Wolverines Fall to No. 7 Notre Dame

Tuesday, October 10

South Bend, Ind.

7:00 PM

Michigan

7-4-2

Notre Dame

9-2-1

Michigan

Notre Dame

10/10/2017 9:27:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Scott Kemps

» Junior Robbie Mertz had the lone Michigan goal in the 65th minute on a helper from Jack Hallahan. The score was Mertz's second of the season, while the assist for Hallahan gives him a team-high five.
» All four goals came in the second half of play, with Notre Dame getting on the board first in the 56th minute.
» The Wolverines used their ninth different starting lineup combination this season in the match.

Site: South Bend, Ind. (Alumni Stadium)
Score: No. 7 Notre Dame 3, No. 24 Michigan 1
Records: U-M (7-4-2), Notre Dame (8-3-1)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Oct. 14 -- vs. Omaha (U-M Soccer Stadium), 4 p.m.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team fell to the No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish by a 3-1 score Tuesday (Oct 10) at Notre Dame's Alumni Stadium. Junior Robbie Mertz had the Wolverine marker in the 65th minute of play.

The Wolverines (7-4-2) got off to a hot start, outshooting Notre Dame (8-3-1) 3-0 in the first 20 minutes of action and 5-2 overall in the first half. The chances were highlighted by a pair of attempts from junior Francis Atuahene, who was all over the pitch in the opening stanza.

The first opportunity came in the seventh minute, as Atuahene cut inside towards the top of the box with his right foot and struck a blast from 20 yards out that went just wide. In the 33rd minute, he was responsible for U-M's best chance of the opening half, as he caught Notre Dame goalkeeper Chris Hubbard on his heels, but the strike from 25 yards out was on the wrong side of the post.

Both sides traded solid opportunities early in the second half. In the 52nd minute, freshman Umar Farouk Osman and classmate Mohammed Zakyi connected on the left flank, with Zakyi's low cross inside the box nearly being tipped in by a Notre Dame defender.

A minute later, sophomore Andrew Verdi made a doorstep stop on ND's Jon Gallagher. But the Fighting Irish continued to press and broke the deadlock in the 56th minute on a goal from John Farina.

The Wolverines leveled the game at 1 in the 65th minute, when sophomore Jack Hallahan connected with Mertz. Hallahan, from the right flank, steered a low service inside the six that was smashed in by an onrushing Mertz for his second goal of the season.

Notre Dame went ahead, 2-1, in the 82nd minute and added one more via a penalty kick with 22 seconds to play.

Next up, the Wolverines welcome the Omaha Mavericks to U-M Soccer Stadium on Saturday (Oct. 14) at 4 p.m. for a non-conference matchup.