Michigan
Wisconsin
Michigan Set for Big Ten Contest Against Wisconsin, Road Trip to Akron
10/13/2021 10:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
» Michigan returns home looking for a win against Wisconsin.
» The Wolverines then travel to Akron for its final regular-season non-conference contest against the Zips.
» U-M sits fifth in the Big Ten Conference standings.
THIS WEEK
Friday, Oct. 15 -- vs. Wisconsin (U-M Soccer Stadium), 7 p.m.
TV: B1G+ | Live Stats | Live Video
Monday, Oct. 18 -- at Akron (Akron, Ohio), 7 p.m.
TV: ESPNU | Live Stats | Live Video
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team (5-5-2, 2-2-1 Big Ten) returns home to take on Wisconsin (6-2-3, 3-0-1 Big Ten) on Friday (Oct. 15) at U-M Soccer Stadium starting at 7 p.m. before the Wolverines hit the road to Akron (6-3-2) for its final non-conference road test of the regular season Monday (Oct. 18) at 7 p.m.
Wolverine Bites
• Michigan (7 points) is tied with Indiana for fourth place in the Big Ten Conference standings behind Indiana (nine), Maryland and Wisconsin (10), and Penn State (12).
• U-M is averaging 1.41 goals per game and has taken 157 shots, which both rank fourth in the conference, while its 81 corner kicks lead the league.
• Senior Marc Ybarra has somewhat established himself as a penalty-kick king in his five years at Michigan. Ybarra has nine career goals, six of which have been by way of the penalty kick. The senior added his sixth career penalty-kick goal at Penn State. Furthermore, all three of his non-penalty kick goals have been on the road.
• In 12 games this season, U-M has had 12 different starting lineups due to various injuries. The Wolverines have had to overcome adversity and have stepped up to the challenge, as both Brennan Callow and Declan Gaffney scored their first career goals in bigger roles this season. In all, 13 different Wolverines have contributed points this season with eight different goal scorers.
Opponent Previews
Wisconsin
Michigan leads the all-time series 15-8-6
Michigan continues to lead the all-time series against the Badgers, but Wisconsin earned the latest win in the series in the 2020-21 season. U-M is looking for its first win against the Badgers since the 2018 Big Ten Tournament when Ybarra scored a penalty-kick goal in the 20th minute to secure a 1-0 victory and advance the Wolverines.
Wisconsin sits in second, tied with Maryland (10 points) in the Big Ten Conference standings with a 6-2-3 overall record and a 3-0-1 record in conference play. The Badgers are on a four-game winning streak and have not lost a match since Sept. 5, when they fell 1-0 to DePaul. Wisconsin is averaging a goal per game and have only allowed its opponents to score five goals, which averages to just 0.45 goals per game.
Time in the goal has been split between Carter Abbott and Adir Raphael, who each have at least five starts this season. Carter has made 18 saves and has a 0.45 goals-against average, while Raphael has 16 saves and a 0.39 GAA. Offensively, Andrew Akindele has a team-best seven points with two goals and three assists, while Inaki Iribarren has three goals on the season.
Akron
Michigan trails in the all-time series 9-4-0
The Wolverines trail in the all-time series but have not met up with the Zips since the 2013 season, when U-M fell to then-No. 17 Akron 2-1. Michigan's last win against the Zips came in the 2011 season when the Wolverines defeated then-No. 4 Akron 1-0 in overtime.
The Zips are 6-3-2 overall on the season with its most recent loss to Georgia State. Akron is led by Diogo Pacheco, who has five goals and four assists for 14 points, while Dyson Clapier has three goals and two assists on the season. Pacheco has been a threat to the opposition all campaign with 33 shots, 10 of which have been on goal. Clapier has put nine of his 20 shots on frame. In goal, Will Meyer has started all 11 matches with 28 saves and a 0.87 goals-against average.
Up Next
• Friday, Oct. 22 -- vs. Rutgers (U-M Soccer Stadium), 7 p.m. (TV: BIG+)
