, with two saves in the span, highlighted by a sprawling stop in the 15th minute off an attempt by WMU's Madison Cotta.
Michigan (4-1-2) then found its footing with a trio of opportunities over the next three minutes, with two coming from Woods and one from sophomore Kali Burrell.
WMU's Jenna Blackburn had the best chance of either side in the 33rd minute on an opportunity in transition. Following a Wolverines giveaway in their offensive third, a 2-on-1 break resulted in a shot that rang off the crossbar from the top of the 18.
Action picked up in the 38th minute, with both teams scoring goals. Western got on the board first with a header by Reagan Wisser. U-M equalized 14 seconds later, with Woods slotting home a loose ball in front of the face of the goal at 37:45.
The Wolverines closed the half with one final opportunity in the 44th minute from freshman Jasmine Raines, but the period ended in a 1-1 draw.
Combating a smattering of half-chances from Western, U-M doubled its lead with Woods' second goal of the day in the 56th minute. Senior Sarah Bridenstine found space in the middle of the park, and fed sophomore Kali Burrell on the right wing. Burrell's service found a sliding Woods at the top of the six, and she placed home a shot lower-left as U-M took a 2-1 lead.
Woods doubled the pleasure in the 62nd minute as Bridenstine served a ball in off a corner from the right flank. The service was flicked on by junior Avery Peters inside the area, with Woods converting on her second of the afternoon.
The Wolverines persevered despite a 27-15 shot deficit, with Sparkowski notching a career-high nine saves.
The physical affair included 24 fouls and three yellow cards, of which 11 and one, respectively, were called against the Wolverines.
Tweet of the Match
Woods with two goals today, gives her the FIFTH multi-goal game of her career and the 19th and 20th goals of her U-M career.#GoBlue?? | #OurWay pic.twitter.com/GraJqDyuzW
— Michigan Women's Soccer (@umichwsoccer) September 10, 2023
With non-conference play concluded, U-M opens up Big Ten action against Minnesota on Friday (Sept. 15) at 7 p.m. at U-M Soccer Stadium. Before the contest, the Wolverines will honor their four seniors in Woods, Sparkowski, Bridenstine and Kacey Lawrence.
