Michigan women’s soccer defeats Nebraska 3-2

After consecutive losses to start conference play, the Michigan women’s soccer team was searching for answers. The Wolverines took to their home field for the first time in two weeks, looking to flip the script. Hosting its first Big Ten matchup of the season, Michigan looked to be aggressive early. 

The Wolverines (2-7-1 overall, 1-2 Big Ten) and Nebraska (3-6-0, 0-3), both looking for their first conference victory, entered with a sense of urgency in hope of making a statement. And after the Cornhuskers provided the Michigan defenders with an early test of possession, the Wolverines responded by controlling the ball for majority of the game, propelling them to a 3-2 win.

As the Cornhuskers brought strong defensive pressure, Michigan struggled to string multiple passes together. Nebraska played at a fast pace, tiring out the Wolverines’ defense early and earning the first corner kick of the game. Following the corner, the Wolverines failed to get the ball out of the box, allowing Nebraska to jump out to a 1-0 lead with an early goal.

Looking to overcome its deficit, Michigan began to maintain possession by slowly building an attack. It didn’t take long for the Wolverines to respond. Nearly one minute after falling behind, junior midfielder Abby Zugay took a strike that deflected off of a Nebraska defender and over the goalkeeper into the back of the net. 

After knotting the game at one, Michigan pushed with an aggressive approach to match the high pace and maintain momentum. The Wolverines relied on their spacing to shift the defense, and in doing so, found significant space on the outside. Capitalizing on that space on the outside, Michigan junior midfielder Abby Zuggay fired a pass into the middle that found the feet of junior forward Jenna Lang. Without hesitation, Lang fired the ball past the goalkeeper and gave the Wolverines their first lead of the game.

“First and foremost, I really wouldn’t have been here without all of us working together as a team,” Lang said. “But honestly, it’s just capitalizing in those moments around the box and wherever the ball finds my foot, hopefully I can get a shot off.” 

After three goals in as many minutes, the action decelerated. Still, each team stayed aggressive and looked to move quickly. After Nebraska controlled possession in the Wolverines’ half, it inched closer to the box and seemed poised to even the score later in the first half. A shot came inches from crossing the line, but sophomore midfielder Lily Bosley laid out to send the ball out of bounds for another corner. Just like the Cornhusker’s first goal, they converted on the corner and the game was squared at two. 

A first half that witnessed four goals contained many momentum shifts. The latter part of the half was less eventful and became a game of keep away.

Michigan began the second half the same way it did the first: with high intensity. The Wolverines controlled the majority of possession while playing in the attacking third. This allowed Michigan to dictate the pace and scan all parts of the field while looking to attack Nebraska’s defense.

Further, the Wolverines’ persistent possession eliminated the counter attack. After allowing seven shots in the first half, their defense stepped up, allowing only one second-half shot.

Maintaining possession for most of the second half, Michigan’s offense eventually broke through. In the 62nd minute, the Wolverines quickly strung together multiple passes, moving forward with the numbers to attack. They moved within the box, and a shot off the post led to a Michigan goal on the rebound by junior defensemen Taylor Brennan.

Retaking the lead, the Wolverines never looked back and captured a much needed victory.

“The big thing is, you have to come out and compete,” Michigan coach Jen Klein said. Nebraska is a team that’s going to come out and compete until the very end. And, so, I loved our team’s response.”

In its first conference win of the season, Michigan controlled possession and remained aggressive. Looking to overcome the early deficit, the Wolverines made adjustments to propel them back in the win column.

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