Michigan
Purdue
First Touch #5: U-M to Open B1G Play by Hosting Purdue, Indiana
9/11/2017 6:40:00 PM | Women's Soccer
» Michigan will begin Big Ten Conference play by hosting Purdue on Thursday (Sept. 14) at 7:30 p.m. and Indiana on Sunday (Sept. 17) at 3 p.m.
» General admission tickets for Thursday's Big Ten opener are just $1.
» Sunday's match is the second game of a doubleheader with the men's soccer team, which plays Michigan State at noon. Those games will be featuring some of the area's best food trucks.
» Michigan has not allowed a single goal at home this season, recording four shutouts.
THIS WEEK
Thursday, Sept. 14 -- vs. Purdue (U-M Soccer Stadium), 7:30 p.m.
Tickets | Live Stats
Sunday, Sept. 17 -- vs. Indiana (U-M Soccer Stadium), 3 p.m.
Tickets | Live Stats | TV: BTNÂ |Â Live Video
• Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
• Game Day Information: U-M Soccer Stadium Information | Ticket Information
PROMOTIONS
• Make it a Wolverine Weekend!
• Purdue: Dollar Ticket Day, BCBSM Postgame Penalty Kicks [ more promotions ]
• Indiana: Football Ticket Redemption, Soccer Doubleheader, CBSM Postgame Penalty Kicks, Futbol and Food Trucks, Giveaway -- Michigan Fan Flag [ more promotions ]
The University of Michigan women's soccer team (3-1-3) will begin Big Ten Conference play this week, hosting Purdue (5-2-0) on Thursday (Sept. 14) at 7:30 p.m. and Indiana (4-3-1) on Sunday (Sept. 17) at 3 p.m. at U-M Soccer Stadium.
Sunday's game is the second of a doubleheader with the U-M men's soccer team, which will face Michigan State at noon. Both Sunday matches will be broadcast nationally on Big Ten Network and available online via BTN2Go (cable subscription required).Â
WOLVERINE BITES
• The Wolverines are 50-5-9 at U-M Soccer Stadium over the past six seasons (2012-present), including 3-0-1 this season. Michigan has not allowed a single goal in four home matches this season, recording four shutouts.
• Michigan finished 3-1-3 in its non-conference schedule, facing two top-20 teams in the United Soccer Coaches Poll in No. 11 South Carolina (L, 2-1) and No. 17 Wake Forest (T, 0-0 2OT). Overall, the Wolverines played five opponents ranked in the top 70 according to HERO Sports -- No. 6 South Carolina, No. 8 Wake Forest, No. 26 Ole Miss, No. 47 Washington and No. 68 Santa Clara (current rankings, not at the time of the match). Michigan is currently No. 25 in the national rankings and No. 26 in strength of schedule according to HERO Sports.
• Michigan went 6-2-3 last season in conference play, finishing fourth in the regular-season standings. U-M has finished in the top five of the Big Ten in each of the last five seasons, competing in an extremely competitive 14-team conference. The Big Ten had eight teams in the 2016 NCAA Tournament, the most of any conference in the nation. All 14 Big Ten teams are currently within the top 165 of the HERO Sports Division I rankings, with 11 in the top 55.
• Michigan is 6-2-1 in Big Ten openers under head coach Greg Ryan, including wins in each of the last six conference openers. In 2016, U-M got off to its best Big Ten start in program history, winning each of its first five conference matches.
• Ryan is one of six Big Ten head coaches with at least 10 years of coaching experience in the Big Ten: Greg Ryan (18th season, Michigan 2008-present and Wisconsin 1986-93); Tom Saxton, Michigan State (27th season); Lori Walker-Hock, Ohio State (21st season); Janet Rayfield, Illinois (16th season); Erica Walsh Dambach, Penn State (11th season); and Paula Wilkins (17th season, Wisconsin 2007-present and Penn State 2001-06).
• Michigan has allowed just four goals through seven games this season, which is tied for third in the Big Ten. Rutgers has not allowed a goal this season, while Minnesota is second with three goals against. Michigan, Maryland and Nebraska have allowed four goals each.
• Senior goalkeeper Sarah Jackson ranks second the Big Ten in saves per game, as she has pulled in 20 saves in four matches played for a 5.0 saves per game average. Jackson's .909 save percentage is also second best in the conference.
• Through seven games, eight different players have tallied points for Michigan, led by senior/junior Taylor Timko's eight points on three goals and two assists. Junior Abby Kastroll is second with two goals and two assists, while freshman Sarah Stratigakis leads all newcomers with two goals and one assist. Sophomore Brooke Cilley leads the assist category with five.
• The parents of U-M sisters Alia Martin and Reilly Martin both attended Big Ten schools, with their father Michael attending Purdue and their mother Tami attending Indiana.
OPPONENT PREVIEWS
Scouting Purdue
Under third-year head coach Drew Roff, Purdue has a 5-2-0 record and recently had a four-game win streak snapped at Cincinnati in its last match (L, 2-1). The Boilermakers have posted 16 goals through seven games and are tied for fourth in the Big Ten in goals per game, averaging 2.29 per outing. Redshirt senior Maddy Williams leads the Big Ten with 16 points on six goals and four assists. Freshman goalkeeper Katie Luce has played all but 14 minutes in goal this season, allowing seven goals and making 21 saves in seven matches.
Series vs. Purdue: Michigan is 10-3-4 all-time against Purdue and has not lost to the Boilermakers since 2009. Due to the Big Ten scheduling format, U-M and Purdue did not face each other during the 2016 Big Ten season.
Scouting Indiana
Led by fifth-year head coach Amy Berbary, Indiana finished non-conference play 4-3-1. IU is coming off a 3-3 draw with North Texas, while its most notable win of the season came at No. 23 SMU (1-0). The Hoosiers will open Big Ten play at Michigan State on Thursday (Sept. 14) prior to coming to Ann Arbor on Sunday (Sept. 17). Junior forward Maya Piper has a team-best nine points on four goals and one assist. Freshman goalkeeper Brittany Kopel has played every minute in goal for Indiana, allowing nine goals in eight matches for a goals against average of 1.09. Kopel's 38 saves this season rank second in the Big Ten.
Series vs. Indiana: Michigan leads the all-time series with Indiana, 16-4-3, and has won each of the last six matchups with the Hoosiers. The Wolverines earned a 3-2 victory in Bloomington, Indiana, a year ago as U-M scored two goals in the final 10 minutes to secure the comeback win. Ani Sarkisian scored the game-winning goal in the 88th minute.
UP NEXT
Thursday, Sept. 21 -- at Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.), 6 p.m. CDT
Sunday, Sept. 24 -- at Wisconsin (Madison, Wis.), 1 p.m. CDT
