Fuzetti, Meram Spark Wolverine Rally at Valparaiso

Sunday, September 6

Valparaiso, Ind.

5:00 PM

Michigan

2-1-0

Valparaiso

1-1-0

Michigan

Valparaiso

9/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Sept. 6, 2009

Site: Valparaiso, Ind. (Eastgate Field)
Score: #22 Michigan 2, Valparaiso 1
Records: U-M (2-1-0), Valparaiso (1-1-0)
Attendance: 789
Next U-M Game: Friday, Sept. 11 -- vs. Wright State (U-M Soccer Complex), 7:30 p.m.

• Boxscore

VALPARAISO, Ind. -- Junior forward Justin Meram(Shelby Township, Mich. /Yavapai College) scored the game-winning goal in the 73rd minute -- two minutes after senior midfielder Mauro Fuzetti(Houston, Texas/Stratford) had tied the game -- to give the University of Michigan men's soccer team a 2-1, come-from-behind victory at Valparaiso on Sunday (Sept. 6) on Eastgate Field.

Fuzetti picked up his second goal of the season and tallied an assist for three points on the afternoon, while freshman Hamoody Saad(Dearborn, Mich. /Dearborn) picked up an assist. Junior/sophomore goalkeeper Chris Blais(Seattle, Wash. /Kennedy Memorial) posted two saves for his second victory.

Michigan, which trailed 1-0 heading into the second half, picked up its offense throughout the second half, outshooting the Crusaders, 9-3. The hard work paid off as the Maize and Blue picked up the equalizer in the 71st minute. After a scramble in the box, the ball popped out to Saad, who placed it towards the penalty spot. The serve beat a Valparaiso defender and Fuzetti put his shot into the bottom left corner for his second goal of the weekend.

Meram sealed the victory just two minutes later. After a clearing ball out of the back from fifth-year senior Danny Gray(Setauket, N.Y./Chaminade), Fuzetti beat his man to the ball and poked it to Meram, who drew his man near and then ran past him into the box. After holding off the last defender, Meram placed the ball in the far-left corner, sealing the U-M victory.

The first 45 was filled with numerous scoring opportunities for both teams as the squads put up a combined 17 first-half shots. Fuzetti led the way for U-M by recording three first-half shots, but the Crusaders struck first, with Zack Strivers scoring on a breakaway on a deflected through ball in the 40th minute, sending Valparaiso into the break with a 1-0 lead.

The Wolverines are next in action Friday (Sept. 11) when they host the Michigan Invitational. The Wolverines take on Wright State at approximately 7:30 p.m. and conclude tournament action against Lipscomb on Sunday (Sept. 13) at 2:30 p.m. Both games will be at the U-M Soccer Complex.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	F
Michigan	0	2	2
Valparaiso	1	0	1

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- VALPO, Zack Stivers, 39:36 (Brendan Roth)
2nd -- U-M, Mauro Fuzetti, 70:21 (Hamoody Saad)
2nd -- U-M, Chase Tennant, 72:13 (Mauro Fuzetti)

Shots: U-M 17, VALPO 12
Shots on Goal: U-M 7, VALPO 3
Saves: U-M 2 (Chris Blais), VALPO 4 (Ryan Schwarz 5)
Corner Kicks: U-M 5, VALPO 4
Fouls: U-M 15, VALPO 22
Cards: U-M, Kofi Opare, 19:48; VALPO, Stefan Antonijevi, 47:22 (Yellow); VALPO, Rodolfo Lucas, 50:37 (Yellow); VALPO, Clayton Lyons, 82:24 (Yellow).

N O T E S

• Today's game marked the second-ever meeting between the Wolverines and Crusaders. The teams squared off in 1998, a 1-0 U-M victory. The victory did not count toward Michigan's overall record as it was before the Wolverines gained varsity status.

• Senior/junior Cam Cameron(Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline) earned his second consecutive start in today's contest.

• Junior forward Justin Meram(Shelby Township, Mich./Yavapai College) scored his first goal as a member of the U-M men's soccer team. Meram, who led Yavapai College to back-to-back national championships, was the 2008 National Junior College Player of the Year.

• Freshman Hamoody Saad(Dearborn, Mich./Dearborn) picked up his first career assist on Mauro Fuzetti's goal.

Q U O T E S

Michigan Head Coach Steve Burns
On the second-half comeback... "We certainly had a challenge that we needed to respond to as Valparaiso's confidence grew in the first half with a well-earned goal. Julian (Robles), Danny (Gray), and Chase (Tennant) did a great job raising our team's energy level to get the desired response. We started the half with our tails up and battled for loose balls in the midfield; creating some dangerous moments going forward to put them on their heels. From there, our defense stepped up and played really strong and we were able to sustain pressure. Chase Tennant took over the midfield and Mauro (Fuzetti) and Justin (Meram) scored a couple of timely goals. It was a great response from our team."

Contact: Jessica Poole (734) 763-4423