Wolverines Tally Four in Second Half to Defeat Valparaiso

Wednesday, October 13

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:00 PM

Michigan

8-2-3

Valparaiso

6-5-2

Valparaiso

Michigan

Wolverines Tally Four in Second Half to Defeat Valparaiso

10/13/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Oct. 13, 2010

• Boxscore | Notes & Quotes | Play of the Day | Photo Gallery

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Score: Michigan 4, Valparaiso 2
Records: U-M (8-2-3), Valparaiso (6-5-2)
Attendance: 501
Next U-M Game: Saturday, Oct. 16 -- vs. Indiana (Bloomington, Ind.) (TV: Big Ten Network), 8 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Senior forward Matt Schmitt (Muskegon, Mich./Reeths-Puffer) tallied a career-best five points with two goals and an assist, while freshman forward Soony Saad (Dearborn, Mich./Dearborn) also scored twice to take the University of Michigan men's soccer team from a 0-0 halftime tie to a 4-2 non-conference victory over Valparaiso on Wednesday (Oct. 13) at the U-M Soccer Stadium. With the triumph, the Wolverines extend their winning streak to four games.

Schmitt has now scored at least one goal in each of U-M's last three games, while Saad now leads the Wolverines with a team-best 10 goals. Senior forward Justin Meram (Shelby Township, Mich./Eisenhower) added two assists in the contest and freshman midfielder Fabio Pereira Villas Boas (Sao Paulo, Brazil/South Kent [Conn.]) also tallied an assist. In goal, redshirt junior goalkeeper Chris Blais (Seattle, Wash./Kennedy Memorial) made four saves to pick up his 19th career win.

Michigan, which was held to just three shots on goal in the first half, posted 14 shots overall, with seven on the cage. Schmitt opened the scoring in the 59th minute when he carried the ball up the right side of the field and ripped a shot that deflected off a Valparaiso defender into the goal, giving U-M the early 1-0 advantage.

Valparaiso tied the game with a header from Stefan Antonijeviv in the 72nd minute to start a scoring barrage in the final 18 minutes. In the 74th minute, Saad connected on a flicked back from Schmitt and converted from just inside the Valparaiso box to put the Wolverines ahead. Less than three minutes later, Schmitt was on the receiving end of some excellent footwork by Meram for his second goal. Meram, who weaved through three Valparaiso defenders, placed the ball at the feet of a waiting Schmitt in the center of the Valparaiso goal, giving the Crusader goalkeeper Ryan Schwarz no chance at the save.

Valparaiso cut it down to 3-2 in the 78th minute to cap a span of a combined four goals in six minutes and 18 seconds after both teams only managed a combined three first-half shots on goal.

Saad then capped the night's scoring with a goal at 82:16. Senior/junior midfielder Adam Shaw (Lone Tree, Colo./Highlands Ranch) gathered the ball in the midfield and passed it to the feet of Meram on the wing, where he made a pass to a waiting Saad on the left side of the 18-yard box. Saad calmly placed it in the lower right-hand corner to ensure the Wolverines their eighth win of the season.

In all, Michigan and Valparaiso combined for five goals in a span of 10 minutes late in the second half.

The Wolverines are next in action on Saturday (Oct. 16) when they head to Bloomington, Ind., for a Big Ten matchup with the Indiana Hoosiers. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. at Armstrong Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	F
Valparaiso	0	2	2
Michigan	0	4	4

Scoring, Time (Assist)
2nd -- U-M, Matt Schmitt, 58:59 (unassisted)
2nd -- VALPO, Stefan Antonijevic, 71:32 (Adrian Ortiz, Chadd Sult)
2nd -- U-M, Soony Saad, 73:49 (Schmitt)
2nd -- U-M, Schmitt, 75:29 (Fabio Pereira, Justin Meram)
2nd -- VALPO, Jake Freisinger, 77:50 (Jaymie Bullard)
2nd -- U-M, Saad, 82:16 (Meram, Adam Shaw)

Shots: U-M 24, VALPO 19
Shots on Goal: U-M 10, VALPO 6
Saves: U-M 4 (Chris Blais), VALPO 6 (Ryan Schwarz)
Corner Kicks: U-M 8, VALPO 7
Fouls: U-M 12, VALPO 11
Cards: VALPO, Stefan Antonijevic, 27:49 (Yellow); VALPO, Jonathon Smith, 59:29 (Yellow); U-M Latif Alashe, 74:05 (Yellow).

N O T E S

• Michigan moves to 2-0 all-time against Valparaiso with today's 4-2 victory. The Wolverines and Crusaders met for the first time last season, 2-1 U-M win.

• The Wolverines have won each of their last three home games and have only dropped one non-conference home game this season, falling 1-0 to then-No. 14 Drake on Sept. 3.

• Michigan has a 6-2-1 record at home in 2010. All-time, Michigan is 60-24-8 at home.

• U-M's four goals mark the most scored in a single game this season. Prior to tonight, Michigan had scored three times in wins against Kentucky on Sept.22 and Wisconsin on Oct. 10.

• Schmitt has scored at least one goal in each of U-M's last three games. Prior to those three games, Schmitt had tallied one point, an assist in Michigan's tie at Seattle on Sept. 12.

• After being held to less than 15 shots in each of its last three games, Michigan recorded 24 shots in tonight's win. Michigan is leading the Big Ten in shots per game (21.33) and, prior to each of the three previous games, had not been held to less than 18 shots all season.

• Juniors Eric Leifland and Jarrett Kerr each made their first appearances this season in tonight's game.

Q U O T E S

Michigan Head Coach Steve Burns
On the game ... "At the end of the day, our guys scored four goals, got another win under our belts, and brought home some A's in their mid-term exams! Valparaiso have improved significantly in a short period of time and made us work hard for the win. We carried some luck with the first goal, but showed how dangerous we can be going forward with the next three."

On the play of Matt Schmitt ... "Matt Schmitt really lifted the team with his performance tonight. His runs were dynamic, he held the ball up brilliantly for us near their goal, and he was clinical in his finishing. He clearly deserved our Man of Match honor."

Contact: Jessica Poole (734) 763-4423