Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Michigan
Wildcats Fall at Michigan, 1-0
9/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 25, 2005
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- In a defensive battle featuring just three combined shots on goal, Michigan scored in the 89th minute to defeat Northwestern, 1-0, Sunday afternoon in both squads' Big Ten-opening contest.
With the loss, Northwestern falls to 4-3 overall on the season, 0-1 in the Big Ten. Michigan improves to 6-2 overall, 1-0 in the conference.
Northwestern's backline stifled any Wolverine attack in the match, not allowing a single shot on goal until the UM score at the 88:53 mark.
The Wildcats' David Roth (St. Louis, Mo./Chaminade) and Kevin Earnest (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) recorded NU's shots on goal in the match, both of which were saved by the Michigan goalkeeper.
Sophomore Will Briley (Longview, Texas/Longview) started and the played the entire match in goal for Northwestern -- the first match-action of his career -- due to an injury to normal starter Misha Rosenthal (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep).
Veteran goalkeeper Justin Pines (Media, Pa./Strath Haven) came into 2005 as the incumbent starter, but was lost for the season after knee surgery earlier in the year.
Statistically the match could not have been much closer. Both teams finished with nine total shots -- five in the first half and four in the second -- and four corner kicks.
Northwestern returns to action at 4 p.m. Wednesday when it hosts Illinois-Chicago at the Leonard B. Thomas Sports Complex.
