6A — Thursday, September 29, 2016
Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

ELIZABETH XIONG/Daily

Junior goalkeeper Evan Louro (left) and senior defender Lars Eckenrode (right, #6) lifted Michigan to its first win of the season in 10 tries against Detroit on Wednesday. Louro delivered his second clean sheet of the season.
Wolverines record first win, snap nine-game winless skid

After overtime losses and missed 

chances, flurries of shots and little 
to show for it, 10 hard-fought 
games 
and 

a 
season’s 

worth 
of 

frustration, 
the Michigan men’s soccer team 
finally has its first win.

The Wolverines (0-4 Big Ten, 

1-6-3 overall) defeated Detroit 
on a rainy Wednesday night, 2-0, 
to conquer their first win since 
Halloween last year.

“It’s been a long time coming,” 

said 
Michigan 
coach 
Chaka 

Daley. “I think we’ve dominated 
the roll of the ball (this season), 
dominated the good chances in 
the game, dominated possession 
in quite a few games. We’re 
obviously 
pleased 
with 
the 

performance, pleased that we 
scored 
some 
goals, 
pleased 

that we got a shutout and still 
continue the same mantra: one 
game at a time.”

The game started off as many 

have this season, with Michigan 
heavily controlling possession 
but lacking the creativity to finish 
in the final third. They came into 
the game having outshot nine 
of their 10 opponents, but tied 
for 184th nationally in scoring 

offense, averaging just .67 goals 
per game.

As the first half progressed, 

Michigan began pushing the 
tempo and creating more chances, 
though it faced the proposition 
of heading to the locker room 
without a goal for the ninth time 
this season.

But with two minutes until 

halftime, 
sophomore 
forward 

Francis Atuahene changed that 
misfortune when he rose above 
his defender and headed the ball 
into the right corner. The sense of 
relief from players and fans alike 
was palpable.

The goal gave Michigan a lead, 

but it meant more for the team 

mentally, given the offensive 
struggles and bad breaks that 
have defined the season to date.

“Goals change 

games,” 
said 

Daley. 

Added 

sophomore 
midfielder Robbie 
Mertz: “It did feel 
different coming 
into half with a 
one-goal 
lead. 

It was definitely 
a 
different 

mentality.”

With 
a 
newfound 
energy, 

Michigan maintained — even 
increased — its possession and 

intensity in the beginning of the 
second half. In the 49th minute, a 
beautiful cross-field through ball 

by 
sophomore 

defender 
Peter 

Brown landed at 
the feet of senior 
defender 
Rylee 

Woods. 
Woods 

darted past the 
right back and had 
his shot deflected 
toward the feet 
of 
Mertz, 
who 

made no mistake 
in adding a second 

goal to put the game out of reach.

The consistently stout defense 

helped the Wolverines cruise 

from there toward a clean sheet 
and a much-needed 2-0 victory.

Michigan will now try to earn 

its second win of the season 
on Sunday, when it hosts Penn 
State. And despite the adversity 
that has plagued the Wolverines 
for much of the season, Daley 
remains optimistic about the 
talent on the team.

“We’re 
certainly 
exciting, 

with some of the young guys — 
with (freshman forward) Jack 
Hallahan, Robbie Mertz, Francis 
Atuahene, (sophomore midfielder) 
Ivo Cerda,” Daley said. “They’re 
excellent, young, exciting players 
who are finding their way. And we 
still have half a season to go.”

Atuahene sparks Michigan with goal

Michigan 
forward 
Francis 

Atuahene’s 
unyielding 
attack 

continues.

The sophomore scored a goal 

on four shots in Michigan’s 
(0-4 Big Ten, 1-6-3 overall) 
2-0 victory over Detroit (0-2-1 
Horizon, 1-5-3 overall).

Atuahene, the 2015 Big Ten 

Rookie of the Year, has been a 
fixture in the starting lineup since 
joining the Wolverines, starting in 
22 of his 25 games played. In those 
games, Atuahene has been on the 
attack, demonstrating his speed, 
aggressiveness and passion.

“I’ve been playing soccer since 

I was very little, and that’s what 
brings joy to me,” Atuahene said. 
“I get excited when I’m on the 
field, and I’m passionate about it.” 

His jubilance and dominance 

have been evident since his 
rookie campaign, during which 
the Ghana native led Michigan 
in goals (10), shots on goal (28) 
and total shots (66). His stellar 
offensive impact led to him being 
awarded the 2015 team MVP.

Atuahene hasn’t slowed down in 

his second season. The sophomore 
currently ranks first in the Big 
Ten, and third in the nation, with 
2.29 shot attempts per game prior 
to Wenesday night’s game.

And 
even 
with 
defenses 

tailoring their game plans to stop 
Atuahene, he still leads Michigan 
with three goals this season. In an 
offense that has been stagnant at 
times, one couldn’t tell by watching 
Atuahene. He constantly moves 
around, looking for openings and 
playing with enthusiasm.

Wednesday, that energy was 

pivotal for the Wolverines, who 
picked up their first win of the 
season. 
Atuahene’s 
constant 

pressure paid off in the 43rd 
minute of the first half, when he 
cut down the right side of the 
field and scored a header off of a 
corner kick by junior midfielder 
Tristan Jacobs. The goal ignited 
the Michigan side going into the 
second half.

“Scoring a goal just before 

halftime really gave the team 
a good lift and something to 
hang onto,” said Michigan coach 
Chaka Daley. “Francis went in 
and attacked (the service) and 
smashed it in the back of the 

goal. I think it was perfectly 
constructed from a set-piece 
situation.”

Atuahene’s 
success 
at 
the 

collegiate level shouldn’t come 
as a surprise based upon his 
impressive prep career. Atuahene 
got his collegiate opportunity 
through the Right to Dream 
Academy, a program that gives 
young African soccer players 
better exposure by bringing them 
to the United States.

Through 
the 
program, 

Atuahene 
was 
granted 
a 

scholarship 
to 
play 
for 
The 

Hotchkiss School in Connecticut. 
There, he performed well enough 
to be the second-ranked senior 
in the country on College Soccer 
News’ player ranking.

Atuahene has made the most 

of the Right to Dream program 
and is very appreciative of the 
opportunity.

“Not everyone gets to play 

for the University of Michigan,” 
Atuahene said. “Any time I’m on 
the field competing for my school 
and competing for my team, 
I’m very excited and I’m very 
energetic. I want to win for my 
team and just enjoy the game.”

Atuahene scores late in first half, defense holds Detroit without a shot in second half; ‘M’ earns first victory since Oct. 31, 2015

MAX MARCOVITCH

For the Daily

HUNTER SHARF

For the Daily

DETROIT
MICHIGAN 

0
2

ELIZABETH XIONG/Daily

Senior midfielder Brett Nason played all 90 minutes of Michigan’s win against Detroit on Wednesday.

“It did feel 

different coming 

into half with a 

one-goal lead.”

