Michigan
2-0
Western Illinois
1-1
Turpin Nets OT Winner as U-M Defeats Western Illinois
9/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The No. 16 University of Michigan men's soccer team earned its second shutout victory of the season today (Saturday, Sept. 4) as the Wolverines defeated Western Illinois 1-0 in the Michigan State Invitational. Mychal Turpin (Pontiac, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit) scored his first goal of the season at 95:05 to improve U-M's record to 2-0. Goalie Peter Dzubay (Sylvania, Ohio/Northview HS) paced the Wolverines on defense, making three saves in his second shutout victory of the season.
The Wolverines were sluggish offensively in the first half, getting off only four shots, one of which was on goal. However, the Michigan defense, led by Michael O'Reilly (Spring, Texas/Klein HS) was up the challenge, holding the Leathernecks to just two shots and no prime scoring opportunities. After 45 minutes of play, the score was 0-0.
The offense picked up in the second half with Western Illinois earning the first scoring chance of the game. Eight minutes into the half, the Leathernecks were awarded a free kick 35 yards out from the Michigan net. The ball was serviced to the back of the six-yard box, but Dzubay dove out to snatch the pass and prevent any shot or rebound. With 30 minutes to play, the game remained scoreless.
As the game progressed, the Wolverines became more aggressive in their attack, opening up scoring chances for Western Illinois. Following a Michigan turnover near midfield at the 82nd minute, WIU passed the ball into the right side of the Michigan box to beat the U-M defense. Dzubay came off his line to cut the shot angle and made another save to preserve the 0-0 tie. With no goal over the final eight minutes of regulation, the teams prepared for overtime.
The Maize and Blue came out aggressively in the extra session, out-shooting Western Illinois 3-0 in the period. Five minutes into overtime, the Wolverines forced a turnover just past midfield on the WIU side of the field and quickly pushed the ball toward the Leatherneck goal. Steve Hecker (Portage, Mich./Portage Northern HS) took the ball near the WIU box and flicked it to Turpin, who was breaking into the box on the right. As WIU goalie David Hanlon came out to cut the shot angle and make a play on the ball, Turpin fired a shot under Hanlon to the far left post for the Michigan goal and the win. Hecker recorded an assist on the play.
The Wolverines will return to East Lansing, Mich., tomorrow (Sunday, Sept. 5) for their final game of the Michigan State Invitational. Michigan will face St. Francis (Pa.) at 1:15 p.m.
GAME SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | OT | F |
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Western Illinois | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
OT -- U-M, Mychal Turpin, 95:05 (Steve Hecker)
Shots: U-M 13, WIU 9
Saves: U-M 3 (Peter Dzubay), WIU 4 (David Hanlon)
Corner Kicks: U-M 13, WIU 3
Fouls: U-M 18, WIU 5
Cards: WIU, Cam Shepherd, 60:21 (yellow)
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Steve Burns
On the game ... "It was a decent result, but we definitely have room for improvement. I think we were a little sluggish and we did not connect well on our passes. We could have been more aggressive on the attack."
On Turpin's goal and the overtime period ... "In overtime we wanted to go out as aggressively as we could and get the win early. We put our best lineup out there and told them to be aggressive and pressure up high. We wanted to try and capitalize on a turnover and that's what happened. I think we picked off a pass a little in their half of the field. It took up two passes to get down the field and then we found Mychal on the right, behind the defense. He took an off angle and beat the keeper underneath to the far post."
On the play of the defense so far this season ... "I think this team is going to win a lot of 1-0 games. This defense takes a lot of pride in holding the other team scoreless. The challenge for us is to be a better team defensively than we were a year ago. If you look at all the highly ranked teams, they all have very strong defenses statistically."
N O T E S
For the second straight season, U-M has started the season 2-0. Michigan's best start to a season came in 2001 when the Wolverines went 3-0 to start the year.
Mychal Turpin's overtime goal was his first goal of the season. With the goal, Turpin became the Wolverines' career points and goals leader with 70 points on 28 goals and 14 assists.
Steve Hecker scored his first U-M point with an assist to Mychal Turpin.
Peter Dzubay recorded his second shutout of the season and now has 11 shutouts in his career. Dzubay is U-M's career leader in shutouts.
Contact: Paul Dickerson (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Turpin, Mychal
Assisted By: Hecker, Steve
Shot from 15 yards out beat goalie
95:05
