Michigan
Wake Forest
First Touch #4: Sunday's Military Appreciation Game Pits U-M, Wake Forest
9/6/2017 1:29:00 PM | Women's Soccer
» Michigan will host No. 17 Wake Forest in its non-conference finale on Sunday, Sept. 10, at 2 p.m.
» Sunday's match will mark the women's soccer program's second annual Military Appreciation Game. All active duty and veterans can receive up to four (4) free tickets to this game by using promotions code MILITARY at MGoBlue.com/tickets.
» Through six games, eight different Wolverines have tallied points for Michigan, led by Taylor Timko's three goals and two assists.
THIS WEEK
Sunday, Sept. 10 -- vs. No. 17 Wake Forest (U-M Soccer Stadium), 2 p.m.
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• Game Day Information: U-M Soccer Stadium Information | Ticket Information
PROMOTIONS
• Military Appreciation Day -- Free Military Tickets, Football Ticket Redemption, BCBSM Postgame Penalty Kicks [ more promotions ]
The University of Michigan women's soccer team (3-1-2) will host No. 17 Wake Forest (5-1-0) in its non-conference finale on Sunday, Sept. 10, at 2 p.m. at U-M Soccer Stadium.
Sunday will mark the women's soccer program's second annual Military Appreciation Game. All active duty and veterans can receive up to four (4) free tickets to this game by using promotions code MILITARY at MGoBlue.com/tickets. All fans with tickets from the Michigan vs. Cincinnati football game can redeem their ticket stub at the Michigan Soccer Ticket Office to receive free admission.
WOLVERINE BITES
• Wake Forest is Michigan's second consecutive ranked opponent, as the Wolverines faced No. 11 South Carolina at the Notre Dame Invitational last weekend, falling 2-1. The Demon Deacons defeated South Carolina, 3-2, on Aug. 24.
• Following Sunday's final non-conference match, Michigan will begin Big Ten play, when it hosts Purdue (Thursday, Sept. 14) and Indiana (Sunday, Sept. 17). The Wolverines are 50-5-8 at U-M Soccer Stadium over the past six seasons (2012-present), including 3-0-0 this season.
• Overall, Michigan ranks fourth in the Big Ten in total assists with 14. Sophomore defender Brooke Cilley is tied for first in the conference in total assists with five. Cilley would need four more assists to break into the all-time top 10 for assists in a single season at Michigan. Fifth-year senior Ani Sarkisian is currently fifth on that list after recording 12 assists in 2014 and junior Reilly Martin's 10 assists from last season are tied for seventh. Senior goalkeeper Sarah Jackson leads the Big Ten in saves per game, as she has pulled in 18 saves in three matches for a 6.0 saves per game average. Jackson's .900 save percentage is the second best in the conference.
• Last Time Out: Michigan went 0-1-1 at the Notre Dame Invitational last weekend against a pair of teams that reached the 2016 NCAA Tournament quarterfinals. The Wolverines earned a 1-1 draw against Santa Clara and fell 2-1 against No. 11 South Carolina. Junior Abby Kastroll netted the game-tying goal against Santa Clara to force overtime, while sophomore Jada Dayne tallied U-M's goal against South Carolina. It marked the second goal of the season for Kastroll and Dayne.
• Michigan's strong goalkeeping unit continues to split time in net and has recorded three shutouts and allowed just four goals in six matches. Jackson played all 110 minutes in the double overtime tie against Santa Clara, making four saves, while freshman Hillary Beall got the start against South Carolina and allowed just two goals on 20 shots and made a career-high six saves.
• Through six games, eight different players have tallied points for Michigan, led by senior/junior Taylor Timko's eight points on three goals and two assists. Kastroll is second with two goals and two assists, while freshman Sarah Stratigakis leads all newcomers with two goals and one assist. Cilley leads the assist category with five.
• U-M's core of seven defenders and defensive midfielders -- Cilley (7 games started), Jada Dayne (25 GS), Rubina Veerakone (17 GS), Sura Yekka (13 GS), Alia Martin (6 GS), Lauren Long (4 GS) and Timko (46 GS) -- have quickly meshed as a unit despite having limited experience in those roles. Despite their youth, that group has allowed just four goals and helped Michigan record three shutouts through six matches.
OPPONENT PREVIEW
Scouting Wake Forest
Under 21st-year head coach Tony da Luz, Wake Forest has a 5-1-0 record and is coming off its first loss of the season, a 2-0 setback against Princeton. The Demon Deacons will face Michigan State on Thursday, Sept. 7, prior to coming to Ann Arbor on Sunday, Sept. 10. Freshman Hannah Belfort leads Wake Forest with three goals, while senior Maddie Huster has two goals and two assists through six games. Senior goalkeeper Lindsay Preston has played the majority of time in goal for WFU, allowing four goals and recording 2.2 shutouts in six matches.
Series vs. Wake Forest: Wake Forest and Michigan have never faced off during the regular season, as the only meeting between the two programs came in the second round of the 1999 NCAA Tournament, where the Demon Deacons advanced with a 1-0 victory.
UP NEXT
Thursday, Sept. 14 -- vs. Purdue (U-M Soccer Stadium), 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 17 -- vs. Indiana (U-M Soccer Stadium), 3 p.m.
