Sterba Scores Pair as Michigan Plows Past Wisconsin

Sunday, October 23

Ann Arbor, Mich.

2:30 PM

Michigan

8-6-1

Wisconsin

4-10-0

Wisconsin

Michigan

10/23/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Joseph Conrad

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Field)
Score: Michigan 4, Wisconsin 2
Records: U-M (8-6-1, 2-2-0 Big Ten), Wisconsin (4-10-0, 0-4-0 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Oct. 28 -- at Akron (Akron, Ohio), 7:30 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team closed out its home season with an impressive 4-2 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers on Sunday (Oct. 23) on the U-M Soccer Field. Senior Ryan Sterba (Westlake, Ohio/St. Ignatius) scored two goals, including the game-winning tally at the 64:54 mark. The victory gave the Wolverines back-to-back wins for the fourth time this season and boosting their record to 8-6-1 overall and 2-2-0 in the Big Ten.

With 35:06 remaining in the game, senior Ryan Alexander (Southfield, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit) won a 50-50 ball, allowing him to slip the ball to junior Kevin Hall (Kalamazoo, Mich./Central). Hall then found Sterba in the middle of the field, where Sterba blasted a shot from 28 yards out, beating goalie Jake Settle low and to the right. Sterba's goal was his second of the day and put the Wolverines up 3-1.

The Badgers opened the game up with a goal of their of own just 7:59 into the game, when Zack Lambo assisted William Bagayoko to beat senior Peter Dzubay (Sylvania, Ohio/Northview) at the bottom left side of the net.

The Wolverines responded 3:35 later, scoring an outstanding goal to tie the game. The play was set up by freshman Chase Tennant (Rochester, Mich./Rochester) from the left wing, where he slipped the ball to streaking senior Adam Bruh (Roslyn Heights, N.Y./Roslyn). Bruh then dribbled past two Badger defenders, giving him the opportunity to chip the ball from 27 yards out over Settle's head.

With less than 10 minutes left in the first half, Tennant scored a goal of his own. Bruh started the play by taking a corner kick and the ball was then deflected off of Settle. Tennant volleyed the ball back from 20 yards out and beat the goalkeeper for his second goal of his collegiate career.

With a 2-1 lead at the intermission, the Wolverines dominated the entire first half by controlling the game's tempo on the Badgers' side of the center line. Coming out of the intermission, Michigan poured on the offensive pressure by scoring a goal at the 51:34 mark. The goal was Sterba's first goal of the evening, and freshman Jake Stacy (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central) earned his fourth assist of the season on the play. The goal was similar to Sterba's game-winning goal, this time beating the keeper to the bottom right of the net from 27 yards out.

Wisconsin scored its second goal of the game 13:18 after Sterba sealed the game with his own second goal. The Badgers' Victor Diaz scored from a direct free kick after the Wolverines were called for a foul. The shot was launched from inside the 18-yard box on the left side of the net and beat junior Ryan Bennett (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) in the right top side of the net.

The Wolverines will travel to Akron, Ohio, to take on the No. 1-ranked Akron Zips on Friday (Oct. 28) at 7:30 p.m.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	F
Wisconsin	1	1	2
Michigan	2	2	4

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- UW, William Bagayoko, 7:59 (Zack Lambo)
1st -- U-M, Adam Bruh, 11:34 (Chase Tennant)
1st -- U-M, Tennant, 35:06 (unassisted)
2nd -- U-M, Ryan Sterba, 51:34 (Jake Stacy)
2nd -- U-M, Sterba, 64:54 (Ryan Alexander, Kevin Hall)
2nd -- UW, Victor Diaz, 78:12 (unassisted)

Shots: U-M 17, UW 17
Saves: U-M 7 (Peter Dzubay 4, Ryan Bennett 3), UW 6 (Jake Settle 4, Mike Hood 2)
Corner Kicks: U-M 4, UW 5
Fouls: U-M 16, UW 7
Cards: U-M, Bobby Trybula, 44:46 (yellow)

NOTES

• Senior Ryan Sterba recorded the second and third goals of his career at the 51:34 and 64:54 marks for his first two-goal game. He has five points in the last two games (2G, 1A).

• Michigan improved to 6-1 all-time against Wisconsin and owns a six-game win streak vs. the Badgers.

• Senior Adam Bruh recorded his second goal of the season and ninth of his career at the 11:34 mark.

• Freshman Chase Tennant has tallied five points in the last two games (2G, 1A).

• On Sterba's second goal senior Ryan Alexander earned his second assist of the season and junior Kevin Hall earned his first assist of the season.

• Michigan closes its 2005 home season with a 7-1 record, bettering the previous best home record of 6-1 posted by the 2001 team.

• Junior goalkeeper Ryan Bennett made his season debut, recording career-high four saves.

• Sophomore Ben Carter made his season debut.

• Senior Peter Dzubay faced a penalty kick for the second time this season.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Steve Burns
On watching the seniors leave the U-M Soccer Field with a victory ... "The four years go by so quickly, and in the locker room and pregame you talk about those seniors as freshmen and those are the thoughts that run through my head during the whole recruiting process. And the expectations that you have for those seniors, and now suddenly fours later for them to play in their last game and to play as well as they did -- with (Ryan) Sterba getting two goals, (Adam) Bruh getting a goal, (Chris) Glinski, who I thought played very well, along with Trai (Blanks), who made a difference in our right flank, and (Peter) Dzubay strong in the pipes again. Just great for them to go out in that manner."

On seeing the seniors leave on top and playing as well as they did ... "I think it's a very difficult challenge, what we did, playing in an overtime game and winning in overtime with all that energy expended, to come back a couple of days later and play a conference game. I think that our players had legs of pianos today but the hearts of lions. And really that's the nice thing to see, our hearts come out and allow us to play and win games."

U-M Senior Ryan Sterba
On his emotions after playing in his last regular-season home game... "It's very bittersweet. The last four years have gone by really fast, but we just wanted to make sure that in our last home game we'd go out on top, and I think we did that. I'm proud of all of the seniors. We put in a good, hard four years of work and we ended on a good note today."

On scoring two goals in his last home game ... "I'm really happy that we won, it was even more enjoyable to get a couple of goals. I just think we need to keep on track for the rest of the year. We still have a lot of games ahead of us, and hopefully we can keep this going into next week against Akron."