Michigan
Oakland
Early Fuzetti Goal Pushes Michigan Past Oakland
9/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Site: Saline, Mich. (Hornet Stadium Field)
Score: Michigan 1, Oakland 0
Records: U-M (6-2-1), OAK (6-2-0)
Next U-M Game: Saturday, Sept. 27 -- at Wisconsin (Madison, Wis.), 3:30 p.m. CDT
Boxscore | Notes & Quotes | Video Report
SALINE, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team recorded a 1-0 victory over Oakland University on Wednesday evening (Sept. 24) at Hornet Stadium. Junior Mauro Fuzetti(Houston, Texas/Stratford) scored the lone goal of the contest for the Wolverines and senior/junior goalkeeper Patrick Sperry (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central) recorded three saves en route to the shutout win.
The Wolverines jumped on the Golden Grizzlies right from the opening kickoff, scoring 2:41 into the first half. Fuzetti got his head on the end of a free kick served by senior Jake Stacy(Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central) from 35 yards out and headed the ball past the Oakland goalkeeper into the upper left corner of the goal. For Fuzetti the goal was his team-leading sixth of the season.
Sperry helped ensure that the Maize and Blue took the lead into the break when he came up with his most spectacular save of the night with just under four minutes to play in the first half. The Wolverine goalkeeper denied what looked to be a certain Oakland goal on a header toward the upper corner of the goal by making a sprawling save.
Like the first half, the second stanza was an open affair, with just 20 total fouls whistled in the match. Michigan earned five corner kicks in the second 45 minutes and out-cornered the Golden Grizzles 5-4 in the match. As Oakland pushed for a late equalizer, the Maize and Blue defense denied the offensive surge and held on to record the second shutout of the season.
Michigan opens conference play this Saturday (Sept. 27) when it travels to Madison, Wis., to take on Wisconsin. Game time between the Wolverines and Badgers is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CDT and the game will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.
GAME SUMMARY
| By Periods | 1 | 2 | F |
| Oakland | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Mauro Fuzetti, 2:41 (Jake Stacy)
Shots: U-M 5, OAK 7
Shots on Goal: U-M 2, OAK 3
Saves: U-M3 (Patrick Sperry), OAK1 (Steve Clark)
Corner Kicks: U-M 5, OAK 4
Fouls: U-M 6, OAK 14
Cards: U-M, Steve Bonnell, 37:53 (Yellow); U-M, Michael Parke, 53:41 (Yellow).
Contact: Ryan Sosin, Jeremy Reid (734) 763-4423
