Soony Saad Sets Goal Record, Wolverines Double Up Northwestern

Saturday, November 6

Evanston, Ill.

5:00 PM CT

Michigan

11-4-3, 4-2-0

Northwestern

8-7-2, 2-3-1

Michigan

Northwestern

Soony Saad Sets Goal Record, Wolverines Double Up Northwestern

11/6/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Jessica Poole

Site: Evanston, Ill. (Lakeside Field)
Score: Michigan 4, Northwestern 2
Records: U-M (11-4-3, 4-2-0 Big Ten), NU (8-7-2, 2-3-1 Big Ten)
Attendance: 432
Next U-M Game: Thursday, Nov. 11 -- vs. Michigan State - Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals (State College, Pa.), 10 a.m.

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Freshman Soony Saad (Dearborn, Mich./Dearborn) picked up his 15th goal of the season -- the game-winner -- to set a new U-M single-season record as the University of Michigan men's soccer team defeated Northwestern, 4-2, to close out regular-season action on Saturday (Nov. 6) at Lakeside Field. The Wolverines conclude the Big Ten season with a winning record for the second time in three years and defeat the Wildcats for the third consecutive season.

Hamoody Saad

Michigan has earned the No. 3 seed for next week's Big Ten Tournament, hosted by Penn State. The Wolverines will take on No. 6 seed Michigan State at 10 a.m. in the quarterfinals on Thursday (Nov. 11). Should the Wolverines advance, they will take on the winner No. 2 seed Ohio State and No. 7 seed Wisconsin in the semifinals on Friday (Nov. 12) at 1 p.m. The semifinals and finals will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.

In addition to Soony Saad's goal, seniors Justin Meram (Shelby Township, Mich./Eisenhower) and Alex Wood (Northville, Mich./Northville) and sophomore Hamoody Saad (Dearborn, Mich./Dearborn) tallied goals in the Michigan victory. Soony and Hamoody Saad as well as Meram each added assists. Redshirt goalkeeper Chris Blais (Seattle, Wash./Kennedy Memorial) made four saves in 79:27 minutes of action, while redshirt sophomore Tim Bergsma (Beverly Hills, Mich./Southfield Christian) played 10:30 of time in goal.

Coming out of the halftime break tied at 1-1, the Wolverines opened the floodgates in the second half, scoring three goals in a span of 12 minutes, including scoring two goals in less than three minutes to take a 3-1 lead. Wood started the second-half scoring in the 53rd minute, receiving a pass from Soony Saad at the top of the box and blasting a shot into the side of the net past Northwestern goalkeeper Jonathan Harris to give U-M its first lead of the night.

Soony Saad scored his record-breaking goal just minutes after Wood. Meram worked his way through the Northwestern defense and found a streaking Saad in the box and the rookie phenom converted for his team-leading 15th goal of the season, breaking Mychal Turpin's record of 14 goals set in the 2003 season.

Meram then capped the Michigan scoring and extended his scoring streak to three consecutive games in the 65th minute. The senior forward connected with a through ball from Hamoody Saad and finished the shot.

In the opening half, Northwestern found the net in the ninth minute with a goal from Oliver Kupe, who connected on a cross from Matt Eliason from 23 yards out on the right flank and sent it just past Blais to give the Wildcats the early 1-0 lead.

The Wolverines settled down and possed the ball late in the half and it paid off with the equalizing goal in the 35th minute. After being awarded a free kick from 35 yards out, Hamoody Saad and Soony Saad lined up with the ball, and Hamoody blasted it into the goal for his fifth goal and his fourth goal from a set piece this season to tie the game.

Michigan now awaits seeding for the 2010 Big Ten Tournament. The tournament will be held Thursday-Sunday, Nov. 11-14, at Penn State's Jeffrey Field in State College, Pa.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	F
Michigan	1	3	4
Northwestern	1	1	2

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- NU, Oliver Kupe, 8:28 (Matt Eliason)
1st -- U-M, Hamoody Saad, 34:15 (unassisted)
2nd -- U-M, Alex Wood, 52:42 (Soony Saad)
2nd -- U-M, S. Saad, 54:52 (Justin Meram)
2nd -- U-M, Meram, 64:03 (H. Saad)
2nd -- NU, Oliver Kupe 83:35, (Nick Gendron, Peter O'Neill)

Shots: U-M 18, NU 11
Shots on Goal: U-M 8, NU 7
Saves: U-M 5 (Chris Blais 4, Team 1), NU 4 (Jonathan Harris 4)
Corner Kicks: U-M 2, NU 1
Fouls: U-M 16, NU 21
Cards: NU, Piero Bellizzi, 34:15 (Yellow); NU, Bench, 34:15 (Red); U-M, Hamoody Saad, 36:40 (Yellow); NU, Cody Stanley, 36:40 (Yellow); U-M, Brian Klemczak, 50:17 (Yellow); NU, Lepe Seetane, 57:38 (Yellow); U-M, Dylan Mencia, 86:12 (Yellow); NU, Oliver Kupe, 88:35 (Yellow)

NOTES

• Michigan moves to 9-4-1 all-time against the Wildcats and picked up its third consecutive win over Northwestern with tonight's win. Additionally, Michigan picked up its second consecutive win over a Big Ten opponent and third straight win this season.

• The win gives U-M its second winning record in the last seven seasons and its first winning record since the 2008 season. In 2008, Michigan reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament after posting a 4-1-1 Big Ten record.

• Justin Meram extended his scoring streak to three consecutive games with a goal in tonight's game. Meram, the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, is on his second three-game scoring streak this season.

• Soony Saad broke U-M single-season record for scoring with his game-winner. Saad broke Mychal Turpin's record of 14 set in the 2003 season. Saad is currently tied for second in the nation with his 15 goals this season.

• Hamoody Saad scored his fifth goal this season and his fourth goal on a free kick.

• The Michigan field hockey team, which will be taking on the Ohio State for the Big Ten championship on Sunday (Nov. 7), was in attendance for the first half of the game. Also in attendance were several Michigan men's soccer alumni as well as members of the Michigan Ultras.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Steve Burns
On the game ... "Winning on the road is difficult, in any sport, but our guys did a great job today. We kept our composure after we went down a goal and we showed a real maturity to our game. We're playing to our full potential and that's exciting to see at this time of year."

On the barrage of second-half goals ... "Getting out to any early lead in the half put us on the front foot and that's when we are at our best. Woody's goal was sensational and really lifted us. That's what you expect from your leader and he delivered. The other goals came from great soccer and finding our scorers in dangerous positions. That's what you want your hitmen to do and both Justin and Soony thrive on open looks at the net."

On the upcoming Big Ten Tournament ... "We've put ourselves in a great position. We'll see how the seeding shakes out as there are still results we are waiting to see. What's most important is that we have found our form and the team is really looking to get after it."