Offensive Explosion Lifts U-M over Oakland

Tuesday, October 25

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:30 PM

Michigan

3-9-4

Oakland

5-9

OAKLAND

Michigan

10/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Scott Kemps

» Francis Atuahene and Yamann Sahlool each scored twice, while Robbie Mertz had a goal and an assist on the night.
» The five goals are a season high and the third most in a match in program history.
» The last time U-M scored five goals and had two players net a brace was on Aug. 30, 2013, against Loyola-Chicago when James Murphy and TJ VanSlooten each scored a pair.
» Evan Louro made five saves on the night, three of which came in the second half.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Score: Michigan 5, Oakland 1
Records: U-M (3-9-4), OU (5-9-0)
Attendance: 648
Next U-M Game: Sunday, Oct. 30 -- vs. Maryland (U-M Soccer Stadium), 1 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Senior Yamann Sahlool and sophomore Francis Atuahene each scored twice, while sophomore Robbie Mertz had a goal and a pair of assists as the University of Michigan men's soccer team steamrolled the Oakland Grizzlies, 5-1, on Tuesday (Oct. 25) at U-M Soccer Stadium.

Yamann Sahlool

The Wolverines jumped out to the early 1-0 lead in the 20th minute, as senior Rylee Woods sent a looping cross to Mertz, who finished through traffic inside the box for the first goal of the night.

Following a score from Oakland's Nebosa Popovic in the 27th minute, it was all Wolverines the rest of the night. After being tied a 1-1 going into the half, U-M ripped off four goals in less than 20 minutes of action.

The goal-fest commenced in the 48th, as Mertz played a ball to sophomore Marcello Borges. The ensuing shot from the dynamic left back rebounded to Atuahene inside the six, where he tapped home the goal to give U-M the 2-1 lead.

A little more than four minutes later, Sahlool earned a penalty kick after being taken down inside the box and converted the ensuing attempt to run the score to 3-1. Sahlool continued his career night as he put his name on the scoresheet again in the 65th minute, as he headed home a pristine set-piece service from senior Tyler Anderson at the top of the six to stretch the U-M lead to 4-1.

The final goal for the Maize and Blue came less than a minute later in the 66th, as Atuahene took a feed from Mertz at the top of the left side of the 18. The sophomore then put home his second of the night with an exemplary finish that bent just inside the right post.

The Wolverines close out the 2016 regular season on Sunday (Oct. 30), hosting the No. 1 Maryland Terrapins at 1 p.m. from U-M Soccer Stadium. The match, which will honor U-M's senior class, will be shown live nationally via the Big Ten Network.