Michigan to Open Season Against Marshall, Utah Valley

Thursday, August 22

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:30 PM

Michigan

Marshall

Michigan to Open Season Against Marshall, Utah Valley

8/20/2019 10:30:00 AM | Women's Soccer

By: Megan McIntosh

» Head coach Jennifer Klein enters her second season at the helm of the Wolverine program; she finished her first season with a 9-9-1 overall record and a 5-5-1 Big Ten record.
» The Wolverines return two of their top-three scorers from last season as well as three backline staples and their entire goalkeeper contingent.
» Klein first recruiting class includes eight freshmen to round out the 2019 roster. The newcomers include six forwards, one defender and one goalkeeper.

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PROMOTIONS
• Aug. 22: Poster giveaway, postgame kicks
• Aug. 25: Schedule magnet giveaway, World Cup Day, postgame kicks, postgame autographs, face painting, Kids Go Blue Club Day
• Full Promotions Schedule

The University of Michigan women's soccer team will open the 2019 season on Thursday (Aug. 22) at 7:30 p.m., when it plays host to Marshall at U-M Soccer Stadium. The Wolverines will then welcome Utah Valley to U-M Soccer Stadium on Sunday (Aug. 25) at 2 p.m.

Wolverines in Season Openers

• Since the Michigan women's soccer program began in 1994, the Wolverines hold a 12-7-6 all-time record on opening day.
• Michigan has gone 8-2-3 overall when opening its season at home.
• The Wolverines are 14-6-5 in the first home contest of a season and have opened the last 10 seasons in Ann Arbor.

Series History Against Marshall

• Michigan and Marshall meet for just the second time in the history of the programs.
• The Wolverines defeated Marshall, 4-1, at U-M Soccer Stadium on Aug. 21, 2016, in the lone meeting between the teams.

Looking at the Herd

• Marshall finished 2018 with a 5-9-3 overall record and was 3-6-1 in Conference USA.
• The Herd scored 21 goals last season with the sisters Farah Abu-Tayeh and Marah Abu-Tayeh leading the team in goals and assists. Marah led Marshall with eight goals, while Farah collected five assists.
• Goalkeeper Lindsay Langley made just two appearances in 2018.

Series History with Utah Valley

• Michigan and Utah Valley will meet for the first time in the history of the programs.

A Glance at Utah Valley

• Utah Valley went 5-14-2 in 2018 and played to a 3-4-1 record in the Western Athletic Conference.
• Utah Valley looks to Sadie Brockbank to lead the offense after she tallied 20 points (eight goals, four assists) in 2018.
• Utah Valley will have a new goalkeeper after it lost its lone starter from a season ago. The Wolverines have four keepers that could see time this year.

Key Returners

• Juniors Nicki Hernandez and Sarah Stratigakis return for their third season after leading the team with 22 and 17 points, respectively. Hernandez scored a team-best eight goals and had a team-high six assists, while Stratigakis collected seven goals and three helpers. The duo was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region second team, while Stratigakis also earned All-Big Ten second-team honors.
• Junior Alia Martin returns after she scored two goals and added three assists in 11 matches last year, while sophomores Meredith Haakenson and Raleigh Loughman seek to make a bigger impact offensively.
• On the defensive end, Jada Dayne, Janiece Joyner and Sura Yekka will anchor the backline after helping the team to five shutouts in 2018. Joyner started 18 of Michigan's 19 matches as a freshman last season, as she played 1,591 minutes and earned Big Ten All-Freshman team honors. Yekka played in all 19 matches (18 starts) while Dayne played in 10 matches (nine starts) after she suffered injuries early in the season.
• Between the pipes, Hillary Beall and Izzy Nino return after they split the 2018 season. Beall tallied four wins for the Wolverines, including a 2-0 shutout of then-No. 17 Wisconsin in her first game back on the pitch; Nino had five wins -- two of them shutouts. Beall made 34 saves for a .756 save percentage.

Newcomer Breakdown

• Head coach Jennifer Klein added eight newcomers in her first Michigan recruiting class.
• The freshman class is made up of six forwards, one defender and one goalkeeper.
• The incoming class is geographically diverse and features players from the United States, Canada and New Zealand. The U.S.-based players hail from six different states -- Arizona, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey and Texas.
• The class includes internationally capped players who have made appearances for both youth and senior national teams as well as players with a long tenure at the top levels of the U.S. Olympic Development Program, U.S. Club id2 Program and the U.S. Soccer Training Center Program with their related regional combines.
• The new Wolverines have been recognized at the United Soccer Coaches All-America and all-state levels, and also have garnered two different Golden Boot winners (one United States Youth Soccer Association and one World Cup International).
• Hannah Blake, Lily Farkas, Jayde Riviere and Danielle Wolfe look to make an impact for the Wolverines immediately on both sides of the field.
• Blake, Farkas and Wolfe look to strike offensively for the Wolverines following stellar prep careers, while Riviere will help on the backline after playing for the Canadian World Cup team in June.
• Klein also brings in outside backs Lauren Brideau and Claire Dawson along with holding midfielder Emily Leyson and goalkeeper Katherine McElroy, who will all look for minutes this season for the Maize and Blue.

Three Wolverines Earn Big Ten Preseason Honors

• Michigan was tabbed to finish fifth in the Big Ten Conference after it placed eighth in 2018 and earned the last spot in the Big Ten Tournament.
• U-M returns eight players on its roster that started in double-digit matches as well as its entire goalkeeper corps.
• Juniors Hillary Beall, Nicki Hernandez and Sarah Stratigakis were named to the Big Ten Preseason Honors List after having breakout sophomore campaigns.
• Hernandez and Stratigakis led the team with 22 and 17 points, respectively. Hernandez scored a team-best eight goals and had a team-high six assists, while Stratigakis had seven goals and three helpers. The duo was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region second team, while Stratigakis earned All-Big Ten second team honors.
• After returning from an injury and a brief stint with the U.S. U-20 World Cup team, Beall earned notched four wins in 2018 including a 2-0 shutout over No. 17 Wisconsin in her first start. She also made 34 saves in her 10 starts a season ago.

Preseason Recap

• Michigan took to the field for one exhibition match, a 1-0 overtime loss to Big Ten foe Iowa on Friday (Aug. 16).
• U-M and Iowa played two 35-minute halves and a 30-minute overtime period to prepare for the upcoming campaign.
• The Hawkeyes scored the lone goal of the match in the closing two minutes of overtime.
• Michigan took nine shots, four of which landed on goal.

Ticket Information

• Individual and group tickets on are sale for all 2019 home matches.
• For group experiences such as high five tunnel, halftime mini games and more, call (734) 647-1268 or email gobluegroupsales@umich.edu.
• For more information on purchasing tickets, visit the women's soccer ticket page.