Wolverines to Host Penn State in Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals

THIS WEEK
Sunday, Nov. 4 -- vs. Penn State - Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals (U-M Soccer Stadium), 1 p.m.
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Fresh off a top-three finish in the Big Ten during the regular season, the University of Michigan men's soccer team (10-4-2) begins postseason play on Sunday (Nov. 4), when it hosts Penn State (6-8-2) in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament at U-M Soccer Stadium. The match will begin at 1 p.m., and will be streamed online and on mobile devices via BTN2Go.

Fans can gain free admission to Sunday's match by showing their ticket stubs from the Michigan-Penn State game on Saturday (Nov. 3). Students can gain free admission by showing their MCard at the U-M Soccer Stadium Ticket Office. A free shuttle will run from the Central Campus Transit Center at noon.

Big Ten Tournamment

The Wolverines finished in a tie for third place with Michigan State (14 points) during the regular season and earned the No. 3 seed on goal differential (the first tiebreaker was the head-to-head result; the teams played to a 1-1 draw on Oct. 23). Indiana is the No. 1 seed, going 8-0-0 and capturing the Big Ten regular-season title. [ Bracket ]

Michigan is 12-17-1 all-time in the Big Ten Tournament. It reached the semifinals last season. The Wolverines are 1-3-0 vs. Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament, last facing the Nittany Lions in the 2010 final (Michigan won 4-1).

If the Wolverines advance, they will play the Wisconsin/Rutgers winner in the semifinals next Friday (Nov. 9) at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana. The match is slated to begin at 3:30 p.m., and will be televised on Big Ten Network.

Vote for Robbie!

Senior co-captain Robbie Mertz is one of the 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award, honoring the best senior student-athlete in college soccer. Fan voting accounts for one-third of the total and is open through Sunday, Nov. 18. The winner will be unveiled at the College Cup in December. [ Vote ]

Team Notes

• With its 2-1 overtime win over Maryland last Sunday (Oct. 28), Michigan reached the 10-win plateau for the second consecutive season. The last time Michigan won at least 10 matches in back-to-back seasons came in 2009 (10) and 2010 (17).

• The Wolverines are the second team out of the United Soccer Coaches poll, receiving votes this week. The win over Maryland vaulted the Wolverines up 13 spots to No. 43 in the RPI, released on Tuesday (Oct. 30).

• Michigan has one of the stoutest defenses in the country, conceding only 13 goals in 16 matches. The school record for fewest goals allowed is 20 (2015). Sophomore Henry Mashburn has been stellar both in organizing the defense, increasing his save percentage (.723 in 2018, up from .583 in 2017) and decreasing his goals-against average (0.78 in 2018, down from 1.37 in 2017). He's made 34 saves in 16 matches this year -- including a career-best six saves in the win over Maryland -- as the back line in front of him have allowed just over seven shots per match.

• With his golden goal against Maryland, junior Jack Hallahan now has 20 career goals at Michigan, eighth best in school history. He has 54 career points, also eighth best in school history. Additionally, he is the fifth player in program history to have back-to-back seasons of 20-plus points, joining Mychal Turpin (2002-03), Knox Cameron (2002-03), Mike White (2002-03) and Francis Atuahene (2015-16).

• Sophomore Umar Farouk Osman is one of the Big Ten's breakout players this season. After collecting two points (on two assists) last year as a freshman, Osman – also known as "UFO" -- has 17 points (seven goals, three assists) this season, fourth best in the Big Ten.

Opponent Preview

PENN STATE is 6-8-2 on the season and went 3-3-2 in Big Ten play. The Nittany Lions ended the regular season with a 2-0 win over Rutgers last Sunday (Oct. 28) in State College, Pennsylvania. They are plus-2 in goal differential on the season (17 goals for, 15 goals against), but have been outshot by a 198-155 margin. Penn State is ranked No. 80 in the RPI. Jeremy Rafanello leads the team in goals (three) and points (seven), while Aaron Molloy and Mac Curran each have six points. Josh Levine has started 13 matches in goal, making 53 saves in net.

Series: Michigan is 9-11-3 all-time against Penn State. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw back on Sept. 21 at U-M Soccer Stadium.