In Michigan's Friday night match against No. 14 Drake, the men’s soccer team took as many shots, shots on goal and corner kicks as its opponent.

The Bulldogs even committed 15 fouls in the game, leaving the potent Wolverine offense plenty of chances to sink a shot in the back of the net to reward their dominant, statistically-excellent performance.

But as the clock wound down, Michigan looked up to the scoreboard; Drake 1, Michigan 0.

“Overall it’s tough to accept a defeat when in every statistical category you win and you dominate,” Burns said after the game. “But yet they win the one statistical category that counts — scoring. I think it’s the experience of recognizing the game is about scoring goals.”

And goals have been difficult to come by for Michigan, even though the Wolverines (1-1) have kept offensive pressure high in their two games so far this season.

Michigan hasn’t had trouble finding scoring opportunities — the team made nine shots on goal against Drake as well as eight shots on in Wednesday’s overtime win against the University of Detroit.

But even with veteran scoring threats like senior forward Justin Meram and sophomore midfielder Hamoody Saad — two of Michigan's top three scorers last season — on the field at the same time, the Wolverines have struggled to convert the opportunities they create into goals on the scoreboard.

“You’ve got to give everything to score those goals,” Burns said. “We create enough chances, we had enough chances (against Drake). Wasn’t like their keeper played great. Unfortunately we didn’t score one.”

Prior to the two home games this past week, the Wolverines took part in exhibition games in which they experienced similar futility, as Michigan tied West Virginia, 0-0, and Evansville, 1-1, in preseason action.

The Michigan offense has given opponents’ backfields fits in its two regular season games, as it has consistently kept the ball moving on its opposition’s side of the midfield. The Wolverines have set off 53 shots, but only two have found their way past the opposing keeper.

“I think we had a really good match (against Drake),” freshman midfielder Fabio Pereria Villas Boras said. “Of all the matches we’ve played so far, this one was probably the best one. We just didn’t score. We’ve just got to work on finishing.”

By not sinking any of its 26 shots against Drake, Michigan gave its junior keeper Chris Blais an extremely small margin of error to work with. When a deflection led to a Bulldog goal in the 56th minute on Friday, the Wolverines’ offensive efforts became irrelevant.

Michigan needs to capitalize on the set pieces it’s given, as numerous Drake fouls led to un-successful Wolverine corner kicks on Friday.

Meram explained how the Wolverines will need to capitalize on the opportunities they get to put the ball in the back of the net. He further explained how the team is going to work on set pieces a lot more before going into Seattle.

Michigan travels to the Seattle University Tournament this upcoming weekend, looking to rebound from the frustrating Drake loss. The team will play in an unfamiliar environment, and coach Burns warned that his team needs to “pack more intelligence, more defensive intensity and more of a… sneer and an attitude.

“If you don’t bring those things on the road, the opponents can get you,” Burns said.

While the Wolverines controlled the majority of the pace, the intensity, and the opportunities in their loss to Drake, Michigan needs to continue to press opposing defenses to get on the scoreboard early and often this weekend.

The Drake loss may still sting for some Wolverines, which might be just the fire the team needs to continue wearing their opponents’ defense down — and finally "give everything" to convert opportunities of their own.