The University of Michigan men's soccer team bounced back from their season-opening 1-1 draw against Notre Dame with an impressive 2-0 victory over UC Riverside at U-M Soccer Stadium in Ann Arbor on Sunday afternoon. Substitute midfielder Quin Rogers proved to be the match-winner, scoring both goals in a dominant display that saw the Wolverines outshoot their opponents 16-7.
The match, played in front of 549 fans on a warm August afternoon, saw Michigan eager to secure their first win of the season after Thursday's frustrating draw with the Fighting Irish. Meanwhile, UC Riverside arrived in Ann Arbor looking to avoid a second consecutive 2-0 defeat in Michigan, having fallen by the same scoreline at Michigan State just three days earlier.
The Wolverines controlled proceedings from the outset, clearly intent on not dropping points at home for the second consecutive match. Despite their territorial dominance and nine first-half shots, they struggled to break down a resilient UC Riverside defense anchored by goalkeeper Andrew Hermosillo, who would finish the match with six saves. The Highlanders, already road-weary from their Michigan swing, set up defensively and looked to frustrate the home side.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 43rd minute when Kevin Meza's foul on a Michigan player resulted in a penalty kick. Rogers, who had entered the match as a substitute in the 29th minute replacing Joao Paulo Ramos, stepped up confidently and buried his spot kick into the top center of the net, giving Hermosillo no chance despite the keeper's best efforts. It was exactly the moment Michigan needed after being held scoreless for over 130 minutes dating back to their Notre Dame match.
UC Riverside, desperate to avoid starting their season 0-2-0 with back-to-back shutout losses in the state of Michigan, came out with renewed energy after halftime. Adrian Diaz and Eric Martinez both threatened early in the second period as the Highlanders sought their first goal of the young season. However, their hopes of mounting a comeback were dashed just six minutes after the restart.
In the 52nd minute, Rogers struck again with a moment of pure quality that sent the home crowd into raptures. "What a STRIKE from Quin! Two for Rogers, TWO for Michigan!!" captured the excitement perfectly as the midfielder unleashed a stunning left-footed shot into the top left corner. The goal, created by excellent build-up play from Michael Ramirez and Oliver Martin, showcased Rogers' technical ability and composure under pressure. It was a strike worthy of winning any match, and it effectively ended UC Riverside's resistance.
The second goal sealed the victory for the Wolverines and condemned UC Riverside to a miserable Michigan road trip. The Highlanders' frustration was evident - they had now been outscored 4-0 across their two matches in the state, unable to find the net against either Michigan State or Michigan.
The physical nature of the contest was evident throughout, with referee Race Williams brandishing nine yellow cards - five to UC Riverside and four to Michigan. The Highlanders saw Tarek Hamideh (4:47), Jakob Schnitzler (68:43), Andrew Hermosillo (75:20), Edward Castro (86:10), and the team itself (50:40 for dissent) cautioned, while Michigan's Duilio Herrera (39:49), Drew Diebolt (74:53), Oliver Martin (86:52 for time-wasting), and Shuma Sasaki (88:41) also entered the referee's book. The chippy play reflected UC Riverside's growing frustration with their winless start and Michigan's determination to protect their lead.
Despite committing 24 fouls between them - 14 by Michigan and 10 by UC Riverside - both teams managed to avoid any red cards in what was a competitive but fair contest. The Wolverines' discipline in defense was particularly noteworthy, with center-backs Will Baker and Nolan Miller both playing the full 90 minutes and helping to limit UC Riverside to just one shot on target, continuing the Highlanders' offensive struggles from their Michigan State defeat.
Michigan's dominance was reflected in the statistics. The home side earned four corner kicks to UC Riverside's three and created numerous scoring opportunities throughout the match. Shuma Sasaki was particularly influential in midfield, registering four shots with two on target during his 63 minutes on the pitch. The Wolverines looked much sharper in the final third compared to their Notre Dame performance, finally finding the clinical edge that had eluded them on Thursday night.
For UC Riverside, Edward Castro was their most threatening player with two shots, including their only effort on target. Eric Martinez also managed two attempts but couldn't find the target, as the Highlanders continued their scoring drought that had now stretched to 180 minutes to start the season. Isaiah Goldson in the Michigan goal was rarely troubled, making just one save all afternoon, a far cry from the busy night Hermosillo endured at the other end.
The impact of Rogers coming off the bench cannot be overstated. In just 43 minutes of action, he scored both goals from his only two shots, both of which were on target. His clinical finishing provided the cutting edge that Michigan had been searching for not just in the first half-hour of this match, but arguably since their Thursday draw with Notre Dame. The tactical substitution by the Michigan coaching staff proved to be the decisive factor in breaking the deadlock and securing the three points.
The victory provides Michigan with momentum heading into their next home match against Creighton on Friday, August 29 at 7:00 PM. After the disappointment of only managing a draw against Notre Dame in their opener, this comprehensive victory against UC Riverside showed the Wolverines' ability to bounce back and dominate opponents at U-M Soccer Stadium. The quick turnaround between matches - just three days - didn't seem to affect Michigan's energy levels, as they outlasted a UC Riverside team playing their second match in four days.
For UC Riverside, the defeat means they head back to California with an 0-2-0 record and having been outscored 4-0 on their Michigan road trip. The Highlanders will have a week to regroup before hosting Air Force at UCR Soccer Stadium on Monday, September 1 at 7:15 PM (local time), desperately seeking their first goal and first points of the 2025 season. The back-to-back defeats against Michigan State and Michigan have exposed defensive vulnerabilities and offensive limitations that need immediate attention.
The contrasting trajectories of the two teams were evident at the final whistle - Michigan players celebrating a job well done after rebounding from their opening draw, while UC Riverside players trudged off knowing their difficult start to the season had continued. The Highlanders' winless streak against Big Ten opposition now stretches back multiple seasons, and breaking that trend seems increasingly difficult given their current form.
As both teams move forward from this opening week of fixtures, Michigan can take confidence from Rogers' impact off the bench and their ability to control matches at home. The Wolverines showed they can grind out results even when not at their fluent best, a trait that will serve them well as conference play approaches. They'll look to make it two wins in a row when Creighton visits Ann Arbor later this week.
For UC Riverside, despite the disappointment of two straight defeats, there were some positives to take from their defensive organization in spells and the performance of goalkeeper Hermosillo, who prevented heavier defeats in both matches. However, the inability to score a single goal across 180 minutes of play against Michigan State and Michigan is a serious concern that needs immediate attention. The Highlanders will hope that returning to the familiar confines of UCR Soccer Stadium can help them kick-start their season against Air Force.
This was college soccer at its competitive best - physical, tactical, and ultimately decided by moments of individual quality. Rogers provided those moments for Michigan, including that spectacular second strike that had the crowd on its feet, and his name will be remembered as the hero who helped the Wolverines avoid a second consecutive home draw and set them on the path to what they hope will be a successful 2025 campaign. Meanwhile, UC Riverside's tough early schedule has left them searching for answers as they prepare to finally return home after a bruising introduction to the new season.