Michigan
Robert Morris
Wolverines Open Season with Win Over Robert Morris
9/1/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team was victorious in its season opener by the score of 2-1 over Robert Morris today (Saturday, Sept. 1) at the Michigan State Invitational. The Wolverines picked up a goal in each period and were on the offensive attack most of the day. Michigan outshot Robert Morris 15-8 and had 10 shots on goal.
Michigan (1-0) took control of the game right at the start, netting the first goal of the season at the 13:53 mark. Junior forward Robert Turpin (Pontiac, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit) scored his first career goal, kicking it past the Colonials goalkeeper for the 1-0 lead. Robert Morris (0-1) responded by taking more shots in the first half (5-4) over the Wolverines, but redshirt freshman goalkeeper Joe Zawacki (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS) kept Robert Morris off the scoreboard in the first 45 minutes, making two saves in the first half.
Following halftime, the Wolverines offense was the focal point of the match. Michigan took 11 shots, to just three by the Colonials. The Wolverines picked up their second goal of the match, which proved to be the game-winning goal, from sophomore Kevin Robinson (Caro, Mich./Faith Baptist HS) off the first career assist from freshman Knox Cameron (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman HS), to extend the lead to 2-0.
The Maize and Blue was looking for a shutout, but the Colonials netted their lone goal of the game nearing the end of the match, at the 74:42 mark.
Michigan will take on Wisconsin-Green Bay tomorrow (Sunday, Sept. 2) at the Michigan State Invitational, with kickoff at 1 p.m.
GAME SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Robert Morris | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Robert Turpin, 13:53 (Unassisted)
2nd -- U-M, Kevin Robinson, 66:12 (Knox Cameron)
2nd -- RM, Danny Anderson, 74:42 (Unassisted)
Shots: U-M 15, RM 8
Saves: U-M 2 (Joe Zawacki), RM 8 (Matt Henson)
Corner Kicks: U-M 3, RM 5
Fouls: U-M 12, RM 10
Cards: RM, Sean Arnold, 18:10 (yellow); RM, Rhian Dodds, 37:41 (yellow)
N O T E S
This is the second year in a row that Michigan has won its season opener. Last year, the Wolverines defeated DePaul 1-0 in the inaugural varsity match (Sept. 1, 2000). They went on to win their second game against Cleveland State 3-2 in overtime (Sept. 5, 2000).
Kevin Robinson's goal was the first of the season and fourth of his career.
With his two saves, Joe Zawacki picked up the first win of his Michigan career in goal.
Joe Zawacki, Knox Cameron, Jody Keeling (Odessa, Fla./Berkeley Prep) and Mychal Turpin (Pontiac, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit) all made their first career starts for Michigan.
Freshman Robert Wurth (Sylvania, Ohio/St. John's Jesuit) came off the bench in his first appearance for the Maize and Blue.
Senior co-captain J.J. Kern (Trenton, Mich./Lake Orion HS) started in his 17th consecutive match for Michigan. Kern is the only Wolverine player to have started in every Michigan match since the program began last season.
Sophomore Tom Gritter (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) had his consecutive matches in the starting lineup snapped against Robert Morris. Gritter, along with J.J. Kern and Steve Huber (2000), started in all 16 matches during the 2000 inaugural season.
Contact: Steve Grialou (734) 763-4423
