Second Half Goals Push Michigan Over Men's Soccer in B1G Opener

Friday, September 14

Piscataway, N.J.

8:00 PM

Rutgers University

1-4-1, 0-1-0B1G

Michigan

5-1-0, 1-0-0B1G

Michigan

Rutgers

Photo by: Rich Graessle

Second Half Goals Push Michigan Over Men's Soccer in B1G Opener

Sep 14 | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Michigan's Umar Farouk Osman scored twice midway through the second half to spoil the Rutgers men's soccer team's 2018 Big Ten Opener on Friday night at Yurcak Field. The Wolverines prevailed, 2-0, in the conference opener for both squads.

It was nearly 30 minutes into the first half before either Rutgers (1-4-1, 0-1-0 Big Ten) or Michigan (5-1-0, 1-0-0 Big Ten) were able to get chances on goal. The Scarlet Knights nearly lit up the scoreboard in the final two minutes of the opening stanza with Brian Hawkins firing away between two Wolverine defenders. The Chesterfield, New Jersey native, however, hit the far post to keep the score knotted at 0-0 entering the intermission.

Scarlet Knight goalkeeper Rafael Pereira came up with a big save 10 minutes into the second half to keep the game scoreless. The Lisbon, Portugal product made a diving save to his left denying the header by Daniel Mukuna and the Wolverine's Jackson Ragen followed by hitting the ball into the near post.

Watch Rafael Pereira keep Michigan off the scoreboard with this incredible save! pic.twitter.com/eY2BVdZWS7
— Rutgers Men's Soccer (@RUMensSoccer) September 15, 2018

Michigan's first goal came in the 62^nd minute with Osman breaking the scoreless stalemate with the left footed shot off a pass from Mohammad Zakyi from 20 yards out into the upper left corner.

Less than four minutes later, the Wolverine added his second score of the night putting away a deflected throw-in by Austin Swiech at the back post.

The Scarlet Knights had two late chances to get onto the scoreboard.

Junior Jordan Hall, who entered the game leading the Big Ten in shots per game, saw an opening from inside the 18 off a pass from Hawkins, but saw his shot go high over the Michigan crossbar in the 72^nd minute.

Then with four minutes to go, Thomas DeVizio sent in a restart from distance at the Wolverine net but saw the ball go wide left.

"I thought Michigan did a very good job keeping possession, winning the loose balls and building and sustaining an attack," said head coach Dan Donigan. "They made us defend for good portions of that game, so credit to them. We have to do a better job of being able to possess the ball, build an attack, sustain an attack and make things difficult defensively. We didn't make good on our opportunities, because we had opportunities to finish and didn't do it. Good teams capitalize on their opportunities. It's little things that you can fix and make better that will get you over the hump."

The Rutgers men's soccer team is back in nonconference action on Tuesday, Sept. 18 versus Marist at 7 p.m.

Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersMensSoccer) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/RUMensSoccer) for all of the latest news and updates. Fans also receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on both social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com. For additional updates, download the Rutgers Gameday App.

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