U-M Nets Eight Goals in Season-Opening Win over EMU

Friday, August 21

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:30 PM

Michigan

1-0

Eastern Michigan

0-1

Eastern Michigan

Michigan

8/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Whitney Dixon

» Michigan's eight goals are the second most in a single game in program history.
» Taylor Timko became the ninth player in program history to record a hat trick.
» Twenty-three players saw game action tonight, including five freshmen who made their career debuts.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Score: Michigan 8, Eastern Michigan 1
Records: U-M (1-0), EMU (0-1)
Attendance: 1,024
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Aug. 23 -- vs. Marquette (U-M Soccer Stadium), 5 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team opened the 2015-16 athletic calendar by scoring the second-most goals in program history with an 8-1 win over Eastern Michigan on Friday (Aug. 21) at U-M Soccer Stadium. Michigan remains unbeaten against the Eagles, holding an 8-0-2 advantage in the all-time series.

Lulu Haidar

Sophomore Taylor Timko led the Wolverines with three goals to become the ninth player in program history to notch a hat trick, while senior Lulu Haidar recorded a career-high five points on two goals and one assist.

Haidar got things rolling for Michigan in the seventh minute, when she tapped in a loose ball on the goal line. The Wolverines quickly took a two-goal lead in the ninth minute, as Haidar switched fields right to left to Timko, who put home a lefty goal from the left side of the penalty box. U-M went into halftime leading, 2-0.

In the second half, the Wolverines settled into their offense and started pouring in goals.

"Second half, I think we really did fire on all cylinders -- we possessed the ball very well, we got in behind well, we took our chances well and finished really strong," said head coach Greg Ryan.

Eight minutes into the second half, U-M was awarded a free kick near the left touch line outside the penalty box. Senior captain Christina Murillo chipped a ball into the box, where junior/sophomore Ani Sarkisian headed it home (53:26). Less than two minutes later, Haidar stuck again to make it 4-0 with a highlight-reel goal, as she side-volleyed a cross from junior Anna Soccorsi into the back of the net from about 12 yards out.

Timko kept the ball rolling, as she completed her hat trick with back-to-back goals at 61:18 and 66:18 to put U-M up 6-0.

Halfway through the second half, Michigan went to its bench, and several players young contributed immediately.

"When we brought the young players on, they played with a lot of composure and really helped steady us," added Ryan.

Sophomore midfielder Rubina Veerakone entered the game in the 67th minute and scored her first career goal in less than two minutes (68:26). Freshman Reilly Martin played the ball left to right across the mouth of the goal to freshman Abby Kastroll and Veerakone, who each got a touch, before Veerakone knocked it home.

In the 81st minute, Eastern Michigan spoiled the shutout. Madison Hirsch subbed in for an injured EMU player to take a free kick and placed the ball just under the cross bar, over the head of U-M goalkeeper sophomore/freshman Sarah Jackson, who checked in the 74th minute to make her Michigan debut.

U-M sophomore Emma Groffsky scored her first career goal in the 82nd minute to give Michigan the second-most goals scored in a single game in program history. Michigan's 8-1 win was its largest margin of victory since it defeated No. 12 Missouri, 7-0, during the 2000 season. The school record for goals in a goal is nine, as U-M defeated Illinois 9-1 on Oct. 17, 1997.

Throughout the match, 23 different Wolverines saw game action, while five different players scored and 11 players recorded points.

"It's fantastic that we have this number of goal scorers that are comfortable hitting the back of the net, as well as players that can create opportunities for us," Ryan added.

The Wolverines will host their second of four consecutive home matches on Sunday (Aug. 23) when they take on Marquette at 5 p.m. at U-M Soccer Stadium.