Atuahene's Hat Trick Propels Wolverines Past WVU

Friday, September 4

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

1-1

West Virginia

1-2

WVU

Michigan

Francis Atuahene

9/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

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By: Scott Kemps

» Freshman Francis Atuahene scored a hat trick, with two goals in the first half and one in the second.
» Sophomore Evan Louro made four saves in front of a crowd of 1,003 fans.
» Two of Michigan's three assists came from defenders, Andre Morris and Billy Stevens. Each are the first assists of their careers.

Site: U-M Soccer Stadium (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Score: Michigan 3, West Virginia 1
Records: U-M (1-1), WVU (1-2)
Next U-M Match: Sunday, Sept. 6 -- vs. Niagara (U-M Soccer Stadium), 4 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Freshman Francis Atuahene marked a hat trick in his second career match to lift the University of Michigan men's soccer team to a 3-1 win over the West Virginia Mountaineers Friday (Sept. 4) at U-M Soccer Stadium.

The trip of goals make Atuahene the 14th player in U-M history to record a hat trick and the second freshman to do so, as Soony Saad accomplished the feat on Sept. 22, 2010, vs. Kentucky.

After drawing a pair of fouls that earned West Virginia a yellow card, Atuahene broke through in the 17th minute to put the Wolverines on the board first. Sophomore Billy Stevens found Atuahene at midfield, where he turned and sprinted at the West Virginia backline before firing a low shot into the bottom right corner for his first career goal. Stevens picked up his first career assist on the play.

Just a minute later, freshman Marcello Borges played a dangerous cross into that box that got behind the back line. Atuahene slid and directed the ball into the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Senior James Murphy continued to lead Michigan on the attack in the 19th minute, cutting his way past two Mountaineers before firing just wide with his left foot.

The Wolverines began to increase the tempo as the game went on, and Atuahene found the net again in the 31st minute, climbing over a West Virginia defender to head a cross on a lofted cross from senior William Mellors-Blair at the top left side of the 18 into the net for his second goal, putting the home team up 2-0.

Mellors-Blair almost extended the Michigan lead to 3-0 as time expired in the first half but did not get his foot on a cross from freshman Robbie Mertz. The Wolverines entered the locker room leading, 2-0, while outshooting the Mountaineers, 8-1.

The second half started the same way the first ended, with Michigan on the offensive. Senior captain Colin McAtee nearly scored twice in the opening 10 minutes, sending one shot just wide of the post and one just over the crossbar.

WVU's Ryan Cain nearly brought the visitors within a goal in the 59th minute on a shot from 25 yards that slammed off the post. Two minutes later, the Mountaineers fired another shot just wide from inside the box.

As the visitors began to push more players into attack, the Wolverines looked to go on the counter. In the 75th minute, Atuahene snuck in behind again on the left wing, using his speed to fend off a West Virginia defender. After picking up a bouncing ball at the top of the box, Atuahene rocketed a left-footed half volley off the keeper's hands and into the top left corner of the net, giving the Maize and Blue a 3-0 lead, with the assist going to junior Andre Morris.

West Virginia got a goal back in the 84th minute, as Cain converted a corner. The visitors would draw drew even on total shots with 14 apiece, but a strong performance from sophomore goalkeeper Evan Louro, who had four saves, and the Wolverine defense sealed the victory.

Michigan continues its homestand this weekend, hosting the Niagara Purple Eagles Sunday (Sept. 6) at 4 p.m. from U-M Soccer Stadium.

Tweet of the Day

Almost game time for @umichsoccer. The @MichiganUltras are pumped. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/yhuPUCqvIG

-- Alex Wood (@alex_wood18) September 4, 2015

Postgame Notes

• Marcello Borges made his first career start.

• Ivo Cerda made his first career appearance.

• The Wolverines improve to 18-12-4 at home under Chaka Daley.

• Atuahene became the first player to score three goals in a match since Colin McAtee did so against Notre Dame on Oct. 7, 2014. He is the 14th player in U-M history to score a hat trick and the second freshman.