U-M Wins Michigan Invite with Sound Defeat of FIU

Sunday, September 16

Ann Arbor, Mich.

2:30 PM

Michigan

6-0-0

Florida International

0-6-1

Florida Intl

Michigan

9/16/2007 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 5, Florida International 1
Records: U-M (6-0-0), FIU (0-5-1)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Sept. 21 -- vs. Detroit (U-M Soccer Field), 5 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 18-ranked University of Michigan men's soccer team won its sixth game in a row, beating Florida International 5-1 Sunday (Sept. 14) to capture the Michigan Invitational crown on the U-M Soccer Field. The Wolverines set a quick pace to the game from its onset and FIU was unable to catch up.

The Wolverines scored their first goal at the 2:57 mark on a header by sophomore/freshman defender Matt Schmitt (Muskegon, Mich./Reeths-Puffer) into the near post off. The play was set up by forward Jake Stacy's (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills) corner kick.

Florida International had a chance for a goal moments later when an FIU forward was one-on-one with a breakaway against junior/sophomore goalkeeper Patrick Sperry (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central). However, Sperry reached out and dove for the save -- one of his five on the afternoon.

At 12:59, freshman defender Jeffrey Quijano (Simi Valley, Calif./Canoga Park) netted his first score of the season. Again, the marker was set up by a corner kick from Stacy.

Throughout the match, junior defender Michael Holody (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) led the backfield to prevent any goals by Florida International. Holody swiped two breakaways by FIU players to stop the Panther offense in their tracks, keeping Michigan in possession of the ball. Sophomore defender Julian Robles (Los Angeles, Calif./Damien) made an impressive tackle to prevent an FIU breakaway early in the first half.

After a few missed opportunities in the first half, sophomore forward Peri Marosevic (Rockford, Ill./Edison) cashed in during the second half, heading a ball rebounded from the FIU goalkeeper to the left side of the goal for Michigan's third score of the match at 57:33.

At the 75 minute mark, Coach Burns substituted senior/junior goalkeeper Tom Huls (Plymouth, Mich./Salem) for Sperry. Huls was impressive in the game, preventing any FIU offense from penetrating the goal.

The only flaw on the afternoon came on an own goal by the Wolverines late in the second half (78:04).

Eight seconds later, U-M made up for the mistake as sophomore/freshman forward Cam Cameron (Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline) regained momentum for the Maize and Blue, knocking in a rebound from a shot by Quijano to put Michigan ahead, 4-1. However, Cameron was not done; ten minutes later (88:08), he booted another score into the middle of the net -- a shot assisted by freshman forward Vinny Crumrine (Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Park). The goal sealed Michigan's best start since 2004, as the Wolverines sit a perfect 6-0-0 for the season.

Michigan faces Detroit Friday (Sept. 21) on the U-M Soccer Field at 5 p.m.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	F
Florida International	0	1	1
Michigan	2	3	5

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Matt Schmitt, 2:57 (Jake Stacy)
1st -- U-M, Jeffrey Quijano, 12:59 (Stacy)
2nd -- U-M, Peri Marosevic, 58:33 (Steve Bonnell)
2nd -- FIU, Michigan own goal, 78:04 (unassisted)
2nd -- U-M, Cam Cameron, 78:12 (unassisted)
2nd -- U-M, Cameron, 88:08 (Vinny Crumrine)

Shots: U-M 21, FIU 11
Saves: U-M 5 (Patrick Sperry), FIU 4 (Michael Anderson)
Corner Kicks: U-M 10, FIU 3
Fouls: U-M 18, FIU 12
Cards: FIU, Phil Fisher, 18:15 (yellow); FIU, Brian Haisley, 82:25 (yellow)

NOTES

• Sophomore/freshman Matt Schmitt scored his third career goal against Florida International.

• With his goal today, sophomore Peri Marosevic became the sixth-leading scorer in Michigan history with eight.

• Sophomore/freshman Cam Cameron tallied his first and second career goals against FIU.

• Junior Jake Stacy earned his fifth assist of the season. Stacy leads U-M in assists.

• Junior/sophomore Patrick Sperry earned his 13th career win in the victory over the Golden Panthers.

• The win ties Michigan's best start since 2004, when the team beat No. 10 Connecticut, Western Illinois, St. Francis (Pa.), Dayton, Detroit and Bowling Green.

• Michigan is now 1-1 in program history against Florida International.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Steve Burns
On starting out 6-0 ... "I think we start to look ahead a bit as we get into the Big Ten portion of our season. We've still got a lot of work to do with what we want to accomplish in the Big Ten."

On who the team looks ahead to ... "It's a mistake to look past the University of Detroit because they came in here last year and got a tie, 0-0. Wisconsin is here on Sunday and they have won their last four games by a shutout including a No. 20 Gonzaga team on Friday (Sept. 14). They're probably going to be a ranked team. The Big Ten is going to be extremely tough and we start off with a tough one in Wisconsin."

U-M Junior Forward Jake Stacy
On his dominant play ... "I'm more comfortable now but I think it's because everyone is playing so well. I am getting some assists and goals because the guys are finishing. They are playing great defense and that leads to great offense."

On his two corner kick assists today ... "We have a couple of different plays. This team especially had open space to I tried to put it there with the first one. I put it in there and (Matt) Schmitt got a head on it. With the second one, I actually talked to Peri (Marosevic). I told him to hold his ground and I would just slide it into him. It went a little past him but (Jeffrey) Quijano got a flick on it and kicked it in. Wherever there defense is, I try to look at it as hard as I can."

U-M Sophomore/Freshman Defender Cam Cameron
On his two goals ... "I am relieved because I had previous shots on goal that went right to the goalie and some that hit the post; to finally get one is just a load off of my shoulders."

On the team's success ... "I think we're having a lot of fun. This is one of the closest teams I have been a part of. We all hang out together. Going to practice is like going to hang out with your friends so that helps us to play better."

On avoiding a letdown ... "I think we keep focusing on each game and remind the guys that we started out 6-0 in 2004, we were ranked No. 3 in the country and then we ended losing a lot of games. We have to work on not becoming complacent."