Season Preview: 2017 Michigan Men's Soccer
8/14/2017 12:58:00 PM | Men's Soccer
» Junior Francis Atuahene, a two-time All-Big Ten selection, is the first player in U-M history to earn all conference honors in his freshman and sophomore seasons. He owns 18 goals in his Wolverine career, which sits eighth all-time in the U-M record books.
» Fourteen of the 26 student-athletes on the roster have yet to take the pitch in a Wolverine uniform (10 freshmen, one transfer, three rising sophomores that didn't see match action as freshmen).
» Senior Billy Stevens, junior Ivo Cerda and junior Robbie Mertz will serve as tri-captains.
» Michigan opens the 2017 campaign with five straight home matches, bookended by the opener against William & Mary on Friday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m. and concludes with the Big Ten opener versus Wisconsin on Friday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m.
With a strong recruiting class and the return of multiple standouts from last season, sixth-year head coach Chaka Daley will look to pilot the University of Michigan men's soccer team to a special 2017 campaign.
Wolverine Bites
• U-M returns more than 70 percent of its offense from a season ago, highlighted by junior Francis Atuahene (8g, 4a), junior Robbie Mertz (4g, 3a) and All-Big Ten Freshman honoree in sophomore Jack Hallahan (4g).
• Senior Billy Stevens, as well as juniors Robbie Mertz and Ivo Cerda were named team captains for the first time in their careers. Stevens, a three-year starter on U-M's back line, has started all 53 matches he's appeared in. Mertz has earned respect around the conference for his high work rate and has appeared in 35 matches in his Wolverine career. Cerda, a leader on the field and in the classroom, will serve as the metronome of the U-M midfield.
• The incoming recruiting class was ranked No. 9 in the country by CollegeSoccerNews.com and No. 8 by TopDrawerSoccer.com, marking the fourth consensus top-10 class in the Daley era. The group is headlined by 2017 Gatorade High School National Player of the Year in Umar Farouk Osman, as well as Campbell University transfer Daniel Mukuna, who arrives in Ann Arbor with junior eligibility. Other highly touted additions include freshman Mohammed Zakyi, Ann Arbor native Marc Ybarra and Canadian U20 National Team member Joel Harrison.
• The Wolverines will open up the 2017 campaign with five straight home matches. Overall, nine opponents finished last season in the NCAA RPI top-100. Eleven of the matches are of the home variety to go along with six road contests.
• Michigan ranked No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 27 in the NCAA in shots per contest in 2016. The Wolverines will look to improve their fortune in overtime and one-goal matches from a year ago, as the side was 0-5-4 in overtime and 1-8-5 in one-goal matches in 2016.
Breaking Down the Roster
• The Wolverines will boast gobs of skill in the finishing third, as standout contributors Atuahene and Hallahan return. A household name to U-M fans, Atuahene can swing between wing and central attacking roles, while Hallahan will be tasked to have more responsibility after meeting high expectations as a freshman. Zakyi is a potential danger man as an out-and-out center forward, as he possesses great awareness around goal, a solid work ethic and excels in link-up play.
• In the midfield, tri-captain Cerda has great edge and determination according to Daley, and could see numerous partners in the middle of the park. Mertz, who can also play up top, is a huge energizer for the side to go along with his spirit, passion and work rate. A trio of freshman in Ybarra, Osman and Jackson Ragen all possess varying skill sets. Ybarra boasts similar qualities to Cerda, and displays great influence and drive. Osman, who has obvious talent, has great pace, excellent dribbling skills and can work his craft out of the midfield when tasked. Ragen, a 6-foot-4 holding midfielder, has great size, smarts and is a threat on dead ball scenarios. Senior Tristan Jacob has battled injuries the past two seasons but enters this season at full health, is in tip-top physical condition and excels at service from a wide midfield position.
• Two mainstays return at left and right back in the steady and hard-nosed Stevens, as well as junior Marcello Borges. Borges returns to U-M after taking the 2017 spring semester off due to U.S. National Team duty. A member of the preliminary U20 World Cup roster, Borges suffered a minor knee injury and was unavailable for selection to the U20 World Cup this past summer. A highly talented player at numerous positions along the back line, he will be tasked to influence the U-M attack from deeper areas and push forward.
• In central defense, Mukuna, junior Peter Brown and Harrison could vie for starting roles. Mukuna, an All-Big South performer in his time at Campbell, is an excellent ball winner, and is a physical and aerial threat. Brown saw his name in the starting XI in 11 matches last season and, like Harrison, is able to also play holding midfield when called upon.
• With the starting goalkeeper role up for grabs, redshirt senior Grant Mattia and sophomore Andrew Verdi return from last season. Mattia, in his fifth year in the program, has paid his dues for a shot at the starting nod and has seen limited match action. Verdi, a former United States U18 National team member, matured greatly in his initial year as a Wolverine and has more than enough talent to step into the role.
• Verdi, as well as a pair of Wolverine sophomores in forward Lucas Rosendall and defender Abdou Samake, will look to make an impact after being held out of competition during their freshman seasons. Rosendall, who had an outstanding spring season, could see time as an attacking winger, while Samake could push for time in central defense, and provide quality and flexibility the to team.
2017 Schedule
• In Big Ten play, U-M will host two top-25 teams from the final 2016 NSCAA Coaches Poll in Indiana (Sept. 13) and Michigan State (Sept. 17) in the annual Battle for Big Bear. U-M's road slate will be highlighted by matchups at Notre Dame (Oct. 10) and Maryland (Oct. 29), which advanced to the third and second rounds of the 2016 NCAA Tournament, respectively.
• The Wolverines will open up the 2017 campaign with five-straight home matches.
• Eleven matches in 2017 will be at home to go along with six road contests.
• Overall, nine opponents finished last season in the NCAA RPI top-100.
Ticket Information
• Individual and group tickets are on sale for all 2017 home games.
• For group experiences such as high five tunnel, halftime mini games and more, call (734) 647-1268 or email gobluegroupsales@umich.edu.
• Visit the men's soccer tickets page for more information and to purchase tickets.
