Early Fuzetti Goal Pushes Michigan Past Oakland

Wednesday, September 24

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:00 PM

Michigan

6-2-1

Oakland

6-2-0

Oakland

Michigan

9/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Ryan Sosin, Jeremy Reid

Site: Saline, Mich. (Hornet Stadium Field)
Score: Michigan 1, Oakland 0
Records: U-M (6-2-1), OAK (6-2-0)
Next U-M Game: Saturday, Sept. 27 -- at Wisconsin (Madison, Wis.), 3:30 p.m. CDT

SALINE, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team recorded a 1-0 victory over Oakland University on Wednesday evening (Sept. 24) at Hornet Stadium. Junior Mauro Fuzetti (Houston, Texas/Stratford) scored the lone goal of the contest for the Wolverines and senior/junior goalkeeper Patrick Sperry (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central) recorded three saves en route to the shutout win.

Mauro Fuzetti

The Wolverines jumped on the Golden Grizzlies right from the opening kickoff, scoring 2:41 into the first half. Fuzetti got his head on the end of a free kick served by senior Jake Stacy (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central) from 35 yards out and headed the ball past the Oakland goalkeeper into the upper left corner of the goal. For Fuzetti the goal was his team-leading sixth of the season.

Sperry helped ensure that the Maize and Blue took the lead into the break when he came up with his most spectacular save of the night with just under four minutes to play in the first half. The Wolverine goalkeeper denied what looked to be a certain Oakland goal on a header toward the upper corner of the goal by making a sprawling save.

Like the first half, the second stanza was an open affair, with just 20 total fouls whistled in the match. Michigan earned five corner kicks in the second 45 minutes and out-cornered the Golden Grizzles 5-4 in the match. As Oakland pushed for a late equalizer, the Maize and Blue defense denied the offensive surge and held on to record the second shutout of the season.

Michigan opens conference play this Saturday (Sept. 27) when it travels to Madison, Wis., to take on Wisconsin. Game time between the Wolverines and Badgers is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CDT and the game will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	F
Oakland	0	0	0
Michigan	1	0	1

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Mauro Fuzetti, 2:41 (Jake Stacy)

Shots: U-M 5, OAK 7
Shots on Goal: U-M 2, OAK 3
Saves: U-M 3 (Patrick Sperry), OAK 1 (Steve Clark)
Corner Kicks: U-M 5, OAK 4
Fouls: U-M 6, OAK 14
Cards: U-M, Steve Bonnell, 37:53 (Yellow); U-M, Michael Parke, 53:41 (Yellow).

NOTES

• Senior/junior Patrick Sperry recorded the 15th shutout of his career. He trails Peter Dzubay (2002-05) by four games for the program record in blanking opponents.

• Senior Jake Stacy extended his point streak to four games with an assist tonight. Stacy has three goals and a helper during the span.

• Junior Mauro Fuzetti passed Kevin Taylor (31, 2000-03) on the all-time points list. Fuzetti, who now has 32 points in his career, owns the seventh-highest total in program history. The junior has now scored five goals in the past four games.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Steve Burns
On the game ... "It is the second shutout of the season for us, that is good to see. It came against a talented Oakland team that (was) 6-1 and ranked in several polls. The pillar I talked about tonight wasnt about the offense as much as it was the defense. I think they put forth a great effort today."

On the upcoming Big Ten contest ... "I am a little concerned that Wisconsin got the day off today -- it got postponed and I am not sure if they are going to replay it or not. They have got a little more rest on their legs. But anytime you win a game, you pick a lot of momentum that you need to carry. So we have a lot of momentum as we head to Madison."

U-M Senior/Junior Goalkeeper Patrick Sperry
On the play of the defense ... "We played well, made good plays in the back and were tight and organized. People made big plays when they had to make them, so overall it was a positive shutout."

On his diving save in the 42nd minute ... "I was on my toes and I was thinking before the play started that I am about ready to make a big save here. Throughout the game, you just wait to be called upon and you have to be ready. I was set, I saw the ball come across and I had a good position on it and I was able to make the save."