EVANSTON, Ill. -- One hundred and ten minutes of scoreless soccer at Lakeside Field ended with the Northwestern Wildcats earning their third draw of the year against the Michigan Wolverines on a chilly first day of Fall.
The game started with Northwestern controlling the majority of the possession, but failing to get many clear shots on goal. The best scoring opportunities in the first half came when a shot by Jeffrey Hopson from 15-yards out thumped off the left post and ricocheted into the middle of the box. From point-blank range, but surrounded by defenders, junior forward Joey Calistri missed the goal wide left on the rebound.
Senior captain Connor Holloway led a strong Northwestern defense that has only surrendered three goals the entire season. He won balls in the air, dispossessed Wolverine attackers and brought a sense of calm to the defensive unit when Michigan put on the pressure.
"[Holloway is] somebody that has played in a lot of these games and understands game management, things like that," head coach Tim Lenahan said. "I thought he did a good job of that. It was a tough, physical game, a very grind-it-out game."
When Michigan was able to put some shots on net, senior goalkeeper Tyler Millersmothered them, finishing with five saves. This is his fifth clean sheet of the season, and his school-record 32nd of his career.
After missing much of his freshman season with a torn ACL, midfielder Brandon Medina is in the process of re-acclimating himself to the offense and the speed of the game. Today, he got the start and had several shifty moves to maneuver through the Wolverine defense. While he has appeared in every game this season, Sunday was just his third start of the year.
"Obviously he doesn't have the same explosion that he had," Lenahan said. "When he gets himself in trouble, he's used to taking a touch and getting away from guys. Now, he can take the touch, but can't get away from those guys. His vision is still pretty good."
The `Cats will be back at it again on Wednesday, when they take on local rival DePaul at Lakeside Field. DePaul (3-3-1) is coming off a double overtime loss to UIC.
The game started with Northwestern controlling the majority of the possession, but failing to get many clear shots on goal. The best scoring opportunities in the first half came when a shot by Jeffrey Hopson from 15-yards out thumped off the left post and ricocheted into the middle of the box. From point-blank range, but surrounded by defenders, junior forward Joey Calistri missed the goal wide left on the rebound.
Senior captain Connor Holloway led a strong Northwestern defense that has only surrendered three goals the entire season. He won balls in the air, dispossessed Wolverine attackers and brought a sense of calm to the defensive unit when Michigan put on the pressure.
"[Holloway is] somebody that has played in a lot of these games and understands game management, things like that," head coach Tim Lenahan said. "I thought he did a good job of that. It was a tough, physical game, a very grind-it-out game."
When Michigan was able to put some shots on net, senior goalkeeper Tyler Millersmothered them, finishing with five saves. This is his fifth clean sheet of the season, and his school-record 32nd of his career.
After missing much of his freshman season with a torn ACL, midfielder Brandon Medina is in the process of re-acclimating himself to the offense and the speed of the game. Today, he got the start and had several shifty moves to maneuver through the Wolverine defense. While he has appeared in every game this season, Sunday was just his third start of the year.
"Obviously he doesn't have the same explosion that he had," Lenahan said. "When he gets himself in trouble, he's used to taking a touch and getting away from guys. Now, he can take the touch, but can't get away from those guys. His vision is still pretty good."
The `Cats will be back at it again on Wednesday, when they take on local rival DePaul at Lakeside Field. DePaul (3-3-1) is coming off a double overtime loss to UIC.