Cameron Breaks Western Michigan With Pair of Tallies

Friday, October 10

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:30 PM

Michigan

8-4-0

Western Michigan

9-3-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Western Michigan	1	0	1
Michigan	1	1	2

10/10/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Gene Skidmore

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Field)
Score: Michigan 2, Western Michigan 1
Records: U-M (8-4), WMU (9-3)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Oct. 12 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), 2:30 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team rebounded from an emotional 2-1 overtime loss to Indiana by defeating Western Michigan 2-1 Friday afternoon (Oct. 10) at the U-M Soccer Field. Junior midfielder Knox Cameron (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman HS) notched both goals for the Wolverines and junior midfielder Jeff Mirmelstein (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central HS) picked up both assists for his first two points of the season.

Bronco striker Jeff Hughes opened the scoring only 42 seconds into the game when he netted his NCAA-leading 12th goal and 28th point of the 2003 campaign. Western midfielder Scott Duhl set up Hughes with a through ball into the left side of the penalty box. Hughes then slotted the ball to the right corner of the Michigan goal past onrushing sophomore goalkeeper Peter Dzubay (Sylvania, Ohio/Northview HS).

Cameron evened the score nearly eight minutes later when he placed the ball to the left side of Western's diving goalkeeper Ian Spooner. Mirmelstein picked up his first point of the season when he played a through ball to a streaking Cameron. Cameron calmly received the pass, waited for the keeper to commit then placed the ball into the left-side netting. Kevin Robinson (Caro, Mich./Faith Baptist HS) was also credited with an assist.

Following Cameron's goal, the Wolverines continued to put pressure on the
Western net. Cameron managed to beat Spooner twice more early in the first half, but both goals were called back due to offsides calls by the referee.

With 20 minutes left in the half, Dzubay managed to keep the scored knotted at 1-1 when he stuffed Giuliano Teixeira on a point-blank shot from seven yards out. The save was one of four for Dzubay in the first half.

Throughout the remainder of the first half, Michigan dominated possession, as most of the play was in the Broncos' defending third. The Wolverines managed 11 shots and five corner kicks in the half.

Cameron and Mirmelstein managed to hook up again 3:52 into the second half. The play began when sophomore Adam Bruh (Roslyn Heights, N.Y./Wheatley HS) split two Western defenders with a through ball to Mirmelstein down the right side line. Mirmelstein then located Cameron stationed at the penalty spot with a quick pass. Cameron settled the ball and sniped out the left corner of the Western net with a bending shot.

Cameron nearly completed his hat trick seven minutes later, but Spooner got a hand on Cameron's flick and the ball was then cleared out of danger by a Broncos defender.

The rest of the second half was a physical midfield battle. Both teams managed to possess the ball in spells and create the occasional opportunity, but the majority of the play took place in the middle third of the field.

In the final five minutes of the game the Broncos pushed hard to score the equalizer, as they backed the Wolverines into their penalty box. U-M's defenders held strong and kept the ball out of the back of their net to preserve the 2-1 lead and earn their eighth win of the season.

The Wolverines (8-4, 0-1 Big Ten) resume play when they visit East Lansing, Mich., on Sunday (Oct. 12) for the annual Big Ten matchup with Michigan State. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Old College Field.

GAME SUMMARY

Team	1	2	F
Western Michigan	1	0	1
Michigan	1	1	2

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- WMU, Jeff Hughes, 0:42 (Scott Duhl)
1st -- U-M, Knox Cameron, 8:10 (Jeff Mirmelstein, Kevin Robinson)
2nd -- U-M, Cameron, 48:48 (Mirmelstein, Adam Bruh)

Shots: U-M 18, WMU 14
Saves: U-M 5 (Peter Dzubay), WMU 5 (Ian Spooner)
Corner Kicks: U-M 5, WMU 3
Fouls: U-M 12, WMU 11
Cards: None

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Steve Burns
On getting a lot of players involved ... "I think this is a game that a lot of guys look forward to because it's a good in-state battle. We knew we were going to be able to get guys in and contribute and that's just a credit to the depth on our bunch."

On junior midfielder Knox Cameron ... "Knox has reenergized himself for the final haul of the season here. He's really defined his role offensively and defensively. I think you saw it in this game and Indiana, and I think you'll see it the rest of the season. It's great that he's finding that final stride as we hit the final third of the season."

On the progression of the season ... "There are still several more levels that we have to go. We didn't stay down at the level we fell to after the loss to Indiana. Now's the chance for the boys to get all ready for the Michigan State game."

U-M Junior Midfielder Knox Cameron
On the game plan ... "The game plan was really to stretch them, get it to the front line. We had a three front going and we can put a lot of pressure on the defense going with three up top. I'm part of the focus of that so you could say the effort was to get me the ball."

On earning a victory after the loss to Indiana ... "We're definitely focused because we knew we had a big weekend coming up with Western Michigan first in a game we knew we should win but you can't take them for granted. It was a good win after the loss to Indiana."

U-M Sophomore Midfielder Adam Bruh
On coming away with a win after the loss to Indiana ... "I thought that the score was a little deceiving. We played really well. The IU game will probably be the toughest loss of the season, or let's certainly hope so. Coach just said we had to come out with the intensity that we finished that game off with. That finished really quick in overtime and we didn't really forget it. We came out flying today."

On the amount of substitutions ... "It's been that way all season and both years I've been here. Some substitutions are Coach's decision but we're confident with whoever subs in."

NOTES

• Mychal Turpin's (Pontiac, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit HS) consecutive starting streak ended at 49. The junior striker entered the field of play midway through the first half.

• Freshman Brian Popeney (Canton, Mich./Plymouth Salem HS) made his first career start wearing the Maize and Blue jersey.

• Jeff Mirmelstein started for the first timme this season and scored his first two points of the year with a pair of assists to Knox Cameron.

• Freshmen Brian Popeney and Kevin Savitskie (Plymouth, Mich./Salem HS), teammates at Plymouth Salem High School last year, were both in the starting lineup for the Wolverines today.

• Senior Tom Gritter (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) saw his first action of the year when he replaced Jeff Mirmelstein midway through the second half.

• The Wolverines are now 3-0-0 in their three-game series with the Broncos.