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With the Michigan women’s soccer team reeling from a rough loss against Penn State, it sought to bounce back with a strong performance on Thursday against Minnesota which was coming off a convincing win.
Despite the Wolverines (1-6-1 overall, 1-1-0 Big Ten) dominating the majority of possession, the Golden Gophers’ (7-0-1, 2-0-0) ability to be clinical in the final third earned them a 3-0 win behind Minnesota forward Khyah Harper.
It was a cagey start to the match, with neither team able to maintain possession of the ball. The constant transitions left both teams vulnerable. However, Minnesota took advantage of that early, netting a third-minute goal to seize the lead.
“We started a bit flat,” Michigan coach Jen Klein said. “We got caught in transition, and they were able to capitalize.”
This theme continued throughout the match. The Wolverines responded well to the deficit, keeping possession of the ball and showing their ability to play between the Gophers’ lines. Michigan maintained composure and kept Minnesota at bay for the rest of the first half. By limiting the Gophers to a one-goal lead, the Wolverines showcased their ability to keep possession in steep competition.
“In terms of our response, I thought it was positive,” Klein said. “What we have to do now is be more proactive in the way that we start the game.”
Michigan controlled the game in the second half, having more possession and many shots on target, but it was unable to capitalize on its chances. However, halfway through the second half, graduate goalkeeper Stephanie Sparkowski had her clearance deflected goalward. Harper pounced on the opportunity and dispatched the ball into the goal making the score 2-0 and solidifying the Gophers’ lead.
Harper’s goal underscored a theme that had been playing out throughout the entire match — being surgical when getting chances. Both teams managed seven shots on target, but it was Minnesota who managed to convert those chances into goals.
“Being more aggressive and clinical is something that we are definitely looking to improve on to generate more high quality chances within the final third,” Klein said.
These chances never came for Michigan, as it kept pushing for a goal but was left vulnerable to counterattacks. Minnesota exploited those opportunities, scoring in the 84th minute through a filibustering run from Harper, who tucked the ball neatly in the bottom corner and put the game to bed.
While the score read 3-0, it was hardly a convincing win for the Gophers. They were very opportunistic, making their chances count when they came. Their athletic forwards ran the channels and created all sorts of problems for the Michigan defense. While this proved to be effective, it was also intermittent, with the Wolverines being in control for the majority of the game.
But when it mattered, Minnesota put the ball in the back of the net, and Michigan didn’t. This highlighted the weakness of Michigan’s defensive structure in transition, which allowed for almost all of the Gophers’ chances.
“For us it’s about finding a way to be a bit more disciplined in the details that are going to allow us to gain some momentum,” Klein said.
Michigan showed flashes of its quality in both halves but didn’t have anything to show for it. The inability to be clinical in the final third coupled with defensive inconsistency in transition cost them the game. If the Wolverines want to get the results that their performances merit, they have to address their inefficiency in front of goal.
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