Strong First Half Puts Wolverines Back in Win Column

Sunday, October 22

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan

5-7, 0-4Big Ten

Drury College

5-8

Drury College

Michigan

10/22/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Steve Grialou

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Elbel Field)
Score: Michigan 3, Drury College 2
Records: U-M (5-7), Drury (5-8)
Next U-M Match: Friday, Oct. 27 -- at Dayton (Dayton, Ohio), 5:30 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team got back on the winning side with a 3-2 victory over Drury College Sunday afternoon (Oct. 22) in front of 516 fans on Elbel Field. The Wolverines had a trio of goals in the first half and let their defense hold off a Panther surge late in the second half to win the match.

Mike White (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS) wasted no time scoring his second goal of the season only 1:18 into the game, from 10 yards out off a corner kick from fellow freshman Tom Gritter (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS).

Gritter would add his own goal 16 minutes later (17:20) on a crossing pass from freshman Ian Hirschfield (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Pine Crest HS), kicking the ball to the far right corner of the goal to increase the Michigan lead 2-0.

Kevin Taylor (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) got into the act right before the half (35:31), taking a three-on-two breakaway with teammates White and Kevin Robinson (Caro, Mich./Faith Baptist HS) and knocking the ball off a touch pass from White 25 yards out on a hard shot past the goalkeeper.

Michigan's defense stopped a Panther scoring opportunity in the 29th minute after a free kick. The wall created by the Wolverines deflected the ball out of the middle of the field and out of danger. But the Maize and Blue (5-7, 0-4 Big Ten) had its lead cut to 3-1 before halftime as Ryan Ferguson pushed a header past the diving Brad King (Portage, Mich./Portage Northern HS) for the Panthers' first goal.

Drury (5-8) scored the only goal of the second half at the 76:28 mark, on John Pedroli's shot from 15 yards out of a crowd in the box. King stepped up late in the game with a diving save of a game-tying attempt in the 79th minute. King made four saves in the period to keep Michigan on top 3-2.

The Wolverines' next match is against Dayton on Friday (Oct. 27) at 5:30 p.m. in Dayton, Ohio.

GAME SUMMARY

Team	1	2	F
Drury	1	1	2
Michigan	3	0	3

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Mike White, 1:18 (Tom Gritter)
1st -- U-M, Gritter, 17:20 (Ian Hirschfield)
1st -- U-M, Kevin Taylor, 35:31 (White, Kevin Robinson)
1st -- Drury, Ryan Ferguson, 37:56 (Chris Mattingle)
2nd -- Drury, John Pedroli, 76:28 (Mattingle)

Shots: U-M 18, Drury 18
Saves: U-M 6(Brad King 6), Drury 4 (Mike Gallagher)
Corner Kicks: U-M 7, Drury 2
Fouls: U-M 21, Drury 19
Cards: U-M, JJ Kern, 28:47 (yellow); U-M, Matt Niemeyer, 51:31 (yellow); U-M, Mike White, 66:11 (yellow)

NOTES

• Brad King made his third consecutive start in goal and picked up the first complete-game victory of his career.

• Mike White's second goal of the season was the fastest goal in U-M history to start a game (1:18).

• The three goals by U-M was the third time this season that the Maize and Blue has put that many balls in the net in a game. It was also the first time Michigan has scored three goals in a period.

• Tom Gritter had his fourth goal of the season and took over the team lead in that category.

• Kevin Taylor's goal was his third this year.