Michigan Blanks Bowling Green, Advances to Second Round of NCAA Tournament

Friday, November 12

Ann Arbor, Mich.

6:00 PM

Michigan

16-2-3, 6-2-2

Bowling Green

11-7-3, 8-2-1

Bowling Green

Michigan

Meredith Haakenson (Michigan Photography)

Michigan Blanks Bowling Green, Advances to Second Round of NCAA Tournament

11/12/2021 9:17:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore Photo Gallery

By: Scott Kemps

» Michigan had goals from seniors Meredith Haakenson, Nicki Hernandez and sophomore Kacey Lawrence. Haakenson also added an assist for three points on the night.
» The Wolverine defense was outstanding all night, allowing only five shots with zero coming on goal.
» U-M advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and will host the winner of Sunday's Harvard vs. Wake Forest match on Friday (Nov. 19).

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Event: NCAA Tournament: First Round
Score: #9 Michigan 3, Bowling Green 0
Records: U-M (16-3-3), BGSU (11-7-3)
Attendance: 1,390
Next U-M Event: Friday, Nov. 19 -- vs. Wake Forest or Harvard - NCAA Tournament Second Round (U-M Soccer Stadium), TBA

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 9-ranked University of Michigan women's soccer team defeated Bowling Green 3-0 on Friday night (Nov. 12) in an NCAA Tournament first-round match.

With the win, the Wolverines advance to the second round and will face the winner of Sunday's (Nov. 14) Wake Forest-Harvard contest next next Friday (Nov. 19) at U-M Soccer Stadium. Tickets are slated to go on sale early next week.

Michigan (16-3-3) got on the board first in the 17th minute, as senior Meredith Haakenson marked her third goal of the season. Coming off a corner from classmate Raleigh Loughman, a failed Falcon clearance resulted in Haakenson finding space just outside the six and finished lower-left to give U-M the early 1-0 advantage.

Tweet of the Match

17' | ????!!!

Right place, right time. Calm finish by Haakenson as we take the lead!

1:0
#GoBlue? | #InPursuit pic.twitter.com/vs2XddhV5X
— Michigan Women's Soccer (@umichwsoccer) November 12, 2021

At the half, U-M had a 10-2 shot advantage, keyed by two shots apiece from seniors Sarah Stratigakis, Sydney Shepherd, and junior Dani Wolfe.

Coming out of the half, junior Lily Farkas had a good opportunity two minutes in. She beat a defender, then ripped a left-footed shot that went narrowly high left.

The Wolverines doubled their lead in the 59th minute, thanks to exemplary buildup in the midfield. Loughman played a ball to Stratigakis on the right-center of the pitch. The Canadian's through ball was intercepted by a Falcon defender, but took a fortuitous bounce to Hernandez just inside the box. She then beat a defender and cut in on her left foot, and finished top shelf as U-M put the match away with a 2-0 advantage.

In the 73rd minute, Stratigakis, who was active all night, drew a foul at the top of the box. The set-piece was taken by junior Hannah Blake. Her shot beat the wall, but went narrowly wide right of the goal.

U-M's third and final maker of the night came in the 77th minute, as Haakenson and Anderson connected. A central ball played to Anderson resulted in a stellar cross inside the six that was slotted home by sophomore Kacey Lawrence to bring the count to its final resting place of 3-0.

Senior goalkeeper Hillary Beall earned her seventh clean sheet of the season. U-M ended the night with a 19-5 lead in the shot category, with six shots coming on frame.

Bowling Green (11-7-3) was led by goalkeeper Lili Berg, who made three stops in goal, and Ruby Linton, who had a pair of shots.

U-M improves to 12-1 in NCAA Tournament matches contested in Ann Arbor, and 10-1-1 on the season at U-M Soccer Stadium. The Wolverines also are now 15-2-2 on the campaign when outshooting opponents.

The Wolverines are 12-0-1 when leading at the half, 12-1-1 when scoring the first goal in a contest, and 13-2-3 against unranked opponents on the season.