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Single-elimination tournaments often produce unexpected heroes who rise to the occasion. Amid a remarkable run, the Michigan men’s soccer team found its hero in graduate goalkeeper Ethan Wood.
The seventh-seeded Wolverines (8-3-7 overall, 2-3-5 Big Ten) battled to a 1-1 deadlock in regulation in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament against No. 6 seed UCLA (7-5-6, 3-4-3). The teams remained all square through overtime, and then the Wolverines buried their first four penalty kicks to win the shootout, 4-2, and advance to the conference championship.
Michigan took the early lead thanks to a goal from graduate forward Uriel Zeitz, his first of the season. Graduate winger Bryce Blevins delivered a beautiful cross into the box, putting the ball on a platter for Zeitz, who calmly slotted the ball past the outstretched arms of Bruins goalkeeper Wyatt Nelson.
Michigan’s first real test came in the 54th minute, when UCLA forward Jose Contell was awarded a penalty kick, looking to even up the game at one. In goal for the Wolverines stood a relatively unfamiliar face. Playing just his second game all season, Wood eyed down Contell, hoping to protect the Wolverines’ lead. Wood dove right and blocked the kick, but failed to save the rebound attempt that Contell buried in the bottom of the net. Wood threw his fists down in frustration with the score now knotted at one.
Wood is certainly an underdog story. He played zero minutes last season, his five-year Michigan career consists of seven total matches, four of those coming his freshman year. His only other action this season was one half in a nonconference game against Detroit Mercy, in which he held the Titans scoreless. After no other on-field time this season, he got the start in one of the most important games of the Wolverines’ season after starting sophomore goalkeeper Isaiah Goldson fell ill. But when Michigan needed him most, Wood was ready.
After a back-and-forth 110 minutes of regulation and overtime without a victor, the Bruins and Wolverines went to the penalty spot to decide who would play against Ohio State in the finale. Michigan’s kickers undoubtedly did their job, as Blevins, graduate forward Beto Soto, sophomore midfielder Joao Paulo Ramos and junior defender Nolan Miller all found the back of the net.
However, the definite hero was the revenge-seeking Ethan Wood. Although Contell’s first penalty technically went down as a save for Wood, he still wanted a refund for that rebound goal. Wood dove the correct way on the first three attempts from UCLA, saving one shot. He squared up against the fourth Bruin, knowing a save would clinch the victory.
Wood dove right, corralled the ball with his hands and then emphatically began the celebration by spiking the ball into the ground as his entire team sprinted to his side.
This Cinderella run from Wood matches the Wolverines’ run. Michigan needed four points in its last two matches of the season to even get into the Big Ten Tournament. The Wolverines upset then-No. 2 ranked Maryland 2-0 and drew against Wisconsin to sneak in as the seventh seed in a seven-team tournament.
Their work wasn’t done. With an NCAA tournament bid on the line, the Wolverines shocked No. 2 seed Indiana to reach the semifinals against UCLA. The victory Sunday leads Michigan right back to a historic rival: Ohio State. The nation will hear the headline “Wolverines and Buckeyes battle” once more, this time with a Big Ten Championship on the line.
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