Since 2020, the Michigan men’s soccer team has failed to win in its season-opening contests. This year, though, the Wolverines finally got that elusive win to start the year in a physical and gritty game.
Michigan (1-0) kept the early-season nerves at bay enough to squeak past Loyola-Chicago (0-1), 1-0, with a second-half goal breaking the deadlock.
Perhaps it was the offseason rust still chipping off, or perhaps it was the first-game nerves, but for one reason or another, Michigan played back on its heels for the early portion of the match. The ball rarely left the Ramblers’ attacking third while the Wolverines just fought to keep the ball from finding the back of the net.
After the first five minutes of the game had the Wolverines-dominated crowd collectively holding its breath, Michigan settled into a rhythm — defensively, at least. The offensive opportunities were yet to come, but slowly the Wolverines crept up the field.
Michigan coach Chaka Daley wants his squad to be able to respond well to adversity, and the first game of the year is their first chance to do that.
“Because of how our last preseason game went, we look for a response,” Daley said. “Our guys gave back to us today.”
Both teams entered half time with nothing to show for their efforts on the scoreboard, but the momentum lay slightly in the Wolverines’ favor. Michigan had seven shots, forcing Loyola’s goalie to make three saves, as opposed to the Ramblers five shots forcing only one save.
Whatever nerves were fluttering around in the Wolverines’ stomachs seemed to dissipate as they trotted out to the pitch to start the second half. The inertia they accumulated in the first half carried over into the second, as they quickly went on the attack.
“I think when I was younger I would get a bit nervy,” senior midfielder Charlie Lawrence said. “Especially the first time I came here for the season-opener against Akron I was a bit like, ‘Wow, it’s a crazy atmosphere here.’ But it’s more exciting than everything.”
Within 15 minutes, Michigan generated three looks at the goal, none of which resulted in a goal on the scoreboard. But the opportunities were presenting themselves, and eventually a goal was bound to slip through the cracks.
And in the 62nd minute, a goal by Lawrence broke the 0-0 tie. On a dump-in pass from junior midfielder Nicholas Cassiday, Lawrence found himself with the ball at his feet five yards out from the goal with just the goalkeeper as a barrier between Michigan and a 1-0 lead. Lawrence calmly tapped the ball into the back right corner of the net as the defense bore down on him, christening the home scoreboard for the first time this season.
The Wolverines settled into a more defensive strategy — the same one that kept Loyola at bay early on — laying back more and protecting the slim lead. But the Ramblers continued to press down on the gas pedal. With about three minutes remaining, Loyola midfielder Luka Ivancic had a great look at the net, but missed wide left.
That blown chance drained the energy from the Ramblers, and the Wolverines drained the clock down to 00:00 securing the season-opening win.
“We got young guys in, and they got some experience,” Daley said. “We got a shutout, and we won the game. For me, that’s as good as it comes out in the season opener.”
One singular game doesn’t determine the trajectory of the season as a whole, but winning the first game of the season goes beyond the 1-0 overall record. It indicates that this version of Michigan, at the least, has the ability to overcome adversity. And for now, they’ll also be content with the undefeated start.
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