In a match dominated by defense, highlighted by a career night from senior goalkeeper Sophie Homan and an organized backline, the Michigan women’s soccer team held its ground against No. 22 Ohio State.
The Wolverines defense (3-4-1 overall, 0-0-1 Big Ten) held firm against the Buckeyes (4-1-2, 0-0-1) in their Big Ten opener Friday night, forcing a 0-0 draw.
“It’s always challenging coming on the road, but in particular, they’re a very, very good team,” Michigan coach Jennifer Klein said. “I thought our team’s ability to just be committed to our defending and be committed to our press and make it challenging and difficult for them was really great. And getting the points on the road feels really good.”
The Wolverines needed that resilience from the opening whistle as the Buckeyes nearly broke through just 43 seconds, into the match. but Homan parried away the strike from 25 yards. The Buckeyes controlled possession early with nine first-half shots and four corners. But Michigan’s backline held its shape, limiting Ohio State to just two shots on goal before halftime.
Despite the early pressure, the Wolverines still built momentum late in the first half. Sophomore forward Ella Jablinskey’s 41st-minute effort forced Michigan’s first corner, which deflected into play and drifted outside the box. The Wolverines kept possession, but the half ended scoreless.
The Buckeyes came out firing in the second half with a wave of pressure with four shots in the first two minutes — but Homan again kept Michigan steady. She produced three quick saves as part of a six-save performance that matched her career high, setting the tone for the back line’s resilience and composure for the rest of the half.
“A big credit to the result has to go to Sophie Homan and the performance, just unbelievable,” Klein said. “Her composure in the net, making some really big-time saves, kept us in. She did an amazing job.”
Those stops allowed the Wolverines to grow throughout the game, showing more aggression on offense and threatening on the counterattack. Senior midfielder Jenna Lang ripped a shot from 15 yards in the 55th minute, marking Michigan’s best chance of the half.
But the Buckeyes pushed back late. Ohio State forward Callie Tumilty struck the crossbar in the 81st minute and midfielder Ava Greco nearly stole the match, but Homan’s diving save kept the score intact. So despite late pushes from Ohio State, the Wolverines’ defense and Sophie Homan held firm through every test.
“We didn’t get rattled.” Klein said. “We stayed in the moment, felt like we responded and not reacted, and because of that, we were able to gain some momentum, able to build some better pressure higher up the field.”
By the final whistle, Michigan had survived a 22-13 shot disparity, a 12-2 corner deficit and heavy Buckeye pressure to force a tie 0-0. The result leaves the all-time rivalry perfectly balanced at 15-15-7.
In a heated Big Ten rivalry, Michigan’s grit on defense came up large, and as a result —thanks to the tone Homan set. The Wolverines walked away with a hard-fought point in competitive Big Ten play.
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