Michigan
12-4-2
Northwestern
7-12-0
Wolverines Topple Northwestern, Advance to Big Ten Semifinals
11/5/2017 9:14:00 PM | Men's Soccer
» The four goals for U-M in the match mark a season high, with Jack Hallahan notching a brace to go along with tallies from Francis Atuahene and Robbie Mertz.
» Michigan improves to 5-0-0 with freshman Henry Mashburn starting in goal.
» The Wolverines advance to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals to take on the No. 5 seed Wisconsin Badgers on Friday (Nov. 10) at noon from Westfield, Indiana.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Even: Big Ten Tournament (Quarterfinals)
Score: No. 12 Michigan 4, Northwestern 1
Records: U-M (12-4-2), Northwestern (7-12-0)
Attendance: 1,506
Next U-M Event: Friday, Nov. 10 -- Big Ten Tournament Semifinals vs. Wisconsin (Westfield, Ind.), Noon
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The top-seeded University of Michigan men's soccer team advanced to the semifinals of the 2017 Big Ten Tournament with a 4-1 victory over the No. 8 seed Northwestern Wildcats Sunday (Nov. 5) at U-M Soccer Stadium.
Sophomore Jack Hallahan scored twice as the Wolverines pumped home four goals to set a new season standard in the category.
With the victory, the Wolverines advance to the semifinals of the 2017 Big Ten Tournament, held in Westfield, Indiana. U-M will take on the fifth-seeded Wisconsin Badgers at noon on Friday (Nov. 10).
The Wolverines (12-4-2) got the scoring started in the 24th minute on a long throw-in from senior Billy Stevens. From the right sideline, Stevens' restart sailed into the area, and the contested ball -- intended for freshman Jackson Ragen at the top of the six -- skipped through traffic to a streaking junior Francis Atuahene at the far post who finished for the 1-0 lead.
U-M held the 1-0 advantage, as well as the majority of the ball, the remainder of the half. The Wildcats (7-12-0) leveled up in the 50th minute, as Tommy Katsiyiannis broke through on a little flick of a ball at the top of the box, finishing right to left to knot the score at 1.
From then on, U-M took control, marking goals in the 56th, 63rd, and 79th minutes.
The first came on a strike from sophomore Jack Hallahan with a feed from Atuahene. Hallahan's marvelous marker came from 25 yards out that was tucked just inside the left post.
Seven minutes later, the Wolverines made it 3-1 on a superfluous ball from junior Marcello Borges at the midfield line. The service found classmate Robbie Mertz, who weaved his way behind the Wildcat back line and finished right to left as the Wolverines took the 3-1 lead.
Hallahan added his second of the night, again with the help of Atuahene, in the 79th minute to ice the match and send the Wolverines to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals with a final scoreline of 4-1.
Freshman Henry Mashburn made four stops in goal, and the U-M defense collectively held the Wildcats to 10 shots on the night.
Tweet of the Match
All the goals from tonight's 4-1 win!#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/cIRLX2FNCo
— U-M Men's Soccer (@umichsoccer) November 6, 2017
Team Stats
Atuahene, Francis (6)
Assisted By: Stevens, Billy
long throw skips thru box to back post
23:12
Tommy Katsiyiannis (7)
Assisted By: Mattias Tomasino
GOAL by NU Tommy Katsiyiannis, Assist by Mattias Tomasino, goal number 7 for season.
49:49
Hallahan, Jack (6)
Assisted By: Atuahene, Francis
from 10, cuts in, finishes top left
55:41
Mertz, Robbie (3)
Assisted By: Borges, Marcello
long ball from midfield, left to right f
62:41
Hallahan, Jack (7)
Assisted By: Atuahene, Francis
right touchline, lower left finish on lo
78:15
