The Michigan women’s soccer team started off hot — winning back-to-back games with a mix of late-game heroics and offensive firepower. But against tougher competition in the form of Alabama on Thursday, the Wolverines faltered. If Michigan wanted a chance to salvage its SEC road trip with a win against Georgia, the Wolverines needed to reset, and do so fast.
Yet for the second game in a row, Michigan’s (2-2) subpar play against the Bulldogs (3-1) mirrored its match versus the Crimson Tide. Unable to control the ball or pace of play, the Wolverines lost handedly to Georgia, 3-0.
Omnipresent even in their wins, Michigan has struggled to come out of the blocks hot.
After a misplaced header gave the ball right to the Wolverines in the middle of the field, a simple one-time pass to unguarded senior forward Kali Burrell would have put her in a prime scoring location. However, that pass was played too late and too far, resulting in a goal kick instead of a shot on goal.
While Michigan’s sloppy play continued, the Bulldogs found their rhythm. Finally, after two shots sailed high, Georgia forward Summer Denigan slotted the ball in the upper 90 from over 20 yards out to make it 1-0. Suffocated by Georgia’s offense, the Wolverines were backed into their defensive third and couldn’t find a way out.
“In moments where we would regain the ball we just turned it over too easily, too much transition to transition,” Michigan coach Jennifer Klein said. “So we gotta be better in those moments, once we regain, valuing the ball for a little bit longer, so we can get higher at the field and showcase our ability on the ball.”
By the end of the first half, the Wolverines managed to generate only one shot while the Bulldogs racked up five.
Down a single goal going into the second half, Michigan had another chance to reset and find their footing. However, the Wolverines came out in the second half flat-footed yet again as Denigan recorded her second goal of the match in the 48th minute.
“We have to find a way to start the second half a bit better,” Klein said. “(Now) it’s two games in a row we’re giving up goals a little early.”
Georgia continued their offensive showcase, firing 10 shots with half of them on goal throughout the second half. Eventually, in the 70th minute, the Bulldogs secured their final goal of the match as yet another shot from outside the box was placed into the same upper left corner as the first goal.
Still stuck in its defensive third for the rest of the half, Michigan mounted no successful counterattacks. Even Michigan’s top goal-scoring strikers, sophomore Elle Ervin and junior Gabrielle Prych, failed to put a shot on net. Without anyone else stepping up, the Wolverines’ offense was stifled, as only senior forward Taylor Brennan managed to put a shot on target.
Off days are a statistical certainty for any given team. However, the ability to recognize what’s going wrong and how to reset during those days is a skill that Michigan needs to harness. The Wolverines have the talent to compete with teams like Georgia, but if they can’t control the little things, pace and possession, winning those matches on those days becomes a dimmer and dimmer possibility.
Off days are a statistical certainty for any given team. However, after the loss to Alabama, Michigan needed to recognize what went wrong and how to reset. The Wolverines had the talent to compete with Georgia, but their inability to control the little things, pace and possession, made a win on Sunday a dimmer and dimmer possibility until the final whistle made it an impossibility.
