Michigan Secures First Big Ten Win of Season at Northwestern

Friday, September 23

Evanston, Ill.

7:00 PM CT

Michigan

3-4-2, 1-1-0

Northwestern

1-5-2, 0-2-0

Michigan

Northwestern

Quin Rogers (Michigan Photography)

Michigan Secures First Big Ten Win of Season at Northwestern

9/23/2022 10:40:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Megan McIntosh

» An Inaki Rodriguez shot from deep that was on target found the bottom left corner of the net in the 31st minute
» Kevin Buca scored the game-winner in the first half.
» Quin Rogers notched his second goal of the season on a penalty kick.

EVANSTON, Ill. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team earned a 3-1 victory over Northwestern on Friday evening (Sept. 23) to capture its first Big Ten Conference win of the 2022 season at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium.

U-M netted two goals in the first half and tacked on a security goal off a penalty kick in the second half to lock up the win over the Wildcats. Graduate student Kevin Buca scored his first goal of the season, while Inaki Rodriguez and Quin Rogers notched their second goals of the year. NU's lone goal came courtesy of a U-M own goal on a failed clear attempt in the first half.

In total, the Wolverines outshot the Wildcats 12-10 and put five shots on goal compared to Northwestern's two. Sophomore goalkeeper Hayden Evans earned his second win of the season and made one save against the Wildcats.

Michigan (3-4-2, 1-1-0 Big Ten) got on the scoreboard in the 31st minute when Inaki Rodriguez sent the ball into the 18-yard box and it bounced off a Northwestern player into the bottom-left corner of the net for a goal that would be credited due to Rodriguez. The Wolverines wasted little time extending their lead to 2-0 when Buca chased down a pass up the field and buried the shot into the bottom-left corner in the 33rd minute.

U-M held onto the two-goal advantage after 45 minutes and tallied five shots in the first half. NU had six shots, but the Wolverines defense kept the Wildcats from putting any of them on frame.

Northwestern (1-5-2, 0-2-0 Big Ten) came within one when it took advantage of a Michigan own goal on a failed clearing attempt in the 50th minute.

Fifteen minutes later the Wolverines struck again as Bryce Blevins worked the ball down the field in the 65th minute, and as he tried to get it to a breaking Buca, the ball hit off the hand of a Wildcat inside the 18-yard box and earned Michigan a penalty-kick opportunity. Rogers was elected to take the kick for U-M and he fired a shot into the upper half of the net to put Michigan up 3-1

The Wolverines gave up just two final shots in the remaining minutes to secure the win.

Michigan continues it road stint Tuesday (Sept. 27) when it makes a short trip to East Lansing, Mich., to take on the Spartans. The match is set for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.