Stacy Nets Two in Michigan Invitational Win Over Butler

Friday, September 8

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:30 PM

Michigan

2-3

Butler

2-2-1

Michigan

Stacy Nets Two in Michigan Invitational Win Over Butler

9/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Joseph Conrad

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Field)
Event: Michigan Invitational
Score: Michigan 3, Butler 1
Records: U-M (2-3-0), Butler (2-2-1)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Sept. 10 -- vs. Virginia Commonwealth at Michigan Invitational (U-M Soccer Field), 2:30 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team opened the Michigan Invitational with a 3-1 victory over Butler in front of 1,233 fans Friday (Sept. 8) at the U-M Soccer Field. Sophomores Jake Stacy (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central) and Steve Bonnell (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Detroit Country Day) led the way for the Wolverines with two goals and two assists, respectively.

In the 61st minute Stacy and Bonnell linked up to net the game-winning goal, with Stacy scoring the marker and Bonnell earning the assist. Bonnell produced his second assist of the match after passing the ball to Stacy from the left flank, where Stacy volleyed the ball with a flying sidekick six yards in front of the net to earn his first collegiate game-winning goal. The play was created from U-M offensive pressure with Bonnell maintaining the ball on the Butler half after the Bulldogs lost control of the ball.

At the 2:09 mark Butler scored the first marker of the evening off a restart kick by BU's Tom Turner. Turner scored from 23 yards out, shooting the ball past the outstretched arms of sophomore/freshman Patrick Sperry (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central).

The Wolverines responded to the goal at the 13:23 mark when Bonnell and freshman Peri Marosevic (Rockford, Ill./Edison Academy) connected for the equalizer. Bonnell earned his first assist of the night, giving the ball to a streaking Marosevic, who blasted a rocket from point-blank range and beat the keeper to the right side of the net.

The Maize and Blue offensive attack continued in the 22nd minute as senior tri-captain Kevin Hall (Kalamazoo, Mich./Portage Central) set up freshman Mauro Fuzetti (Houston, Texas/Stratford), whose shot was a laser that had the looks of a goal but hit the right post.

Hall consistently searched for another Michigan goal as he forced a team save just two minutes after Fuzetti's wide shot. Hall's shot on goal came from the senior tri-captain dribbling past two BU defenders and beating keeper Frank Peabody, allowing the Bulldogs to earn a team save.

With the Wolverines constantly pushing the ball up the field, Stacy was able to put the ball in the net for the second time, giving Fuzetti his third assist of the season. Fuzetti earned the assist after he slipped the ball to Stacy from the left flank. Stacy then pounded a shot to the bottom right corner from the middle of the goal box, beating a lunging Peabody at 85:01.

Michigan allowed only one shot in the second half, with Sperry making his only save of the night in the 70th minute.

The Wolverines close out the Michigan Invitational on Sunday (Sept. 10) as they face Virginia Commonwealth at 2:30 p.m. on the U-M Soccer Field.

NOTES

• With the victory over Butler, Michigan has an all-time record of 2-0 against the Bulldogs. The last time the two teams faced was in 2001, with U-M winning 2-0 on the U-M Soccer Field.

• Senior tri-captain Kevin Hall played in his 66th match, tying Matt Niemeyer (2000-04) for fifth on the U-M all-time list for games played.

• Senior Michael O'Reilly played in his 50th career game.

• Sophomore Steve Bonnell earned his first collegiate two-assist game.

• Sophomore Jake Stacy earned his first collegiate game-winner in his first two-goal game.

• In both Michigan wins, the Wolverines have had a player earn two assists (Mauro Fuzetti and Steve Bonnell).

• Freshman Peri Marosevic scored at the 13:23 mark, netting his second goal of the season, most among freshmen and second on the team.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Steve Burns
On the game ... "The boys looked good tonight. Our movement off-ball was really good and our ability to change the play of attack was strong. We were able to find our wide players and they were able to get behind Butler's defense and cause a lot of problems. So in terms of what we addressed in practice, it's good to see how that translates into the game."

On the offensive production ... "The whole team can be credited for their maturity, and scoring goals is certainly a part of that maturity, especially when you have to chase the game and come from behind. What we saw from our players was they were able to get in behind Butler with Jake Stacy being dangerous, Peri Marosevic being a strong target, and Mauro Fuzetti looking dangerous at times. We've got the dangerous players; it's just their confidence that's going to lead to more and more goals."

On Steve Bonnell's two-assist game ... "I love it because Bonnell is stepping up and being a special player for us in a position where we needed a bit of help out wide. I think he's really beginning to understand that position. He was a forward. He's been converted into an outside midfielder and he's a handful. He's a handful for anybody on the right or the left, and he's only going to continue to get better and better."

On preparing for Virginia Commonwealth ... "When you play a Friday/Sunday game, there's not a lot of preparation time in between. Tomorrow's a time to iron out some of the kinks and charley horses in everyone's body right now. So I think our focus has been and will continue to be to get better at what we know our strengths are and try to come out and try and put a similar effort together against Virginia Commonwealth, a good team."

U-M Sophomore Jake Stacy
On thoughts during the first goal ... "I lost my starting spot, I wasn't playing so well, so I knew when I went in had to make something happen. When I got a great ball from Steve (Bonnell) I knew I had to score."

On being one of the team's offensive threats ... "I feel great about it. I like to be under the spotlight. I want to be one of the guys who can come in and score the goals as well as our young guys do too. I know they want to come in and score goals."

On how this game prepares him for Virginia Commonwealth ... "It definitely gives me a lot of confidence. I'll be going against Virginia Commonwealth knowing that I can do it (score two goals) so I won't be as nervous."