Michigan
Connecticut (ex)
Michigan Drops Season-Opening Exhibition to No. 2 Connecticut
8/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Site: Ypsilanti, Mich. (Scicluna Field)
Score: #2 Connecticut 2, Michigan 1 (exhibition)
Next U-M Game: Saturday, Aug. 23 -- vs. Cincinnati (Mitchell Field), 5 p.m. (exhibition)
Boxscore
YPSILANTI, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team fell 2-1 in its season-opening exhibition against No. 2-ranked Connecticut Saturday (Aug. 16) at Eastern Michigan University's Scicluna Field. Sophomore Adam Keller(Franklin, Mich/Groves) netted the lone goal for the Wolverines.
Senior/junior goalkeeper Patrick Sperry(Hinsdale, Ill/Hinsdale Central) made three saves in just over 60 minutes of work for the Wolverines and redshirt freshman Chris Blais(Seattle, Wash/Kennedy Memorial) made two stops off the bench.
Michigan started out brightly, outshooting Connecticut 8-4 in the opening half, but neither team was able to find the net in the first 45 minutes. Keller had a chance midway through the opening stanza, putting his head on a corner kick from junior Mauro Fuzetti(Houston, Texas/Stratford) that sailed just over the near-side corner.
The Huskies opened the scoring in the 47th minute as Akeem Priestley pounced on a rebound following a diving stop by Sperry. Connecticut added to its advantage in the 79th minute, going up 2-0 on a goal by Cruz Hernandez. The Huskie attacker sent a shot inside the far bar past an outstretched Blais.
Keller cut the Huskies lead to 2-1 in the 89th minute as he headed home a cross from senior Steve Bonnell(St. Clair Shores, Mich/Detroit Country Day). Michigan was applying heavy pressure on the Huskies, crossing the ball back and forth to find an opening. Bonnell's cross to the head of Keller finally found the back of the cage inside the near post.
Michigan has one more friendly on the slate, as the Wolverines will take on Cincinnati on Saturday (Aug. 23) at 5 p.m. The exhibition game will be held at Mitchell Field, located on Fuller Road between the U-M Hospital and North Campus, and not at Saline High School as was recently announced.
GAME SUMMARY
| By Periods | 1 | 2 | F |
| Connecticut | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Michigan | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
2nd -- UCONN, Akeem Priestly, 46:35 (unassisted)
2nd -- UCONN, Cruz Hernandez, 78:49 (unassisted)
2nd -- U-M, Adam Keller, 88:19 (Steve Bonnell)
Shots: U-M 13, UCONN 13
Shots on Goal: U-M 7, UCONN 3
Saves: U-M 5 (Patrick Sperry 3, Chris Blais 2), UCONN 2 (Josh Ford 1, Matt Sangeloty 1)
Corner Kicks: U-M 3, UCONN 1
Fouls: U-M 9, UCONN 13
Cards: None
Contact: Ryan Sosin, Jeremy Reid (734) 763-4423
