Michigan Picks Up Big Ten Victory Over Northwestern

Sunday, September 24

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

5-2-2, 2-1-1B1G

Northwestern

2-7,0-4B1G

Northwestern

Michigan

9/24/2017 3:33:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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By: Scott Kemps

» An inspired effort saw the Wolverines, playing with 10 men for nearly 60 minutes of action, earn a 3-1 win over the Wildcats for a trio of crucial Big Ten points.
» Ivo Cerda scored his second goal of the season in the 31st minute, while freshman Jackson Ragen had the first of his career in the 56th minute. Jack Hallahan iced the match with 37 seconds to play with his team-leading third goal.
» The three goals for the Wolverines tied a season high.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Score: #22 Michigan 3, Northwestern 1
Attendance: 975
Records: U-M (5-2-2 2-1-1 Big Ten), NU (2-7-0, 0-4-0 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Wednesday, Sept. 27 -- vs. Oakland (U-M Soccer Stadium), 7:30 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 22 University of Michigan men's soccer team defeated the Northwestern Wildcats by a 3-1 count Sunday (Sept. 24) at U-M Soccer Stadium behind markers from junior Ivo Cerda, freshman Jackson Ragen and sophomore Jack Hallahan.

The Wolverines (5-2-2, 2-1-1 B1G) bossed possession early on in the match and were rewarded in the 31st minute. Hallahan, who gave the Wildcats (2-7-0, 0-4-0 B1G) fits all day, drew a foul on the right wing. The ensuing set piece was whipped in off the foot of Hallahan and found the head of Cerda, who redirected the service for his second goal of the season, giving U-M a 1-0 lead.

Moments after the goal, junior Francis Atuahene was sent off following a red card, forcing the Wolverines to adjust formation with the one-goal advantage.

U-M doubled its pleasure in the 56th minute, as junior Marcello Borges serviced a ball off a corner that found the head of Ragen. The freshman, at the top of the six-yard box, bounded over a Wildcat defender and finished a header with authority for his first career goal and a 2-0 lead.

A Wildcat goal off the foot of Sean Lynch in the 66th minute cut the Wolverine lead in half. However, the shorthanded U-M defense held strong, not allowing the Wildcats to inch closer.

Hallahan influenced the match once again with less than a minute to go, as he linked up with freshman Mohammed Zakyi. Zakyi collected a ball deep in the U-M defensive third and initiated a counterattack off a Wildcat corner that included the Northwestern goalkeeper. Zakyi then fed Hallahan on the break, and Hallahan outran a defender and converted the empty-netter with 37 seconds to play to ice the match. It was Hallahan's team-leading third goal of the season.

The three goals for the Wolverines tied a season high, a mark that was previously set in the 3-1 win over Cleveland State (Sept. 1).

Tweet of the Game

Watch the highlights as @umichsoccer cruised to a 3-1 win over Northwestern. pic.twitter.com/4g7Nc9eUMJ
— Michigan On BTN (@MichiganOnBTN) September 24, 2017