Men's Soccer Falls to Tulsa in Home Opener

Friday, August 24

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:00 PM

Michigan

0-1-0

Tulsa

1-0-0

Tulsa

Michigan

Robbie Mertz

8/24/2018 10:09:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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By: Brad Rudner

» Mohammed Zakyi scored his first goal of the season in the 24th minute, but Michigan fell to Tulsa, 2-1, in the home opener on Friday (Aug. 24) at the U-M Soccer Stadium.
» Henry Mashburn played all 90 minutes and made three saves for the Wolverines.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Score: Tulsa 2, #21 Michigan 1
Records: Michigan (0-1-0), Tulsa (1-0-0)
Attendance: 581
Next U-M Event: Monday (Aug. 27) -- vs. South Florida (U-M Soccer Stadium), 7 p.m., Tickets

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 21-ranked University of Michigan men's soccer team opened the 2018 season on Friday (Aug. 24), and fell to Tulsa, 2-1, at U-M Soccer Stadium. Sophomore Mohammed Zakyi scored the lone goal for the Wolverines, who put up 17 shots, seven of which came on frame.

After the Golden Hurricane opened the scoring in the 11th minute, Michigan went on front foot, peppering Tulsa goalkeeper Cooper Clark with a bevy of chances. In the 24th minute, a foul against Tulsa gave the Wolverines a quality chance in an advantageous position right outside the 18-yard box. Zakyi stepped up and beat the wall with a curler that found itself into the back-left corner to tie the match at 1.

Several minutes later, the same scenario occurred, but a rocket from the foot of senior Peter Brown was palmed high. In the 43rd minute, Clark kicked the ball right to senior Robbie Mertz, whose follow-up attempt went high. One minute later, Tulsa went back in front, taking the lead right before halftime.

The Wolverines kept charging in the second half, outshooting Tulsa by an 11-6 margin. They had three close-range chances at the hour mark, the first a shot from senior Ivo Cerda out wide that was saved. Sophomore Umar Farouk Osman followed that up with a header attempt at the back post before another attempt from Cerda was also saved.

In the 73rd minute, off a corner kick, sophomore Jackson Ragen made a great run and put some power on a header, but his attempt skidded just wide of the post. The team's best chance less than a minute later from senior Noah Kleedtke, who chased after a long ball, made a run in behind the defense and tried chipping Clark, but the Tulsa keeper made a backpedaling save, tipping it over the bar. In the 79th minute, Zakyi and Osman attempted to link up again at the far post, but Osman's header went high. It would be the last quality chance for the home side, as the Wolverines played with 10 men for the final nine minutes of play after senior Daniel Mukuna received a second yellow card.

Sophomore Henry Mashburn played all 90 minutes in goal, making three saves.

The Wolverines will return to action on Monday (Aug. 27), when they host South Florida at 7 p.m. It is Dollar Day at U-M Soccer Stadium, with general admission tickets and concessions each just $1. The first 250 fans in attendance also will receive a Michigan Soccer Window Cling.