Notes & Quotes: #12 Michigan 2, Penn State 0
11/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Senior/junior Patrick Sperry posted his program-best sixth conference shutout of his career. He also earned his 18th perfect game, pulling to within one of Peter Dzubay's (19, 2002-05) school record.
Michigan finished the conference slate with the fewest goals allowed, averaging 0.50 goals allowed per game. Sperry aided in those numbers with three shutouts.
The Wolverines clinched their eighth home victory of the season, besting the previous standard of seven set by the 2005 (7-1-0) and 2007 (7-1-2) teams.
Junior Peri Marosevic scored the 22nd and 23rd goals of his career, surpassing Mike White (22, 2000-03) to move into third on the U-M all-time list.
Marosevic extended his point streak to three games with a pair of goals against Penn State (3g, 1a).
Marosevic leapfrogged three places on the single-season points list, moving into third place with 27 points. His four-point day pushed him past Mike White (24, 2003 and 25, 2002) and Mychal Turpin (25, 2002).
Marosevic tallied the eighth game-winning goal of his career, breaking a tie with junior Mauro Fuzetti (7) and Mychal Turpin (7, 2001-04) to take sole possession of second on the all-time list. Marosevic trails only Knox Cameron (12, 2001-04) for the program record.
Junior/sophomore Matt Schmitt's eighth assist of the campaign matched Adam Bruh (2003) for the fourth-highest single-season total in program history.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Steve Burns
On the game... "I really like Penn State because they are truly a lot better than their record says they are. They are feisty and they bring a lot of energy to the game. There was a lot of good, hard, physical play. For the most part, it was just two good teams going at it."
On if he could foresee setting the program record for home wins in a season... "Certainly we knew we had the potential to do it. It was a matter whether the players could really pull together and unlock it. I think that the best is still yet to come for this team."
U-M Junior Forward Peri Marosevic
On his first goal of the game... "It was a great combination play by our team to get the ball out to Matt Schmitt on the outside left. I knew -- as a forward you have to make those strong runs into the box -- Matt was going to get a cross (pass) off; he has the ability to do it and position myself to do it. I didn't get the first touch on it, but I got the rebound and it was pretty much an easy touch for me."
U-M Senior Midfielder Alex Morisset
On setting up the insurance goal... "At first, I thought the center back was going to stay, so I was going to try and chip it over him. Then I saw him coming and I was just trying to get to the ball first and get a poke in there because I knew Peri (Marosevic) would be alone. I got to the ball first and poked it to Peri on a breakaway to the goal."
U-M Senior Forward Steve Bonnell
On what has played the biggest role in the team's success... "The most important thing is that we are a team. We are not thinking about ourselves or our stats or what is going on individually. This year, statistically, we are the best Michigan team because we are playing as a team."
