Wolverines Fall at Michigan State in Battle for the Big Bear Trophy

Sunday, October 25

East Lansing, Mich.

2:30 PM

Michigan

9-5-1, 1-3

Michigan State

9-4-1, 2-3

Michigan

Michigan State

Wolverines Fall at Michigan State in Battle for the Big Bear Trophy

10/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Jessica Poole

Site: East Lansing, Mich. (DeMartin Soccer Complex)
Score: Michigan State 2, Michigan 1
Records: U-M (9-5-1, 1-3-0 Big Ten), MSU (9-4-1, 2-3-0 Big Ten)
Attendance: 2,310
Next U-M Game: Sunday, Nov. 1 -- vs. Northwestern (U-M Soccer Complex), 2 p.m.

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Despite outshooting Michigan State 19-7 and posting 10 shots on goal, the University of Michigan men's soccer team fell by a score of 2-1 on Sunday (Oct. 25) in the battle for the Big Bear Trophy at the DeMartin Soccer Complex.

Julian Robles

Senior/junior forward Matt Schmitt (Muskegon, Mich./Reeths-Puffer) scored U-M's lone goal in the 45th minute, while senior defender Julian Robles (Los Angeles, Calif./Damian) added the assist. Junior/sophomore goalkeeper Chris Blais (Seattle, Wash./Kennedy Memorial) made two saves in the loss.

Entering the second half tied at 1-1, the Spartans regained the lead on a quick goal from Cyrus Sadee. Spencer Thompson took a corner that Rubin Bega collected and left for Sadee, who placed it just behind Blais for the 2-1 lead just one minute and 11 seconds into the second half.

The Wolverines battled back and found several good scoring opportunities. Senior forward Mauro Fuzetti (Houston, Texas/Stratford) had the equalizer halfway to the back of the net, but a team save from Colin Givens, his second of the afternoon, off the goal line preserved the Michigan State lead and kept the Big Bear Trophy with the Spartans.

The Spartans only needed five minutes to get on the board in the first half when Bega caught a ball just past U-M junior defender Adam Keller (Franklin, Mich./Groves) and put it out of Blais' reach to give the Spartans the early, 1-0 advantage. It seemed as though the Spartans might add to their first-half tally just minutes later, but a brilliant save from Blais on a point-blank shot from 15 yards out kept Michigan State off the board.

The Wolverines turned up the offensive pressure midway through the half and created several scoring opportunities. Junior forward Justin Meram (Shelby Township, Mich./Yavapai College) broke through with a shot on goal, while Schmitt created a one-on-one opportunity with Steinlage, who made another save. Schmitt, making his first appearance since the Indiana game on Oct. 10, came up with equalizer with 50 seconds left in the first half when Robles sent a ball through the Michigan State defense and Schmitt put it home for his first goal of the season.

The Wolverines will conclude the 2009 home season when they welcome Northwestern to the U-M Soccer Complex on Sunday (Nov. 1) in a televised contest. U-M will also honor the 2009 senior class seniors for their contributions to the program.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	F
Michigan	1	0	1
Michigan State	1	1	2

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- MSU, Spencer Thompson, 5:52 (Cyrus Sadee, Jeff Ricondo)
1st -- U-M, Matt Schmitt, 44:09 (Julian Robles)
2nd -- MSU, Sadee, 46:11 (Thompson, Ricondo)

Shots: U-M 19, MSU 7
Shots on Goal: U-M 10, MSU 4
Saves: U-M 2 (Chris Blais), MSU 7 (Avery Steinlage 5, Team 2)
Corner Kicks: U-M 7, MSU 2
Fouls: U-M 16, MSU 15
Cards: U-M, Chase Tennant, 24:31 (Yellow); U-M, Justin Meram, 26:35 (Yellow); U-M, Mauro Fuzetti, 33:14 (Yellow); U-M, Adam Shaw, 48:50 (Yellow); U-M, Daniel Gray, 67:56 (Yellow); U-M, Adam Keller, 77:00 (Red); U-M, Team, 82:17 (Yellow); U-M, Chase Tennant, 87:30 (Yellow); MSU, Mark Barone, 38:40 (Yellow); MSU, Spencer Thompson, 48:50 (Yellow); MSU, Colin Givens, 60:23 (Yellow); MSU, Nosa Iyoha, 83:47 (Yellow)

NOTES

• Michigan has played every team with a men's soccer program in the state of Michigan this season. The Wolverines have an 18-11-6 all-time record against in-state foes and earlier this season defeated Western Michigan and Detroit and tied Oakland.

• Michigan State leads the all-time series with the Wolverines 9-2-1 and has won the last five games.

• Senior/junior Matt Schmitt scored his first goal of the season. It was his first appearance since playing in the Indiana game on Oct. 10.

• This is the first time this season the Wolverines have dropped two consecutive games. Prior to today's loss, each time U-M has dropped a game it has followed with a win or a tie.

• The Spartans claimed the Big Bear Trophy -- a wood statue purchased by U-M head coach Steve Burns to commemorate the rivalry -- for the fifth straight season. The traveling hardware has been up for grabs in each regular-season meeting between the two schools since 2000. U-M last claimed the award in 2003 with a 4-2 win in East Lansing, Mich.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Steve Burns
On the game ... "While we are all disheartened with the loss, I'm proud of how our guys fought and really went after the victory. The stat line was accurate and showed how we were the aggressors and created some great chances. That's probably what makes it so hard for us to take. State defended extremely well today. They cleared a couple of balls off the line and made the most of their chances in transition."