Blanks Boosts U-M Past No. 25 Panthers in Double OT

Thursday, October 20

Ann Arbor, Mich.

5:00 PM

Michigan

7-6-1

Wisconsin-Milwaukee

8-3-4

OT 1

OT 2

UWM

Michigan

10/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Joseph Conrad

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Field)
Score: Michigan 2, #25 Wisconsin-Milwaukee 1 (2OT)
Records: U-M (7-6-1), UWM (8-3-4)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Oct. 23 -- vs. Wisconsin (U-M Soccer Field), 2:30 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Senior Trai Blanks (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) scored his third game-winning goal of the season 8:19 into the second overtime to lift the University of Michigan men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over the No. 25-ranked Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers on Thursday (Oct. 20) on the U-M Soccer Field. It marked U-M's first win over a ranked team since beating Connecticut in the 2004 season opener.

Blanks' fourth goal of the season was assisted by freshman Steve Bonnell (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Detroit Country Day) and senior Adam Bruh (Roslyn Heights, N.Y./Wheatley). Bonnell trapped a loose ball at the top of the box and slid a pass over to Bruh. Bruh then chipped a pass to Blanks, who headed it just over the goal line out of goalkeeper Grant Fernstrum's reach to win the game.

After going into intermission scoreless, the Wolverines came out with tons of offensive pressure, taking seven shots to the Panthers' one shot in the second half. The only shot for Wisconsin-Milwaukee was a goal by Adam Skalecki, which was assisted by Martin Castro just 7:10 into the half. The goal was set up when Castro crossed the ball from the left wing to Skalecki, who was waiting to fire a shot to beat senior Peter Dzubay (Sylvania, Ohio/Northview) to his right.

The Wolverines responded with a goal of their own at the 82:04 mark, when senior Ryan Sterba (Westlake, Ohio/St. Ignatius (Cleveland) slipped a pass to freshman Chase Tennant (Rochester, Mich./Rochester) and Tennant launched a shot 25 yards out from the left wing to beat Fernstrum in the right top 90.

Michigan's defense was able to frustrate Wisconsin-Milwaukee, only allowing a total of two shots in two overtimes, and giving up two shots on goal for the game. Dzubay made one save in the victory.

The Wolverines head back into Big Ten Conference play to host the Wisconsin Badgers at 2:30 p.m. Sunday (Oct. 23) on the U-M Soccer Field.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	OT	OT	F
Wisconsin-Milwaukee	0	1	0	0	1
Michigan	0	1	0	1	2

Scoring, Time (Assist)
2nd -- UWM, Adam Skalecki, 52:10 (Martin Castro)
2nd -- U-M, Chase Tennant, 82:04 (Ryan Sterba)
2OT -- U-M, Trai Blanks, 108:19 (Steve Bonnell, Adam Bruh)

Shots: U-M 16, UWM 8
Saves: U-M 1 (Peter Dzubay), UWM 3 (Grant Fernstrum)
Corner Kicks: U-M 4, UWM 4
Fouls: U-M 22, UWM 20
Cards: U-M, Bobby Trybula, 87:35 (yellow); UWM, Ken Ogorzalek, 87:53 (yellow)

NOTES

• Michigan improved to 6-1 at home this season.

• Senior Adam Bruh recorded his fourth assist of the season, giving him 28 in his career. Bruh's 28 assists are the most of any men's soccer player in Michigan history.

• Freshman Steve Bonnell tallied his first collegiate assist.

• Freshman Chase Tennant netted his first collegiate goal.

• Michigan played in its third double-overtime game of the season, improving to 1-1-1. The three double-overtime games are one short of the single-season high of four double-overtime games in 2000 and 2004.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Steve Burns
On winning a tight double-overtime game ... "Wisconsin-Milwaukee is a very good team, and they came here to get a good result and played their hearts out just like we did. Sometimes opportunities come in the form of temporary defeat, and our players have responded extremely well to it and got a great result tonight that hopefully puts us right back on track to keep that winning feeling going."

On the importance of Michigan responding from UWM's goal ... "It was great to see. I think you're starting to see the mental toughness really come out in our players and that's a great step forward for a lot of the young guys that are on the field and the veteran leaders as well. We responded extremely well. It was a great goal they scored, they had one shot in the second half and scored a great goal from it, but for us to be able to respond and equalize off of Chase Tennant's magnificent goal and take it into overtime and win it, is just proof that this team is a good team and will continue to roll forward."

On the importance of winning this game heading back into Big Ten action ... "Every win in the college game, especially in the Big Ten, is so precious. The players realize that they're so difficult to get and the only thing that you can do is play up to your potential and play with all the heart, intensity and desire and see how the outcome unfolds."