Source: Mgoblue.com
Posted: Sunday, November 01, 2009 6:50:00 PM EST
Published: Sunday, November 01, 2009 6:54:13 PM EST
Posted: Sunday, November 01, 2009 6:50:00 PM EST
Published: Sunday, November 01, 2009 6:54:13 PM EST
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Senior/junior forward Matt Schmitt (Muskegon, Mich./Reeths-Puffer) scored the "golden" goal in the 102nd minute of action to send the University of Michigan men's soccer team to a 1-0 double overtime victory over No. 12 Northwestern on Sunday at the U-M Soccer Complex.
Schmitt, who scored his second goal in as many games, was in the right place at the right time for the game winner. On the previous possession, the Wolverines had back-to-back blocked shots from junior forward Justin Meram (Shelby Township, Mich./Yavapai College), one of those shots deflected off of the goalpost onto Schmitt's foot, who put it just past Northwestern's Misha Rosenthal to give U-M head coach Steve Burn's his 100th career victory and the 100th program victory.
Junior/sophomore midfielder Adam Shaw (Lone Tree, Colo./Highlands Ranch) and senior forward Mauro Fuzetti (Houston, Texas/Stratford) led the way for the Wolverines with four shots each. Junior/sophomore goalkeeper Chris Blais (Seattle, Wash./Kennedy Memorial) made four saves on the afternoon and earned his sixth shutout of the season.
The Wolverines were knocking on the door throughout the second half and both overtime periods and it looked like U-M was going to get the victory in regulation with a goal from Meram in the final seconds. Meram put a shot just past Rosenthal but it was called back with a handball call from the referee. Northwestern also had two quality opportunities in the second half to get on the board. The first was a shot from Drew Pavlovich that hit the post and rolled out of bounds and the second was a header on a corner kick from Piero Bellizzi that went just over the crossbar.
The teams entered the second half deadlocked at 0-0 after a first half that was a typical Big Ten slugfest. U-M and Northwestern put on a battle with both teams playing an evenly matched game on both sides of the ball. Neither team registered a shot on goal until the 25th minute of the half when Michigan freshman defender Brian Klemczak (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson) hit a shot from the right side that was scooped up by Rosenthal. From that point the teams seemed to battle back on forth on both sides of the ball but the Wolverines seemed to have the upper hand in terms of possession and registered several shots on goal.
Northwestern's Oliver Kupe looked like he was going to give the Wildcats the early 1-0 lead after breaking through the U-M defense but Blais made a point blank save, one of his four of the game, to keep the game knotted at 0-0.
The Wolverines were able to control the midfield in the first half. Junior midfielder Alex Wood (Northville, Mich./Northville), getting his first start of the season, was able to serve several spectacular long balls through the midfield and Shaw really proved to be U-M's workhorse battling for each and every ball that came his way.
The Wolverines close out the 2009 regular-season on Saturday (Nov. 7) when they travel to Columbus, Ohio to take on Ohio State in a televised. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. in Jesse Owen Memorial Stadium.
Schmitt, who scored his second goal in as many games, was in the right place at the right time for the game winner. On the previous possession, the Wolverines had back-to-back blocked shots from junior forward Justin Meram (Shelby Township, Mich./Yavapai College), one of those shots deflected off of the goalpost onto Schmitt's foot, who put it just past Northwestern's Misha Rosenthal to give U-M head coach Steve Burn's his 100th career victory and the 100th program victory.
Junior/sophomore midfielder Adam Shaw (Lone Tree, Colo./Highlands Ranch) and senior forward Mauro Fuzetti (Houston, Texas/Stratford) led the way for the Wolverines with four shots each. Junior/sophomore goalkeeper Chris Blais (Seattle, Wash./Kennedy Memorial) made four saves on the afternoon and earned his sixth shutout of the season.
The Wolverines were knocking on the door throughout the second half and both overtime periods and it looked like U-M was going to get the victory in regulation with a goal from Meram in the final seconds. Meram put a shot just past Rosenthal but it was called back with a handball call from the referee. Northwestern also had two quality opportunities in the second half to get on the board. The first was a shot from Drew Pavlovich that hit the post and rolled out of bounds and the second was a header on a corner kick from Piero Bellizzi that went just over the crossbar.
The teams entered the second half deadlocked at 0-0 after a first half that was a typical Big Ten slugfest. U-M and Northwestern put on a battle with both teams playing an evenly matched game on both sides of the ball. Neither team registered a shot on goal until the 25th minute of the half when Michigan freshman defender Brian Klemczak (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson) hit a shot from the right side that was scooped up by Rosenthal. From that point the teams seemed to battle back on forth on both sides of the ball but the Wolverines seemed to have the upper hand in terms of possession and registered several shots on goal.
Northwestern's Oliver Kupe looked like he was going to give the Wildcats the early 1-0 lead after breaking through the U-M defense but Blais made a point blank save, one of his four of the game, to keep the game knotted at 0-0.
The Wolverines were able to control the midfield in the first half. Junior midfielder Alex Wood (Northville, Mich./Northville), getting his first start of the season, was able to serve several spectacular long balls through the midfield and Shaw really proved to be U-M's workhorse battling for each and every ball that came his way.
The Wolverines close out the 2009 regular-season on Saturday (Nov. 7) when they travel to Columbus, Ohio to take on Ohio State in a televised. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. in Jesse Owen Memorial Stadium.
