Michigan
7-1-1, 3-0-1
Northwestern
4-4-2, 0-3-1
Wolverines Notch Road Win at Northwestern, Stay Atop B1G Standings
9/29/2018 11:56:00 PM | Men's Soccer
» Ivo Cerda scored 1:29 into the match and Umar Farouk Osman added his sixth goal of the season in the 34th minute to lead No. 19 Michigan to a 2-0 road win at Northwestern on Saturday (Sept. 29).
» The Wolverines ran their unbeaten streak to eight matches and remain atop the Big Ten standings (10 points, 3-0-1).
Site: Evanston, Ill. (Martin Stadium)
Score: #19 Michigan 2, Northwestern 0
Records: U-M (7-1-1, 3-0-1 Big Ten), Northwestern (4-4-2, 0-3-1 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Wednesday, Oct. 3 -- at Oakland (Rochester, Mich.), 7 p.m.
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Senior Ivo Cerda scored 90 seconds into the match and sophomore Umar Farouk Osman added a goal later in the first half to lead the No. 19-ranked University of Michigan men's soccer team to a 2-0 win at Northwestern on Saturday (Sept. 29) at Martin Stadium. Junior Jack Hallahan assisted on both goals in the victory.
The Wolverines, who ran their unbeaten streak to eight matches, now have 10 points (3-0-1) and sit atop the conference standings halfway through the Big Ten season.
"Any time you can win on the road in the Big Ten, you'll take that every time," said head coach Chaka Daley. "Northwestern provides a pretty unique environment and they certainly made it difficult for us tonight. I thought our midfielders – Robbie (Mertz), Marc Ybarra) and Ivo, certainly, with the goal -- connected the dots really well out there for us tonight. And then our back four were really stellar. On the ground, in the air, they didn't yield much and played a real solid match. A lot of positives for us to take out of this one."
The Wolverines wasted little time getting on the scoresheet, as Cerda found the back of the net just 1:29 into the match. A ball was played out wide to Hallahan, who got around his defender and sent a ball back into the box to Cerda. The Chilean had a fantastic first touch and found some space, slotting a shot past Northwestern goalkeeper Miha Miskovic to give Michigan an early 1-0 lead.
Miskovic was called into action again in the 12th minute, denying senior Noah Kleedtke on a point-blank header. Hallahan's rebound shot was blocked, as was Cerda's, ending the threat.
The Wolverines tacked on another goal in the 34th minute courtesy of Osman, and it was Hallahan who once again served as the creator. The Englishman once again got around his man on the wing and whipped a ball into the far post for Osman, who was there to tap it into the net, making the score 2-0.
Michigan dictated tempo in the first half, holding a 10-1 shot advantage, including six on goal. The match opened up a little in the second half as Northwestern attempted to press forward looking for offense, but the Wolverines kept the ball and kept the Wildcats at bay. Northwestern did not get a shot on goal until the 68th minute, but U-M sophomore goalkeeper Henry Mashburn made the save.
The Wolverines had shots on goal of their own in the 76th and 77th minutes from Hallahan and Osman, respectively, but both were saved by Miskovic. Northwestern's best chance to put one on the board came in the 80th minute off the foot of Mattias Tomasino, but Mashburn kept it out of the top corner. Michigan simply saw the match out over the last 10 minutes to secure the three points.
Mashburn played all 90 minutes, making two saves for his fifth clean sheet of the season.
The Wolverines will be back on the road next week, when they face Oakland on Wednesday (Oct. 3) in Rochester, Michigan. The match will begin at 7 p.m. and will be streamed online via ESPN+.
Team Stats
Ivo Cerda (2)
Assisted By: Jack Hallahan
cut inside box, shot to far corner
1:29
Umar Farouk Osman (6)
Assisted By: Jack Hallahan
cross to back post, tap in
33:15
