First Touch #5: U-M Returns Home to Face Penn State, Ohio State

THIS WEEK
Friday, Sept. 21 -- vs. Penn State (U-M Soccer Stadium), 7 p.m.
BUY TICKETS | Live Stats | Watch: BTN Plus | Listen: WCBN
Tuesday, Sept. 25 -- vs. Ohio State (U-M Soccer Stadium), 7 p.m
BUY TICKETS | Live Stats | TV: ESPNU/WatchESPN

PROMOTIONS
• Penn State: Alumni Day, Parachute Jump
• Ohio State: "Go Blue, Wear Maize" Game

• Ticket Central | Season Promotions | U-M Soccer Complex

• Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

The No. 21-ranked University of Michigan men's soccer team (5-1-0, 1-0-0 Big Ten) will return home for a two-match week at U-M Soccer Stadium, facing Penn State (2-4-0, 1-0-0 Big Ten) on Friday (Sept. 21) and rival Ohio State (1-5-1, 0-1-0) on Tuesday (Sept. 25). Both matches will begin at 7 p.m.

Friday's match against Penn State will be streamed live via BTN Plus, while a radio broadcast will be provided by WCBN. The program will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 1998 Club National Championship Team. Tuesday's match against Ohio State will be shown to a national audience on ESPNU with Glenn Davis and Devin Kerr on the call.

Team Notes

• The Wolverines enter the weekend on a five-match win streak, outscoring opponents by a 13-2 margin and scoring two goals or more in each contest. U-M's last five-match win streak came last season, between from Oct. 14-Nov. 5.

• Sophomore Jackson Ragen was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday (Sept. 18), and was also named to TopDrawerSoccer.com's Men's Team of the Week. He played in all 90 minutes on defense in the team's shutout wins over Marquette (3-0) and Rutgers (2-0) last week.

• The Wolverines are tied for first in the Big Ten in goals allowed (four) and third in the Big Ten in goals scored (14).

• After receiving votes in last week's poll, Michigan is back in the United Soccer Coaches' Top 25 this week, entering at No. 21. [ Poll ]

• Sophomore Umar Farouk Osman leads the team in points (10) and is second in the Big Ten in goals (four). Last week, he scored two goals against Rutgers and assisted on a goal in a win over Marquette. Offensively, seven players have scored at least one goal this year, with sophomore Mohammed Zakyi, junior Jack Hallahan and senior Robbie Mertz all scoring two goals.

• Defensively, the Wolverines have recorded shutouts in four of their five wins. During their five-match win streak, the Michigan defense has permitted a total of seven shots on goal. Sophomore Henry Mashburn has played every minute in net, making eight saves.

Opponent Preview

PENN STATE is 2-4-0 on the season and 1-0-0 in Big Ten play after the Nittany Lions defeated Ohio State, 3-1, in its conference opener on Sunday (Sept. 16). Jeremy Rafanello has two goals on the season, while Aaron Molloy, Ethan Beckford, Mac Curran and Stephen Kenney all have one each. Beckford was an All-Big Ten Freshman Team selection last year. Josh Levine has started all six matches in net, posting a 1.14 goals-against average and a .731 save percentage (19 saves). Penn State is coached by Jeff Cook, who is in his first year in State College.

Series: The Wolverines are 9-11-2 all-time against the Nittany Lions. Michigan won last year's matchup, 2-1, in double overtime. Jack Hallahan produced the game-winning goal with 38 seconds left in the contest.

OHIO STATE is 1-5-1 on the season and 0-1-0 in Big Ten play, falling to Penn State in its Big Ten opener on Sunday (Sept. 16). Prior to coming to Ann Arbor, the Buckeyes will host Northwestern on Friday (Sept. 21). Jake Scheper, Joshua Jackson-Ketchup and Devyn Etling all have one goal for Ohio State. Goalkeeper Parker Siegfried has played every minute in goal, posting a 1.26 GAA and a .735 save percentage (25 saves). The Buckeyes are coached by Brian Maisonneuve, who is in his first year in Columbus.

Series: The Wolverines are 8-13-1 all-time against the Buckeyes. Michigan won last year's matchup, 2-0, in Columbus. Jack Hallahan had a goal and an assist, while Mohammed Zakyi also scored.

Up Next

Saturday, Sept. 29 -- at Northwestern (Evanston, Ill.), 8 p.m. CDT
Wednesday, Oct. 3 -- at Oakland (Rochester, Mich.), 7 p.m.