Michigan
5-0-0
Detroit
1-2-0
Wolverines Defeat Detroit Behind Turpin Game-Winner
9/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Field)
Score: #9 Michigan 2, Detroit 1
Records: U-M (5-0)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Sept. 17 -- vs. Bowling Green (U-M Soccer Field), 5 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 9 University of Michigan men's soccer team remained unbeaten with a 2-1 win over Detroit today (Sunday, Sept. 12) at the U-M Soccer Field. Michigan (5-0) took an early lead off of an own goal by the Titans in the first 15 minutes of the game, but the Detroit tied the game at 1-1 heading into the half. Mychal Turpin (Pontiac, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit) scored the game-winner at 55:25, with Brian Popeney (Canton, Mich./Plymouth Salem) tallying his first career point with an assist on the play.
The play was back and forth early in the game, but the Wolverines were able to take an 1-0 lead at 14:38 thanks to an own goal by the Titans. Matt Niemeyer (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs HS) fired a shot from 25 yards out that was sailing wide to the right of the Detroit net. However, on the attempted clear by the Titans, they inadvertently sent the ball back across the goal and off the left post. The ball caromed into the net for the first goal of the game.
With less than 10 minutes to play before the half, the Wolverines had a chance to increase their lead to 2-0. Jeff Mirmelstein (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central HS) received a pass down the right sideline and beat his defender to the net. Mirmelstein crossed the ball in front of the Detroit goal, finding Turpin for a diving header. Titan goalkeeper Sasha Boskovic made a diving save to his right, but the rebound bounced up to the head of Bobby Trybula (Loveland, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller HS), who sent the ball back at the Detroit goal. Once again, Boskovic was there to make the save, and the game remained 1-0.
The Titans tied the game at 37:58 with a score from Ablaye Camara. Jason Hamilton found the attacker on a run down the left side and sent him a through ball just onside. With a one-on-one with Michigan goalkeeper Peter Dzubay (Sylvania, Ohio/Northview HS), Camara sent the ball across the net for the goal. The teams were knotted at 1-1 at halftime.
The Wolverines became more aggressive on offense in the second half, taking 16 shots in the period. After one missed scoring opportunity early in the second half, the Wolverines finally scored the go-ahead goal at 55:25. Ryan Alexander (Southfield, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit HS) found Popeney at the top of the Titan box, but Popeney was unable to get a shot off. Instead, the Michigan attacker dribbled the ball left of the goal, toward the endline. From there he found Turpin on a cross, and Turpin shot the ball back to the right side of the net to give Michigan a 2-1 lead.
The Wolverines continued to keep the pressure on the Titans, holding the ball in Detroit's half of the field for much of the remainder of the game. Michigan created a number of other scoring chances, but Boskovic was there every time. However, the Michigan defense was equally as good, allowing the Wolverines to run out the clock.
Michigan will return to the field on Friday (Sept. 17) for a match against Bowling Green. That match is scheduled to being at 5 p.m. at the U-M Soccer Field.
GAME SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Detroit | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Detroit Own Goal, 14:38
1st -- UD, Ablaye Camara, 37:58 (Jason Hamilton)
2nd -- U-M, Mychal Turpin, 55:25 (Brian Popeney)
Shots: U-M 25, UD 9
Saves: U-M 1 (Peter Dzubay), UD 9 (Sasha Boskovic)
Corner Kicks: U-M 8, UD 7
Fouls: U-M 17, UD 19
Cards: UD, Alex Kawalit, 78:30 (yellow)
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Steve Burns
On the progress of the team ... "I think we are making progress forward. At this point in the season, you want to see those improvements at a team level across the board. For the most part, we are seeing that."
On the keys to the victory ... "I think it was all about who was willing to commit more energy to this game to win it. The weather dragged things down and they wanted to play a slower game and we really fell into that at first. Then we got out of it and played more of an up-tempo game. We were able to make them defend a lot and we kept possession in the front half of the field. That took a lot of energy out of them and that worked to our advantage."
On finishing scoring opportunities ... "You have to give a lot of credit to their goalkeeper with the fact that we had 13 shots on goal and a total of 25 shots. Their goalkeeping was real special today. This is the point in the season that you begin to find some of that rhythm with scoring goals. I think you saw some of our attack was based on winning balls, playing short into players' feet and laying balls off into wider positions for runners in the back end. It is starting to come. There is a lot to be pleased with the attack that has been generated and the fact that defensively we know we are a strong team and that continues to come together."
On Mychal Turpin's goal ... "Mychal is a special player. He continues to get better and better, game in and game out. He is a player who gets a lot of attention from the other team, but he knows how to handle that well. He knows how to pull a team out of shape if they are double or triple-teaming him. It is great for him to be rewarded by getting on the end of a sitter of a goal."
U-M Senior Forward Mychal Turpin
On his game-winning goal ... "I think Ryan Alexander had the ball on the far left. He cut it back and then he played it to (Brian) Popeney in the middle of the field. Popeney sprayed it across the box to me and I hit it in first time."
On the team's ball movement ... "As the game got more spread open, we were getting better possession of the ball. We were able to get forward and to the slats."
On keys to the offense's success ... "I think we all just worked hard. We won the first balls and tried to get the second ones. Once you do that, I think our talent takes care of itself."
NOTES
• Michigan's 5-0 start to the season is the best in program history. The Wolverines started the 2001 season 3-0.
• Mychal Turpin scored his second game-winning goal of the season and now has seven game-winning goals in his career.
• Brian Popeney scored his first career point, assisting on Mychal Turpin's game-winning goal.
Team Stats
TEAM (1)
shot by 21 wide, deflected by defense fo
14:38
CAMARA, Ablaye (2)
Assisted By: HAMILTON, Jason
through ball, shot across net to lower r
37:58
Turpin, Mychal (2)
Assisted By: Popeney, Brian
cross into middle, shot to right side
55:25
