Michigan
10-6-2
Northwestern
8-12-0
White, Dzubay Lift U-M to Shutout in Big Ten First Round
11/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Site: State College, Pa. (Jeffrey Field)
Event: Big Ten Championship (First Round)
Score: Michigan 1, Northwestern 0
Records: U-M (10-6-2), Northwestern (8-10-1)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Nov. 15 -- vs. Michigan State at Big Ten Semifinals (State College, Pa.), 7:30 p.m.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The No. 2-seeded University of Michigan men's soccer team advanced to the semifinal round of the Big Ten Conference Championship for the second straight year with a 1-0 victory over No. 7 seed Northwestern on Thursday (Nov. 14) at Penn State's Jeffrey Field. Junior tri-captain Mike White (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS) tallied the game's lone goal, while freshman Peter Dzubay (Sylvania, Ohio/Northview HS) turned away all three shots he faced for his third shutout this season.
Michigan netted the game-winner at 24:58 when freshman Adam Bruh (Roslyn Heights, N.Y./Wheatley HS) found White unmarked in the six-yard box. Following a Northwestern foul 35 yards out along the left sideline, Bruh sent the free kick across to White, who was charging into the six-yard box. As the keeper shifted to the near post White headed the ball back across the goal mouth and it came to rest in the back of the net for a 1-0 advantage.
After halftime, Northwestern began to find its offensive rhythm and attacked the Wolverines. The Wildcats' best chance to gain the equalizer came with 5:11 remaining in the game. With Northwestern in possession of the ball, Doug Gibson managed to break free of the defense and found himself wide open 10 yards from the goal. With open space all around him he controlled the ball and fired a shot at the net but did not strike the ball firmly enough as it traveled just to the right of the post for a Michigan goal kick.
The Wolverines return to action Friday (Nov. 15) when they face intrastate rival Michigan State in a semifinal match at 7:30 p.m. on Jeffrey Field. The Spartans, seeded sixth, defeated No. 3 seed Ohio State 3-2 in the first round. Michigan fell 2-1 to the Spartans when the two teams met during the regular season Oct. 13 on the U-M Soccer Field in Ann Arbor.
GAME SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Northwestern | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Mike White, 25:58 (Adam Bruh)
Shots: U-M 12, NU 10
Saves: U-M 3 (Peter Dzubay), NU 6 (J.D. Martin)
Corner Kicks: U-M 4, NU 0
Fouls: U-M 23, NU 14
Cards: NU, Steve Jedlinski, 51:24 (yellow), NU, Steve Jedlinski, 87:18 (red)
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Steve Burns
On the game ... "This is tournament time and this is what you expect. It was a one-goal game between two teams that gave it their all and never quit. This is what we expected and prepared for. Our guys did a good great job executing and won the game.
"I think in the first half we did a good job recognizing how to attack Northwestern and we controlled 5/6 of the half. But they took it to us in the final five minutes of the half. They started to realize how to take it to us and break our defense. In the second 45 minutes, we looked at the fact they had a lot of space in behind their defense and that we were going to be able to get to that space and play to our guys' feet if we lay off and look for the third man running."
On Mike White ... "Mike White is a guy who comes up big in big games. He scores goals and had a couple of chances today. He was one of three today with his chances. He missed the first one but didn't get down on himself and rebounded to score a nice goal from (Adam) Bruh which turned out to be the game-winner."
On goalkeeper Peter Dzubay ... "He is a guy that the team, the players on the bench and the coaching staff have a lot of confidence in. You have a sense that anytime a team gets past our defense they will have an even tougher time getting past Pete."
U-M Junior Midfielder Mike White
On the game-winning goal ... "I expect (Adam) Bruh to play a great ball every time he sends one in and he did that on the goal. I missed the first one, but I knew if we got another opportunity that he would set me up again and that time I converted."
U-M Freshman Goalkeeper Peter Dzubay
On the game ... "Every game I feel a bit more confident back there. Having Kevin Taylor back there really helps as well. The whole defense played exceptional today, which made my job easy. We wouldn't have won without them."
NOTES
• The Wolverines opened the game with a new front line as junior Ian Hirschfield (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Pine Crest HS) made his first start of the season at forward.
• The win gives the Wolverines 10 victories for the second straight year. Last year Michigan finished 11-7-1.
• With the assist on the game-winner Adam Bruh reclaimed the Michigan career helper record. Bruh entered the championship tied with Mike White with 11 assists.
• White continued his hot season with his eighth goal of the year. In 2002 he has 23 points with eight goals and seven assists.
Team Stats
White, Mike
Assisted By: Bruh, Adam
Free Kick
25:07
