Michigan
9-5-4
Oakland
10-4-3
Michigan Plays to Second Consecutive Scoreless Draw
11/3/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Field)
Score: Michigan 0, Oakland 0 (2OT)
Records: U-M (9-5-4), Oakland (10-4-3)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 6 -- vs. Ohio State (U-M Soccer Field), 2 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team played its second straight scoreless draw today (Wednesday, Nov. 3) in a 0-0 double-overtime decision against Oakland at the U-M Soccer Field. Wolverine goalkeeper Peter Dzubay (Sylvania, Ohio/Northview HS) made six saves in net for Michigan and set a school record with 278:29 scoreless minutes. Senior captain Knox Cameron (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman HS) also made his season debut but was unable to help the Wolverines (9-5-4) secure a victory.
Oakland was the aggressor throughout the opening half but was unable to register a shot on goal. The Grizzlies' best chance of the half came in the 27th minute when Chris Edwards beat the Michigan defense near the right side of the penalty box, forcing Dzubay to come off his line. Edwards then chipped the ball over Dzubay's head, but the shot bounced wide and the game remained scoreless after 45 minutes of play.
Oakland continued to pressure the Wolverines in the second half, but Michigan picked up its intensity and was able to create a number of scoring chances. In the 70th minute, Chris Glinski (Rochester, Minn./Lourdes HS) drew a foul from behind on Oakland, setting up a free kick by Adam Bruh (Roslyn Heights, N.Y./Wheatley HS) from 25 yards out. Bruh's attempt, however, was blocked by the Oakland wall.
Around 10 minutes later, Mychal Turpin (Pontiac, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit HS) drew another foul on the Grizzlies, this time just outside of the penalty area. Bruh once again took the free kick, but this time the shot sailed high, resulting in a goal kick for Oakland. Following Bruh's shot, the Wolverines began to pressure Oakland and held the ball in the Grizzlies' half of the field for the final 10 minutes of the game. Michigan, however, was unable to score the game-winner and the match went into overtime.
Play opened up in the overtime periods with each team creating numerous scoring opportunities. Oakland created the first chance to end the game with back-to-back breakaways from Edwards. Despite having a one-on-one with Dzubay, Edwards sent both attempts wide and the game continued.
The Wolverines answered Oakland's attack with a corner kick by Bruh in the 94th minute. Bruh found Turpin for a header at the mouth of the Grizzlies' goal, but the shot sailed wide and over the touchline.
With time winding down in the first overtime period, the Wolverines quickly moved the ball up the field to Turpin on the right wing. Turpin turned and beat the Oakland defense into the penalty box, but his attempt at the horn curved wide, resulting in a second overtime.
In the second overtime period, Michigan controlled play, holding the ball in the Grizzlies' half of the field. After being awarded back-to-back corner kicks with just over two minutes to play, the Wolverines fired a pair of shots inside the OU penalty box. Steve Hecker (Portage, Mich./Portage Northern HS) had the clearest look at the net, but his shot was corralled by OU goalkeeper Jeff Wiese.
Michigan will play its final regular-season game on Saturday (Nov. 6) at 2 p.m. when the Wolverines take on Ohio State at the U-M Soccer Field. Prior to the game, U-M will honor its seven seniors.
GAME SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | OT | OT | F |
| Oakland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Shots: U-M 15, OU 22
Saves: U-M 6 (Peter Dzubay), OU 2 (Jeff Wiese)
Corner Kicks: U-M 13, OU 4
Fouls: U-M 19, OU 19
Cards: OU, Bret McNabb, 69:37 (yellow); OU, Matt Connor, 106:39 (yellow)
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Steve Burns
On what the team talked about at halftime ... "We talked about the fact that our shape was good and that we had 45 minutes of poor execution. Now that that was out of our system, we wanted to come out and execute and keep the ball on the ground and move it quickly. They were doing a good job of bringing the energy and the tackling and the attitude to the game. I complimented them and said that we needed to be bringing what they were bringing. I said if we do, it goes in our favor and I think for the most part, we did in the second half and both overtimes. They had some chances to win. Their No. 4, Chris Edwards, had two chances in there and he is a good goal scorer. It looked like a restart or a corner kick was all we needed, but unfortunately we didn't have anyone that was special on the day. I think you have to give compliments to Matt Niemeyer and Mychal Turpin who had a real good game as well."
On the play of the defense ... "We are a team that keeps things really tight and organized. I didn't like that in the first half, our communication was not good. Edwards had a lot of space to operate in, but the boys pulled it together so you have to give them credit."
On the toughness of the team ... "I didn't like the fact that they seemed to be picking up more of the second balls. This is a great rivalry game. Oakland gets up for this game and our guys get up for this game as well. We know each other so well. That is one of the things you saw. We knew how to stop them and they knew how to stop us. Unfortunately we just didn't have something special happen."
On if the team is in a tournament frame of mind ... "It felt like a tournament game. There was a lot of drama to it. I think the team is in a good place right now where we are close to getting in the type of mentality. Games like this help you. We have nine overtimes in 18 matches, so half have been in overtime. It is going to pay off for us. Once we find our form scoring goals and once that's there, the boys are doing a great job defensively. We have to just score goals."
Michigan Senior Knox Cameron
On his comeback from injury ... "It felt really good. About the first two minutes I couldn't stop smiling and then I realized I couldn't breathe after that. It felt good to be out there and playing in meaningful games once again."
On the game ... "We definitely started out slow. We wanted to come out with a lot of pressure and be aggressive and unfortunately we couldn't really do that. We picked it up the second half. Overall I thought we played really well defensively and they did well defensively also. We are putting it together slowly."
On if there is a sense of urgency among the team ... "Certainly. We know these games are pretty much games that we need to win. It is not a matter of desperation, but I feel like there is a level of urgency. Towards the end we were certainly pushing to get a goal."
On the level of intensity at the end of the game ... "It was really intense. You could see the fight on both teams' faces. I think we matched their intensity and they matched ours. It was probably a just result to get a 0-0 tie."
Michigan Junior Chris Glinski
On the team's performance ... "It was an important game for us. We started to pick it up at the end as we got more shots in overtime. We played pretty well, but we can play better."
On what the team needs to work on ... "We have a good Ohio State team who is second in the Big Ten. We know their strengths and weaknesses, we have the scouting report. We just have to figure out a way to win."
NOTES
• The Wolverines played to a 0-0 tie for the second straight game. Michigan's prior game against Penn State (Oct. 31) marked the first scoreless tie in the five-year history of the U-M program.
• Michigan has not allowed a goal in three straight games, setting a school record with 310:00 scoreless minutes.
• The Wolverines played in their ninth overtime game of the year and their fifth in the last six games. Michigan is 3-2-4 in overtime this season.
• Peter Dzubay collected his fourth shutout of the season and the 13th of his career.
• Dzubay set a Michigan record with 278:29 scoreless minutes, dating back to Michigan's 4-0 victory over Akron.
• Senior captain Knox Cameron played in his first game of the season. Cameron, a preseason All-American and Hermann Trophy candidate, had been sidelined due to an injury through U-M's first 17 games of the season.
