U-M Defeats Kentucky for Fifth Straight Win, Fourth Shutout

Friday, September 14

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:30 PM

Michigan

5-0-0

Kentucky

1-3-1

Kentucky

Michigan

U-M Defeats Kentucky for Fifth Straight Win, Fourth Shutout

9/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Stacey Schwartz

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Field)
Event: Michigan Invitational
Score: #18 Michigan 4, Kentucky 0
Records: U-M (5-0-0), UK (1-2-2)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Sept. 16 -- vs. Florida International at Michigan Invitational (U-M Soccer Field), 2:30 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 18-ranked University of Michigan men's soccer team won its fifth game in a row, taming a scrappy Kentucky Wildcats team, 4-0, Friday (Sept. 14) on the U-M Soccer Field. U-M was dominant in every facet of the game, refusing to slow down after it gained a large advantage. The team spread the ball around, allowing four different Wolverines to earn goals as Michigan maintained control of the ball throughout the 90-minute match.

The Wolverines scored their first goal at the 38:18 minute mark on a header into the left corner of the net by sophomore forward Mauro Fuzetti (Houston, Texas/Stratford), who received the assist from junior forward Steve Bonnell (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Detroit Country Day). Prior to the goal, Michigan had taken plenty of shots at the net, wearing down the Kentucky defense.

Five minutes after Fuzetti's goal, junior forward Jake Stacy (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central) netted his third goal of the season on a header from 10 yards out into the upper left post. Freshman defender Jeffrey Quijano (Simi Valley, Calif./Canoga Park) earned his first assist of the season on Stacy's goal.

Junior defender Michael Holody (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) earned his first goal of the season at 63:30 after a pass from Stacy led him to the score.

Kentucky had a few opportunities throughout the contest, but nothing fooled junior/sophomore goalkeeper Patrick Sperry (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central). Sperry earned his fourth shutout of the season, a performance secured by a gravity-defying stop when a Kentucky player ripped a shot from the left side of the 18-yard box. Sperry dove to his left, punching the ball away from the goal to maintain the shutout.

Michigan's final goal of the game came from sophomore/freshman defender Matt Schmitt (Muskegon, Mich./Reeths-Puffer), who scored his second tally in as many games. Schmitt received a pass from sophomore/freshman forward Cam Cameron (Ann Arbor, Mich/Saline) and struck the ball from 25 yards out towards the bottom right of the goal.

Michigan faces Florida International Sunday (Sept. 16) on the U-M Soccer Field for the second game of the Michigan Invitational Tournament. Action begins at 2:30 p.m.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	F
Kentucky	0	0	0
Michigan	2	2	4

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Mauro Fuzetti, 38:18 (Steve Bonnell)
1st -- U-M, Jake Stacy, 43:11 (Jeffrey Quijano)
2nd -- U-M, Michael Holody, 63:30 (Stacy)
2nd -- U-M, Matt Schmitt, 89:15 (Cam Cameron)

Shots: U-M 24, UK 6
Saves: U-M 4 (Patrick Sperry), UK 10 (Dan Williams)
Corner Kicks: U-M 8, UK 2
Fouls: U-M 15, UK 23
Cards: U-M, Mauro Fuzetti, 28:21 (yellow); UK, Brad Frederick, 46:30 (yellow); UK, Aaron Swanson, 64:17 (yellow); U-M, Santos Perez, 64:35 (yellow); UK, Tim Crone, 67:30 (red); UK, Matt Weiler, 83:36 (red); UK, Stephen Beiro, 83:51 (yellow)

NOTES

• Sophomore/freshman Matt Schmitt scored his second career goal against Kentucky. He currently owns a 1.000 shooting percentage.

• Junior Jake Stacy scored his sixth career goal and third of the season Friday against Kentucky.

• Sophomore Mauro Fuzetti scored his fourth goal of the season against the Wildcats. The tally was the third game-winner of his six career goals.

• Junior/sophomore Patrick Sperry earned his fourth shutout of the season -- the ninth of his career. He now has 12 career wins.

• The last time Michigan started out 5-0 was during the 2004 season after wins at No. 10 Connecticut, vs. Western Illinois and St. Francis (Pa.) in East Lansing, Mich., and at home against Dayton and Detroit. U-M extended that season-opening win streak to six before its first loss of the season.

• Michigan is now 4-0 in program history against Kentucky.

QUOTES

Michigan Junior Defender Michael Holody
On his success today ... "I think it was a team effort. I don't think anyone of us played particularly special but everyone did their job today. My job is to go up there and win headers on those balls Jake (Stacy) serves in on the corner kicks and the free kicks. I finally put one in and we kept it tight the whole game."

On the team having four shutouts in five games ... "We were really close to having five shutouts. We were unlucky to give up a goal against Cal State Northridge but we're playing really well together. Our positioning is really good. (Jeffrey) Quijano, (Santos) Perez, (Julian) Robles and I have a really good understanding of where we are and we've been covering for each other."

On the game against Florida International ... "We want to do the same thing -- keep scoring goals and keeping it tight in the back -- and get another shutout."

On his goal ... "It was great. It was a relief. I'm always looking for the first goal and I finally got it so I feel at ease now and have more confidence in the back going to get those headers."