Michigan
11-4-4, 4-1-3
Penn State
12-3-3, 6-1-1
Hallahan's Goal Propels Wolverines Past Penn State, into B1G Tournament Final
11/15/2019 7:26:00 PM | Men's Soccer
» Jack Hallahan scored a brilliant free-kick goal -- his fourth in the last three matches -- to boost Michigan to a 1-0 win over No. 12 Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals on Friday (Nov. 15) at Maryland's Ludwig Field.
» The Michigan defense recorded its ninth shutout of the season, tying a single-season record.
» The Wolverines advance to the Big Ten Tournament final for the second consecutive year. They will face No. 8 Indiana or No. 22 Maryland on Sunday (Nov. 17) at 2 p.m.
Site: College Park, Md. (Ludwig Field)
Score: Michigan 1, #12 Penn State 0
Records: U-M (11-4-4), PSU (12-3-3)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Nov. 17 -- vs. #8 Indiana - Big Ten Tournament Final (College Park, Md.), 2 p.m.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- University of Michigan men's soccer senior Jack Hallahan scored a brilliant free-kick goal in the 62nd minute and the defense pitched its ninth shutout of the season in a 1-0 Wolverine win over No. 12 Penn State on Friday (Nov. 15) in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals at Ludwig Field. With the victory, U-M earned a spot in the Big Ten Tournament final for the second consecutive year, and will play No. 8 Indiana on Sunday (Nov. 17) at 2 p.m. The match will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
Hallahan's goal was his fourth in the last three matches, moving him into sole possession of second place on the school's all-time career points list (73). Additionally, the Wolverines tied the program record for most shutouts in a season (nine), a feat that was achieved only once before in their history (2004).
The first big chance of the match fell to Penn State in the 13th minute. Christian Sload was played in behind the defense, but freshman Owen Finnerty charged off his line to make the sprawling save.
In the 26th minute, junior Austin Swiech dribbled into plenty of space just outside the box before handing off to graduate student Nebojsa Popovic. His shot took a deflection off a Penn State defender and bounced to the near post, but Nittany Lions goalkeeper Kris Shakes went down to his left to touch it out for a corner kick.
Michigan was awarded a free kick right outside the box in the 34th minute. Popovic stepped up to take it, but his shot caught the wall. It rebounded out to Hallahan, whose follow-up attempt sailed high of the bar. Penn State outshot Michigan, 4-2, in the first half, but the teams were scoreless going into the break.
The second half belonged to the Wolverines. In the 62nd minute, Popovic broke in behind the defense and appeared to have a one-on-one chance at net, but Shakes made contact with him far outside of the box, drawing a yellow card and giving Michigan a golden free-kick opportunity. Hallahan stepped up to take it and struck the ball beautifully, curling it over the wall and into the net off the post.
WATCH: Jack Hallahan puts Michigan ahead in the Big Ten Tournament semifinal with this lovely curling free kick. What a beauty! #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/wRIDNClABC
— Michigan Men's Soccer (@umichsoccer) November 15, 2019
Hallahan remained dangerous in the match's final stretch even as Penn State threw numbers forward. In the 81st minute, he cut in on his left near the box and fired one to the far post, but Shakes beat him to the spot. Two minutes later, Hallahan did the same thing, but his cross was just out of reach for junior Mohammed Zakyi.
The Nittany Lions had several free kicks and corner kicks in the final 10 minutes, but the Wolverine defense held them all off to secure the win. Finnerty made two saves in the shutout.
Team Stats
Jack Hallahan (1)
GOAL by UMI Hallahan, Jack.
61:46
