Wolverines Pick Up Big Ten Road Win Against Wisconsin

Sunday, October 10

Madison, Wis.

2:30 PM CT

Michigan

7-2-3, 2-1-0

Wisconsin

1-8-2, 1-0-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Michigan	2	1	3
Wisconsin	1	1	2

Wolverines Pick Up Big Ten Road Win Against Wisconsin

10/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Jessica Poole

Site: Madison, Wis. (McClimon Complex)
Score: Michigan 3, Wisconsin 2
Records: U-M (7-2-3, 2-1-0 Big Ten), Wisconsin (1-8-2, 0-1-1 Big Ten)
Attendance: 1,593
Next U-M Event: Wednesday, Oct. 13 -- vs. Valparaiso (U-M Soccer Stadium), 7 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. -- Despite a Wisconsin goal in the 83rd minute, the University of Michigan men's soccer team held on for a 3-2 win over the Badgers on Sunday (Oct. 10) at McClimon Complex. The win gives U-M its first Big Ten road-opening victory since the 2003 season when it defeated Michigan State.

Soony Saad

Senior Matt Schmitt (Muskegon, Mich./Reeths-Puffer) scored the game-winning goal, while senior Justin Meram (Shelby Township, Mich./Eisenhower) and freshman Soony Saad (Dearborn, Mich./Dearborn) also added tallies for the Wolverines. Freshman Fabio Pereira (Sao Paulo, Brazil/South Kent [Conn.]) added a career-best two assists for his first career multi-point game. In the cage, redshirt junior goalkeeper Chris Blais (Seattle, Wash./Kennedy Memorial) made one save in 66:13 minutes of action and redshirt sophomore Tim Bergsma (Beverly Hills, Mich./Southfield Christian) made three saves in 23:47 minutes of action off the bench.

After a Badger goal 12 minutes into the game, Michigan finally broke onto the scoreboard with a goal from Meram, his third in the last three games. Meram took advantage of a Wisconsin turnover in the midfield and dribbled through the Badger defense, placing the ball in the lower right-hand corner to tie the game at 1-1.

Michigan added to its tally with a goal on a set piece from Saad. U-M was awarded a free kick after a Badger foul 20 yards away from the goal and Saad lined up to take the free kick with Pereira in cue. Pereira tapped the ball and Saad blasted it into the upper part of the goal for his third marker on a restart this season.

The Wolverines opened the second half pressing the Badger defense and U-M quickly capitalized as Schmitt tallied his second goal in the last two games off a service from Pereira.

Wisconsin cut Michigan's lead to one with a goal with eight minutes remaining. The Wolverine defense, led by several crucial saves in the final minutes from both Bergsma and a team save off the goal line, sealed the Wolverine victory.

Michigan returns to the U-M Soccer Stadium on Wednesday (Oct. 13) when it hosts Valparaiso in non-conference action at 7 p.m.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	F
Michigan	2	1	3
Wisconsin	1	1	2

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- WIS, Colin Mani, 11:50 (Unassisted)
1st -- U-M, Justin Meram, 17:44 (Unassisted)
1st -- U-M, Soony Saad, 41:24 (Fabio Pereira)
2nd -- U-M, Matt Schmitt, 58:34 (Pereira)
2nd -- WIS, Chris Prince, 82:03 (Nick Janus)

Shots: U-M 15, WIS 12
Shots on Goal: U-M 8, WIS 7
Saves: U-M 5 (Chris Blais 1, Tim Bergsma 3, Team 1), WIS 5 (Ryan Vint 5)
Corner Kicks: U-M 4, WIS 10
Fouls: U-M 8, WIS 11
Cards: None

NOTES

• The Wolverines move to 9-2-3 against Wisconsin all-time and 31-45-13 on the road in Big Ten action.

• Today's 3-2 victory marks the 10th time (out of 14) the outcome between Michigan and Wisconsin has been decided by one goal or less.

• Bergsma made his first appearance of the season in today's game along with freshman forward Malcolm Miller (Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins Hill), who made his collegiate debut in today's game.

• U-M's three goals tie for the most scored all season. Michigan also scored three times in a 3-2 overtime win over Kentucky on Sept. 22.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Steve Burns
On the performance of the team ... "It's always satisfying to see a team come together; the trust to support one another; the trust to work hard knowing that every man that enters the game is going to work at that same level. After we went down a goal, you could see our resolve and how we all started to think alike. There is nothing more powerful than a team that is truly a team, and this game was a big step forward for our men."