Michigan to Face Penn State in Big Ten Tournament Semifinals

» Michigan (10-4-4) faces No. 12 Penn State (12-2-3) in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament on Friday (Nov. 15) at 4 p.m. at Ludwig Field in College Park, Maryland. The match will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
» The advancing team will play either Indiana or Maryland in the championship on Sunday (Nov. 17) at 2 p.m.

THIS WEEK
Friday, Nov. 15 -- vs. No. 12 Penn State - Big Ten Tournament Semifinals (College Park, Md.), 4 p.m.
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The University of Michigan men's soccer team (10-4-4) continues its postseason push this weekend, when it faces No. 12-ranked Penn State (12-2-3) in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament on Friday (Nov. 15) at Ludwig Field in College Park, Maryland. The match will begin at 4 p.m., and will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network. Dean Linke (play-by-play) and Jason Garey (analyst) will have the call.

The advancing team will move on to the Big Ten Tournament championship match against either Indiana or Maryland on Sunday (Nov. 17), also at Ludwig Field. That match will begin at 2 p.m.

Team Notes

• The Wolverines are making their third consecutive appearance in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals. Under head coach Chaka Daley, U-M is 7-7-0 in the Big Ten Tournament. Overall, U-M is 15-18-1 in the Big Ten Tournament.

• U-M is at No. 28 in the latest edition of the RPI, released on Monday (Nov. 10). The Wolverines are 2-2-1 against RPI top-25 teams this season, with all three results coming away from home. They have wins at Notre Dame (No. 15) and Maryland (No. 24), and also have a draw at Penn State (No. 12). The 48-team field for the NCAA Tournament will be announced on Monday (Nov. 18) at 1 p.m. on NCAA.com. [ RPI ]

• Six student-athletes received All-Big Ten honors on Nov. 8, highlighted by graduate student Nebojsa Popovic (Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year) and senior Andrew Verdi (Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year). Four men were All-Big Ten first-team choices: Popovic (unanimous), Verdi, senior Jack Hallahan (unanimous) and junior Jackson Ragen. Junior Marc Ybarra made the second team, while sophomore Derick Broche was on the All-Big Ten Freshman Team. [ Release ]

• Senior Andrew Verdi (business administration) and junior Joel Harrison (computer science engineering) were named CoSIDA Academic All-District selections on Nov. 7. They are the sixth and seventh student-athletes from the men's soccer program to receive the honor, and have advanced to the CoSIDA Academic All-America ballot. [ Release ]

• With his game-winning goal against Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals (Nov. 10), senior Jack Hallahan became the third man in program history to surpass 70 career points. He has 71 points on 25 goals (third in school history) and 21 assists (tied for third in school history). On the career points list, he trails only Mychal Turpin (85, 2001-04) and Knox Cameron (72, 2001-04).

• Sophomore Derick Broche has had plenty of clutch moments in his debut season. Of his six goals, three have tied matches (Sept. 13 at Omaha; Nov. 3 at Maryland; Nov. 10 vs. Michigan State) and one was a game-winner (Oct. 9 vs. Detroit Mercy). Additionally, all three of his assists were on eventual game-winning goals.

• The Wolverines have fielded one of the stoutest defenses in the country this season. Since allowing four goals in the season opener on Aug. 30, U-M has only conceded 11 goals in 17 matches. During the Big Ten regular season, it allowed only five goals in eight matches (including two via penalty kick). Collectively, the back line is allowing only 7.7 shots per match and 2.9 shots on goal per match. The Wolverines have eight shutouts (tied for second-most in school history) and rank 21st nationally in team goals-against average (0.81).

• Michigan has 39 assists this season, the fourth-highest total in school history and most since 2010 (49). In that category, U-M ranks 11th in the NCAA and first in the Big Ten.

Opponent Preview

PENN STATE is 12-2-3 and finished second in the Big Ten this season (6-1-1). The Nittany Lions are ranked No. 12 in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll and No. 12 in the RPI. Senior Aaron Molloy (eight goals, six assists) was named Big Ten Midfielder of the Year and was one of three Nittany Lions to earn All-Big Ten first-team honors along with freshman Liam Butts (9G, 1A) and redshirt junior Brandon Hackenburg (1G). Butts, Jalen Watson and Kris Shakes were all named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Shakes (0.66 GAA, 36 saves) and Josh Levine (1.66 GAA, 35 saves) have split time in net this season. They are on an eight-match unbeaten streak (7-0-1), outscoring opponents by a 21-8 clip in that time.

The Wolverines and Nittany Lions played to a scoreless draw back on Sept. 27 in State College, Pennsylvania. The two teams also met in last year's Big Ten Tournament, with Michigan winning, 3-1, in the quarterfinals in Ann Arbor (Nov. 4, 2018). U-M is 2-3-0 all-time against Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament.

Series: U-M is 10-11-4 all-time against Penn State.