Michigan
5-9-3
Akron
9-4-1
U-M Ends Non-Conference Action with 1-0 Loss to Akron
10/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Site: Akron, Ohio (Lee R. Jackson Soccer Field )
Score: Akron 1, Michigan 0
Records: U-M (5-9-3), Akron (9-4-1)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Oct. 22 -- vs. Ohio State (U-M Soccer Field), 2 p.m.
AKRON, Ohio -- The University of Michigan mens soccer team fell to Akron 1-0 on Wednesday (Oct. 18) at the Lee R. Jackson Soccer Field.
With 1:48 remaining in the first half, the Zips netted the game-winning goal, leaving Michigan to continue its program-high eight game winless streak. UAs Ashley Kozicki scored the marker, with Matt Tutich earning the assist. Kozicki, wide open and waiting in front of the net, beat sophomore/freshman Patrick Sperry (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central HS) after receiving Tutich's pass from the left flank.
Until the Akron goal, Michigan was the team applying pressure, taking two shots on goal to UAs zero. Sophomore Santos Perez (Troy, Mich./Athens HS) took the first shot on goal for the Maize and Blue, only to be turned away by Zips keeper Evan Bush in the 26th minute. The play began when the Michigan defense picked a ball off at midfield; sophomore Alex Morisset (Shelby Township, Mich./De La Salle HS) sent to Perez, who chopped and curled the ball with his right foot from 20 yards out. Bush responded late to the ball, but was able to parry it back into the field of play.
At the 28:09 mark, senior tri-captain Bobby Trybula (Loveland, Ohio/Archbishop Mueller HS) attacked the net for Michigan, but Akron earned a team save as an UA defender stopped the ball from scoring after Bush was beaten by Trybula. The shot was taken at, what seemed like, an empty net, until the ball hit the shoulder of a Zip defender that had dropped back to the goal line.
Entering the second half down 1-0, the Wolverines turned up the intensity, firing six shots -- half of which were on goal, and making three saves. Freshman Peri Marosevic (Rockford, Ill./Edison Academy) took the first shot on goal 3:06 into the second frame, but Bush grabbed his second save of the night. Freshman Mauro Fuzetti (Houston, Texas/Stratford HS) slipped the ball to Marosevic, who fired from 20 yards out aiming for the upper corner of the net. Bush leaped up and pushed the ball wide, giving Michigan a corner kick. With his four shots, two of which were on goal, Marosevic finished the night as the Wolverines leading shot taker.
On the defensive end, Sperry made all three of his saves in the second half, turning away shots in the 50th, 52nd and 83rd minutes. Sperrys saves in the 50th and 52nd minutes came at valuable times, as Akron took three consecutive shots -- one being blocked in the 51st minute before it was called offside.
After Akron was called for the penalty, U-M sought out the equalizer with sophomore Steve Bonnell (St. Claire Shores, Mich./Detroit Country Day School) and Marosevic taking shots on goal in the 66th and 70th minutes, respectively, giving Bush his third and fourth saves of the match. Bonnells shot was a low, hard drive from 25 yards out, while Marosevic's shot from 12 yards out was in the middle of traffic.
The Wolverines return home, continuing Big Ten action against Ohio State on Sunday (Oct. 22) at 2 p.m. on the U-M Soccer Field.
GAME SUMMARY
| By Periods | 1 | 2 | F |
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Akron | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- UA, Ashley Kozicki, 43:12 (Matt Tutich)
Shots: U-M 10, UA 9
Saves: U-M 3 (Patrick Sperry), UA 5 (Evan Bush 4, Team 1)
Corner Kicks: U-M 2, UA 3
Fouls: U-M 15, UA 10
Cards: U-M, Santos Perez, 68:55 (yellow); UA, Matt Tutich, 86:06 (yellow)
NOTES
• Sophomore/freshman Patrick Sperry's three saves against Akron moved him into a fourth-place tie on the U-M single-season saves list with 59. Sperry is tied with Joe Zawacki's (2000-04) single-season record of 59 saves, the most made by a U-M goalkeeper in a debut season. Sperry also has played a total of 1,500:33, which is the most minutes played by any U-M goalkeeper in their debut season.
• With tonight's loss, the Wolverines are 2-3-0 against Akron all-time.
• U-M was shut out for the eighth time this season, which is the most shutouts against a Michigan team in program history. The Wolverines are 0-7-1 in those contests.
• U-M finished 5-7-2 in non-conference action for the season, and will look for its first Big Ten win on the 2006 campaign on Sunday (Oct. 22) against the Buckeyes.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Steve Burns
On the motivation for Ohio State ... "It's motivation, but also making sure that everyone understands that we are doing the right things on the soccer field, and that is creating chances. It's helping to build back confidence with guys that may have lost it. Nobody wants to play us because they know we're a dangerous team. Now it's taking that information and turning it into a reality, and that is in the form of balls in the back of the net."
On the team's defense heading into the final games and the Big Ten Championship ... "As I told the guys as we ended the game, I don't think there's any conference opponent that wants to play us in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. What we have to focus on, more than anything, is making sure we're confident in the front of the face of the net and scoring goals. Because once this team puts that together, anything can happen in the Big Ten Tournament for us."
On the team's muturity since the beginning of the season ... "I think that maturity is a part of your character and adversity really does reveal character. More than anything, I think that our guys are proud and still hungry to find success on the season."
Team Stats
KOZICKI, Ashley (4)
Assisted By: TUTICH, Matt
Ball in from 14 on left to open 7 in fro
43:12
