Saads Deliver Again, U-M Shuts Out Wisconsin to Reach Big Ten Final

Friday, November 12

State College, Pa.

1:00 PM

Michigan

13-4-3

Wisconsin

4-13-3

Wisconsin

Michigan

Saads Deliver Again, U-M Shuts Out Wisconsin to Reach Big Ten Final

11/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore Photos

By: Jessica Poole

Site: State College, Pa. (Jeffrey Field)
Event: Big Ten Tournament (Semifinals)
Score: Michigan 1, Wisconsin 0
Records: U-M (13-4-3), Wisconsin (4-13-3)
Next U-M Game: Sunday, Nov. 14 -- vs. Penn State - Big Ten Tournament Final (State College, Pa.), Noon (TV: Big Ten Network)

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year Soony Saad (Dearborn, Mich./Dearborn) came through late in the game with his NCAA-leading 17th goal of the season to send the University of Michigan men's soccer team to a 1-0 win over Wisconsin in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament on Friday afternoon (Nov. 12) at Jeffrey Field. The Wolverines advance to the Big Ten Tournament final for the second time in program history and the first time since the 2002 season.

Hamoody Saad

Michigan dominated the scoresheet throughout the game, outshooting the Badgers, 19-6, and allowing Wisconsin no shots on goal. Eight of U-M's 14 field players recorded at least one shot during the game, with Saad leading the way with seven shots. In addition to Saad's goal, his brother, Hamoody Saad (Dearborn, Mich./Dearborn), recorded U-M's lone assist on the afternoon. The goal was the fourth that the Saad brothers connected on this season. Goalkeeper Chris Blais (Seattle, Wash./Kennedy Memorial) picked up his fourth shutout of the season and for the first time this season did not make one save in the victory.

U-M opened the second half with momentum after going into the break tied 0-0 for the second consecutive game. Michigan jumped out of the gates and had a trip into the Wisconsin third of the field and a shot right off the bat, but it was stifled by the Wisconsin defense.

The Badgers started packing players into the box in the second half, which made scoring opportunities difficult for the Wolverines to come by in the second half, but U-M broke through with 13 minutes left in regulation. After capitalizing on a Wisconsin turnover in the midfield, Hamoody Saad collected the ball and flicked it to the feet of Soony Saad, who delicately placed the ball behind the outstretched arms of Wisconsin goalkeeper Max Jentsch for his 17th goal of the season and his fifth game-winning marker of the year. Wisconsin did not make things easy down the stretch with corner kicks late, but the Michigan defense held Wisconsin at bay to close out the game.

The Badgers and Wolverines played a very physical first half and Soony Saad had a prime opportunity early in the frame with a shot from 25 yards away, but it just bounced right off the crossbar to keep the game notched at 0-0 early. Michigan also had another scoring opportunity bounce off the post in the first half -- a half in which Michigan held the Badgers to just one shot.

The Wolverines advance to the Big Ten final for the second time in school history and will take on host Penn State, which advanced with a 2-1 win over Indiana in the second semifinal, at noon on Sunday (Nov. 14). Fans can watch the action live on the Big Ten Network with Dean Linke and Chris Doran on the call.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	F
Wisconsin	0	0	0
Michigan	0	1	1

Scoring, Time (Assist)
2nd -- U-M, Soony Saad 77:18 (Hamoody Saad)

Shots: U-M 19, WIS 6
Shots on Goal: U-M 6, WIS 0
Saves: U-M 0 (Chris Blais), WIS 5 (Max Jentsch)
Corner Kicks: U-M 4, WIS 7
Fouls: U-M 8, WIS 10
Cards: WIS, Kyle McCrudden, 35:51 (Yellow); U-M, Noble Sullivan 74:29 (Yellow).

NOTES

• Michigan moves to 10-2-3 against Wisconsin all-time. Today's meeting was the fourth time the teams met in the Big Ten Tournament with the Wolverines owning a 3-0-1 record with today's win. Michigan also picks up its second semifinal win in program history.

• Soony Saad picked up his team-leading 17th goal of the season and his fifth game-winner. His 17 goals place him in a tie for first place nationally.

• Michigan collected its third second-half goal during the Big Ten Tournament and its 24th second-half goal this season. U-M is outscoring its opponents 24-18 in the second half and 40-28 overall this season.

• Michigan has 13 victories in 2010, one win away from U-M's all-time wins record, which is 14 wins set during the 2003 season, when the Wolverines advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals.

• Today's goal marks the fourth time that Hamoody and Soony Saad have combined for a goal this season.

• The Wolverines pick up their second win on the Big Ten Network this season and move to 3-8-1 all-time on the Big Ten Network.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Steve Burns
On the game ... "This was a tactically challenging game. Wisconsin did a great job of getting numbers behind the ball. Even with as much possession as we had, it took most of the game to find a way to unlock them, but we finally did it through some great combination play through the center of the field. Defensively, we were sharp and focused and did a magnificent job snuffing out their attacks before they became dangerous. The heart and commitment we played with for the full 90 minutes was everything we could ask for and the team delivered."