Michigan
Virginia Commonwealth
Marosevic Goal Lifts U-M Past Virginia Commonwealth
9/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team concluded the Michigan Invitational with a 1-0 win over Virginia Commonwealth Sunday (Sept. 10) at the U-M Soccer Field. The Wolverines finished the weekend 2-0, taking first place in the Michigan Invitational after scoring one more goal than Michigan State, which also finished 2-0.
Freshman Peri Marosevic (Rockford, Ill./Edison Academy HS) netted the game-winner for the Maize and Blue with seven minutes left in the first half, giving sophomore Jake Stacy (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Central HS) his first assist of the season. Stacy slipped the ball to Marosevic from the middle of the goal area, and Marosevic dribbled from the left flank to the top of the 18-yard box, where he launched a shot to beat the keeper to the top right corner.
Michigan turned up the offensive intensity early in the match, with the first U-M goal attempt coming at the 3:14 mark. The second chance at a Wolverine goal was taken by freshman Mauro Fuzetti (Houston, Texas/Stratford HS) in the ninth minute. Fuzetti's shot was created after the freshman forward dribbled past the VCU defense to fire a shot from 22 yards out which grazed the top of the crossbar.
The Wolverines went into halftime with a 1-0 lead that they would never relinquish. For the second game in a row, U-M finished the first half without facing any shots on goal.
Entering the second frame, the Michigan defense remained stout, giving sophomore/freshman Patrick Sperry (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central HS) his first collegiate shutout. Sperry finished the match with one save after facing one shot on goal.
With the defense controlling the back half of the field, the Wolverines continued to push toward the Rams' half to create scoring opportunities. Four minutes after the start of play in the second stanza, Stacy took his second shot of the match, forcing VCU keeper Andrew Dykstra to make one of his four saves.
In the 57th minute, Marosevic was set up by senior tri-captain Kevin Hall (Kalamazoo, Mich./Portage Central HS) to take a header that was saved by Dykstra. Hall sent Marosevic a through ball from the right flank, and Marosevic was waiting to generate a close scoring opportunity at the left post of the net. Minutes later, Hall forced a save after getting past the Rams defense and pounding a shot into the outstretched arms of Dykstra at the 63:24 mark.
The Wolverines travel to Lexington, Ky., to face the Kentucky Wildcats on Wednesday (Sept. 13) at 7:30 p.m. at the UK Soccer Complex.
GAME SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Virginia Commonwealth | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Peri Marosevic, 37:55 (Jake Stacy)
Shots: U-M 6, VCU 13
Saves: U-M 1 (Patrick Sperry), VCU 4 (Andrew Dykstra)
Corner Kicks: U-M 6, VCU 2
Fouls: U-M 23, VCU 18
Cards: VCU, Thomas Weingartner, 36:36 (yellow); VCU, Fred Owusu Sekyere, 56:20 (yellow); U-M, Kevin Hall, 67:55 (yellow)
Contact: Joseph Conrad (734) 763-4423
