If junior forward Oliver Martin was nervous before his first start, he certainly didn’t show it.
In addition to scoring the opening goal minutes before halftime, his trickery and confidence proved a constant offensive threat for the Michigan men’s soccer team, helping fire the Wolverines to a 2-0 victory against Bowling Green.
Martin was the infusion of energy that the Michigan offense, struggling to score goals in recent matchups, desperately needed. A talented dribbler, Martin ambitiously attacked Falcons defenders at various points throughout the game, providing a constant sense of danger on the flank and on the edge of the box. In comparison to the oftentimes cautious approach of some of his teammates, Martin wasn’t afraid to attack the box. Off the ball, he worked hard, positioning himself well and tracking up the field, waiting to receive deliveries.
“I do everything I can to get the ball forwards and help the team score goals,” Martin said. “Whether that be attacking players at the top of the box, or picking the ball in our half and getting it to the attacking half, that’s what I’ll do.”
Though Martin was most effective as a flair player against Bowling Green, he took a more withdrawn role when it came to breaking the deadlock. Having spent most of the game operating on the flanks and using his dribbling to create space, Martin made a run into the middle, waiting for a delivery to find him.
In the 43rd minute, the delivery came from senior forward Michael Leon, who launched a soaring cross from the left side of the field. Martin, at just 5-foot-9, wasn’t quite able to outjump the Falcons defender marking him, but he angled himself sideways to head the ball in. The Wolverines had been knocking on the door all half, controlling the ball in the final third and creating a myriad of chances. But it was Martin’s effort that stood out as the moment of the half, the fruit of a dynamic first half performance from the forward.
“I figured the ball is going to get recycled,” Martin said. “So I figured I’d get myself one of those good positions. And I mean, the best position you could be in is within the goal post. So I was in there. The ball got whipped in, and I was fortunate enough to make some good contact with it, and I got in the back of the net.”
Martin’s goal displayed his efficiency — he only took two shots all game, more focused on creating chances for others than for himself. Yet he still managed to find the net. In positioning himself as a poacher, he displayed his versatility as both a creator and a finisher, ultimately proving himself to be a crucial and dynamic component of Michigan’s attack.
Having earned his first ever start for the Wolverines, Martin repaid the faith that Daley and the coaching staff placed in him. And beyond his goal, he played with a sense of confidence and freedom that breathed life into his team.
“The most important thing he did for the group is he gave himself belief,” Daley said. “He gave the team belief in his performance, and now he knows he can contribute, and wants to desperately contribute to help us continue to grow and push for things.”
And with his excellent display, Martin proved that though it was just his first start, he has already begun to define his role in the team.
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