Huskies Claim 2-0 Shutout against Parkside Sunday
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Parkside (4-9-2, 3-5-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Michigan Tech (7-5-1, 2-4-0) | 0 | 2 | 2 |
HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech soccer team claimed another shutout on Sunday thanks to a pair of second half goals in a 2-0 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory over Wisconsin-Parkside at Sherman Field. The Huskies kept Purdue Northwest off the board Friday night and have now shutout six opponents in 2018.
"I'm very proud of the team this weekend because we showed up and played really hard in both matches," Michigan Tech Head Coach Michelle Jacob said. "We worked on some things this weekend and executed those really well. Our possession and the opportunities that we gave our forwards were much better and that is something that we had focused in on. I'm really proud that we were able to control the tempo of this game, move the ball forward quickly, and create scoring opportunities."
Michigan Tech (7-5-1, 2-4-0 GLIAC) immediately went on the attack Sunday and in the seventh minute had the first shot on goal of the afternoon. Freshman Grace Shaw fired a blast towards the net that was turned away by goalie Adrianna Bratel. The Huskies then had a pair of attempts go wide and one high before sophomore Jesse Jacobusse got her first crack at the net in the 14th minute. Unfortunately, her strike was also turned aside by Bratel to keep the match scoreless at least for the time being.
The University of Wisconsin-Parkside (4-9-2, 3-5-0 GLIAC) had a couple of chances to put a goal on the board in the opening period as well. Delaney Benich challenged goalie Amanda Young with a strike in the 18th minute followed by another save on a kick by Benich in the 32nd minute. Young closed out the half with her third stop in the 41st minute on strike by Myah Strokosch. Overall, Tech controlled the pace and play of the game in the first half, out-shooting the Rangers 9-4 through the first 45 minutes while keeping most of the action in the attacking third.
In the early moments of the second half, Young made a couple of key stops in the 54th and 55th minutes to keep Parkside off the board. The Huskies knocked on the door again in the 62nd minute with a couple of shots in front of the net. Sophomore Brooke Schauer dropped a corner kick into the box and freshman Gabby Sgambati had a header attempt glance off the crossbar. A follow up attempt was narrowly saved by Bratel before senior Andrea Zubke forced her to make another save a minute later.
The Huskies were finally able to break through for what would be the game winning goal in the 67th minute. Freshman Alicia Shatrau led the charge and fired a strike off the crossbar that bounced back into the field of play. Jacobusse was waiting in the box and headed the rebound in for a 1-0 Tech lead. It was Jacobusse's fifth goal of the season and third of the weekend with two of the goals counting as game winners. Shatrau was credited with her first career assist.
With time winding down in the match, the Huskies were able to add a key insurance goal to put the game out of reach. Shaw collected an errant Parkside pass near the middle of the field and dribbled the ball down the right side to get in position for a shot. Shaw drew to within 11 yards of the net and slipped a shot into the left corner of the net past the keeper in the 81st minute for a 2-0 Tech lead. It was Shaw's eighth goal of the 2018 season and second for the weekend.
Shaw had a team high seven shots and one goal followed by Schauer and Sgambati with four attempts apiece. Jacobusse tallied three shots and had the game winning goal in the second half. Shatrau recorded a pair of shots and had the lone assist on Sunday. As a team, the Huskies held a 30-10 advantage in total shot attempts while claiming a 5-0 edge in corner kicks. Young played all 90 minutes and made eight saves to post her third shutout and seventh overall win of the year.
Benich paced the Rangers with four shots on goal Sunday followed by Viktoria Silva with three total attempts. Bratel made 11 saves and logged all 90 minutes for the Rangers in the contest.
The Huskies return to the field next weekend when they travel to Saginaw Valley State Friday and Ashland Sunday for two more GLIAC matches. The kickoffs for both days are scheduled for 12 p.m. eastern time.
