Wolverines Grind Out Road Victory at Oakland

Wednesday, October 3

Rochester, Mich.

7:00 PM

Michigan

8-1-1

Oakland

5-4-2

Michigan

Oakland

Noah Kleedtke

10/3/2018 10:04:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Brad Rudner

» Marc Ybarra and Noah Kleedtke both scored to lead the No. 14-ranked University of Michigan men's soccer team to a 2-1 win at Oakland on Wednesday (Oct. 3) in Rochester.
» Senior Noah Kleedtke scored his first career goal in the 59th minute to put the Wolverines ahead, 2-0.
» With the win, the Wolverines extended their unbeaten streak to nine matches.

Site: Rochester, Mich. (Oakland Soccer Field)
Score: #14 Michigan 2, Oakland 1
Records: U-M (8-1-1, 3-0-1 Big Ten), Oakland (5-4-2)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Oct. 7 -- vs. #2 Indiana (U-M Soccer Stadium), 3 p.m., BTN [ TICKETS ]

ROCHESTER, Mich. -- Sophomore Marc Ybarra converted a penalty kick in the final seconds of the first half and senior Noah Kleedtke added a second-half goal to lead the No. 14-ranked University of Michigan men's soccer team to a 2-1 win over Oakland on Wednesday (Oct. 3) at Oakland Soccer Field. The Wolverines extended their unbeaten streak to nine matches with the win.

Oakland came out on the front foot with a chance in the third minute, but Michigan quickly settled into the match and began producing chances. In the 22nd minute, senior Robbie Mertz took the ball to the end line and served it into the box for Jack Hallahan. The junior connected with a header, but Oakland goalkeeper Sullivan Lauderdale did well to go down and save it.

Four minutes later, it was Mertz again creating an opportunity. He sent another cross into the box for sophomore Umar Farouk Osman, who headed it into the air. It fell to senior Ivo Cerda, whose ambitious bicycle kick skimmed wide of the post.

The Wolverines caught a break in the 38th minute when Oakland's Nebojsa Popovic ran through the back line and chipped one over goalkeeper Henry Mashburn, but it bounced off the crossbar and was cleared away.

With 33 seconds to go before half, Michigan was awarded a penalty after Hallahan took on the entire right side of the Oakland defense and was taken down from behind in the box. Ybarra stepped up to the spot and blasted his attempt into the top-right corner past Lauderdale, giving Michigan a 1-0 lead going into halftime.

The Wolverines extended their lead to 2-0 in the 59th minute on the first career goal from Kleedtke. Cerda began the play, putting a shot on net that was saved by Lauderdale. He spilled the rebound for Kleedtke, who did well to slot it past the keeper for the goal.

Following the goal, U-M had glorious chances on back-to-back corner kicks, both header attempts from sophomore Jackson Ragen. The first ricocheted off the crossbar in the 60th minute, while the second -- coming in the following minute -- was saved by Lauderdale. The rebound came to senior Daniel Mukuna, but his follow-up chance was blocked.

Oakland made it a 2-1 match in the 82nd minute off a goal from Popovic, but Michigan did well following the goal to tighten up the defense. It nearly added another in the dying seconds, but Hallahan's shot -- his sixth of the match -- bounced off the post.

Michigan returns to U-M Soccer Stadium on Sunday (Oct. 7) for a clash with No. 2 Indiana in a match with implications on the Big Ten title race. The match begins at 3 p.m. -- following the U-M women's soccer match vs. Penn State at noon -- and will be televised live on the Big Ten Network. The match has been designated as a Maize Out. [ Promotions ]