Haakenson’s Homestate Header Lifts UM to First Win Over Gophers on Road Since 2012

Meredith Haakenson returned to her home state for the first time in her career and notched the match-winner in the 65th minute.
The Victory is UM’s first Big Ten win of the season and improves the Wolverines to a 1-2-0 mark in conference play and 5-1 in road matches.
The win is UM’s fist in Minneapolis since Sept. 21, 2012.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Graduate student Meredith Haakenson‘s goal in the 65th minute lifted the University of Michigan Women’s soccer team to a 1-0 win Thursday night (Sept. 29) over Minnesota at Robbie Stadium. The Victory was the Wolverines’ first in Minneapolis since Sept. 21, 2012.

Minnesota (5-6-1, 1-3-0 Big Ten) nearly scored a minute into the match on a chance in close, but from that point on, UM dominated the duration of the half.

Michigan (6-4-2, 1-2-1 Big Ten) had a trio of prime chances over the next 15 minutes, beginning with a Strike from senior Lily Farkas from the top of the box that was punched over the crossbar. Two minutes later, junior Sammi Woods had a chance in close, while Classmate Kacey Lawrence had a Breakaway opportunity that was stopped as Gopher goalkeeper Morgan Plaschko did well to come off her line and smother the chance.

The middle portion of the half saw the field Tilt UM’s way, as the Wolverines outshot the Gophers 5-1 in the final 30 minutes. The best chance came in the waning seconds of the half, as Farkas smashed another shot from the top of the box that was once again saved by Plaschko.

The Wolverines defended a trio of semi-chances in the opening 10 minutes of the half, but Graduate student Izzy Nino made one of her three stops to keep the match scoreless.

In the 65th minute, UM found its long-awaited breakthrough. Junior Sarah Bridenstine weaved through a pair of Defenders and sent a service from the right flank. It floated in the near post and found a bounding Haakenson, who headed the ball right-to-left for her fourth goal of the season and 20th of her Wolverine career.

Tweet of the Match

65′ |GOAL!

Minnesota native Meredith Haakenson get us on the board!

1:0
#GoBlue?? | #MakeItHappen pic.twitter.com/LeI78H7foo

Michigan Women’s Soccer (@umichwsoccer) September 30, 2022

The UM defense then turned the screws, with centerbacks Margot Ridgeway and Tamia Tolbert as well as holding midfielder Avery Kalitta putting an end to any Gopher chance over the final 25 minutes.

Michigan improves to 5-1 in road matches on the season, and 1-2-1 in Big Ten play. Haakenson’s score was the first in three matches for UM, and a third straight one-goal affair.

Next up, the Wolverines travel to Iowa City to take on Iowa on Sunday (Oct. 2) at 1 pm CDT. The match will be streamed live on B1G+.