Wolverines Top Western Michigan in Double Overtime

Wednesday, October 4

Kalamazoo, Mich.

3:00 PM

Michigan

4-4-0

Western Michigan

3-7-1

OT 3

OT 4

Michigan

Western Michigan

10/4/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Steve Grialou

Site: Kalamazoo, Mich. (WMU Soccer Complex)
Score: Michigan 3, Western Michigan 2 (2OT)
Records: U-M (4-4), WMU (3-7-1)
Next U-M Match: Sunday, Oct. 8 -- at Indiana (Bloomington, Ind.), 2 p.m. CDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Freshman Tom Gritter (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) gave the University of Michigan men's soccer team a 3-2 double-overtime victory over host Western Michigan today (Wednesday, Oct. 4) with a shot to the far post from 15 yards out on the right side at 109:15.

Western Michigan (3-7-1) got on the board first quickly when sophomore Mike Bravo took a rebound off a long throw and put the ball in goal only 7:22 into the game. Michigan (4-4) responded just as quickly with freshman Mike White (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS) took advantage of a rebound off a free kick to tie the game 1-1 at the 14:48 mark. The game remained tied at halftime.

The Broncos came out in the second half firing away at sophomore goalkeeper Brad King (Portage, Mich./Northern HS) with 12 shots for the period. King made nine saves in the half en route to a career high, but WMU did get on the board in the second period when freshman Scott Duhl took a rebound inside the box to put the Broncos on top 2-1.

As time was winding down, freshman Kevin Robinson (Caro, Mich./Faith Baptist HS) tied the game 2-2, off a free kick from 20 yards to the near post with only 1:17 left in regulation.

The two teams battled in the first overtime, with Michigan having a 3-1 advantage of shots for the 15-minute period. But the Wolverines would have to wait until 109:15, in the second OT, when Gritter ended the marathon with his game-winning goal.

The Wolverines' next match is against No. 5-ranked Indiana on Sunday (Oct. 8) at 2 p.m. CDT in Bloomington, Ind.

GAME SUMMARY

Team	1	2	OT	OT	F
Michigan	1	1	0	1	3
Western Michigan	1	1	0	0	2

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- WMU, Mike Bravo, 7:22 (unassisted)
1st -- U-M, Mike White, 14:48 (unassisted)
2nd -- WMU, Scott Duhl, 71:45 (Reece Richardson)
2nd -- U-M, Kevin Robinson, 88:43 (unassisted)
2OT -- U-M, Tom Gritter, 109:15 (unassisted)

Shots: U-M 21, WMU 19
Saves: U-M 11(Pat Murphy 2, Brad King 9), WMU 10(Brendan Smith 10)
Corner Kicks: U-M 13, WMU 5
Fouls: U-M 21, WMU 15
Cards: WMU, Ryan March, 59:52 (yellow); U-M, Team, 76:01 (yellow)

NOTES

• Brad King had a career high of nine saves in his first appearance in goal and earned the win.

• This marks the first time the Wolverines have gone to double OT, and the longest game in their varsity history (109:15).

• Pat Murphy (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles HS) made his first career start in goal, making two saves.

• Michigan improves to 2-1 this season in overtime matches.

• Mike White's goal was the first of his career.

• Kevin Robinson's goal was his third of the season.

• Tom Gritter's goal was the third of the season and his second game-winning goal. He has scored the winning goal in both of U-M's overtime victories this season.

• The 11 saves combined for Michigan are a season high.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Steve Burns
On the game ... "Fitness was a concern late in the game, and we are a very physically fit team, which helped us in the second overtime. We played Western Michigan in a very attack-and-possession style, which is not our style of play, but today it worked out for us."