Weekly Release #4

Upcoming Schedule
Thursday, Sept. 14 -- vs. Illinois-Chicago (Elbel Field), 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 17 -- vs. Detroit (Elbel Field), 2 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 23 -- vs. Penn State (Elbel Field), 3 p.m.

This Week
The Wolverines (2-1 overall, 0-0 Big Ten) have a pair home matches against two Midwestern Collegiate Conference programs this week on Elbel Field. First up for Michigan is the University of Illinois-Chicago on Thursday (Sept. 14) at 7:30 p.m. Michigan fans will get to see the intrastate rival Detroit when the Titans come to town on Sunday (Sept. 17) at 2 p.m.

Scouting the Opponents
Illinois-Chicago -- The Flames are off to a 2-1-1 start. They won the Oregon State/Diadora Soccer Classic Title with a 3-0 victory over Sacramento State last Sunday (Sept. 10). UIC returns senior Eric Lukin, who led the team last season in both goals (21) and assists (14). The Flames went to the NCAA Tournament a year ago with an overall record of 17-4. Their 6-1-0 mark in the MCC was good for a first place finish in the conference. UIC on the Internet: www.uicflames.com.

Detroit -- Three games into the season, the Titans hold a 1-2 record. Detroit's top scorer this season is senior Marcel Flemming with three goals and one assist. Last season, the Titans posted a 1-8 record on the road and went 7-14 overall. Detroit on the Internet: www.detroittitans.com.

Last Week
The Wolverines split a pair of matches last week, falling 3-2 at Loyola (Ill.) Friday night (Sept. 8) before picking up a 2-0 exhibition win over Schoolcraft College on Sunday (Sept. 10). The Wolverines could not stop Nico Tricoci, who had all three Loyola goals in the first loss of the Michigan program. Freshman Kevin Robinson (Caro, Mich./Faith Baptist HS) and senior Jack Stead (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS) each recorded his first career goal in the game.

The team then took on Schoolcraft College and Mother Nature on Sunday and beat them both. Playing in the rain, freshman Ian Hirschfield (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Pine Crest HS) scored on a penalty kick and Robinson scored his second goal of the week on a breakaway. Senior goalkeeper Pat Murphy (St. Charles, Mich./St. Charles HS) started in goal and shut out the Ocelots with six saves.

Ocelots = Exhibition
When Michigan took on Schoolcraft College on Sept. 10, the game was an exhibition match. Since the Ocelots are a two-year junior college program, the NCAA does not count the win or statistics in the season's records.

Consistent Scoring
With a goal in each period against Schoolcraft College, the Wolverines have scored in the last five consecutive periods. The streak dates back to the overtime period at Cleveland State (Sept. 5).

Career Goals
Freshman Kevin Robinson and senior Jack Stead scored their first career goals against Loyola (Sept. 8). Stead's goal was the first second-half goal in Michigan's history.

Assist Man
Senior Ryan Yoder's (Whitehouse, Ohio/St. John's Jesuit) two assists against Loyola (Sept. 8) ties a team record for most assists in one game, matching Ian Hirschfield (Sept. 5 vs. Cleveland State).

Taking Advantage
Michigan has had two penalty kicks thus far and has converted both of them. Freshmen Kevin Taylor (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) and Ian Hirschfield scored on the first two penalty kicks for the Wolverines. Taylor had Michigan's historic first penalty kick vs. Cleveland State (Sept. 5). Hirschfield's goal came in the exhibition against Schoolcraft College.

Burns at the Helm
Steve Burns is the first head coach of the Wolverine men's soccer varsity program. Burns previously served as head coach for the Michigan men's soccer club team from 1993-99 after one year as assistant coach (1992). Under Burn's guidance, the U-M club team posted a 121-51-26 mark (.663) and made six consecutive appearances in the national club championship tournament. The team won back-to-back national championships in 1997 and 1998.

Assistant coaches Walt Barrett and Ernie Yarborough complete the coaching staff for the inaugural season of men's soccer. Barrett comes from Eastern Michigan, where he was an assistant coach (1998-99). Yarborough helped guide Indiana University to the past two national titles as a volunteer coach (1997-99).

Championship Experience
The Maize and Blue roster includes 12 players from last year's U-M club team: Andrew Balazer, Albert Geldres, Dave George, Steve Huber, JJ Kern, Matt Murch, Pat Murphy, Brian Peters, Will Purdy, Jack Stead, Steve Walton and Ryan Yoder. Michigan won back-to-back club national titles in 1997 and 1998.

Been a While
Michigan men's soccer is in its first season after being granted varsity status in March 1999. The last Michigan men's sport to be added as a varsity program was men's gymnastics in 1948.

Coming Up
The Wolverines will be hosting their Big Ten opener on Saturday, Sept. 23, against No. 2 Penn State on Elbel Field at 3 p.m.

Contact: Steve Grialou (734) 763-4423