Weather Forces Draw With No. 24 Rutgers In Michigan's Big Ten Opener
9/21/2019 6:42:00 PM | Men's Soccer
» Two weather stoppages in the second half forced an early end to Saturday's match with No. 24 Rutgers, with the match ending in a 1-1 draw. Both teams will get a point in the Big Ten standings.
» Nebojsa Popovic put the Wolverines ahead in the third minute, with Jack Hallahan and Christian Pulselli notching assists.
» Rutgers leveled the match in the 25th minute on a penalty kick goal from Jorgen Wisth Lie.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Score: Michigan 1, #24 Rutgers 1
Records: U-M (3-2-2, 0-0-1 Big Ten), Rutgers (5-0-2, 0-0-1 Big Ten)
Attendance: 903
Next U-M Event: Friday, Sept. 27 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), 6 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team played No. 24 Rutgers to a 1-1 draw on Saturday (Sept. 21) at U-M Soccer Stadium after the match was ended in the 72nd minute due to severe weather in the area. Each team received a point in the Big Ten standings.
The Wolverines (3-2-2, 0-0-1 Big Ten) had a dream start to the match, as they scored in the third minute on a play that generated out of the back. They dispossessed Rutgers (5-0-2, 0-0-1 Big Ten) inside their own area and quickly turned to offense. Junior Marc Ybarra freed up senior Jack Hallahan on the right flank. Hallahan played a lovely touch to freshman Christian Pulselli, who played it back to Hallahan and he then served a perfect cross into the box for graduate student Nebojsa Popovic, who scored under the sliding attempt of Rutgers goalkeeper Oren Asher.
WATCH: Nebojsa Popovic scores his fifth goal of the season to give U-M the early lead on Rutgers! One of the prettiest displays of soccer you'll see all season. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/xeUKHFuoZO
— Michigan Men's Soccer (@umichsoccer) September 21, 2019
The Scarlet Knights equalized in the 25th minute, when a foul was called on Michigan inside the box on a corner kick, which gave the visitors a penalty kick opportunity. Jorgen Wisth Lie stepped to the spot and converted despite a correct guess from senior goalkeeper Andrew Verdi.
Michigan nearly went back up right before the end of the first half. Hallahan, moving up the right side again, crossed it into freshman Derick Broche, but his one-timed attempt went just wide of the net.
The Wolverines were on the front foot coming out of halftime. In the 57th minute, Pulselli was in on Asher and tried to beat the goalkeeper at the near post, but Asher made the save to deny him. In the 69th minute, Popovic lifted a ball inside the box to Broche, but Asher was there again and made the sprawling save to keep the match level.
Weather rolled in soon after, forcing a 44-minute lightning delay in the 71st minute. The two teams warmed up and returned to the field, but played only 90 seconds before another delay halted the match entirely. With storms continuing to develop, the decision was made to end the match early.
Michigan will return to the pitch on Friday (Sept. 27), when they continue Big Ten play at Penn State. The match will begin at 6 p.m. in State College, Pennsylvania, and will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
