Marosevic Scores Pair as Michigan Dominates Oakland

Wednesday, September 20

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:00 PM

Michigan

5-4

Oakland

2-6

Oakland

Michigan

9/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team improved its record to 5-4 with a 3-0 victory over Oakland on Wednesday (Sept. 20) on the U-M Soccer Field. The Wolverines were led by freshman Peri Marosevic (Rockford, Ill./Edison Academy HS) and sophomore Michael Holody (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston HS) with two and one goals, respectively.

The Wolverines offensive attack got off to an early start, as the first scoring opportunity for the Maize and Blue came in the second minute of action. Marosevic crossed the ball from the right flank to senior tri-captain Kevin Hall (Kalamazoo, Mich./Portage Central HS), who flicked a header wide of the net.

Michigan continued to harass Oakland's defense as Marosevic netted the first marker at the 17:06 mark. Sophomore Santos Perez (Troy, Mich./Athens HS) earned the assist on the goal, slipping the ball to Marosevic to give the freshman Wolverine the scoring opportunity. The play was set up after Perez shredded the Grizzlies defense with his dribbling, splitting three defenders to get to the top of the goal box. Perez then slid the ball to Marosevic, who held off an OU defender, turned to his right, and blasted a shot that deflected off the keeper's hand and into the net.

With 14 minutes until halftime, Marosevic earned his fifth goal of the season while giving Holody his first career assist. Marosevic's second marker was scored in similar fashion to his first, as he took the shot with an Oakland defender on his back. Holody found Marosevic waiting in the middle of the goal box 15 yards from the net, and with one touch of the ball Marosevic spun to the left and fired the shot across his body, beating OU's Steve Clark low and to the right.

Heading into halftime, Michigan maintained the lead by playing stout team defense with sophomore/freshman Patrick Sperry (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central HS) snagging three of his five saves.

In the 14th minute, the Wolverine's team defense made one of the biggest plays of the night. With the game still scoreless, the Grizzlies were putting pressure on Michigan's half of the field, giving OU's Ian Daniel a scoring opportunity that was denied by Holody. With both teams scrambling in front of the net, Daniel found the ball and took a shot from the left post with Sperry out of position; Holody knocked the ball away to give Michigan its first team save of the season.

Holody sealed the victory for the Wolverines in the 51st minute after senior tri-captain Brian Popeney (Canton, Mich./Plymouth Salem HS) earned a free kick off an OU foul. Popeney took the free kick from 30 yards out, setting up Holody for the goal. With the ball in the air, Holody volleyed the ball from the middle of the goal box, 12 yards out, beating the keeper to his right.

Senior Ryan Bennett (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) made his season debut as he relieved Sperry at the 73:23 mark, and Bennett preserved Michigan's second shutout of the season.

The Wolverines hit the road to face Indiana in Bloomington, Ind., on Sunday (Sept. 24) at 2:30 p.m. at Bill Armstrong Stadium.

GAME SUMMARY

Team	1	2	F
Oakland	0	0	0
Michigan	2	1	3

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Peri Marosevic, 17:06 (Santos Perez)
1st -- U-M, Marosevic, 30:12 (Michael Holody)
2nd -- U-M, Holody, 50:44 (Brian Popeney)

Shots: U-M 20, OU 19
Saves: U-M (Patrick Sperry 5, Ryan Bennett 0), OU (Steve Clark 3, Andy Kroll 1)
Corner Kicks: U-M 4, OU 7
Fouls: U-M 17, OU 16
Cards: OU, Stefan St. Louis, 50:37 (yellow); OU, Wade Allan, 71:22 (yellow); U-M, Santos Perez, 77:40 (yellow); OU, Michael Reyes, 77:40 (yellow)