Michigan
6-2-3
Cincinnati
4-3-3
Wolverines Shut Out Bearcats for Non-Conference Victory
10/6/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 6, 2010
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Score: Michigan 2, Cincinnati 0
Records: U-M (6-2-3), UC (4-3-3)
Attendance: 548
Next U-M Game: Sunday, Oct. 10 -- at Wisconsin (Madison, Wis.), 2:30 p.m. CDT
ANN ARBOR Mich. -- Senior Justin Meram (Shelby Township, Mich./Eisenhower) picked up his second consecutive game-winning goal in the 16th minute of action to lead the University of Michigan men's soccer team to a 2-0 shutout victory over Cincinnati on Wednesday (Oct. 6) at the U-M Soccer Stadium.
Meram led the U-M offense with three shots and one goal. Classmate Matt Schmitt (Muskegon, Mich./Reeths-Puffer) added another goal for the Wolverines, while Fabio Pereira Villas Boas (Sao Paulo, Brazil/South Kent [Conn.]) and Alex Wood (Northville, Mich./Northville) each had an assist in the game. Goalkeeper Chris Blais (Seattle, Wash./Kennedy Memorial) picked up his third shutout of the season and made four saves in the victory.
Michigan, which entered the game with only three first-half goals this season, went to work on the offensive end of the field early in the game. Meram had the first scoring opportunity for either team when he received a perfectly placed ball from midfielder Dylan Mencia (Honesdale, Pa./Scranton Prep). The ball hit Meram in stride toward the goal, but the shot sailed just wide of the net. Meram put the Wolverines ahead, 1-0, seconds later from a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box. Pereira took the strike for the Wolverines and placed the ball on the post where it connected with Meram's head to give the Wolverines an early advantage.
The Bearcats, who are only the second team to out-shoot the Wolverines this season, began to creep into U-M's side of the field late in the half. The Michigan backline, led by several nice takeaways from Brian Klemczak (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson) and Kofi Opare (Niagara Falls, Ontatrio/St. Paul), helped keep Cincinnati off the board.
Schmitt extended the Wolverines lead to 2-0 in the 61st minute with his first goal of the season. Schmitt tracked down a pass from midfield and took a shot from the right side of the 18-yard box. The ball hit the post and bounced into the goal just past Cincinnati goalkeeper Matt Williams to send the Wolverines to their third shutout of the season. U-M is unbeaten (4-0-3) against its last seven non-conference opponents.
Michigan (6-2-3, 1-1-0 Big Ten) hits the road for its next contest, taking on Big Ten rival Wisconsin at 2:30 p.m. CDT Sunday (Oct. 10) in Madison, Wis.
GAME SUMMARY
| By Periods | 1 | 2 | F |
| Cincinnati | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Justin Meram, 15:34 (Fabio Pereira Villas Boas)
2nd -- U-M, Matt Schmitt, 60:51 (Alex Wood)
Shots: U-M 6, UC 15
Shots on Goal: U-M 2, UC 4
Saves: U-M 4 (Chris Blais), UC 0 (Matt Williams)
Corner Kicks: U-M 3, UC 5
Fouls: U-M 20, UC 21
Cards: UC, Shamar Shelton, 69:31 (Yellow): UC, Chris Mitchell, 72:55 (Yellow): U-M, Fabio Pereira Villas Boas, 73:10 (Yellow); UC, Michael Millay, 75:18 (Yellow); U-M, Latif Alashe, 78:20 (Yellow); UC, Daniel Dwyer, 86:05 (Yellow); U-M David Yang, 87:06 (Yellow)
• Freshman Dylan Mencia earned his first career start in tonight's contest. He has seen action in six games this season and has played in each of U-M's last four games.
• The Wolverines came into tonight's game averaging 23.50 shots per game, but they have taken only six shots in each of the last two games.
• U-M's two goals are the most goals given up by Cincinnati in a single game this season. Entering the game the Bearcats had only allowed a total of three goals on the season.
• The Wolverines move to 19-16-2 against teams from the state of Ohio. Michigan has already faced Ohio State and will take on Akron and Bowling Green later this season.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Steve Burns
On the game ... "We're maturing as a team. By that I mean I thought we did a good job controlling the game even when we didn't have the ball. Our team defending was solid all over the field, especially when we pressed up front. Matt Schmitt's goal came directly from our recognition of that pressing moment and it was a just reward for his work."
On the performance Latif Alashe ... "Latif was absolutely brilliant; he was our Man of the Match. He covered the field from box to box for 90 minutes. He was a force going forward, overloading zones in the attack and defensively, look out. He was a real warrior tonight."
On the energy from the Michigan Ultras ... "Where our team had a bit of a letdown in the later part of the first half, the Ultras went strong all game long. They are doing a great job supporting the guys on the field and helping to lift us to higher levels."
Contact: Jessica Poole (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Meram, Justin (4)
Assisted By: Pereira, Fabio
free kick to header, upper left 90
15:34
Schmitt, Matt (1)
Assisted By: Wood, Alex
tracked down pass from midfield to near
60:51
