Michigan
1-0-0, 0-0-0
Butler
0-1-0, 0-0-0
Michigan Scores Early, Often in Season-Opening Shutout of Butler
8/19/2021 10:10:00 PM | Women's Soccer
» Michigan improved to 3-0-1 in season-openers under head coach Jennifer Klein and 14-7-7 all-time.
» Hillary Beall and Izzy Nino combined for a clean sheet with five total saves.
» Michigan had five different goal scorers on the night, led by Sammi Woods (goal, assist) and Nicki Hernandez (two assists).
Site: Indianapolis, Ind. (Sellick Bowl)
Score: Michigan 5, Butler 0
Records: U-M (1-0), Butler (0-1)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Aug. 22Â -- vs. Bowling Green (U-M Soccer Stadium), 7 p.m.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team downed host Butler 5-0 in the Wolverines' season opener Thursday (Aug. 19) at Sellick Bowl. U-M had goals from five different players, and goalkeepers Hillary Beall and Izzy Nino combined to make five saves to earn the clean sheet. U-M also improved to 3-0-1 in opening matches under head coach Jennifer Klein.
Michigan (1-0) started slow as the Bulldogs' high press put the U-M back line under duress. However, U-M found life in the 11th-minute, as senior Nicki Hernandez found space on the left flank and threaded a ball to sophomore Sammi Woods top-center. She fed graduate student Raleigh Loughman who finished lower-right with her left foot to give the Wolverines an early 1-0 lead.
The Wolverines doubled their lead in the 34th minute, with Loughman at the center of the action once again. From 25 yards out top-center, she slipped a ball forward that deflected off a Bulldogs defender. Senior Sarah Stratigakis cleaned up the opportunity in front of the mouth of the goal, slotting home an effort with her right foot to run the score to 2-0.
Leading 2-0 over Butler (0-1) at the half, U-M wasted little time coming out of the break to tack on another. Just 32 seconds into the second half, Woods beat a defender 30 yards out with the ball on her left foot and cracked a stellar strike that tucked inside the left post for the fifth goal of her young career and a 3-0 Michigan advantage.
Junior Hannah Blake made it 4-0 in the 61st minute with a clinical finish on Hernandez's second helper of the night. The feed came from the right flank and found Blake, who finished with her right foot.
With just under two minutes to play, Lily Farkas slotted home the fifth and final goal of the contest. The junior found space in U-M's finishing third and put home a right-footed effort bottom-left.
Freshmen Avery Kalitta and Tamia Tolbert made their Wolverine debuts in the win, with Kalitta logging 44 minutes and Tolbert playing 28. Stratigakis led U-M with four shots on the night.
Tweet of the Match
FT: Michigan 5, Butler 0
— Michigan Women's Soccer (@umichwsoccer) August 20, 2021
? 11' Loughman (Woods, Hernandez), 34' Stratigakis, 46' Woods, 62' Blake (Hernandez), 89' Farkas
Clean sheet for Beall/Nino!
We open up the home portion of our schedule Sunday (Aug. 22) at 7 p.m. at U-M Soccer Stadium.#GoBlue? | #InPursuit pic.twitter.com/qyp4Y6bIQO
Michigan will open up the 2021 home slate Sunday (Aug. 22) at 7 p.m. when the Wolverines host Bowling Green at U-M Soccer Stadium. The match will be streamed live on Big Ten Network+ and is highlighted by a "Pups at the Pitch" promotion, with dogs admitted free with the purchase of a human ticket. Fans wanting to bring their pup to the game must register them by Friday (Aug. 20) at noon. » More information
Team Stats
Raleigh Loughman (1)
Assisted By: Nicki Hernandez , Sammi Woods
GOAL by UM Loughman, Raleigh Assist by Hernandez, Nicki and Woods, Sammi.
10:15
Sarah Stratigakis (1)
GOAL by UM Stratigakis, Sarah.
33:53
Sammi Woods (1)
GOAL by UM Woods, Sammi.
45:32
Hannah Blake (1)
Assisted By: Nicki Hernandez
GOAL by UM Blake, Hannah Assist by Hernandez, Nicki.
60:05
Lily Farkas (1)
GOAL by UM Farkas, Lily.
88:16
