Ann Arbor, MI – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Michigan Wolverines kicked off their 2025-26 men's soccer campaigns with an intense 1-1 draw at U-M Soccer Stadium on Thursday night, treating 1,400 fans to a physical, tightly-contested match that featured seven yellow cards and plenty of drama.
First Half Fireworks
The opening 45 minutes provided all the scoring action, with both teams finding the net in an eventful first half. Notre Dame struck first in the 26th minute when Diego Ochoa finished a well-worked play, assisted by Ian Shaul, to give the Irish a 1-0 advantage.
However, the lead was short-lived. Michigan's Shuma Sasaki responded just 11 minutes later, converting a pass from Will Baker in the 38th minute to level the score at 1-1 heading into halftime.
Defensive Second Half
The second period saw both teams tighten up defensively, with neither side able to break the deadlock despite Michigan's offensive pressure. The Wolverines dominated the shot count in the second half, outshooting Notre Dame 7-0, but Irish goalkeeper Blake Kelly stood tall when called upon, making crucial saves to preserve the draw.
Michigan finished with a commanding 13-4 advantage in total shots and earned six corner kicks to Notre Dame's three, but couldn't find the breakthrough against a resilient Irish defense.
Physical Battle
The match's intensity was evident in the foul count, with 11 fouls called against Notre Dame and 15 against Michigan. The referee reached for his pocket seven times, showing yellow cards to both teams as tempers flared throughout the contest.
Looking Ahead
Both teams will look to bounce back from the draw with victories in their next outings. Michigan hosts UC Riverside on Sunday at 2:00 PM (streaming on B1G+), while Notre Dame returns home to Alumni Stadium to face IU Indy on Sunday evening at 7:30 PM.
The draw leaves both traditional powers searching for their first win of the season, but the competitive nature of Thursday's match suggests both squads have the quality to compete at a high level this fall.