Wolverines Bounce Back with Gritty Victory over San Diego

Thursday, August 27

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:30 PM

Michigan

2-1

San Diego

1-2

San Diego

Michigan

Wolverines Bounce Back with Gritty Victory over San Diego

8/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

Aug. 27, 2015

» Michigan went up 2-0 in the second half with goals at 53:33 and 57:16, before San Diego scored its only goal in the 64th minute to make it 2-1.
» Michigan outshot San Diego, 25-5, and held a 12-5 advantage in corner kicks.
» Reilly Martin earned her first career start and scored her first career goal on a penalty kick in the 54th minute.

Game Summary



2	1

• Boxscore | Photo Gallery

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Score: Michigan 2, San Diego 1
Records: U-M (2-1), USD (1-2)
Attendance: 658
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Aug. 30 -- vs. Detroit (U-M Soccer Stadium), 7:30 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team pulled out a gritty 2-1 over San Diego despite outshooting the Toreros, 25-5, and holding a 12-5 advantage in corner kicks on Thursday night (Aug. 27) at U-M Soccer Stadium.

In her first career start, freshman Reilly Martin scored her first career goal on a penalty kick, while junior Nicky Waldeck notched her first goal of the season.

Michigan fired off 13 shots in the first half while holding San Diego without a single shot opportunity, but both teams headed to the locker room at the half without a goal. Several of U-M's shot opportunities in the opening 45 minutes came off its seven corner kicks. Michigan's best chance in the first half came in the 25th minute when USD's keeper Michelle Craft made a diving save and pushed Martin's shot from 25 yards out just outside the left post and out of bounds.

Chances continued for the Wolverines, and the match grew more and more physical as time ticked off the clock in the second half. The Wolverines finally got their break when Waldeck was dragged down in the box, and U-M was awarded a penalty kick at 53:33. Head coach Greg Ryan called Martin's name, and she stepped to the dot to take her first career PK.

"I never had a doubt who was going to take that PK," said Ryan. "We do these all the time in practice and every time Reilly steps up it goes in the back of the net. She is so comfortable and so confident in these situations, and I never had any doubt in her."

Martin took a step and placed a low shot inside the left post to give Michigan a 1-0 lead.

"Nicky (Waldeck) made a great play and earned that PK, but when Greg called my name, there were nerves rushing, but I was confident and didn't over think it and stepped up and nailed it," added Martin.

@umichwsoccer @reilly_martin Way to go Reilly! First of many college goals...GO BLUE!

-- Janel Wetzel (@Wetzel125) August 28, 2015

Michigan kept its foot on the gas and quickly pushed its lead to 2-0 just 3:43 later. Senior captain Christina Murillo took a free kick and played a ball on the turf to Waldeck making a run across the middle. Waldeck took a touch and knocked the ball off the inside of the left post and into the goal.

San Diego started putting on the pressure in the middle of the second half and drew its first corner kick of the match in the 62nd minute. Less than two minutes later, a failed clear by U-M's defense left USD's Jacquelin Altschuld open in the box to clean up a loose ball from 10 yards, out and the Toreros pulled with one, 2-1 (63:24).

In the 69th minute, Waldeck had a breakaway opportunity that was saved by San Diego's goalkeeper, and then Ani Sarkisian's shot on a 3-on-2 opportunity went just wide left.

Michigan's defense held off a late surge by San Diego, and the Wolverines earned the 2-1 win to improve to 2-1 on the season.

"Tonight was fantastic -- the quality of play from the whole team from the beginning whistle to the end was amazing," added Ryan. "It was tight at the end, and that's where you see the grit and the fight. This team just came out with this fight about them that was unstoppable."

The Wolverines will wrap up a four-game homestand on Sunday (Aug. 30) when they host Detroit at 7:30 p.m. at U-M Soccer Stadium. [ Tickets ]