Michigan
7-4-3, 2-1-2
Notre Dame
7-6-1, 1-5-0
Popovic's Late Penalty Goal Lifts U-M to First Win at Notre Dame
10/22/2019 10:17:00 PM | Men's Soccer
» Nebojsa Popovic converted a penalty kick with 1:15 to play in the match to lift Michigan to 1-0 win over Notre Dame on Tuesday (Oct. 22) in South Bend.
» The win is the program's first victory in South Bend and a boost to the team's NCAA Tournament resume.
» Andrew Verdi made five saves in net for his seventh shutout of the season.
Site: South Bend, Ind. (Alumni Stadium)
Score: Michigan 1, Notre Dame 0
Records: U-M (7-4-3), UND (7-6-1)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Oct. 25 -- vs. Wisconsin (U-M Soccer Stadium), 6 p.m.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Graduate student Nebojsa Popovic converted a penalty kick with 1:15 remaining in regulation to lift the University of Michigan men's soccer team to a 1-0 win over Notre Dame on Tuesday (Oct. 22) at Alumni Stadium. It was the program's first win over the Fighting Irish in South Bend.
The result was an important one for the Wolverines' NCAA Tournament resume. Not only did they snap a two-match skid and exact a bit of revenge after Notre Dame ended their season in the NCAA Tournament a year ago, but it gave U-M a road win over an RPI top-30 opponent. Michigan also got a boost to its lineup Tuesday, as it welcomed back senior Jack Hallahan, who missed the previous two matches, and junior Mohammed Zakyi, who played 29 minutes off the bench in his first action since Sept. 6.
Michigan would not have gotten the result without another fantastic defensive performance. Senior Andrew Verdi was brilliant, making a season-high five saves while recording his seventh clean sheet.
The Wolverines got off to a lively start. In the 12th minute, junior Austin Swiech recycled a ball back into the box that junior Carlos Tellez got a head on, but Notre Dame goalkeeper Duncan Turnbull did well to pedal backward and make the one-handed save.
Sophomore Derick Broche, in particular, had a strong start to the match with three shots in the opening 33 minutes. In the 16th minute, he made a move to get around a defender, but his shot went wide. Seven minutes later, he cut in on his left foot and looped a shot to the near post, but Turnbull went down to his right to make the save.
Verdi made a beautiful save in the final minute of the first half, denying Notre Dame's Patrick Coleman after his shot was rocketed to the far post, and the match was scoreless at halftime.
The Michigan goalkeeper continued to stand his ground in the second half. In the 56th minute, Notre Dame's Tyler Shea got around the defense and had a one-on-one opportunity, but Verdi went down and punched away the chance. In the 67th minute off a Notre Dame corner kick, Senan Farrelly rose up to head the cross, but again Verdi punched it away. A minute later, Ian Aschieris broke inside on his left foot and fired a shot, but he hit it right at Verdi.
The Wolverines gathered steam and went on the front foot in the closing stages of the match. In the 86th minute, Hallahan crossed a ball into the box that Ragen headed on to junior Joel Harrison. The Canadian ran onto it but did not hit it cleanly and sent it wide of the frame. In the 89th minute, just before the game-deciding penalty kick, Popovic nearly ended it, but his shot bounced off the left post.
The penalty kick was awarded to Michigan after Hallahan cut just inside the box and was tripped. Popovic stepped up and converted, but the match was not over. With 15 seconds left, a ball was whipped into Michigan's box for Coleman, whose ensuing shot deflected off Swiech. Shouts for a hand ball were waved off by the official, who showed a straight red card to Notre Dame's Philip Quinton for dissent. The Wolverines cleared the ball down the field and celebrated the victory.
Michigan will face a quick turnaround for its next match, returning to Big Ten Conference play when the Wolverines host Wisconsin on Friday (Oct. 25) at U-M Soccer Stadium. The match will begin at 6 p.m. and will be streamed live on BTN Plus. Prior to the match, the program will honor its five-man senior class on the field in a special ceremony. There also will be a US SOCOM parachute jump during halftime (weather permitting).
Team Stats
Nebojsa Popovic
MIC Nebojsa Popovic PENALTY KICK GOAL.
88:45
