Michigan
0-0-1, 0-0-0
Notre Dame
0-0-1, 0-0-0
U-M Battles Notre Dame to Draw to Start 2025 Season
8/21/2025 10:18:00 PM | Men's Soccer
» Shuma Sasaki scored his first goal as a Wolverine to knot the game at one goal apiece.
» The Wolverines outshot Notre Dame 13-4, with four attempts on target.
» U-M did not allow a shot in the second half.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team opened the season with a 1-1 draw against Notre Dame on Thursday night (Aug. 21) at U-M Soccer Stadium.
Shuma Sasaki netted the tally for the Maize and Blue, his first goal as a Wolverine. Will Baker assisted the marker, notching his first career point. Michigan fired 13 shots, with four hitting the target, while only allowing four attempts from Notre Dame and none in the second 45 minutes. The result marks the third straight season U-M has opened the campaign without a defeat.
Michigan applied pressure right away as Nolan Miller headed a ball toward the net that Notre Dame's Blake Kelly saved in the third minute. The Wolverines launched three shots over the next 20 minutes, but Notre Dame opened the scoring in the 27th minute as Diego Ochoa found the bottom-left corner of the net.
Sasaki found the equalizer 11 minutes later as Baker sent him running toward the penalty box with a long pass from the defensive third. Sasaki found the pass and fired the ball past Kelly into the top-right corner of the net as Michigan tied the game at one heading to halftime.
The second half saw the Maize and Blue control possession and create multiple chances, but U-M was not able to convert as the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Next up, Michigan will host UC Riverside on Sunday (Aug. 24) at 2 p.m. at U-M Soccer Stadium. The match will be streamed live on B1G+.
Team Stats
Diego Ochoa (1)
Assisted By: Ian Shaul
GOAL by UND Ochoa, Diego Assist by Shaul, Ian.
26:21
Shuma Sasaki (1)
Assisted By: Will Baker
GOAL by U-M Sasaki, Shuma Assist by Baker, Will.
37:55
