The Michigan men’s soccer team kicked off its quest for the NCAA title Thursday, hosting Robert Morris in a single-elimination game. The Wolverines outlasted the Colonials to advance to the round of sixteen in the College Cup.
Michigan initially struggled with sloppy passes and aimless corners. However, the Wolverines’ (8-4-7) ability to subdue Robert Morris (9-6-3) in the second half helped them outlast the Colonials, winning 2-0.
“We were better in the second half than we were in the first because we caused more problems,” Michigan coach Chaka Daley said.
The Wolverines displayed a promise in the opening two minutes, advancing the ball in front of Robert Morris’ goalkeeper for an early golden opportunity, but no one could get a boot on the ball to finish the shot. In the first ten minutes, Michigan continued to find itself deep in the Colonials’ defensive zone, but couldn’t get a shot through the Robert Morris defense. Despite maintaining possession of the ball more, the Wolverines had no shots on goal to show for it.
However, a feed from graduate defender Bryce Blevins set up sophomore defender Matthew Fisher for an easy-tap in goal 12 minutes into the contest. If there was a serendipitous way for Fisher’s first goal as a Wolverine to come, opening the scoring in the College Cup was it.
The Colonials sprung right back into play, penetrating Michigan’s defense three consecutive times, leaving sophomore goaltender Isaiah Goldson to bail his team out. The Wolverines’ aggressive defense proved detrimental, as Robert Morris continued to draw free kicks right in front of Goldson, leaving him to once again clean up shots.
Growing hungry to even the score, the Colonials continued to pressure Michigan, but to no avail. On the other side of the field, the Wolverines failed to create scoring opportunities, or even a shot, after Fisher’s lone goal. Even with an abundance of free kicks, Michigan’s offense went twenty minutes without developing a play. The Wolverines offense continued to apply pressure earning back-to-back corner kicks, but they were unable to capitalize on either.
“If you’re getting corners, that means you’re carrying the game,” Daley said. “You’re in good possession, you’re putting them under pressure.”
Creeping up on halftime, the Wolverines took their eighth corner kick but still couldn’t solve Robert Morris’ defense. While the scoreboard showed shots tied at 4-4, the numbers didn’t tell the entire story. The Colonials created quality chances that put Goldson to work, whereas Michigan’s off-target passes and miscommunications put its narrow lead in jeopardy.
The first half faults seeped into the second half as the Wolverines watched their passes get picked off or roll out of bounds. A huge chance came for Michigan as it was awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area, but once again, the play was stomped out before the Wolverines could finish a shot.
Michigan’s pressure in front of Robert Morris’ goalkeeper gradually improved, generating chances, but the Wolverines couldn’t find the back of the net to cushion its narrow 1-0 lead. After almost 70 minutes without a goal, sophomore forward Duilio Herrera turned around Michigan’s bad ball luck. With a whistling shot, Herrera was the hero that gave the Wolverines a sigh of relief increasing their lead to 2-0.
The Wolverines didn’t exactly win on offense. The difference between the halves, rather, was the Michigan defense holding the Colonials to just one second half shot.
“I think we got over that in the second-half,” Daley said. “Now we just say we’re absolutely delighted to move on and play another day.”
Although there is room to improve before their next challenge against No. 5 Dayton in the round of sixteen, the Wolverines excelled in the second half to survive the Colonials.
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