Meram Goal in 76th Minute Sends Wolverines Past No. 24 Penn State

Sunday, October 3

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan

5-2-3, 1-1-0Big Ten

Penn State

6-3-0, 0-2-0Big Ten

Penn State

Michigan

Meram Goal in 76th Minute Sends Wolverines Past No. 24 Penn State

10/3/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Jessica Poole

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Score: Michigan 2, # 24 Penn State 1
Records: Michigan (5-2-3, 1-1-0 Big Ten), PSU (6-3-0, 0-2-0 Big Ten)
Attendance: 1,191
Next U-M Game: Wednesday, Oct. 6 -- vs. Cincinnati (U-M Soccer Stadium), 7 p.m.

ANN ARBOR Mich. -- With the game tied at 1-1, senior forward Justin Meram (Shelby Township, Mich./Eisenhower) netted the game-winner in the 76th minute, before senior/junior goalkeeper Chris Blais (Seattle, Mich./Kennedy Memorial) made a crucial save on a Penn State corner kick late to lead the University of Michigan men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory on Sunday (Oct. 3) at U-M Soccer Stadium.

Hamoody Saad

Meram connected with a long ball out of the back from senior defender Chase Tennant (Rochester, Mich./Rochester) and then split two Penn State defenders, placing the ball just in the lower right-hand corner out of the reach of Penn State's Warren Gross' hands. The goal was U-M's ninth second-half goal this season and Meram's second game-winner.

Meram led the U-M offense with four shots and one goal, while sophomore midfielder Hamoody Saad (Dearborn, Mich./Dearborn) added the other tally for the Wolverines. Tennant and freshman forward Soony Saad (Dearborn, Mich./Dearborn) each had one assist on the afternoon, while Blais made five saves and picked up his 16th career victory.

In what was a physical game throughout, Penn State posted the first scoring opportunity of the game with a header shot from Mark Festrow in the ninth minute that forced Blais to come off his line for the save. The Wolverines answered back and just minutes later scored to open up a 1-0 lead courtesy of Soony and Hamoody Saad. Soony Saad collected the ball in the midfield and played a perfect ball through the Nittany Lion defense for brother Hamoody, who buried the ball just past Penn State's Warren Gross for the goal, Michigan's third first-half marker of the season.

Despite being held to season low in shots with six and shots on goal with four, the Wolverines were able to maintain their offense against the Nittany Lions and held the Big Ten and national scoring leader, Corey Hertzog, to just one goal, which came on a penalty kick early in the second half.

With the game tied at 1-1 in the second half, the Wolverines and Nitttany Lions battled evenly for the remainder of the game. Michigan had a prime opportunity to end the stalemate in the 71st minute when freshman defender Ezekiel Harris (Flint, Mich./Carman-Ainsworth) played the ball out of the back onto the foot of Soony Saad. Saad then made a pass across the eight-yard line to the waiting feet of Meram, who pushed the ball just high of the goal. Meram was able to clinch the victory, Michigan's first Big Ten victory of the season, just minutes later.

The Wolverines will next take the pitch against Cincinnati on Wednesday (Oct. 6) in non-conference action. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at U-M Soccer Stadium. Fans will be able to catch this game streamed live on BigTenNetwork.com.

GAME SUMMARY

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

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Hamoody Saad, 11:18 (Soony Saad)
2nd -- PSU, Corey Hertzog, 52:36 (Penalty Kick)
2nd -- U-M, Justin Meram, 75:55 (Chase Tennant)

Shots: U-M 6, PSU 14
Shots on Goal: U-M 4, PSU 6
Saves: U-M 5 (Chris Blais), PSU 2 (Warren Gross)
Corner Kicks: U-M 3, PSU 5
Fouls: U-M 19, PSU 22
Cards: ) PSU, Mackenzie Arment, 18:39 (Yellow); U-M, Soony Saad, 52:36 (Yellow); PSU, Corey Hertzog, 68:53 (Yellow); PSU, Marco Carla, 70:48 (Yellow); U-M, Dylan Mencia, 73:38 (Yellow); U-M, Hamoody Saad, 86:09 (Yellow); U-M Soony Saad, 88:18 (Yellow/Red).

NOTES

• Michigan was held to season lows in shots (6) and shots on goal (4). Prior to today's game, the Wolverines came in averaging 25.44 shots per game, which is tops in the conference

• U-M's goal in the first half was only the third first-half goal for the Wolverines this season. Michigan's second-half goal was its 10th in the second frame this season. Currently, Michigan is outscoring its opponents, 9-7, in the second half and 14-10 overall.

• Soony Saad and Hamoody Saad connected with each other for a goal for the first time this season. They have both scored in the same game twice this season, but today's game was the first game in which one had a goal and the other the assist.

• Michigan picked up its second-ever win on the Big Ten Network in today's contest. The Wolverines won their first game last season in a double-overtime win over Northwestern.

• U-M's Latif Alashe started his 28th consecutive game. He was the lone freshman to start every game last season.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Steve Burns
On the game ... "This was exactly the type of win that our team needed. This is a signature win at the right time in the season to propel us into the back half of our schedule with real conviction. Penn State is a very good team with a strong tradition and a strong program. Our team showed tremendous heart and desire throughout the game and it was evident from the opening kick that we were fully committed to the result. Justin scored a clutch game winner for us and I just couldn't be more proud of our guys."

On the performance of the team's defense ... "Defending starts the moment we lose the ball and Justin and Soony did a great job of pursuit in transition. At times we were a little overpowered in the midfield, but you have to give credit to their players pressing ability. Our back four defenders, led by Brian Klemczak and Kofi Opare, were splendid. We were excellent in defending out in the flanks and we did a great job bottling up the leading scorer in the nation. Blais made a couple of big saves, especially in the mad scramble during the final play. The entire team deserved the shutout today."

On how the offense clicked today ... "All of our training is starting to pay off. Justin and Soony are staying better connected and this causes real problems for opponents because of their ability to operate in the hole and bring their teammates into the game in dangerous areas."