Michigan
0-1-0
Creighton
1-0-0
Wolverines Fall at No. 6 Creighton in Season Opener
8/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
» The lone goal of the game was scored by Creighton at 30:02.
» Sophomore Evan Louro had a career-high seven saves, including five in the first half.
» Michigan drew 24 fouls in the contest, earning five set pieces in their finishing third.
Site: Omaha, Neb. (Morrison Stadium)
Score: #6 Creighton 1, Michigan 0
Records: U-M (0-1), Creighton (1-0)
Next U-M Match: Friday, Sept. 4 -- vs. West Virginia (U-M Soccer Stadium), 4 p.m.
OMAHA, Neb. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team opened its 2015 season with a 1-0 setback against the No. 6 Creighton Blue Jays Friday (Aug. 28) at Morrison Stadium. A Fabian Herbers score in the 31st minute proved to be the difference in the affair, while sophomore goalkeeper Evan Louro countered with a career-high seven saves, with five coming in the first half.
The Jays, the consensus pick to win the Big East in 2015, registered the first eight shots of the contest. Louro proved to be big early, making four stops in the first 30 minutes of action and five in first 50 minutes of action to equal his career high.
Creighton was rewarded for the early pressure in the 31st minute, as Herbers gave the Jays the 1-0 lead off a through ball from Fernando Castellanos. The MAC Herman Trophy Watch List beat a U-M defender in a foot race, and took a shot that deflected off another defender that beat Louro near side for what proved to be the lone goal of the match.
Nearly two minutes later, U-M strung together a threat inside its finishing third, as senior William Mellors-Blair had a try on goal that was parried by Creighton keeper Connor Sparrow, who had seven saves on the night. Freshman Francis Atuahene, playing in his first collegiate match, was waiting on the doorstep but was in an offside position to end the threat.
The first portion of the second stanza proved to be much of the same for the Blue Jay offense, as Louro and Wolverine back four were under pressure.
Following a disallowed goal by Creighton, U-M nearly found the equalizer it was seeking on multiple occasion in the final 15 minutes of play, beginning with a Rylee Woods free kick in a dangerous position in the 75th minute and another in the 83rd minute as U-M deployed a more attacking formation.
Atuahene nearly single-handedly knotted the score line a minute later, as he beat a pair of defenders on a run down the left flank, but his effort from eight yards out was smothered out of bounds by Sparrow to result in a U-M corner. The ensuing sequence resulted in a header from senior James Murphy that sailed narrowly high of goal in U-M's final chance of the night.
U-M drew 24 fouls on the match, resulting in a five free kicks in dangerous positions, three of which were in the first half.
The Wolverines open up the 2015 home slate next Friday (Sept. 4), as they welcome the West Virginia Mountaineers to U-M Soccer Stadium for a 4 p.m. start.
Postgame Notes
• Fifth-year senior TJ VanSlooten made his first appearance for the Wolverines since 2013 after missing all of last season due to injury.
• Highly touted freshman Francis Atuahene was one of two Wolverines, along with sophomore Tyler Anderson, with two shots on the match.
• Three freshman made their collegiate debuts for the Wolverines in Atuahene, Marcello Borges and Robbie Mertz.
• The all-time series with the Jays is now even at 1-1.
• U-M wore all-white kits for the first time in the Chaka Daley era.
Team Stats
HERBERS, Fabian
Assisted By: CASTELLANOS, Fernand
Long Pass to the middle, Herbers goal fr
30:02
