Michigan
2-1-2, 0-0-0
Cincinnati
1-3-1, 0-0-0
U-M Extends Shutout Streak to Three With Clean Sheet Against Cincinnati
9/3/2023 4:12:00 PM | Women's Soccer
» Senior Sammi Woods scored the only goal of the game in the 35th minute.
» Senior Stephanie Sparkowski recorded her third straight clean sheet with four saves, marking the first time since the 2016 season U-M has had three straight shutouts.
» Michigan was outshot 9-7 in the first half, but took control of the contest in the second with a 10-4 advantage and owned 17-13 margin overall.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team defeated Cincinnati 1-0 on Sunday (Sept. 3) at U-M Soccer Stadium to mark its third straight shutout. Senior Sammi Woods scored the lone goal of the match in the 34th minute.
Michigan (2-1-2) had an early opportunity on the counterattack in the 10th minute, but a shot from freshman Gabrielle Prych went just wide of the net. In the 14th minute, a service into the box from senior Kacey Lawrence led to a few close calls, but the Wolverines were unable to find the back of the net.
Cincinnati (1-3-1) had a few shots on goal early in the first half, but a pair of saves from senior goalkeeper Stephanie Sparkowski kept the game scoreless. In the 29th minute, Cincinnati nearly scored the first goal of the game as a header off a corner kick hit the crossbar and deflected out of bounds.
Michigan took the lead in the 34th minute on the lone tally of the match when Woods chased in on an assist from junior Avery Peters. Peters played a long ball in the air through the Cincinnati defense and found Woods, who flicked the ball up and over the Cincinnati goalkeeper into the back of the net.
U-M had another close chance one minute later, but the ball from sophomore Taylor Brennan went just wide of the goal.
The second half began with another opportunity for Woods only a minute in, but her header went across the goal and wide.
In the 61st minute, a harsh tackle from a Cincinnati defender gave Michigan a free kick deep in the offensive zone. Woods took the free kick, serving the ball into the box and finding freshman Campbell Jewell, whose header went wide of goal.
Sophomore Jenna Lang took a shot from distance in the 65th minute, but her effort was saved by the Cincinnati goalkeeper.
In the 74th minute, the Bearcats had their strongest scoring opportunity of the second half, but Sparkowski came up with a big save to preserve Michigan's lead.
In the 84th minute, Michigan gained possession on defense and connected a series of passes to move the ball up the field. A shot from sophomore Kali Burrell gave Michigan a great scoring chance, but Cincinnati's Anna Rexford made a diving save to keep the ball out of the goal.
Tweet of the Match
34' | ????
— Michigan Women's Soccer (@umichwsoccer) September 3, 2023
Peters with a stellar service out of the back, finished by Woods.
1:0#GoBlue?? | #OurWay pic.twitter.com/S1WI9EFVVi
Sophomore Sierra Sargent made her Wolverine debut, logging 21 minutes. Junior defenders Avery Peters and Tamia Tolbert played the full 90.
The clean sheet for Sparkowski is her third in as many matches, and marks the first time since 2016 that the Wolverines have recorded three consecutive shutouts in a season.
Next up, the Wolverines will trek to South Bend, Ind., to take on No. 15 Notre Dame on Thursday (Sept. 7) at 7 p.m.. The matchup will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra.
Team Stats
Sammi Woods (2)
Assisted By: Avery Peters
GOAL by MICH Woods, Sammi Assist by Peters, Avery.
34:01
