Michigan Takes Down Penn State to Advance to B1G Tournament Semifinals

Sunday, October 31

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan

13-3-3, 6-3-2

Penn State

11-7-0, 5-5-0

Penn State

Michigan

(Michigan Photography)

Michigan Takes Down Penn State to Advance to B1G Tournament Semifinals

10/31/2021 4:08:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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By: Scott Kemps

» Michigan held a 2-0 lead at halftime, scoring twice in the opening 21 minutes of the contest.
» The victory gives U-M two wins over Penn State in a season for the first time in program history.
» The Wolverines advance to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament, which will take place Thursday (Nov. 4) at 4 p.m. against Purde

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Score: #17 Michigan 3, Penn State 1
Event: Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals
Records: U-M (13-3-3), Penn State (11-7-0)
Attendance: 801
Next U-M Event: Thursday, Nov. 4 -- vs. Purdue - Big Ten Tournament Semifinals (Piscataway, N.J.), 4 p.m. (TV: Big Ten Network)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The third-seeded University of Michigan women's soccer team knocked off sixth-seeded Penn State 3-1 on Sunday (Oct. 31) in a Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal match at U-M Soccer Stadium.

Michigan (13-3-3) got off to a flying start with three shots in the opening 10 minutes. U-M was rewarded for its efforts in the 10th minute off a corner. Senior Raleigh Loughman played a right-footed service from the near touchline, finding leaping classmate Nicki Hernandez who slotted home a header into the top-left portion of the net for her seventh goal of the season and a 1-0 Wolverines lead.

Tweet of the Match

21' | GOAL!!!

Tolbert/Hernandez to Loughman with the CLINICAL finish.

2:0
#GoBlue? | #InPursuit pic.twitter.com/rjK4yWj3kF
— Michigan Women's Soccer (@umichwsoccer) October 31, 2021

U-M doubled its lead in the 21st minute with exemplary buildup play down the left flank. Freshman Tamia Tolbert found Hernandez, who cut in on her right foot and fed Loughman at the top of the box. Loughman then finished with her left foot, far-post, to give U-M the 2-0 lead.

The Maize and Blue carried the 2-0 lead into the half, along with a shot advantage of 12-4 and five shots on goal, compared to two for Penn State.

U-M held a Nittany Lion offense that averaged two markers per contest to only one goal -- surrendered in the 86th minute -- and allowed 10 shots. Senior goalkeeper Hillary Beall made five saves in goal.

Sophomore Kacey Lawrence iced the match with just over 30 seconds to play, as she connected with junior Hannah Blake for her second goal of the year to bring the contest to the final resting place of 3-1.

Loughman now has at least one point in five of the last six matches played and 22 points on the season. U-M totaled 22 shots and improve to 12-2-2 when outshooting teams on the year. The win also marks the first time in program history that U-M has beaten Penn State twice in one season.

Michigan advances to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals for the second time in three seasons. The Wolverines will take on second-seeded Purdue on Thursday (Nov. 4) at 4 p.m. at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, N.J.