Michigan
Princeton
Michigan to Host Princeton to Begin NCAA Tournament
11/13/2018 2:18:00 PM | Men's Soccer
THIS WEEK
Thursday, Nov. 15 -- vs. Princeton - NCAA Tournament, First Round (U-M Soccer Stadium), 7 p.m.
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Fresh off a run to the Big Ten Tournament final last week, the University of Michigan men's soccer team (12-5-2) received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and will host Ivy League champion Princeton (10-5-2) on Thursday (Nov. 15) at U-M Soccer Stadium. The match is slated to begin at 7 p.m.
Tickets for Thursday's match are on sale. Prices are $8 (reserved), $6 (general admission adults) and $3 (students, groups of 10-plus people). Tickets are available online or by calling the Michigan Athletics Ticket Office at (866) 296-MTIX.
The winning team will advance to the second round and face No. 7-seed Notre Dame on Sunday (Nov. 18) in South Bend, Indiana.
NCAA Tournament History
The Wolverines are in the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time in program history (2003, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2017, 2018). Additionally, they are in the field for the second consecutive year, a feat achieved only once (2003-04).
Michigan is 7-6-1 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, including a 5-1-0 record in matches played in Ann Arbor. The lone loss came last season, a 3-2 setback to Colgate in the second round. The Wolverines have advanced beyond the second round in three of their six appearances, reaching the Elite Eight in 2003, the Sweet 16 in 2008 and the College Cup in 2010.
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 Nov. 19. The winner will be unveiled at the College Cup in December. [ Vote ]
Team Notes
• Michigan's 1-0 win over Wisconsin in last Friday's (Nov. 9) Big Ten Tournament was the program's 12th victory of the season, matching last year's total. It is the first time the program has won at least 12 matches in back-to-back years. It has been a highly successful two-year stint, as U-M has gone 24-11-4 with a Big Ten championship (2017) and two NCAA Tournament berths.
• Senior co-captain Ivo Cerda was named a Google Cloud Academic All-District selection last Thursday (Nov. 8), as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). [ Release ]
• The match against Princeton on Thursday will be Michigan's 13th this season at U-M Soccer Stadium. Since the start of last year, U-M is 17-6-2 at home.
• Four student-athletes received All-Big Ten honors on Nov. 2. Junior Jack Hallahan was Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and a unanimous All-Big Ten first team selection. Senior Robbie Mertz joined Hallahan on the first team, while sophomore Umar Farouk Osman and senior Marcello Borges were named to the second team. [ Release ]
• Jack Hallahan (eight goals, eight assists; 24 points) and Umar Farouk Osman (9G, 3A; 21 points) are the first pair of Michigan teammates to collect 20-plus points in the same season since Soony Saad (43 points) and Justin Meram (42 points) in 2010.
• Michigan has fielded one of the best defenses in the program's 18-year history, conceding 17 goals in 19 matches. The school record for fewest goals allowed in a season is 20 (2015). Sophomore Henry Mashburn has played every minute in goal this season, increasing his save percentage (.696 in 2018, up from .583 in 2017) and decreasing his goals-against average (0.86 in 2018, down from 1.37 in 2017). He has made 39 saves, as the back line in front of him has allowed just under seven and a half shots per match.
• The Wolverines are plus-18 in goal differential this season. They have scored 35 goals, fifth-most in school history and most in a single season since 2010 (53; the school record). Fourteen players have recorded at least one point this season.
• The Wolverines have found depth as the season has gone on, as 15 players have started at least one match. Senior Noah Kleedtke, who came into the year having played 12 career matches, has 12 starts this season alone, scoring three goals. Junior Lucas Rosendall (eight starts) has provided valuable minutes whether he has been a starter or a reserve, while junior Abdou Samake has started the last four matches in place of Daniel Mukuna.
Opponent Preview
PRINCETON is 10-5-2 and received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by virtue of winning the Ivy League. The Tigers have a stingy defense, allowing only 11 goals and limiting opponents to just eight shots per match. Four players have at least four goals: Sean McSherry (four goals, four assists), Kevin O'Toole (4G, 4A), Jeremy Colvin (5G) and Gaby Paniagua (4G, 1A). Goalkeeper Jacob Schachner has started 15 matches and made 37 saves. This is the 10th NCAA Tournament appearance for Princeton, and its first since 2010.
Series: Thursday will mark the first meeting between Michigan and Princeton.
